“You may not realize this, but there are humans trying to help preserve the Ocean.”
“I do not know if they can do more good than others do bad.”
“Sometimes the good they do is to pass laws the others have to obey to protect the Ocean.”
“I know what you are saying is true, but there are still so many more that will never obey those laws.”
“At least give some of us a chance to try.”
“Yes, I see your point, it is a good thing we have you on our side; perhaps you will help to make a difference Jedediah.”
“I hope to, if not the least I can do is keep them off your tails,” Jedediah chuckled.
“Yes, and it is good for you to travel with us and see the life you might choose for yourself one day.” Makoa grinned.
“Yep, I agree.” Jedediah also grinned and then they both went for a swim together.
~~~
It was hard for Rose to believe Jedediah was really leaving. Titus had called for the mer to leave early as to avoid the others if possible. This meant Jedediah was heading back with the mer a month earlier than he needed to for college. That barely gave Rose enough time to do some last minute shopping for him.
She was sure to buy four new swimsuits since Jedediah never really liked to shop for himself. She also picked him up a new wetsuit. Now she had them all packed neatly in his duffle bag; she couldn’t help but to let a few tears fall.
The years passed by so quickly. She remembered the first time Jedediah ever met the mer when he was only a year and a half. He took right to Titus and wanted him to hold him and didn’t want to let go when it was time to leave. She didn’t realize that moment would set him in a course to follow the mer one day. Now that he was eighteen and graduated, she’d have to let him go.
Cole came into Jedediah’s room and saw her, “I had a hard time letting Lana go too remember?”
“Yes, I do.” Rose turned to face him and knew it was no good trying to hide her tears.
“It will be alright honey, he’ll stay in touch and we’ll see him every summer.” Cole took her in his arms.
“I know; I just didn’t see it coming.”
“No, we can never guess what they’ll do when it’s their turn to make their mark in the world.”
“I always thought he’d want to stay on the island.”
“I know honey.” Cole stroked her neck.
“Are they all going to leave us like that?” Rose couldn’t keep from crying in earnest.
“Honey, how can we know that? We just have to take it one day at a time and hope that at least one will stay nearby.”
“Oh Cole, how can we ever let them go?”
“We will honey if and when we have to, but you’ll always have me.” He grinned.
“I know.” Rose hugged him.
Jedediah walked in and knew he was not going to escape a group hug at that moment and so he relented and joined in.
~~~
When it was time to take Jedediah’s things to the Marina, the entire family went to see him off on Micah’s yacht, including Robbie.
After Jedediah stowed his things, he went to his parents and hugged them one last time, “I know you’re gonna miss me,” he chuckled.
“Yep, we sure will,” said Cole.
“So much Jed,” said Rose with tears in her eyes.
“You’re gonna have to be the little man now sport.” Jedediah rubbed the top of Willy’s head.
“I am!” exclaimed Willy loudly.
“You better take care of my best friend.” Jedediah hugged Lizzy.
“I will Jed.”
“You better take care of my sister,” Jedediah said to Robbie with a serious tone.
“You know I will Jed, you can count on it.”
“Son, here’s your phone; Just want you to know your mom and I added a song to your playlist.”
“You did?” That intrigued Jedediah since they never had before. “Thanks a lot, I hope,” he chuckled.
“That’s really special Jed. I love you all and look forward to seeing you in the spring,” said Lana as she hugged them one last time.
“You take care of yourself and the kids and of course the King.” Cole smiled.
“I will Dad and Mom, goodbye.” Lana jumped into the water to be with Titus and the baby as they traveled.
“It is time,” said Micah.
The Prentis family and Robbie stepped off the boat and waved their last goodbyes.
As the yacht pulled away from the slip, Jedediah put his ear buds on and attached it to his phone. He saw the new song added and he smiled. He played it and listened to the words of Eyes Wide Open by Needtobreathe while watching his family disappear on the docks. He couldn’t keep from having a tear fall down his cheek as he smiled and waved goodbye.
~~~
Once the yacht got into open waters on the third day, they spotted an old wooden schooner that seemed to be adrift.
“Should we check it out?” Andrew asked Micah.
“I suppose we should, but keep an eye on things,” said Micah to Andrew and Jedediah and then looked to the kids.
Maiele and Talei dove off the starboard side of the boat and into the water when they sensed their might be trouble. It was always safer for them to be with the mer in such instances.
As they neared the vessel, a man stood up and waved them over. He looked a rough sort and the Fijian’s wished they hadn’t come so near.
