FINNED (The Merworld Water Wars)

by Sutton Shields

  As the night progressed, I continued to stake my claim to the King Cake…and other cakes…and cookies…while couples danced closely to icky-love songs. I’m happy for them, really. Very happy. Truly. Yeah.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, soon we will retreat to the balcony for the annual Valentine’s Day fireworks extravaganza,” Mr. Anderson announced. “It’s time for the last dance of the night, everyone. Make it worthwhile.”

  Only one more dance to watch Katrina wrap her noodle arms all over Troy. I think I’ve done relatively well, given the circumstances. I haven’t wanted to crawl under the table and hide, and I haven’t puked.

  The band started playing the final song, only to stop moments into the toe-tapping tune. An audible groan filled the room. Initially, I found the group of peeved Merpeople absolutely hilarious—by the looks on their faces, you’d think Mr. Deep Blue Sea decided to cut back on its salt intake. Yes, I found it all terribly amusing…until I noticed Troy Tombolo whispering in the conductor’s ear. Katrina smugly looked around at everyone; I considered hurling a football-shaped cake at her head. When Troy finished talking to the conductor, he slowly turned and walked towards one girl—me.

  I couldn’t breathe. My heavy senses drowned under a thin veil of hope—hope I tried to ignore because it had always let me down.

  “May I, Savior?” he asked, holding my pāua shell necklace before me, ready to place it around my neck.

  I simply nodded and lifted my hair as he gently secured the necklace around my neck. There was no denying how complete I felt with it against my skin. Facing me once more, he clicked his heels together, bowed slightly, and held his hand out for mine.

  “Will you dance with me, Marina Valentine?”

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  “I’m taking the ballerina out of her music box, if she’ll let me.”

  Smiling, I placed my hand in his and let him lead me to the dance floor. The band began playing one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written. He pulled me so close to him that not a sliver of light could pass between us. We glided around the lonely dance floor, not as two, but as one, in front of every single merperson in town. He has made his choice. Though surrounded by disapproving glares, I could see nothing but him.

  “I am forever yours,” he sang in my ear.

  Please, God, don’t ever let this song end—I was too afraid to know what might happen when it did. I snuggled into his chest and allowed his arms to envelop me. He kissed the top of my head several times before the song ended much too soon.

  “To the balcony for fireworks,” said Mr. Anderson, forcing a light tone. “We will talk later, Tombolo.”

  Mr. Smarmy’s words acted like a dagger to my conscious mind. While everyone silently gravitated for the balcony, I ran out the front doors and headed for the beach.

  Once outside, I gulped at the cool sea air, trying to replenish the breaths that so easily escaped me while in Troy’s arms.

  “Marina,” said Troy, joining me on the beach.

  “What are we doing? This can’t happen. As much as I might want it to, it can’t. It’s selfish. I’m selfish. You’ll be in danger, Troy. I know you’re a prince of the sea. I know your father, on behalf of the Fairhairs, entered into a water pact with Katrina’s father, giving Zale authority over these waters. You can’t break the pact, Troy, and being with me would annihilate it.”

  “It would go against the pact, yes, but it will not break it. There are other actions I could take…or fail to take…that would break the pact. Being with you will not put me in danger. If anything, it will bring me to life. But the pact isn’t the only reason you’re scared to be with me, is it? It’s me, my kind.”

  I shook my head. “It’s just a lot to take in. I’m on serious emotional overload here. So much exists that’s not supposed to exist. There’s so much bad…so many big, evil baddies.”

  “True, but where there’s bad, there’s good, just like in the human world.”

  “Like a good vampire or a cuddly werewolf?”

  “Well, sometimes, yes,” he said, smiling. “But I meant things like fairies, angels, flying horses, unicorns, and Santa Claus.”

  Cool air flooded my mouth, stinging my teeth. I stared at him, hardly believing what I just heard.

  “I assure you, they’re all very real. For every evil, there is pure goodness. The good ones are harder to see, but they’re there when you need them,” he said gently.

