Beneath the Painted Ocean

by CS Patra

  Kai left at that moment with a million thoughts in his head. No matter what decision he made, someone was going to be affected by it. He didn’t want to leave his family and he couldn’t force Callum to leave his either. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, Eirene had a point. They didn’t know each other well enough. Callum wasn’t going to fall in love with someone he knew only for three days. No, they needed time and two months was what they got.

  But will it be enough? Kai wondered. Will we be able to make it to two months or will it be too late?

  He just prayed it would be enough. It had to be enough.

  Chapter 12

  Callum didn’t get a chance to sneak out of the house the next day. Everyone was awake and they were keeping their eye on him. He couldn’t do anything without someone asking him if he needed something. If he wanted to get up for a glass of water, someone else would do it. If he wanted salt, someone else would pass it and put it on his food. Even when he went to the bathroom, he could feel someone’s eyes on him.

  “Stop it!” He finally snapped. “I don’t need you babysitting me! It’s getting creepy!”

  “We’re sorry, bro,” Brent apologized. “We heard about what happened to you and we just want to make sure everything is all right.”

  “I’m fine. I can go to the bathroom by myself,” Callum rolled his eyes. “I know you’re all worried about me but I can handle doing simple things. I don’t need a chaperone. I can walk outside without anyone, okay? I’m an adult now.”

  He was relieved when they all backed off and let him take a shower. The last thing he needed was people peering in to see if he was fine. All of this was only making his anxiety worse. He had taken his medication to calm himself down but it helped very little. He knew that he needed to get out of the house. Most people wanted him to stay but he couldn’t do that. He needed fresh air. He wanted the ocean. Above everything, he wanted to see Kai.

  Three days had passed since he had met Kai and spoken to him. They were definitely friends now but there was so much that Callum wanted to know. He felt like he hadn’t figured out enough about the merfolk. Poor Kai was also concerned about him when he saw the bruise. It may not have been big but it was visible. He wondered if he needed to cover it but decided not to. It didn’t sting anymore. If anyone asked, he could tell them a tall tale of walking into a pole without seeing where he was going. He could tell them that he was playing Pokémon Go when it all happened. They would believe him.

  As far as the mugging went, the police were still on the search for suspects. They were using everything Callum had given them, but his clues weren’t strong enough. There were plenty of people on the island that didn’t have accents. The fact that they wore masks also didn’t help and he didn’t get a chance to see their eyes. He really couldn’t describe them at all. The only thing he was certain about was that they had been hired. They probably got information about him from their employer.

  He rubbed his wrists and looked at the bruises around them. They were fading but he couldn’t stop thinking about how he got out. It was a good thing those thugs weren’t good at tying knots. If they had bound him tighter, he probably wouldn’t have made it home. Maybe he would have been killed on the street. Anyone else would never have gotten back on their feet and gone out. He couldn’t do that. He couldn’t let fear take over. He still needed to get back in the ocean and get back to his research. He did a little bit of it while he was here but his mind wasn’t on work.

  Kai said he could swim fast and he could see me anytime he wanted. I wish I could do the same. He thought. It was hard being friends with a merman. They were from two different worlds and no one would ever believe their bond. Hell, they wouldn’t believe him for talking to a merman. Frankie and George were the only ones who had a clue about this. Callum had told them about the first meeting but nothing afterwards.

  I made a promise to Kai. I’m not going to talk about him to anyone. Not until he’s ready for me to reveal that stuff.

  He couldn’t go and see Kai in the morning because his family was taking him shopping. The muggers had taken the necklaces he bought for his sisters along with a few magnets and mugs he got for coworkers. Now he had to buy them all over again. With very little cash and no cards, he had to rely on his family for them.

  “You don’t have to pay us back.” His mother said. “None of this was your fault.”

  Everyone was telling him that. It wasn’t his fault that he was out late. It wasn’t his fault that he took the shortcut with poor lighting. It wasn’t his fault that he didn’t move fast enough and get home in time. The more they said it, the more it felt like it was his fault. How could he be so stupid? How could he let his guard down in a place like this?

  He was quiet as they took him down the marketplace to buy more souvenirs. He didn’t look anyone in the eye because he didn’t want questions about his bruise. He knew some of the shop owners would be out here today and he didn’t want to talk to them. It meant having to explain his injuries and he didn’t want to say anything.

  “You can wait outside if you want.” His mother suggested. “I’ll go and buy anything you need. It was a couple of mugs and magnets, right?”

  He nodded. “If you find any necklaces, get two of those. I feel worse that they took the gifts I got for the girls.”

  “Your sisters aren’t too young that they can’t understand. They know these things can happen. Pearl told me earlier that you shouldn’t feel bad. It’s okay if you can’t get her anything.” His mother squeezed his shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”

  Callum stood outside and looked at the books that were on sale. Most of them were about the ocean and some of them were children’s books but one caught his eye. It was a book about mermaids and the legends behind them. He knew that a lot of it probably wasn’t founded on facts but it would be fun to read. He picked up the book and began flipping through the pages. There were plenty of pictures but most of them were drawn. No one really had photographic evidence of them.