“Come, help me, I have been without food or water for days.”
Micah slowly brought the portside of the yacht alongside the schooner.
Suddenly, three other men stood up from under a tarp and they had rifles in their hands.
“Oh man, you don’t even want to do that,” said Jedediah. They’re Pirates! He thought and knew the mer heard him.
“Shut up! Take this rope and tie it to your boat!” said one of the other men with a rifle.
“I will not!” said Micah in defiance.
“Do it now!” said the same man and he shot a round off into the air.
The old schooner quickly moved sideways and away from the yacht. Then it began to spin around slowly.
The men fell backwards and held onto anything they could. One of them called out, “What are you doing?”
“We are not doing anything,” said Andrew with a grin.
The schooner drifted even further away as it began to spin even faster and it creaked and cracked.
“What is happening?” yelled out another man.
“You picked the wrong people to mess with,” said Micah with a slight grin.
Now the men were screaming as their boat was being ripped apart. It seemed almost unreal how quickly it all happened. Soon there was nothing but silence and a few broken boards floating on the waters surface.
Jedediah couldn’t believe what he just witnessed. He forgot for a moment how powerful the mer could be and especially when someone threatened them or those they cared about.
Micah set course for the South Pacific once more and drove the yacht away.
~~~~~
Chapter 24
A GOOD LIFE
After the mer had settled in, Micah drove the yacht to Suva Harbour with Jedediah and he signed in for his classes at the Laucala Bay Campus. Class didn’t start until late July, but Jedediah also made arrangements to dock the yacht in Suva Harbour for him to live on. Students usually rented apartments, but Micah told Jedediah he could live on the yacht because he and his brother’s families had grottos of their own in the South Pacific closer to Kaloki Island where their parents lived.
Jedediah loved living on the yacht and although his father Cole had taught him how to sail his schooner, the yacht was much easier and had wonderful cabins and a beautiful L-shaped galley. He dropped anchor near the mer city of Tullius until time for school to begin.
Jedediah felt a real sense of family with the nearness of the mer; even on the yacht he could read their thoughts below him as they passed. He’d seen Set
urus several times, but was never allowed to be alone with her since the night of his prom. They even spoke occasionally, but not like Jedediah wished. Every night he had dreams of what it might be like to truly live like the Fijians with their mermaid wives; they and their children were happy living in their grottos.
Tonight was the same, the mer were settled in the city and Jedediah was alone. There were a million stars out and he couldn’t help but to lay back on the bench seat along the aft of the yacht. He sensed his sister Lana below him and he had to smile.
“How’s it going Jed?” she asked as she hopped up the back deck ladder and sat down beside him.
“It’s going great; I just love seeing all those stars on a clear night.”
“Yeah, they’re beautiful. Are you happy Jed?”
“Yep, I really am. I can just imagine what it would be like to slow down and live this kind of life”
“Yeah, the mer have it pretty good.” She smiled.
“It’s like you guys don’t have a care in the world,” he said as he sat up.
“Jed, you know that isn’t exactly true.” She looked at him with raised brows.
“I know, I didn’t mean to say it like that.” He gave her a hug.
“But you’re right, most days we don’t.” She smiled again.
“Is Seturus happy?” he asked knowing what she’d think.
“I think she is, she’s getting over her shyness and beginning to talk with others. She’s starting to realize she’s really been adopted into the family.”
“That’s good, I’m happy for her; I’m sure it’s much better than her old life.”
“Jed, you have no idea what a hard life she’s had. She was serving in the dungeon of Tiselius for nearly twenty years. She was asked to be the mate of King Thaddaeus when she was just a child. When she refused him, he proclaimed that none touch her until she first mated with him. Believe me Jed, he’s a real creep to ask her so young and he wasn’t exactly asking her to marry him.” Lana frowned.
“A real creep alright, her hair hasn’t turned completely white even now,” he said angrily.
“No it hasn’t. I know you like her Jed, but you need to go slow with her.”
“Hey, I’m not making any moves; I’d just like to talk to her that’s all.” He grinned.
“I know and you will, but you know how the mer are; they hold marriage as a sacred thing and their mermaids remain virgins until such a time and then they mate for life.”
“I know Sis, I really do like her as you said, but I’m not ready for marriage just yet, I don’t even know if it would be Seturus for sure. I’m just taking one day at a time and praying God will show me the way.”
“That’s great Jed; you’ve got your head on your shoulders. I know you’re a smart cookie or you wouldn’t have gotten that scholarship. I’m really proud of you, you know.” She gave a big smile.