  “Santa Claus? Seriously?”

  “Seriously,” he laughed. “I’ll take you to see him one day.” He moved closer to me.

  “Stay back, please. I…can’t. I’ve been foolish to think we could be together. And here I’ve been so frustrated with you for how you’ve handled things with us, for the things you’ve said…when all along…you were right.”

  “No, I wasn’t. I talked to you like a heartless ass, and I’m so sorry. I didn’t know how to let my heart talk. It’s something I’m learning to do, because of you. Marina, your fear will keep you from ever living, from ever loving.”

  “You don’t understand,” I shouted. “I want to live, and I want to learn to love, but I don’t know how. When I’m around you, when I’m not around you, I feel like I’m falling, like something is pulling me down, some force I can’t seem to resist. Everyday is another new feeling, another test I have to pass in order to make sense of my heart, but I never seem to get any closer to understanding how I feel whenever you look at me, whenever you touch me. It’s like I’m losing myself to you.”

  “Maybe you’re not losing yourself, Marina. Maybe you’re finding yourself with me. I’ve found myself with you. You are the only girl I have ever met who has the guts to stand her ground, and I respect that about you more than you know. I never saw true beauty until I saw you standing in front of the class, reading your poem.”

  “So, I looked my loveliest while talking about my butt. I’m not sure whether to be offended, humiliated, or write it off as a typical male response,” I said, trying to slow my breathing.

  “Well, tell me, is this a typical male response? My hand is unworthy of holding yours, but I need your touch. My soul feels ashamed when around yours, but I need your soul’s influence. My eyes soak you inside of me without asking, but I cannot deny them. My heart rests helpless as a child in your hands, but I don’t want it back. I have fallen for you, and I have no desire to stand back up. I don’t deserve you, Marina, but I need you, and I’ve never needed anything.”

  Something worked through the center of my body like a small fluttering moth; I think, though I’m not an expert, it was elation.

  “Definitely not a typical male response. Very Jane Austen, actually. So, how do we do this? How do I do this?” I asked, falling to my knees in the sand.

  Kneeling down in front of me, Troy took my hands and lightly kissed them. “Fall with me. You’re not alone anymore. You have so many impenetrable layers around your heart.”

  “I know.”

  “I want to undress your heart, if you’ll let me.”

  I softly touched his lips with my fingertips. He held my face in his hands, swept away my tears, and tenderly brushed my lips with his before kissing me deeply, lovingly. My eyes never opened.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sprinkles or Showers?

  March: Luck be a lady

  Monthly Life Caption: Love on the Rocks

  Mood: Could it be? Am I HAPPY?

  Eating: Fried foods

  Music: Love songs of any and all generations

  When I say love on the rocks, I mean it quite literally. Troy and I have kissed on every possible surface—his bed, my bed, the floor, his truck, the beach, our cave. He even carries me high above his head and effortlessly glides through the water, delivering me to the lonesome rocks just beyond our cave. Once there, he slides atop my body and begins his trail of kisses, never taking the same path twice.

  My body yearns for the touch of his skin day and night; I’ve never known anything like
it before. Staying a good girl with Troy was, admittedly, very difficult, not that he has ever tried to pressure me. On the contrary, Troy believes in something called eternal serendipity. Of course, he never explained its meaning. Maybe I can nag him into telling me today at lunch.

  WARNING: Slight detour ahead. Immediately following Valentine’s Day, I planned to meet Troy in the cafeteria; he had his meeting with Mr. Smarmy the period before and figured he would be late. As usual, I entered our aquarium-cafeteria and sat alone at the Normal’s table. Less than ten minutes later, Troy walked over to me, lifted my tray, grabbed my hand, and led me to the head table.

  “Out,” he had said to a bewildered Katrina. “Now.” He was so fierce that no one wanted to challenge him, much less Katrina. It was such a nobody puts Marina in the corner moment, and I loved every minute.

  Katrina left without protest. I thought then, as I do now, that her silent acceptance was merely a sign of something to come, something dire. Still, we have occupied the head table for over a month without conflict.

