FAIRYTALES FOR A HUMAN (Lesbian)

Part 13 MERMAID

I was late; Marina had already left her apartment. I was knocking for several minutes when saw an irritated face of her obviously housewife neighbour.

She was not in, for I couldn't hear her in the rooms inside. Mermaids' sense of smell is not, of course, as good as dryads' or shifters', but I can hear quite well to understand that she was not hiding or ignoring me behind the closed door.

The coffeehouse is crowded. Luckily, it's not my shift; I sit in the farthest and the dimmest corner and take a plastic cup of tea to pretend that I'm drinking it.

I decided to find any other equivalent of a searching potion in the staff room; siblings keep them behind some simple runes. No way I will return to my roommates now; I am full with their more or less erotic moments for this week (l know them all too well to expect no changes in their habits).

"Where can she be? With her human male? Friends? Parents? Studying?" I'm chewing my lip, feeling shame, "I should have asked her about such simple things; listen to the story of her life... If I told her more about me, she would not be so scared. And my great idea was to fill her with a love potion!

Nevertheless, the reaction could be worse: once I told one man about my nature of a creature, thinking he was my true friend and lover. But he grabbed my hand and forced me to visit the village priest. It was an awkward situation... for him, for I slapped him hard in the face and had to hastily leave the place. I loved it so much: I had a pretty two-roomed house there, a kitchen garden, a goat and five hens. I rented out a room, cooked for my guests, sold them and some neighbors milk, eggs, home preservatives, and simple vegetables that didn't need any special treatment. That was the place I loved the most. Sometimes I think about it with nostalgia, but the life of a mermaid is to burn all bridges when the moment comes. And it was just one confession of my real self, but the result was depressing; that's why I prefer to share my off the water life with witches or witchers.

"Doris!"

"What are you doing here?" I can't believe I see Juni among humans like in a bad dream scenario. And she is not alone but with Marina's best friend. The dryad didn't even apply any elementary magic to hide her ears.

"It's so good we find you here. We need to talk to you," she seems unusually meek and weak being in a crowd of humans.

"If you come to talk about Marina, you'll be disappointed, for I'm not in a mood to talk about her," I'm trying to sprinkle my voice with cocky indifference.

I'm so mad at myself and Juni. It was impossible to invite her to my place outside the pond or sanctuary. She perfectly knows I'm upside down, though she has just come not alone or with a random human, but with a person who might be standing between me and Marina. Traitor!

Juni, seeing my face, is changing glances with a young man; he and the dryad are sharing the same expression as if they came to me to announce someone's death.

I am suppressed: even my best friend prefers him over me (I'm convinced it's not her idea to find me in a room full of humans):

"Relax human," I say listlessly. "She doesn't want me anyways."

"Doris we are here not to argue. All we want is the best for Marina, but your relationship with her..." Sylvester finds his voice.

"But what does Marina want?" Den's question is like a lightning in a clear blue sky.

My sneaky colleague has been overhearing our conversation since the very first word. We freeze, and he continues recklessly:

"You are talking what is better for her as if she's your little baby or you are sharing a toy: I want her! No, I want her! Ok, take her: I'm tired of her anyway," he's saying it in a disgusting baby-talk manner.