Traitor's Song

3. Connection

Henley had grown up with folklore all her life, though it wasn't folklore to her. In the world she lived in, it was her reality. When she had been five years old, her parents had taught her about the dangers of her world. They taught her about vampires, werewolves, and fairies. However, the one type of creatures that had once fascinated her the most had been merpeople.

Merpeople tied in heavily with a person's destiny. If a human laid eyes on a merperson, a connection had to be established through the merperson giving a human something of theirs. Once the connection was established, it was said that the human's life would be forever changed for the better. If you saw one, you were destined to care for them and they would bring you good fortune in return. If you laid eyes on them and didn't, they would die and misfortune would follow your family for the rest of their days.

"What's it like to love a merperson?" she remembered asking her mother, wondering in the back of her mind what it would be like if it ever happened to her.

"I don't know, sweetheart. It has to be like loving any other creature in this world. Magical but something done without heart. Only humans have hearts. No creature is capable of true love."

"So what is the point of loving a merperson if they can't love you back?"

"The point would be being blessed by good fortune and luck. One would have to be in love with that fact alone," said her mother. "It's why there are people that hunt merpeople down. In the end, all they want to do is use merpeople since love can't be part of the equation. It's why if someone sees one, they ought to protect it and make sure that the good fortune stays where it is destined to belong.  No one wants the misfortune that comes in losing their merperson to a hunter."

"It sounds almost scary to spot one."

"Well, you needn't worry about that. A merperson hasn't been spotted in thousands of years."

What her mother had said had temporarily abated her fears. She still thought about merpeople as she got older, but it faded more as time passed and gave way to more pressing matters. Like - for instance - the fact that her oldest sister Lianna got married off to the crown prince of the area or that her twin sister Ellis had run off to become part of the walking dead vampire cult. Her parents had tried to convince Ellis not to fall for a heartless vampire, but she wouldn't listen. Instead she ran off into the woods. Lianna had her husband try to search about for her, but no one ever found Ellis. Ever since that night, her parents had put Henley under a microscope. They wanted her to marry someone respectable like Lianna. They were worried about a twin effect, and that Henley too would fall off the rails.

Ellis had disappeared two years ago, but her family still wouldn't let up. Even today, her helicoptering family is what had driven her to the beach. She could care less at the moment about finding someone to be with. All she truly cared about was her photography. That is why she had chosen the beach. It had been such a gorgeous day that it was perfect picture taking weather. As she clambered about the rocky shore, she tried to tune out all her thoughts to focus on taking pictures of the beautiful sunny shore.

Then she had seen him. She had quickly ducked behind a rock after spotting him, hoping that there hadn't been a connection between them. The stories of what her mother had told her about merpeople replayed in her head, and it terrified her. Yes, she didn't want to love right now, but she wanted to eventually. She didn't want to connect herself with someone who would just provide her with good fortune.

When she heard him call out to her, she felt her heart sank. He had seen her. Now there was no going back. If she turned her back on this merman now, he would die and she would end up bringing misfortune on her family, giving them a real cause to hate her.

This was her destiny apparently. She hadn't followed in Ellis' footsteps exactly, but still had managed to in her own way.

- - -

Jimin was confused by everything, especially by this mysterious woman that was being cryptic. She obviously knew something about what was going on. What did she mean about a sign?

"I...I don't understand what is going on. What do you mean by a sign of something yet to come?"

"Stop acting clueless. Please. You've already lured me in despite..." She ran a hand anxiously through her hair. "Just...I will help you, alright?"

She looked him over again; her eyes seeming to linger on the tattered white t-shirt he had on.

"Give me your shirt if you want me to help."

"Excuse me?"

"I told you I would help you. I need something of yours to establish a connection between us. Your shirt appears to be the only thing you have on you."

Jimin still didn't understand, but didn't question it as he took off his tattered white t-shirt and handed it to her. In exchange, she sat back and untied her army green hoodie from about her waist. She handed it to him so that he could slip it on. He slipped the hoodie on, leaving it unzipped as he watched her take his t-shirt in her hand; her face seeming to pale. She balled it up and shoved it in her pocket the best she could. It dangled out behind her like a tail.

"Give me your hand," she said after as she held out her hand towards him.

Jimin looked out at the outstretched hand before him before taking hold of it. As he did, little golden sparkles seemed to fly up from between their palms. He watched in amazement as they danced up into the air around the two of them like dandelions blown in the breeze. The woman watched the sparkles too as they circled up into the air. When it was done, Jimin looked to see that his tail was gone. He was now sporting two human legs clothed in aqua green ankle pants; his feet bare.

"Now we are connected," she said to Jimin. "My name is Henley, and I promise I will take care of you from here on out."