  End of detour.

  Back to present day: Lunch & nag time. After indulging in some crispy chicken and buttered corn, I decided it was time to bug my boyfriend.

  “Tell me about eternal serendipity,” I whined for the one-hundredth time.

  “Not getting why I have to talk about this when you won’t talk about being the Sav—”

  I waved my hands and winced. “Ah, ugh, what was our deal?” Just the word…Savior…made my skin crawl. Fate choosing me as the Savior was about as rational as Dracula getting employed as an emergency room surgeon. Catastrophically bad.

  “We don’t talk about Savior stuff,” he said, rolling his eyes.

  “Uh-huh, exactly. Not ready, not willing, and definitely not able to face all of…that. On the other hand, you are very able to talk about eternal serendipity.”

  “Funny, I’m not so ready or willing.”

  “Please! Pretty please with a crab puff on top!”

  “If you’ll stop whining, I’ll tell you,” he groaned.

  “I’m a great whiner, huh?”

  “No, you’re annoying!”

  “Ah, then I’m great. Annoying is the mark of a great whiner.”

  “And you’re kinda cute,” he said, sneaking a kiss.

  I could hear the whispers growing louder around the cafeteria. “Well, that does undermine my ability to effectively whine, but if it gets me a kiss and the answers I want, I see no harm in it.”

  “Brat.”

  “You love it,” I teased.

  “So I do. Eternal serendipity. It’s our belief that two souls are forever fated to live as one,” he said, playing with my hand. “The sea determines whether or not you and your chosen one are fated to be together. If the sea so finds, then a beam of diamond-filled light will break from the ocean floor, engulf the two lovers, and bind their souls together forever.”

  “Have you ever seen this happen?”

  “No. I’ve only heard the stories.” He frowned at his red snapper.

  “What is it?”

  “My mom and dad were supposedly bound together by the light, but they haven’t been together for years. I really don’t want to talk about it.”

  I knew not to push him. “Well, maybe the ocean isn’t always right.”

  “It’s not like human marriages, Marina. People in your world don’t always marry for love. Some marry for lust or money. Others marry for convenience, or because it’s the noble thing to do. Marriage in the human world is very rarely for true love,” he said, moving the snapper around on his plate.

  “What happens when two people break the ocean’s bond? Is it like divorce?”

  A small, sad grin crept across his rugged face. “Not even a little bit. When the ocean bonds two souls, it’s for eternity—they are fated to live and die together, then move to the afterlife as one. There is no way to break the bond once it’s made.”

  “But, what about your mom and dad?”

  “The merp who chooses to leave their soul mate will also leave behind their soul.”

  I gasped. “So, that’s their punishment. If they leave their chosen love, they must forfeit their soul.”

  “Yes. The mate left behind will have two souls and can never become bound to another. In a way, the sea forces love. Very unlike your world, of course. Divorce is a way to sever all bonds. The two former lovers move on to new people and new lives. It’s disgusting the way humans toss and trade lovers like a pair of jeans.”

  “Not to point out the obvious, but you aren’t exactly Mr. Innocent. You’ve been with puss-in-really-ugly-boots, Katrina,” I said, my cheeks burning. “And I’m sure there have been others before her.”

  He flashed his sexy little grin at me. “There have been a few. Then again, I haven’t bonded with someone. I’ve never been in love with anyone before you.”

  I shuddered a bit. I still had not said those three little words—I love you. The thought made my stomach churn. I’m so screwed up! GAG.

  “Ah, the dreaded gag. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable, but I do love you, Marina, and I’m not shy about saying it.”

  “I know, and I love to hear it. It’s just…”

  “You’re not ready,” he said, kissing my hand. “I understand.” He continued pushing his food around the plate.

  “You gonna eat that fish or play with it?”

  “Not all that hungry, I guess. I’m bored with red snapper.” He shoved his tray to the side, frightening a small clownfish that was happily watching him.

