I looked over as the men got to their feet, pulling on their jackets. Nathan was chuckling at a buddy’s story, his eyes soft and warm. As the men said good-bye and filed out, Crystal approached Nathan and they put their heads together. Probably making plans. I frowned. The two were wrong for each other, was I the only one who could see that?
Nathan and Crystal kissed goodbye and she went back to cleaning out the till and closing up the sales records for the day. Nathan zipped up his jacket, tipped his chin at Phil, and caught my eye. My breath hitched but all he said was, "Nice to meet you, Mira. See you around." He gave me a closed mouth smile and left the bar.
I spied his forgotten baseball cap on the rack and jumped at the opportunity. Crossing the restaurant in a flash, I grabbed the hat and went after him. Passing over the gangplank connecting the ship to the boardwalk, I stepped on land, scanning the harbor parking lot. It was emptying of the last few cars. Nathan's form strode towards a truck parked under a light. He pulled up the collar of his jacket and hunched against the wind. I was wearing only a t-shirt, but didn't notice the cold.
I strode after him, covering the ground faster than he did. When he was still only a few feet away I said, "Nathan?" My voice went through a radical transformation as I uttered his name. My strings had already come out and felt as though they were straining toward him. My siren tone has a multi-layered, musical quality, like harmonizing violins. It is exquisitely beautiful, sounds like it's coming from everywhere, and is completely irresistible to human men. It might be irresistible to any human, I didn't know. It was one of the topics Mom and I never had the opportunity to cover.
He turned. His face had a soft, dreamlike quality. The power of my own voice almost frightened me. I'd never used it on anyone before.
"Mira?" He spoke so slowly. "Where is your jacket? It's freezing out here."
I opened my mouth to tell him that he was mine and I was his. It was all there, on the tip of my tongue. The violins sat waiting in my throat, my chest was throbbing with their power. All I had to say was: We love each other. We belong together. That was it. Less than ten words and he'd be mine for good. So why wasn't I saying it?
There was a reason. I could feel it. I just couldn't remember what it was. A half-remembered dream from another life wavered at the edges of my memory. Don't use your voice on him, Mira. Don't do it.
The silence stretched out. I stood there, torn, my mouth open. Wanting him so badly, but frantically searching my memory for the reason I shouldn't use my voice on him. Why? Why? Why?
Finally, I tucked away my siren voice. I swallowed hard, my mouth full of ashes. I held out his cap. "You left this behind."
He looked down at the hat, the dreaminess fading from his eyes. "Oh, thanks.” He took it. "Have a good night." He turned and slapped the hat over his red curls, which looked almost black in the dim light of evening, and resumed walking towards his truck.
I watched him in complete puzzlement. Why had I let the opportunity slip through my fingers? Just before he reached the truck, he looked over his shoulder. His face was just outside the circle of light and the shadows hid his expression, but I thought he smiled.
I grinned and wrapping my arms around myself, maybe a semi-conscious effort to hold onto that smile. I watched as he drove away. When his truck was out of view, I went back to the Sea Dog. My heart felt heavy. I needed another swim in freshwater to see if I could unearth the reason why I had just let my love walk away.
12
On my next day off, I had two things to accomplish: visit the bank, and later, when it was dark, swim in the reservoir and unearth more memories. I stepped out of the bank, satisfied that I had accomplished the first item and had plenty of time to spare.
For the millionth time I squashed thoughts of Nathan. Now that I had found him, time spent without him was time wasted as far as I was concerned. It still had not surfaced to my mind, why I had felt such a powerful need not to use my voice on him. Sparks of frustration had gone off in me all day long. I could have had my way by now.
I headed for home. Dead leaves blew across the sidewalk and clouds sat low over the horizon. A few blocks ahead I spotted a flash of curly blonde hair. Crystal stood on the sidewalk talking with a girl I didn't recognize. The two of them were standing close together and conversing intensely. Crystal's eyes darted around from time to time as she listened to what the other woman was saying. The other woman was even taller than Crystal and had short brown hair. The brunette had her hand closed around Crystal's wrist. The way the tendons stood out telegraphed that it wasn't a light grip.
