Above the Waves

Chapter 2: Footprints on Forbidden Beaches

[Word Count: 1245]

Dragging myself out of the sea and onto the beach was always a hassle. We'd never been taught the tricks of hauling our heavy tails onto sandy beaches in school, because most mermaids preferred the sea, naturally. But not me, I was different, I don't know why but I was.

Once I'm in the dry sand, I raise my palms over my tail and begin a simple transformation spell that my mother taught me when I was young. I remember telling her about my curiosity for The Winter Island and we explored the island together in the dying winter light. Since then, I've spent most my time on either the Summer Island or the Winter Island.

My webbed fingers become thin and boney and the light scales that spotted my arms dissolve. The gills that line my neck close up and disappear. Brown, wet, wavy hair becomes perfectly straight and dry.

Finally, my tail turns from my original dark blue to a fiery red, then to the pale pink, peachy color of my upper body. My fins shrivel into feet and my legs break apart. The round clam shells, that my mother had always made me wear over my chest, are replaced by a long, smooth dress, the same deep blue color as my tail.

The spell only took a few seconds, I'd mastered it by visiting the two islands so many times. However the spell wore off whenever I touched water, making it easy to dive back into the ocean after I'd finished my business on land.

(A/N I don't mean to copy the whole H2O and Mako Mermaids thing where their legs disappear 10 seconds after they touch water, but it throw a nice twist on the whole perfect mermaid lifestyle.)

I stand up and look around. The human's island was so much more beautiful up close, I could see the city lights dancing on my ocean home and feel the wind in my hair. The sand bank went on for as far as I could see but was only short in width. It was always so weird to be on land and look out to see, instead of the other way around.

I begin to walk towards a nearby road, amazed by this wonderful world that the humans lived in, how much they took all this for granted. I could see trees and flowers and a tall building on the other side of the road. I walk towards it, wondering what could be inside.

"And what might a lovely lady, like yourself, be doing so far from home at this hour?" a voice called from behind me.

I turn around, startled. An elderly man with a long white beard and a pointed hat had crept up behind me and stood several feet away. So far from home? Did he know where I was from? I mustn't tell him anything. Though I have not been too keen on the mermaid laws lately, I know that I must follow this rule.

I've seen what humans do to the fish. They trick them into swallowing a hook with bait, I don't understand this tradition, perhaps humans enjoyed watching others suffer. I didn't want to be given a hook in my food. Mother would never forgive me if I spent my dying minutes alone, on the human's island.

"I wanted to look at the stars," I reply to the man, I'd never spoken to a human before.

I look up to the sky and I'm surprised by what I see. There's no stars. Where had they gone? You could see so many from the dark oceans and I could name most of them too. Did the stars not like the human world? We're stars just a mermaid thing? Had I already said too much?

"Not too many stars in the city, darling. Too much light, but you knew that already, didn't you?"
"Ah- yeah, of course," I let out a nervous laugh.
"You're not from here, are you, sweetie?" he says, cheekily.
"Yes I am! Why would you think that?"
"You're a mermaid, darling. You really should be more careful with who you trust."

How did he know what I was? I hid behind the rocks when I came out of the water, there's no way he could know. I don't think I said anything that would've given my fishy secret away. Who I trust? One thing was for sure, I did not trust this old man one bit.

"How'd you know?" I shout.
"Ah, so you're admitting it?" he smirks.
"No, I just-" I sigh, I couldn't deny it. "What did I do wrong?"
"I see things that nobody else sees," he does a jig as if he'd practiced his little song.
"So you're a wizard?" I ask.
He smiles, "You could call me that."
"I didn't think the human world had any magic," I say.
"Magic is rare, but if you look closely, it's there." He smiles, "It always has been and it always will be, but only those who choose to believe will ever find it."

I smile at the wizard, perhaps he could be trusted after all. I knew very little of the human world, perhaps he could teach me about them and their strange traditions like putting hooks in someone's food.

"How very rude of me, I haven't even introduced myself," the wizard said. "They call me The Great Sorcerer, but I prefer Lincoln," he bows.
"Well Lincoln, it's nice to meet you. My name is June, daughter of Oceania and Alexander, of the South Pacific Pod," I pinch the corners of my blue dress and hold them out, bending my knees. I wasn't sure what this meant but I knew the humans did it to be polite.
"The South Pacific Pod?" he mumbles, lost in thought.
"Is there a problem?" I wonder.
"I'm terribly sorry to end our wondrous friendship here, June, but I simply cannot be speaking to anyone from the South Pacific Pod. You seem like a very lovely girl but I'm going to have to say goodbye."

He turned his back and begins walking down the beach as if nothing had happened. I was confused as to why it mattered where I'd come from, I wasn't alike anyone in my pod anyway. All they cared about was frolicking with dolphins all day.

"Please, sir, come back," I attempted to run after the wizard but using my feet was never one of my strong points.
"Best be off, June. The sun shall rise soon," he called back, pointing at the dying moon.

With that the wizard turned into a glowing silhouette of lilac smoke and then he vanished, leaving nothing more than footprints. I sighed, he was right, the sun would be up soon and it was a fairly long journey. Mother would stress if I didn't join the pod to watch the sun rise.

I dove back into the icy waters below the almost-full moon, splashing my tail as fast as I could back toward the Summer Island, a race against the sun. I'd be in such a mess if anyone noticed I had gone to the human's island.

What do you think of this story so far? Feedback means a lot so if you could maybe leave a comment or a vote, that'd be very nice of you. I hope you're enjoying the story. Otherwise, have a great day.
-Myah xox