Authors: Kelly Coughlin
“Aw. Amy, you aren’t mad at me are you? I’m sorry.” He didn’t sound the least bit apologetic. He lifted his free hand up to playfully demolish my now damp hair.
“Me too. Sorry I don’t keep a spear gun handy with me in the bathroom.” I mumbled through clenched teeth. I felt his body tremble with a silent chuckle. I stiffened once the thought that I was only inches from his tail fully sunk in.
I stared at it, captivated by the intense urge to reach my hand out and feel the hard scales. It wasn’t until I was up close that I realized each individual scale had a harsher glint around the edge as it blurred into the next scale. The burning desire overtook me I reached out my hand to press my fingers against the harsh scales. Ty broke the spell as he grabbed my hand just centimeters from his tail.
“Don’t ever rub against the flow of my scales. Do you see the edges?” He pointed to one of the more visible scales. “It’s sharper than any razor. It would slice the skin off your hand. It’s one of our many weapons.” He added bleakly. I swallowed noisily in response.
He took my hand placing it ever so gently on his tail, allowing me to satisfy my human curiosity. Slowly I traced the path down his tail, analyzing the purity of each color as it quickly shimmered down, merging into another before my eyes. Instead of the hard metallic texture my fingers expected to feel, his scales were softer than human skin—smooth the scales were surprisingly smooth, except for the utmost edge at the end of each.
“Wow.” I managed to sputter. There was nothing else that needed to be said. Ever so slowly he moved his tail towards me, exaggerating the movements so I would not be alarmed and rub the wrong way against his razor sharp scales. Ty very carefully wound his tail around my legs, pushing his feather soft scales against my skin. I carefully pushed down the urge to kick and run away. Every human instinct inside me screamed that I should be terrified of this mythical creature, sailors didn’t tell gruesome stories about them for nothing. The logical side of me told me he could very easily kill me with no remorse whatsoever.
My heart was the stupid one. It told me that he would never hurt me. I felt safer with him than I’d felt since arriving in Vero Beach. There were so many things I wanted to learn from him, too many questions for one lifetime to answer. I thought about one that I’d wondered since I was a kid.
“Do you mind if I ask you something?” He eyed me wearily before answering.
“Sure, ask away.”
“Is all this commotion about Atlantis real, or are we just wasting our time searching for it?” He smiled wistfully at me.
“Yes, and no.” He grinned knowing what I’d say before I had to say it. His inhuman mind was so much quicker than mine, anticipating each question before my brain ever registered that I would ask it.
I heaved an annoyed sigh. “Please explain. That gets really annoying, the way you only half-answer all my questions. I’m beginning to think you enjoy my annoyance way too much, just like the rest of my family.” I could only pout for a second until his glistening eyes turned my thoughts into putty.
“A long time ago some humans were accidentally shipwrecked on an island. This was a time when creatures like myself weren’t afraid of dealing with humans. Tales of demons and angels were rampant. Some of the shipwrecked sailors accidentally overheard half Merpeople talking about a bizarre word called: Atlantis. Now, what they heard inspired them that Atlantis was a magnificent place full of the most wonderful, strange things the world had to offer. Humans took the word out of context. To humans, something wonderful must also be something attainable.” He reached up to stroke his chin thoughtfully.
“At the time sailors were looking for gold and to earn glory for their countries. They had a problem with getting new recruits to join the ships due to the increasing number of deaths that were usually implied with being a crewman. One of the original eavesdroppers eventually became a captain of his own ship. He had the brilliant idea of turning Atlantis into a place that could be found, if the crew was willing to work hard enough.” All blame fell on the crew. If a new place was discovered the crew was rewarded. If there were no discoveries it was because they weren’t dedicated enough. Any new discoveries were eventually questioned as Atlantis, and then discarded once it lost the new luster. So humans have forever been searching for something out of reach, yet just close enough to touch.”
His soft face hardened into a defiant smirk. “Brilliant, isn’t it? You humans made it so easy for Merpeople all over the world to snare humans in their traps. All one had to do was mention Atlantis and any sailor would trade his very soul to find it. That’s what many of them did. In your own thirst for glory and punishment, you convinced yourselves that not finding Atlantis was your own faults. Absolutely intriguing creatures.” He nodded in contempt.
