The Mermaid's Escape

by Kellie McAllen

  I tilt my head and stare at him, and he winces. “Shit. Your feet are probably killing you. Maybe I can come up with something that will help. Stay here, okay?”

  I nod at him, and he makes a face then gets up and walks a few steps away, scanning the ground for something. He pulls a gadget from a hidden spot in his clothing and makes a loud, snapping sound. I flinch as a sharp, shiny object pops up in his hand. He reaches for a large, flat, tree leaf and uses the gadget to cut the leaf from the branch. He does this a few more times then yanks some long strands of grass from the ground.

  Satisfied with what he’s found, he heads back towards me and pulls one of my feet into his lap. The position seems overly intimate, and I feel my face warm as tingles flitter up and down my body.

  “I’d wash them if there was any water nearby, but this will have to do for now.” Gio wraps the large leaves around my feet and binds them with the grass. When he’s done, he pulls me to my feet, and I take a few, tentative steps in my new footwear. It’s awkward, but the cool, slick leaves do feel better against my skin than the gritty sand.

  “Think you can walk a little longer like that?” Gio takes my hand again and heads back the way we came.

  He’s quiet as we walk, but his mind buzzes, broadcasting his thoughts indiscriminately. He thinks about the storm a lot. His terror and helplessness wash over me as he replays the moment the wave capsized his vessel over and over again. He’s grateful everyone survived, but he agonizes over the loss of his boat and all his equipment. He was searching for treasure, and he worries about how he’ll earn a living now; the boat was all he had.

  He thinks about me, too, flicks of desire woven though his confusion about me. I’m a distraction, but he feels compelled to protect me, especially since I rescued his team. He’s attracted to me, an undeniable lust that has him imagining things that embarrass me. I know mermaids are irresistibly attractive to humans, but are these the kinds of thoughts that all men have? Merfolk know how to hide the thoughts they don’t want you to hear, but I don’t think these humans even realize I can hear theirs.

  Another face gets more attention in his mind than me, though, a young girl with long, dark hair and scared eyes. Love, loss, regret, hopefulness — the emotions he feels every time he thinks of her are heart-wrenching and overwhelming, and I wonder who she is. A pang of jealousy pricks me when he thinks about her.

  In between those ceaseless worries, hunger gnaws at his stomach, and his feet are starting to ache like mine. Like me, he swats at the bugs that hover incessantly around his head, but it doesn’t deter them. The oppressive heat wears on him, making him long for the sea, and I’m surprised by this, although I shouldn’t be. I know that humans have tried to conquer the sea since the beginning of time. I guess I’m not the only one who longs to explore a different world.

  After a while, the shoes Gio fashioned for me turn to shreds and fall off, and my legs grow weaker until I’m no longer able to keep up with him. I swallow a moan with each tender step. His arm stretches behind him, pulling me as I lag, but eventually I can’t go any farther. I stop and bend at the waist to catch my breath, whimpering.

  “Hey Princess, you okay? Am I going too fast for you?” His eyes drop to my bare feet, wisps of grass tied to my ankles the only remaining evidence of his handiwork.

  He drops to the ground and leans up against a tree to rest, pulling me down with him. I sit next to him, and he drapes an arm around my shoulder and sighs. “You’re not used to all this walking, huh? Sorry, that’s my military training, I guess. No rest till the job is done. I’d kill for a drink of water and something to eat, though.”

  His mind conjures up images of food I’ve never seen. I can’t even imagine what it would taste like, but in his head he’s savoring every bite, and my stomach growls in response. He chuckles. “Yeah, me too, babe. Me too.”

  The hand draped around me caresses my upper arm, his large fingers rough against my skin, but I feel protected under his embrace. This world is scary and foreign, and even though he seems almost as lost in it as me, having him by my side lessens my anxiety.

  As he gazes out into the trees, I take the opportunity to study his face. Sweat runs down the side of his heavy brow and leaves a trail through the scruff on his firm jaw, making his dark skin glisten. He lifts the bottom of his shirt to wipe his face, giving me a glimpse of his abdomen. The muscles tense as he moves, each one firm and distinct, and I long to trail my fingers down the ridges.

