Fins

by Ashley L. Knight

  That actually sounded hilarious and I laughed. No, I didn’t feel a hundred percent better about the fact that Akin had threatened me or touched me inappropriately, but to hear Tammer speak those words seemed funny.

  Mom and Tammer told me they would teach me to swim properly in the ocean in the last few days before school began. We’d begin just off the house and swim the channels between the small islands that surrounded the main island. After deciding to begin in the morning, we all said goodnight and went to bed.

  The water was too cold. I stood on the edge of the steps leading into the water, a towel shrink-wrapped around my shoulders. I’d been standing there for a good ten minutes. Mom and Tammer were laughing at me a few feet away, their heads bobbing up and down in the water as they were pushed gently about by the waves.

  “It’s not that bad!” Tammer laughed. “Just jump in and get it over with!”

  I shook my head.

  “Come on, honey!” Mom was near hysterics. “Even Naira didn’t take this long!”

  This was fine for them; they were used to it. I, on the other hand, preferred the warmth of the bathtub. I stepped down a step and gasped. Yes, yes, this was going wonderfully! Not. Who in their right mind did this?

  “Morgan, just get it over with!” Tammer started to swim closer to me.

  “Shut up!” I joked back. This was going to suck. Throwing the towel behind me, I adjusted my bikini top and took a breath. “Crap!” I yelled and jumped in.

  “Ha ha,” I groaned in sarcasm. They were laughing underwater! Ignoring them, I phased and ran a hand over my lap, feeling in awe of myself. My tail was such a pretty color and it was incredible to see it instead of my legs. When I flexed what would have been my thigh muscle, my tail flexed and the golden scales turned slightly orange in the light.

  “We are going to swim out to one of the islands today. It should be really fun!” Mom handed me my bikini bottoms and I slid them over my shoulder like a purse. With Tammer by my side, I followed Mom out into the ocean blue.

  The ocean floor dropped steeply and soon we were swimming about twenty feet down with a good thirty feet still below us. Following the channels between the islands, we made our way toward open sea.

  What made me stop from screaming and scrambling for the surface was the fact that I could actually see all around me. I think if it had been completely dark, so I wasn’t able to see the bottom, I couldn’t have done it. Large fish darted about in the shoals and the seaweed drifted up toward us, as if beckoning us to swim deeper. A boat sped over the top of us and Tammer frowned.

  “They’re speeding. This is a twenty-five knot area. They’re going to kill another manatee at this rate. Where’s the patrol when you need them?”

  “Tammer, just leave it alone,” Mom called over her shoulder. “Patrol will get them in due time. Let’s just focus on showing Morgandy about.”

  He glared but seemed to agree with her and tapped me on the shoulder. “What do you think?”

  “It’s like I’m in a dream,” I said and twisted around as I swam. Looking toward the surface, I could see the sunlight dancing across the waves. Turning back over, I came face to face with a dolphin.

  “Oh, my God!” I screamed in near terror as it startled me. The dolphin swam around us, squeaking.

  “Isn’t she beautiful?” Tammer held his hand toward her and she let him touch her snout. “She’s my sweet, sweet girl.” He ran his hand down her side and then held onto her dorsal fin. “She’ll let you ride her, if you’re nice.” He smiled and patted her side. She took off at full speed, and they were gone. Mom doubled back.

  “Tammer and his dolphins - they adore him. Not many merpeople get the pleasure of riding them.”

  I looked out toward the open sea where they’d disappeared, and I shivered. I’d have to stay close to the shore before I dared venture into the unknown. It would certainly be a long time before I tried to go at it alone.

  “Give it time, sweetheart. You’ll soon get the hang of being in the ocean. The really fun part is finding treasure. For instance, look at this!” She was pointing down at an old boat about ten feet below us. The small boat looked like it’d been there a few years. She dove within three feet of it and clapped her hands. “I’m sure there are things in here we could discover!”

