Merlicious 2

by Diane Merlin, Alexis Ke, Cara North

  As they gamboled out among the higher waves on the other side of the undersea reef, they continually pirouetted and pivoted, stood on their tails, dived then surfaced. They seemed to be putting on a show just like the dolphins in the amusement parks dotted around the country. In this case, however, there was no audience to applaud them. She stared until everything became a blur.

  She squinted. It seemed some other creature had joined them. She could barely make out a sleek black head that kept bobbing up among the dolphins and joining in their dance.

  Did she imagine it? It must be a seal, though she had never seen one act as this one did. The hard work of sorting out this new ballet from the previous one while staring into the glare of the sun became too difficult. She laid her head on her arms and closed her eyes.

  After a few minutes, she lifted her eyes and again gazed out to sea. Incredibly, the sleek seal changed direction and began to move toward her. As it neared, she could make out arms and she realized it was a human being who played with the sea mammals and now headed toward her.

  Stunned out of her mind, she wondered who could do that. Who could swim out so far and play with the dolphins? Maybe she was still asleep and dreamed.

  The figure in the now shallow water stood up. He walked straight at her as though he knew just where he intended to go.

  Afraid, Dolly crouched as deeply into the crevice as she could manage. She drew her head below the lip of the shelf where he could not see her from the water's edge.

  She couldn't think which idea frightened her more, holding her head down to prevent being observed or lifting it in the hope she could see and not be seen. She chose to keep a very low profile and to trust the intruder would go away.

  Just when she decided it might be safe to raise her head, a voice said, “Hi, Dolly. I was looking for you."

  She looked up into the sunbathed air at a male figure outlined against the brilliant sunlight, his features obscured by the dazzling light. Radiant shafts seemed to shoot down from the sky and surround the figure, resplendent in a sheath of water drops and sunshine.

  "Ray? Is that you? What are you doing here?"

  "I told you I was looking for you. And now I've found you."

  "Did my mother tell you I was coming here? Where's your boat?” She scowled at him, as though challenging him.

  "No, she didn't and at home.” Ray sat down beside her, his altered position reducing the effect of the light on his body. She could now see he wore a bikini style bathing suit. Just so, he didn't seem truly naked somehow.

  "Then how did you find me?"

  "Actually, I've known for some time that this rock is your secret place. It just wasn't the time to talk about it."

  "But it is now?” she asked. “Did my mother tell you?” She recalled coming upon him eating dinner with her mother. Maybe she would learn now what they had discussed.

  "Actually, I told her. That's how she knew where you were the morning you came here before dawn."

  Indignantly, she demanded, “Have you been spying on me?"

  "Not exactly."

  "What does that mean? You were, or you weren't"

  He pointed to sea. “Actually, they were the ones who told me."

  Far out, the dolphins still cavorted in the water. Even from this distance, she had the impression they were laughing.

  "They told you? The dolphins told you?"

  He nodded.

  "How could they tell you?"

  "I realize this will come as a surprise to you. The truth is I know how to communicate with dolphins.” He paused. “And I can talk to a lot of other sea creatures, as well. Mostly the smarter ones. Some denizens are just too lacking in intelligence.” He stopped again before going on. “I've been doing it my whole life."

  Dolly looked at him with new eyes. Was he certifiable? Did he lie, and to what end?

  For the first time, Dolly realized that he could see her legs. She didn't know which frightened her more, his crazy talk or her exposed legs. She tried to make herself smaller, but her efforts failed. She shifted so that her upper body more completely hid her legs.

  "You don't have to hide from me, Dolly. I know about your legs. In fact, I may know more about you than you do."

  In a quivery voice, she asked, “What are you talking about, Ray? You're scaring me with this nonsense."

  "I'm obviously doing this all wrong. I told your mom that she was the best one to tell you this, but she insisted I was the better choice because of my experience.” He looked hard at her then added, “Would you be more comfortable talking like this if we went into the water? Sometimes people like us find resting on the waves a great consolation."

