The Mermaid and the Werewolf: Adella’s Tale

Water Nightmares

Three days later the two monks stood over her, just observing her for a while. Her eyes were much bigger than anyone else’s they have ever seen. Her face was a perfect oval shape with high cheek bones making her eyes seem even bigger. Her white gold hair was very unusual as well. Anyone who worked did not have hair this long. She must be part of some royal family.

They closely inspected the injuries. The two on her legs matched almost perfectly like claws were dragged across her legs. The gash on her head was deep but healing well. Nothing looked infected and it was too late to put stitches in her injuries to her legs. The circular pattern haphazardly around her legs was not something they had seen on a human before. Some animals washed up on shore would have these sorts of injuries. They concluded that she must have been attacked by something in the ocean. They cleaned up her wounds and were surprised to find she was healing quickly and no signs of infections.

One of the four girls that found her brought her in a flower to be by her bedside. The monks asked her about how they found her and listened intently. She confirmed that she was naked, she hadn’t moved or made a single noise. No they hadn’t tried to give her any water or food. The monks asked her to get some broth, a person cannot go days without food or water. She did as she was asked and quickly returned. The monks were talking amongst themselves when she entered the room and promptly dropped her tray holding her hands up to her mouth to hold in a scream that desperately wanted to come out. The monks, shocked, looked at her with a million questions. She slowly pointed past them to the flower she had brought in earlier, her hand shaking.

The monks followed her pointed finger and saw that the single almost dead flower had grown strong and added four more flowers in a very short amount of time. Astonished, they could hardly look away. They walked up to inspect the flowers and could actually watch the flower grow, the root sprout in the glass.

“Please get that broth.” The monk requested of the girl and she quickly left. Sister Nancy brought the broth and wanted to look at the flowers. Since the girl had left another flower had bloomed right in front of the monks eyes. It was something nobody had ever seen before.

The monk inspected the girl in the bed and noted that the wound had healed even more since he had inspected it.

Then, like butterflies landing, her large eye lids batted open to reveal her bright teal eyes with slivers of shimmering white and silver. Both monks had to avert their gaze upon her because she was so beautiful. She looked back and fourth at the people standing tall above her. She didn’t move.

Adella opened her eyes feeling sure she was in the after dead. The light was so bright she had to blink several times until her eyes somewhat adjusted. There was still a hazy grey around everything she was seeing and she saw people standing over her. She felt safe but nothing else.

“Hello.” Sister Nancy sat at the edge of the bed.

Adella could only give a slight confused smile back. No words came to her mouth.

“Can you speak?” Sister Nancy quietly asked.

Adella only smiled at her. She was not sure she could understand what she was saying, it sounded muffled and distorted but still, no words came to her mouth.

“Can you sit up? You need to eat something.” Sister Nancy put as much kindness in her voice as possible and motioned for her to sit on the bed with and hand out to help her.

Adella just kept smiling but reached out her hand. She was so graceful and her fingers were so long. She took hold of Sister Nancy’s hand and let her help her up.

Sister Nancy felt this pulse of goodness and happiness flow through her body upon taking Adella’s hand. It made her smile, like she had touched something so rare and special. Once she was up she handed her the bowl and a spoon.

Adella looked at her in confusion, so Sister Nancy showed her how to use it. Adella took the spoon and brought the broth to her lips, it was good and warm making Adella feel welcome. She ate the rest of the bowl in short order feeling hungry maybe.

“Can you standing up?” Sister Nancy showed her what she meant and held out her hand. Adella stood up for her but felt very dizzy and fell back on the bed. “Okay, no standing for now. I am just glad you ate something. Can we sit here together for a bit?” Adella just smiled at her with a blank look on her face.

As they sat there 2 more flowers bloomed.

“Sister Nancy, Sister Nancy…..” A breathless girl came to the door. She stopped as soon as she saw that the beach lady was sitting up. She was even more beautiful than she imagined she would be.

“Yes, Lady Catherine.”

“Umm…well….um you need to see our grain stores.” She looked at the monks. “They are overflowing.”

Everyone stood there looking at the grain storage silo and watched the seeds roll out of the windows. They had to work so hard to eke out a living where they were, it was alway a concern about having enough food for the winter months. The monks walked away talking to each other. After a bit they approached Sister Nancy.

“We need to take her to the Monastery.” It wasn’t a question.

Sister Nancy took a deep breath and stood in their way “That will not be possible. She is our guest. My request of you was only medical in nature. I do believe that you have succeeded in that request.” She did not blink. “The Abby thanks you for your services, but our guest is staying here.” It was not retort, she stated a fact.

All the Sisters and the girls were suddenly aware of the stare down happening. As the Sisters moved to stand behind Sister Nancy so did the young girls.

The head monk looked over all of the them and then up to the window in which Adella was staying in.

“We are going to be reporting these strange things to the Pope.” The monk turned to head to his room. “We will be back.”

Lady Catherine stood at her door way, watching her sleep. She was listening to all the chatter about her. Was she an Angel? Was she the Holy Spirit? She looked just like a woman to her. She slowly stepped into the room, drawn towards her. She wanted to touch her. She was magical.

She stood over her watching her sleep. Then she saw her eyes flutter open, filled with fear. Adella reached out for the girl, wanting to scream but nothing came out. She was so afraid, so afraid of the water in her dream. Her breathing heavy she hugged Lady Catherine’s arm for comfort.

Lady Catherine put her other hand on her head and they stood like that for some time. She was just a girl and had no idea what this woman needed, but she was compelled to stay with her, hug her.

Eventually Adella released her arm and Lady Catherine stepped back smiling at her. Something about her made her feel so good inside. They looked at each other “Are you hungry again?” Lady Catherine patted her stomach and pretended to use a spoon.

Adella sat up on the edge of the bed and smiled at her but she still looked distraught. “Okay, I will be right back.” Catherine rushed out the room and got her a bowl of soup this time. Making sure it was warm she put a piece of bread on the plate too.

Upon her return Adella was still sitting on the edge of the bed touching the braid in her hair. “I did that.” Catherine smiled as she set the soup and bread down for her.

Adella reached for the bread and held it up to the girl, her brow furrowed. “You eat that too.” She took a piece and put it in her mouth and chewed it with a smile. “We are going to have plenty of this now that the grain bin is full.”

Adella copied her and put some bread in her mouth and chewed it. She smiled at the girl.

“Then you can do this.” She took another piece of bread and dipped into the soup and ate it.

Adella copied her and her eyes went wide with surprise and quickly ate the rest of it.

“I wonder where you are from?” Catherine was just talking. “You don’t look like anyone I have ever met. You know they think you are an Angel from Heaven.” She paused “Well, I hope you are happy here. I like having you here.” She smiled and took her dishes back to the kitchen.

Adella just watched her walk away. Feeling much better having something warm in her belly. She looked back at her bed and didn’t want to lay down, every time she closed her eyes she was surrounded by swirling water and it was terrifying for her.