by Angel Leya
“You’d do that for me?”
“You’re a freaking mermaid! Of course I’d do that for you. You’re like the highlight of my year. I’ll have to get that tank custom made for you, but I’ll stick around until it’s ready. Meet me back here tomorrow night?”
Vince flashed a cocky smirk as he stood up, glistening feet flashing before my face.
I stared a moment before meeting his gaze. “I don’t know.” Yes. Why didn’t I just say yes? I wanted it so bad it practically hurt.
“I think you should come.”
“Why?”
“Because on some level, you’re like me. We both want things that seem impossible.”
Chapter 3: Intrigued
Vince was right.
I thought about the TV and internet all day. If such things existed, then I could see land. To see it moving and living and breathing—that was something I wanted my entire life, but never thought possible. Now, I’d come too far, broken too many rules to turn my back on this opportunity.
The next night, as soon as I could slip away, I was back at the boat. Vince waited for me, but this time he stared at a pliable square object instead of draining brown bottles.
“You’re here!” He grinned, putting down the object, and my heart began to flutter.
“Yes. I am.”
Vince rolled up his pants and sat on the edge, feet in the water. He pat the deck next to him, and I cocked my head. I pat the spot as well. What exactly did he expect me to do? He laughed.
“That’s not what I meant. Can you sit on the deck with me?”
“I don’t know . . .”
“You can jump back in whenever you want. It’s just . . . I haven’t really seen you—at least, not since that night I almost drowned. If it’s too weird for you, you don’t have to.”
I blushed. I had never been out of the water before. I searched Vince’s eyes.
“You seem different,” I said.
Vince’s eyes rolled up to the right and he pulled his lips inward. “Oh! You mean I’m not drunk.” Vince chuckled.
“What’s drunk?”
“Well, you drink beer or some other type of alcohol, and when you drink too much, you start acting different. We call it drunk. My friends tell me I’m an idiot when I’m drunk.”
“So, why don’t you stop?”
“It helps me forget.”
“Forget what?”
“My life. My legs. All the pressure there is on me.”
I stared at his legs. “What’s wrong with all of that?”
“That’s a long story, and I don’t want to bore you.”
“I don’t mind. Besides, we talked about me yesterday. I want to learn more about you.”
“You don’t mind being bored, eh?” Vince laughed again, looking at the starry sky. “Well, why don’t you make yourself comfortable and I’ll see what I can do.”
Vince pat the deck, wearing a warm smile. I took a sharp breath and reached for the edge. Flipping my tail, I pulled myself onto the deck and turned to sit with my fluke in the water. I let out a ragged breath, my heart in my throat.
“Wow,” came Vince’s response.
We sat in silence. Vince’s eyes wandered over my body, paying special attention to my tail. I began playing with my wet hair, arranging it like a blanket over myself. Mer didn’t wear clothes like humans, but out of the water under the watchful eye of a human made me feel naked.
“Is everything okay?”
“I just . . . I wanted to keep my skin wet,” I lied, pulling at my hair.
“Do you want me to get you anything? I can get a blanket and we can use it to help keep you wet.” Vince started to get up, but I put my hand on his.
“No. I— I’m okay. I just worry. Besides, I can always jump back into the water if I feel dry.” A nervous smile fluttered across my face. Not exactly confident and reassuring.
“Well, don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you,” Vince said as he sat again. He gazed into my eyes, and a shiver ran down my spine. There was something else there, too, but his head dropped before I could figure out what it was.
Water sloshed against the boat and Vince’s feet swished. My shoulders started to relax, my thumping heart beginning to steady.
“Your turn,” I stated. “Tell me about yourself.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Let’s start with your legs. Do all humans hate their legs?”
Vince laughed so hard I thought he might fall off the deck again. “No. Most don’t give their legs a second thought. Mine are different, though. I’ve got Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. The short explanation is that one day I won’t be able to use my legs. The spasms started three years ago, and I was diagnosed shortly after. My mobility will slowly decline over the next five to ten years before I’ll be stuck in a wheelchair. It sucks.”
