The Mermaid's Curse

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven: Oceania

Xavier and I sit on the piano bench in complete silence, our bodies inches apart. I shiver as I remember the rich baritone of his voice, and the thrilling chords he'd played. I've never been so touched by anyone, musically or otherwise--and I never imagined that I would experience this kind of deep, almost spiritual connection with a land-dweller. 

Perhaps the magical feeling came from the full moon. But I've sung and played the sea harp many times under the full moon, and nothing like this has ever happened.  

This means that the magic was, most likely, purely between Xavier and me. Maybe our souls are bonded, and our musical union is the first sign of that.  

I feel my cheeks heat up with the thought of other unions, not just musical ones--Xavier's lips on mine, for example. 

I shake my head, trying my best to erase those kinds of thoughts. Of course, I can't be thinking romantically about a land boy; such a relationship would be doomed to failure. But despite my best efforts, I just can't stop.  

Luckily, Xavier speaks before my fantasy blossoms even more out of control. "Shall we play another piece together?" He quirks one side of his mouth upward, and at that moment, he seems uncertain and boyish--and incredibly endearing. "This is a sonata that I started composing, but I never titled it, or knew how I wanted it to end. I know now."  

He pulls out a sheaf of papers, covered with musical notations, pokes a few notes out on the piano, and scribbles on the paper before he looks at me again. "The title will be Sonata of the Mermaid. You've inspired me, my muse."  

I grin at him, glad for the distraction. If we're busy playing together, I won't have time to be perplexed by my feelings. "I'd love to play another piece with you. But what's a muse?"

"It's an inspirational person. The term originated from Greek mythology. The nine muses were goddesses of the arts and sciences, and daughters of the Greek god Zeus."

Xavier is so smart. He knows things that I never learned in mer-school. "So you think I'm like a goddess? Thank you." 

Xavier reaches up, tracing his finger across my cheek, and his touch sends a round of chills up my spine. It feels like a school of tiny, shivery minnows has begun swimming up and down my back.  

"I think you're better than a goddess," he says. Before I can reply, he begins playing a soft, rolling melody on the piano, and I raise my hand to my cheek. The shivery sensation has turned to sheer fever, and my cheeks are flaming to the touch. 

Xavier's sonata has no vocal part, only sweet chords. There's an aura of romance about the song, and I begin to hum along. I return to the harp, and my fingers instinctively pluck the strings in joyous harmony.

The calm of the music washes over me like tepid saltwater, and for a moment, I am not a confused sea creature on land--I am actually floating above the scene, as though I have no body, only a soul. The notes of the piano and harp surge, and my voice swells to a magnificent crescendo. Xavier begins singing along, too, with only tones, no words. And finally, Xavier's voice and piano wane, gradually fading away, like the moon at sunrise. I allow the music of my voice and harp to melt away as well. 

Afterwards, Xavier says, "That was perfect. It was exactly the ending I wanted, but I wasn't capable of it before, not until you came." He rises from the piano bench and walks to the harp, pulling me to my feet. In my high-heeled shoes, we see nearly eye-to-eye.  

"You know," he continues, "you could have a brilliant career in the opera with a voice like yours. My mother sang in the opera for years, and still has many connections. Or perhaps you could play the harp in the symphony. We could perform together; it's my dream to play and conduct in the symphony." 

My soul comes crashing back to earth, joining my human body. I become aware of the aches and pains in my new leg muscles, and the uncomfortable way that Amelie's shoes squeeze my toes together. Suddenly, I'm stifled--not by Xavier, but by this surface world. I feel an almost aching need to return home.  

But as I look into Xavier's eyes, I feel another ache entirely, in my heart. Warning bells begin to ring in my head. We mermaids are supposed to meet humans, and even help them out, but falling in love with them is complicated.  

I almost wish that we had never played together, never connected. Of course I can't be an opera singer, or play in the symphony, or fall in love with a human. The idea is completely absurd, and I don't want to give him any false hope. I can't possibly stay here and build a life, can I?

Thanks so much for reading! I'd love to hear what you thought. Feel free to vote or comment. ;) And if you're excited to read more, the entire story is published as a Kindle eBook for only 99 cents. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Mermaids-Curse-California-Book-ebook/dp/B00OV2DIMU/ I'll be offering it for free on Amazon soon, so if you follow me I'll message you when that happens. :)