"See!" Lei declared. "It's not safe here."
"Yes, yes. It's very dangerous. We're all about to die. Good thing our leaders sent us here without any protection or concern for our well-being," I muttered.
"Cassie!" Poppy gasped.
"Calm down. I was only joking. What I mean to say is, I'm sure we're safe enough. We'll come back before midnight."
As we strolled down the streets we passed a small building with the most delightful smell wafting into the air around us. "I don't know what that is," I said, "but I want it."
"Me too," Lei and Harmony chimed in.
Poppy had her arms crossed, clearly still peeved by my earlier joke. She'd get over it, though. Poppy always did. I wrapped my arms around her, dragging her into the cafe with us.
"Welcome to Luna's Cafe, how many in your party?" a tall man with bright blue eyes, eyes that reminded me very much of the ocean, greeted us as we came in.
"Four," I answered coolly. This was my first encounter with the male species, unless you count the fish that swim through our quarters. I felt a foreign flutter in my heart and tried my best to ignore it.
Poppy squeezed my hand, but remained just as stone cold as I. We were sirens, at least, historically speaking. Our kind used to lure men to their deaths, and though most clans have rules against such behavior, there was a stirring that seemed to draw us — or maybe it was just myself — to this ordinary man.
"Let's get you gals seated." He led us to an empty booth and we each took a seat and were given menus that none of us knew how to read. We could speak the language of any land, it was a gift of our kind, but to read was another story entirely. "What can I get you?"
"What do you recommend?" I batted my eyes, hopeful to lure an answer from him. Lei kicked my knee and Poppy continued to squeeze my hand. Were they scared? Should I be scared?
I didn't feel frightened, though. I felt…entertained? I wasn't sure of the right word, but I knew I liked it. It was different from the mundane life under the sea.
"I personally love our double bacon avocado cheeseburger, but y'all probably would like the kale salad."
"Kelp?" Poppy looked up, a bright smile on her face.
"No. Kale."
"Oh..."
"We'll take the burgers," I declared.
"All of you?”
Without even looking to the others for their approval, I nodded my head and the waiter went on his way to the kitchen.
“Is that all? Would you like any sides or drinks?”
After we finished with our order, Poppy squeezed hand."What was that?" Poppy asked, her hand slipping away from mine. "Why did you talk to him like that? He could be… "
"A murderer!" Lei interjected.
"A serial killer!" Harmony shouted.
"That's the same thing," Lei argued.
"No it isn't."
"Yes, it is."
"Girls!" I snapped. "Settle down. I was only having a bit of fun."
"But you know what the Priestess says. We're not to lure men while we're here."
"I wasn't planning on luring him to his death."
"Cannibalism is so not in style these days," Poppy interrupted. "But really, be careful, Cassie."
"I always am."
And it was true. I was always the careful one — the kind of siren who never broke any rules. It wasn't that I was tempted to break the rules and eat this guy's heart or anything, but I wanted to know more about his kind. The idea of a different, opposite gender intrigued me — it was new, and I couldn't fathom why the other girls weren't intrigued.
They were scared.
Scared because that's what the Moon and Sea has always taught them to be of humans. Yet, if they were so frightening, why send us here? To prove their point, my mind responded, because if we had any doubt, we'd leave on our own and never return. This whole journey was simply to prove they were right and any doubts we had were wrong, but so far, I'dd seen nothing to prove this. Oh, sure, I heard a few frightening tales on the television in Melody's shack before we left.
In that moment, though, I knew I needed to find out the truth. Why would someone as sensible and kind as Melody stay on land if humans were so evil?
Chapter 3
After we ate what could only be described as divine, far better than any fish under the sea, a band had assembled and began playing music. The music was far different than what I was used to, but I found myself swaying to its hard rhythm.
“Want to dance?” a voice asked.
I jumped. It was the man who took our order. His name tag was removed and he offered his hand.
"Dance?" I frowned. How could people even begin to dance on land? There was such little fluidity to human movement. Yet, before I knew it, my hand was in his, as Poppy and Lei eyed me skeptically.
Harmony looked as if her eyes were going to pop out of her head.
I gave them each a reassuring glance. While being part of the human world was forbidden, we were encouraged to enjoy ourselves.
I soon found my previous opinion debunked. Humans had just as much fluidity as merfolk. I couldn’t help but be taken aback by how elegant and graceful this man seemed to carry himself. I found myself absorbed by the fact that he was a male. Other clans allowed male merfolk to live among them, but not ours. We were what this world would call a feminist sort, but to such an extreme as that we would kill any trespassing male. I had always been curious about their existent, merfolk and land folk alike.
"You're lovely," he said, clearly enamoured by me.
"You only say that because the magick of the sea is still lingering on my skin."
"What?" he laughed.
I frowned. While I enjoyed his attention, it saddened me to know that his attention came from something of a spell. It was, after all, our siren origins that made us alluring to men. Once the magick faded, I couldn't help but wonder if any of these land folk would take interest in me? Or would I just blend among the rest.
Soon Poppy and Lei were dancing beside me with men of their own, twirling and shaking, and far more graceful than the other women on the floor, who seemed more focused on being smushed up against their partners, as if they were trying to become one.
