Pretty Fin

by Smokey Moment

  “They’re strawberries,” he said. Fin smiled again. She took a bite. Then put the rest in her mouth. “What is this?” she asked. “That’s melon,” he replied. Fin took a bite and moaned. Soon she had eaten every piece. “Would you like more?” he asked. “Yes.” Lance walked then swam once he was away from the rock. “Don’t leave. Please! I’ll be right back.”

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Lance said, as he nervously entered his house. This was mind blowing. She was asleep in the water. He ran to his refrigerator and grabbed a hand full of sliced melon and whole strawberries. He grabbed his cell phone and called his brother. “Pick up, pick up,” he said nervously, as he paced. He stopped to look out the window. He was anxious to get back to her. He hoped she wouldn’t leave. He was sure she wanted the fruit.

  “Hello,” Allan answered. “You are not going to believe this. That woman in the water…She is here. I’ve spoken to her. She has been under my dock. Sleeping in the water under my dock,” he said. The phone went silent. Lance thought maybe the call had been dropped.

  “Hello,” Lance said. Allan held the phone. Pausing before he spoke.

  “What? I don’t understand,” he replied, as he put his hand on his hip and closed his eyes.

  “What do you mean you don’t understand? A woman was asleep under my dock. In the water,” Lance said, getting frustrated at Allan’s attempts at trying to make sense of it. He was aware it wasn’t typical. That it sounded crazy. But he was never one to imagine things or make up stories. And he was angry that Allan questioned what he was saying.

  “Sleep in the water? Actually asleep in water?” he said.

  Lance stopped pacing. “Allan. Listen again. I said in the water. Her head, submerged, in the water. Yes. And I want to know how that is possible? She had no equipment. She woke up when I was sitting next to her. I’m talking to her now. And she is gorgeous. You wouldn’t believe… Fucking beautiful. She has dark hair. Her eyes are the brightest green I have ever seen. She has the most beautiful skin tone. It all started last night. She came to my door. But then she ran. I know this sounds crazy,” he said.

  Allan paused. “Ok. Listen. Miles saw a woman in the water and now you have conjured up in your mind that there is a woman that lives in the water,” he stated.

  “What!” Lance shouted.

  “You’re under a lot of stress. You need to come home. That place is driving you mad,” Allan stated.

  Lance stared out the window. His energy changing. “I’ll call you back,” he said in a dry tone.

  “Lance. Wait! I hear you. I believe you. Maybe she has something new on the market. Humans cannot breathe under water. Do you hear what you are saying?”

  Lance hung up on his brother and sighed. Allan called right back. Lance selected decline, forcing him into voice mail. Allan called back again. Then texted his brother;

  Look man, I’m sorry. You are under a lot of stress and I am here for you. I apologize. Call me when you calm down. You sounded frantic. You need rest. Your taking on too much. First the baby and then your father. You should see that doctor I told you about. She could help you get things in order. Don’t play around with mental health. Thoughts that don’t make sense. Get out of your own head. You know people can’t breathe under water. Come on. You know this. Talk to me. Call me back.

  Lance sat his phone down. He knew he sounded crazy. But he expected more from his brother. They had grown up in the same household. They were both sane and rational men. “Crazy. He thinks I’m crazy,” he scoffed. Lance walked through his sliding glass door out onto his patio and walked to the dock. He looked around to ensure no one was looking then jumped in the water and slowly moved under the dock. Fin popped up and sat back on the rock. Lance smiled. “Here you go,” he said, taking a seat next to her. He wanted to touch her flawless skin. It looked delicate. Beautiful. And it glowed with a translucency.

  She looked intensely at him as she ate the fruit. Her gaze hypnotic. He was taken with her. Curious about her. He hoped she would stay. “You. um…Want to come in?” he asked. Fin hesitated at first. “Ok,” she said. Lance tried to contain his excitement. He was getting closer to the mystery woman. She was opening up. He reached his hand out. She stared at his hand. He wanted to touch her. Fin slowly raised her arm. She secretly yearned touch. It felt good. There was a connection that accompanied it.

