Our Fated Tail

Anilena

Kasey wasn't talking to me now. It was quite funny, actually. I didn't mean to shock him that badly. We were arguing about my baby bump and he'd grabbed for me. The whole time, he'd kept a good three feet away from me. When he grabbed me, his body convulsed violently as he was shocked. I'd cried out for help immediately and he was dragged from my room. I was growing bigger by the hour and Vene was growing restless. I felt bad for him now. I hadn't meant to hurt him, but he wasn't supposed to lunge across the space between us, trying to strangle me. I was concerned for about an hour before I found it amusing because he deserved it. 

Now he was watching me through the door because he was too afraid to come into the room. I stood up from the bed and waddled up to look at him through the door. It seemed to separate my "bubble" from shocking him. "Hey Kasey," I said. "What are you going to do with me?" I tried to keep my voice soft and scared. 

I could see the ice of his glares melting. "I won't kill you, Ray. I never wanted to hurt you, but you wouldn't listen. You never listened." 

I gasped. "I didn't listen? Kasey, you came home every night, drunk or stoned, and hurt me! You never asked how I felt! What I needed from you! I did listen to you, Mr. Branson. You never realized because you were never sober enough to know." 

He stepped back at the harshness of my words but I kept a steady glare on him. "I love you, I really love you Ray." 

I pounded my fist against the door. "You tried to kill me!" I screamed in his face. "I don't love you! And as soon as I get out of here, I'm going to kill you." 

With another pound on the door, I left him to stare at the spot I was standing to lay on the mattress. I ran my trembling hands over my bump because it seemed to calm me down. I felt a kick on my right side and grinned. I was going to get out of here and no one could stop me from getting even.

I have been locked in here for four hours. It was almost eleven when Kasey walked in. After our confrontation, he had brought me a sandwich and a soda, before leaving again. If I could get him to try to hurt me, Vene could finish this. I needed her to finish this. He looked at me pleadingly before he sat on the chair in the corner. I thought of how he used to gaze at me the same way whenever he upset me when we started dating. He would sit and look at me, his eyes begging me to forgive him for being stupid. Then I thought of Eren. When he looked at me the same way when I told him he had to leave me. The way I had to watch him be dragged away as I hid in that empty cavern. Vene hissed at me to pay attention. 

Kasey was standing at a three foot space from me and looking at me expectantly. I blinked. "What?" 

"Do you need anything?" 

I snorted at him. "Not you." Please take the bait! 

His face turned red and he shook slightly. "Anything else?" 

I smirked. "A time machine because I would like to go back in time and tell you where you could shove your movie date." 

I grinned as he lunged again. This time he didn't get shocked. Vene was holding back the shield, because once he touched my shoulder, I changed and wrapped my hand around his throat. I watched in satisfaction as he wriggled under my grip as I choked him, my hot skin burning him. Vene was laughing in my head but I ignored her. I threw him against the wall and tightened my grip on his neck. He choked. Pulling to gun from his waistband, I pushed it against his chest. Kasey's eyes widened and he tried to shake his head. I watched as his face turned several shades of red and purple. 

I let go of his throat, going for his hair, holding him to the wall. "This is how this is going to work, Mr. Branson. I am going to walk out of this building alive and safe. You, however, have a choice. You can leave here, broken and forgetting I ever existed, or I shoot you here and now, and still walk away safe. Which choice, sir? I honestly don't have all day." 

He choked for air and glared at me. I smirked at him wickedly and pressed harder with the gun. As I took off the safety, he sneered. Kasey Branson spit in my face and I pulled the trigger. 

