by Angela Blake
He came closer, a smile on his face, waiting for his father to remember that he was standing right there. Eventually they let go of each other and Tipene turned to him with a huge smile on his face.
‘Tane, I want you to meet my littermate, Az. She’s the equivalent of my twin sister up top.’ Tipene said.
‘Oh. That’s…amazing. I have an aunt.’ Tane said smiling at Az as he held his hand out to be shaken. She looked at it like she had no idea what he expected her to do with it and the next thing he knew, he was enveloped in her arms. She smelled of seaweed and salt, tendrils of her hair were swirling around him like the snakes on Medusa’s head. Her skin looked faintly green but Tane figured that that was because of the water around them. He wanted to stare at her, to run his fingers along her skin and examine the scales on her tail fin. They were differently colored from his own with gold accents and all the earth colors combined from yellow to green.
He could not wait to meet the others of their kind. Would their scales all be different colors? Would it be rude to ask questions about them? Tane didn’t know where to start.
‘Come Tane. Follow me.’ Tipene said as he followed Az into the murky depths. His impression that it was some sort of wall turned out to be correct because the opacity didn’t last more than a couple of feet. They emerged into a place of clear water, and Tane’s jaw dropped because before them was…a village.
There was a straight road that ran right through from where they stood into the horizon. On each side of the road were buildings made of rock and sand and sea vegetation. Several mer people were moving around, seemingly busy. There was a merwoman carrying a woven seaweed basket, filled with fish. Merchildren swam about, playing some game similar to tag. Other mers sat in groups, perhaps speaking to each other.
Tane felt like a child again, wanting to run hither and thither, touching everything and exploring.
‘Dad!’ he called excitedly barely restraining himself from running forward and touching things, gawking at the kids, trying to eavesdrop on conversations; just do everything at once.
‘Relax,’ Tipene said understanding on his face, ‘You’ll get your chance.’
Az led them to one of the buildings, opening the door and gesturing for them to enter. It was obviously a dwelling. There were pieces of woven furniture arranged in a way that was obviously meant to encourage conversation. There was also a table carved out of a rock. Az gestured for them to sit down and Tane followed his father’s example and did just that.
‘How is the up?’Az asked sitting opposite them.
‘Tis good.’ Tipene said with a nod.
‘And your mate?’ Az asked.
‘She is well.’
‘And him? Your spawn?’
‘Yes.’
‘He is well built.’
‘Yes he is.’
Tane watched them go back and forth, fascinated with their way of speaking. It seemed terse but their expressions were warm and happy. They appeared really pleased to see each other, and Az’s tail was wagging slightly back and forth.
‘You will eat?’
‘Tane has yet to taste our food.’
‘Then I must make him something,’ Az said getting up and swimming towards another room, the kitchen Tane assumed.
‘She isn’t making me seaweed cake or something is she?’ Tane asked.
Tipene laughed.
‘You’ll enjoy the food. Promise.’
***
Tane spent the next few days getting to know his father’s people. There was some hostility, especially among the older folks but Az was apparently held in high esteem and for her sake, they welcomed Tane and his father into the fold.
There was so much to learn about the mer that it was almost overwhelming for Tane. The overarching theme that everyone from the oldest to the youngest was anxious to impress upon him was secrecy. The humans were never to know that the mer existed.
“Look what they did to the whales and the dolphins,” Az said.
“You mean…?” Tane asked not wanting to appear dumb but not knowing what Az meant.
“They have driven them to extinction. Poisoned their habitat…” one of the other mer replied.
“Isn’t it our habitat too?” Tane asked hesitantly.
“It is different. The whales and dolphins, they rely on sound to find food and communicate. So it is not just the waste in the water that is polluting their source of food but the noise from your loud underwater seismic searches or pulses of noise sent down to the seabed looking for oil and gas, military exercises using powerful underwater sonar, and increasing levels of boat activity are increasing the noise levels up top. The whales and dolphins are affected more than any other sea life because they are the most intelligent. Your oil spills affect everyone but at least here, we have some protection.” One of the elders said.
Tane listened carefully trying to learn it all as quickly as possible. He didn’t know what he could do to make a difference, but ‘up top’ as they called it, he had access to a billion dollar company. Surely he could do something.
‘It’s a lot to take in huh?’ Tipene said watching him with sympathy. Tane nodded and sighed, sitting back and taking another bite of his carrageen moss. It was a bit chewy but there was no denying that it had quite the kick to it.
‘We have to be getting back soon,’ Tipene said.
‘Already?’
‘It’s been almost a week. I think we’ve had all the hiking we can justify. We can’t just leave your mother alone to cope with everything on her own.’
Tane looked down, ‘Dad, I don’t know what to do.’
‘About?’
‘Everything. School…the inheritance…Livy…’ he looked into the distance avoiding his father’s eyes.
‘Livy? What’s to do about Livy?’
‘She and I…’ Tane said not sure he should be discussing these things with his father.