“Okay. So does Atlantis actually mean anything? Or was it just a trap from the beginning, designed for humans to overhear, imagining what they might think so that they could get a bigger… profit for their hard work?” I asked tentatively. I could picture Merpeople swimming around, enjoying a good laugh at the stupid humans that fell for their deadly prank. Misunderstandings suddenly didn’t seem so funny anymore, everything has a price.
He smiled apologetically. “Atlantis is a word for unequivocal happiness or even love, in our language. It’s not something you can buy, or find. It is just something that exists for everyone. The Merpeople didn’t mean for humans to overhear,” he reassured me, “it’s not a concept many understand.” He took my head in his arms, pressing my head to his collarbone.
“It sounds so pretty when you put it that way.” I murmured against his inviting skin. “It can’t be bought or sold, or put on display. It exists for the benefit of everyone, while excluding no one. That sounds so nice.” It even sounds poetic when you put it that way. Not like the disgusting way that humans imagine it, attached with a price tag.
I was beginning to think I’d found my very own Atlantis right here in the dull city of Vero Beach. Even though I just met Ty days ago, I had the strangest feeling that I had known him forever. It’s like I had a cavity in my chest, one that couldn’t be filled until I saw him again. I was only whole when I was around him. When I wasn’t around him I spent the whole time worrying when I would get to see him again. I never in my life felt like this about anyone, not even remotely similar.
I was so lost in thought I didn’t notice as my fingers traced the length of Ty’s collarbone. His content sigh brought me back to reality. I didn’t know how to act for a moment; my more modest side said I should jump out of the tub immediately, embarrassed by my actions. My other side, however, was hog tying the modest side telling her she needs to get a life. I continued to trace his smooth collarbone, until I found a cut that wasn’t there on any human.
I lifted my head up to get a clear look at it. Along the length of his bone, there were two small slits on either side of his neck, maybe only two centimeters in width. I stared for a long moment trying to decide what sort of animal would cut him like that. He watched my bewildered expression for a moment before answering. “They are my gill slits.”
“Ah. That makes sense.” I instantly clenched my teeth together before I made any stupid remarks.
“Technically, I need to constantly swim around in this state,” he looked down towards his tail, still entwined around my legs. “Or I can drown. But since, I still have lungs I’ll be okay for a little while longer.” I instinctively tightened my grip around him as he mentioned dying. That wasn’t a topic I wanted to discuss with him. I never realized how delicate being a half-Merman might be. It seemed everything might kill them.
Ty and I stayed like that in my bathtub for hours. Neither of us felt the urge to speak. Ty had laid out his life for me, and I in turn had accepted it. I wanted to be there for him, to try and understand their different dietary needs. I wasn’t sure what I needed to do, but I was willing to do whatever it took. That would be enough, for now.
Finally my skin pruned into a wrinkled lump, my eyelids dropped, hazing Ty’s impeccable features. My fight with sleep was futile, it won easily. Ty sat upright, forcing me to squirm around until I was upright as well. We faced each other, knowing that all things must come to a close, and sadly this day finally had as well.
“It’s late. I shouldn’t have kept you up so long.” For the first time his glorious eyes looked away from mine in embarrassment.
“Psh. You didn’t keep me up. I kept myself up, so don’t worry yourself with it. And you said
humans
liked punishment.” I replied.
He half grinned back at me. “I am still half human don’t forget.” He took his tail, quickly unplugging the drain. I fought back the panic as I realized he was leaving.
“When will I get to see you again?” I almost wailed as the water quickly disappeared from the tub. He flashed me a reassuring smile. My breath stopped altogether as he took my head in both of his hands, making sure that his menacing nails didn’t touch my face. My heart nearly jumped up through my throat as he slowly leaned in.
“Ssshh. Soon. I will always see you soon.” Then he pressed his wet lips against my forehead. Before I had time to protest, Ty was a blur. His body transformed into the water, swirling in harmony with it down the drain. The sound of air being compressed around me returned. I turned to see Ty’s hand wave slightly before it was sucked down the drain following his body. I didn’t understand how his big body had fit down that tiny drain, but I had an inclination that there was a lot of things I would never understand since I met Ty.
After several intense minutes of studying the drain I realized that he was not coming back, at least not for the night. Slightly dejected I forced myself to get ready for bed. I couldn’t completely tear my eyes away from the tub. I found myself staring into my bathroom far longer than was necessary.