I flinched as the sound of the gun went off. Several people shouted and raced towards the room. But I ignored them as I stared at Kasey. He was laying there on the ground and I swear I could see a single tear rolling down his lifeless face. I felt the reality of the situation hit me like a train and I gasped. The gun clattered to the floor as I scrambled for the door. I had to get out of here. I yanked open the door and ran. Men screamed behind me. I held my stomach, panting as I tried to run faster, away from the place where Kasey laid dead and broken. I had really done it. I sobbed in grief and relief as the door came into view. Then man standing guard grabbed for me, but I didn't stay to watch him writhing on the cement floor in pain. I burst into the night and let out a sob, partially screaming in relief. I leaned against the wall of the warehouse, panting and gasping for breath. Until I heard the yells coming closer. Wrapping an arm around my bulge, I sprinted as fast as my pregnant self could go towards the boat. When I finally got there, I was pounding on the cabin door, screaming for Eren to open up. 

There were shots from somewhere far off but it didn't matter once the door opened. Eren was looking at me in shock as I fell against him. I heard him calling someone but I couldn't hear straight. I felt a slippery, wet sensation between my legs and realized my water just broke. I am going to have a baby. Oh my. Everything was fuzzy and then there was pain. I cried out, gripping Eren tightly. I heard him hiss in pain and I was lifted into his arms. There was shouting and cold hands on my clammy skin. But everything went black as I went under.

I woke up about mid-afternoon. I groaned in pain that was racking my body. I felt exhausted and like I was run over. There was a hushing of voices close by and a pair of large hands cupping my face. I opened my eyes, squinting up to see Eren grinning at me. Then everything from last night hit me. I had actually killed a man. Granted, he had tried to kill me before, a death was still a death. Whether you did it or not. I choked back the bile in my throat and looked at Eren again. He kissed my temple before helping my to sit up in the cabin's bed. Georgia and Cobius stood in a corner, smiling at me with a bundle of cloth in Georgia's arms. I gasped. Was that my baby? 

She came up to me, placing the child in my arms. I grinned down at him with watery eyes. I had a boy. I had a baby boy! Eren moved onto the bed with me and gave my head a kiss as he smiled at our son. His little head was covered in a thin layer of black hair like Eren's and I smiled as his tiny nose wrinkled. The boy was perfect. I looked at the three people around me with a goofy grin before looking back at my son. As I ran my little finger down his cheek, his eyes fluttered open. Sparkly emeralds looked up at me and I gasped. I heard Eren chuckle at me. He had my eyes! They glittered with curiosity and innocence. Was he going to grow up to be like his father, or his mother. Could the kingdoms handle the news about our little boy? 

I looked at Eren, panic etched in my eyes. "How are we going to take him home?" 

A smirk graced his face as his eyes laughed at me. "Anilena, he has a tail. you just have to take him to the water." He lost his humor. "What are we going to name him?" 

I thought about it. What would we name our child. A simple name popped into my head and I grinned. "Aiden James. I like that name. Aiden James Dalinan." 

Georgia squealed and Cobius wrapped his arms around her. Her noise had startled Aiden, who began to wail loudly. She covered her mouth, looking at me apologetically. I smiled at her reassuringly as Eren ushered them both from the room. I held Aiden close to me, cooing and kissing his little nose until he finally calmed down. Eren was looked at us by the door so I patted the bed softly. He sat next to me with an arm around my shoulders as his son looked at him with a small smile. I cooed at him some more, which caused him to erupt into a fit of happy gurgling noises I laughed, kissing his nose and brushing his hair. 

Everything seemed to be coming together now and I was finally happy. I knew I had to see my family before this, which made me freeze. How would I explain this? I mean, I could show them Vene if they don't believe me, but that means that I would be pulling them into a whole other world that was huge. They didn't have to go through it, but I knew I had to tell them. I mean, Andrew already knew. But I had a son. In the course of two days, I went through a nine month process and popped out this bundle of perfection. There is no amount of time away that will convince them that i had natural birth to him. I shifted gently before looking at Eren. His head was resting against the wall, arm around my shoulder, and snoring softly. Being as quiet as possible, I got off of the bed and took Aiden to the living room of the boat. Georgia and Cobius were kissing on the couch and I cleared my throat. They jumped apart and I snickered. 

"I need you guys to watch Aiden while I go lay down." 

