The Merman

I woke to the sound of rushing water much similar to a waterfall. My memory returns to me as I note how wet I was. My chest aches but I could breath. ‘Oh good you’re awake,’ I hear her say. I look around at my surroundings feeling disorientated and confused. Was I on land?

As I catch sight of her, that theory is shattered. She looks magnificent, her tail fully in view, the room alight with a small glow. Her tail shimmered purples and pinks, complimenting her long hair. I feel in love with her all over again. With her back to me, I enjoy the view, ignoring the pain in my chest. ‘You are real,’ is all I could gasp at her. She turns almost wearily. ‘Yes dear one, I am. As you can see, this is my true form,’ she says her voice again very clear. It suddenly hits me that we are underwater.

‘How am I still alive?’ I ask incredulously. ‘All in good time my precious,’ she hushes, her voice silky. She makes me lie back again, against the table-like stone. I blush as I realise I’m naked. It must have happened when I blacked out. I let her take my arms which she binds above my head with something resembling seaweed. My chest begins to ache more as I try to breathe slow, to ease my racing heart. ‘That’s it Marlin, you’re doing so well,’ she cooes. I look at her surprised as she hardly ever uses my name. She holds me face lovingly. ‘This is going to hurt,’ she whispers. I gulp as I watch her nails glow bright yellow.

In a slow painful motion, she draws a line down the side of my leg, ripped pained scream from me. The line she draws glows yellow down my body. It's burns and sears as it glows brighter. Tears stream down my face at the agony. I start to fight the restraints that hold me, determined to escape this pain. Her face is plank she moves to the other side of my body, repeating the terrible torture. As she finished her second line she begins to murmur words, I am deaf to them as the burning heat tears at me.

She moves to the bottom of my feet, she seems blurry to me now, the glow and the pain affecting my sight. I see her hold out her hand, pointing them towards my thighs, her voice growing louder, competing with my screams. Her nails glow extends towards the glow emanating from my legs. As they join in a clash, I am knocked unconscious.

***

I awake to soft fingers caressing my hair. Slowly I open my eyes to grey ones staring back at me. She smiles happily reminding me of my dreams of her. I look at her searchingly, my body feeling tired and alien to me. ‘You know, your eyes remind me of the greenest Ocean. The parts where there sand is almost all white and the green that welcomes you. A mesmerizing teal colour,’ she says, her voice as soft as her touch.

She pulls me to a kiss and I kiss her lips. My arms are free again and I wrap them around her small body.  I flinch as something brushes my body. I look down and jerk back.

In front of me, a huge dark green tail is flopped awkwardly on the stone before me. Her purple one twirling itself in mine, the sensation I felt earlier. ‘Isn’t it beautiful?’ she sighs, lying her head on my chest. I stare in shock, speechless at the reality for me.

We lay quiet for a while as I process what has become of me. She hums softly caressing my body, admiring it like a work of art. She laughs softly and looks up at me to gauge at my reaction. Still at a loss with words she grows concerned.

‘Who are you?’ is all I can muster in my state. Her face goes cold, a reaction I learn as her disliking my response. ‘Does it matter? You are mine now,’ she snaps turning away. I feel bitten from her response, never having had that before. I suddenly feel a deep sense of dread. I never asked of her name, and with her hiding it there must be a reason why. She was a wonder, a beauty who knew magic. I decide not to push her, upset I ruined the moment. Slowly I pull her to me, heaving my awkward tail around hers. ‘I’m sorry my love, I only wished to know your name. What am I to call you now that I am yours?’ I whisper to her gently. She nuzzles my jaw, seeming content with my words. ‘You may call me My Lady, my darling Marlin,’ she replies her words having a bite to them. I gulp back in surprise at the coldness.

After quiet moments of letting her admire my body she takes me to what looks like her chamber. A soft pink hue lights the small cavern. A rock is carved smooth and moss is where a duvet would be. She lies me on it, her eyes dreamy. ‘My how happy I am to finally have you,’ she sighs breathless. Her hands wash over my chest, my heart beats to her touch. We share an sensuous embrace, exploring each other bodies for the first time, like so often I had in my dreams. The tail was not so bad. For her, it was enough.

I lay awake listening to her sleeping breaths next to me. Her arm possessively across my chest. I sigh contently looking at her sleeping face, the question of her identity still playing on my mind. Now that I knew she was real, questions about her life started to surface. Where had she come from? Where did she grow up? Why was she all alone? She sighs contently in her sleep. ‘Calypso,’ she murmurs sleepily. I frown. I recognised that name. She moves slightly, her eyes still closed. ‘My name is Calypso,’ she sighs stroking my chest again. I frown staring at her nails, piecing together the events before me.

I inhale sharply. Oh gods. My mind places the name in my memory. I knew who she was.

Calpyso. The sea witch.