Skye's Lure

by Angel Leya

  As I surfaced, I scanned the boat. It took a moment to spot him lying on the deck, face down. The steady sound of breathing met my ears, drool spilling from his open mouth. I had never seen him sleep. He looked so peaceful. I almost hated to wake him. Almost.

  I grabbed the edge of the deck and flipped my tail. Water showered Vince, and he awoke with a start. He scrambled to his feet, slipping on the wet deck.

  “What the—?” Vince caught sight of me, and his body eased, both of us breaking into laughter. “There you are. I waited all night for you to come back. I thought I’d lost you.”

  “You nearly did,” I replied, shuddering.

  “Well? What happened?”

  “Wait till you hear.”

  As I recounted the story, Vince’s eyebrows crept towards his hairline.

  A smile tugged at Vince’s cheek. “So, you’re telling me that I’m going to turn into a Mer-guy? I’ll have a tail and webbing between my fingers and all that?”

  “Yep.”

  “And will I be able to sing all pretty like you?” Vince bat his lashes, and I rolled my eyes, shaking my head.

  Vince stood up, clapping his hands together. “So, how does this work?”

  I shrugged. “I’m not sure. I thought it would’ve happened already.”

  “Maybe if I get in the water—”

  “Vince, no! It’s too dangerous. We have to figure this out first.”

  Vince pulled off his shirt, and dropped it on the deck. “What? You don’t trust this Sea King guy?”

  “Of course I do.”

  Shoes dropped with a clunk. “Maybe he just wants me to drown.”

  “He wouldn’t do that.” Would he? I still had no idea why the King had linked our fates. Maybe he intended to kill us both.

  “I’m sorry, Skye, but I have nothing to lose. Sink or swim, I’m coming in.”

  Vince ran for the edge and leapt over me. His body arched as he dove in, naked except for his underwear. The water around him glowed as he glided through. Flesh fused together as legs became tail. The fluke fanned out, even after his feet fully submerged.

  I watched in awe, unaware I was sinking. Gulping water, I choked. I kicked, but there was no force behind it. All my churning kept me at the surface, but the waves began to overwhelm. I thrashed at the water, fighting to stay afloat. What happened to me?

  Vince’s arm wrapped around me, and he guided me to the boat. I grabbed the edge and hopped up like before, but this time felt different. Looking down, I found legs where my tail had been.

  I was also completely naked.

  Scooting across the deck, I grabbed Vince’s discarded shirt and threw it over my head. The garment was large on me, but it still felt restrictive, and my arms kept popping out of the wrong holes. Finally, I had it on correctly, and I stopped. I’m human.

  Vince chuckled. “You have it on inside out and backwards.”

  I tugged at the neckline, which pressed against my throat. “Really? How do you know?”

  “The seams are out, and the tag is in the front.”

  I looked down, the tag scratching my chin, and laughed. “Who cares? I’m human!”

  “I would’ve never guessed that a Mer would make such a lousy swimmer.”

  “Feet have no oomph behind them – not like a tail fluke.” I stared at my wiggling my toes, grinning.

  A splash of water doused me and I looked up to see Vince diving.

  I shook my head. “How do you like your tail?” I asked when he surfaced.

  “It’s fantastic! I can’t believe you want legs.”

  “Yeah, well don’t get too used to it. I’d like to make these beauties permanent, but that will only happen if we can both agree to it.”

  Vince’s face scrunched. “We have three days to decide, right?”

  “Yep.”

  “Then it’s no use worrying about it now.”

  I stood, unsteady on my new feet. The gentle rocking of the boat threatened to throw me off balance, and my arms flew out, lending some stability.

  “Whoa, girl! Looks like you need to practice using those legs.”

  I nodded. “You think we’ll have enough time to show that reporter I’m human?”

  Vince waved me off. “Three days is plenty of time. Today can be the test run, tomorrow you’ll go shopping, and the next day you can do the interview. It’ll be fine.”

  “Shopping?”

  “A girl’s gotta have something to wear, right?”

  I smiled. “Yes, I certainly do.”