  Grandfather never let me spend time with any mermen other than Kai, but Kai never stirred these feelings of desire in me. I let the pleasure course through me as I stare at him, stimulating every part of me, the sensation overwhelming. Suddenly, Gio turns his head to face me, and I’m caught in his stare. His mouth curves into a wide grin. “You like what you see, Princess?”

  I can’t help but let my eyes sweep up and down his body again, and he does the same to me, desire burning in his gaze. “You really need some clothes if you’re gonna stick around, babe. A guy only has so much self-control, you know?”

  In one swift movement, he pulls off his shirt and hands it to me. I take it, but stare in confusion. He doesn’t want to look at me? I dip my head in humiliation and fumble with the clothing, trying to figure out how to put it on. I stick my head in one of the holes, but I don’t know where to put my arms or how to get it to cover the rest of my body. I struggle with it for a few moments before Gio’s laugh interrupts me.

  “How do you not know how to put a shirt on, Princess?” He takes over, his deft hands twisting the material and guiding my hands through the proper holes until the shirt hangs on my body like it did on his, only much looser. There is no material covering my arms, only gaping holes that still allow peeks of my breasts and belly, but the cloth falls past my waist, just covering the hair between my legs.

  The shirt smells strongly of him — earthy, musky, and pungent, and I lift the fabric to my nose for a better whiff. Gio grimaces. “Sorry, babe, I’m sure it’s pretty ripe. We can wash it out when we get back to the beach.”

  In his mind, he pictures immersing the garment in the sea to erase his scent, and I frown and hug the fabric to my body. Gio quirks an eyebrow at me and shakes his. “I sure wish I knew what was going on in that pretty, little head of yours, Princess.”

  Once we’ve rested for a bit, Gio stands and pulls me to my feet, but I cringe as soon as they touch the rough ground. He looks at my feet and works his jaw.

  “What the hell, you probably only weigh a hundred pounds, barely more than a rucksack. Climb on my back, Princess. I can carry you the rest of the way.”

  An image of me straddling him flashes through his mind, and my eyes widen at the prospect. Before I have a chance to think about it, he bends down and reaches for me, pulling my body onto his back and wrapping my legs around his waist, his hands under my thighs. My hands grasp his broad shoulders as he stands, lifting me up with him.

  His body feels firm and strong against mine, his bare flesh hot and slick, and the waistband of his shorts tickles the juncture between my legs, making me squirm.

  “You gotta hold still, baby, or I might drop you.” Gio’s voice sounds deeper, huskier, and he lifts me higher on his back with a little toss. I cling tighter and yelp at the movement.

  We walk for a long time, and Gio’s labored breathing tells me he’s getting tired, but he doesn’t put me down. Finally, the trees thin, and I can see the beach on the other side.

  “Oh, oh!” I cry, pointing, and Gio chuckles.

  When we reach the wet sand, he puts me down and starts unbuttoning his shorts. “How about a dip in the water to cool off?”

  His pants fall to the ground, and he quickly wades into the water wearing only a small, black article of clothing that covers his genitals. When he’s waist deep, he turns back towards me, spreads his arms, and lets himself flop down into the sea. He comes back up a few seconds later, wiping his face. Water runs down his chest, emphasizing his large muscles, and I stare
in appreciation. He spits a stream of water from his mouth, and his cheeks spread wide in a bright smile.

  “Come on in, Princess, the water’s fine!” He waves me forward, but I shake my head.

  I’m desperate for the sea, but if I go in, my tail will reappear, and he’ll know my secret. I may not know much about the human world, but I know that our kind never reveals what we are to humans. It’s too risky.

  Gio splashes around a bit longer in the water but then heads back towards the shore, a confused frown on his face.

  “What’s the matter? You didn’t seem to mind the water yesterday. You must be one hell of a swimmer if you swam all the way out to where our boat sank and pulled the four of us out of the water. How’d you manage that, anyway? Are you part fish?” He laughs like it’s an absurdity, and it confirms my decision to conceal my true nature.

  I long to dive into the sea and let the soothing water flow through my gills, though. My whole body feels parched even though I’m wet with sweat. I wish Gio would catch a fish for us to eat. My belly has never felt so empty. I decide to risk getting close enough to scoop up a handful of water at least, to slake my thirst.

