LEGEND OF THE MER

by Sheri L. Swift

  ~~~~~

  Chapter 6

  THE MISTY BLUE

  As Lana headed to the house, her father turned and went inside. When she came into the kitchen, he was sitting at the table and she didn’t like the look on his face. “Dad, what’s wrong?” Lana asked confused.

  He gritted his teeth and said, “Prince Titus is such a fool for giving you those.”

  “Do you mean the pearls?” Lana held them up.

  “You don’t even realize what you’re wearing Lana,” he said sternly.

  “Dad, it’s just a necklace.” She was still confused by the way he was acting.

  “Lana those are black pearls! You are wearing a small fortune around your neck and men have killed for less!”

  “Dad, I don’t think anyone realizes what’s real anymore.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. There are many on the island that’s heard rumors of them and the mer. If they see you wearing those, they’ll start putting two and two together,” he said seriously.

  “I don’t think Prince Titus meant any harm Dad, he just wanted to give me something special for the prom,” she said softly.

  “I know kid, but it can put you and him in danger.”

  “I won’t wear them outside this house if it would make you feel better.”

  “I’m not sure I even want you wearing them outside your room.” He relaxed and let a half grin show.

  “Thanks Dad, I didn’t know their value, I just liked them because he thought to give them to me,” she said as she stared at their iridescent glow.

  “I know that he was honoring you with such a gift, but it was still foolish. You remember how I told you that King Titan and his people were peaceful?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well that was true, until something happened later that forever changed the mer family. I told you how my father gave me a boat when your mother and I got married. It had been my grandfathers and she was named the Sheri Lynn. She was a sixty foot schooner and she sailed like a dream. We traveled at least once a year to the South Pacific. There the water is warm and the islands are beautiful.

  King Titan and his people worship God, only they call Him Arius; even the Mer need air to breathe. They don’t do it with crazy rituals, but with the way they live. They treat the entire pod as if they’re one family. They genuinely love and care for each other. They value all life, even human life. They would even risk their secret to save a drowning human and have many times. Most that they save vow to never tell that they’ve seen a mer. Occasionally, there might be one that tells, the mer know and they leave that area for a time. I guess eventually no one believes their story. They even only kill what they eat.

  There is a place that only the mer can go in the South Pacific; it’s near the Challenger Deep which is the deepest part of the ocean. There they know where the black pearls are. They only harvest the oysters every ten years; that causes the pearls to grow to the size you have. Your mother wanted to gather some for a crown for you, because the mer usually give their princess daughters a crown when they turn the age of twelve. You had just turned three and she knew this was her chance to get them. Your grandparents went along and helped gather the pearls.

  It was in the middle of the night and you and I were sleeping on the Sheri Lynn. A thick fog had rolled in and made it impossible to see. The mer have what you might call soldiers; that patrols the waters and keeps guard over the pod. There was a mer named Prince Tarrock and he was the head of the guard. He was also Prince Titus’ older brother and my closest friend. We were like brothers. The second in charge of the guard was named Darious. He is one of the dark ones...”

  “What’s a dark one?” Lana asked.

  “They’re the mer that long ago mixed with the Native Americans that first lived on our island. They have long black hair, dark eyes and a dark blue tail. They have always been considered to be equal to the others, only their line comes from King Titan’s sister and not from the royal line.

  You might say that we were quite a threesome. Prince Tarrock and Darious kept guard under the surface and I usually kept guard on top. That night, everything went terribly wrong. I know I told you that your mother drowned. You might say that it was my way of keeping you away from the mer.”

  “But why Dad, what happened?” Lana asked more interested than ever.

  “Because of what happened that night. All I can think of was that your mother was so anxious to get back that she and her parents went ahead of the others. The guard hadn’t realized it until it was too late.

  There was a large Tuna Clipper named, the Misty Blue. She had a crew of twenty. She must have run silent because I never heard her. She had let down her net. Your mother and her parents didn’t see it until it was too late. The men quickly hauled up the net, and from what I was told by others, the Captain took one look at the pearls on your mother and grandmother’s heads and called for a harpoon. Some of the men on the Misty Blue must have seen past the pearls and saw the wonder of the mermaids. They tried to stop their Captain, but it was too late. He ran your mother, grandmother and grandfather through without any care. When the guard arrived, they were just in time to see it. Darious called for the death of them all and Prince Tarrock called for restraint for the innocent. Darious would have none of it. He and the others ran the Misty Blue into the coral reefs and ripped her apart. Some say that what Darious and the others did was unthinkable to the crew. They were torn limb from limb.

  Prince Tarrock thought to get to King Titan in time, before they could kill them all, but he didn’t. I woke to the shouts of King Titan and soon realized what happened to your mother and her parents. I was full of rage and glad that Darious and the others had exacted justice. I defended them with every breath in my body. I was sure that if I’d been there, I’d have helped to do the same.

  King Titan was angry and would have banished Darious and the others if not for my pleading their cause. He agreed to let them stay with a warning to never do such a thing again. The really sad thing was for the first time, Prince Tarrock and I was at odds with each other. The next morning they found Prince Tarrock ripped apart, just like the crew of the Misty Blue and all knew that Darious and the others had done it. He had fled along with about fifty or so.

  I couldn’t bear the grief of what I had caused. Not only was your mother gone, but Prince Tarrock too. I couldn’t face King Titan or the rest of the mer. They had been such a peaceful people and now their family was torn apart. I sailed to the first port and sold the Sheri Lynn right on the spot at a cheap price. It bought us our airfare back to Safe Harbor with a little left over to start our life there,” said her father as tears rolled down his cheeks.

