by Free Coman
She could feel her heart almost break out of her chest from how fast it was beating, she could feel each inch of skin that had touched Abby as warm as if she had been resting in the sun instead of swimming in those cold waters, but she was smiling, she smiling brighter than ever before.
“Are you okay?” Abby asked her, coming out to the surface of the water as well.
Recovering her breath, Rachel takes a second to answer, but when she did, she grinned at Abby and told her “Show me around.” Afterwards, she winked at her and dove underwater, so they could start their adventure.
They started swimming around the surrounding area of the ship and around the heavy rocks that come out of the surface. Rachel marvel at all the life she got to see underwater - dozens of fishes she had never seen, algae and coral-like she had never imagined, some more mermaids swimming deep down in the background and, of course, Abby’s magnificent presence. Although she was a talented swimmer since she was a little girl, Rachel was human, and she was forced to come back up to the surface for air quite often. They only way managed to cover great distances was when Abby got the courage to take Rachel’s hands again, like the first day, and pull her along as she swam faster, more naturally. It was an experience unlike anything Rachel ever dreamed of. Abby’s hands emitted a fantastical warmth that was unexplainable in those temperatures, but Abby’s entire existence was unexplainable, right?
Soon enough, the touch of hands became arms intertwined, and it soon evolved into entire bodies touching, arms wrapped tightly against each other’s waists as they both swam contently around. It was an indescribable feeling, Rachel thought, it was like floating in space, being guided by a goddess, being stuck in the sweetest part of a dream. When her limbs started to feel tired, the couple made their way to the shore of the island. Once in there, Rachel could see that it appeared to be a regular island, its mystery relied on the fact that it was unknown and untouched by men. Being beside Abby, though, Rachel couldn’t be sure if the magical feeling she perceived came from the island itself or from her wonderful company. Their conversation grew again and it touched every aspect of their lives on earth or sea.
“Swimming in a river,” Abby said nostalgically, “I think I’d like that.”
“It’s really nice. I’ll take you to my favorite one someday.”
They both laughed lightly at Rachel’s statement, knowing it was unlikely for such an opportunity to arise.
“How deep would you be willing to dive in?” Abby asked Rachel, staring thoughtfully at the water.
Rachel’s heart jumped with the feeling that Abby might not only be talking about swimming. Her answer would serve for both intentions.
“As far as I can, as long as you’re with me, maybe even farther if you want me to.”
Afterwards, the couple is left in a companionable silence, as they both stare at the calm sea in front of them. Rachel, however, soon feels that magnetic pull she has towards Abby and when she turns her head to look at her, Abby had already been staring at her.
“It’s getting late,” Abby whispered. “Maybe you should go.”
“Yes.”
Regardless of their words, neither of them moved, except for barely noticeably leaning towards each other.
“Though it could be a little dangerous at night, you know?”
“Yes.”
This time, their eyes meet and the light in them is more captivating than anything either of them had ever experienced. Rachel gulps nervously, but her right hand raises bravely to hold and caress Abby’s face. There’s electricity building between them.
“The ship, uh, still has plenty supplies. I could - I could - “
Finally, Rachel is interrupted by Abby’s lips on her. The kiss is nervous but charged with indescribable energy, as if they both had been waiting their entire lives for that moment.
“Please stay,” Abby whispers breathlessly after breaking the kiss for a second.
Rachel looks into her eyes and hopes to convey all her emotion in that look, but just in case, “Of course,” she answers. “Of course.”
They don’t waste a single second to resume their kiss. They continue kissing each other again and again as the sun sets and as the night settles around them.
Chapter 7
Rachel ends up staying with Abby for four days. The ship had been filled with enough supplies to maintain their extensive crew. So, with just Rachel there she managed to live off the ship’s supplies comfortably. It wasn’t particularly pleasant to spend the nights alone inside the ship while Abby retreated to the depths of the sea. But Rachel was more than certain that it was worth it when each of those mornings she woke up to the glorious songs Abby dedicated to her from the outside of the ship. Since Rachel wasn’t under risk to fall into the mermaids' spell and unconsciously end her life, she was free to simply enjoy Abby’s company and her fantastic voice… plus maybe some extra company.
“You don’t have to be nervous,” Abby told her.
“No, of course I don’t. One of them once suggested they should drown me but I’m fine.”
Rachel was sitting on top of one of the rocks that peaked out of the surface of the water and Abby was floating in front of her. They had agreed on Rachel meeting some of Abby’s friends, and it was safe to say the human was particularly nervous.
In fact, an instant later Rachel was scared by a loud splash coming from behind her. Her loud scream and the fact that she almost ends up falling of the rock prompted a series of laughs from behind her.
“Not funny,” said a different mermaid coming to the surface from Rachel’s right.
“They’re children, just ignore them,” added a different mermaid showing up from her left.
“So, where’s Abigail’s girlfriend?” asked one that appeared from behind Abby’s place.
Then a group of four mermaids finally came around the rock where Rachel was sitting. Although their smiles were clearly mischievous, the sparks in their eyes revealed them as merely playful beings. Besides, if Abby trusted them, Rachel had nothing to worry about.