  It was a bit creepy for me and I didn’t follow her. I remained suspended between the surface and the floor. A group of fish circled me and as quickly as they had come, they were gone. In the distance, a group of dolphins approached us. In the lead, with his sweet dolphin, was Tammer, his smile ten feet wide.

  “Elan, they’ve had babies! You’ve got to come and see!” He was so excited he could hardly contain himself.

  “Morgandy! Would you like to come?” Elan asked.

  “No, I’m okay. Actually, I’m a little tired, so I think I’m going to surface.”

  “Good idea,” Tammer said. “You can rest at that island and we’ll be back to get you in about half an hour. Is that okay?”

  I nodded and watched them leave, escorted by the group of dolphins. To my left, where Tammer had indicated, the ocean floor rose quickly. I swam toward it and pulled myself onto the beach. I was cold and tired. It was amazing that we’d come as far as we had in such a short amount of time.

  Phasing back into my legs, I reached for my bikini bottoms and quickly pulled them on, looking around to make sure no one could see me. Just a few feet from the lapping water, the sand was like an oven. I lay down on it and sighed, shifting my shoulders in the soft, warm sand. That, combined with the sun’s warm rays beating down, made me sleepy. Some seagulls flew overhead, nosily shouting at each other. Putting my arm behind my head, I closed my eyes.

  “So, we have a gold tail. Very, very strange.”

  I recognized the voice instantly and sat up. Akin was standing at my feet. How had I not heard him? Quickly, I stood and took a few steps back.

  “What are you doing here?” I nearly shouted.

  “Following you. You’ve learned to swim quite well. For a Halfling,” he added.

  “You’re really rude.” I said, not sure what to do. “Go away.”

  He walked toward me. “I don’t think so. No one tells me what to do, not even my father.”

  I backed away from him. “What’s your problem?”

  His eyebrow rose. “My problem? Well, let’s see. For one, you’re a Halfling. We don’t need any more of your trash around. Second, Elan was told not to bring you and here you are!”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said and looked around me. Where was Mom? “You need to leave me alone.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so. You see, you’re quite a challenge to me and I’ve decided to take the challenge.”

  I didn’t know what that meant, but I didn’t want to hang around and find out. I turned and ran.

  Sprinting through the palm trees, I could hear him behind me. I was hoping to make it to the other side of the small island to reach the water. The silver surface glistened through the trees and shrubs and I had nearly reached the break in the trees when I felt him grab my arm and pull me down.

  I landed on my stomach, my face in the sand. He had fallen on my legs and I could feel him getting to his knees.

  “Let me go!” I screamed.

  “No one can hear you out here,” he grunted and tossed me onto my back.

  I tried to kick at him, but he straddled me and pinned my arms down.

  “Get off me!” I strained against his grip but couldn’t move.

  “I think we’re going to have some fun.” He pulled my arms above my head. Holding them with one hand, he ripped off my bikini top. I could have died. I was powerless to do anything.

  “Stop it!” I yelled and tried wriggling away. It didn’t work. With his free hand, he began to pull at the strings of his shorts. I knew what he was going to do. “No!” I screamed and he covered my mouth with his hand.

  “If you don’t shut up, I’m going to hurt you,” he sai
d.

  “Stop, please!” I pleaded with him. “Don’t do this! Please!” I was begging for my life.

  He didn’t answer me. Instead, a blinding hot light smashed into his side and he was thrown a few feet away. When he struggled to stand, another hit him and he was knocked unconscious.

  I curled into a ball and closed my eyes as tightly as I could. Whatever was attacking Akin was about to attack me too, I supposed, and I welcomed it. At that moment I wished for death. Instead, a cool hand touched my shoulder.

  “Are you all right?” The voice was familiar, but not. I didn’t open my eyes. I was half naked and terrified. The person knelt behind me.

  “I’m so sorry I couldn’t get here any sooner.” There was a slight pause. “Please, let me help you, Morgan.”

  At the sound of my name, I opened my eyes. Turning my head, I looked up into the darkest blue eyes I’d ever seen.

  “I know you,” My voice shook.

