by Dee J. Stone
She stares at me with nothing but shock in her beautiful brown eyes. Then her gaze travels to the garment, and her face shifts to the color red. When her eyes are located on my chest, her face turns darker than the children of the Ruby clan.
“I have startled you,” I say.
With the words tumbling out of her mouth—nearly incoherently—she assures me that I have not. But she nearly loses her balance and must support herself on the door. Perhaps I should not have arrived unannounced. Perhaps—
Laughter sounds from behind me. I turn around. Many humans gape at me, at the garment on my body.
“Sorry,” Cassie says. “Come in.”
As I walk past her, her lovely scent engulfs me. It causes me to re-experience that warm sensation I felt when she and I parted a week ago.
We stand before one another in the small tunnel between the resting quarters and the exit of the house. I stare into her eyes, utterly entrapped by them. I have not paid much attention to eyes in the past, for every child of the sea has identical color as the next. But Cassie Price’s eyes…they are the most exquisite object I have ever laid eyes upon. Her hair, like the previous time, is bound in two and rests down her shoulders. How my hands itch to release them of their bindings and see them flow loosely down her back.
Without my intention, my eyes move to her lips. The lips that I had pressed mine against. The lips that were warm and which sent electricity to every part of my body.
Now my gaze travels down her body. To a large, white garment that covers her torso, and to a much smaller one that covers the lower half of her body. Her legs are bare, and they are…they are beautiful. Enticing. Exquisite.
At once, I am overwhelmed with heat, and my blood rushes through my body. It is so profound that I fear I may collapse.
I have never felt such powerful sensations before.
Cassie stares down at her legs, and her eyes widen. Her face is once again darker than the Ruby tail.
She rushes up the platform that leads to the rooms on the higher floor, shouting words over her shoulder. I do not hear them clearly, but I believe she has instructed me to make myself comfortable while she locates a more suitable garment for her to wear. I hope I have not caused her discomfort or embarrassment.
I lower myself on the largest chair in the room and stare at the black object before me. I believe Cassie referred to it as the TV.
As I await Cassie’s return, I examine the room. Human houses hold much more items than the caves in the sea. I do not know what these items are, but they are in abundance.
Cassie appears in the entryway, carrying garments in her arms. As she holds them out to me, I recognize them as the clothing I wore the other time I was here. “You have not returned them to your friend?” I ask. Once again, I experience another strange sensation in my stomach. No, it is in my heart. I do not understand it, but I am glad she has not discarded the garments. Perhaps…perhaps it was her wish that I return?
Cassie informs me I may cast off the garments I wear on my body. I take the other clothing from her and make way to the adjacent room to change. I do not have much difficulty with the exchange, for I have learned how to properly place them on my body. When I return to Cassie, she inspects me. I believe she is satisfied with me, for her face seems pleased. I sit down near her on the large chair.
Her body twitches. She takes hold of her bound hair and brings the tip to her mouth. I do not understand the gesture. Is she uncomfortable by my presence?
Once again, nearly incoherent words leave her mouth. But I understand what she is attempting to ask—she wishes to know why I am here.
“I…” My hair falls into my eyes. How strange. It has never done so in the sea. I push it aside. “When I returned home…” The rest of my words cannot leave me. How could I explain what I felt in the sea? How I witnessed the love between Neren and Pelina and yearn to experience the same? How I had hoped to share the same with Flora, but could not, no matter how hard I attempted? How the lovely face of Cassie Price entered my mind countless times, stirring in me sensations I had never felt before?
I focus my eyes on her. “I could not forget you, Cassie.”
She merely gapes at me.
“I had to return to land,” I continue.
She still gapes at me, but no longer in shock. Her eyes have softened and her cheeks have become a light shade of red, one that causes her to look even more beautiful. I raise my hand toward her cheek and run the back of my hand across it. It is so smooth, so warm.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you, either,” she says, her voice so soft it carries into my heart.
Our eyes remain locked on each other for quite some time before I lower my hand. She and I sit on the chair, utterly silent. New sensations pass through me, ones I cannot identify. I do not know if I am able to sit near her in this manner. I fear I may perish.
Cassie breaks the silence—and puts an end to the sensations—when she inquires whether a human spotted me when I returned to land. I inform her that I do not believe so, for I waited until nighttime to shift and traveled to her home when the sun rose.
“How long are you staying?” she asks.
I look into her eyes, but I do not understand what lies in them. “I am not certain.”
“I guess you have nowhere to stay…”
My chest feels rigid. Does she not wish for me to be here? I thought…I believed…No, she must not share my feelings. My behavior was rash and selfish, abandoning the princess and my duty to travel to land because of the way I felt when I was in the presence of this lovely human. Perhaps I have made a grave mistake.
I stand. “I apologize. I do not know what I was thinking…arriving here, thinking I could remain with you.” I turn for the exit, but she takes hold of my arm.
“I’m sorry if I made you feel unwelcome. Please, sit down.”
I do as she asks.
“I’m just…overwhelmed, I guess. You’re more than welcome to stay. I…I’d love for you to stay.”
