The Sea Taketh (Alex Singer)

by Teresa Rae

  He balls his hands into fists. “In this aspect, our cultures are completely different. Merfolk, with any kind of merit, do not have sex until they’re married.”

  The rejection stings, but I try to save face. “Then I’ll go back to bed, and you can resume your swim.” I climb the stairs and step out of the pool.

  Christian’s face pales in the faint moonlight as his eyes meet mine. His eyes wander to my body. Then he’s gone. A loud noise sounds from the bottom of the pool. The next moment, Christian is standing outside the window, with his hands on the glass, gazing at me. His lips purse, but I don’t hear anything until Henrik and Sven burst into the room. Henrik takes one look of me and swears under his breath. They both dive into the pool and disappear. The three dash to the ocean.

  “What’s going on?” Sonia asks as she and Jen run into the poolroom.

  Jen flips on the light.

  “I think I know,” she says when she sees me.

  “I wish someone would explain it to me.” I continue to gaze out the window where Christian disappeared.

  “It’s quite simple,” Sonia says, looking over my bikini. “Christian absolutely cannot have sex until he is married. He cannot allow himself to be seduced… even by you.”

  * * *

  As I lay awake that night, it’s evident to me that I don’t understand very much about merfolk culture. I had assumed that he didn’t feel the same way about me when he was demonstrating self control. Christian has accommodated my ignorance because of his vast knowledge of humans. He sheltered me so well that I hardly know anything. For someone who has declared his love to me, he’s explained little about the world from which he comes. I have clumsily discovered why this behavior can’t continue.

  I sit up most of the night, thinking of my ignorance and the mistakes I’ve made in regards to Christian. It isn’t until the first rays of sunshine come through my window that I fall asleep. My usual nightmare haunts me. One moment I’m with my parents on our boat, and the next, I’m flailing in the dark ocean. However, this time the darkness doesn’t overwhelm me. A bright light emerges from the depths. I know at once it’s Christian. He’s come to rescue me from the darkness.

  “Merry Christmas, Alexandra,” someone disturbs my sleep.

  I open my eyes and find Christian smiling above me, wearing a Santa hat. I immediately sit up.

  “I’m so sorry!” I apologize. “I didn’t understand!”

  “You have nothing to apologize for.” He takes my hand. “I haven’t been forthcoming with you. I will remedy this, right after we open our Christmas presents.”

  “You should go to bed. The presents can wait.” I kiss his hand.

  “That is something else I should have told you,” he says as he picks me up. “Merfolk sleep less than humans. Come along, everyone is waiting for you.”

  “I like the pajamas.” I point to his Santa-style attire as he carries me out the door.

  “I thought they were appropriate for the occasion.” He chuckles.

  “Where is everyone?” I am surprised to find the cottage eerily empty of the many staff members.

  “It’s Christmas; everyone has gone home to be with their families.”

  “That’s good. Don’t tell Henrik, Sonia, and Sven, but all the help kind of freaks me out,” I say to him. “I feel badly about being waited on hand and foot all the time.”

  He laughs, his eyes twinkle merrily. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

  The drawing room is alit with Christmas lights. The mixed scent of pine, hot chocolate, and gingerbread wafts through the air. A vast Christmas tree is surrounded by brightly colored Christmas gifts. Still in their pajamas, Gramps, Marjory, Henrik, Sonia, Sven, and Jen are waiting for us.

  “It’s about time, sleeping beauty,” Jen teases.

  “If you can’t sleep in on Christmas morning, when can you?” I retort as I smile.

  After extending Christmas greetings to everyone, Christian sets me down on an antique sofa before taking the seat next to me. He passes me a plate of gingerbread cookies and a cup of hot chocolate.

  “Can we open presents now?” Jen asks with anticipation.

  “Patience, Stinging Jellyfish,” Sven laughs, wrapping his arms around her while they sit on the floor. “We have all day.”

  “We want to begin first,” Marjory rises from her seat and shuffles to the tree. She takes two old bottles of wine from underneath it and places them in front of Christian.