Tipene laughed, ‘Oh so you and Livy finally closed the deal huh?’
‘What do you mean, finally?’
‘You two have been circling each other like cockerels for years.’
‘No we haven’t! She just used to bully me.’
Tipene snorted, ‘Okay princess.’
Tane swam away from his dad, and went to join the kids in whatever game they were playing. Clearly his dad could not be trusted to see things as they were if he thought Livy and he had been flirting all these years. It was probably because he had limited experience of human courting. Maybe mers flirted by bullying Tane thought before laughing out loud at how ridiculous it sounded, even in his head.
It struck him then how free he’d become in the water, he didn’t think about breathing or drowning anymore. It all just came naturally. He thought with a pang of going back on land and not being able to do this anymore. Now that he had it, he didn’t want to give this part of his heritage up.
***
Three days later they were back on shore, enjoying the pull of the waves as they waded towards their parked car. It seemed unmolested despite the length of time they’d been away. It had certainly been longer than either of them expected. And thankfully his dad had left a bag of fresh clothes in the car to cover themselves like normal people.
“How did you walk away dad? How’d you turn your back on your heritage? I’ve only been with them for like…what? Two weeks? And I already feel a hole inside from having to walk away.”
His dad turned to look at him, his eyes sad and distant, “How do you think I feel then?”
Tane felt his words like a knife to the heart, “Was she worth it then? Were we worth it?” he wondered if he would have been able to make the same sacrifice his father had, not even knowing if the woman he loved would love him back. It sounded so fantastical in Tane’s mind - a fairy tale. Not real life.
His father was smiling at him, shaking his head in surprise, “How can you even ask me that son? Of course you are.” His voice became soft, “O
f course she is; your mother is everything.”
“Yes but you didn’t know that when you made the deal. You just…jumped.”
Tipene nodded, “I did. I did just jump. That’s love for you. It makes you do crazy things.”
“I don’t think I could ever feel like that dad,” he said.
Tipene smiled, “Give it time my son. Give it time.”
Chapter Seven: Creating a Distraction
His father fished out his phone as soon as they entered the vehicle and switched it on, calling his mom at once. The conversation wasn’t long but it was soft and warm. Tane had a new appreciation of his parents’ relationship and it was making him see everything with new eyes. He closed his own eyes, knowing that he would not be satisfied until he found the same kind of love for himself.
“Your mom says hi,” Tipene said as he hung up.
Tane straightened up in his seat, “Yeah? Well I can’t wait to see her too. It’s been too long.”
“What about Livy?” Tipene asked.
“What about her?” even to Tane, his tone sounded defensive.
Tipene simply shrugged, “Nothing,” he said.
Tane watched him with narrow eyes for a bit but Tipene’s face was the picture of impassivity. His father reached out, turning on the radio and they drove on in silence, listening to a broadcast about whale sounds and their possible meanings.
***
The jeep was back in the driveway which meant Tane and his father were back from their hiking trip. Livy hadn’t meant to be a stalker, she just happened to be going for a swim in the ocean when she flicked her eyes toward the Patariki residence and there it was. She craned her neck slightly, meaning to see if Tane was about, just so she could find out if he’d had a good trip. No big. Maybe see if he wanted to go swimming with her. Since Gill had moved out and started working odd hours it had been kind of lonely.
Who was she kidding?
She hadn’t been able to get Tane out of her mind ever since that night that he probably didn’t even remember. It was probably just one of many one night stands to him – tall drink of water that he was, with that wild curly black hair, tanned flawless skin that made his seriously piercing hazel eyes pop like nobody’s business. Not to mention that insane body; heaven knew when he had time to work out considering his study schedule. Not that she had much interest in his study schedule; it wasn’t her fault if his grandmother had spoken at length about it. She was no stalker. His grandmother hadn’t mentioned any particular girl though. And she hadn’t seen any at the funeral. He had gone home with her after all; though she didn’t think he had intended for it to end the way it did. She hadn’t either, but she wasn’t mad at it. But yeah, probably just another one night stand. The ladies had to be throwing themselves at him. Looks, intelligence and rich as Croesus too…he was literally the full package.
Livy sighed.
She had no chance of holding his attention so she didn’t know why she was still peering hopefully at his porch, waiting to see if he would come out. She turned abruptly and went back to her home. There was no need to give Tane the wrong idea by frolicking on his beach. He would just think she was stalking him.
And she wasn’t.
She remembered the first time she and her sister laid eyes on him, glaring balefully at them from his side of the fence. She had noticed his eyes from the jump, thinking that they looked like some alien creature peering angrily out from the rich golden skin of some human boy. He hadn’t seemed happy to see them at all. She remembered laughing with Gill about what a rotten spoiled little brat he must be, while agreeing that it was a pity since he was kind of cute.
