The Merfolk of the Sulani Seas

Chapter 5: The Embers of Love

Ember and Alex walked over to a bench and sat down next to each other. Alex appreciated the relief from being on his feet. Ember turned to Alex and continued. Alex smiled and listened to every word.

“If you want, we can go to Ohan’Ali’s thrift store, Lola Sand and Sea. I don’t mind helping.

‘What is a thrift store?’ Alex thought.

Ember continued. “We can get you something that stands out a little less. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with your outfit. It’s up to you.”

Alex smiled and nodded. ‘If I look out of place among humans, I might draw unwanted attention to myself and my pod. If nothing else, this could be a good chance to learn more about the human world.’

Ember had her suspicions that the boy wasn’t human. The fact that he wasn’t making a sound opened a few possibilities. While she couldn’t know for sure what he was, she knew he was out of his element. She wanted to help.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Ember said. “You know, you have a really interesting friend…”

‘His friend did say that he wouldn’t say a word or make a sound,’ Ember paused. ‘This is so much harder than I thought it would be.’

Alex smiled and waited patiently for Ember to continue talking. The merboy was hanging onto every word she said. However, Ember was struggling to continue the conversation. It felt awkward doing all the talking.

“Anyways, Lola Sand and Sea is a waterfront store on a pier overlooking Ohan’Ali Lagoon. It’s probably the best place to help you find an outfit.”

To Ember’s relief, she wasn’t boring the boy. Alex stayed as interested as ever.

“Lola Sand and Sea is more than just a place to buy outfits. There are talent shows, karaoke, instruments to play, and after our visit to the store, I’ll show you around Ohan’Ali Town. Maybe even show you Ohan’Ali Town’s Island Village. It’s a bit different from the tourist traps for the Mainland Visitors. Everyone is super nice too.”

‘I’m learning so much, and she’s so…’ Alex’s cheeks turned red for a second. ‘Got to stay cool and confident. Don’t make it too easy.’

“If you don’t have thalassophobia, we could always go for a swim and snorkel around the nearby reefs.”

Alex raised his hands to try and emphasize what he was feeling and thinking. He shifted his expression to something he hoped would convey what he wanted to say. He had so many questions, uncertainties, and he tried to express that he wanted to know more. He also wanted to express his situation; explain why he can’t speak.

Ember watched the expressions and the movement of his hands. It was very difficult to understand anything, if at all. However, she could tell that this very quiet boy had a lot he wanted to say. Because Alex waited so patiently for her, she gave him the same courtesy.

With one hand opened, as if to hold something. Alex clenched his teeth and started to close his other hand as if it was grabbing something. For the merboy, he could remember the magic that reached into his throat and ripped away his voice. The memory was still fresh in his mind. He wanted to see if the girl would understand.

‘I think I’m starting to understand a bit of what is going on,’ Ember thought.

Alex raised his hands and arched his back. His expression went from clenched teeth to a grimace. He wanted to express how it felt to lose his voice. The way the sea witch seemed to covet his new possession. In many ways, in that moment, Alex knew that the voice was no longer his.

Ember jolted in shock. From the expression, she deduced an important part of what was going on. She could see in the boy’s expression the experience, and she knew it wasn’t a pleasant one.

“So, you can’t speak because your voice was taken from you?” Ember asked.

She connected the dots. The boy was clearly from the magic realm. The way he was out of his element and didn’t seem to be in a hurry to swim with her. She was almost certain that this boy was a mer.

‘Halflings are known to be super secretive. Everyone knows that they go back to the sea. But this boy, this halfling, it’s almost like he’s never seen the mortal realm, never left the sea.’

Ember recalled her magic studies. Magic scholars called merfolk an enigmatic race that went extinct. The Halflings were all that remained of their kind as far as anyone knew. Ember was a young Fire Elemental and heard from other elementals in the spirit realm about merfolk. Not everything known by the elementals aligned with what Magic Scholars recorded. The mysteries of the sea and the beings that lived within fueled her curiosity.

