A Merman's Tale

Margaret: Chapter Five

     He’s naked. From head to toe, he’s naked. I stood there looking at his glorious body, my feet frozen for about five seconds until he gave a bark of laughter.

     “I assume you’ve never been in the presence of a naked man before?” he said with a huge grin.

     And that’s the time I shrieked in horror—or veiled delight, it doesn’t matter. I hurriedly closed my eyes and covered them with my hands then immediately turned my back on the merman-turned-human. He gave another hoot of laughter.

     “That’s kind of pointless now since you’ve seen all of me already,” he chided in a seductive voice. “Don’t you think it’s only fair that I demand for the same kind of view?” he ended, his voice husky.

     He couldn’t see it but I know that he knows that my eyes widened at his statement. The nerve! The only reason I stared at him was that he never warned me about the possibility of seeing him naked. It’s only natural to be surprised, right? And now he’s suggesting that I—well, that I remove my clothes too. Who does he think he is?

     I lifted my chin and raised a brow even if he couldn’t see it. “Sure, you can have the same view,” I whispered loudly in an attempt to sound seductive, “but only after I remove this necklace and forget about helping you and the rest of your species,” I ended, my voice turning smug.

     “What? Are—” he wheezed. I heard him take another breath of air. He sounded like he choked on something.

     “Well?” I asked, slowly lifting the necklace.

     “No! Okay, okay. I’m sorry. That was low of me. Just don’t remove that necklace. Please,” he begged. I heard the remorse in his voice and for now, I think I’ve proven that I hold the upper hand.

     I sighed. Before I could forget about the situation however, I went on to ask him, “So. You can’t expect me to allow you to walk around town naked. And I’m definitely not using my money on you—unless you have a way to repay me?”

     “You can ask the Key for clothes,” came his answer.

     “The Key?” I raised the pendant. “You mean this?”

     “Is there any other Key I kept talking about?” he said pointedly.

     “Fine. But didn’t you say the Key can’t give wealth? It also means material things, right?” This person’s life is making me more and more baffled.

     “You can ask the Key for material things should we need it. They all disappear when I go back to Aquania, however.”

     “Aaah. I see,” I exclaimed. Now that made things clearer. So I can’t ask for something that I wouldn’t want to disappear after 29 days. Mostly, what I can wish are just things that he would need. Psh. Wearing this Key is just an excuse for him to have some sort of a secretary while he’s on land. “Is there some form of chant or something when I do the wish?”

     “None. You just have to think about it. No need to talk.”

     Okay. I inhaled then I began my wish: I ask for Seirra to have clothes. ‘Cause I really don’t want to walk around town with a naked man beside me. For a moment, nothing happened. And then the crystal suddenly burst with green light which disappeared after three seconds.  

     “Well? Are you clothed now?” I demanded impatiently.

     “Yes.”

     I slowly turned my body in his direction. My eyes remained closed for a few moments then I slowly opened them.