“Thanks Sis, I’m proud of you too; who knew Queen of the mer,” he said shaking his head with a smile.
“I know I never knew that’s for sure. I thought the mer would reject me for being half human the first time I went to Torbist with Titus.”
“Look at you now, crown of black pearls and an emerald necklace that must be worth a fortune,” he chuckled.
“The mer sure don’t see the value of things like humans do, but I’m honored to wear them. Well, I better get going; I just wanted to check on my little brother.” She smiled again.
“I’m glad you did, although I hear the guards passing now and then, it can get pretty lonely at night. Thanks Sis.”
“I know it can, I can have Titus command Makoa to visit you, but now that Rose is so far long with the baby I’m not sure he’ll leave her side,” Lana giggled.
“No, don’t do that; he needs to be with her and I’m happy for the two of them.”
“Yeah, me too; love you Jed. Sweet dreams.” Lana hugged him.
“Love you too Sis and I have them every night.” He grinned.
She dove off the back of the yacht.
Yep, I have them every night, he thought again and smiled. He went below and headed to bed.
~~~
One afternoon Micah drove his yacht to Mer Island with Jedediah, Maiele, Talei and their sixteen year old cousin Faith. Some of the mer met them there when they arrived.
Jedediah sat down on the large flat rock and crushed a coconut in his hands and then began drinking the milk before eating the meat.
Lana sat beside him, “So do you remember Mer Island?”
“Yep, one of my favorite places; I think they have the best bananas and coconuts on the planet.”
“I would also agree,” said Titus as he swam up to them. “Are you going swimming?”
“You bet,” said Jedediah and he dove in with a cannonball splashing Lana.
Lana then jumped in after him.
Prince Makoa soon arrived with Princess Rose; Seturus and Midori also joined them.
Talei and Faith had already jumped in and now they got out and took a turn on the flat rock. They enjoyed watching everyone while they sunbathed.
Titus and Ulysses played keep away from Micah and Jedediah with a large clam they kept tossing back and forth; Makoa joined in to make it a little more even for the humans.
Lana swam to Rose, “How are you doing Sweetheart?”
“I am beginning to think my stomach cannot stretch further,” she giggled.
“I know; it’s amazing how much our body can take.”
“At least I am past the sickness of the morning.”
Lana smiled, “Yeah, that’s not so fun. Now you don’t have much longer.”
“I cannot wait to hold my baby mer.”
“I know Sweetheart, just like I was with you.”
“I am glad that you and father have taken time out for yourselves.”
“Yeah, Prince Tristan is watching over the city and your grandmother is watching Titan.”
Talei and Faith went for another swim.
Jedediah was exhausted from trying to keep up with the mer so he hopped back up on the large rock.
Seturus swam to him and also hopped up on the rock beside him, “You do not mind me sitting with you?”
“No not at all,” Jedediah said with a smile.
“This is a beautiful place and I cannot believe how much we can surface here.”
“Yeah, it’s great, not like the North Atlantic that’s for sure.”
“Did they tire you?”
“Yep, I can’t beat them when it comes to swimming.” He grinned.
“I am glad you are King Titus’ brother and part of the mer family,” Seturus said as she looked up to him and smiled.
“Yep, me too; now you know you’re also part of the family.”
“Yes, that is what they have told me. It all seems strange to me and yet better than I could have dreamed.”
“They’re a great example of what it’s like to be a family.”
“Do you miss your human family?”
“Yeah, but I’ll see them again in the spring and I can always talk to them by phone, except out here where I can’t get a signal,” Jedediah chuckled as he realized Seturus didn’t have a clue of what he was talking about.
“How long will you anchor near our city?”
“Only a few weeks more and then I’ll have to anchor near my school, but I’ll try and come back on the weekends.”
“That is good Jedediah; I will miss you when you are away.” Seturus looked up to him once more.
“I’ll miss you too.” Jedediah smiled to her and was once again amazed by her beauty.
“You know what is told about sitting on this rock together?” Makoa smiled with a wink as he swam to them.
“No, I do not,” Seturus answered confused.
“Just ignore him.” Jedediah gave a half grin.
“They say that all unintended males and females that sit together upon this rock fall in love and soon mate….”
Jedediah quickly jumped a cannonba
ll coming down on top of Makoa and then they two wrestled beneath the water and came up laughing. Makoa swam away and Jedediah sat back down next to Seturus.
Legend of the Mer II THE NEW GUARDIAN Page 21