I sank into my bed exhausted after the long day. I had so many things to think about, so many questions that I still didn’t understand. But it was okay, I was getting to see him soon, that is all I cared about. Suddenly a thought that made my eye lids snap open, and my body shake with laughter. In my half-awake state it suddenly seemed much funnier than it was in actuality.
“Ha.. ha…ha. He still didn’t get his sunglasses.” Then I went to sleep, knowing that I’d get to see him at least once more before I had to leave.
I could live with that.
9.
The Date
The face staring back at me in the mirror had been plucked, patted, and spattered with makeup until it didn’t resemble mine at all. My blue eyes were rimmed in thick inky black liner hollowing out my face. My lips had been painted a sallow shade of beige to match the new yellow dress that I carefully found this morning in the mall, to appease my mother’s incessant cries that I find something “suitable” to wear, since I apparently failed in that task yesterday. Even my strawberry blond hair is swirled on top of my head so that I couldn’t twirl it in my nervous desperation at my mother’s urgings.
I wrinkled my nose in disgust. This just isn’t me at all. I moaned as I heard the sound of the doorbell ring. I knew I was supposed to wait until my mom called me so I could make my grand entrance down the staircase, but I was under too much stress to wait for her call.
I came down the stairwell with little more grace than a sloth. The too tight high heels were cutting off the circulation to my feet, causing my mouth to have a puckered look. I heard Mom’s fake, high chiming laughter waft up to the second floor. I tried to convince myself all day that this would fine, it might even be fun. I’m sure I was just taking everything too far like I usually did. I never could successfully fool myself, every passing hour brought with it a new dread as I fretted over all the horrible things this date could bring. Adam was nice, I never out right had a problem with him, it was just the circumstances were against him.
Inh
aling deeply, I shuffled my way down to the first floor, careful not to lift my foot up too high just in case it didn’t land on the tiny little point that supported all my weight. I tried desperately to smile. I don’t think I succeeded much. I couldn’t completely get rid of the pucker.
“Amy Jane, you have out done yourself, tonight.” Adam side stepped my mom to be the first to greet me at the foot of the stairs. He extended his hand towards me, the very thing I’ve been dreading. There was no hope that I could reject it in front of my parents. Mom would deem it as “inconceivably rude.” Torn between what my family wanted, and what I wanted, I grudgingly took his rough hand.
“Thanks, you look good too.” I mumbled. Good didn’t cover it, he looked fantastic. He wore a simple black polo shirt, tight over his broad chest, on top of dark denim jeans. His blond hair had been tousled into the desired effect. He was no Ty, though he wasn’t awful.
“Oh, Amy, are you already done, darling? I thought you were going to spruce up a bit more, for Adam’s sake.” The only shot my mom gave me for not waiting for her call. She wasn’t too mad though. The fact that Adam now had my right hand clasped in his nearly sent her cart wheeling.
I went rigid as I felt Steve’s cool hand drape over my shoulders. Where the heck did he come from? He quite literally seemed to have slithered out of the shadows. I need to learn that trick, it would be so effective to just disappear and reappear like he does. I was almost positive I hadn’t heard his car pull into the garage for the evening.
“Adam, how are you doing this tonight?” he asked. I was instantly curious, there seemed to be something I was missing from his tone.
“I’m doing good sir, thank you for asking. A little sore from running errands all day, but all in all, you could say I’m flying high right now.” He smiled at something I didn’t understand. Steve’s answering smile revealed a set of glistening white teeth.
“What are your plans with our little Amy Jane, tonight?” I scowled as Steve discussed me like I was a dachshund.
“I plan on taking her to this nice little Asian place I know close to downtown. I almost scoffed at the mention of vero Beach having an actual “downtown.” It was humorous to anyone coming from a big city. “Afterwards, if she wants I would like to take her to a nice little park I know, close to the ocean. So we can have a moonlight walk on the beach.” My mom’s eyes got all misty. Steve simply nodded his head in agreement. Everyone’s eyes shifted to watch my reaction.
“Yeah, that sounds really great. Thanks, Adam.” Great? It didn’t even sound remotely nice. What sounded “great” was meeting Ty on the beach, discussing the haphazard situations of humans in such close proximity to Merpeople, possibly having him reappear in my room to spend some quality time together. Not some cheesy walk on the beach with a boy my parents wanted me to like.