  "I think I'll stay here, if you don't mind.” She didn't know if she could trust him. He sounded so real and sane as he spoke until she thought about what he actually said.

  Ray laughed, that joyful delighted sound she had heard so frequently from him. “Okay, girl. Here we stay. However, if I begin to froth at the mouth or some such, you'd actually be better able to get away in the water."

  "Maybe. Don't forget I just watched you cover a great deal of ocean in a very short time. So maybe I wouldn't be safe anywhere.” She giggled a little, rapt in the fantasy he conjured and already more at ease.

  "Uh. Isn't that an uncomfortable position? You're all twisted up like a pretzel."

  Very slowly, she began to unwind just enough to relax the worst tension in her lower limbs.

  "Yes. That does look better. If you stayed that way much longer, I might have had to haul you out, and that could hurt a bit."

  "So, you claim to have all knowledge. Prove it,” she challenged him.

  "Okay. Fasten your seat belt. We're going on a very strange voyage into your past."

  "Right. Go ahead."

  "You were what? Two or three when your parents found you?"

  "Something like that. I was too little to tell them how old I was, and there were no records that they could locate. So they had to guess my age.” She grinned. “So I am an enigma even to myself."

  "Okay. Let's get going here.” His sigh implied a long session to come. He leaned beside her on her rock. “Are you sure you want to talk this out on land?"

  "Ray,” she replied, her tone impatient.

  "I'm getting there. You're a feisty little thing.” He turned to smile at her before he continued. “Have you ever heard about real sea people, merpeople and selkies and others? The ones with the skin and the others without it?"

  "Of course I have. Hasn't everyone?” She cringed inwardly at her defensive tone. “My mother used to tell me such stories when I was young, and they often made me cry. I could picture myself as a selkie child grieving at the loss of my parents. The stories always seemed so sad to me."

  "Yes. They are sad, Dolly, and usually not quite accurate. You see, not many selkie people hung around to tell the story. Those who tried to pass it on were less well informed.” He looked expectantly at her. She remained silent, so he went on. “In many cases, these abandoned selkie children were able to don the skin and join their parents in the sea. Unfortunately, those that did leave failed to return.” In an abrupt change of subject, he said, “Your mother spoke of a smashed sailboat near where you were found. Are you aware of that?"

  "Oh, yes. I have heard about the boat my whole life. My mother said I was half in and half out of the water, crawling to get to the beach. My parents believed I was the only survivor of the boat crash."

  He cleared his throat. “You may have trouble swallowing this, but I may as well jump right in.” He glanced sharply at her, and she felt the little hairs on her neck twitch as though from a sudden cold breeze. “It is almost certain your natural parents were selkies or other sea people. That explains your legs being together and unable to separate. You were made for the sea, Dolly. You were in the sea before whatever occurred cast you on shore. Most likely, you were in the area when the sailboat crashed, and you got caught up in the disaster. I'm guessing your parents died there when t
he boat crashed, and their bodies got washed out to sea."

  Caught up in his narrative and forgetful that her life remained in question, she cried, “How can that be true? Everyone knows that selkies live in the waters around the northern Celtic Isles. How would my family get here?"

  "Some who came here as immigrants were selkies or the children of selkies. Some likely swam here. There's nothing to prevent them if they choose to make the arduous trip in the water. Many were those who gave up their skins or tails and chose to live as regular humans, many far from the sea. However, no matter how long they lived away, they always had a longing to return to the water. Some of them became fishermen and sailed the Grand Banks. It is not unusual for their offspring to die young, if living far from the source of their lives. Many of the obituaries of fishermen or pleasure sailors lost at sea serve as cover for the truth of a sea person who could not resist the call of the deep."