“So that’s why you keep falling in the water. Your legs spasm.”
“Yeah. They spasm and stiffen up and stuff. I take muscle relaxants, which helps, but the tremors break through sometimes. I never know when they’ll come, and they don’t always pick the best times. Add some heavy drinking and a boat to the equation, and boom, I’m in the water. Not the best combination.”
“You could have died.”
“True. Not the worst thing in the world for someone like me, but I got lucky. I met you instead, and I have to say, I’m really glad I met you.”
I bit my lip, and looked away. What was it about this man that made me lose my head. I flipped my tail, splashing us with seawater.
“What was that for?” Vince asked, laughing. He shook his head, droplets sprinkling on me.
“Sorry,” I chuckled. “I felt dry. I didn’t mean to get you wet too.” I hated to lie, but I needed to be careful. Did Vince notice? I glanced at his face, the water trickling down his square jaw. There was no suspicion in his eyes. “Must have misjudged my tail,” I mumbled.
“Hey, it’s okay. Splash me any time. All I ask is that you don’t drown me.”
I frowned. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“I know.” Vince held up his hands, his lip jutting out in a mock pout. “I’m kidding.”
“Oh.”
I sat, staring at the water and chewing on my lip. Part of me wanted to flee, to be safe, but the lure of land – of Vince – was too strong. I wanted to know more, but questions eluded me.
“Um, could I touch your tail?” Vince asked, scooting closer. “I know it sounds weird, and you don’t have to. I’m just . . . curious.”
“I— I guess so.”
Vince ran his hand along my tail, and a shiver ran up my spine.
“Wow. That’s kinda weird,” Vince said. “It sort of feels like a wet hotdog.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, it’s this kind of food. Maybe I’ll make some for you when you come on my ship.”
“You better . . .” I wonder what it would feel like— “Can I touch your feet?”
“Sure, but they’re nothing special.”
Vince pulled one foot out of the water, resting it on the deck next to me. My hand traced the bones in the top of his foot, fingers running over the grooves of his toes. His foot was soft with sprigs of coarse hair growing on the knuckles. What did it feel like to have feet? To run, jump, dance? What would it be like to have my own?
Self-conscious, I dove into the water. It was easier to talk to Vince covered by the waves.
“Going so soon?” Vince asked, his forehead puckering.
“I’m sorry. I just . . .” I couldn’t find the words to explain it to him. He was a human. How could he understand?
The time. How much time had passed? “I should get back before anyone notices I’m gone.”
“Sure. I understand. Will you come back tomorrow?” Vince stood up, and my eyes traced his form.
“I’m afraid so.”
With that, I dove again, flipping my tail as fast as I could. Vince’s grin stayed with me as I descended to the dep
ths. Every encounter put me in greater danger, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself. Sea King, help me.
Bonus Scene: Vince
Vince stared at the tank, wondering what to do.
“This baby will need some care, but it should be able to do what you asked.” The tank’s creator—Jim, if the nametag was correct—patted the thick acrylic, running a hand lovingly along the curves and edges.
The custom wheeled tank had cost Vince quite a bit, but it was worth every penny. Besides, he could handle the price tag, a mere drop in the bucket for his multimillion-dollar father.
“What do you need it for, again?” Jim asked.
Vince shrugged, picking a spot on the floor to stare at. “Some crazy friend’s dare. Wants to pull a David Blaine and see if he can break the world record.”
“And you need wheels for that.”
Vince smirked. “You don’t know my friend.”
“Ah, to each his own. You keep an eye on your friend, though. That trick almost ended badly.”
“Yeah,” Vince murmured, then gave Jim a reassuring smile. “Can you have it delivered to my boat?”
“Sure.” Jim shook his head as he walked away. “Strange what kids are into these days.”