  “I’m so sorry Dad. I’m sure King Titan doesn’t blame you. He must have seen that it was Darious’ fault,” Lana said kneeling beside her dad’s chair.

  “I wish I’d listened. It wasn’t five years later and we had our third shipwreck in a month, when there hadn’t been any dangerous weather. Then I knew; it must be Darious and the others.

  The Harbor Master and I drove his boat out past Gull Island where the last wreck was. Sure enough, there were dismembered bodies floating in the water. Then I sensed Darious and heard his thoughts. He and the others were just about to wreck our boat when I shouted his name in my mind and told them to stop. They backed off and Darious recognized that it was me. He told me that only because I defended him that night and that I was a descendant of his family, was I allowed to live. He said not to count on it in the future.

  King Titan and the pod returned to Gull Island shortly after. I met with him and warned him about Darious. He sent out a decree that Darious and the others were to be killed on sight if they ever came near Safe Harbor.”

  “Did he tell you that it wasn’t your fault?”

  “Yeah, but it was too late for me. I’d made a life here with you. My father had just passed away and I became the lighthouse keeper. That also made me the last guardian of the mer. I told King Titan that I wo
uld do my best to guard them and he said that they would do the same against Darious and the others for us. Now you know why I’m not a big fan of your pearls,” said her father as he looked down at her necklace.

  “I’m glad you told me Dad. I’ll keep them hid away. Please don’t be angry with Prince Titus for giving them to me.”

  “It’s okay Lana, I know he’s a good guy; I didn’t mean to get so upset. I’m glad I was finally able to tell you what really happened. Just please be careful and not even tell your friends about them,” he said kissing the top of her head.

  “Sure Dad, it’s not like I can tell them about my merman friend anyhow.” Lana laughed.

  “Yeah, I guess you can’t,” he chuckled.

  “So, what was Prince Titus like in those days?” Lana asked with a half grin.

  “Let’s just say, he was pretty protective of you and he used to make you laugh.” Her dad smiled.

  “He still does,” she giggled.

  “Yeah, he was a pretty funny guy. I know Prince Tarrock would be proud of him and his sister Tarra.”

  “I think he’d be proud of you too Dad. You’ve successfully guarded the mer all these years.” She smiled tenderly.

  “Yeah, and they’ve done the same for us. I’ve never felt such evil as I did with Darious that last day. I pray he never returns.”

  “Me too, he creeps me out. Are the mer really that strong?”

  “Yeah Lana, when thirty or so get together like they did on that night, there’s no ship that can withstand them. Their back teeth are razor sharp and their jaws are strong. No human is a match for a mer in the water.”

  “Oh Dad, I never thought of it like that, that’s awful!”

  “I never imagined that any mer could be so violent, Prince Tarrock tried to tell me. It wasn’t just that they killed those men like that, but that they’d enjoyed doing it,” her father said staring out the window.

  “Are all the dark ones like that?”

  “No, it’s not their heritage, but their choice that’s made them what they are. We are from that same line ourselves and there are still some twenty or so families that have remained in King Titan’s pod. Darious and those fifty that left with him that day chose their fate.”

  “Wow Dad, how many mer are there?” Lana asked with surprise.

  “There are hundreds. I even heard that some broke off from the original pod and formed their own over a thousand years ago. Who knows if they still exist? It’s amazing that they have all remained hidden for as long as they have. With today’s satellite technology, I can’t imagine that it will last forever. I can only guess how reckless Darious and his pod are.

  There’s something else I haven’t told you. You might say that Darious has always held a sort of grudge against me for marrying your mother. With Prince Tarrock already married and Prince Titus being too young, you could say that Darious would have been the natural choice for a Princess like her. That all changed when we met. I think the grudge has only gotten stronger since she was killed; he probably blames me for her death. That’s why I especially hoped you wouldn’t go near the water. I don’t really know if he’d harm you, you look so much like your mother, but he even has more of a reason than ever to desire you,” her father said seriously.

  “Why?” Lana asked confused.

  “Because you are Prince Titus’ intended. He not only hates him because he is a Prince and the brother of Tarrock, but he is now the head of the guard for the pod.”

  “Prince Titus! I didn’t realize.” Lana was astonished by that fact.

  “Yeah, he’s a pretty big deal, that’s why I’m not so sure that he should be hanging out at the dock so much and not on duty,” her father said with a chuckle.

  “Yeah, I can imagine how King Titan feels about that one.” She smiled.

  “Well kid, it’s late and I’m sure you’re tired. By the way, did you ever get that dance?” he asked with a raised brow and slight smile.

  “You know Dad, I did, but you might say that the guy had a bit of Darious in him.” She gave a quirky grin.

  “Lana did he hurt you?” her father asked with concern.

  “No, he just creeped me out,” she giggled.

  “I can only imagine how Prince Titus felt about that,” he laughed out loud.

  “Yeah, you might say that he took care of the situation.” She smiled brightly.

  “Did he drown him?”

  “No, but got him thoroughly drenched,” she giggled once more.

  “I’m liking this guy more and more.” He grinned.

  “I’m glad Dad, he’s really nice and we have so much in common,” she said looking at her hands.

  “Yeah, I guess you do at that.” He smiled lovingly.

  “Well, I better get to bed, thanks Dad for telling me everything.”

  “I just hope I didn’t give you nightmares.”

  “No, I don’t think I’ll be having any of those tonight,” she said smiling as she kissed him on his cheek and headed up the stairs.

  As Lana lay in bed, she thought about all her father had told her. How sad that the Captain of the Misty Blue killed my mother and grandparents. How awful that Darious and the others not only killed all the crew, but also Prince Tarrock. It must have been hard for Prince Titus; he lost so much that day, even I left him.

  Lana thought of what her father said about Prince Titus being the head of the guard now. He seems so young, like my age. Lana realized that he was certainly strong enough. He’s definitely the size of any human man and very muscular. It was more in the way he acted. He knows how to have fun and he looks to be the age of the guys in my senior class. How strange that the mer age so differently from humans. Then the scene of him curving his ears forward flashed in her mind and she let out a laugh. Then she remembered what she felt when he held her hands and looked into her eyes. She sighed and closed her eyes drifting off to sweet dreams.