  “Merry Christmas!” she says as she takes his hand and kisses it.

  “Merry Christmas, Marjory.” He tenderly pats her wrinkled cheek. “I hope you enjoyed the early Christmas gift we gave you?”

  “Yes, yes!” she exclaims.

  I raise an eyebrow in confusion, but I’m not the only one.

  “What did you give her?” Jen asks.

  “We had a greenhouse added to the Victorian house for her,” Sven answers. “This way she can grow fresh produce, year round.”

  “We like it very much!” Marjory smiles as she retakes her seat.

  “And the wine is perfect,” Christian says. “What better way to celebrate Christmas morning than with a delicious glass of wine?”

  Henrik quickly goes to the kitchen for some wine goblets. Sven is opening a bottle of wine when he returns. He pours himself a glass and quickly downs it before passing it to Henrik. He, too, helps himself to the wine. They also pour wine for Marjory, Sonia, Gramps, and then Christian.

  “It really bothers me that they do that,” I whisper to him.

  “Do what?” he asks.

  “That they help themselves to everything first.”

  He wraps an arm around me.

  “Are you being protective?” he asks with amusement in his voice.

  “Yes, I am. Why doesn’t it bother you that you get the leftovers?”

  “Because our cultures are very different,” he answers stiffly, as if there’s a lot on his mind. I know the feeling.

  “It’s my turn to give my presents,” Jen says loudly as she goes to the tree and comes back with her arms loaded with gifts. She places one in front of each of us.

  “Go ahead,” she says as she returns to her place next to Sven.

  Marjory and Gramps receive large boxes of Swiss chocolate and the rest of us open team jerseys with our names on the backs.

  “They’re for future competitions,” she explains. “I thought we could have a bunch of different tournaments, beginning with soccer.”

  “Jen, this is awesome!” I hold up my pink jersey.

  “I agree,” Christian says. “We will try them out after lunch.”

  Sven is silent as he pulls his jersey over his head. He lumbers to the Christmas tree. With a small package in hand, he returns to Jen. He passes it to her. Smiling, she quickly opens it. Her brows furrow as she lifts up a stick of lip balm.

  “What is…?”

  Before she can finish her question, Sven wraps his huge arms around her skinny body and zealously kisses her. She throws her arms around his neck and returns it. Henrik and Christian catcall riotously. The rest of us cheer.

  “You big oaf!” says Jen as she comes up for air, punching him on the arm. “I thought you forgot me and picked something up at the gas station.”

  “I could never forget you.” He kisses her again. “I just thought you could use the lip balm with all the kissing we’re going to do.”

  “It’s a pretty great gift.” Jen opens the lip balm and puts some on her lips before offering it to Sven.

  He just chuckles as he kisses her a third time.

  “I’ll just get mine from you,” he says.

  It is a wonderful Christmas. Gramps gives me a photo album with some photos of me and Christian in it, and he gives Christian a photo of me in a silver frame. Sven gives me a can of mace, and Christian a volleyball to tease him about our loss. Henrik and Sonia gift me with beautiful, white sweater. They laugh as they give Christian another volleyball. Gramps likes the book I chose for him, an
d Marjory is overjoyed when Gramps and I tell her that waiting at home is a new wagon to carry her treasures from the ocean. Soon there is only one present left under the tree.

  “It appears to be my turn,” Christian says. “Henrik, Sonia, and Sven, you will receive my customary Christmas gift…”

  “CHRISTIAN!” a woman’s voice sounds in the corridor.

  He immediately stands. A huge frown appears on his face. Henrik and Sven run to the doors, opening them. A beautiful mermaid with long, auburn hair glides into the room. She’s wearing an elegant gown and numerous jewels. Three more mermaids follow her.

  “Oh, Christian!” she exclaims when she sees him. She raises her arms and fervently embraces him, kissing his cheeks. “I just heard a rumor you were here and had to come at once!”

  “Merry Christmas, Mother,” Christian says.

  “Merry Christmas, dearest! You must come home. What is Christmas without our only son?”

  “Mother, of course you remember Marjory.” Christian gestures to the old woman in the corner.

