Strangers of Sea & Land

Chapter 12

Warning: A lot of gore!

I jumped out of bed, throwing the sheets off me. A loud thump sounded from my father's office, along with several bangs and crashes as multiple items fell.

The air was thin, the sickly scent of Mother's magic permeated the apartment. It was dead silent save for the breaking of the waves outside.

Taking large steps neared the room quickly. Creaking open the door carefully, I tensed, preparing myself for what was behind it.

Every hair on my body stood up as I reeled at the sight of his corpse. The figure sprawled across the floor looked neither human or mer-like.

I jerked back with a yelp, catching myself on the corner of my father's desk. I stared on at  the mangled body with disgust.

I walked over and smirked, Mother must've gotten to him.

I had seen her work before, the burnt holes of his temples were an obvious sign. I prodded his head with my foot, watching as blood dripped slowly down the side of his face.

His face. It was distorted, stretched, his skin stuck to his skull. Looking almost as if shrink wrapped, there were large patches of loose scales. Flaps of his scalp hung loosely, venomous spikes jutting out. Resembling those of a lion fish. 

His limbs were contorted and unnaturally bent.  Joints stuck out of place, large and knobby. Fins seemed to rip through pale blue flesh. His clothing was tattered, especially along his back where his spine seemed to have regained a dorsal fin.

As I examined the body more closely, I grimaced. It was disgusting.

Shaking my head, I took a deep breath, which I very quickly regretted.

The stench was overwhelming. Feeling the bile push at my throat, I stumbled back into the kitchen and searched for bags.

I needed to get rid of the body, at least take it to the beach. Merfolk tradition dictates that the body must be cremated and buried in deep sea lava beds. Since they live much longer than any mortal, a burial happens rarely.

Digging through the cabinets, I found large plastic bags. Much like the ones I see floating around, carrying human trash. It'll suit him perfectly.

~The Beach~

These tear proof bags are really tougher than I thought.

I looked back at the lumpy trash bag I was dragging. It reeked of rotten carrion, flies buzzed around it. I felt bile push against the back of my throat.

The large load dig into the sand, leaving a trail that I would have cover up. I pushed that thought aside as I began to think up a plan to hide my father's death.

It didn't need to be detailed, there's no one else but me to testify. All our other "relatives" were out at sea, quite literally.

Hours seemed to pass as I disposed of his corpse. I felt a burning sensation on my forearm. A light glow came from my markings, a little crescent had appeared. It's soft white light faded into a neat little crescent moon.

I made progress tonight, doing what I'm not sure. A lot happened but one things for sure, I'm catching up to where my father had left off.