The Selkie of San Francisco

by Todd Calgi Gallicano

  Gilgamesh, who was working as the head of the Atlantis security forces at the time, learned of our presence and used us as leverage to propel himself to a powerful seat in the Atlantis Assembly. As a result, Ettie and I were arrested and sent back to Lake Baikal, where we were brought before the Maiden Council.

  The council decided that Ettie’s punishment would be a return to Gaia, but there was one small hiccup: Ettie was pregnant. The Maiden Council found itself in a sticky situation. They couldn’t return an innocent child to Gaia, so they couldn’t carry out the sentence. It was then that Phylassos stepped in. I had never seen the creature in person before that and was surprised it chose to get involved.

  The gryphon managed to negotiate an agreement that satisfied the council and didn’t require anyone to be returned to Gaia. Phylassos would use his powers to ensure that Ettie and I didn’t remember any of the past several weeks. Our memories of the events that transpired would be completely different from reality. Ettie would be relocated somewhere far from the sanctuary, and we’d have no further contact. She would be permitted to have and raise her child, but neither she nor her child would ever know the truth about me. The council could inform the other maidens that Odette was returned to Gaia for her crimes, and none would be the wiser. Life would go on, and this unfortunate episode would be forgotten.

  The Maiden Council consented to the gryphon’s proposal, but had one condition that was nonnegotiable: Ettie’s feathers would have to be placed somewhere close to her, so she might find them once again and return home. Phylassos didn’t like this idea, but the Maiden Council’s autonomy had to be respected, and this was the only way to keep both me and Ettie alive. Of course, I didn’t see it that way. I protested, vigorously, and held Ettie as long as I could until those awful magical sands pulled us apart. Next thing I knew, I woke up in the forest outside the boundary of the sanctuary with no recollection of what occurred.

  —V.V.

  Sam London stood on the shore of the lake in front of the Maiden Council. He saw his mother with wings and had just learned the identity of his father: Dr. Vance Vantana—the man who had become his closest friend since his first case with the Department of Mythical Wildlife. The same man he once imagined dating his mother and perhaps becoming his stepfather—he was his dad all along. It seemed so crazy. But Squishy knew, Sam realized. She had hinted at it, practically even said it.

  When Phylassos revealed the truth, Vantana’s eyes went wide. He looked at Sam, then at Ettie, and nodded softly, as if suddenly understanding.

  “I remember now…,” he said. “I’ve been here before. In front of this council.”

  “Yes, you have,” Phylassos confirmed.

  “You helped us, Sprite,” Vance said to Ranger Sprite, who was standing off to the side with Ranger Naughton.

  “I tried…and failed,” Sprite replied sheepishly.

  “How is this possible?” Sam asked. “You just met my mom in Benicia when we came back from Hérault.”

  “That wasn’t the first time, Sam,” Vantana told him. “The first time was before you were born, right beyond the boundary of this sanctuary.” Vance then turned to face Phylassos and squinted his eyes with anger. “I did not agree to it. You did this without my permission.”

  “I had little choice,” Phylassos responded.

  “I lost twelve years…twelve years getting to know my son. Seeing him grow up. Being a part of his life. Moments I didn’t get to have—to enjoy—because of you.”

  “He would not have had a life if I had not agreed to the terms the council presented,” the gryphon reminded him. Vantana shifted his ire to the council.

  “Y’all should be ashamed of yourselves for what you’ve done.”

  “You will cease this impertinence at once,” said Faye.

  “Or what? You’re gonna punish me? Her? Haven’t you already done that?”

  “No, we haven’t,” said Caer matter-of-factly. She eyed Phylassos. “The agreement is null and void. A new judgment shall be passed. Are the maidens of the council prepared to render a verdict?” The maidens nodded.

  “Guilty,” they each said in turn. Sam’s heart sank lower and lower as they repeated it over and over again, until all nine had spoken. He didn’t want to think about what it might mean—what this punishment could possibly be.

  “The verdict is unanimous,” Caer declared. “All three violators shall face sentences for this crime.”

  “No, they won’t,” Phylassos said firmly.

  “The time for negotiation is over,” Palatina asserted.

  “I am not negotiating, simply stating the obvious. If we are to declare the previous agreement null and void, as Caer stipulated, then we must proceed as we would have prior to the agreement,” Phylassos countered.

  “What are you saying?” Sam asked. Phylassos did not answer. The maidens conferred before turning back to the shoreline.

  Palatina spoke for the group. “We shall agree to these terms out of respect for you, mighty Phylassos.” The gryphon nodded once in acknowledgment.

  “What did you do? What just happened?” Sam exclaimed. He was quickly concluding that the terms weren’t favorable and was terrified of the result.

  “The child and the human shall be spared,” Melusine said. “The maiden known as Odette shall be returned to Gaia at once.”

  “What? No!” Vance yelled.

  “You can’t! She’s my mom. She didn’t do anything wrong! Phylassos, please! Do something!”

  “The gryphon has agreed to this sentence. There is nothing more to discuss,” Caer said. “Odette? It is your time. Your life on the lake is complete. You shall return to the waters from whence you came.”