Steve extended his paper white hand in Adam’s direction, his dark eyes gleaming with intense energy. “Adam, take care of our little girl. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to her in your care. We are
all
counting on you.”
With his free hand, Adam embraced Steve’s hand, the same intense energy flooding his face. “Don’t worry, sir. I won’t let anything happen to her. I understand what I need to do. I’m in control.” Steve’s already translucent knuckles stretched even whiter as his hand crushed Adam’s with a brute strength I didn’t know he possessed. The intense energy that suddenly passed between Steve, Mom, and Adam was confusing. I guessed it had something to do with Steve trying to be the male figure in the household. It would have been sweet had it not been creepy.
“Okay, well I guess that’s everything.” I said. I was in a big hurry to get this over with as soon as possible; this date was as inauspicious as possible in my book. The quicker this ended the more time I might have with Ty. If he decided to show up that is. I didn’t let myself think about that though. I just hoped that he would come see me again. It was stupid to let a boy I barely know have such a hold on me, but the joyous feeling I got when I was near him was unexplainable.
“Have a good night you two. You can stay out as late as you want, dear.” Of course I could. So long as I was with Adam I had a feeling we could probably commit multiple homicides together and all she would want to know was if he kissed me before or after we killed the victims.
“Thanks. Don’t worry. I won’t be out too late. Goodnight Mom, good night Steve!” I rushed out of the door pulling along a surprised Adam. I didn’t notice the sleek, bright red car until Adam opened the door to it for me.
“Oh. Is this your car?” I asked. He shut the door roughly on my already sore foot, before I was completely in the car. I couldn’t help but scowl at him. “Sorry,” He mouthed. Then he half ran to get in on his side.
“Yeah, it’s brand new. I think my parents got it for me because of this date. Do you like it?” He cocked his eyebrow inquisitively.
“Sure. It’s nice. What kind is it?” If I had been paying any attention to the car’s emblem, instead of escaping from my house I would have been able to recognize it easily.
“It’s a Corvette. Brand new, right off the lot. I had to drive all the way up to Jupiter to get my hands on this special one though.” I nodded effectively but my attention was elsewhere. As he drove me to the Asian restaurant he described, in painstaking detail, his afternoon drive to get the car, his expectations of the car, how much it cost, to finally my reaction about seeing the car.
We pulled in to the parking lot when i finally got the nerve to ask Adam the question burning in the back of my mind. “So, what brought this on? You know, taking me out for a date.” I couldn’t take the car diatribe any longer.
He snorted. “I’m surprised that you didn’t ask why it took so long for me to ask you out. It seems so obvious that I would ask you. We both come from nice families. We expect great things from each other. I like you and you obviously have always liked me. What else do I need?” Before I could retort that he was an overly confidant jerk, he slammed the door in my face, and was heading over to get my door for me.
He opened it to reveal my face set in a scowl. “Don’t you think that last statement is just a bit smug? I mean, it is flattering that you asked me out. I just don’t think smugness is a good character trait for anyone.”
I was shocked at how easy I could say something like that to Adam. What was with me tonight? He didn’t deserve that, he was even trying to take me out on a romantic date. Maybe he just didn’t know what else to say. “Sorry,” I muttered before he could reply. “I guess I’m just worried about going on a date with someone, so soon after Greg, I mean.”
Whew. Maybe that Greg excuse would come in handy more often than I thought. Adam shrugged then nodded his head. “It’s fine. I completely understand.” Then he snatched my hand in both of his incredibly dry hands. “Tonight, I don’t want you to think about anyone but you and me. Let’s just let tonight be about us.” His dark blue eyes crinkled in a tight smile, as my breath caught in my throat, my mind blank with a response.
Obviously satisfied that he left me speechless he dragged towards the front door. The restaurant was incredibly overcrowded with people spilling out the front door onto the small wooden benches. The only hostess, a young woman of Asian ethnicity, was trying desperately to take names of new customers, while reassuring old ones that their tables would be ready soon. I felt sorry for her because she was in way over head. Generally the restaurant would barely be busy, but because it was the summer tourist season the tiny restaurant was slammed full.
