Mermaidia: A Limited Edition Anthology

by Pauline Creeden

  She nodded. “Very well then! Go and have fun, if that’s what you call it.”

  I laughed and walked to the living room. peeking out the window, I found a beautiful red car parked outside. I’d never been in a car, let alone one so bright with such sharp, defined edges. I squealed, the girls mocking me as I walked out the door.

  Before I could even reach the passenger door, Joshua stood there opening it for me. Melody did inform me of some human norms when it came to going on a date, but she failed to mention this one. I wondered if men did this often?

  “Where are we going?” I asked as Joshua started up the car.

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “Oh?” Suddenly, I felt uneasy. I didn’t like surprises, and I couldn’t help but fear Poppy was right. Perhaps I wasn’t safe at all. Perhaps humans were as dangerous as we were warned.

  Surely, the Moon and Sea would protect me if I called upon them.

  Much to my relief, we parked beside a crowd of other vehicles after paying a small fee. I could smell the ocean, and I wondered how close we were to home.

  “One of the only reasons I don’t go back to Texas is I love the beaches here.”

  “The ocean is beautiful.”

  “It feels like home, you know?”

  I nodded solemnly, realizing as we walked, the cement turned to sand and we were soon sitting on a large blanket at the beach. He sat a basket down and began taking out food, cheeses, and fruits I had only heard of during my stay. A hearty smell wafted up to my nostrils as he pulled out a delicious looking casserole. I was eager to devour it. That’s one thing I was gonna miss when I left; the food.

  Raw fish and seaweed just didn’t have the same appeal as the food here, although Melody did mention something about the grass being greener on the other side because some humans consumed raw fish wrapped in seaweed.

  I smiled at the memory, aware that the memories I was making here I would carry with me back to the sea. There was something painful about that realization as I looked into Joshua’s ocean eyes.

  We spent the evening sharing stories of childhood. I told him I was from overseas and lived near the ocean.

  He asked about my family, and I froze.

  “Are you an orphan?” he asked.

  “Kind of… the closest thing I have to family is Poppy.”

  Joshua arched an eyebrow “That’s the one that hates me right?”

  I chuckled. “She doesn’t hate you. She’s just…protective.”

  “As sisters are.”

  “Yes…” I grinned. “Sisters.”

  Joshua sighed. “I know this is bold of me, but may I kiss you?”

  “Kiss?” I asked, my heart fluttering with expectation.

  Slowly, I followed Joshua’s lead as he leaned into me, until our lips met. A fire burned in my chest and blossomed, consuming us both. I didn’t have time to worry about if I was doing this whole kissing thing wrong, because it felt so right, I couldn’t stop. I gripped his wild hair, peeking up into those ocean eyes, but something —someone —was sitting behind him.

  I jumped back.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Poppy!” I clutched my chest. “What are you doing here?”

  Joshua spun around, nearly jumping himself at the sight of Poppy beside him. “Just here to have some fun like you.” She winked and stared directly at Joshua. “Would you like to dance?”

  Enchanted, he whispered, “But there’s no music—”

  “But you want to?”

  He nodded, his hands now in Poppy’s, his lips on hers as they spun around.

  Lei and Harmony linger in the distance, giggling and seducing their own men.

  Poppy pulled back from Joshua, wiping her lips as if disgusted, and perhaps she was. She hated humans. Why was she doing this?

  Poppy pulled me to the side, out of earshot of my date. “Wasn’t it you and Harmony that said we should all have some fun?”

  “But not with…”

  Poppy grinned. “Look, sis. I told you. He’s not into you. He’s into the magick. What you think you have with this…boy…won’t last.”

  “I never thought it would,” I lied.

  “Then why are you crying?”

  I didn’t realize the tears had welled to the surface and spilled over, streaking down my face, until she mentioned it. Much like not feeling the pain of a cut until you see it, all my emotions flooded to my chest, creating an ache I’d never before experienced.

  “Sirens don’t cry,” Poppy reminded gently. “Come, let’s go back to Melody’s.”