  Sam raced down to the shore, but Caer put up her hand and the sand gripped Sam’s feet once again and stopped him cold. When Vance made the attempt, she put up her other hand, and he quickly halted. Sam watched helplessly. The swan maiden known as Odette and known to him as his mother stepped into the lake.

  “Mom!” Sam cried out. Odette peered toward his voice, her face expressionless, and then turned back to the lake, continuing on.

  The moment Odette the swan maiden disappeared beneath the still waters of Lake Baikal, the dawn sun broke against the horizon. Everyone—human and otherwise—shielded their eyes from the blinding light. Vance grabbed Sam by the shoulders, as tears ran down his cheeks.

  “I’m so sorry, Son. I’m so sorry.” He embraced Sam and kept repeating those words, as if it were all his fault. Sam couldn’t process any of it. He could not—would not—believe she was gone.

  “The punishment has been carried out according to the law,” Manto said. “We ask that you leave our sanctuary and do not return.”

  Sam London collapsed on the sand. The tears could not be stopped. The pain could not be quelled. He could hear Nerida and Penelope, Sprite and Tashi, all trying to console him. And he could hear his father whispering as he held Sam in his arms and squeezed him with all his might.

  “It’s going to be okay, Sam….I’ve got you….It’s going to be okay….”

  But Sam London knew it would never be okay again.

  SL002-130

  FINAL CASE NOTES

  DATE: ████████

  In the days that followed the completion of DMW case SL002-130, aka “The Selkie of San Francisco,” the city of Ta Cathair underwent major social and political upheaval. The Leviathan had taken a heavy toll on the infrastructure of the city and left many of its residents homeless, which now included the influx of refugees from the evacuated colonies. With the creature now buried beneath the seafloor—thanks to the near-fatal sacrifice of the DMW’s own Sam London—and the surviving finfolk creatures imprisoned, the population and government of Ta Cathair moved forward with the Herculean task of rebuilding, both the city’s physical structures and its social underpinnings.


  Queen Muiria announced her abdication of the throne four days after the Leviathan’s attack, to enable her daughter, Iaira, to take her place. According to Muiria’s statement to the DMW, the queen sensed a need for a new generation of leaders and recognized the overwhelming popularity of her daughter following her dramatic homecoming and efforts to save her people. The treaty requiring Iaira to marry a selkie was amended at the request of Maris, with the support of his father, General Searus, who’d been the initial force behind the edict.

  In her first act as queen, Iaira successfully persuaded the mer-people to form a coalition government that would ensure that the selkies had equal representation. She also invited Maris to jointly govern by her side and return the city to its former glory. In light of these changes, General Searus stepped down from his post, and the newly formed government chose a successor who was well liked by both the selkies and mer-people.

  Against her counsel’s objections, Queen Iaira took a secret trip back to Miami, Florida, a few days into her reign to tie up the loose ends of her life as Pearl and to help her gems find closure regarding her disappearance. She also owed Francis Gomez and Wanda Bradley a thank-you for rescuing her and her friends from the finfolk. Maris supported Iaira’s wish to return to the over-world for a brief and—what he hoped would be—final visit but insisted on accompanying her, for security reasons.

  A party that was open to her most loyal gems was held in the lobby of Eklund Environmental’s headquarters. In the wake of Lief’s experiences with Iaira, the finfolk, and Ta Cathair, the billionaire abandoned the energy-seeking aspects of the company and focused its efforts on cleaning up the world’s oceans, as well as finding eco-friendly, renewable sources of energy that would not displace mythical sea creatures (the existence of whom he pledged to keep secret).

  With Lief’s help, Iaira convinced her gems that she was devoting her life to helping her father with his environmental work. Her new focus would preclude her from engaging on social media or pursuing film and television roles. She encouraged her gems to follow her example and get involved in their communities, working to make a difference for the better. Lief had the drilling ship Pearl stripped of its drilling equipment and fitted with the latest technology for cleaning oil spills and garbage from the seas. Once the work was complete, he renamed the ship Iaira.

  Before Iaira and Maris returned to Ta Cathair, they were met outside the Eklund Environmental building by San Francisco news reporter Cynthia Salazar, who asked about the day when Maris confronted Iaira at the fashion show. Iaira became concerned that the reporter was connecting the dots and might already know too much about the mythical world. When Ms. Salazar inquired as to whether Iaira had ever seen a gryphon or knew a boy named Sam London, the queen abruptly ended the interview and climbed into a waiting limousine with Maris. Ms. Salazar attempted to follow the two as they headed to Falling Waters State Park, but the limo driver was able to lose her along the way.

  Back in Ta Cathair, the close working relationship Iaira had with Maris further developed the bond the two had already shared as a result of the events that had begun in San Francisco. Iaira came to greatly appreciate the risk Maris had taken to come and find her. It demonstrated true concern for her and all of the city’s inhabitants. Witnessing his good heart in action and his charming manner—and likely recognizing he was hesitant to make the first move, given their history—Iaira eventually asked Maris out to dinner. She recognized her people’s extreme interest in the pair and decided to do something that had never been done in the undersea world—she live-streamed their first date. Working with the technologists of Ta Cathair, Iaira helped launch the kingdom’s own version of a social media platform as a way for citizens to interact with their leaders, as well as each other.