Georgia got up and pried him from my grasp before shooing me to Eren. When I shut the bedroom door, Eren was rubbing his eyes and looking around. I gave him a soft smile before laying next to him. He wrapped an arm around my waist before settling into a soft snore once again. When I started to close my eyes, I heard a baby crying. There was a heart wrenching scream. Eren and I jumped up and ran to the other room. Georgia was cooing at him to calm him down but he wouldn't stop. Sighing, I grabbed him and peered down at him. Everything went silent. Even Aiden. 

"You need to be quiet, baby boy. Mommy and daddy were trying to sleep." He tugged on my hair and let out a gurgling noise. "Let's get you fed. I'm sure that's why you're all grumpy." 

I retreated with him to the room and shut the door, blocking the three other people from intruding. As Aiden fed, I closed my eyes and thought of what to tell my parents. Would they believe me? They would probably disown me. I can't put my son through that, the knowledge that his grandparents were disgusted with him. But I can't just not tell them either. I groaned in frustration as the door opened. I covered Aiden with a blanket, glaring at the door until I realized it was Eren. His sea-green eyes looked blue in this light and his black hair covered his forehead, falling slightly over his eyes. 

'We'll have to cut that soon,' I thought. 

Vene scoffed. 'Focus on the baby. He's finished.' 

I pulled Aiden from under the blanket and began patting his back. Eren came to sit next to my on the bed and placed a small kiss on my temple. "We have to head back home, Anilena." 

"We can't leave until we tell my family." He stiffened. "I know that it's a risk, but they deserve to know. We can handle whatever happens after." 

He gave me a nod before taking Aiden from me. As he continued to burp him, I went to the living room and started searching for clothes. I was bit thicker that I used to be and everything was a size larger. I picked out essentials, a black long sleeved top, and long jeans. When I put them on in the bathroom, I frowned at my reflection. My hair was still long and white. The color streaks were gone and it settled at the middle of my back. I pulled it into a high pony tail before walking out to get my son. He was changed into a diaper and a small black pajama set with tiny blue fishes on it. I smirked at the pictures before picking him up from where Eren set him on the floor. 

Eren started to protest, saying that we couldn't hold him all the time until I glared at him to shut up. Georgia hid her smile behind her hair as she handed me a diaper bag with the essentials. Then, Cobius helped me strap Aiden into a small stroller. I can't believe they had all of this stuff here. Eren came out in jeans and a light red button up before walking with me towards the entrance of the warehouses. When a man with a nasty scar on his cheek saw us, he bolted, shouting things. Thus encouraging me and Eren to move quickly with Aiden in the stroller. Once we were near my neighborhood, we slowed down and I stopped the stroller. Eren held it as I scurried to the front. Aiden was playing with a tiny dolphin toy, slobbering on it. Snorting at the toy, I gave Eren a nod. 

We continued to make our way to the house, his arm around my waist and Aiden making noises every few seconds. People who saw us gasped in shock or ran into their homes. I didn't understand until I saw my reflection in the window of a truck. My skin was a dark tan and my eyes had changed. They were a nearly fluorescent green, flashing with emerald. I stopped Eren and he stared at me. Vene laughed in my head and I glared at my reflection. 

'What are you doing to me, Venenifer.' 

'I'm not doing anything. You are changing. Something about Aiden's birth triggered something inside of you. The archive keepers in Eren's kingdom will understand.' 

I felt a hand on the small of my back, pushing me. Eren was looking at a police car, passing us slowly with the officer eyeing us as he passed. I nodded with a smile before moving along. We reached the front of the house and that same police officer had passed us five more times. I moved the stroller up the path, making sure Aiden didn't bump around too much. When we got to the porch steps, I took Aiden out and Eren grabbed the diaper bag. This was going to be a very interesting conversation. 

