The Mermaid's Mirror

Chapter 42

Nix pulled Lena onto his lap. "I used to enjoy the solitary nature of patrolling the verge," he said. "Now it is time away from you, and I count the minutes until it is over."

She pressed her lips against his neck, feeling a tremor move through his body. He tightened his hold on her, and she savored the knowledge that he wanted her. With deliberate languor, she rubbed her lips against his skin. Nix moaned and turned her face up to his, kissing her until she forgot where she was. She had no need of Clouding at times like this, because all her thoughts disappeared, and she became pure sensation.

"My Selena," whispered Nix after a long time. "I never knew the emptiness of my life until you appeared to fill it." He twisted a strand of her hair around his finger. "Like an otherworldly vision ... except you are real." He pulled gently on the strand, bringing her face close again. "And you are mine."

"Do you think..." she whispered, kissing him between words. "...if we'd never met ... we would have known ... something was missing?"

But Nix took possession of her mouth again, and did not answer.

"Oh," said Melusina. "I beg your pardon."

Lena and Nix broke apart.

Melusina floated at the entrance to the cave for the Riven, eyebrows raised. "It seems I have intruded. I do apologize."

"No, no," stammered Nix. "I must depart. My patrol shift ... I must ... well, goodbye, Selena."

She giggled. "Goodbye, Nix."

"I will see you tomorrow," he said, backing away.

"Yes."

Melusina nodded as he went past, then came into the cave. "It seems that you and Nix like the privacy of the cave."

Lena blushed. "Sorry. We were just..." She trailed off, her cheeks aflame.

"Never fear, daughter," laughed Melusina. "Amorous mer-folk have been caught in sleeping caves since the beginning of time."

Lena moved toward the cave's entrance. "Oh. Well, I—" She glanced outside to watch Nix depart. Unconsciously, her hands came up to worry the edges of the cloak. It felt like a hundred-pound weight on her shoulders. She had a fleeting impulse to tear it off, before caution stayed her hand. Soon, she thought.

"I'm going out, Mama. I'll be back in a few hours. Havfine has invited Lorelei and me to go exploring."

Her mother smiled. "I am glad you have made friends, Lena."

Lena blew her a kiss and swam away.

***

Havfine seemed flattered to be asked to show Lena and Lorelei the way to the Cave of Psamanthe, although Lena suspected he was most interested in spending time with Lorelei. He chatted politely to them about his travels—mer-folk were great scavengers, delighting especially in precious gems and gold jewelry—but after a time, Lena lagged behind. She wanted to allow the two of them to speak without her as a constant companion.

"I'm a little tired," she lied. "But I can follow, as long as you don't swim out of view."

Lorelei smirked, as if comprehending her ploy.

They swam on, stopping after another hour to dine on lobster. Havfine had acquired this delicacy through trade with a merman who hailed from the Atlantic Ocean. Lobsters were not to be found in the local waters.

"Have you rested, Selena?" asked Havfine. "The cave lies only a little farther."

"Yes," she said. "Thank you for the delicious meal! I'm ready."

Within another thirty minutes, they came to a rocky cove. Havfine led them through an undersea tunnel that led to a protected pool inside a huge, vaulted cavern.

"We will wait for you," said Lorelei, putting a hand on Havfine's arm. "Lena should speak to the goddess alone." She gave Lena an encouraging look. "Go on. We will be right here ... just call if you need us."

Lena nodded and swam into the shallow part of the pool. She raised her head, inch by inch, until her eyes were above the surface of the water. She kept her mouth below the surface, since she was breathing water now and didn't know what would happen if she tried to breathe air. Her mother had said something about the cloak protecting her below the waves, not above them.

The cavern was empty.

Well, not empty. It was strewn with thousands of coins, rings, seashells, and fragments of terra cotta pottery. Some of the pottery looked like female figures, while others were shallow cups with handles. Looking closer, she saw that a few seashells were bronzed. Everything in the cave looked like it had lain there for a thousand years.

But there was no goddess—or anyone else—in the cavern.

Disappointed, Lena was about to report back to Lorelei and Havfine—There's no one there... —when she heard footsteps.

Lena sank beneath the surface and swam toward the shadows. She would hide until she could be sure it was the goddess. Peering up through the wavering surface, Lena saw a woman enter the cavern.

The woman was tall, wearing dark blue jeans and a sleeveless white shirt. Her short brown hair was streaked with blond.

Oh, no, thought Lena. A human!

The woman came closer to the edge of the water and looked directly at Lena. She said something in a language Lena did not understand.

Lena's heart hammered. She pushed herself backwards through the water. She felt as frightened as any real mermaid being seen by a human.

"Ah," said the woman. "Of course you do not speak Greek." She smiled. "Hello. There is no need to be afraid. I am Psamanthe."

Astonished, Lena raised her eyes above the water.

"Oh, dear. You're wearing a cloak. I didn't know humans still did that." The woman slipped off her sandals. "Very well. I must come to you, then, since you cannot come ashore." She pulled off her clothes and plunged into the water.

Lena looked for her under water, but the woman was gone.

She had turned into a seal.