  I nodded, following dumbly behind her, leaving Joshua without so much as a goodbye.

  Chapter 5

  Melody was asleep when we came home, and I didn’t know why, but this left me uneasy. The girls continued to giggle, but I couldn’t seem to join in on their fun. There was something about seeing Joshua kiss Poppy only moments after kissing me that caused a deep ache in my spirit.

  It was foolish, I knew that. I barely knew the guy, and Poppy was right,he only liked me because of the magick. His feelings would fade and I knew Poppy meant well with her actions.

  At least, that’s what I told myself.

  She was afraid I’d choose him over the sea. I would never…well, I didn’t know. In those moments I was in his arms, I wondered what it’d be like to feel that everyday. To have something more.

  “Thank you,” I whispered, biting back my tears.

  “Don’t mention it.” Poppy wrapped me into a hug. “We’ve gotta look out for each other on this land. Besides, I get what you saw in him. Those blue eyes. Mm. Killer.”

  I laughed softly in the small space. “He did have nice eyes.”

  “And those abs…”

  “That’s enough,” I said, a little more sharply than I meant.

  Poppy flinched.

  I settled a comforting hand on Poppy’s shoulder. “It’s been a long night and I still need to find an offering before we go back. I’m going to get some rest.”

  Poppy kissed my forehead and let me be. Finally.

  Alone, I cried. I cried so much that I was afraid the others might hear me, but I couldn’t seem to stop. It was as if a dam had broken in my soul.

  I didn’t believe in love at first sight, but I was starting to believe in a different kind of magick than the Moon and Sea. The lingering, unintentional magick that clung to us upon our arrival has long since faded, yet Joshua wouldn’t stop calling and today he was at our door. He insisted he needed to apologize, but I couldn’t bare to look at him. Besides, if I accepted his apology, Poppy would be livid. I had too much to worry about.Mainly finding an offering and saying goodbye to Melody…

  But I couldn’t help but wonder if Poppy was wrong. Why, after the magick had faded, did this man seem so enamoured with me?

  “Look,” Joshua called out through the door. His voice wrapped around me much like his arms that evening. “I don’t know why I kissed your friend, but it was a jerk move. And I’m so so so sorry, Cassie. I got you a gift.You can just leave it out here or throw it in the trash, but it's my apology gift to you. I hope you accept it before you leave. You didn’t deserve to be hurt the way I hurt you. I don’t know what else to do…”

  It wasn’t until he left and the others walked to the kitchen for supper, sharing their offerings they had picked up, that I open the front door. Sitting outside was a small, dark blue box. I opened it and inside was a necklace with an opal in the shape of a teardrop. A handwritten note inside read, “If I could give you back those tears you cried, I would. Sorry. Love, Josh.”

  I clasped the jewelry in place and walked to the kitchen, a lovely aroma enveloping me.

  “We have pork roast, rolls, mashed sweet potatoes, pecan green beans, and basically anything you want.”

  “Why all the food?” I asked Melody. “I’m not complaining, though.”

  “Well, you guys don’t have much longer here, and I gotta say…I’m glad I stuck around to help you guys out.”
>
  Lei giggled. “Aw, you’re not a miserable traitor.” It was the best compliment she could give.

  “You’re our favorite traitor,” Poppy added.

  Melody giggled. Harmony gave her a quick side hug as I sat at the table.

  “What’s that?” Poppy asked, pointing to my chest where the necklace rested.

  I sighed. “It’s the gift he left.” No use lying. Besides, we’d be home soon enough and this would all be a thing of the past.

  “Perhaps that can be your offering, since you haven’t found one yet. It’s ideal. Meaningful.”

  “Perhaps,” I mused, caressing the jewel. Poppy’s words did not go unnoticed though. She was implying that Joshua mattered to me, and I didn’t deny it. I agreed.

  Her face grew red and she slammed down her silverware. “I seem to have lost my appetite.”

  “Very well,” Melody said, patting her back. “Maybe you’re landsick?”