I expected Adam to stop at the end of the long line of customers waiting to put their names on the list. He surprised me when he pulled me past them straight to the front ahead of all the others. I ducked my head down as the other customers stared angrily at the two of us, wedging our way ahead of them. “Adam, shouldn’t we just get in the back of the line, like all the others had to?” I asked, my face burning with shame. He turned to flash me a confidant smile.
“Don’t worry, I made reservations. Besides we don’t need to wait like any average person should.”
“He is definitely a smug jerk.” I thought bitterly. He was no better than my parents were, when it came to treating service people. Their supercilious attitudes never failed to aggravate me. I tried really hard to suppress the anger I felt rise in my chest, burning my throat with the responses I wanted to fling at him.
We approached the hostess as she yelled orders at a bus boy in her native language. Adam quickly cut in front of a man as he was finally about to reach the hostess. I covered my mouth with my hand in embarrassment. The hostess glanced quickly from Adam’s smug face to the furious looking man shouting profanities loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear.
“Sir,” she said in a heavily accented voice. “I sorry, but you have wait you turn like other customers.” I knew the fact that she didn’t speak very good English lowered her even farther in Adam’s book. I became angrier as his eyes gleamed with confidence.
“Are you sure? I was told to come straight to the hostess when I got here.” Adam’s voice was enticing as he played into the hostess’ insecurities while he stared into her eyes. He inclined his very developed body so that he gave her his full attention, something she couldn’t have helped noticing. She blushed in response. “I made reservations today with your manager. Now if you want me to go back, I don’t have a problem with that. I was just doing what I was told.” He knew he had her after that. The mention of the girl’s manager brought a frightened look into her already panicked eyes.
She looked down at a list, then back up at Adam’s radiant face before saying in a very meek voice. “Please follow me.” Adam turned to smile defiantly at me, after turning to look the other man square in the eyes, before he shoved me forward to follow the scared hostess. He pressed his scratchy hand between my shoulder blades, I cringed in response to his touch but I was too nervous to ask him not to. I didn’t realize how incredibly dry his hands were, they almost resembled scales. I may have to recommend a good lotion to him.
“Adam, you really didn’t have to do that. It would have been fine to wait a couple of extra minutes. No big deal.” I whispered, while simultaneously ducking as a waiter almost mowed me over with a stack of plates. It was a miniature obstacle course trying to get to the table.
Adam’s loud voice added to the noise of the restaurant. “No trouble at all, Amy. That other guy will just have to learn some patience, that’s all.” I wanted to smack the smug smile I knew would overpower his usually handsome features. Even though I promised myself that I would try to be nice anger kept boiling over, ruining what might have a nice date. I wasn’t sure who I was angrier at; my mom for forcing me to go on the stupid date, or myself for allowing it to happen. Finally we arrived at a tiny table in the middle of the most crowded section.
Figures.
The hostess quickly set down our menus, mumbling something about a waiter before disappearing into the chaos that encircled our small table. Adam pulled out my chair for me, once again shoving it too forcefully towards the table, this time knocking my ribs into the edge before he stopped. “I guess I just don’t know my own strength.” He mumbled, examining his muscles. I rolled my eyes in response.
The restaurant was ironically named “Peaceful Asia,” according to the menu. I think “Chaotic Asia” would be more practical given the circumstances, the whole restaurant was in turmoil. It was identical to every other Asian restaurant in America, with brightly colored pictures of birds, and jade statues of dragons in shiny glass panels closing off sections of booths from each other. The white paint had dulled to an off shade of gray, while the dark wood paneling was covered in a thick layer of dust. Customers were stuffed into every corner, barely leaving room for anyone to squirm around much less bring food to the table. It was so noisy customers had to shout to each other, over the constant wail of babies, and the curses of their neighbors.
“What do you think you are going to get?” Adam shouted at me over the newest screaming baby, adding to the chaotic symphony that surrounded us on all sides.
“Probably just sweet and sour chicken. You?” I yelled.
“Pork fried rice.” He answered back. Our waiter finally came to the table, a stout middle aged Asian man who’s prized hair had thinned considerably. He took down our full order at once, panting heavily the whole time. He repeated it back to us twice before sprinting off in the direction of the kitchen. Apparently there had been a lot of mix ups tonight. I was almost glad that small talk was near impossible at the table. There was nothing that I really wanted to say to him at the moment. At least nothing nice.