She reminisced as she walked along the shoreline, watching the sun slowly climb up into the sky, bathing the horizon with a dizzying confection of fire, rose pink and gold. Nothing stirred this early and she was totally not disappointed not to see Tane surfing the waves. A movement in her periphery caused her to turn her head and she gasped, blinking rapidly, not sure she saw what she thought she was seeing. The waves rose and fell with hypnotic rhythm and seeming to frolic among them was…
No.
It could not be.
Long beautiful tail, impression of purple and gold like the sunrise, flash of silver like a flare illumined briefly in the early morning light. It was her imagination because she’d been thinking of him as an alien, she told herself. Of course it was. Especially when he made his way to shore and he clearly had two legs. Two long, powerful-looking legs, striding purposefully toward her as she stood frozen on the shore, trying to decide what was real.
“T-Tane,” her voice wobbled precariously and she didn’t know where to look.
He came to a stop right in front of her and she lifted her eyes to stare at him, question screaming so clearly in their depths that he must hear it.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, not seeming in the slightest bit pleased to see her.
“Walking,” she answered automatically, “It’s a public beach.”
His eyebrow lifted, drawing her eye. She could not deny that he was a work of art, but was he also…even in her mind, she couldn’t say it. She tried on a shaky giggle for size.
“I just saw the strangest thing-” she began to say.
“Did you?” he asked taking a step closer so he was looming over her.
“Y-yeah. At least, I think I did.” She replied, dropping her eyes and taking a step back.
“You probably need more sleep.” He replied, taking a step forward.
She shook her head, wondering if this was some sort of fever dream. She looked up at him and opened her mouth to ask but then he swooped in, covering her lips with his in a bruising kiss. She stiffened for all of a moment but then melted right into him; letting him in as far as he wanted to go.
She had missed the taste of his mouth even more than she realized.
She let him grasp the nape of her neck pulling her even closer as she leaned up to deepen their kiss. Her fingers curled into his curly unruly wet hair while her other hand she held onto his broad shoulders.
“Please, Tane,” Livy whispered not really knowing what she was pleading for. “Please.”
She rocked her hips against his unashamed at her wantonness. Tane lost no time, snaking a hand down between them to cup against the smooth silkiness of her bikini bottom. She couldn’t help but to grind her mound down against the heel of his hand, her hips jerking frantically to get the friction that she needed.
“Touch me,” she growled.
“I thought I was.” Tane sounded amused as his hands trailed upward, tracing the shape of her. Her eyelids fluttered and she forgot everything she’d seen before as the hard calluses on his hands brushed against the sensitive flesh of her thighs. She widened her legs to give him all the access that he needed and was taken by surprise as he reached for her hands and put them over her head. His lips left hers and blazed a trail down her neck and shoulders, finally landing…in her armpit. She twitched, trying to get away but he held her still with his strong arms, licking and sucking with no sign of disgust. She hadn’t known how sensitive that area could be.
Well, she had but she associated it with being ticklish. The things his mouth was doing to her was so far beyond her experience she had no idea what to do. She wanted to climb him like a tree. Pull all of him into her like she was some pagan god of sex and he was her sacrifice.
She let out a long, shaky breath, nuzzling against his arm, the only part of him she could reasonably reach as he licked and laved, sucked and bit.
“Please,” she whimpered just wanting more of whatever this was.
“I’ve been thinking about you so much,” she whispered as he stroked her, feeling the warm wetness begin to gather at her entrance. “Making love in the moonlight, here on the beach, the sound of the waves in the background…” She broke off into an incoherent mumble of pleasure as his hand drifted downward; found her clit, and circled around it with his thumb all the while
his mouth was still hard at work in her armpit.
“Yes, yes, that’s perfect, this is perfect.”
Tane went to slip a finger up inside her, but Livy shook her head.
“No, no, not your fingers. I want you inside properly. Please Tane.” She mumbled not even paying attention to her words. She could feel her desire like a heartbeat and every beat was want, want, want.
‘What was he doing to her?’
His tongue moved from her armpit to her bikini covered breasts. He sucked on them hard, sending electric tendrils of want down to her vagina where his thumb was hard at work. It was sensory overload and she just wanted him to get on with it.
She looked around trying to find somewhere conducive then just dropped to the ground and pulled him over onto her. Her legs cradled him tightly as she reached down between them burrowing in his swim trunks to take his cock and line them up. Tane braced his weight on his arms, shaking a little with the effort of not sinking down into her warmth in one rough thrust.
“Come inside, Tane, I want you to fuck me on this beach. Make it ours. Make me yours.”
It was her words that did it, a combination of Livy talking dirty like that, and making this beach his. He pressed smoothly into her velvety channel, her inner walls fluttering around him so snugly as she wrapped her legs around his back, her heels pushing him in further, encouraging him to keep thrusting, hard and long and deep, the smell of the sea and the sweat on their skin, the sand coarse against his arms and legs, every sensation increased tenfold as he buried himself inside Livy, losing himself in her. He felt her fingers creep between them and touch herself, and her walls squeezed around him as she reached her climax, calling out his name.