  He smiled softly at me, but his smile held pain in it. He handed me my bikini top. How did I know him? Then it dawned on me.

  “Thayde,” I said with certainty.

  “Yes, Morgan.”

  This was not how it was supposed to happen. I was mortified. How could anyone see me like this, let alone the man I dreamed about? I started to shake.

  “Please, let me help you.” He offered me his hand and I took it, allowing him to help me stand. I felt awkward, standing with one arm covering myself. I felt dirty - not good enough.

  He turned away so I could put my bikini top back on. I barely managed and when I finally finished fumbling with the clip, I was shaking so badly I could hardly stand.

  Thayde turned around and looked at me. “I’m so sorry this happened.” He stepped toward me and offered his hand again. “I should have been here.”

  I started to cry. This is not what I wanted. Why was this happening? He pulled me into his arms and held me. He didn’t say anything - just held me as I cried.

  I don’t know how long we stood there, but after what seemed like an eternity, I remembered Akin. Frightened, I pulled away from Thayde’s embrace and looked around him to where Akin still lay.

  “He’ll be out for a very long time,” Thayde said. “We need to get you home.” He turned me to face him. “Can you walk?”

  I wasn’t so sure I could even stand without his help. My silence seemed to answer him and he scooped me into his arms. Wrapping my arms around him, I burrowed my head into his neck and closed my eyes.

  “What the hell? How could you have let this happen?” Tammer’s screams reverberated through the house. I had never seen him so angry. Thayde stood with his head bowed, his wet hair clinging to his forehead, water trickling down his face.

  “Dad!” I cried and realized what I had called him. Tammer stopped short and stared at me. “I mean Tammer. It wasn’t his fault! He rescued me,” I stuttered.

  “Yeah, but how much longer was he going to wait?” Tammer picked up right where he’d left off.

  “Please, Tammer. He stopped Akin. Just thank him for helping me!” I was frantic. This was not how Thayde was supposed to be introduced to my family.

  “I should have gotten there faster.” Thayde agreed, gritting his teeth.

  “Stop, please!” I was desperate. Thayde had done nothing wrong. Akin was the one Tammer should have been yelling at.

  Mom took Tammer by the arm and began to pull him away.

  “I’ll be talking to your father!” Tammer yelled and left the room with Mom.

  Thayde stood rooted to the spot. The muscles in his forearms flexed as he clenched his hands. His arms and shoulders seemed hard as stone and his chest rose and fell quickly as he breathed. I wanted to throw myself into his arms and apologize, but given the situation and my absolute humiliation, I was glued to the couch in our living room, unsure as to what I should do. It was quiet for a few minutes until Thayde spoke.

  “Morgan, I’m so sorry,” he began.

  “Please stop apologizing,” I interrupted. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  He looked straight through me, his eyes making me shiver. “It is in a way.”

  I didn’t understand. How could it possibly have been his fault?

  He sat down next to me and I knew I could have died and been completely happy I’d known him just for that short amount of time. That was how physically attracted I was to him.

  “Morgan, I need to tell you something.” He ran a hand through his black hair and prepared to tell me something - something huge. I brought my knees to my chin and held on with both arms.

  “Akin is my brother.”

  No! It couldn’t be. There was no way. Thayde didn’t look like any of the Dartmoth’s. I remained composed on the outside but screamed on the inside.

  “I am the eldest of the Dartmoth’s. My father was killed when I was a baby and I was adopted by Limus when he married my mother. When she passed away, I stayed with the Dartmoth’s.”

  He picked up a seashell that lay on the coffee table and held it in his hand.

  “I’ve been dreaming of you for years. I thought I could trust Akin enough to share with him what I’d seen in my future. I knew you would arrive soon, so I left university in New York and arrived here to meet you. I didn’t know when you’d be here, but if I had, I would have been able to stop this whole thing.”

  “And you think it’s your fault because you told Akin about me?”