  Dolly realized her mouth had fallen open and closed it abruptly with a slight snap of her teeth. She stared at him aghast. How could this man, a highly loved and respected teacher in the local high school for several years, be talking to her this way? Had he lost his marbles? How could he, this attractive and normal seeming person her mother took to so completely, be a madman?

  "I'm not, you know,” he said. Before she could ask ‘not what?’ he continued, “I'm really not crazy. A little warped, especially my sense of humor, but not certifiable."

  "You are just telling me a story, aren't you? You don't really expect me to believe you."

  He stood up quickly and hovered over her, reaching down to haul her into his arms, half lifting her as he touched his lips to hers. Tender and harsh at the same time, the kiss promised much. Dolly felt dizzy with the passion of his touch, and she felt herself half-surrendering to a desire she never knew existed.

  Suddenly, in one quick step, Ray reached the edge of Lookout Rock, now partially inundated by the risen waters of high tide. He leapt into the sea, holding her tightly to him as he swam with one arm out to sea.

  She gasped as she swallowed water. She feared that he intended to drown her. Why did she venture to the rock today? Why didn't she flee as soon as she saw Ray? Her questions were overpowered suddenly by another kiss he planted on her upturned mouth, somewhat wet and tasting of the sea. Despite her fear, his kisses comforted her. They filled her with a sensation of rightness that flew in the face of reality.

  His extraordinarily powerful strokes took them quickly to the area of the dolphins’ play. Suddenly, sea mammals surrounded them, diving and dancing on their tails and talking in their rapid-fire language that sounded more like radio static to human ears.

  He said, “Don't panic,” then dived, still holding her, into the depths, with several dolphins as escort.

  She held her breath, waiting for the pain of oxygen deprivation. Instead, her lungs did not run out of air as she anticipated but seemed still full. Down they went, Ray now pulling her by one hand. Without conscious thought, Dolly's legs began to respond and she swam on her own, still not needing to breathe. She twisted and turned and blasted through the water like a gunshot. A foreign, yet familiar essence took over her body, and her fears vanished, washed away by the thrill of swimming the depths.

  Ray suddenly appeared beside her and pulled her once more toward him. He dragged her to the surface where she emerged gasping for breath.

  "I'm sorry to ruin your fun, Dolly, but you haven't become a fish. Your lungs couldn't have maintained you much longer, so I had to drag you away."

  She breathed normally again, stretched out on the gentle waves so far from shore. Her legs, now visibly afloat on the surface, glistened with jewel-like water droplets. From her hips down, all the colors of the rainbow shimmered. Red to purple, blue to green with a generous sprinkling of sunny yellow, her legs had been transformed into a silvery length of competing colors. She laughed delightedly at the sight. It was her dream. As she glimpsed Ray's grinning face, it disappeared in a shaft of overpowering sunlight, and she knew for certain he was the man of her dreams.

  They floated side by side for long moments, not speaking, while dolphins swam around them and chattered unendingly.

  Finally, Ray spoke, “Our children will be able to do all that we can, Dolly. That is,” he added after a brief pause, “if you are willing to marry me. Can you handle being a teacher's wife?"

  "I ... I think so,” she replied. “Is this a proposal?"

  "Must be. I've already talked to your mother, since your father is no longer available, and she gave her blessing to all I've done today. I'm sorry I couldn't prepare you ahead of time, but I knew you would never accept all this by words alone, so I had to show you."

  When she caught her breath, she laughed again and said, “I guess it won't be a boring life, will it?"

  "No,” he cried, laughing. “Anytime we want, we can take my boat to new islands and coasts, wherever we would like to visit and swim with the sea creatures. You will learn to understand their languages.” He laughed again. “Later, when we have more time, we can swim to wherever we want. It will take longer, but it will be fun. Just wait until you hear how smart the octopi are and feel the softness of the manta's skin. You will thrill to ride a dolphin through the waves and chat with the whales. We can go or stay as we choose."