‘Whatever brought him here must have had something to do with someone stealing his voice,’ Ember thought. ‘If someone rediscovered sea sorcery… Maybe he wanted it back and left the ocean to find it?’

Ember paused.

‘I’m totally freaking out right now. I have to help him, right? Besides, he’s actually kinda cute.’

Ember’s thoughts were so rapid that Alex was completely oblivious to everything running though her head. The merboy smiled. It seemed that she understood.

“I’ll get your voice back and return it to you! I promise that I will help you!”

‘Ok,’ Alex thought. ‘Maybe she doesn’t understand. Everything should be fine. My voice is with a Sea Witch at the bottom of the Sea… nothing is gonna happen with the contract. I’m  not going to lose my ability to go on land.’

‘I’m totally gonna find his voice and return it to him,’ Ember thought. ‘Besides, there’s so much I want to know. So many questions I have for him.’

For now, Alex wasn’t worried about something happening to his voice. A human couldn’t survive in the depths of the sea. It was too deep, and humans couldn’t breathe underwater. He decided to play along.

‘There’s not much I can do about my voice,’ Alex thought ‘But, it’s actually working. I can do this without my voice!’

“For now, let’s get you to the thrift store for a new outfit.”

Alex smiled and gestured with his hands in agreement.

“Perfect! After we help you blend in with islanders better, we’ll figure out how to restore your voice.”

‘She really doesn’t understand, but I need all the help I can get,’ Alex thought.

“Lola Sand and Sea is always busy during the weekends, so meet me at Ohan’Ali Island in the afternoon Monday. It’s mostly a hangout for the younger islanders after school. The perfect time to find the perfect outfit without drawing extra attention.

“I hope you didn’t mind me doing all the talking.”

Alex returned her words with a grin and a flirty gesture.

‘He really is cute,’ Ember thought, returning his gesture with her own flirty gesture. ‘All halfling mermen are handsome, but something is different about him…’

“Well, uh, look at the time.” Ember smiled. “Want to walk home together?”

Alex frowned; he wasn’t going home on land. The merboy shook his head.

“I understand,” Ember replied. “Care to see me off?”

Alex nodded and the couple walked to the entrance of the karaoke bar.

“Triton Beach gets very quiet during the day,” Ember said. “This place doesn’t get busy until the late afternoon.”

‘Maybe it would be better to swim around here during the day then?’ Alex thought.

“I can’t believe we were up all night! I’m glad I had the chance to meet you.”

‘All night… I’m in such boiling water when Uncle Kemps finds out.’

Forgetting that he couldn’t speak, Alex opened his mouth. When he didn’t make a sound. The merboy closed his eyes and raised his hand over his neck.

“This isn’t how you’ve always been, right? It must be hard.”

‘It was a small price to pay, right?’ Alex thought. ‘I’ve gotten everything I wanted… Is this everything I wanted?’

Alex frowned.

“Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to help you. You’ll have your voice back, I promise.”

‘She doesn’t understand,’ Alex thought. ‘How can I tell her? How can I make her understand? If she returns my voice, I’ll never be able to go on land again.’

“For now, let’s focus on the date at Lola Sand and Sea.”

‘She’s right. I can worry about making her understand later.’ Alex thought.

“There’s something about you,” Ember said. “It’s hard for me to say what, though?”

‘I feel the same way,’ Alex thought. ‘Kemps always said humans were dangerous, but you aren’t like that.’

“I bet all the girls in Glimmerbrook think you’re handsome. Truth is, I think you’re kinda cute.” Ember said.

‘Glimmerbrook? Is that a human place?’ Alex thought. ‘Whatever, she thinks I’m cute! I’ve got this! Cool and confident was the way to go.’

In Alex’s mind, he was celebrating. The merboy swayed to the side with butterflyfish in his stomach.

‘I think I have a crush,’ Alex thought. ‘How am I going to meet her halfway? I want to ask her so many questions and learn so much? But, How?'

Alex waved his hands, attempting to flirt. ‘I’m shark bait if Uncle Kemps finds out but who cares! She thinks I’m cute!’