Once again, I stare into her eyes. They are filled with something I am not certain I can identify. Joy, perhaps. Delight. In my heart, I am positive she wishes for me to be here as much as I wish to be here. Relief passes through me, as well as happiness and hope.
She raises herself on her feet and tells me we will need to acquire clothing for me, and salt that she will add to the pool so that I may swim in seawater. The notion of being here on land, a foreign place I have little knowledge of, causes my body to slightly tremble in trepidation. But it also trembles with excitement. I have always been curious about humans and land and have wondered what it would feel like to be free and not tied to the sea. Now I have the chance to experience it.
And I will have the chance to be with Cassie Price.
She puts her hand in mine, and that electricity shoots to every part of my body. A small sound leaves her mouth. Has she felt it, too?
She brings me outside and stops before an odd object. “What is this?” I ask.
“A car.”
“Car?”
Cassie tells me this car is how humans travel from one location to another. “These legs don’t have super speed like that tail of yours.”
She opens the door of this car and I notice there is a place for me to sit. I bend my body to lower myself in this strange transportation device. Cassie joins me in the adjacent chair. She stares at herself and then at me. “Um…”
“Yes?” I ask.
“The law requires…you know, I’ll strap you in.”
She leans over me and reaches for something that is attached to the wall next to me. Her smell…it is so captivating. I am bathed in the heat that only grows more profound at every passing second. And her face is so close, our eyes gazing into each other’s. I wish to know her, I wish to learn everything about her.
She jumps and whips her head to the side, where she can see out of this transportation device. There are fry running and talking quite loudly. She stretches an object across my bo
dy and fastens it into another object that locks it in place. I notice her hands and body tremble.
She stretches an identical object across her body and then rests her hands on a circular object in front of her. She sits very still, her breathing heavy. Mine is just as heavy.
I am not certain how long we remain seated in this manner, but it feels like a lot of time has passed. Then Cassie announces that we are to travel to a location where we shall acquire clothing for me to wear.
Chapter Twelve
I am slightly upset, for Cassie did not allow me to “pay” for the clothing. I do not completely understand how methods of payment are established amongst the humans, but I am aware that Cassie has taken the burden upon herself, and that it was quite a burden to bear.
But I am more joyous than upset, for the time Cassie and I shared together was exhilarating. The mall, as she referred to it, held so many options that I grew bewildered. I do not understand how humans can choose what item to acquire when there are so many to choose from. Cassie was so kind and patient with me. I am content with what I have purchased. Not the rough garments her friend lent me, but a softer kind. I think they are referred to as khakis. It is pleasant to wear. I am not accustomed to the items on my feet—I believe they are called shoes. But I understand it can be painful for one to walk on land without them, for I have slightly injured myself twice or thrice.
Now we are to enter a location to obtain the salt for my seawater pool.
As soon as we exit the car, I smell something wonderful. My eyes search for the object, and then I realize it comes from the trees. I have always wondered what they smell like. I have seen them many times when I swam close to the shore. I head over.
“Damarian?” Cassie asks as she follows me.
The tree is quite a distance above me. I raise my head and inhale. It smells even more wonderful, like the way I imagined land would smell.
“Damarian?” Cassie stands by my side. Her eyes are curious as they study me and then lift to the tree.
“I have never smelled a tree before,” I tell her. “Or those objects that grow out of the land.”
She appears confused, and then nods. “You mean flowers?”
“I suppose. I do not know what they are called.”
She takes my hand. “Follow me.”
She leads me into another store with a divine scent. The area is packed with flowers. Many flowers, of all different shapes and colors and smells.
“How wonderful,” I say.
“I’ll buy you some.” She gestures around. “Just tell me which you want.”
I take her hand in mine. “Please, Cassie. Do not spend—what is that word? Ah, money—on my account. It is enough that I have inhaled this wonderful scent. We need not purchase it.”
She stares down at the violet-colored flowers before her, then brings her gaze to mine. “Are you sure? I really don’t mind buying you some.” She laughs slightly. “Well, usually it’s the guy who buys the girl flowers…” She shakes her head. “Never mind. Anyway, I really don’t mind.”
I tighten my hold on hers. “I appreciate your kindness, but I do not wish for you to purchase me this flowers.”
The frown vanishes from her face and is replaced with a sweet smile. “You’re so cute. It’s ‘these flowers’ because flowers is plural.”
I nod. “Forgive me. These flowers.”
She smiles wider. “Come. Let’s go buy some sea salt.”
She opens the door of another store and we walk in. Immediately, I catch sight of fish. Many fish, perhaps hundreds, swimming in rectangular objects. Betrayal rises in me as I look at Cassie. “They are captured.”
“No, they’re not.”
“They are imprisoned.”
“They’re here on display so people can buy them as pets. We treat them well, Damarian. Humans give their pets a lot of love and attention.”