Vince wandered out of the shop, admiring the aquarium display at the front before he left. The fish looked so beautiful, so alive. He wondered what they felt when they looked out of the tank, knowing they had to stay behind that sheet of acrylic until they went belly up.
But he wouldn’t let anything like that happen to Skye.
THE SUNLIGHT SHONE off the mirrored surface of Boyd Buoy Tower, making Vince squint. Twenty stories of corporate offices dedicated to oceanic research and water conservation—and of course, the booming merchandise that provided the bulk of their income. His dad could sell ice to a polar bear, and he’d found the perfect niche marketplace to capitalize on that. It was a double-edged sword – Vince admired his father’s charities, which did a lot of good for the world’s water, but he hated the sleazy tactics he used to earn his income.
Vince sidled through the glass doors, ducking his head when he saw Kelly sitting at the receptionist’s desk. She was the closest thing he had to a real friend these days, but one time, after a few too many vodka shots, he got a little closer than he intended. It had been months, but it still embarrassed him every time he saw her.
“Still won’t let go of that kiss?” Kelly called to him as he passed, making Vince stop in his tracks.
He turned to meet her beaming smile. “Kelly. Hey. I didn’t see you there.”
“Mmmhmmm.” Kelly’s smile quirked. “Really, you need to let it go. I have.”
Vince ran his hand over the back of his neck, giving a nervous laugh. “Yeah. Me too.”
Kelly’s brow arched ever so slightly, and she glanced at her computer screen, giving Vince a needed break from her intense gaze. “Right. Going to see daddy?”
Vince glanced at the ceiling. “Uh, yeah. I was planning on it. Is he in?”
“Sure, but he’s in a foul mood today. Big backer dropped, saying Mr. Boyd lined his pockets rather than the ocean with the money.”
Vince sucked in a sharp breath. “Ouch. How long ago?”
Kelly shrugged. “First thing this morning. He’s been barking at everyone ever since.”
Vince dug his hands into his pockets. “I’m sorry. Do you need a pick-me-up? Coffee? Chocolate? Some pie from that greasy little diner down the street?”
“Aww, aren’t you sweet, remembering all my favorites. It’s all good, though. I can handle your daddy.”
“I know.” Vince sighed, glancing at the ceiling again. “I guess I better just suck it up and go. His mood’s not likely to improve anytime soon.”
“Yep. He’ll be a dark cloud until he gets a new backer.” The phone rang, interrupting their conversation. “Sorry. Gotta take this. Good luck!” Vince smiled, and Kelly picked up the phone, sparing Vince a wink. “Boyd Buoy Tower, this is Kelly. How may I help you?”
Vince shook his head and shuffled to the elevator, hitting the up button. Kelly was a spitfire. It was almost a shame he didn’t care for her like she did for him. Then again, if that were the case, he’d feel guilty being attracted to Skye. A mermaid. Who would’ve ever thought? All the charm of a woman, none of the trappings of pop culture. He could get used to that.
THE LONG RIDE TO THE top did nothing to calm his nerves. It had been a while since Vince last talked to his father—nature of the man’s work and his obsessive, type A personality—and he didn’t relish doing it now. But something had been nicking at his mind, and he wanted to run it past his dad.
The ding at the top startled Vince, and the doors slid open to another reception area. Enormous pictures of whales, coral reefs, and all manner of exotic fish adorned the white walls. They were the kind of images meant to stun and compel people to look past the expanse of water and see what lie beneath. And take out their wallets.
Judy, dad’s personal assistant, smiled from behind the massive desk when she saw him. “Hi Mr. Boyd, what can I do for you today?”
“Please, Judy, that’s my father. Call me Vince.”
Judy shot him that matronly look of disapproval she’d perfected over the years. “And as always, you know I can’t.”
Vince ran his hands through his hair. No matter how many times she called him that, it never failed to irk him. He was nothing like his father, and he hoped he never would be.
“Is my father around?”