  “I guess…”

  I laughed as she walked out. I hated that we were fighting but the level of her pettiness was exceeding my boundaries.

  While she moped, the rest of us enjoyed our meal. Once everyone went to bed, I grabbed the cellphone that Melody bought me for my remaining time here and I dialed Josh’s number.

  “Is this Cassie?” he asked, eagerly.

  “Yes. How did you know?”

  He paused. “I don’t know. I guess I could just feel it.”

  “Hmm…”

  “Did you get my gift?” he asked.

  “I did, it’s lovely. Thank you.”

  “Does this mean I’m forgiven?”

  “It wasn’t your fault. Poppy can be quite persuasive.”

  “It’s my fault,” he admitted.

  I wished I could explain to him that it wasn’t. “Do you want to go out?”

  Silence.

  Suddenly, I regretted my choice. There was a chance he only wanted to say sorry… or maybe he didn’t want to be with me after all. Just as I was about to hang up, I could hear him stutter. “Y-Yeah. I’d like that.”

  I spent my remaining days getting to know Joshua, even meeting his mother for dinner one night. She had a southern accent that didn’t fit this area, but it felt melodic, smooth, just like the sea. I loved it. I loved so much of this life far more than I ever did the sea. And now it was no longer a given that I’d go back,now I had a real choice to make. Did I return with this token of my love, offer it to the Church, or did I stay?

  What would happen if I stayed?

  The possibilities alone — good and bad — made me want to leave the ocean behind.

  That night, after another evening on the town, Joshua dropped me off at the door with the smallest kiss on the cheek. We were taking things slow, he said. He didn’t want to ruin things. But though it was a much smaller kiss than that night on the beach, I knew. In that moment, I knew I had made my choice.

  I walked inside, Poppy looking up at me from a magazine she had taken an interest in. “Have fun?” she seethed.

  “Poppy, can we just get along?”

  “Like nothing’s changed? Cause to be honest, love, everything has.”

  “You’re right.” I waved my hands. “It has. And you better get used to it.”

  I stormed off into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me. Tears streamed down my face. It was bad enough having to say goodbye to Poppy, but it was worse knowing she’d hate me for it.

  With the door locked securely behind me, my back slid down its surface until I hit the floor. Why did this have to be so hard? It wasn’t just Poppy I would be saying goodbye to. Lei. Harmony. And all the others back home. I would be a disgrace, whispered about behind the coral reefs. A warning to girls who had yet made their choice.

  But was it such a bad choice?

  If I stayed, even if things with Joshua and I didn’t work out, there was so much more to be discovered, to be felt. The feelings I got when I was around him, I didn’t think I could bare to lose such passion.

  Wrapping my arms around my legs, I pulled my knees close to my chest.

  A soft knock on the door startled me from my pity party, and I called out, “Yes?”

  I expected Melody to respond. The shock of hearing Poppy’s gentle voice asking if I was okay caused my heart to stop. It wasn’t that I didn’t feel a sense of loyalty to the Church — or even to Poppy.If anything, I felt more loyalty to her, my soul sister.

  “I’m okay,” I managed to choke out.

  “Are you sure? I’m sorry for being so unkind.” A thunk and a whoosh made me realize she’d rested against the door and slid down just as I had. It seemed so fitting for us to sit back to back, something solid in between us keeping us apart.

  Why did I have to choose? Suddenly, my very upbringing, my core beliefs, all seemed so unfair. “I just…” Poppy continued, “I miss you, Cassie. Let’s not let this get between us, shall we?”

  I choked on a sob.

  “Cassie?”

  “Poppy, it-it’s just too late.”

  Her silence felt like a knife to my gut. I breathed over and over, trying to suck in as much air as I could. My inhalations became faster and faster until I was positive I was going to black out.

  “I, I don’t think I’m okay,” I whispered between breaths just loud enough for Poppy to hear.

  “Unlock the door,” she ordered. I stumbled, trying to stand up and reach the lock. Finally, I managed to do so and then collapsed to the floor by the toilet.