Eren knocked on the door and it flung open seconds later. Andrew stood there grinning. Then he looked down. Aiden was pulling at my hair, making me shoot him nasty looks to tell him to stop it. I tried to smile at my brother again, but yelped when my son tugged really hard on my hair. I glared at a laughing Eren and turned to my brother. 

"Are mom and dad here?" 

He nodded and let us inside. When Eren came in, the door was shut and Andrew led us to the kitchen. Mom was cooking at the stove while Dad was reading the paper at the table. When they noticed us, they froze, their eyes locked on Aiden, before locking eyes with me. Andrew was probably used to my now white hair and flashing eyes. But my parents were obviously a different story. They immediately started yelling and freaking out. I felt Vene start to get riled up inside me. My parents had been yelling at me until my hair flew out and my eyes flared white. Everyone was quiet and my mother looked ready to faint. Aiden let out a cry and my glare softened. 

"Shh. It's okay, baby. Mommy didn't mean to scare you," I said softly. I looked up at my parents. "I'm half fish and Eren had a child with me. This is Aiden." 

I stood tense, waiting for them to process what I said. When I was younger, I would spit everything I wanted to say out like this and sit back to let it sink in. When they finally seemed to realize what I said and flipped out. Mom was yelling at me for pulling something like this while Dad screamed at me for having a child. Aiden started screaming so I handed him to Eren before letting Vene take over. 

My hair grew longer and I felt my body change. Andrew sucked in a breath while Mom fainted and Dad gasped in horror. I looked down and noticed that I actually had the tentacles this time. I crossed my arms as I looked up at everyone because I was on the floor. Tentacles spread out all over the tiles and my hair floating around me. Eren shifted Aiden in his arms and rocked him. I threw him a hopeless look and he handed Aiden to Andrew. I smiled as he held him close to his chest and whispered softly to him. Eren grabbed my waist and held me to his side so I wasn't flopping all over the floor. 

"What are you?" Dad hissed at me. 

I shrunk into Eren's side. "I'm still me. I just look different." 

They flinched at my voice, so I forced Vene's voice out. Mom slowly came up to me and grabbed a strand of white hair. "What are you?" 

"Mermaids." 

"What?" 

I looked at my feet and blushed. "We're mermaids. Me, Eren, and Aiden, are mermaids." 

Dad immediately pulled Mom away from me. "Don't listen to her. She's gone insane, dear. Mermaids don't exist!" 

I looked at the floor where the remains of my pants lay torn and useless. I looked up at Eren. "Can you carry me out back?" When he nodded, I held onto him. As he lifted me, I laughed softly as a tentacle came up at touched his face. He glared but I kept doing it. Andrew was next to us and I touched Aiden with one, causing him to giggle as we reached the back door. Then he snatched at it and squeezed. I yelped and looked at Andrew, telling him to make him let go. Eren reached the edge of the pool in the back and set me down. As I sat with my tentacles splayed out, I tried to lift myself up. I grinned at him when I was able to stand on them. Mom and Dad came out and Andrew was sitting down with Aiden. I slid into the water, feeling my body change. My tentacles came together to form a long white tail, my shirt soaked, so I removed it. The scales on my chest were covered by my under garments. When I resurfaced, I pulled on Eren's arm, effectively yanking him in with me. When his tail formed, I heard his fabric ripping and blushed. So I forgot about the clothes. My bad. 

Aiden started squealing as I swam to the side where Andrew held him. I scooped him up and set him in the water carefully, praying that his father was right. I grinned as his little legs turned into a tail. It was a sleek black color, just like his dad, who was right behind us. When I gave Aiden back to Andrew, I turned to my parents. Their mouths were open and they kept blinking. I smiled a little and used my tail to flick water at them. Dad grunted in confusion and Mom squeaked at me. I swam over to them and grinned. 

"See? I'm still me, guys. I just have a tail." They nodded dazedly. "You can't tell anyone about this. No matter what." 

"Anilena, you're asking us to keep your condition a secret?" Dad said with attitude. 