“Who’s here, Judy?” yelled his father, the voice coming from deep inside the office. There was a definite edge to his words, and Judy flinched ever so slightly, quickly rearranging her face into her signature smile.
Judy held up a finger. “One moment.” She grabbed the phone receiver and pushed a button. An answering ring drifted out from the office. “Hello Mr. Boyd. Your son is here to see you. Would you like for me to send him in?” Judy’s lids fluttered as she stared at the receiver, then set it down. “Go right in.”
“Thanks, Judy.” Vince rapped his knuckles on the counter, then slid past the desk and into his father’s office.
The grand and simplistic décor of this room perfectly offset the expansive view of the city, courtesy of a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. His dad sat behind his desk in the center, glowering at his computer. He didn’t even glance up as he waved Vince over. Vince took a seat opposite the desk and waited for his dad to surface.
Mr. Boyd sighed and pushed the computer mouse to the side. “What do you need today? Money? A doctor? Do I need to call the PR firm for something? I didn’t see anything on TV.”
Vince shook his head. “No. Nothing like that.”
His father pinched the bridge of his nose, squinting. “Then what? I haven’t got all day.”
Vince sighed. His father would work something out. He always did. But it didn’t stop him from taking his stress out on everyone around him. Which made telling his dad what he had to say all the more touchy. “What if I told you I found something? Something that would change people’s view of the oceans forever.”
“Ha! I’d say bring it in. Nobody will believe without proof.”
Vince wrung his hands. “It’s not that simple. She— This thing, can think for itself. I don’t know if it would be comfortable with exposure.”
“My word, son. Spit it out. What is it?”
Vince stared at his hands, torn between the secrecy he’d sworn and his need to make his father proud. “It’s a . . . a . . . a mermaid.” Saying it out loud felt so strange. He couldn’t bring himself to look at his father.
“A mermaid?” Mr. Boyd was quiet for a moment, then burst out laughing. “I can rent one of those girls for a party anytime. Great marketing ploy, but seriously? You’re not drunk, are you?”
Vince’s face turned red, his hands balling into fists. “Do I look drunk? I’m not. And she’s real.”
Mr. Boyd waved Vince away. “I’ll believe it when I see it. Now go. Get your st
upid ass out of here and find something useful to do with your life. I’ve got things to attend to that don’t include indulging in fruitless fantasies.” He turned back to his computer, shutting Vince out like he always did.
Vince stood, using every ounce of his strength not to dive over the desk and pummel his father. He stormed out of the office, ignoring Judy’s smile and reassuring remarks as he punched the down button on the elevator.
He’d show his father. He’d do more good for the world’s oceans in one day than his dad had done in the thirty plus years he’d been building Boyd Buoy Tower and its business.
He just had to convince Skye that it was for the best. The thought of her made his resolve crack. She didn’t want to be seen or known. But she’d already revealed herself to him, and nothing had come of it. How could she possibly believe that the Mer would be wiped out for something like that? Still, she wasn’t going to like it, even though she hungered to see land. He could see it in her eyes every time they talked.
Vince shook his head, unable to comprehend what he was thinking. This was stupid and reckless and likely to completely ruin any chance he had with Skye, but to just let her go? His life was quickly losing meaning, and if she disappeared . . . Well, he couldn’t imagine what he’d do if she decided not to come back once she’d been in the media room and satisfied her thirst for land.
Whatever he did, he couldn’t flinch. If Skye suspected anything, she was sure to bolt. He had a feeling he was going to hate himself for this, but really, what choice did he have?
Chapter 4: Lured
Every day I rushed through my chores, my ability to concentrate dwindling with each passing evening. The other Mer started to notice. How much longer would they tolerate my behavior before they asked questions?
My parents had both died, and I had no siblings, leaving me the odd fish out. The pod cared for me, but no one was directly responsible for me for quite some time. They let me do as I pleased, as long as I helped out and didn’t get into trouble.