  Thayde dropped his head. “I’m supposed to be your protector. It’s my job.” He stopped, correcting himself. “It’s my life – it’s what I’m supposed to do – take care of you. Akin’s always wanted everything I had. I should have known better.”

  I dared to touch his shoulder. Goose bumps rose on his arm. “Why is Tammer so angry with you? Why was he saying you should have gotten there sooner?”

  “Because they know I’m supposed to protect you. They’ve known since I was a child and mistook your mother for you.” A smile grew on the edge of his lips and he shook his head. “I remember telling her she was supposed to have a gold tail.”

  “Gold tail?”

  “She has a green one. When I told her about my dreams, she said I was dreaming of her Morgandy.” His eyes met mine, making me hold my breath. “Ever since that day, they knew I was to be with you.”

  What do you say to that? I believed what he said because I had dreamed of him since I was a child.

  “I’ve been dreaming of you too,” I answered, hoping what I said would comfort him. “I never want to wake from my dreams when they’re about you.”

  He held my gaze and I continued.

  “All this has been a dream for me. I don’t know if I’m still dreaming or if I’m awake.”

  He cupped my chin and leaned in to me.

  “You’re not dreaming,” he said, and lightly kissed my cheek. When he pulled away, I could feel my heart pounding like a freight train.

  I was losing myself in his eyes. “How is all this possible?” I breathed in sharply.

  “We were meant for each other. We have been since our birth. I knew once you started to dream of me again, it was time to find you.”

  “This all sounds like a fairy tale,”

  “I know. But it’s real and if you feel the same way about me as I do you, we’ll start cording right away.”

  “Cording?”

  Thayde’s beautiful smile sent shivers all over my body. “It’s what happens when two people fall in love and are meant to be together. They are able to read each other’s thoughts, finish each other’s sentences, and sometimes feel each other’s pain.”

  “Yes, and I wasn’t pleased it was going to happen with a Dartmoth.”

  Tammer had returned and was now standing next to me, his hands on his hips. Quickly, Thayde and I pulled apart. Thayde stood, placing the seashell back on the table as he rose.

  “Mr. Riddick, I’m sorry for my brother’s actions. You’re right – I should’ve been there sooner. I’ll regret it forever.”

  He
met Tammer’s glare and his voice lowered.

  “I know you know what’s going to happen to me for taking action against him.”

  Tammer’s face fell and he looked uneasy.

  “But I want to let you know that if I had to, I’d die for her.”

  This was getting way too deep. I stood and took Thayde’s hand in mine. “What are you talking about?” I asked.

  Thayde looked at me sadly and kissed my hand.

  “I said, what are you talking about?”

  “I have to go now,” he pulled away from me.

  “No!” I cried. “Please tell me what’s going to happen!”

  Thayde left without another word and Tammer sank into a chair.

  “Tammer! Tell me what’s going to happen to him!” I practically screamed.

  “Morgan, you don’t even know this boy,” he began.

  “I’ve dreamed about him. I fell in love with him in my dreams.”

  “Those are dreams, Morgan, nothing else.”

  “You know better than that.” Mom appeared behind Tammer and put her hand on his shoulder. “I heard everything. It’s too late to start insisting that Morgan not be with this young man. They’ve already begun cording.”

  Tammer’s head dropped and he seemed to give in.

  “Mom, what’s going to happen to him?” I felt like I was going to cry again. Great. I’d just met the love of my life and something was going to take him away from me.

  “Honey, it’s what happens to every merperson who takes action against his own kind. Being that Thayde took action against one of his own family, he’ll be punished severely.”

  “Punished?”

  “We call it The Judgment. He’ll be tortured.”

  “What?” I was incredulous. “But Akin attacked me!”

  “I know, love. But those are the rules.”

  “But what happens to Akin? Isn’t he punished?”

  “His punishment will be up to his father.”

  “What?” I yelled again. “That’s not fair! Thayde was protecting me! If anything, he should be rewarded!”

  “Not for rescuing a Halfling.” Tammer’s voice was flat.

  So that was it. Because I wasn’t full mermaid, the laws didn’t apply.