  “Apart from candy, have you ever tried anything other than seafood?”

  “No.”

  “Nothing?”

  “Nothing. The only thing merps eat is seafood,” he said.

  “Well, we have to change that. I’m meeting Airianna and a friend of hers tonight for dinner. Why don’t you come along?”

  “Can’t. I’ve got to be somewhere.”

  “Right. It’s Thursday.” I hadn’t forgotten. I just didn’t want him to think I was obsessing over his whereabouts. Truthfully, ever since we became an official couple, I’ve been bothered by his constant need to disappear every Thursday night and Friday afternoon. Where did he go? Every time I ask him about it, he simply shrugs and tells me to be patient. Patience was so not my virtue. “Come along after you’re done, then. I’m meeting them pretty late anyway.”

  “Okay. Where and what time?”

  “A place called Sprinkles. I’ll be there about nine, but Airi and Bobby are probably going to get there around eight.”

  “Bobby Bubblestone? Oh, great,” he said, running his hands through his hair.

  “What’s wrong with Bobby Bubblestone?”

  “Have you met him?”

  “No, why?”

  “He’s the most boring fish under the sea, and pretension is his middle name. Is Airi dating that tadpole?”

  “He asked her out, I know that. She begged me to come along. I thought she was nervous, but maybe she’s dreading it. All the more reason for you to join us. Think of all the wrong things I could say or do in front of him.”

  “This is true.” He leaned across the table, weaved his fingers through my hair, and pulled my lips to his.

  Amongst the sneers and jeers, I heard a dainty little clap, no doubt from Airianna.

  After giving me clear directions to the restaurant, Troy gave me the keys to his truck. This gesture at least verified that his routine disappearances were underwater. At ten minutes to nine, I pulled up in front of what looked like a sand castle overgrown with wild palm leaves and bright blue grass. The front door even looked like a drawbridge. I parked the truck, hopped out, and nearly fell backward.

  “Airi! You scared me.” Airianna had grabbed me from behind and flipped me around. “Why aren’t you inside?”

  “Because…I’m in hell. He. Is. So. Persnickety. I can’t stand it, Marina. And I’m a tolerant person, right?” she said, looking quite frazzled.

  “Probably th
e most tolerant person I know.”

  “I’m about to lose my mind with this guy!”

  “Okay, calm down, Airi. Let’s go in. Maybe it’s not that bad. Where are you sitting?”

  “By the window overlooking the lagoon. If you can’t find the right table, and I magically disappear in the girl’s bathroom, just follow the sneezes,” she said, pushing a button on the outside of the drawbridge. “Move aside.”

  “What? Whoa!” The drawbridge lowered, nearly whacking me on the head before I could scoot sideways.

  “Neat little place, isn’t it?”

  “Wow.”

  The whole of the restaurant consisted of one small room with not more than about seven tables and seven booths. Fireflies provided the only source of light, and a lovely Fairhair girl—child prodigy, no doubt—played delicately on a piano. The lagoon itself sparkled with giant purple and yellow flowers and dewy leaves; lily pads floated amongst several small pink boats, which routinely vanished into a glowing tunnel.

  “Gorgeous, isn’t it? ACHOO! It’s very nice to finally make your acquaintance. I’m Bobby Bubblestone, though I suppose the lovely Airianna has already told you about me,” he said, extending his hand.

  “Um, yes, she has.” I quickly riffled through my bag for the hand sanitizer.

  After wiping his nose with a personalized handkerchief, he straightened his blazer over his baby blue sweater vest and pulled my chair out for me. Bobby had a cute face, if not childlike. He was short and slender with perfectly coiffed hair.

  “And how is your friend, the other Normal girl?” he asked

  “Meikle’s in intensive care. The doctors still have her quarantined.”

  “Oh, that’s so sad. Meikle seemed like a nice girl, albeit a little gloomy,” said Airianna thoughtfully.

  “She’s prickly, but so nice, Airi. You would like her. And she would have loved a place like this—it’s just dark enough for her.”