In fact, the time she spent with the mermaids was of the best days in Rachel’s whole life. She swam with them and marveled at all the colors of their tails, their grace, their fantastic beauty. She listened eagerly to their stories, their mythology, their adventures and their purposes; she came to admire and respect them. Rachel was even introduced to some aspects of their daily lives - she tried their food, for example. She might have risked her entire life at eating some of the things they brought her, and she hated most of them, but fish was fish and the things Rachel tasted during those days were of the most delicious kind.
Paradise, Rachel thought, looking around her - the group of fantastic women and the wonderful scenery, the marvelous island and her beloved sea, plus the Great Roman all hers - but she wasn’t ready for paradise, not yet. She had unfinished business on land, she had to talk to her father, she had to… she couldn’t just give up her entire life and join Abby and the rest of the mermaids in that seemingly perfect place, could she?
When the time to say goodbye came, both women were sitting down on one of the rocks that came out of the water. Rachel was all dressed up and ready to go. Abby couldn’t bear looking at her knowing she was going to leave her.
“I’m going to leave the Great Roman here,” Rachel said.
“What?”
“I’ll be leaving on the small boat,” Rachel explained. “The Great Roman stay here. As a promise. I’ll have to come back here. I have to see you again.”
Although she had just spoken a promise to come back, it was all melancholic nonetheless. One more day didn’t mean forever. Abby attempted a smile, which came out sadly, then she leaned her head against Rachel's shoulder and sighed.
“Could you leave me your coat?” Abby asked. “This material is really soft… “
The request made Rachel smile. Abby had tried to ply it down as if she only wanted the smooth fabric, but the real meaning of her question remained there
clearly.
“I’ll miss you,” she said when Rachel wrapped the coat around her shoulder. “I’ll miss you,” she shouted with a wave of her hand as Rachel started to leave on her boat. “I’ll miss you,” she whispered once more as Rachel’s silhouette got lost in the distance that separated them.
Chapter 8
Whatever it was what Rachel had been expecting to see when she came back to land, it wasn’t what she saw. She caught sight of the coast, the deck packed with boats and a particularly ugly ship seemingly ready to set sail. She saved her small boat at its hidden spot and until then everything seemed okay. But as she walked home, suddenly everything changed terribly. She was walking a mostly desolated street when she caught sight of a couple of police officers. They had seen her as well, and they seemed to be discussing her presence with each other. The odd sight raised suspicions in her and her instinct told her to walk in the opposite direction. When she realized the officers had followed her, she started walking more rapidly and changing paths. Soon enough she was running and they were running after her yelling “Police! Stop right there! Traitor! Witch!”
Now, Rachel didn’t understand why they would be chasing her and calling her those names, could she? But she could connect the dots. Charles had never liked her, she had survived the mermaid attack to the ship and then she had defied and ridiculed him in front of the whole town, he, one of the most threatening men that could reach all kinds of power by the sheer force of fear. She could guess that maybe Charles didn’t like her very much and he probably didn’t want her to come back to town.
In any way, Rachel managed to lose the officers. She had always been a fast runner and she felt energized by the magic of the time she had spent with Abby. She found her way home and sneaked in her parents’ house as to not call any more attention to herself.
“Rachel! My darling!” her mother shouted upon seeing her. “Where have you been?”
“That’s… a long story. Where’s dad? I really need to talk to you both.”
After being guided upstairs and into the terrace, Rachel’s heart warmed at the sight of her father. He had lost most of the strength of his younger years, but she loved the sea because of him, and at sea was how she had found her love.
“Dad…” she whispered, approaching him.
“Look at that,” he grumbled. “That boy, Charlie, I shouldn’t have trusted him. He lost my ship and now he’s trying to play pirates at war.”
“What do you mean?” Rachel asked, after her father had finally worked out the fact that she was back.
“His ego is hurt. He has invented a war against fantastical creatures. He has picked up an awful ship, a horrible tribulation, and he’s going to attack those mermaids.”
“What?! He can’t do that!” Rachel exclaimed.
Skeptical, Rachel’s mother questioned her husband, “Honey, do you really believe in those creatures?”
“They are real!” father and daughter answer at unison.
“And how are you so sure of that, young lady?”
Rachel stood there, with a bright grin on her face, without any idea of how to explain the sudden developments in her life.
“I’ve found the Great Roman!” she exclaimed excitedly. “I… and I might be in love.” Her declaration brightened the faces of her parents. “I’ll have to go back to the sea to get them both, though. Wait for me. I promise I’ll come back and explain everything… when I find a way to explain it all.”
Rachel laughed, not imagining how she’d explain to her parents that she fell in love with a mermaid.
“You’re not really asking us for permission, are you?” her father said.
“Rachel,” her mother called her name and walked up to her. “You’ve always been adventurous, since you were a little girl. Running away every so often with nothing but a promise to come back… I can only beg you, my darling, please be careful.”
