Mermaids Blood

Chapter Three

Chapter Three
Aileen

I groaned as my head started to painfully throb. The world dangerously spun even with my eyes closed. Nausea came over me in a suffocating wave.

Oh no, I really don't feel good.

I fell in and out of consciousness, occasionally feeling a cold lick on my toes.

I was laying on something hard and uncomfortable, yet also slimy and slick. Why is it so cold? where am I? I tried to open my eyes or move, but my head hurt too much to even do so. My body was screaming with every minuscule move I made.

It went dark again.

I shivered. why am I so cold? is it raining? My body was lifted and lowered by the soft song of the sea. It reached up and whispered into my ear. It pulled away, and slowly returned with another soft song, gently caressing my hair this time. Another time and it was caressing my whole face.

The gentle touch of the sea pulled me in silently. The silence was peaceful. For a moment, all my troubles went away. The painful throbbing in my head and my weightless body being carried by the sea.

I was able to slowly open my eyes. It was all a blur, but I could see the surface of the water, dancing under the moonlight, and the light pierced through the water, illuminating the area around me.

Something stirred beside me, the water current shifting. It happened so quick that the shift in the water went almost undetected. Should I be scared? I wondered what it was. Maybe I'm just imagining things. In my vision, a beautiful mirage appeared. She was stunning. Her pure white hair surrounded her in an angelic halo. Her hair danced around her. Her eyes were narrow but was a stunning shining gold. Is this an angel? Am I...dead?

She reached out her long graceful fingers, and gently caressed my face. It was soothing to the touch. I knew I was safe. I am safe now. I can sleep knowing a beautiful angel is taking me.

With that, I slipped into a peaceful pitch black abyss.

*********************
Unknown

The water was colder than usual tonight. I swam around near the surface of the water, slowly pushing the boundaries set by my clan.

It is a known law to never go near land, for any reasons. If anyone found out I disobeyed the law, it would ensure my immediate death, but I didn't care. I loved to swim near the surface, hearing the voices of so many humans laugh, sing, scream, and cheer. Occasionally, I'll swim near the board walk, watching from below and peaking between the cracks of the floor. Sometimes I'll even swim beneath the board walk and lay on the rocks beneath to just listen.

The moon was bright tonight, it's moonlight reflecting beautifully off the surface of the water. I sat underneath the boardwalk tonight, laying on the rocks beneath and listened to the girls chatting above me. Though the voices came through the water muffled, I heard everything they were saying. I'm the distance, the muffled sounds of music traveled through the surface.

Unaware of what was happening, something suddenly thumped onto the rocks above the water. More rocks towered above me, breaking the surface of the water and sitting right near the board walk. So close you can almost touch it. I'm close yes, but the rock structure makes a long journey down and deep underneath the stretch of the boardwalk. A point in the rocks that could never break the surface.

I heard a freaked out muffled voice, but only for a second. The voice seemed to collect itself, and then it grew silent. It stayed silent for a long time. So long that the music could no longer be heard. The land itself has gone to sleep. Cautiously, I slowly swim around the rock as and make my way to the surface. I hesitantly peaked my head above the water and scanned the boardwalk.

It was dark. Not a single light was on and not a soul could be seen. Confident enough that the coast was really clear, I looked towards the sound that I heard earlier. A dark lump of shadows lay in a heap on the rocks, seeming limp and unmoving.

My heart raced. Oh my, what is that?

I flicked my tail lightly, the motion slowly pushing me forward towards the shape. As I got closer, I heard a deep moan. I stop, prepared to flee. It's a human!? Is it waking up? But what is it doing sleeping right there?

The human grew silent again.

I don't think the human is okay. Why is it sleeping right there? Does the human not realize that it's going to drown if it stays there?

Should I help it?

No. It's forbidden. With that, I sink beneath the surface again. It's not my problem, I tried to convince myself. But something inside me was telling me to help. A terrible urge that felt like it was okay to help it. Something else made me feel....weird. It somehow felt bad that I was leaving the human. What is this feeling?

No. I can't help it unless I absolutely have to. I rose above the surface again, continuing to watch the human. I stayed there, watching and analyzing for a long time. The human stayed silent and lifeless.

Hours go by. I stir around the water, keeping an eye on the human. As the water continues to rise, the human remained still.

Before I knew it, the water dragged her into the open sea, carrying her body and slowly letting her down.

I have to help it or it's going to die, or maybe it's already dead. Even when it's underwater it isn't moving.

I flicked my tail and swam towards her floating, lifeless body. As I approached her, her eyes were slightly open, but it seemed she was unaware of everything around her. Even me.

As she sank, I noticed a slight crimson trail following after her.

Blood.

she's dying.

I looked upon her face. Her eyes were fluttering, slowly coming and going as if she were in a daze.

Before I could even think again about leaving her to drown, I placed my nail against the palm of my skin. I winced at the pain as I made a small gash in my hand and placed my hand on the wound in her head.

I'm not supposed to do this, but I can't watch a human die before my eyes. Maybe if I wasn't here, maybe if I didn't witness what had happened, maybe if I hadn't watched her all these hours, I would have let her perish. But I couldn't.

Everything I'm doing for her is forbidden. We are not supposed to share the blood of a mermaid. It will taint her blood, and there will be consequences. She could die from my blood in her body, or she may be healed. Or worse, she could even become one of us. This ritual hasn't been performed in thousands of years. Ever since the trust with humans has been broken, it has never been done again. There are only two accounts of this happening, or so we are told.

My job in my clan is a healer, I thought. As if to justify my actions. though I know deep down inside, if anyone ever found out it was me who did this to her, I surely would be banned. Or maybe even killed.

That's if she survives and turns into one of us.