  I drop to my knees, hoping the waves don’t come up any higher. I don’t know how much water it will take to bring out my tail, but I don’t want to risk even a splash. Gio watches me as I lean over the water and cup my hands, bringing the liquid to my mouth. I swallow several big gulps before Gio grabs my hand and yanks it away.

  “You can’t drink the sea water, Princess. The salt will just dehydrate you more.” He frowns at me and shakes his head. “You should know that.”

  I know he’s not pleased with my actions, but I don’t understand what I’ve done wrong. Why doesn’t he want me to drink the water? I could drink another dozen handfuls, but I don’t want to upset him, so I stand up and back away.

  Gio sits down on the sand, facing the water, and I join him, watching the waves in their eternal dance. The air is cooler here; a gentle breeze wafts over my overheated skin. The scent of the ocean is strong and comforting.

  A few flying creatures soar over the water, squawking as they dive down close to the sea, and it reminds me of Muriel’s description. I wonder where she thinks I am. Does she suspect I came to the land, or does she think I’ve just run away to the sea?

  One large wave tosses a fish onto the sand nearby, and I jump to my feet to grab it before the sea comes back to reclaim it. I hold it out to Gio with a big smile, expecting appreciation, but he just smirks at me.

  “Good catch, Princess, but we don’t have any way to cook that, and I’m too wiped out to try to start a fire right now.” He turns his attention back to the sea.

  I tilt my head and frown; I don’t understand the picture in his head — the fish impaled on a stick, sizzling over bright orange wisps that flicker erratically and emit heat and noxious fumes.

  I sit back down next to him, holding my catch, trying to figure out what to do. Don’t humans eat fish? Maybe he just doesn’t realize they’re edible. I perk up, excited at the idea of teaching him something about my world. I lay a hand on his arm to get his attention and take a big bite, chewing happily. My eyes roll back, and I smile and hold the fish out to him, but he cringes. I take another bite and hold it out again, but Gio just shakes his head and pushes it away.

  “Wow, Princess. Raw fish? I didn’t know you had it in you. I’ll pass; you can have it.” He chuckles and curls his lip at me.

  I shrug and dig into the meal with gusto. Gio gawks at me while I eat, but it’s been three days since my last real meal, and I’m enjoying my dinner too much to care about his strange reaction. A short while later, I’ve gnawed away everything but the bones and tail, and I toss those back into the sea with a satisfied smile.

  Soon, we hear a rustling in the brush behind us, and Jude and Avery appear, looking weak and exhausted. They tromp over to where Gio and I sit and plop down on either side of us.

  “Hey, you keeping Island Barbie to yourself? Please tell me she led you to fresh water,” Jude moans, rubbing his fingers through his curls, mussing them.

  When he pulls his hands away, the curls stay that way. I feel the urge to reach out and tidy them, and by the look on Avery’s face, so does he. Avery runs his fingers through his own blond hair, smoothing it a bit, and I briefly wonder what my hair looks like. Several large chunks have escaped Muriel’s updo and hang limply over my shoulders. It’s strange how still hair lies outside of the water.

  “Nope, she’s more clueless than you, if that’s possible. She just followed me around all day, acting as lost as us,” Gio grouses. “I take it you two losers didn’t find any, either?” They shake their heads.

  “Maybe Liam knows some science shit that helped him figure out where to look.” Jude looks hopeful.

  We sit and wait for Liam to return as the sun sinks below the horizon. My hands reach to my hair and start undoing the braids, and Avery notices. “You want some help, Beautiful? Your hair is a rat’s nest.”

  He moves to sit behind me, his golden legs stretched out on either side of mine. Jude and Gio glance curiously at us but don’t say anything. I stare at the sparse, light blond hair on Avery’s legs, so different from the thick, dark curls on Gio’s. What is the purpose of it? It doesn’t look very protective. Merfolk have scales that slide easily through the water and protect them from injury, but human skin seems weaker, more susceptible. I wince as the pain in my feet floats to the surface of my mind.