After sharing the tightest hug ever with her mother, Rachel turned towards her father.
“That ship should have always been yours,” he said, getting emotional. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to make things easier for you… Don’t worry about money, don’t worry about men, don’t worry about the unfair life that you are leaving behind on this land. I trust you, go and make me proud.”
At that point the three of them were on the verge of tears. Hugs were still being exchanged when another turn of events came upon them.
“Police! Open this door immediately!”
The shout came from downstairs paired with violent knocks on their front door. Rachel’s heart jumped in her chest. There wasn’t nothing else left to do then…
Chapter 9
Rachel escaped her parents' house with practiced precision born of years of experience. Sure, maybe she usually just escaped her parents’ watchful eyes when she was a teenager to go to the beach with her friends at night, and now she was literally escaping the police, but her technique was the same. Rachel’s escapade had been almost a complete success, if it hadn’t been for one small stop she made along the way. She was halfway through the city when at a certain corner she had the chance to eavesdrop a conversation between a young sailor and his mother. Apparently, Charles’ ships would sail early next morning and they were ready to kill whatever fantastic being they encountered along the way. The thought of someone, even worse considering it was Charles, possibly hurting Abby, was enough to make Rachel’s heart stop for a second - a second enough for a group of Charles’ followers to catch sight of her.
Then Rachel was on the run again. This time it was much harder to lose them; she was fast, but they were many. The group almost had her cornered when she made a sudden turn towards the pier. In there, she had barely enough time to jump down to the sand and hide under the dock. All she had left was hoping they would get tired of looking for her.
The minutes dragged by, maybe an hour had passed and Rachel was still too scared to move away. Besides, she needed a plan. She had to do something. She had to get to Abby. Abby, who was so far away but felt closer than ever before. Rachel had to close her eyes to try to calm down all her raging emotions, but not too long later she quickly reopened them, having the sensation of being watched. Her head quickly turned to the left and there she was, superior to a dream, Abby was walking towards her.
Rachel quickly stood up with all the intentions to run towards Abby, take her in her arms and never letting go. But as soon as she was standing up, she suddenly felt dizzy with confusion. What was happening? How was it possible? Abby was literally there walking, walking towards her, walking using a normal-looking pair of legs. Her skin continued to glow and her blue hair was just as wonderful, her beauty hadn’t lessened, and she was only covered in Rachel’s coat.
“Am I dreaming?” Rachel asked with a smile, just loud enough for Abby to hear now that she was coming closer. “How is this possible?” she wondered.
“We have a few more tricks left that we haven’t shown you.”
Abby’s eyes were playful, her smile was nervous, she was hesitant on her new pair of legs, she looked so fragile, so delicate and ethereal. Rachel couldn’t take it anymore. In an instant she crossed the remaining steps that separated them and she took Abby in her arms, she gleefully lifted her off the ground and spun her around as they both laughed joyfully. When they finally stopped, they immediately pulled each other into a kiss. A kiss more powerful than anything else they had ever experienced.
“You followed me...“ Rachel stuttered.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before,” Abby said, gesturing towards her legs. “I thought I shouldn’t do it. And I thought I shouldn’t ask you to stay or follow you. I wasn’t sure back then.”
“Sure about what?”
“About how much I love you.”
“Are you sure now? Do you love me?” Rachel asked her, she couldn’t believe it.
“Yes, I think so. I love you.”
Although she was dying to answer, to say the words herself, Rachel couldn’t stop he
rself from passionately kissing Abby right then.
“I love you too,” she said when their lips parted. “I love you so much and we have so much to do.”
That was true. Abby’s mere presence was more than enough to spark in Rachel all her passion and all her desires. They could come up with a plan on the way to the island, they could talk everything they needed to talk once they were free of the mess around them. For now, they had to find a way to get to Rachel’s boat, make their way back to the Great Roman, their island and their friends. The mermaids would be waiting for them, and they all were about to perform an act that would change life at sea forever. If men were planning to attack them, then they knew nothing about what that group of extraordinary women could do.
Chapter 10
A few hours later and a few minutes before the sun raised, Rachel was standing alone on top of the Great Roman. The adrenaline inside of her overpowered the cold breeze of the early morning. She kept her eyes firmly on the horizon until she watched them arrive through the fog. There they were. Charles, leading a cruel ship of attack, flanked by two smaller and sincerely unpleasant ships. She didn’t move, she wanted them to see her there, alone. She was about to give them a lesson.
The enemy ships got closer and closer. Rachel was sure Charles was smiling wickedly as he stared at her through a telescope. Keep watching, she thought, keep watching. With an acknowledging nod of her head she dared them to approach her. Simultaneously, another woman walked up the deck of the ship. Abby was there, properly clothed and with Rachel’s coat on top. The couple looked mighty and confident, and Abby’s shiny blue hair was unmistakable, but it was being enough to slow down the men, not yet. Though as the seconds passed, one more woman stepped out onto the deck, and then another. That surely caught the attention of the men, but it wasn’t until they started hearing the music that fear really caught their hearts.
