The Mermaid's Kiss

Part 1 - The Dream

The dream was always as vivid as if it were a thousand years ago...

I was hunting. The burning desire to mate now that I was mature, was pushing me towards land. I would call a male and he would be unable to resist, even though I was not one of his kind. An alluring combination of my voice and my body made it easy to take their energy. I left them dazed and sated, not dead or eaten alive as some of their folk tales told.

The darkness of the deep faded into light and I was rising out of the water in front of a sinking ship. Humans were jumping from the boat into the stormy sea and would be lucky to survive the thrashing waters. I watched in curiosity as one human hesitated as he stood on the deck, his long pale hair flying all around his face. He was a striking male; strong and tall with a beautiful face even in fear. I couldn't take my eyes from him until he was hit by part of the sail falling onto him as he jumped from the sinking longboat. When I didn't see him emerge from the water I dived down and searched the murky water for him, finding him drifting lifelessly.

Using all my strength, for he was a heavy creature, I darted through the crests of waves with my unconscious human slung mostly on my back, his head resting between my shoulder blades above the water.

At the rocks on the shoreline, I morphed into human form and hauled him out of the pounding waves, as high as I could. Setting him down with his upper body in my lap, I noticed there was a deep wound on his forehead which was bleeding profusely. Hovering my hand over the wound, I held it there until the skin knit back together. The salt water would clean the wound and keep it from becoming infected.

As my life force moved through him he suddenly turned his body and coughed up some sea water before collapsing back onto my lap. Slowly he opened his eyes, realising he wasn't alone and drowned in the violent storm.

I smiled as I stroked his lips and smoothed his hair from his face as he stared at me with wonder and appreciation. Repeating the action, he tentatively touched my skin on my face, tracing the rainbow coloured pattern that ran from my temple on one side and down my neck on the other, swirling over my chest as it increased in size to cover my chest and arms. His finger followed the path of my markings, his barely warm skin tingling my scales in desire. His eyes widened in wonder and then I heard his beautiful deep voice for the first time.

"Vackra ängel i sea...Jag är skyldig du mitt liv. Min kärlek är din. (Beautiful angel of the sea ...I owe you my life.)

The adoration in his eyes was the same as when my mother spoke of my father. From the warmth that bloomed in my chest I knew that this human was mine. I cupped his face as I leant down to kiss him, the breath of life bloomed between us and I could feel the tingle of magic deep within me, restoring me and starting the miracle of creation.

We stayed on the rocks for several minutes more just holding each other both mesmerized. Bold blue eyes stared so intently into mine, wondering about my unusual beauty and with gratitude for his rescue . He really was a stunning male. Muscular and tall with angular features and long golden hair. His mind glowed pure with integrity; an honest and fair chieftain, a fierce warrior and a sexual creature irresistible to the clan's women.

I startled upon hearing calls from his shipmates on the shoreline a short distance away. It was time to leave but I so wanted to know more about him, stay with him but I knew it was not possible. Mother had told me that every maid of my kind felt this torment, but to survive we always had to leave, taking the pearl of life with us. I would return soon to consummate our bond.

I stroked his face adoringly before rising and turned leave.

"Vänta är du snäll, vad heter du?" (Wait please, what is your name?) He choked out, apparently as keen to stay with me as I was with him.