The Mermaid's Mirror

Chapter 45

When Lena awoke, Nix had gone. As she rose from her bed of seaweed, she saw three stones on the ground beside her, their edges touching.

Next time you see me, Nix, she thought, there will be no cloak or human garment between us.

The village was quiet—it was one of those rare occasions when almost all the mer-folk were asleep or surfacing. Lena swam into the cave for the Riven, where her mother lay.

"Mama," she said, touching her mother's arm.

"Daughter." Melusina smiled, opening her eyes and stretching.

"I am ready to take off the cloak."

Her mother sat up, searching Lena's face. Then she smiled. "I knew your heart would banish your doubt."

"What should I do? Is there a ceremony?"

Melusina shook her head. "Do you feel any anxiety?"

"No."

"Even in the most secret pulse of your blood?"

"No," repeated Lena.

Melusina put her hands on her daughter's shoulders, studying her carefully, then agreed, "I feel no trepidation within you." She smiled and took her hands away. "I feel only impatience. Close your eyes."

Lena obeyed.

"Allow your immutable belief in this world to fill your soul. Allow the never-ending love of your mother to hold you steady. Allow the support of our people to bind you to this place. And lastly, allow the purity of true love to light your desire."

Fingers caressing the sealskin cloak, as if in gratitude for its protection, Lena filled her mind with images from her new life: the mystical people of this undersea village, revolving around her in their welcoming dance ... Lorelei's loyalty and humor ... Merrow's warm embrace ... playful dolphins ... children with their flutes ... her mother's joy at having Lena back ... and finally, the dark eyes of her true love, drinking in the sight of her as if he would never have his fill...

Fixing this last image in her mind, Lena slowly pushed the sealskin cloak off her head and down below her shoulders. She inhaled. The life-giving ocean water continued to flow in and out of her lungs. There was no sudden need for air. She smiled.

"You are my brave daughter," said her mother.

Lena laughed and lifted her arms, now so much lighter, spinning around in pleasure. She put her hands on her jacket. "And now," she said, "I can finally take this off!"

Melusina clapped.

"I guess I'll take off the shirt, too," said Lena, hesitating.

"Of course."

"Even though my, um, chest will show."

"Ah," said Melusina, smiling. "You shall have a necklace to wear, if you feel modest."

"Could I have one like yours?" asked Lena. "With the white and black pearls?"

"We shall dive for pearls together until we have gathered enough for you. But it would bring me immense pleasure to have you wear mine, until we make you a necklace of your own. Yours should contain diamonds, as well, in honor of your village on land."

"Wait till Nix sees me." Lena began to slide out of her jacket, feeling something in the pockets as she did so. She put her hand into the left pocket and pulled out the coral comb she had found in her father's sea chest.

She blinked. "Oh," she said. "I forgot this was in there."

Melusina stared at the heavy coral comb. "My ... that is my comb," she said in confusion.

Lena held it out to her. Melusina took it, turning it over in her hands. She lifted it to her head and drew it slowly through her hair, her eyes fluttering shut. "This was given to me when I was a small maid," she whispered.

With something like dread, Lena felt in her other pocket, and withdrew the mermaid's mirror. She lifted it to her face and saw her own startled reflection. Then, in a swift whirl of colors, the surface of the mirror began to change. She barely had time to think, Now that I'm down here, what will I see in the mirror?

And there, suddenly, in the crystalline glass, was her father. And Allie.

Lena's memories crashed back into her mind.

The cloak, she thought. That damnable cloak. It stole my memory.

Her parents were in their bedroom, yellowish light from a bedside lamp illuminating their still figures. It had been so long since Lena had seen electrical light that she squinted against its brightness. Her dad was sitting up in bed, a book in his lap, but he wasn't reading. He stared blankly in front of him, his face wan. His blue eyes were dull. Allie lay in bed next to him. Her eyes were closed, but she looked so rigid and miserable that Lena knew she wasn't asleep.

Lena began to tremble, which caused the mirror in her hand to shift perspective. Now she could see the rest of their room. The sea chest was sitting on top of their mahogany bureau, and next to it were her sneakers, the shoes she had left on the rocks at Magic's.

"Oh, no," she said.

Melusina opened her eyes and saw the mirror in Lena's hand. "My mirror," she whispered. For a long moment, she remained frozen, as if carved from marble. A combination of longing and horror came over her face, yet she did not move.

Lena heard her un-Cloudedt hought: I will remember.

Melusina lifted her eyes and looked steadily at Lena, as if to prolong this last moment between them before she looked upon the visions in the mirror. Then she lowered her gaze to the glass. Her lips parted.

"Brian," she said.