I blushed.
Harmony stayed seated, uncomfortable by the environment. I felt bad for her, and I even nodded at her to join us, but she refused.
I felt hyper alert at the way the man's arm felt around my neck and the way his blue eyes seemed deeper than the ocean itself. He had secrets, I could tell, and despite myself, I wanted to know each and every one of them. The idea of learning another's life had always intrigued me. We didn't get many visitors among our clan. We’d known each other for hundreds of years.
"What is your name?" the man whispered in my ear, just before dipping me low.
"Cassie," I answered.
"That's beautiful."
"Apparently everything about me is." I sighed.
He frowned. "Is that such a bad thing?"
I took a deep breath to center myself. "What is your name?"
"My name is Joshua."
"Well, Joshua, I enjoyed dancing with you." I stop swaying to the strange music and slipped my hand out of his.
"Let me walk you to your seat," he insisted.
"Oh, fine then."
Poppy's eyes followed me, a strange flicker of jealousy, or was that anger?
"Tell me about yourself, Joshua," I asked.
"Well, I am twenty-three. I'm from right here in California, but my heart belongs in Texas. That's where my Pa moved to when I was just a kid. I still go there to visit him a lot. Well, that was until he passed on. I haven't been brave enough to go back.”
"Woah, wait, what is... passed on?" I asked, confused. I knew very little of the human life.
Joshua's eyes glazed over and he shot me an annoyed look. "I've told you too much." He frowned. "I should go now."
"Wait, Joshua!" Yet even though I called after him, using what little sea magic I had left, he didn't turn. Why did he not heed my sp
ell? I frowned.
Poppy ran up to me. "Did he hurt you?" she asked.
"No," I answered. "I... I think I hurt him."
Without explanation, I ran out of the pub and down the street, until I saw his red leather jacket. "Joshua, wait!" I called out.
"Please, lady, leave me alone."
"Listen, I'm not from here." I stopped running once I was beside him. "So, I don't understand certain things very well and, I'm sorry."
"Here? You mean America?"
I nodded.
"You don't have an accent. I mean, you do talk kind of funny, though." He stopped walking. "My dad died a few years ago."
"Oh..." It clicked then. I knew death was considered a permanent event among humans. They were not reborn such as we were, at least not to their knowledge. "I didn't know. I'm so sorry. That must be…so…hard."
I had no parents. The closest I had to such were the Church leaders back home. If anything, I was my own parent. In a past life, I chose to be reborn into the mermaid I am today. The person I felt closest to, though, was of course Poppy and I couldn't imagine losing her. We've even made an oath to be reborn at the same time, so we don't have to be apart. Ever.
"I don't know why I told you all that..."
"Is there anything I can do? ... To make it better?"
He laughed. "Take my number. Give me a call, if you want. Despite everything, I find you alluring."
"I find you intriguing, too."
He laughed again, the sound rich and harmonious. With his face leaning closer to mine, I felt my heart flutter, and despite myself, I followed his lead. At least until Poppy came out of the restaurant screaming my name.
"Cassie! Cassie, what the hell are you doing?" she snapped.
"Sister?" he asked.
"Something like that," I answered, pulling away.
"Poppy, one minute, please."
"Do you have a phone? I can give you my number..."
"Not with me," I lied casually.
He fumbled in his coat until he found a pen and paper. "Here. Here is my number. Call me."
"I will."
He scribbled something down on the scrap of paper and held it out for me. "No, don't say that. Girls always say that when they won't."
"In that case, I most definitely will not call you, Joshua. Never." I plucked the paper from between his fingers and pocketed it.
"That's better." He smiled and walked away, glancing over his shoulder one final time before going back inside the restaurant.
"What on earth was that?" Poppy snapped. "The guy upsets you and you chase after him? And the way he was touching you. Gross! You've got to be careful with these creatures, Cassie. I can’t have anything happen to you before your baptism.”
“I was perfectly safe, Poppy.” I kept my hand in my pocket as if that small sliver of paper kept me connected to Joshua.
“How do you know that?”
“I just…I felt safe with him.”
Her eyes lingered where he had been standing. “Let’s go look for an offering, shall we?”
“I suppose that’s what we’re here for.”
We were to choose the Sea of our own accord, and to show a token of our devotion, we were to bring an offering.
“And don’t you forget it.” Poppy winked. “Forget the boy. You don’t want to end up like our lovely host, alone and unhappy just because some boy you fell in love with died.”
We spent the night browsing the land, its shops, and landmarks. None of us decided upon an offering yet. It was a big choice, one not to be rushed into. Instead, we made our way back to Melody’s, who had already set up cots for us on the floor.
I fell asleep, ocean eyes haunting my dreams.
I stirred the spoon in the rose tea that Melody brewed for me. I had said I was feeling ill while the others went out in search for their offering.
Lei had mentioned spotting a lovely pearl necklace at a store nearby, but had to obtain the money to purchase it first. Our clan was nothing if not honest. We did not steal, even from humans. Melody had given us a bit of money for food but we spent most of it at the restaurant.