  “So, what do you want to do with those legs first?”

  “Dance.”

  IT TOOK A LITTLE LONGER to get my balance than I expected, but I loved every moment. By the time the sun was setting, I had the upper deck lights turned on and the music blasting, thanks to Vince’s instructions. He hung out in the pool, and I occasionally looked over the balcony to wave at him.

  The thumping rhythm flowed through my body as I jumped and swayed. My arms waved in the air. Frizz and curls swirled, carried by the wind. Energy surged through me, my cheeks hurt from smiling.

  I was sure in this moment that I would never be a Mer again. How could anyone give this up?

  That night I dreamed of dancing. I flew through the air, the fluid motion somewhere between twirling and swimming. Everything sparkled, brilliant colors bursting through the sky.

  My eyes fluttered open. Unmoving, I stared at the ceiling of the cabin. The plush mattress hugged my body, and I pulled the silky covers to my chin. If only I could stay here forever. Then again, today I would see land.

  The covers flow off as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. Feet sunk into plush carpeting. I wiggled my toes, relishing the sensation of flesh on fiber. Maybe I would get that pedicure Vince suggested. It only seemed natural to adorn my pretty feet with bright colors.

  I threw one of Vince’s clean shirts over my head, making sure it was on correctly this time, and fidgeted with it all the way to the deck. Dressing was perhaps the most awkward part of being human, but ultimately a small price to pay.

  “It’s about time, sleeping beauty,” Vince commented. “I’ve been dying to take this tail out all morning.”

  “Better safe than eaten,” I said, racing across the hot deck. “How did you sleep?” I sat on the edge of the pool, the water cooling my burning feet.

  “That half sleep thing was weird. I have no idea how you’ve done it so long. I don’t feel like I got any rest.”

  “Oh yeah? Full sleep was weird for me. I actually had a dream.”

  “What was it about? Was it me?” Vince flashed a grin.

  I paused, my smile faltering. “No, you don’t get it. I’ve never had a dream before.”

  “Never?” Vince cocked his head.

  “Nope. It’s not really safe. You start seeing things that aren’t there and the next thing you know, you’ve lost the pod, or worse, you’re being attacked by a predator you never saw coming.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that before.” Vince paused a moment, then shrugged. “Something to think about. So, what was your dream?”

  I smiled, recalling the blurry details that I couldn’t quite put into words. “I danced.”

  Vince eyed me, chuckling. I blushed and looked down, watching the water swirl around my legs. Silence hung in the air like a heavy fog. Water swished, and I saw Vince staring at his tail, a rueful smile on his face. Perhaps we were more alike than I realized.

  “Well, we need to get this boat docked,” I said, standing up. “I want to get shopping as soon as possible.”

  “We’re not docking today.”

  My brows furrowed. “Why not?”

  “It’ll be easier for me to stay out of sight out here than docked ashore.”

  “Okay, but how will I get ashore?”

  Vince looked out at the water, a small boat coming into view. “Kelly’s coming.”

  “Who’s Kelly?”

  Vince wore a mischievous grin. “You’ll see.”

>   THE ESTHETICIAN’S DEFT fingers massaged my head, sending a tingling sensation throughout my scalp. Briny scents tickled my nose, the use of sea minerals in their products reminding me of home.

  “Ahhh. This is the life.” Kelly sighed as she sat in the adjoining chair. “So, where do you want to go next?”

  “I don’t know. What’s on the agenda?”

  “Well, we still have to find you some clothes and shoes, and your hair definitely needs a boost.”

  I pulled on a strand, idly twirling it around my finger. “Shoes. Let’s start with shoes.”

  I looked over at Kelly, her long, golden locks bouncing, tanned skin shimmering. Her enthusiasm was infectious. Any misgivings I had about today or her vanished soon after we met.

  “Yay! Shoes,” Kelly squealed. “That’s my kind of girl. I just love getting you all dolled up. I’m so glad Vince called me. So, how do you two know each other?”

  I grimaced, cracking the drying seaweed mask. “We met at one of his boat parties.”