Ember returned Alex’s gesture with a soft smile. ‘Am I really falling for a merman?’

Never in a million years did she think she would fall for a halfling. She never thought of herself as being as shallow as they can be.

“He’s really cute,” Ember said, forgetting to think instead of speaking.

All thoughts of what his uncle would think left Alex’s mind that instant. Here he was with the human girl that caught his eye. A nice reminder of why he did what he did. The reason for the price he paid. He held onto the love in his heart for this. That much he knew.

‘It’s going to be hard, but I can learn to live like this. As long as I can continue to see her, I can live without my voice.’

Alex was enjoying every second with Ember. His charm was working. He was doing the impossible. He was able to walk on land, run, and maybe even learn how to dance like the girl he’s fallen for.

“I guess I’m not immune to the charms of a halfling either.” Ember said.

‘Halfling?’ Alex thought, taken by surprise. ‘Does she know about merfolk? Maybe I can show her what I really am?’

“In the Magic Realm and Glimmerbrook, I’ve seen plenty of halflings. Their charm is usually irresistible for most, but what I feel… I don’t know. I’ve never fallen for it before.”

Alex was lost. Ember chuckled.

“I’ve seen so many think others fell in love only to have their relationships fall apart later.”

‘It’s not like that though,’ Alex thought. ‘I really like you!’

“I’m sorry. I get the feeling you aren’t like the others. So, please don’t worry too much about it.”

‘Who are you? What are you?’ Alex thought. ‘Are you even a human?’

“I know halflings age, grow old, and so on. But, I feel kind of conflicted now.”

‘I’m not a halfling though,’ Alex thought. ‘What’s going on? Why the sudden turn?’

Ember blew a kiss to Alex, and for a moment Alex forgot his worries.

“You might be mortal, but I still like you.”

‘Mortal? How can I help her understand?’

Alex caught the kiss. 'I'm definitely falling in love.'

Alex walked up to Ember and grabbed her hands. He looked deep into her reddish-brown eyes. Ember got lost in the ocean blue of Alex’s eyes.

“Something is different about you,” Ember said. “I look into your eyes, and I see the ocean. The entirety of the sea. I’ve never seen…”

Alex made a soft smile.

‘Is he just a halfling,’ Ember thought. ‘His eyes, most halflings don’t have eyes like his.’

“I’m gonna be honest with you,” Ember said. “I’m not like other islanders. I’m an elemental. More specifically I’m a fire elemental.”

‘So, she’s not a human?’ Alex thought.

“I know of the halflings that live among humans, and I know they blend in because they age like humans do. I’m worried that I’ll see you grow old while I stay young.”

‘But you won’t have to worry about that,’ Alex thought.

“I’m actually pretty young for my kind, only a few hundred years old. I’ve dreamt of seeing the original merfolk, but I know that’s impossible.”

‘We’re about the same age then.’ Alex thought.

“Maybe, we can be something more. I don’t know yet. I hope you understand.”

‘We can be something more though.’ Alex felt lost. ‘I’m not like the halflings. That’s why I had to give up my voice.’

“There are ways we can make this work,” Ember said. “I want to try.”

Alex smiled. ‘I still have a chance.’

“Meet me at Lola Sand and Sea Monday Afternoon, two days from now. Don’t be late.”

‘I’ll be there.’ Alex thought. ‘And, maybe we can go for a swim after all.’

Alex returned Ember’s word with a big smile. It will work out. Even if everything isn’t understood and I can’t explain it, it will work out. Maybe, I’ll find a way to talk to her. I don’t know.

The young elemental and the merboy parted ways. Ember glanced back, noticing how he headed for the sea. Alex glanced back at Ember, watching her head farther inland.

‘Even if she isn’t human, she’s a part of the world on land, and I’m still part of the world under the sea. If I want to be with her, this is the life I’ll have to live.’ Alex thought.

‘I think he’s a halfling. He has to be. I’ve never met a halfling that didn’t live most of their lives on land.’

Ember headed home, thinking about everything that happened that night. Alex looked forward, chest held high with a confident stride.

