Page 30 of Blood of the Sirens
It made me sick.
I imagined Aris or Barrett finding a siren born. I had a sinking feeling that they wouldn’t simply let her walk her away. They would pursue her and not give up until their task was complete.
My stomach turned and twisted uneasily. Was that how I had been conceived? Had my father forced himself on a siren born female?
This was wrong. It was all wrong.
I resolved to monitor the hunters after I spent time withJesse. I had to make sure they behaved and didn’t hurt anyone. Unless that was the unspoken point? We’d been taught at guppies that finding a siren born was the ultimate blessing and to pursue at all costs.
At all costs.
My stomach rolled. Was my nausea from the erratic movements of the large machine or the realization that my culture was built on pain and violence? My need to monitor the other males warred with the overwhelming desire to keep Jesse safe and away from them all.
I closed my eyes and breathed. I would be on Jesse’s boat tonight. It was highly unlikely the hunters would go anywhere near us. I would take her home afterwards and ensure her safety. And perhaps a kiss or two, if she was willing.
Then I would go find the other mers and ensure they didn’t hurt anyone.
I gripped the sides of my seat, my course set.
EIGHT
Merrick
As I exited the bus,I glanced back at the other siren born. Her eyes narrowed in disdain, and she flipped the traditional human goodbye gesture at me with her middle finger. I smiled and repeated it. She scowled, but the other males with her snorted with laughter. I stared at her yellow top, brighter than even the yellow tang fish in the sea. I’d never figured out how to harvest a fish color without hurting it, so I let it go.
At least the men near her no longer looked like they wanted to fight me, so I considered that a victory.
Once I was off the bus, it was apparent we weren’t in the same city as the other night. This area was populated, but not as densely. I could just barely pick up Jesse’s scent, however, so I followed it. It trailed down the road and ducked off at a fork, winding up a small hill and leading to a large building.
I saw other humans walking inside, so I figured it was safe ifI did so as well. Large glass doors greeted me, as well as a smiling female. It was very clean here, and smelled like the ocean, but wrong, somehow.
I gave her the human gesture the others all seemed to favor, raising the middle finger of my hand toward her in a salute.
Her smile froze, and her face twisted into anger. My smile disappeared.
“Is that not a gesture of welcome?” I clarified, unsure. I had to pass her to find my Jesse.
She blinked, the anger draining away from her face. “You don’t sound like you’re from around here.”
I was pleased she understood this. “This is my first time,” I confirmed.
The female sighed. “Right, well, just go on then. Happy to share our aquarium with folks from other countries. And don’t give that gesture to anyone unless you don’t like them.”
I frowned, reanalyzing all my interactions with humans where I used that gesture. I shook my head, deciding it didn’t matter. The only part that mattered was how she stood aside to let me pass. I smiled and walked on through.
This place was strange and exhilarating; the large structures that held water and fish both terrified and fascinated me. It smelled almostlike the ocean, but … off. A lingering scent of sickness and decay lightly lay over most of the tanks, but the fish and other creatures seemed well cared for. I was astounded by the large sheets of clear glass. How was it made? How did they keep it so clean? I understood the practicality of being able to see the creature within, but it seemed odd to pen up animals just to be able to look at them. Unless the animals were sick and being treated until they could be released back to the ocean? Yes! That had to be it. And Jesse helped with this!
My pride for her swelled further in my chest.
I ignored the sickness and odd, manufactured scents andfocused on the salty spice of my siren. I found my Jesse easily enough, feeding a sleepy old manatee. It was understandable why this animal was here; it was missing one flipper. It would die instantly out in the ocean. I placed a hand on the side of the tank, fascinated by how sturdy the glass was to hold back so much water! The smooth surface was cool beneath my hand.
How did they get it to bend like that? If I learned how to bend glass, oh the things I could make!
“Merrick! Oh my god, you scared me! What are you doing here?” Jesse’s voice sounded alarmed, but I could see the delight that stretched her features.
“I wanted to find you, so I did,” I responded. I didn’t know if it was normal or not for humans to scent each other, so I simply let her think what she wanted about how I found her.
“That’s sweet, I think?” She laughed, getting down from the ladder with the giant pool of water. Behind her, the fish swam to the surface, happily grabbing the food that floated before darting back down to the depths for safety. The manatee floated away, bored now that its meal was over.