  She realized they had moved toward home, and she could see her chair at the edge of the water. As they turned landward, she looked at the chair with new eyes. She would never again see it as a prison because the whole world was now open to her. She felt sand beneath her and reached out to pull her chair over. Ray got there first and steadied it for her. She shook her curly red hair out of her eyes and saw her mother walking toward the beach. She laughed excitedly, eager to tell her mother everything.

  The End

  Seduction of the Siren

  by

  Cara North

  What's a mermaid to do when the object of her seduction can't hear the Siren's Song? When all else fails, transform and make him listen!

  www.sirensandmuses.com

  Special thanks to the Chesapeake Virginia Romance Writers of America Chapter, I love you guys, you are an inspiration and an absolute joy to be around.

  Other stories by Cara North at

  www.midnightshowcase.com

  Wild On Tuesdays

  Purple Monkey

  Seduction of the Siren

  by

  Cara North

  Chapter One

  "What a fine day for killing.” Morgan smiled as she swam out to her favorite spot, the remote rock she had been coming to since she was born where only a few surrounding islands were in view. As she pulled up to rest on the rock and enjoy the sun, she looked around and took in the great water.

  The sapphire blue waves turned aquamarine and lighter shades of blue in patches. In the distance, she could see a recreation vehicle that carried two men.

  She could sense them, smell their beer and hear their laughter on the air if she tuned her senses just right. She stretched her body along the rock and let her fin sway in the water. Her nipples beaded and stretched to greet the warm sun that stroked them with welcoming rays. Morgan bit her lower lip. She could easily find pleasure at this place. In the simplicity of the ocean and the sun, two worlds combined on that rock, the world below the water and the world above. Her kind had a choice, but that choice came with a price. One not many were willing to pay.

  Many mermaids had lured, loved and left their lovers at the bottom of the ocean. It was the only way to ensure safety for the mermaids and at the same time relieve the never-ending throb inside. The ache deep within that drove them to the surface to find a mate. But every time Morgan kissed a man, she thought of only one.

  The one that got away.

  From that point on, whoever was in her clutches paid for that mistake with his life.

  Her fin flipped and sprayed a bit of water over her naked upper flesh. The cool drops were a relief to her warming skin. Morgan thought about it for a w
hile. Right now, she could call to the boat and have two men please her at once. And they would, if she let them. Then she would have to kill them. However, she sniffed the air one more time, they were so drunk they were liable to drown on their own without any help from her! Yuk!

  She sighed. Today she didn't feel like luring sailors or taking lives. She simply wanted to enjoy the water, the sound of the waves and the smell of the crisp breeze. She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes.

  As the scent filled her lungs, Morgan snapped her eyes open and turned to look at the closest island. There she caught sight of the man that had wandered onto the beach. Only one family lived on that island, and they had not been there in years. Not since the accident.

  She tuned her senses to the shore again, fully absorbing the man. The tall broad body walked lazily toward the water.

  He wore only a towel wrapped around his waist. Once he got closer to the water's edge and started in, he dropped the towel. Her jaw dropped with it.

  Morgan snapped her mouth shut. She had never had such a reaction to a man. It was unheard of. She was a mermaid, for crying out loud. Men reacted to her!

  Her thoughts turned more lascivious in nature. She could call to him. Lure him to the sea. Ease her now aching body and then watch him drown. Watch him swallow all of her heartache as he sank to the bottom of the ocean. The bitterness began to rise along with that memory.

  Morgan had loved once.

  She loved a young man. A boy she had saved when she was but a child herself. It was the touching that did it. She made contact with him out of the water. For those brief moments, she felt human, whole.

  "Justin Reed,” he said and then passed out.

  Morgan swam back to get the other man that was on the boat, but it was too late, and he was too heavy. Not with all her keen senses and abilities could she have saved the older man.

  She was so young then. The boy was the first human she had ever touched. His skin was so soft and smooth. Morgan was only twelve at the time. She was just learning to control the urges and feelings that seemed to take over during that stage of a young mermaid's life.