Vanessa [A Poor Unfortunate Soul]

29. Only You

The current lapped over Vanessa's body in ripples, giving minimal resistance. Her body was stronger in this form. This flesh. Her skin, thicker and could handle more than the weak pale layer of tissue paper that humans called skin. The salty water entering her eyes burned as they shifted and grew a protective layer, like her body's personal goggles. 

The vast blue void below the ocean's surface was stunning and godly to behold. And one that not many could. Vanessa took a deep and long breath of sea water, before letting it out her newly formed gills at her waist. Her thick braid created for unnecessary drag, pulling it over to her left side she removed the elastic taming her locks and pulled it over her wrist. Once released her long blonde hair flew around her like vines, flowing behind her as she kicked through the open water with her powerful tail.

Everywhere Vanessa looked there were possibilities for Jakob's gift, stones, rocks, gems. She'd stupidly forgotten a bag, so her limitations were only up to what she could hold. She ended up with a few rocks, stones and a single water lily. The last one within swimmable distance, and without losing sight of the ship and shoreline. 

"What're ye goin' do with this?" Jane asked when Vanessa returned to the sand. She stood tall and turned over her friend's findings.

"Its one of everything I could find." Vanessa shrugged and pushed her lips to one side, thinking. She laid in the tide on her stomach, her tail swaying from side to side in the water behind her.

"For being the place of dreams Neverland is on short supply of ocean finds." Jane said and dropped a rock onto the sand. 

This must have given her an idea because the next moment Jane dove head first into her sack, rummaging for something. 

"Here!" She said and threw the sack with the rest of its contents onto the thankfully soft sand.

 "What is that?" Vanessa asked.

"A clear bowl." Jane said and placed a hand on her hip.

"Oh." Vanessa said sheepishly. 

"You could make him a snow globe." Jane said, proud of herself. "Or a 'water-globe' in this case."

"A water globe?" Vanessa asked raising an eyebrow. 

"As if that's an absurd thought?" Jane asked and stood poised.

"Its a lovely one" Vanessa giggled. She normally wasn't one to giggle, unless the occasion caused for one or possibly two. Not that this were any occasion for giggling or the like. Just the sheer aura of it all. The aura and feeling that the pirate captain Jakob sent over her, it made her feel like a girl. A preppy and rather horny school girl. The emotion was disgusting and sickly sweet. Not unlike an oversized lollipop one might purchase and devour at a fair. The sugar and hype that came with it sent a rumble in Vanessa's stomach. 

Do mermaids fall in love?

The question turned circles over in her mind. And if they did, to what end? Did they just sit and mope in their undersea gardens, combing their hair and singing the sorrow song of their lost beloved?

Impossible. 

For one thing they are simply inapt. How could a majestic creature from under-the-sea comprehend the human concept of love? They'd have far more important things to pass up time with. 

For another, Vanessa had sworn off the concept. For her own health, and that of her unlucky partner. And if she were to find herself giving the ideal another thought, of course it would be for someone better than a pirate. What would her father say? Not that her track record was anything but individuals her father wouldn't approve of. Couldn't she find a nice church boy somewhere? A boy with similar ideals as her father and church's. Date to marry and marry to conceive. What a dirty sinner Vanessa had become. Letting her heart guide the way, instead of her uterus. Forget her father, what would God say?