"We won't lose it, love," he said. "I promise you I'll find you a place to live and build a kingdom and make you the queen. Believe me, nothing will go wrong."
We kissed again under the moonlight. No blood present this time. Only the scent of fish and rotten cleaning water. I considered that progress.
"I believe in you, Angel," I told him, tiptoeing to his height. I knew he liked to hear it.
"What would I have been if I hadn't met you?" He held me dearly to his muscular frame.
As we stole a few moments, hiding in the shades of the night, I glanced up at the moon. For a moment, I thought it was smiling at me. But nah, that must have been my wild imagination.
28
That night I woke up to a sound I hadn't heard before in my life. It was like someone was singing, some kind of a lullaby, hissed and lightly chanted across the rippling surface of the water. I tried to ignore it at first, but the humming didn't stop. Strangely, it reminded me of myself in the cradle—faint and looming memories of kings and queens visiting me in Styria and asking for my blessing. How I ever recalled such a memory, I had no idea. And why did those melodies coming from the sea do this to me?
I rolled in my bed, still trying to ignore the lull outside. The other workers around me seemed asleep. I wondered how they didn't hear it. Was my sleep so light it only affected me, or were they afraid to admit they heard the melodies?
Stomping through the darkness of the ship, I headed outside to the deck. The night was unusually calm and the tides lay solemnly on the bed of the sea, reflecting the full moonbeams like glittering pearls. I bowed over the edge, mesmerized by the view. All alone, I wondered why no one was awake but me.
But I couldn't see what caused the melodies.
It occurred to me that no matter how much I tried to memorize the tune, I just couldn't, as if it were mercury slipping through the sensors in my ears. How was that possible? Was this the same melody they said the Piper played, the same tune Captain Ahab played? Was it the same tune I heard Night Von Sorrow play? Mozart's The Magic Flute?
Then I suddenly realized I couldn't remember Night Von Sorrow's tune until this very day. How was that possible, to listen to something and never remember it no matter what? I scratched my memory for it, but couldn't. It felt like words were on the tip of my tongue but still blocked from my mind.
My rumbling thoughts ended at the sight of something splashing in the water. I thought it was a dolphin at first—I hadn't seen a dolphin before. But then another splashed somewhere nearby. And another.
Then they showed me themselves, ever so slowly, rising from the water, whipping their hair at their cheeks, and then smiling at me.
Mermaids.
I hadn't seen one before, but I could see their fishtails waving underneath the water, lit by the moon in the sky. I was grateful the mermaids weren't close, so I didn't risk seeing my reflection in the water trying to look at them.
And oh, sweetness of heaven, how beautiful they were.
Their wavy hair was slung down over their breasts and their eyes were mostly green, visible even from far way. They weren't skinny or chubby. I thought they had the perfect female body. Their bare shoulders were broad, though, the way a frequent swimmer's body usually looked. Their fishtails looked greenish with spots of gold underneath the water, but it could have been the effect of the moon's beam.
"Come with us, Carmilla," one of them whispered, as they neared the edge of the ship. "Come with us. You belong to us."
"What?" I shook my head. I didn't expect them to talk. They had sweet female voices. You could tell they could sing extremely well.
"You don't belong here," another said, fiddling with her hair. "You belong with us…" She stopped then looked underneath her. "You belong down there."
"How do you know my name?" I asked.
"You're much more than you think you are." Another smiled, sincerely, seductively. "You are the one…"
Another one shushed her, clapping a finger on her lips. She seemed to be their leader: a little bigger, broader shoulders, thicker hair, and tattooed skin. She also looked a bit older than the rest, and her finger bore a pearl ring. "Let me show you." She neared, stretching out her hand.
At first, I was going to jump in the water with her. Her words and smile were enticing. I had never been tempted to follow anyone like her.
But then my fear of water stopped me. In my shock, I leaned away from the ship's rail, noticing a frail red fleece connecting all of then under the water. "I can't," I said. "I'm afraid of water. I'm not supposed to see my reflection in water."
"That's what they keep telling you." The mermaid showed a sad face. "They are using you for their own benefit."
"What do you mean?" I asked, clawing to the rail. I wanted so much to be with them. It was ridiculous. "Who is using me?"
"All of them," she said. "Even Angel."
"You're lying!" I said.