I frowned. It looked like they were having a disagreement, but I was too far away to hear, even with my siren ears. I resumed walking, still a block away. As I stepped down onto the street and crossed, Crystal yanked her wrist away from the other woman, shaking her head and saying something sharply. I had never seen Crystal with an expression of anger on her face before. I didn't like it.
I picked up the pace, straining my ears.
"...Can't do it," Crystal was saying. I caught the words on the wind like errant leaves flying by. "…Would kill my family..." The wind shifted and I didn't catch the rest. Crystal strode away from the brunette woman, who stood there staring after Crystal. She called out Crystal’s name. Her voice sounded... tortured.
Suddenly the brunette ran after Crystal, threw her arms around her and shoved her into an alleyway. The two disappeared from view.
I exploded into a sprint. Crystal was under attack! I wheeled around the corner and into the alley, but skidded to a sudden stop, my heart trip-hammering in my chest.
The dark-haired girl had Crystal up against the bricks and was kissing her passionately, holding Crystal's wrist up over her head. Was my mind playing tricks? I opened my mouth when my brain suddenly registered that Crystal was not fighting this woman off, she was kissing her back just as passionately.
I back-pedaled out of the alley so quickly that I tripped over a crack in the sidewalk and went sprawling, thudding onto my butt and bruising my elbows.
“Whoa. Are you okay, there?” said a warm young voice.
I looked up to see a teenage boy with long wavy hair and a skateboard under one arm holding out a hand to me. I let him pull me to my feet.
I couldn't help but stare at Crystal and the brunette, still wrapped up in their make-out session. The boy followed my gaze.
He smirked and made a tsk'ing sound. "Young love." He sighed like he was a wistful elder instead of a punk kid. He shook his head and ambled off down the sidewalk.
I blinked after him, blinked at Crystal. Finally I ambled the other direction myself, processing.
Leaving land at the age of eleven meant I'd missed out on a whole host of human lessons. My education about sex had come mostly from my mother. Mermaids are completely heterosexual, so why would she have ever felt the need to talk about some humans being anything different? Sirens are driven by a powerful biological imperative to make more sirens, and to do that we have to mate with human men. There are a lot more humans on the earth than there are mermaids, maybe even like a million to one. Could it be that there are so many humans in the world that they have the luxury of being attracted to the same sex? Or had they always been that way? These were thoughts I had never had before and they bemused me for the rest of the day.
What confused me further was that Crystal and Nathan had looked wholly and completely in love, but so had Crystal and the dark-haired girl. Did Nathan know about the dark-haired girl? I had thought that society was predominantly monogamous, but could I be wrong about that too? It didn't seem fair that Crystal could have two relationships, while I, a siren endowed with the ability to seduce any male I wanted, was still without my mate. My head spun. I still couldn't remember why I shouldn't use my voice. I resolved to visit the reservoir tonight and if the reason didn't surface, then I wouldn't wait another second to claim my love.
13
I dove into the reservoir. The fresh water swept through my gills, s
harp and bracing. Swimming in fresh water was as different from swimming in saltwater as hot water was from ice. It was the same substance, but with completely different properties, and completely different effects on a siren
I propelled myself through the dark water with my powerful tail, enjoying the swim. I wracked my memory as the freshwater pumped through me. What had my mother said about how to use my voice?
The moon was high in the sky and the stars were popping out by the time the memory finally surfaced.
If you can avoid it, try your best not to use your voice on the man you choose.
Why?
Because a true and authentic love untainted by the manipulation of a siren’s voice makes for a better relationship and stronger offspring. I think many mermaids get impatient and use their voice just to get what they want sooner. But the ones who wait, the ones who respect the way human courtship works and don't rush, always make the strongest off-spring. You could even have a love so authentic and mutual that you produce an elemental.