  He began reading bits and pieces from the book, fascinated by what he learned. It was no surprise that Kai was strong. The few people that claimed to see mermaids said they were strong enough to lift a bull elephant. Merfolk also had their own language, which was no surprise. They had the ability to talk to any creature in the ocean and could probably talk to creatures on land too. Their tails were strong and they had the ability to swim from one ocean to another in mere hours. Their voices were also very valuable and all of them could sing. They could lead anyone into a trance with their songs. The reason why most people couldn’t see merfolk was that they lived too deep in the ocean. None of this surprised Callum as Kai had told him about it.

  Then he stopped on a page about merfolk and spells. This caught his eye since he remembered that Romina could cast spells. She was the one who gave him the ability to talk to them. Yet there were merfolk who could cast more complicated spells. There were some who had the ability to give mermen legs or turn humans into merfolk. However, these were complicated spells that required sacrifices. If the merman could not provide what was needed for the sacrifice, he would then have to lose his life. He would have to take out his soul and throw himself into the sea to become foam.

  That’s worse than I thought it would be. Callum thought, worried about Kai. What if he did something that could lead to this? Kai wasn’t that foolish, was he? Curious, Callum kept reading the pages.

  Some merfolk with spell casting ability become witches and warlocks in time. Their spells can affect humans as well. One legend goes back many years. A mermaid once fell in love with a fisherman on the land and they wanted to be with each other. However, the land and sea separated them so she made a deal with a witch. She was granted the ability to be a human for a day and see if she could live as one. If her lover accepted her as such, she would remain human forever. Unfortunately, the lover was soon lost at sea and the mermaid had no choice but to end her life and become one with the sea.

  Another
legend is about a mermaid who failed to get her human to love her in time. Despite how hard she tried, she could not win him over. As a result, the sea witch she made a deal with took the human as prisoner. She pricked his finger, let his blood fall into the sea, and put him into a deep sleep. To awaken him, the mermaid sacrificed herself and became the foam that now touches the shores.

  Callum swallowed as he kept reading. He hadn’t been told the dark parts of being a merman at all. He didn’t doubt that sea witches existed. After all, if mermaids were around, witches could also be around. The only relief he got from that was that the sea witches lived deep in the ocean. There was no way he would be able to get into their lair. Being a human, his lungs would not be able to handle that pressure. He flipped through the pages and tried to read something else.

  “Interested in the mermaids, huh?”

  He turned around to find the shop owner next to him. “I saw the cover and was fascinated. You’ve got some interesting stories in this.”

  “Everyone likes that book. It might have pictures but it’s not really meant for children. It’s about mermaids and mermen in general. The authors collected several stories from all over the world. Whether they are true or not remain to be seen.”

  “So I see.” Callum closed the book. “Have there ever been any mermaid sightings over here?”

  “All the time. No one ever has evidence though. All they can trust is their own eyes. There are a few people who’ve tried taking pictures but they end up photographing a large sea mammal by accident. It would be for the best though. Humans and mermaids weren’t meant to be together. You’ll always be separated by the land and sea.” The shop owner looked over his shoulder and saw a woman calling him over. “I better go help her. If you need anything, let me know.”

  Callum put the book back on the shelf and thought about Kai. The land and sea did separate the two of them. Being friends was tough as it was. He couldn’t take Kai to the movies or to concerts or do anything that friends did. On the flip side, Kai couldn’t take him everywhere in the ocean either. He didn’t want to lose this friendship, but he didn’t know how it could survive either.

  His mother finally came out of the shop to find him still standing by the books and posters. “See anything that you like?”

  He shook his head. “I was just reading the books. I don’t need anything myself.”

  “Fascinated by the mermaids, huh?” She saw what he was looking at. “I don’t blame you. They are beautiful creatures.”

  “I wonder how the world would feel if I discovered mermaids,” he murmured out loud. “It would change everything we knew about them.”

  “Do you believe they exist?”

  Callum thought about his answer for a second. He didn’t want to reveal that he had interacted with them. “I think it’s possible that they exist, yes. There’s so much out there that probably exists. We just know nothing about them.”

  “You do make a good point.” She grabbed his arm. “Come on, let’s go and get some lunch. You must be starving.”

  “I am hungry, but we can wait for the others.”

  “No, it will be okay. I’ll just let them know where we are and they can meet us at the restaurant.”

  Callum decided against arguing with her. They were leaving soon and he didn’t know when he’d see his whole family again. He also had no idea when they would catch the muggers. There was no more time to stay on the island. He needed to apply for another credit card, make sure he had enough money, and get back to work. His vacation had been a whirlwind but he was happy that it was over. After lunch, they were leaving it behind.

  Then a thought hit him. He hadn’t seen Mr. Knoll since last night and hadn’t heard a word from him. “Where did Dad’s business partner go?”

  “Oh, he had to leave early. He says he’s a little disappointed that you won’t change your mind.”

  “Well, you know me. Did you really think I would be on the side of big businesses that pollute our planet and don’t give a damn?”

  “You don’t know what his entire plan is.”