‘Stay cool and confident.’ Alex told himself. ‘You’ve got a date with your crush. How am I going to be ready for this?’

Alex continued walking. ‘Maybe the twins can help?’

Alex took another glance back. ‘She’s the girl of my dreams. I think I’m in love.’

Alex thought about his secret. Ember, she told him everything. She revealed what she was to him.

‘Can I really continue to hide so much from someone I love?’

Alex walked up to pier. For now, no humans were around. Just like Ember said, Triton Beach was quiet and empty. If there was a time to return to the sea, this was it. He just needed to find a way to get through the boiling water he would be in with Uncle Kemps.

Alex bent down. ‘This is my first time jumping. I hope I get this right.’

Alex sprang into the air and raised his hands. There was no turning back now. As soon as he entered the sea he would return to his true form. He began to head face first into the water and he moved his hands in front of his head, preparing to dive.

The dive was quick, but Alex felt like it was an eternity. He looked at the water and braced himself for the change. Once his torso entered the water, magic swirled around his legs and in a dim flash of light, his legs changed back into his tail again. The merboy felt the change. It felt good to return to the sea.

Trailing behind him, Alex’s tail slid into the water. Alex arched his back and turned his head up to avoid hitting the sandy seafloor. He watched his tail gracefully follow him into the sea.

‘It was just like he said. As soon as I return to the sea, I’ll return to my true form.’

Once Alex’s tail was completely underwater, he felt completely at home again. He didn’t want to admit it, but there was something about being on land that didn’t feel right to him. He knew that it wasn’t natural for a merboy like him to have a human form. But after changing forms, he knew that it didn’t feel natural either.

Alex prepared to flick the fluke of his tail as he pulled his hands up. With a kick of his tail and the movement of his hands, the merboy pulled himself above the surface. Alex looked up at the morning sky.

‘It’s good to be in the sea again. I’ll be seeing Ember again. I hope Uncle Kemps won’t be too mad.’

‘I’m getting tired though. I can’t believe I stayed up all night!’

Alex leapt out of the water and swam toward the reef.

‘A little nap will help, and then I’ll return home. No point in rushing into boiling waters.’

Alex swam for the Reef and floated at the surface. He listened to the sounds of the sea and dozed off.

‘Even if I spend thousands of years on land, the sea will always feel like home. I think I understand why mom chose to join dad in the ocean.’

On land, Camilo looked toward the blue tail merman.  He was furious. This merman was once the Blue Tail Guardian. His voice used to have the power he was looking for. And yet, he had to have passed the power onto another. Again, he was so close and still got the wrong merman.

‘Clever,’ Camilo thought. ‘You must’ve been aware of the dangers, used yourself as a decoy to protect another. Very clever, you delayed me, but it’s only a delay. I’ll find your son, brother, or whoever you gave the power too. I’ll hunt your entire pod until I get what’s mine.’

Camilo turned to look at the Mermaid.

‘The Green Tail Guardian’s Sister and the former Blue Tail Guardian. Ronen has a talent for getting me very close to the Guardians. He’s too much of a barnacle brain to know what he’s doing. It has to be luck or something, but he gets results without trying.’

Camilo thought about his minions.

‘Anika is only good for keeping Ronen on task. Once I’m done capturing the Guardians, I’ll take her soul and reduce her to nothing. She’s too incompetent. I’ll do the same to Ronen. Humans, cursed or not, are only so useful.’

Camilo walked over to the Orange Tail Guardian and admired his first catch.

‘I think it’s time to add your friend to my collection. I know he’s close. He wouldn’t leave both of you like this. I might have to find him in the ocean, but I will get him and his voice.’

Camilo looked down to think.

‘Whether the Guardians are aware of my plans or not, they are catching on. Clearly, they’ve all come up with their own plans to protect the seas. I might need a different approach. Capturing the Orange Tail Guardian must have been luck, a moment of chance. I can’t rely on that.’