What's an elemental?
A mermaid always has powers; her voice, her strength, her senses, her ability to pick up on emotions. But an elemental has more than this. I've been told that a very strong elemental can have power over the ocean, able to bend water to her will. She lives longer, develops immunity to disease. She might have the ability to regenerate herself and heal others. Those are gifts worth passing on to your daughter, don't you think?
I had nodded mutely, amazed at the difference it could make. I wasn’t capable of bending water or healing anyone. I wished I was.
Did you use your voice on dad?
She looked sad. I did. Unfortunately, I had to. I didn't use it a lot, so hopefully the damage was minimal. But if I hadn't, he would have found me out. That's why it's so important to protect your identity. You don't want to have to alter your lover's memory.
I broke the surface, floating on my back and looking up at the moon. So that was the reason. I now wanted desperately to give my unborn child these incredible gifts. My resolve hardened. I had to win Nathan without deception, but how?
14
As I entered the Sea Dog for my evening shift and crossed the hardwood floors toward the bar, I caught a glimpse of a familiar form sitting at a table in the corner. The scent of lilac pricked my nose. A man and a woman were sitting over empty lunch plates, talking intently. They must have been here for hours, it was four in the afternoon and they were the only patrons left in the restaurant. The woman was angled away from me but I recognized the tilt of the head, the blonde hair. It was Angelica Butterfield, the woman who had purchased the gold coin from me.
The Sea Dog was a popular destination and the only ship-like restaurant. It was even floating in the harbor like a proper sailing vessel. Sooner or later, everyone in Saltford made their way here, not to mention all of the tourists in the summer. I wasn’t surprised to see her.
I busied myself with putting on my apron and preparing for my shift.
"Mira?" said an incredulous voice. "You work here?"
I turned to see Angelica clicking her way over to the bar in red high-heels. "I've been trying to find you. How fortunate that we came here today." She reached across the bar, put a thin hand on my shoulder and squeezed. I could feel her barely-contained excitement. It was rolling off her in waves. She really was happy to see me. She lowered her voice. "You don't have to wait tables anymore, Mira. We can work something out."
I knew what she was after. "I have no more coins."
"Maybe so, but where there is one coin there is almost always more. Let's work together, it'll be great fun and I'll make you a rich woman. I have a network of buyers that spans the globe, including Sotheby and Stack."
I had no idea who that was and didn't care. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm happy right here. If I ever do happen across another such coin, I'll be sure to call."
Disappointment shrouded her eyes, but hope sprang up quickly after it. She was tenacious, this woman. "Come and talk with us, that's all I ask. Please, Mira?"
Phil came out of the back and overheard this request. He looked from Angelica's face to mine and jumped to some kind of conclusion. "Go ahead, Mira," he said, "We're ok for now, go have a chat with your friends. You can start your shift when you're done."
"Great," said Angelica brightly, tapping the countertop with her fingers in a childlike gesture of excitement. "We're right over here." She clicked back across the floor and sat down, looking back expectantly.
I sighed and followed, not bothering to untie my apron. This should be over quickly. Angelica slid back the empty chair and patted the seat with a flurry of enthusiasm.
"Mira, this is my colleague Chad Wendig. He's not really a collector, more like a..." she paused, "hired gun." She laughed and pushed the dirty plates aside so she could prop her elbows on the table.
The moment I looked at Chad I knew there was something different about him. From the way he was looking at me, he was thinking the same thing.
"Nice to meet you, Mira." He shook my hand. He had an English accent. His grip was firm, warm, and confident.
"You too," I said, but I was distracted by his eyes. They were the darkest coal black I had ever seen, with no division between pupil and iris. They had a faintly reflective quality, my silhouette mirrored back at me in his obsidian orbs. He had a thin-lipped mouth and a crooked smile, charming in a way. His front tooth had a small diagonal chip missing.
"I've already told Chad about you, can you believe it?" Angelica said. "He's all up to speed."