  “I don’t need to know. He’s asking me to help build a company that could possibly damage the ocean. I just…I just don’t have a good feeling about it. Call me crazy but it gives me the creeps.” He rubbed the side of his face. “Maybe I’m just overreacting. Maybe getting mugged is making me think things I shouldn’t.”

  “I’m not blaming you for being wary, sweetheart. Try not to think about it for now. Try to enjoy the last few hours we have on the island, okay? I swear we will find out who did this.”

  He nodded. “Do you mind if I walk down the shore for a few minutes? I need some time to myself.”

  “Of course. Just don’t go too far and remember to come back by four. That’s when we’re leaving.”

  He was grateful to escape for a while because he wanted to see Kai. He had to see him before the boat left. However, Kai was not at his usual spot today. No one was around. He tried calling out his name. “Kai? Are you here?”

  Silence greeted him. He began walking around the rocks and climbing up to see if Kai was far away. No, there was still nothing. It bummed him out because he wanted to see his favorite merman before he went away. It wasn’t like they could exchange phone numbers or follow each other on social media. This was all they had. Now his only prayer of seeing Kai again was during the trip home. If he was lucky, he could squeeze a dive in. Hopefully, that would give him a chance to see him.

  I hope nothing happened to you. He thought. In any case, I’ll find you again. I’ll look everywhere but I’m not leaving without seeing you one more time.

  Chapter 13

  At four, the Caldwell family left the island and Callum was still feeling a little bummed out. The events from the night before bothered him, but he was sad that he didn’t see Kai. He didn’t get the chance to say where he was going. Kai promised that he would find him, no matter where he went. Callum just didn’t know how. He popped in some of his medication and tried to calm down. Looking at the ocean, he thought about how he almost drowned in it. Life nearly killed him and he just didn’t want to be part of it. Now he felt like he had reasons to live. He had reasons to go on.

  I have to find Kai or another mermaid out there. I have so much more that I want to know.

  The boat stopped in the middle of their trip, which allowed Callum to get out and swim around for a little bit. To his delight, Kai was in the same spot. He didn’t know how the merman knew he was here but he was glad to see him. It seemed like Kai knew that he was leaving. He could tell from Callum’s expression that their days together were coming to an end. That didn’t mean that they were over.

  “I had a feeling you weren’t going to stay there,” he said. It was amazing how clearly Callum could hear him under the water. He understood every word. While he couldn’t reply, at least they could still communicate in other means. “You told me you would leave. At least I found you again.”

  Callum nodded and took Kai’s hand to squeeze it. It was to reassure him that just because he wasn’t at the island didn’t mean he was gone. They were still friends. As long as Kai could swim fast, he would always be there to see him. Kai looked down at his hand and touched his palm. Funny enough, Callum didn’t have ticklish hands. It wasn’t until Kai tried tickling him that he pulled away. While he wasn’t ticklish there, it was still annoying.

  “Sorry,” Kai apologized. Then he had an idea. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

  Callum hesitated at first but followed him down to where a few rocks and coral were. Kai pointed straight ahead to where so many colorful fish were swimming by. It was a stunning sight. Schools of orange, blue, silver, and yellow fish went by them. The water so clear and the coral was bright pink around them. The plants and seaweed around them weren’t much of a problem. If Callum could say anything at this moment, he would have gasped in shock. He didn’t do that but his eyes were wide and full of excitement.

  “It’s beautiful, is
n’t it?” Kai asked. Callum nodded in reply as he stared at the fish. “It’s one of my favorite spots. I used to stay here when I was younger and watch humans swim by. They never noticed me. It was a good place to hide.” He looked over at Callum who was now staring at him with those ocean-blue eyes. Even though he couldn’t say it, Kai knew what he wanted to ask. “You’re wondering why I never approached them. Truth be told, I was scared. I heard all kinds of stories about humans. Most of them weren’t good. However, I realized they can’t be the same. Not all merfolk are the same. People can’t be either.”

  I’m amazed you were able to realize that. Callum wanted to say. You are so much smarter than I gave you credit for.

  “Look at them.” Kai pointed to some yellow fish swimming by. He picked up Callum’s hand to compare them. “They are the size of your hand. You could hold one if you wanted to.”

  Callum splayed his fingers out like they were reaching for the fish. He didn’t really want to bother them but it would be interesting to feel one. They seemed to notice they were being watched and quickly swam away. He looked a little embarrassed as he pulled his hand back. He never meant to startle anything.

  “It’s okay,” Kai assured him. “They’ll all be back soon.”

  He felt Callum grab his hand and hold onto it as they kept watching. Kai had been right; the spot was perfect for anyone. It was far from all distractions and they could see everything. It was also very private and comfortable. Within seconds, a few mermaids swam by and Callum tugged on Kai’s arm in excitement. Kai could see his eyes lighting up at the very sight of them. None of the mermaids noticed a thing but it was still breathtaking. They were still holding hands at that point but Kai wondered if Callum would notice a change. He slowly lifted the hand and brought it to his lips. He found Callum’s knuckles and kissed them. When he looked up, he found Callum staring at him.