"I happen to know that the land does not make merfolk sick, Cassie. What happened last night?” Melody glanced up from stirring her own cup of hibiscus tea.“Poppy said you didn't do anything that should cause illness. You can't blame this on land sickness. There's no such thing."
I frowned and pulled the paper Joshua had given me with his number from my pocket. "I met a boy," I continued, hesitantly. "It's not what you think though. I barely know him, and —"
"But you want to know him better." She grinned and covered it up by sipping her tea.
"Yeah. I guess I do."
"Well, then do it."
"I can't.” My hand stilled in its stirring. “Besides, didn't you say you weren't going to try to influence us?"
"I loved the sea, Cassie. I believe some of us truly do belong to it, but for one reason or another, some of us don't. Even if I hadn't met Henry, I would have chosen to stay. I felt at home here long before my eyes set sight on him. I was an outcast among my peers. Different. Strange. I always had an unhealthy curiosity about humans. I even snuck to the shore long before I was sent to the land by our leaders."
"That's forbidden!" I gasped.
"So are many things, little fish. I was not the only one who showed such curiosity. I will not be the last."
"I'm not curious." I snapped.
"Well, you're certainly something." She laughed. "If you truly belong to the Moon and Sea, none of this will phase you. Do what you will, but the Church gives us this choice for a reason. We are too choose what is best for us. It is not a betrayal to find out what that is. You're encouraged to experience this life on land so when you go back it's because you want to."
"Free will," I murmured.
"Exactly."
"Oh, fine. I'll call him. But don't you dare utter a word to the others. If you see any sign of them returning, let me know."
She nodded, a playful grin on her face. She had a point. I was here to find the truth for myself, a truth I had in ways always doubted. Melody showed me how to dial his number and handed me the strange speaking device.
"Josh," he said, answering the phone.
"Hi, Josh. It's Cassie."
"Wow. That was fast. You didn't even play the whole wait a week and casually call me back game."
"I don't have that kind of time," I answered simply.
"I get that. Who has time for games at our age?" he laughed, the sound less melodic over the phone. “So, since you made this move, I’ll make mine. Wanna have dinner tonight?”
“I’d like that very much.” My face warmed at the thought of being alone with him.
“Good. What’s your address? I can pick you up.”
I repeated the address as Melody gave it to me and handed her the phone to hang up.
She clapped her hands and stood. “We must get you a dress. I might have one that the other girls left behind that would work. It’s only been worn once. Looks like your size, I’ll just —”
“We can’t tell the other girls, though.”
“I know, I know. Calm your nerves and don’t be such a puffer fish!”
I stuck my tongue out and Melody giggled, sounding just as young as any of us. She skittered off to her room to rummage for a dress for tonight.
I realized I’d never been on a date. I knew nothing of romance, and I wasn’t even sure if romantic love was real. I loved Poppy to pieces but completely platonically. There was no such thing as romantic love under the sea.
When the girls returned, I forced away my smile and pretended I was still ill. “I’m going to rest up,” I announced.
Poppy eyed me skeptically.
“You can rest in my room,” Melody chimed in. “That way the others don’t interrupt you.” If a voice contained a wink, that’s exactly how she sounded.
I found out why as soon as I walked into her room. A vanity filled with makeup and perfu
mes sat just inside the space.
“Help yourself,” she whispered, before shutting the door behind me.
I smiled giddily. There was a certain excitement to breaking the rules. Sure, I knew this boy was only interested because of the lingering sea magick, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t have fun with it? The girl’s whispered adventures filtered through the paper thin walls.
Poppy seemed more concerned about finding an offering than she did with any other experiences. Offerings had to mean something, they had to be given thought. Sometimes sirens would find a flower or a stone. Never anything too elaborate, because sirens didn’t often have means, though Lei was still trying to get that necklace without stealing it. She considered using her magick to convince a human to buy it for her, but so far the humans she attempted this on only laughed, asking, “Do you think I’m made of money?”
I applied a light lip gloss and some mascara, though I struggled with the task. Makeup was much different on land. I had to wipe off and reapply the mascara several times, but finally it looked perfect. I looked perfect — even without magick.
Chapter 4
A honk blared outside and Melody stepped in my room. “He’s here. You might want to sneak out —”
“Sneak out, eh?” Poppy appeared, Lei and Harmony behind her, giving the same disapproving glances.
“And this is exactly why,” I explained calmly. “I want to have fun. It’s nothing serious.”
“It’s the boy from the cafe, isn’t it?” Poppy asked.
I nodded, ashamed. I couldn’t help it. Poppy always seemed to see right through me. We were just that close.
“You could get hurt,” Poppy warned.
“Oh heavens! She’ll be perfectly safe.” Melody interrupted. “Have you really got so boring down there? Most who surface want to have fun and tease the men.”
“We are loyal to the Church,” Poppy said, monotone. A voice she only used when she was trying not to cry. After all, as we were raised, we were told sirens never cry. Never. Cry. It was a mantra of sorts, yet tears stung my eyes as I watchedPoppy struggle with her own emotions.
I wrapped her in a hug, her body stiff against mine, but she didn’t pull away. “I will be safe. I promise.”
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