"Angelica showed me the 1927 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coin you found, exceptionally rare. Are you a trader?" Chad’s gaze was probing, assessing.
"No, I just got lucky. I really should be getting back to work."
"Angelica is the one who got lucky. I can't figure out why you sold it for so little. No one who knows coins would have made the deal you made. Angelica might not like to admit it, but she really capitalized on your ignorance."
I had a feeling he was trying to make me think I needed them. Maybe if I was human, it would have worked.
"I did," Angelica admitted, looking contrite and placing a hand over her heart. "Everyone knows to bid low so you took me off guard when you took the first offer. It made me realize that you don't truly understand the opportunity in front of you. I'd like to bring you onto the team. We'd like to organize a treasure hunt, using where you found that coin as ground zero. You don't have to do the work. If you'll simply tell us where you found it, we'll give you half of everything we find. Scouts honor," she held two fingers up to her eyebrow. Then she laughed and said, "Just kidding, of course we'll sign a proper legal contract."
It might have been an interesting offer to some, and to turn it down might look stupid. I had to accept looking stupid though because I'd be risking more than that if I told them where I'd found the coin. No one dives Devil's Eye. No one sane, anyway. The riptide alone is impossible for a human diver to manage, to say nothing of the jutting rocks and impressive waves.
I felt the siren voice scratching at the base of my throat, wanting to come out and put all this to rest. I opened my mouth to decline again when Angelica said, "Pardon me, I have to use the little wenches room. I'll be right back, don't go away." She was up and clickety-clacking across the floor in a moment.
I went to stand, not wanting to wait for her to return before dismissing myself. Chad's hand closed over mine. The heat of his touch startled me.
"Sit down," he said slowly, and under his breath.
I sat and looked at him. Not out of fear, but from curiosity about the hidden layers of meaning in his voice when he'd said those two simple words. Something was about to surface and he'd been waiting for Angelica to leave to get real.
"I see you, Mira." His voice was still low and calm. "The unnatural blue of your eyes, the opaque perfection of your skin. What are you?" He pressed his hand over mine. Was it just me or was his palm rapidly growing unnaturally hot?
"Excuse
me?"
His voice was so quiet it might not have even been detectable by human ears. "You're a supernatural. What kind?"
It took everything I had not to let shock take over my face. “Are you feeling alright?" I asked, deflecting with artificial concern. “You seem confused.”
His look darkened. "Don't play stupid, Mira. It insults your intelligence. I know a supernatural when I see one." His ebony eyes took on a red glow, like he had a furnace crackling inside his barrel-chest. I had a flashback of my dad swerving to avoid a coyote caught in the headlights of our car. The beast looked straight at us, his eyes reflected our high beams and made him look like a demon running in the night. Chad had this same look.
I snatched my hand back. "We're done here." I stood. "Leave me alone." I sounded strong but my mind was reeling. There were more supernatural creatures out there other than sirens? Mom had never told me that. Maybe she hadn’t known. It hit me like a blow to the gut––just how much I had to learn and no one to teach me. Grief blew through me like a cold wind. Sirens were not meant to be without their mother so early in life. It wasn’t fair.
"You're not in any position," he began, but stopped as his eyes roved over my face. I could see the gears turning in his mind, weighing the odds of whatever power I had against whatever power he had. I turned away and went back behind the bar, giving him one last hard look that said I was not afraid.
The clicking of heels announced the return of Angelica, she slowed as she approached the table and saw that I wasn't there. She started to head my way when Chad got up and took her hand. He spoke to her in hushed tones, barely above a whisper. She listened, a line between her brows, then nodded. Chad shot me one last look, put on his jacket and left the pub.
Angelica fished in her purse and pulled out enough money to pay for their meals. She walked over as she wormed her way into her leather jacket. "Chad tells me you remain unconvinced to share what you know." She sighed, looking resigned. "In this day and age, we should be working together to unearth the treasures of our past, not competing." She handed me another business card saying, "In case you change your mind."
Sirens and Scales Page 91