  Lance waited. His arm outstretched. Fin hesitated. “It’s ok,” he assured. Fin eased towards him slowly. She took his hand. Her delicate touch, soft as cotton. He rubbed her hand, and she felt something immediately. Lance guided her slowly down towards the steps. They swam down to the end and emerged onto the steps to get on the dock. He looked her up and down. The thin, strange silk-like material that covered the important parts and left little to the imagination, was sexy and would cause quite a stir if his neighbor saw. She looked naked. The color of the material looked similar to her skin and fit her curves perfectly. Lance couldn’t help but stare in admiration. She was exotic. Luscious. And she had his full attention.

  Lance walked with her back to his house. He slid the door open and Fin stepped in. She immediately raised her feet off the floor in a weird dancing motion. The floor felt cold. The material felt odd. The marble entryway was unlike anything she had ever walked across. She quickly walked to the carpet. “You want some socks?” he asked. “What are those?” Fin replied. Lance chuckled then ran to his room to retrieve a pair.

  Fin looked around. She was strangely quiet. She was normally much more talkative. Fearless. But this new world had her quiet and unsure. There were a lot of things she didn’t recognize. This was a sophisticated society. The people were advanced. Their homes less bulky. More windows. Thin and elegant looking. There were trees. Lots of vegetation. The skies. The weather. The fish. The crafted items that floated on water and the metal ones that drove on land. She was overwhelmed. It was a lot. Her quietness was not a surrender. She was not afraid. It was an internal safety mechanism, designed to help her handle the bombardment of the new world. And it had done its job. She found herself feeling at home. She hated to admit it, but there was something that felt natural about it. It was her world. But better.

  It was remarkable that a society of people had things that seemed impossible to create. Madaka was a world of complacence. They were happy with their possessions. With their capabilities. With what they had at their disposal. No one sought inventions, improvements or new ways of doing things. But this world was obviously unsatisfied. Always striving for advancement. Fin understood. She too sought more. But there were no resources in Madaka. She made her own polish to apply to her nails. She made her own lamp out of a hemini plant. But here was a house brightly lit from something, and it was not a plant. It was fascinating.

  The air inside his home was cold. He noticed her lips quivering. “Are you cold?” he asked. “Yes,” she replied. Fin was still feeling Lance out. She was not ready to open up. She had many questions. And she knew he did as well. He was patient. He was gentle and kind. And there was something about him that she was drawn to.

  “You can take a warm shower. I’ll bring you clothes. I have jogging pants that will be a little big on you. But they should be ok. I have tee shirts and a hoodie to keep you warm. I’ll be back,” he said, as he ascended his staircase.

  Lance walked by his thermostat and turned the air off. He went into one of the spare bathrooms. His mind raced. What am I doing? I don’t know her. But she is sweet. And she is so beautiful, he thought. He worried about becoming involved. Wanting her. She was a stranger. He had just met her. Yet he was already thinking of a way to get closer. He was smitten. He had no real understanding of how she had him so engrossed. Her eyes were magnetic. He felt responsible for her. She was from a different place and he didn’t care. Lance was oblivious of their difference. He never saw her tail totally unaware that Fin was careful not to show it. It could have prejudiced him. She looked like him. She talked like him. And other than breathing under water, there wasn’t much else d
ifferent.

  He erased the doubts from his mind. He wanted her there. He had searched for her for weeks. And he had no plans to exit from his introduction and the chance to get to know her.

  “I turned the shower on,” he said. “The what?” she asked. “Oh. It’s upstairs. Just warm water. I have clothes laid out for you in the spare room,” he said. Fin smiled. “Great,” she replied. Lance led her up the stairs and to his spare bedroom. “Right in here,” he said. Fin walked to the bathroom and peeked in. She was in awe. Water was pouring out of metal. Back home, it wasn’t carried in by soldiers and poured into a waiting small tub in the floor.