  “Wonderful Marjory!” she says kissing her wrinkled cheeks. “What would we do without your treasured friendship?”

  “We like our merfolk.” Marjory takes her hand and kisses it.

  “I hope they are behaving themselves?”

  “Yes, yes. They are very good mermen.”

  “Mother, this is Thomas Singer,” Christian puts a hand on Gramps’ shoulder. “He is a neighbor and friend of Marjory’s.”

  “Any friend of Marjory’s is a friend of ours,” she says, joyfully.

  “I feel the same way,” Gramps stands and smiles congenially. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “And you, Thomas.”

  “Jenifer Marsh is here with Sven,” Christian gestures behind him.

  “Sven’s Jen!” she exclaims. “We are so happy that Sven has found someone who suits him.”

  “I just made her my declared this morning,” Sven interjects.

  Christian’s mother squeals and hugs Jen. “This is wonderful news! Congratulations!”

  “Thanks,” Jen says, obviously a little baffled by the excessive attention from a stranger.

  She also hugs Sven. “I will have to congratulate your mother as soon as I get home!” He beams with pride as he takes Jen’s hand.

  “Mother,” Christian interposes. “I have one more introduction to make.” He takes my hand and helps me to my feet. “This is Alexandra Singer. She is Thomas’s granddaughter, and most importantly, she is my declared.”

  The smile disappears from his mother’s face. There is no squeal of delight or congratulatory embrace. I don’t even warrant a glance. Her eyes remain on Christian. There is no attempt at courtesy as she blows through her lips. Christian responds likewise. A heated exchange of blows of air ensues. The other merfolk keep their eyes on the floor.

  Theory #8 is upgraded to Fact #14 – There really is something to the blowy thingy.

  Proof – Christian and his mother are having a blowy conversation!

  “Mother, I love her!” Christian speaks in English. He gently takes my face in his hands and kisses me.

  She responds by shrieking frighteningly before storming to the door. One finally puff of air is propelled through her lips as she leaves.

  Hypothesis #11 – Christian’s mother would like to feed me to a great white shark.

  “I apologize for her behavior! I told you that I have been a bachelor a very long time, and it came as a surprise,” he quickly says to me. He pulls off his Santa pajamas, exposing his ever present swim trunks. “We will have to postpone the remainder of the gifts. I leave you in Sonia’s capable hands. I must go.”

  He runs out the door closely followed by Sven and Henrik.

  “What in the world was that all about?” Jen asks aloud. “Everyone always loves Alex.”

  “Mothers are very protective about their sons; that’s all,” Gramps sits next to me and wraps his arms around me. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “Sonia, what’s the deal?” Jen presses.

  She shakes her head. “It’s not my place to discuss it. Come, there is a beautiful breakfast waiting in the kitchen.”

  “You guys go ahead,” I say, thinking of the heated exchange. “I think I’ll go back to bed.”

  I don’t know what I had expected from Christian’s family, but this certainly wasn’t it. I had hoped that they would be excited or happy but would have preferred hostility to being ignored. Perhaps it’s my vanity, but it was painful to be treated as though I didn’t exist. I suppose I can’t really blame his mother. He is the one who didn’t tell her about me.

  Hail is hitting the large window in my room when I enter. I climb into my bed and wrap myself in the duvet. What began as a beautiful Christmas day has turned gray. A winter storm has blown in and waves crash violently against the shore. The weather matches my mood. It seems that being with Christian is going to be a never-ending violent storm. I cover my head and try to go back to sleep.

  * * *

  “Where is she?” a woman’s voice calls in the corridor.

  I open my eyes and pull the blankets off my head.

  “Kerstin, I am under strict orders,” Sonia says. “You’ll have to come back later.”

  “Blow it out your blowhole! If you won’t tell me where the despicable human, who will be the ruin of my family, is, I will find her myself!”

  “You’ll have to go through me!” Sonia counters.

  “That won’t be difficult as there are four of us and only one of you!”

  “She’s not alone!” Jen joins the conversation.

