The Illicit Liaison (On Hold)

Misleading Nightmares

A little boy stood there, head tilted and narrow eyed, looking. I could feel his eyes dissect me. They were so intense it felt as if he was burning a hole in my skull. He looks as shocked as I currently feel. I have never seen a human this close before.

Sitting on the rough rock in the dead of the night was really uncomfortable. My scales scratched and itched. It took me a lot of strength and energy in order to will the waves to get me this high up. The sacrifices I make in order to see humans.

 He was on a large boat, I think that's what it is, a strange human invention that floats on water. I heard it being called "The Tempest" from one of the mermaids in my father's kingdom. Why anyone would name an inanimate object is beyond me. But, humans are strange and dangerous creatures, as father always says.

"The Tempest" looks like a large slab of wood and metal, a human creation, right in the middle of the sea. It's painted an incredibly clean white color and is as enormous as a small mountain. Strangely, it has some water inside, or was it on top, of it, where humans bathe in one or two-piece costumes of some sort.

So unnatural it looked in the middle of this large expanse of water. I could never understand humans' need to conquer nature and it's elements. They fought what they couldn't make kneel before them.

Instead of pleasuring themselves in the setting around them, sparkling diamond waters, beautiful scenery, a light breeze tickling their shoulder, they ran from it and retreated into their titanic luxury.

 I was so caught up in the miniscule details of the contraption that I forgot my predicament.  

In truth, I shouldn't be here. It's forbidden for any mers to be this close to humans, with the exception of the feeding ritual. Especially in the darkness and some leagues away from the kingdom.

He was still staring at me, at my eyes. I picked at the scales on my tail. Please look away. I willed him to turn his head. How could he see me. Humans weren't supposed to be able to see that well at night.

But alas, he couldn't look away and neither could I.

As he looked into my iridescent eyes and I into his precious beryl orbs a scream was heard from another part of the boat. Another human.

 She didn't see me, all she saw was a blur of multi-colored luminous tail, the tail only belonging to royals. Wrapping my arms around myself for protection I knew, the damage was done.

After that I heard more screams in some form of human vernacular. I couldn't decipher anything they were saying.

 I dunked my head into the water to muffle the sounds and to disappear from the cacophony above the waters. Breathing rapidly I assessed my situation.

With one powerful swing of my tail I would be out of reach. As I was about to leave I looked back at the discord I had left behind.

Small boxes were taken out, more human technology, and were put to use. Light was coming out of them in fast bursts.

 Before this strange invention could harm me I swiped my arm toward them, letting out a trickle of power that immediately drained me, which made a large wave that soaked the tourists. Their technology, I hope, was now rendered useless.

Not waiting to find out what would happen next I gave a powerful kick and I was out of sight, out of trouble.

The last thing I saw were the boy's invigoratingly piercing eyes. They were pleading, filled with guilt, confusion, and loneliness.

I woke up, hands shaking and body trembling. This was the same terror I've been dreaming for months. I wonder why this memory resurfaced. I broke out in a cold sweat.