The Mermaid's Mirror

Chapter 38

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."

Lena chuckled. "Okay, that was a silly question."

"We spend far more time in play than work, as a matter of fact." When Lorelei made a disbelieving sound, Melusina insisted, "It is true! We sing, we tell tales, we make music. We travel a great deal. There is so much to see! How could one ever grow weary of the sea?"

Lena watched a mermaid cuddle a tiny baby with a wee, wriggling tail. Nearby, a circle of children played what looked like a version of ring-around-the-rosy. In the distance, mer-folk were pounding kelp and stirring pots, chatting as they worked. All around her, the villagers bustled with work and play, like any community. And ah! There was the handsome Nix carrying fresh seaweed into the sleeping cave.

Melusina noticed her riveted attention, and said, "Lorelei, I must beg your patience once again. Lena has others to meet. Will you dine with us? We have not eaten for hours."

"Yes, indeed," said Lorelei. "I will set out supper for us." She swam away.

Lena and her mother swam toward the place where Nix had gone. As they approached the cave, Nix reappeared.

"Hello!" he said, a look of pleasure lighting his face.

"Hello," said Lena.

Nix moved closer to Lena and took her hand. "I have been thinking of you."

Her heart tripped and sped up.

"May I hear my name in your voice? I am called Nix." The dark pools of his eyes were endless, and his large hand enveloped hers, making her feel that no one had ever held her hand properly before.

Pausing to fix his name clearly in her mind, Lena said, "Nix."

They floated for a long moment, staring at each other.

This kind of staring would never happen on land, thought Lena. People would look away, feel embarrassed.

But here there was no self-consciousness, only a deepening connection. Nix took her other hand, and Lena felt a dizzy warmth flow through her. I think I'm swooning.

***

Brian did not look away from the waves, even when Allie sat down on the sand next to him. They no longer spoke. Allie's entreaties for him to come home had made no impression. How could they, when his heart was gone? She opened the plastic bag she had brought him yesterday ... The food was untouched, but at least he'd drunk the water. Allie lay her head on his shoulder for a moment, and Brian felt a flicker of compassion. He was sorry to leave them alone—his second wife and child—but he couldn't abandon his vigil.