The Mermaid's Mirror (23 page)

***

Brian's eyes remained dry while Allie wept—shocking, wracking sobs that rent the night sky. He sat on the sand, in the exact spot where he'd landed when the strength went out of his legs. He wanted to console her, but those words did not exist.

Lena woke up under water.

For a moment, she was disoriented, remembering all the times she had woken up on the beach in the middle of the night. This watery cave was the reverse of those awakenings.

Every time I went sleepwalking,
she thought,
I was trying to reach my mother. Something inside me—the mermaid part of me—knew she was near.

Lena felt the sealskin cloak tucked warmly around her. She relaxed and closed her eyes again, feeling safe. She could hear voices—some of the mer-folk must be nearby.

She kept her eyes closed, trying to distinguish who was speaking. She had noticed earlier that the voices of the adult mer-folk sounded much alike in her head, although she could tell her mother's voice from everyone else's. Lorelei's voice had contained a distinctive ringing quality, and the children all sounded unique from one another. Lena supposed that the longer she stayed, the easier it would become to match voices to faces.

"...because of the male human on land," she heard someone mutter. "Now we must live in fear that she will remember, and leave us yet again. It is not to be borne!"

"Shh," said a second voice. "You will wake the child."

"Ah, yes. The child." The first voice softened. "She's a lovely little land child. But she belongs to us now. And in time, her legs will cease to trouble me."

Lena huddled under the cloak, ashamed. Who couldn't stand to look at her legs? And what did that mean, "she belongs to us now"?

"We always knew there was a chance the human would seek her again," sighed a third voice.

"Not as long as I am alive," said someone coldly. "I warned him not to enter the sea again. And I spoke the truth. Had he disobeyed my command, I would have charmed the sharks to seek him out, even as he sought Melusina."

Lena could not restrain a small cry.

There was a swish in the water near her, then someone asked gently, "Are you awake, child?"

"Yes," said Lena, opening her eyes. Her grandfather leaned over her. She sat up and peered through the fluid light of the cave, and saw her aunts, Metis and Thetis, her uncle, Nereus, and her grandmother. Melusina's entire family seemed to be on guard duty over her!

"Good. I hope you are rested. You slept a long time."

"I did? How long?"

"Ah, let me see. Time is not something we measure, except by the moon. The moon has begun to wane, while you slept."

Lena frowned. The moon had begun to wane? Had she been asleep for days?

"Melusina has been to the surface a number of times. She asked us to keep watch over you while she was away."

Lena nodded her understanding.
I would have charmed the sharks to seek him out
echoed through her mind. She felt acutely self-conscious of her legs now, too. She was relieved to see Melusina approach.

"Did you sleep well, dearest maid?" asked her mother, swimming into the cave and settling near Lena. The others departed.

"Yes," answered Lena. "How long did I sleep?"

"Ah, a long time! You were profoundly weary."

"Hours? Days?"

"Oh, you want a measurement? Let me think ... on land, the sun has risen and set again."

"How long before I need to surface for air?"

"Whenever you wish. Do you feel ready to take off the cloak?"

Lena stared at her in alarm. "Take it off
now?
I'm miles from the surface."

"Not miles, dear. And remember ... I told you that when your desire was powerful enough, you would be able to breathe on your own in this world."

"But how will I know?"

"The only way to know is to search your heart."

"What happens if I
think
I'm ready, but I'm not really?"

Melusina looked puzzled. "But your heart will tell you truly."

Lena looked back at her mother. "But what if I'm wrong? I'll drown!"

"If you have doubt, then you must remain in the shelter of the cloak."

"Okay." Lena was relieved. No matter what her mother said, this would not be the place to discover she couldn't breathe under water.

"Now we shall eat. You must be very hungry. Afterward, would you like to explore the world beneath the waves with me?"

"Yes!"

Melusina took Lena's hand, and they swam together out of the cave. Mer-folk watched them shyly as they approached the stone table. A few swam closer to look at Lena, especially her legs, then flitted away again.

Melusina introduced Lena to as many of them as came near.