'I have the Orange Tail Guardian, and I know the Green Tail Guardian is in the sea somewhere nearby. I have the former Blue Tail Guardian. It’s impossible to know if he explained the importance of his powers to the one he gave the powers too. That leaves the whereabouts of the Red Tail, Yellow Tail, and Purple Tail Guardians unknown. One of them must be getting in my way.’

Camilo returned to his grotto and swam to his cauldron. Camilo was changing. His eyes changed to a glowing red, his nails grew into claws, and his eyes were sunken in, casting shadows around them. The closer he got to the Guardians and the more he used Dark Sea Sorcery; the more monstrous and decrepit his form became.

‘My dark magic doesn’t allow me to track them. Someone is using Sea Sorcery to impede my efforts. Even with the voice of the former blue tail guardian to guide my spell, I can only see two blue tail guardians. That should be impossible, but I can't see their relative or exact location. I can't even discern what could have caused this.'

Camilo went to work brewing a potion. He could feel his dark powers growing. He was making the powers of the Orange Tail Guardian his own. The ritual to control the dark forces of the sea was very specific. All six guardians must be brought together and their voices in discord would grant the caster absolute control over the seas.

‘If they aren’t going to make it easy for me, then I’ll turn to the old school way of dealing with petty heroes. A potion or two should help me make things work out in my favor. I’ll need to be vigilant and prepare.’

With a flick of his wrist, his first potion was created with ease.

With his potions complete, he swam to his minions lounging around the grotto. When they noticed him swimming their way, they rose to attention.

“It seems I was mistaken to give you two a break,” Camilo said. “I don’t know how you both keep royally messing up, but that merman you captured was the wrong one.”

“What do you mean?” Anika couldn’t believe it. “Didn’t you say he was the one of them?”

“Anika, you know the task I’ve given both of you, but you are completely clueless when it comes to what to look for. That merman, I can sense his connection to the current Blue Tail Guardian, but he’s no longer the Blue Tail Guardian.”

Ronen was upset about another innocent mer caught in his master's plans, but he was relieved that they got the wrong one.

“Can’t you use him?” Anika challenged. “If he was the Blue Tail Guardian, couldn’t you still use him for your ritual.”

“The ritual’s instructions are quite specific. When the Six fall, One shall bring discord. The Seven seas shall belong to thee, as the Abyssal Shadow rises.”

Camilo rolled his eyes at his minion’s expressions.

“For the uncultured, to become the Seventh and I need all Six of the Guardians. All of them must fall into my claws, them and their voices. A former Guardian won’t work. I need the current guardian and his voice.”

“Then blame Ronen, he’s the one that thought he saw the right one.”

Ronen was ashamed of himself. He did play a significant part in the orange tail merman getting captured.

Camilo scowled and made a sideways glance towards Ronen.

“For the record Anika, this barnacle brain has done the most to get me closer to my goal. He’s the one that found the first Guardian, led me toward the Green Tail Guardian, and now, we have the former blue tail guardian. Despite these obvious blunders, he’s made the greatest strides toward tracking these mermen down.”

“So, he still isn’t finding another guardian. He’s just leading us to the wrong ones.”

“He’s proven that half the guardians we are looking for are in the nearby oceans. That’s more than you’ve been able to accomplish.”

Anika was lost for words. She thought she was doing better than the useless flounder.

“Now, a bit of advice. Before you reveal our presence by fishing out the wrong merman, do me a favor and keep an eye out for a special necklace the merman should be wearing. These necklaces aren’t typical jewelry. They would be incredibly precious to a Guardian, so much so that they probably wouldn’t take it off. The Guardian you are looking for would wear a necklace like the Orange Tail Guardian.”

“I’ll do better,” Anika frowned.

“See that you do, and Ronen, remember that you belong to me. If you continue to make mistakes, well, you won’t like what will happen. Both of you belong to me. I own your souls. Don’t forget it.”

Anika was furious. Ronen felt shame for what he was doing. Both knew that they made the deals that sealed their fates. They left the Grotto in search of another Guardian. They both wanted distance between them and Camilo, and they both knew that it would be worse if they stayed.