  Poppy rushed in, kneeling down beside me and wrapped me in her arms. “Just breathe with me, okay? Match my rhythm…slowly, little fish.”

  I tried my best to slow down, but I was still yet at her pace.

  “Keep going. In…Out…In…”

  It took several minutes before we were finally breathing in sync and the darkness that threatened to overtake my vision had disappeared.

  I stared into Poppy’s eyes. They held such heartbreak in them,it shattered me.

  Her hands reached my cheek, wiping away the tears that continued to fall. “Shhh…”

  I pulled away, ashamed. “You won’t want to comfort me once you know…”

  “Know what?”

  I grabbed my dear sweet Poppy’s hands and said the truth I knew, the truth that terrified me down to the core. “I’m not going back home.” I shook in her arms, waiting for her to scream at me.

  “Because of him?” she asked. “Do you love him?”

  “I don’t know. But I do love it here.”

  “Don’t you love me?”

  “Of course!” I tried to pull her into a hug but she pushed back.

  “But not more than a stranger? Not enough to come back home?”

  I couldn’t answer the question. There was no answer to this kind of pain and I knew that.

  She breathed sharply, nodded her head, and stood up silently.She was slipping away from me.

  The door slammed with a hollow thud as she left me alone in the bathroom.

  Chapter 6

  Lei and Harmony tried to ask me what happened, but I knew they were only being kind. They had heard it all, the nosy little fish.

  I sighed heavily. I’d expected Melody to appear, but the tension in me eased when she didn’t. I needed space to process what had just happened. I knew I could always change my mind.Part of me wanted to. I wanted to be able to run after Poppy, hug her, and tell her I’d never leave her.

  But that would be a lie.

  I could never lie to Poppy, because after all, I did love her. Poppy, my dearest friend and soul sister, the one I promised to be reborn with, I wished more than anything she would choose to stay with me. But Poppy loved to Sea. She was a devout follower of the Moon and Sea. Though raised on the truths of the ocean and its magick, I never felt such a belonging to it as Poppy did.

  I stayed up the entire night waiting for the door open. I had no plans on approaching Poppy, but I did want to make sure she arrived home safely.

  Well into the early morning, the door
opened quietly and footsteps made their way to my shared room with Harmony.

  “I’m glad she’s home,” Lei whispered.

  Startled, I said, “I didn’t know you were awake, too.”

  Lei repllied, “It’s Poppy… how could I not be worried about her? I had to stay awake to make sure she was home”

  I sighed. “I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

  “I know, but you must know how much of a betrayal this is…to all of us…”

  “I know, but the sea is not for me. I know that now.”

  Lei nodded. “I respect your choice. That’s why we’re here. So we can make that choice, if it’s what we want.”

  “Then why is everyone so mad at me? Why does it have to be one or the other? Why can’t I have both?” I started sobbing again. I felt foolish crying in front of someone other than Poppy, but I couldn’t help it. My emotions seemed to be getting the best of me now that I resided in a place where I could freely express them.

  “You know you can only serve either sea or land. You cannot serve two masters,” Lei quoted our High Priestess.

  I frowned. “I don’t belong to the sea.”

  “I know,” Lei said.

  That seemed to be the end of our conversation. Lei rolled over and threw her blanket over her head. I cried myself to sleep.

  I kept checking my phone, waiting for another text from Joshua. As far as we were concerned, I had plans to return home tomorrow morning.

  Today was our last date. I had plans to surprise him with the news that I’d be staying with my aunt Melody a little longer. Melody even offered for me to stay with her for as long as I would like, but she said she understood if I wanted to travel the world, too.

  Right now, all I wanted was to see Josh’s face, but he hadn’t said anything.

  When six o’ clock, the time of our date arrived, he was nowhere in sight. Finally at seven, I called. It rang, and rang, and rang. Could he be ignoring me? But why? Did I do something wrong?

  Thoughts consumed me. Maybe he got called into work? That would explain why he wasn’t answering. At least, that seemed the only reasonable explanation. So, naturally, I went to his work.