  ~~~~~

  Chapter 7

  GRADUATION

  The next morning, Lana helped her dad clean the lens and the glass windows of the lighthouse. She tried to at least do it once a month to help him out.

  She loved looking out over the ocean as she cleaned. It wasn’t long and she spotted Tempest jumping out in the waves and she knew; Prince Titus must not be far beneath. She was surprised at how much she liked that, him always being around. I hope he doesn’t get in trouble though, she was sure that she was becoming a distraction for him.

  She finished up as quickly as she could. Even her dad knew that he couldn’t keep her from going to the dock. “You got it bad kid, get going.” He smiled as he took the bucket of soapy water from her hand.

  “Thanks Dad, love you!” Lana yelled as she ran down the steps.

  When Lana reached the dock, Tempest was swimming upright on his tail backwards and making clicking sounds. “Hello Tempest, you show-off,” she laughed. Then the dolphin jumped into the air splashing Lana.

  “He can be wicked when he wants to be,” said Prince Titus in her mind as he slowly surfaced with a smile.

  “Yeah, I wonder who taught him that trick.” She smiled raising her brows.

  “Someone had to teach him, he was just a baby when his mother was trapped in a tuna net and killed. I raised...” Prince Titus stopped as he read Lana’s thoughts and realized she knew the truth about her mother.

  “It’s okay, I know you didn’t mean to upset me.” She said softly.

  “No, I would never wish to do that. I am sorry, about all of it. I have always wished that I could have helped prevent it somehow.”

  “That makes you and my dad; he’s carried that with him for so long that it was eating away at him.”

  “Yes, I thought as much.” Then Tempest came once more and splashed them both and they laughed. “I am so glad that you have come today,” said the Prince.

  “Yeah, me too, but are you sure you should be here?” She smiled a half grin.

  “Yes, I have the night patrol.” He smiled realizing what sh
e was thinking and surprised that her father had told her so much.

  “That must not leave you a lot of time for sleeping.” She smiled even brighter.

  “I get more than enough. Besides, on school days I nap a lot,” he chuckled.

  “Oh, so on weekends you won’t be getting much sleep?” Lana asked teasingly.

  “Not if I can help it. That is, if you will spend the time with me.” He smiled raising both his brows.

  “I’d like to, I just don’t want to make you vulnerable. You can’t stay on the surface for long in the day without someone seeing you,” she said seriously.

  “No, but at least we may still communicate with each other even if I am under the dock.” He smiled once more.