"Why does she wear that human garment under the cloak?" asked a mermaid who looked about Lena's age. She wore pearls in her hair.

"On land, it is protective," said Melusina. "It is called a—" She frowned.

"A jacket," said Lena.

"Ah, yes. Jacket."

The mermaid felt the slippery fabric of Lena's jacket, then smiled and swam away.

"They have many questions," said Melusina. "You will meet them as their shyness abates. Mer-folk are taught to be wary of humans, so it may take them some time to befriend you. Now let us eat. The sea cucumber is especially delicious."

They ate until they were full, then Melusina put her arm around Lena. "Ready, dearest?"

"Where are we going?"

"You shall see."

Melusina led Lena through the village. Mer-folk bowed and waved to them. In the shifting, drifting crowd of mer- folk, Lena's gaze went unerringly to the green-and- gold- haired merman near the edge of the group.

Nix was watching her, and Lena felt her belly flutter. Everyone else seemed to blur and fade as Lena stared back at him.

"May I approach?" he asked, across the water. His voice was unlike any other—low, warm, with a gravelly undertone.

"Yes," she answered.

Melusina noticed their conversation, and smiled. "We shall greet Nix, but I wish to spend time with you a little longer, just the two of us, before others claim your attention."

As Nix swam in their direction, Lorelei rushed to greet Lena. "At last she wakes! Each time I returned from the surface, my cousin was still asleep. Auntie Lu, where are you going? I want to become better acquainted with Selena."

Nix paused. "I do not wish to intrude," he said. "I will return later." He directed a beautiful smile at Lena and, with a flip of his tail, swam away.

Lena felt a pang, watching him go.

"There will be ample time for visits, niece," said Melusina. "I am going to show my daughter this world."

"May I come, too?"

"Next time, Lori."

They left the village, followed by swarms of mer-folk children who raced circles around them, playing tag and begging Lena to explain how her legs worked.

"They work by magic," said Lena with a wink.

The children laughed and clapped and darted near to touch her, then swam away after Melusina shooed them off.

Mother and daughter swam for hours. Lena saw schools of fish and played with her mother's two favorite dolphins. Then they swam deeper ... into the coldest part of the ocean, where bioluminescent fish cast their pale, otherworldly light, luring prey ... sometimes becoming prey.

"The anglerfish," said Melusina, pointing to a fish that appeared to have a fishing rod with a glowing tip at its end.

"So cool," whispered Lena.

"It
is
cold," agreed her mother, and swam out of the depths with Lena.

Lena smiled, not bothering to explain what she meant.

As they ascended higher and higher, Lena became aware of a shadow passing above them, blocking out the rays of the sun. She turned her head as the massive shape shifted direction and began to skim downward past them.

"What is it?" she asked.

"A whale," said her mother.

The gigantic body of the gray whale seemed to go on and on, sliding past them until its enormous tail swept within inches of them.

"Its tail almost caught us," said Lena. "We would have been killed!"

"Not at all, dear one. The whale knew of our presence," answered Melusina. "The word in your language is echo—" She paused to think. "Placement? No,
location.
Echolocation. It allows whales to know where things are at all times. If he had wanted to, he
could
have caught us with his tail."

"Big word, Mama," said Lena teasingly. "The language is definitely returning to you."

"There is another word." Melusina tapped her forehead with one pale finger. "The humans try to mimic the echolocation of the whales with their machines. But it affects our friends the whales. Man should cease his interference." She thought for a moment, then said, "Sonar! That is the word."

"Oh, sonar," repeated Lena. "I've heard about that. Poor whales."

They swam on. After a time, Lena burst out, "I can hardly believe I'm breathing under water! I'm afraid I'm going to wake up and this will all be a dream."

"But you
did
sleep, dearest. Then you awoke, and behold! You are still here."

Lena hugged her mother. "I love this world."

"I am happy to hear those words from you. This is your home now, as well ... just as much as your home on land."

"Mama?"

"Yes, dear."