  “I’ve been to a few of those. Are you two an item?”

  “An item?” My brows furrowed, cracking the mask further.

  “Yeah. You know, like dating and stuff.”

  I shook my head, my face warming. “No. Definitely not.”

  “Sorry. I just thought . . . Well, I’ve never known him to really hang out with any girls. At least, not since he was diagnosed with his HSP.” Kelly wore a faraway look, a rueful smile on her lips.

  “How long have you known Vince?” I asked as the esthetician started wiping off my mask.

  “We met way back in middle school, but it’s been a while since I heard from him. These days he only calls when he needs a new suit, which isn’t often.”

  Vince told me she was his stylist, but the way Kelly talked, they had a lot of history.

  “Were you two ever an item?” I played with the dress Kelly brought for me to wear off the boat, tugging and smoothing the soft floral fabric. It was better than Vince’s shirts, but it still felt odd to wear.

  “No. We never dated. Not that I would’ve minded. He’s cute, sweet, and his family’s loaded. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that?”

  I shook my head. Sweet? Vince kidnapped me. What ‘sweet’ guy does that? And I certainly didn’t ‘want a piece of that.’ What was it with people trying to couple Vince and I? First the Sea King and now Kelly, though I suspected she suspected it more than desired it.

  Kelly yammered on as we finished the spa appoint, happy to fill the silence.

  “Oooh, you look so pretty,” Kelly said at the checkout counter. I ran a hand over my smooth alabaster skin, a healthy flush on my cheeks. “You look like a doll.”

  I smiled, but the smile faded as a small, golden plastic square with Vince’s name on it was handed back to Kelly. “What’s that for?”

  “Vince said to give you the star treatment today. He’s paying for everything. Hank gave it to me, since Vince couldn’t be here today, but it’s totally authorized. Didn’t he tell you?”

  I pursed my lips. “No. He didn’t.” My people never paid for anything. Everyone just shared what little belongings we had. It seemed Vince had taken care of me this time. I felt a twinge of guilt as I thought about what he must have spent on me, but then I realized: he owed me.

  “He must really like you. We’re gonna have so much fun!” Kelly squealed as she bounded out the door, and I chuckled.

  Yes, we were.

  WALKING INTO THE SHOE store, a mixture of leather and chemical scents tickled my nose. My eyes widen as I tried to take everything in. Why weren’t all the humans here? This had to be the best thing about having legs.

  “Where do I even begin?” I whispered, staring at the dazzling rows of merchandise.

  “What size are you?” Kelly asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Where are you from?” Kelly’s voice danced over each word, and my pulse quickened. “Never mind. Let’s get you measured.”

  We tried shoe after shoe. Heels, flats, boots – they had every style and color imaginable, and I loved them all. Unable to pick just one, I chose five pair so I could have an array of colors and styles.

  “Nice,” Kelly said. “We need to pick out some outfits to go with these little darlings.”

  “Okay.” I sighed, certain nothing would be as fun as shopping for shoes.

  “Can I wear those?” I asked as we were leaving, pointing to the aqua espadrilles sitting on the checkout counter.

  Kelly laughed. “Girl, they’re yours now. Of course, your feet will be killing you by the end of the day, but they’re better than those ratty flip-flops you’re wearing.”

  “I don’t care about the pain. I want these feet to look gorgeous.”

  I pulled the shoes out of the box and removed the price stickers. As I slipped them on my feet, Kelly gave an appreciative ooh.

  “I don’t know if I could have resisted, either. Your pink pedicure looks so cute peeking out the end.”

  I wiggled my toes and smiled. Best day ever, and it wasn’t over yet.

  Shopping for clothes wasn’t quite as fun as shoe shopping, but it had its own charm. The outfits were gorgeous, and I tried on one after the other, Kelly bringing me more and more. After a couple of hours in the dressing room, I started to wear out.

  “Kelly?” I called from inside the dressing room.

  “Yeah, Skye?” came Kelly’s muffled.

  “Do you think we have enough outfits?” I adjusted the pink bejeweled blouse, turning to look at myself in the mirror.

