Seen
1184 Words
The day drew on, after we left the market we set up camp in the woods near the shore. We had to start hunting so we could get out of town soon, so as soon as the sun went down we set out. Treyton and I both preferred hunting at night, we didn't get anything larger than a fox tonight though so we got back to camp quick. Being that this was our home we had to be extra careful not to get recognized, I may have not gone out, but Treyton did, before our parents died and we ran away, Treyton and our farther were very well known around town. Throughout the whole night I was patiently waiting for Treyton to go to sleep, so I could sneak off to the Ocean. I can't fly like the Welkin, but I can swim like the Merrow, and I loved it. Over the years I would sneak off and swim in nearby ponds and rivers that we would camp next to, tonight would be my first time swimming in the Ocean. Once Treyton was sound asleep and snoring like a bear, I took my opportunity, my heart was racing, and I felt like my body couldn't move fast enough. I took my boots and socks off, I sunk my feet deep into the sand, oh how I loved the feeling of the sand between my toes. Slowly I unwrapped my tightly bound hair, a wave of tight golden curly cascaded around my shoulders, my hair wasn't real long, it came down just below my shoulders. Treyton said it would be easier to ride if I kept it short, but I hated short hair so we compromised. I let my mothers scarf fall from around my neck, I took my eye patch off and got to see the world with both eyes, every time I took the eye patch, scarf and wrap off I felt so alive.
I stripped myself of the rest of my clothing and waded slowly into the water, enjoying every centimeter the water touched on me. Deeper and deeper I went, my body transforming from human to Merrow. Fully submerged, my body began to be covered in golden scales, fins formed on my forearms and spine, my legs fused into a single beautiful golden tail. The Ocean was dark, but the moonlight bouncing off my scales illuminated the sea. The power I felt being in the water was unexplainable, I finally felt free, I finally felt like I could be myself for once. I loved my brother, and I know I can talk to him about anything, but he could never understand the emotional pain I feel having to hide the way I do, never able to have friends, never able to be out in public for too long, or stay in one place for long. It was exhausting living like this, always looking over our shoulders, always being afraid, and preparing for the worst, I just need a break.
I swam i circles, trying to create mini whorl pools, I swam as fast as I could from one point to the next, I was having so much fun, until I saw it. Off in the distance there was a large mass making its way towards me. I focused my eyes so I could get a better look, my heart stopped, my first thought was that it was a large fish, but it wasn't a fish at all, it was Merrow, and he was coming right at me. I had always assumed that Merrow's looked like me in the water, but now I know even transformed I look different. This Merrow has shimmery dark blue and green scales, his arms and ears had fins, and his central fin that ran up his spine also extended to the top of his head. His fingers were webbed, and he had sharp looking black claws sprouting from his finger tips. His eyes held a determined look as he made his war towards me, I stayed put for a moment stunned by the appearance of this Merrow man, he was beautiful. Finally I came to my scenes and swam as fast as I could back to shore, once on land my scales and fins disappeared, and my tail returned to being two human legs. I gathered up all my clothes as fast as I could and ran. Behind me I heard the water splash as he emerged,
"Wait!" he yelled, but I continued running not even looking back.
That night I couldn't sleep, every sound I heard made me jump, I was sure he had followed me back and was waiting for the right moment to launch his attack. I re-wrapped my hair extra tight and tucked my ears in as well, I made sure there was no way that any part of my true self would be exposed. I tried to keep myself busy, so I wouldn't fall asleep, I made so much noise that Treyton woke up.
"What are you doing?" he asked rubbing the sleep from his eyes, I jumped at the sound of his voice.
"Nothing go back to sleep." Off in the distance a wolf began to howl and I jumped again reaching for my knife, I looked all round trying to spot movement.
"What happened?" he asked, "why are you acting all paranoid?"
"Nothing," I said, "just a bad dream" Treyton didn't believe it for a second,
"You know we don't keep secrets from each other, now tell me what happened." I couldn't look at him, after the lie I told to our parents resulted in their death, Treyton and I said that we wouldn't keep secrets, and no matter how big, or how bad, we would always stay together. I was praying that right now he ment it and he wouldn't be too upset with me.
"I may have gone swimming." I kept my eyes downcast, "and I may have run into a Merrow." Silence, the air felt too still, it was like the whole earth stopped. I peered up at Treyton from under my eyelashes,
"Trey?" my voice came out small and meek, he held a furious look on his face, he wouldn't look at me, he wouldn't speak to me. We sat there for what felt like an eternity before he spoke again,
"After all I have done for you, after all I have sacrificed, I could have lived a normal life Kalliope! I could have settled down by now, I could have had sons of my own, but no I gave it all up to protect you! You ungrateful-my parents would still be alive if it wasn't for you!" I had no words to speak, I just stayed silent as he yelled at me, I even tried to hold back my tears. Without even giving me the chance to speak Treyton stormed off into the woods, he was gone for so long that I just decided to go to sleep and try to talk to him in the morning. That night I cried myself to sleep.
- Writer