"That word, 'behold.' Was that you I heard that night when it was raining? It
was
you, wasn't it? You said, 'I beheld you, child.'"

"Yes, Selena, it was my touch on your heart from across the waves."

Lena took her mother's hand.

Once in a while, a mermaid or merman swam past them, bowing courteously. Some of them wore cloaks.

"Why do they have on cloaks?" asked Lena.

"Those who surface near land wear their cloaks. It renders us safe from view—we appear as seals."

"Don't you need your cloak, then?" Lena touched the pelt she wore.

"No," said Melusina, with an edge to her voice. "I never wear my cloak."

"Why not?"

"I will never wear it again!" she burst out.

Lena startled.

The mermaid took a calming breath. "Forgive me, my child. I should not have spoken so wildly. The cloak is a painful reminder of all I have lost. I have not worn it since my return." She smiled. "But it brings me joy now, as it protects my dearest treasure."

They swam in silence for a few minutes, then Melusina said, "I shall rise and take in air. We are far from the land, where no humans may see us. You must remain beneath the surface."

"Why?"

Melusina paused, then said slowly, "The cloak protects humans beneath the surface, just as it protects mer-folk above the waves. But once you rise above the surface, the enchantment of the cloak will cease for you and your body will require air."

"Oh," said Lena, wide-eyed. "I thought you said I could go without the cloak and still breathe under water."

"I did. But not
above
the water."

"Um, okay, I'll wait here."

Still holding her daughter's hand, Melusina rose for air. Lena watched from below, fingering the cloak.

"Let us return to the village now," said Melusina, when she slid back under water. "We will eat and drink, and you may spend time with your cousins. They have many questions to ask you."

"I can't wait!"

It was a long journey back to the village. As they drew near, Lena felt her heart lift. So many new family members to get to know! She found herself searching for Nix.
So soon?
she thought.
Do I have a crush on a merman just days after I find out I' mha lf-mermaid?

Lorelei must have been watching for their arrival, because she hurried to join them. "Cousin Selena," she said. "Merrow is giving a lesson to the young ones about the world above the waves. Come listen! Perhaps he is mistaken, and you can tell us better."

Lena saw a group of small mermaids and merboys clustered around Merrow. "I doubt I can tell you better," she said.

"But you are
from
that world," insisted Lorelei. "Of course you know better! We should be taught the truth."

"Lorelei," chided Melusina. "Your grandfather teaches the ancient rhymes and songs. Those tales are meant to teach the young ones simple facts about the world above the waves ... not detailed descriptions of modern human life."

Lorelei pouted. "Well,
I
want to know about modern human life!"

Melusina sighed. "Yes, Lori, you are always curious about the human world. I do not know, however, if it is wise for Selena to share her stories." She turned to Lena. "As you see, we do not teach using pen and paper. We pass along images and songs to our young ones, and that is how they learn. But I am not certain whether we should hear your tales of human society. Perhaps they would be disturbing."

Lorelei scowled. "What a childish concern," she said. "I want to hear all about the humans."

Lena couldn't help smiling. It was a novelty to feel so foreign and interesting. "Maybe
you
should tell
me
some stories."

Lorelei shrugged. "Nothing ever happens here. Your arrival is the most exciting thing to occur in a hundred moons."

"What does everyone do all day down here?"

Melusina laughed, causing her pearl necklaces to dance. "Ah, Selena! We have much to do. We perform what you call 'work,' but not in order to gain—" She hesitated, again tapping her forehead. "I always forget the word. It means ... hmm, it has something to do with getting things."

"Money?"

"Yes! We do not work to get money." She shook her head, as if disappointed that she couldn't remember the word. "We work to find food, and we spend time preparing the food. We have scouts who patrol the waters around us, to ensure the safety of the village. We have lookouts, as you saw, to announce the arrival of visitors, or to warn of intruders. We spend time teaching the young ones about our history, and about the other creatures of the waters."

"Is that it? Don't you do anything for fun?"

Melusina smiled again and leaned close, teasing, "No, no. We have no fun. It is nothing but work and drudgery here in the world beneath the waves."