  “Thanks,” she said, as she waited for him to leave. Lance pulled the door closed. He stood on the other side. Fin could feel his presence. She walked to the door and touched it. She closed her eyes. She could feel him even more. Lance put his ear to the door. His heart fluttered. He let out a breath. Fin opened her eyes. She stepped away from the door and smiled. He was definitely there.

  The loud high-pitched sound of the teapot snapped Lance out of his deep thoughts. He walked out the room and down the stairs. He wanted to surprise Fin with a cup of tea with strawberries. He removed the pot and poured half a cup over a few strawberries. A mild flavored grey tea to warm her from the inside out with the added touch of something he knew she loved. Strawberries.

  Lance was still in disbelief. He was convinced she was either sheltered and confined from the world and had escaped. Or she was not from the modern world. And the latter sounded too far-fetched. So, his mind went with the sheltered theory.

  Fin stepped into the huge glass shower. She kept her covering on. The warm water was soothing. It was the best feeling of water she had ever felt. She had never experienced it pulsating against her skin in such a calming way. “Mmm,” she moaned. She had been in the Pacific Ocean for weeks. It was nice to get out of it and be on land. And even nicer to be under clean comfortable water. She opened her mouth and drank it. The taste was different. It tasted similar to the rivers and lakes of her world. The taste started her thoughts racing. Soon she was sad and missing her parents again.

  Fin! What are you doing? You can’t stay here. You have to go home, she thought, as she pondered the thought. No! Not yet, she countered her doubts, as she wrestled with conflicting thoughts on what to do. But it was clear to her. She wasn’t leaving until she learned what she could. And not until she got to know the handsome stranger that she was drawn to from the moment she saw him.

  She closed her eyes, the steam opening her pores. Releasing some impurities. Fin felt more alive. She loved the way the beading water felt against her body. She could hear footsteps approaching. Lance knocked on the door. She had been in the shower for an hour.

  “Yes,” she said. “Are you hungry?” he asked. Fin thought about it. She wasn’t sure she wanted to eat the food. She had eaten crustaceans from the ocean floor. An experience that was not pleasant. “No. I’m fine,” she replied. Lance chuckled lightly in delight. Still amazed she was in his home.

  He walked back down to the kitchen. His heart raced. She would emerge from the shower soon. What will I say to her, he thought. He was dying to ask her where she’d come from. How she was able to be under water for so long. He wondered if it weren’t an elaborate trick. She didn’t seem like the type. He considered himself a good judge of character. And he didn’t pick up any deceitful vibes from her. But there was time. He planned to find out as much as he could about his visitor. He had questions. He was sure she had some questions too. And they could relax and get to know one another slowly.

  “I won’t overwhelm her with questions. We will take our time,” he said to himself, as he waited for Fin to emerge from the room.

  T

  he King stood outside his castle. Guards flanked him. Lark and several other soldiers were walking towards them. Another day, another search, and Finora was not among them. Zander could tell by the look on Lark’s face that he had become distraught over his failed attempts at finding her. He gave the king a look and walked past him. Zander sighed. “He’s taking it really hard,” one of the king’s veteran soldiers stated. “Yes. I know. How far did you get?” the king asked. “All the way. We were almost at the shores of Eulachon. We killed two Baika and Lark killed a Tetra. By himself sir,” the soldier said, as he cleared his throat. The King sighed. His men were facing great dangers. Finora’s actions had cost several of them their lives and they were still coming into harm’s way. The missing men were never recovered. Proof they met an untimely and devastating end.

  “He wants to go again after we’ve eaten and regained out strength,” the soldier stated. King Zander nodded. He desperately wanted Fin returned safely, and before Prince Andreus located her. The note all but suggested he expected her to be delivered back to him. King Zander kept the contents of the note to himself. It would enrage his men. Change the morale. And possibly have the men ready to respond to the threat.

  “You alright,” the king said, as he entered Lark’s room. “Yes, Your Highness,” he said. The king didn’t believe him. He gave his reply without looking up at him. “So, I hear you plan to go back in the water?” he asked. “Yes,” Lark quickly replied. Looking the king in his eyes. “Alright. Take more men with you this time. The Tetra are night predators.”

