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Prologue

On a stormy night, a figure darted through the water, holding a small pearl in her hand. A blinding light was hot on her tail as she darted through the rocks and seaweed. She kept swimming for many months, until she lost strength. Struggling to get her pearl to safety, the weary figure kept swimming, lost, cold, hungry, and fearful for her child.

One long summer night, a lone fisherman was in his boat in the middle of the Atlantic. His trip was fruitless, but the old man was hopeful. Waiting for a catch, he fell asleep. Many hours passed, until the old fisher awoke to the sound of tapping on the sides of his boat. The old man looked over his boat to see a maiden, with beautiful chestnut brown hair and sparkling eyes that looked as if they were forged from lapis. Her body was bone-thin, and her face was ghostly pale. The old man offered her his wrinkly, yet strong and soft hand. The woman hesitated, sticking a silver tail fin out of the water. The old man stopped, staring at the creature in front of him. This maiden was a mermaid. The old man's features creased into a smile. "Of my years on the sea, I've never seen a finer beauty."

The mermaid blushed, then made some clicking sounds.

The old man offered her his hand again. "Allow me to help you. I promise on my last breath I won't let anything hurt you."

The mermaid looked fearfully behind her, still clutching the pearl, then allowed the fisher to hoist her up into his boat. The old man smiled at the mermaid, wrapping her once beautiful body in the softest blanket he had with him. The mermaid cuddled into the blanket. The fisher looked at her. "Would you like to come home with me? I'd love some company, and I can get you back to health."

The mermaid made more dolphin-like clicks and whistles, but nodded.

The old man smiled, then steered his boat towards land.

The old man kept his word to the mermaid, nursing her back to health.

Yet one day, the old man came home, excited to see the mermaid again. Sadly, when he walked into where she was kept, the mermaid was gone. The only remainder of her was a note by the bathtub the old man kept her in. The old man looked at the note.

"Dear Human,

I know you meant well. I know you wanted to help me, and i could not be more grateful for your kindness. So before you grieve over my disappearance, I shall tell you the truth about me.

My name is Azure, and I'm a mermaid. My people were wiped out by disease back in my home waters off the coast of Ireland. I was so weak and frail when you found me because I'd been fleeing for months. Sadly, I am the last living mermaid at the time I've written this. We will meet again someday, but I am sorry I left without a warning. I've left you with a small gift, as my debt to you paid..."

The man looked at the final line of the letter.

"Please take care of my child."

The man the heard a small squeak. He looked to the bathtub, seeing the small head of a boy poking over the wall. The man studied the boy. He had the same chestnut brown hair as his mother and the same blue eyes. A shell necklace hung around his neck, the biggest shell in the center of the string that kept the necklace around the baby boy's neck was silver, like the scales of Azure's tail. The baby boy looked at the old man. The old fisher walked over to the baby and picked him up in his arms. The boy's tail was emerald green and shimmered in the dim light. The baby merman nuzzled into the old fisher's jacket, seeming to already know he was safe. The old man felt a calming peace he hadn't felt in a while, and since then, he vowed to protect Azure's child from whatever came to harm him.

The old fisher retired to focus his time onto the merman child, who he named Jack. Despite his lack of legs, the boy was very mobile, and loved nothing more than to roam through the old man's small home. Jack didn't learn to speak, but could read and write English. That's how Jack communicated to the old man, whom the merchild eventually started calling "Papa". Jack grew to be very energetic, happy-go-lucky, and kind-hearted. The old man could not be any prouder of himself, for raising a son, and saving a life.

And life was good...

Almost...

~~~~~5 years later~~~~~

Jack slithered out of tub where he slept in the old man's home. Papa had told him he has a surprise for him. He made a few quiet, yet excited clicks, careful not to wake his caretaker. He slithered into his room, then hoisted himself onto Papa's bed. He sat atop the old fisher's stomach, clicking and squeaking. Papa sleepily opened his eyes and smiled at Jack. "Hello, Jackaboy!"

Jack's only response was a click.

Papa sat upright, cuddling Jack's slick and moist body. He stared lovingly at his adopted child, even if they weren't the same species. He got out of bed, still holding the 5 year old Jack. He set Jack down, then looked at him. "Today Jack, I have some sad news."

Jack tilted his head. He couldn't speak, but he could understand human speech.

Papa sighed. "I have to go on a trip to visit a friend, and as much as I would like you to, for your own safety, you cannot come with me."

Jack made nervous squeaks.

Papa hugged his merchild close. "Fear not, Jack. Remember the mermaid story I would always tell you..."

Jack's eyes lit up with wonder at the thought of his favorite story.

Papa smiled. "Would you like to hear it before I leave?"

Jack nodded frantically.

Papa smiled and began the story, his gentle and caring voice making it seem they were living the tale. After fifteen minutes of story telling, Papa concluded the tale.

The old man smiled. "Moral of the story, there's always a rainbow after a thunderstorm."

Jack smiled, making a sound that resembled a house cat's purr.

Papa smiled, carrying Jack back into his bathtub. "Please stay in the house. I must prepare my things."

Jack hugged Papa. The old fisher hugged him back. "And know that I love you, and will until the end of time..."

Jack and Papa released each other. The merchild sunk back below the waters of the tub and fell back asleep. Papa walked into his room, picked up a pencil, and his journal he used to record his journeys. He ripped a sheet from the booklet and wrote down a rather long work. He folded it, and gently slid it into an envelope. He gathered his gear, taking a final look at the sleeping Jack, then leaving the abode he used to give home to a soul in need.

And little would he know, the house would do it all over again...