  Kelly laughed. “Yeah, sure. Let’s see this latest one.”

  I opened the door and stepped out, but my legs stiffened up and I put my hand on the doorframe to steady myself. The slim fit jeans suddenly felt too tight. It was several moments before my muscles loosened up enough to walk again.

  “You okay, Skye?”

  “Yeah. That was weird, but I’m fine. So, what do you think?” I twirled around.

  Kelly quickly clapped, then balled her hands into fists and squealed. “I love this one! Put it in the keep pile. How many is that now?”

  “Twelve, I think.”

  Kelly sighed. “It’s not a complete wardrobe, but I think that should do for now. Hopefully Vince will send you shopping again in a few months.” A grin crept across Kelly’s face, and I returned it.

  I wasn’t sure if I would still be human by then, but I sure hoped so.

  “I don’t really need all these outfits,” I said as we were checking out. The price was climbing higher and higher with each beep of the register. I could justify the shoes, but the outfits?

  “Of course you do! You need to have options. Besides, Vince said you could get whatever you wanted, so why not? You’ll thank me later. Now, come on. We need to accessorize.”

  By the time we made it to the beauty parlor, I was ready to sit down. My arms hurt, my legs hurt, and as predicted, my feet were killing me. I nearly dozed off as the beautician added highlights and lowlights, my scalp beginning to tingle again.

  “So, how did you become a stylist?” I asked Kelly as she sat in the chair beside mine. Talking might help keep me awake.

  “I started out styling Vince’s mom, Helen. I helped her pick out clothes and accessories a few times. I loved doing it, and she always got compliments when I put her together. It became a regular thing for us, and with Helen’s connections, I started building a client list. I even dressed up Vince for his first boat party. You should have seen Vince in that tux. Girl! That man looked good. He had all the ladies around him at that party. Never got to dress him up again, though.”

  “Why do you think that is?” I crossed my legs like Kelly was doing, but then uncrossed them when they began tingling. Such an uncomfortable position. I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to sit like that.

  “Well, that boat party was his first and he got pretty drunk. Even kissed me.” Kelly blushed. She stared at her hands, which laid in her lap. “It was the first time hi
s legs stopped working, and he was super embarrassed. No one saw him for months after that.”

  “So, he kissed you, but you never dated?”

  “Nope. I think it was the alcohol kissing me, but I kinda hoped he would come around. Never did. I think he didn’t want to burden me with his disease. He’s all macho and charisma on the outside, but inside he’s just a big teddy bear. Most people don’t know that about him. He tends to keep everyone at arm’s length. Honestly, I’m surprised he’s spending so much time with you.”

  Kelly glanced at me, a polite smile on her face. I looked down at the floor, at a loss for words.

  The beautician ushered me to the sink for a rinse, and Kelly went out to the lobby to wait. As the beautician styled my hair, I watched Kelly skim through the pages of a magazine. Did Vince know how Kelly felt about him? Would that change his mind about staying on land? Part of me wanted to tell him, part of me didn’t. What was I so scared of?

  As the stylist turned me around to face the mirror, I took in my new hairstyle. My reddish brown locks had been transformed into a dazzling array of reds. I kept running my hands through the soft locks, admiring the shimmering ruby hues. I wanted to keep my hair like this forever.

  A half an hour later and a limo full of bags, we were finished, the sun drifting toward the horizon. It was time to get back to the boat. How had Vince fared in the ocean?

  It took some time to load everything in the speed boat, and even longer to get it all on Vince’s yacht, but eventually we were done.

  Kelly hugged me before I left the speed boat for the last time. “It was so great to meet you, Skye. Good luck with your interview tomorrow, and call me if you need anything. Maybe we can go shopping with Vince’s credit card again.” Kelly winked, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

  “Maybe I will.”

  Chapter 12: Astounded

  After I brought all my bags to the cabin, I went to the back deck and waited for Vince to surface. It wasn’t long before his sandy locks popped out of the water.

  “Hey, Skye! You look good. How was your shopping trip?”

  “It was nice. Exhausting, but nice.”