  I’m tempted to stroke the hair on Avery’s legs, but I’m not sure if that’s appropriate. His gentle fingers deftly untangle my hair, carefully removing the pearls and sea grass and teasing loose the knots. It reminds me of Muriel’s motherly touch, but Avery’s touch stirs different feelings in me.

  As he works, his mind drifts back to a memory. He’s sitting behind a little girl, just like this. She has blonde hair the same color as his, and his fingers carefully work the strands into a complicated braid, but before he can finish he’s interrupted by an angry man, shouting about having a fag for a son. The man yanks him away from the girl, and his hands drop the braid, the strands falling back to the girl’s shoulders.

  The memory saddens me, and I lay a hand on Avery’s leg in commiseration. He flinches at the contact, so I yank my hand away, afraid I’ve done something wrong.

  When he’s done, he strokes a hand down my now-smooth locks and tucks some behind one ear. “You could definitely use a deep conditioning treatment, but this is a lot better, anyway.”

  I turn and smile at him and am rewarded with a magnificent grin that makes his eyes crinkle. He taps me on the nose with a finger then wraps his arms around my waist and gives me a squeeze. Gio frowns at us, and Avery lets go, leaning back on his hands.

  I scamper to my feet and sit down behind Avery, running my fingers through his hair. It’s not as tangled as mine was, but I want to return the favor. I stretch my legs out on the outside of his, just like he did, and Avery chuckles and runs a hand down each leg, like I wanted to do to him. The touch sends shivers of pleasure pulsing through me.

  When I’m done, I reach to embrace him the way he hugged me, and Avery’s musical laugh bubbles around me. I feel awkward sitting behind him now that I’m done, so I knee-walk over to his side.

  “Are you two done playing beauty shop?” Gio rolls his eyes. I don’t know what he means, and I’m not sure if his cranky tone is sarcasm or irritation.

  “Hey, what about my turn?” Jude asks, pulling his fingers through his curls, but before I have a chance to react, Liam emerges from the tree line, looking dejected.

  His pale skin is tinged with red, and he trudges through the sand and walks straight into the water, shedding his shirt and shorts as he goes.

  “That’s a good idea. Let’s cool off in the water, Princess.” Avery holds out his hand to me, and I look at him but I don’t take it.

  “Good luck. I tried getting her in the water earlier, but she wouldn’t budge. Wouldn’t even get her feet w
et,” Gio says.

  Avery looks between me and Gio curiously. “She can’t be afraid of the water; she’s the one who rescued us.”

  Gio shrugs. “Beats me. It’s just one more weird thing about her. If you figure it out, let me know.”

  Avery purses his lips and stares at me for a moment then shrugs and turns away.

  “I’m coming.” Jude groans as he hauls himself off the sand.

  While Jude, Avery, and Liam splash around in the water, I scoot closer to Gio.

  I give in to temptation and lay a hand on his leg, running my fingers through the dark, curly hairs. Gio startles and turns to look at me but doesn’t stop me. Slowly, I reach out my other hand and touch his chest. The expanse of bare skin has been tempting me ever since he gave his shirt to me. The muscle is firm beneath my fingers, the skin warm, and my hand quivers at the feel of it.

  “What do you want, Princess?” Gio’s voice is thick and rough with desire. Why can’t he understand what I’m trying to say? I frown and drop my hand when the others tromp back towards us, interrupting the moment.

  “Hey, no fair making a move on the native when the rest of us are preoccupied.” Jude grins and plops down next to me. His smile and light-hearted nature are a welcome change from Gio’s intensity. I give him a small smile, and his face breaks open even wider.

  “You gotta show us what’s good to eat on this island, Barbie. I’m starving. It takes a lot of calories to maintain this physique!” He runs his hands over his thick abdomen. He’s as big as Gio, but I can’t see the lines of his muscles.

  “She ate a raw fish a few minutes before you showed up,” Gio says.

  Jude raises his eyebrows and nods at me. “You go, girl! You gonna catch one for me? I’m not sure how I feel about eating it raw, but if you can do it, so can I. I can’t wimp out in front of a girl, now can I?”

  I could catch a fish in a moment if I went in the water, but I can’t do that in front of everyone. But maybe I can find another fish on the sand for him. They all must be starving. I jump up and take off down the shore line, looking for something fresh.