  The men prepared to leave as ordered. Two senior guards looked at each other. They were weary. It seemed hopeless. But no one was willing to give up. Especially Lark. “He is taken with her,” one soldier said to the other. “Of course. I noticed years ago. She is the most beautiful in all the land. And she is noticed wherever she goes. But he has always did more than notice her,” he replied. The men agreed not to talk about it. It was forbidden for them to ogle, speak of, or desire the princess. And Lark was no exception. But he was closer to the king. He had special favor. He was the king’s confidant. And there was no way of knowing if his actions would get him into trouble with the king. And so, it was important that their conversation stay between them.

  Lark and his men prepared to leave. They unbound their legs and wore loose clothing. Lark looked to the sky. He took a deep breath and left his room. His men were waiting. He walked out and said nothing as he passed them. They followed closely behind him, looking at each other. It was understood. Lark loved Finora and they knew it. It was no longer a secret. His behavior was that of a man in love. The King and Queen watched out the window. Aterra looked at her husband. Her eyes bearing the pain of a mother missing her child. She looked away then turned and walked to her room. The king was also sad. He was unable to process the pain. Lark looked back. He glanced up at the king then continued bravely on, to the dark waters. It would be a long night.

  “They’re ready your highness,” the soldier said to Prince Andreus. The men walked out of the compound towards the shores of the sea. Prince Andreus had seen King Zander’s men searching the waters. He was puzzled at first. But then realized they would only risk their lives for one thing. The royal family. And the only royal unaccounted for, was Fin. Which meant they believed she was in the water. She was in the water. Probably the Palimora Sea. And he wanted to get to her first. Convince her to be his wife. It would save him the time of travelling to Mojarro. And it would keep him from flooding her compound with his men. Because she had no choice in the matter. He was prepared to play nice until his father was no longer in power. Andreus respected King Orfe. He loved his father deeply. And his loved for him was the only reason he was not planning a forced takeover.

  Lark and his men searched from the bottom up. They searched as much of the vast waters as they could. They tried going in areas that they had not gone. After several hours and no luck, the men became discouraged. They tried to talk Lark into abandoning the difficult mission. The water was dark. Only illuminated in those areas where large schools of fish were. But Lark refused. The men forged ahead. They split off in groups of five. Lark was frantic. He realized too much time had passed. He feared the worst.

  “Lark!” a s
oldier said, as he swam up to him. Lark looked intensely at him. “What!” he said, fearing the worst. “Prince Andreus and his men are in the waters. Why are they here? They too are looking for something. We saw them on the bottom. They are spread out. Hundreds. They are using small lit globes of some sort, to see their way.”

  Lark’s mind raced. “Get the others. Signal to them to head back. She’s not here. I don’t think she’s in the Palimora. She wouldn’t hang out in these waters. I just don’t believe she’s here. And now, we have a bigger problem.”

  Lark and his men emerged from the water, solemn and frustrated at their lack of progress. And compounding their problems, and fears, was the presence of Andreus in the water. Lark walked with purpose. He entered the castle as his men continued past the door, towards the back of the property. Only Lark was allowed such freedoms. All other guards except the ones appointed to guard the inside, stayed outside.

  “Where is the King?” he asked a soldier standing guard outside the king’s chambers. “He is asleep. He was up all evening comforting the queen. She is distraught. She has been saying her daughter is dead. She had to be given something to help her rest,” he said. Lark understood. He himself was exhausted. “I must see him,” he said, as he walked past the soldier and entered. Lark walked slowly towards the kings’ bed. “Sire,” he said, as he approached. “Sire!” he repeated louder.

  “Yes, yes,” the king replied, as he sprung up. “Please Lark. No bad news. The queen is ill. She is making herself sick. I have to give her hope. Please,” he said. Lark looked to the floor. He couldn’t face the king. He had no good news. He had worse news. Fin was still missing. And Prince Andreus was spotted in the water.