Not only do I feel betrayed, but now I am outraged. How could Cassie claim they treat my brethren well when they are captured in this manner? They do not even have the required space to swim! Humans purchase them as pets? What is the meaning of a pet? Syd and Syndin discovered a young seahorse many moons ago who could not find his parents. They wished to have him as a pet. Father did not allow it for he does not believe any creature should be treated in that manner. The twins did not obey Father and did not take the proper care of their charge. He died. Father and Mother were furious and forbade us to have any pets. Do humans treat their pets in the same manner? Will these goldfish be dead in a few days? Not only do these humans steal our fish, but now they mistreat them?
Cassie folds her arms across her chest. “Hey, it’s not like they can actually understand what’s going on or feel anything.”
I stare at her. “To what are you referring?”
“Their brains are not advanced like ours and they don’t feel emotion.”
She does not fathom how mistaken she is. I touch the side of this prison and call out to the confined fish. Have no fear. I am here to liberate you.
They do not respond but merely swim away as if they do not notice my presence. What has happened to them? Have they been injured by the humans? I close my eyes and attempt once again.
“Damarian?” Cassie’s hand is on my arm.
They once again do not respond. Why do they not sense my presence? I open my eyes and see they swim in a healthy manner, and it seems they are communicating with one another. But why do they not—?
The answer appears before me. “I cannot communicate with them in this human form,” I say.
Her jaw nearly plummets to the floor. “Communicate? You…you speak to fish?”
I feel moisture on my hands and other parts of my body, which is one of the most peculiar things I have ever experienced. Emitting water from my body? But I cannot dwell too much on this phenomenon because of the apprehension I feel. Was it wise to have divulged such information to Cassie? I am quite intrigued by her and wish to learn all about her and her world, but I did not consider that if I wish to learn about her life, she would wish to learn about my life. That would require me to inform her of all our secrets.
Can I trust Cassie Price wholeheartedly?
Yes, I know I can.
An elderly male has joined us. “Can I help you?” he asks.
From his authoritative tone and stance, I am quite certain this is the man who is responsible for holding my brethren captive. “Please release the fish,” I demand.
“Excuse me?”
Cassie raises her hands. “I’m sorry, he’s just....” She glances at me and then at the male. “Do you have synthetic seat salt for marine fish?”
I cannot trust this human who has the heart and audacity to sail to the sea in his human vessel and use his human nets to capture these innocent fish so that he can sell them to humans for pay. I will not allow Cassie to purchase a single item from him. Not for me.
But she and the male have already walked away to the far end of the store. I focus my attention on the captured fish, then at the other creatures imprisoned here. Turtles and frogs and crabs, and even octopi and squids. There are many other creatures here that I have never laid eyes upon. Human creatures. They do not appear to be in danger or in peril. Perhaps I am mistaken and the humans treat their pets favorably.
I catch sight of another rectangular object that holds more fish and head over. These are fish I pass every time I swim to the surface. My stomach feels tight. Home. Zarya, Syd, and Syndin. Kiander, Doria, Mother, and Father. How I miss them.
Cassie taps my shoulder and tells me she has purchased the salt. They reside in two large white circular objects. From the expression and red color on her face, I realize they are quite heavy. I take both of them from her and carry them to the car.
Then we sit in silence.
“I apologize for my behavior,” I say.
“It’s okay. I get why you were upset.”
I attempt to explain how difficult it was for me to see my brethren captured in such a ma
nner and that I now understand they are not in danger and will not be harmed. I also tell her she was correct when she stated that fish do not hold the same emotional capacity as the children of the sea, nor are they highly intelligent.
“But you can communicate with them,” she says.
I can trust her. I am quite certain I can. My human Cassie will not divulge all my secrets to other humans. No, I see the joy she carries in her eyes when she and I are together. She is very much intrigued with me, just as I am with her. And she is such a kind being.
“Yes,” I respond.
She wishes to know more about them and I tell her how they care for their young just as we do and how they hunt for food. Then she proceeds to transport us to her house. We do not exchange words on the journey. I stare out the car and study the activity outside, how the humans interact with each other and their world. Though they look different from children of the sea and though land is not the sea, it does not look like they differ greatly from us.
We reach her house and enter it, with me carrying the salt. Cassie suggests I swim in the pool. Before we head for there, we ascend the platforms—which Cassie informs me are called stairs—to put away my clothing. She tells me I am to sleep in the guest room and places my clothing in wooden objects that I suppose is what is used to store the clothing when not in use. In the middle of the room, there is a large bed, much larger than my shell in the sea.
Cassie looks at me in a questioning manner.
“The bed,” I say. “It is larger than the one in the other room.”
She tells me the bed in the room on the first level is called a couch and that this bed is for a king.
A king. Moisture once again gathers all over my body. Why does she present me with a bed for a king? Does she know I am the true heir to the throne? No, I must not fret, for Cassie could not know what occurs in the sea. I say, “I was not aware that humans have a king.”
She tells me that some human clans have kings and some do not. I suppose the human clans are not united, just as the children of the sea aren’t.
My eyes return to the king’s bed. “I do not understand why you have a king’s bed.” Is she a princess? Is she promised to another male? The thought causes me to feel a burning pain in my chest.
