Fishtail

4.Will

The dark would have been impossible for any human eyes, but Maria slipped through the water knowing exactly where she was going. Her hearing was impeccable, and she could even now smell the man who lay on the beach above.

He smelled very good.

She steeled herself, she would have to be quick- just a glance above water -nothing too tempting. She could hear his heart beating as it thrummed through the pebbled beach, making Maria's own heart beat quicker in response.

Maria began rising through the water, up toward the slightly lighter shade of blue. Her head broke the surface, and she froze. They where not alone. Why had she not smelled it before? She scanned the beach and her heart thudded to a stop as she saw the man laying curled up on the beach. He looked pale and worn but he was still alive, and she rejoiced at that. Then a black figure stepped from the trees, and Maria screamed.

She launched herself from the water, a tidal wave following her, the water guiding her up the beach.

The something that was all covered up in black cloth stepped back in surprise, made a horse cackling sound, and just when Maria had almost reached it, it turned and vanished back into the misty forest.

Now Maria lay helpless as the water receded all around her, flowing back to its source. She tried desperately to catch some in her palms, and then tried to raise herself on her forearms but fell back wearily. She had used all her Strenth to summon the wave, to cast herself at the monster to make it leave, and she had nothing left.

farther down the beach, the man looked around, astonished. He was dripping wet again, and as his eyes found Maria's for a second time he began crawling towards her.

At his approach she curled into a ball, afraid of some harsh words or hard hands.

"Are you alright?" At his voice, she moved her arms so she could look at him. His voice, how she wished he would use it again. He licked his lips, looked around nervously, and tried again.

"Do you need help?" Her eyes closed just from the pleasure of his tone. He could never use a harsh word, never.

She jolted as she felt something warm touch her tail, and he jumped back in surprise as well, his hand raised. He had touched her. And.. it had felt so good. Warmth, real true warmth she had never felt, being a cold blooded creature.

"I'm sorry." Don't be, it was nicer than you know.

"Your skin-scales-are getting dry. Is that ok?" No, but if you keep talking things will be just fine.

He looked at her with wide, sad eyes and whispered "please?" She sighed, how could she resist that? He wanted to help her, and how could she take that away from him? No, she reminded herself, he would feel bad if she died. Nothing more.  She must remember where she stood, figuratively. He was a human and she was a dangerous beast, who, at the moment was completely helpless. He would do better to let her die, ending another one of her race, and as long as he was here, at least her death would be pleasant. She had swayed before, but she was iron willed again and she clamped her mouth shut.

He sighed then and sat down next to her, only 3 feet away. She could smell him 10 times more than when she had been underwater, and her mouth watered.

But a burning sensation was staring to work its way up her throat, a very unpleasant burning.

He looked out toward the sea, his blue eyes sparkling. She could look at him forever. "When I was a boy I would dream of sailing the sea, being a royal ship's captain and seeing everything there was to see." How interesting, he was telling his story. She wondered vaguely if this would have anything to do with how those men tried to drown him, but she honestly wasn't as interested in his story as much as hearing his voice.

"My dad would take me to see the ships when they came into port, and when I was older every other day I would go help load up the ships cargo. One day there was the beautiful ship: she was the H.M.S Queen Maria M, and she was gorgeous." Maria jumped to hear her own name, but he didn't notice. "You know what I did?" He looked at her from the corner of his eye, a mischievous smile filling his face. "I snuck on board and when we cast off, I pretended to be one of the crew. You see I came from a poor family, and they would never have let me join a Royal ship freely." The flames intensified, burning up her esophagus and out to her chest gills. She gasped, and the sensation heightened.

The human next to her become alarmed, and deciding he had no other choice, scooped her up and began stumbling down the beach. Maria struggled, flopping her tail and generally giving him a hard time. She would not be saved easily.

Finally he made it to the water and collapsed on his knees, letting her slip from his arms into the cold sea.

As soon as she touched the water she felt alive again, and very mad. If she wanted to die why couldn't he let her? It would be one less monster for the world.

She splashed water at him angrily, and then dived down again, ready to leave.

"Wait!" Oh, why couldn't she just ignore him?

Maria floated with her head just out of the water, watching him intently. She stayed farther away from him now, but her heart still exalted the at the sight of him.

He took a shaky breath, and said "you saved me, and now I've saved you. We're even now, thank you."

Tears welled in her eyes and she shook her head. No one had ever said anything so kind, or sincere to her. But it wasn't true: she had saved him twice, not that it much mattered to her, she would save his life a thousand times if he needed it, no repayment needed.

"What is your name?"

"Maria." Just that, that was all, and he smiled as if all the whole world was suddenly wonderful.

"Maria. My name is Will Fernsby. It was nice meeting you."

Maria couldn't stand it anymore, if she stayed any longer she was going to do something she would later regret. With a last glance at the man she new now to be named Will, she disappeared again.

***

Will sat staring at the place she had disappeared. He couldn't believe it. Maria, how funny it had been a Maria that had gotten him into this mess. Maria. But now his stomach growled, how long had it been since he'd last eaten? His brow furrowed as he tried or remember. And then he remembered the adventures following his stow away, and the nasty men who... the bag. He struggled to his feet and found his way back to the bag. Picking it up Will reached inside it, inspected it, and shook it upside down. A small bundle fell out and he grinned. So all was not lost. He raised his face to the sky and thanked the Sea gods for his luck, for the Mermaid who had saved him, and that the package had not been lost.