Page 15 of The Noble's Merman

“Merfolk? Well, honestly, I’m not sure. I’ve thought the idea about them existing to be fascinating, if it were to be true… Wait, Kent, don’t tell me. Are you saying that…?”

Kent nodded, glad she was picking it up. “I met one of them on the beach. A real, live merman.”

“You’re joking!” Her mouth hung open, and she leant forward in her chair.

“I am not!” Kent pouted. “Why would I lie about this?”

“To hide the fact you are having an affair?”

Kent’s face burned yet again at the accusation. “I’m being honest, Kathy. You know me better than that; there is no woman. I’ve met a merman.”

Katherine lifted her hand, fanning her face, appearing to finally come to terms with Kent’s words. “My apologies. I shouldn’t be so brash; yes, this is serious. Really? A merman?”

He smiled, heart swelling from just thinking of the wonderful merman. “Yes. His name is Mo. And he’s the most amazing creature I’ve ever seen in my life.”

“My… my goodness, Kent. That really is wonderful.” She placed her hand on her bosom, relaxing back in her chair. “Your secret is safe with me. I can’t believe it. He really talked to you?”

“Yes, he can speak English. He’s a delight to converse with. He even let me touch his tail!”

“How astounding!” She sagged her shoulders, a sweet look in her brown eyes. “Are you planning to meet him again?”

“Yes, hopefully soon. I’ve met him only a couple times these past few evenings, but I can already tell we’re to become fast friends. I wanted to meet him again tonight but…” he trailed off, “With how Father acted, I don’t know if it’s safe. I don’t wish to keep making him suspicious and possibly endanger Mo. I think I shall wait until tomorrow evening to go out, instead. Mo said he’d wait for me…”

Katherine set her hand back down in her lap, giving her brother a reassuring nod. “Yes, I think that would be best, to stay in for the night. If your merman does like you said, he’ll wait for you, then it shall be fine. And I’ll also do my best to keep your cover, too, as much as I can.”

“Really? Thank you, thank you Kathy.”

Katherine’s eyes shimmered with a smile. “Truly, I think this situation you have is so marvelous. I only wish the best for you and your merman. It’s… oh my, it’s all so thrilling. Is there any way I could meet him?”

Kent hadn’t thought about that, yet. “Hmm, perhaps. Though, not yet, if that’s all right. I don’t wish to impose any other people on him right away. I want to get to know him better myself, first.”

“That seems reasonable.” She sighs with a dreamy air. “I suppose I’ll just have to wait. Do let me know how your meetings go.”

Kent chuckled. “Of course.” And then, he remembered something about the merman that made his heartbeat quicken. Mo said he doesn’t have a family to tend to. That means he… he wouldn’t have a beloved, would he? I forgot to ask. But not only that, he… he told me how he thought my voice was beautiful. He held my hand before we parted. Does that mean, perhaps he…? Kent shook his head, giving his sister a smile.

Mo did as he said he would, and waited by the same boulder like yesterday. While Kent said there might be a chance he couldn’t come out and he’d have to wait until the next day, Mo stuck by his word that he would be here every day in case of his return. He wouldn’t want to miss Kent’s presence for the world, even if that meant wasting his time here sitting around.

Well, he didn’t really consider it time wasted, because if Kent did show up, every minute sitting here would be worth it. What better thing did he have to do, anyway?

Mo didn’t have a job, an established business, or any sort of work he did for other merfolk. He was a scavenger who found and sold human items. He was lucky enough to be able to live as free and easy as he did because of his gift of the Siren’s Song.

There was a rumble in his chest, a ball thorns and thistles spinning around his insides, twisting and turning, catching his lungs on their spikes. It kept tugging, pulling at him as it rose. He knew this feeling well. The magic of the Song was planting its seed, merely by the thought of it. It would not let up until he released the tension, giving into its call.

But what if he tried to resist?

Mo could see a ship off in the distance, floating away on the water painted orange by the enchanting sunset. He wouldn’t go after that one specifically, no—he went after pirate ships, after all. The riling tension kept festering in his core, poking around his sternum, creeping up his throat. Energy was swelling, down his hands, through his fingertips.

—Take your leave and go out further. Hunt. You know you love the thrill of it. Find something, somewhere?—

Was Kent even coming tonight? As the sun continued to set, disappearing behind the red horizon, it looked less likely that he would. Something probably came up, and he wasn’t going to make it out.

Then perhaps Mo was wasting his time, sitting around doing nothing. His Song certainly thought so. Visions of crimson flooded his mind. The sight he longed to see. The beautiful blood in the water?—

No.

Mo shook his head, and splashed his face. He didn’t need to go. He had enough coin from last time he sold human goods to live comfortably for at least a few months. He wasn’t that desperate, was he? Was it simply just the force of his magic? This time, he would try to resist. If the Song was a part of him, then it, too, should bend to his will.

He waited until the sky was dark blue, twinkling the nighttime above with a sea of stars. Each moment, each sliver of time that passed twisted his gut—that thorny ball crushing his insides even more. He felt so nauseous that he nearly vomited. No, he would resist. He vowed he would wait for Kent—even if he weren’t to come—and nothing would stop him. Not even his Song.

---