  “Oh, you must be Sven’s human?” Kerstin says. “I have heard nothing but good about you, but there are still four of us and only two of you.”

  “Just stop it!” I open the door. “I’m here if you want to yell at me!”

  A mermaid stands in the corridor with three mermaids behind her. With her blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and beautiful face, it is obvious that she’s Christian’s sister. Her jaw drops when she sees me.

  “Holy puffer fish! You’re Alex Singer!” she exclaims.

  “Yes, I am,” I spit. “Go ahead and yell at me because I want to go back to bed.”

  She smiles widely. “I didn’t come to yell at you. I just wanted to meet my brother’s declared.”

  “You called me a despicable human?”

  “I was being sarcastic.” She laughs off the statement as she kisses my cheeks. “Oh, you and I are going to get along splendidly!”

  I am dumbfounded.

  Kerstin smiles. “My mother is usually a very kind mermaid, but my brother was very naughty to keep you from us. Let’s go have some lunch, and we can get to know each other better.”

  She wraps her arm around my waist and directs me to the kitchen. Soon we sit down to a meal of sushi and Christmas cookies left behind by the Pedersens’ cook.

  “When I saw you in Vogue I knew that you were going to be a star,” Kerstin says. “Did you start dating Christian before or after it was shot?”

  “After, but we met before,” I say, playing with my food.

  Kerstin’s eager eyes never leave me. “Did he ask you out or did you ask him?”

  “Is this an interrogation?” Jen asks.

  “No, I just want to know what led to my brother declaring his love to the girl most humans would consider the most beautiful woman in the world.”

  “I tried to avoid him like the plague, but he wouldn’t leave me alone,” I answer.

  Her eyes open wide in wonder. “Why? Didn’t you find him attractive? Wasn’t he charming?”

  “Anyone with eyes knows that he’s hot, and just oozes charm,” Jen replies for me. “Alex just isn’t impressed with looks, charm, or money.”

  “Is this true?” Kerstin asks me curiously. “Then why did you start dating him? What else is there?”

  “Yes, it’s true,” I pause, “I started dating him because of the way he treats Marjory.”

  She tak
es her napkin and blows her nose. “That is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard!”

  Jen rolls her eyes. I can tell that Jen and Kerstin are two very different types of girls.

  “I think it’s so romantic that you and Christian fell in love, and your best friend fell in love with his bodyguard!” Kerstin claps her hands.

  “Sven is his cousin, not his bodyguard,” I correct her.

  “Oh, merfolk all call each other ‘cousin’. We’re not really related to Sven and Henrik.”

  “Come again?” Jen says. Sonia grimaces across the table.

  “They always travel incognito. They pretend to be cousins from Denmark to protect Christian’s true identity,” Kerstin says, matter-of-factly.

  “Which is?” I ask, completely confused.

  Kerstin smiles as she pats my hand as though I’m already in on the secret.

  “He’s the High Prince, of course!” She laughs.

  I drop my fork. My thoughts are scrambling to understand what exactly this means.

  “I’m going to kick Sven’s merman butt,” Jen exclaims next to me.

  “Kerstin,” says Christian as he walks into the kitchen with an enormous frown on his face.

  “Merry Christmas, big brother!” she exclaims as she hugs him. “I can’t believe your declared is Alex Singer!”

  “Was,” I correct her as I stand.

  “Was what?” Kerstin asks with confusion.

  “I was his declared but not anymore!” I pick up my plate and throw it at him. He easily ducks to avoid the flying dish. A dish of expensive chocolates soon follows. He cringes as I break a couple bottles of expensive wine on the floor. “You lied to me! You said you worked for the government!”

  “I do work for the government,” he answers. “I serve my father.”

  “You know it’s not the same thing! No wonder your mother freaked when she saw me! I’m not even close to being a princess! I’m just a human! My father was a fisherman and my grandfather before him! “

  “That isn’t a problem among merfolk,” he says hurriedly. He can sense that I am about to explode.

  I angrily pace the room. “Well at least I know the real reason everyone bows their heads to you and continually kisses your butt!”