Short Stories from Yours Truly

The Mermaid, Part I

I see them, gliding over me. A boat- full of detestable men. I can hear their raucous voices even through the swirling water. It is angry, as I am angry.

I do not sing to them. I used to. People would love me and then I would swim them down to the underground cavern where we keep the meat and sink my teeth into fresh meat. But these days, it is not easy. Filthy men, coming down to the seashore to pick apart my sisters. I hiss softly. Swimming up to the stupid little vessel they call a boat, I tip it a bit. I can hear their laughter and shouts. They don't realize that they are in danger.

I continue to rock the boat. More shouts fill the air. I hiss again. Their screams hurt my ears. I tip the boat over completely, dumping its contents into the sea.

The bodies hit the water. I catch the ankles of one and swim him down to the cave. He leaves a trail of bubbles behind him. Foolish men. He should be preserving his air.

Sure enough, by the time I have swum to the cave, he is still and lifeless. I toss him in and head back for the others.

Short work is made of the males. I don't know why their species treasures them so- perhaps the men have fed women lies about how strong they were for centuries.

I swim to the reef, to tell my sisters of our new food. "I have food," I glub, swimming up to them.

As usual, they have been blending with the rock, lying in wait for a fishing hook. For reasons I can't describe, they enjoy yanking on them and imagining the poor fisherman's shout of surprise as he pulled up nothing.

They dissolve the camoflauge when I come over. Audrey and Aubrey, their names are. 

"Food? Delightful. Fatty or lean?" They ask.

"Some fatty, some lean. Mostly fatty."

"We call the lean," They chorus, and swim to the grotto to tear into the waiting flesh. I sigh, leaving a short trail of bubbles, and swim after them.