  Exposing the people to their courtship, coupled with this new form of communication, played a major role in continuing to break down the cultural barriers that had been growing more fortified between the two races over the centuries. At the time of the filing of this report, Iaira and Maris were engaged to be married.

  As for Murphy, the old fisherman and friend of Lief was offered the chance to start a new life in Ta Cathair. He was given an injection synthesized from Maris’s blood, and utilized a prosthetic fin to help fit in. He enjoyed his time in the city, became a bit of a celebrity, and sparked up a wonderful friendship with Muiria.

  The kingdom of Ta Cathair dedicated the new Seahorse 5000 stadium exactly one year, to the day, after the Leviathan’s attack. It would forever be known as Sam London Arena, in honor of his actions that day, and a new plaque at the entrance of the facility featured a likeness of Sam with an inscription that read: “Dedicated to Sam London. The human boy who saved us all.”

  An emotional trifecta of anger, sadness, and despair consumed Sam London as he stood motionless on the shore of Lake Baikal. Even though the enchanted sands had released their hold, Sam felt helpless to budge from the spot where he had watched his mother return to Gaia. His heart felt like it had been ripped from him….He couldn’t even feel it beating anymore. He felt hollow and sick to his stomach. Although the maidens were responsible for carrying out the sentence, Sam placed all of the blame for this horrible turn of events on one creature. He glared at the gryphon with contempt.

  “How could you?” Sam asked angrily.

  “I am sorry, Sam,” Phylassos answered. “There was nothing more that could be done.”

  “You lied to me and you let them do this,” Sam declared as he motioned toward the Maiden Council, its members already receding back into the lake.

  “I hope you will come to understand the difficulty of my predicament.”

  “I won’t,” Sam replied defiantly.

  “You need time,” Phylassos contended, then looked to the others. “Please see him home.” They nodded, and Phylassos took flight, disappearing over the mountains. Vance placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder.

  “C’mon, Sam. It’s time to go.”

  Nerida reached out, grabbed his hand, and clutched it tightly as she led him from the shore. He appreciated the gesture and thought how much he would have enjoyed it under different circumstances. Now it was just a reminder that he was being consoled for tragic, awful reasons. He half-expected Tashi to start telling him about the wonderful nature of returning to Gaia, but the Guardian no doubt sensed that now was not a good time for a discussion on mythical death.

  Everyone silently left the sanctuary, shell-shocked by what they had witnessed. They boarded a dvergen subway and traveled back to the United States. Trevor and Nuks were waiting on the platform at the Castle Crags station. Ranger Naughton must have let them know that the group would be returning, and given the duo’s solemn expressions, she likely had informed the two of Ettie’s fate. As the travelers disembarked from the subway car, Ranger Sprite tapped Sam on the shoulder. Sam turned, and Sprite kneeled down on the platform, so that he could meet Sam eye to eye.

  “I have to return to the Everglades, but I want you to know that I understand how hard this is for you,” the ranger told him. “Harder than anything you have ever experienced. And there are no words, Sam. No words I can say to make sense of this or lessen the pain in your heart. All I can do is be a friend to you, always. Here whenever you need me.” Sprite embraced a now teary-eyed Sam.

  “Thank you,” the boy whispered.

  The group stopped at Penelope’s cabin to drop Trevor and the ranger off. The two said their goodbyes to Sam, with Ranger Naughton having a hard time letting him go from her hug and Trevor acting surprisingly subdued. The troll simply kept expressing his condolences until Ranger Naughton pulled him away. Before they left, Vance took Penelope aside to talk, and Sam overheard the conversation.

  “I’ll be taking some time away from the department,” he told her.

  “Of course,” she replied.

  “I’ve got some catching up to do.”

  “Any
idea when you might—”

  “I haven’t a clue,” Vantana said. “To be honest, Pen, I’m not even sure I’m coming back.” Ranger Naughton appeared surprised to hear this but tried her best to hide it.

  “I understand,” she replied half-heartedly. “I’m here if you need me, Vance. You or Sam.” He nodded, and the two embraced.

  The drive back to Benicia was initially spent in silence. Sam sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window. Occasionally Vance would reach over and put his hand on Sam’s leg in a consoling gesture. Sam didn’t acknowledge it, and Vance would simply retract it after a few seconds. Sam didn’t mean to be rude, but there was just so much to process, and he didn’t know where to begin. His mind was racing with thoughts. Thoughts about the truth regarding his mother, his father, Nerida, and himself. He now knew that he wasn’t entirely human. This was a major revelation in the life of Sam London, and he had no idea what the implications were. He had so many questions.

  But there was one specific question that kept pushing its way to the very front of this crowd of thoughts. A question that he wanted to know the answer to more than all the others combined. Fortunately, the only person who could answer it was sitting right next to him.

  “Vance?” Sam said. The doctor quickly glanced over.

  “Yeah, Sam?”

  “How did you meet her?” he asked.

  Vantana smirked. “It’s a long story.”