I felt my eyes turn and arms slid around me as I hissed, "I expect you to do exactly that. Are you trying to get us killed? People will turn us into experiments, you fool!" 

"I am still your father!" 

I looked at Andrew. "Can you grab us some clothes, Andy? We're leaving." 

He nodded and left with Aiden. I smiled at them before glaring at my father. He used to be the kindest person you could've met. What the heck happened to him? Eren was hugging my to his chest, resting his chin on my shoulder. I felt my body calm down and my eyes go back to normal. Mom was glaring at my dad as well. Which, given the situation, I found it hilarious. They always agreed on stuff, but now, when I go against Dad, Mom is actually taking my side. And I'm not even supposed to be a real creature. 

"We should be leaving soon. Father is probably wondering why we've been here for three days." 

I looked over my shoulder at Eren and nodded. Andrew set our clothes out and I laughed as he blushed when he set out my undergarments. My parents went inside with Andrew, who was now lifting Aiden up and down. Apparently, mermaid children grow fast too. I turned to look at Eren, but he was already sliding on shorts on the ground. I pulled myself out, wrapped the towel around me, and pulled on pants. As I was pulling on my shirt, arms wrapped around me as he kissed my cheek. I giggled and pushed away. He grabbed my hand and we went inside the house, heading for the front door. Andrew was in front of the porch, strapping Aiden into the stroller and had pulled the extra clothes from the diaper bag and changed him into little shorts and a little blue shirt with an octopus on it. He winked at me when I saw it and I whacked the back of his head. Mom hugged me and told me to be safe, as Dad pulled her to his side. There was an arrogant expression on his face, so I ignored him. Andrew scooped me into his arms and squeezed.  

"Be careful, sis. I mean it." 

I reached up and ruffled his hair. After all of the hugs and kisses, Eren and I started towards the dock. We kept to ourselves and tried to stay out of the major streets. People I knew watched us and people who didn't recognize me gave us smiles. We saw the cop from earlier and quickly made our way behind some houses. By the time we got to the dock, I was paranoid that someone was going to attack and Eren was the relatively calm one. We got into the boat cabin and changed out of the clothes we'd borrowed. I was stripping Aiden out of the baby clothes and he continued to yank on my hair. I scowled at him before snatching it back.

Eren was waiting in the water for us so I hurried. Before I ran out stark naked with a baby, I checked for people milling about and then ran to the water. I handed Aiden to Eren and slipped in. Vene stirred uncomfortably inside and I stopped swimming. Eren came over with our son wrapped tightly in his arms. We scanned the waters, stopping when we saw the shark swimming about 50 meters away. It was swimming towards us slowly. 

"Eren," I said slowly. "Take Aiden and go back to the palace. I will be right behind you." 

He grabbed my shoulder. "He's not going to attack." 

"It's a possibility. I'll be right behind you. If it attacks, I can stop it. Now go." 

We started swimming again, but I stayed a good yard from my family and watched the shark. He followed us but didn't try anything. We could see the palace about half an hour later and started swimming faster. That's when it made a move. 

It bared teeth and sped up. I shouted to swim faster and get my baby safe. Eren started moving as fast as he could with a child in his arms. Vene took over and the shark circled me. I could hear Eren yelling for guards and people shouting. The shark sped at me and I punched it's nose. It shot at me again and I scraped my nails down it's face, tearing at it's gills. What I didn't think to do, was to move my tentacles. It bit into me and I screamed. Three seconds later, the shark let go as a long spear jutted from it's head. Blood swirled around us and I couldn't tell if it was the shark's blood or mine. Eren was suddenly next to me, holding me against his chest. There was crying in the background and I tried to go to it. several mermaids with blue scales, grabbed my tentacles and began wrapping them. I cried in pain, Eren continuously telling me I was going to be fine. 

I sighed a little as the blurring darkness in the edges of my vision clouded over everything. The last thing I heard was Aiden screaming.

"How is she?" 

Coughing. "She's still asleep. Prince, it's been a week." 

There was a crunch and clattering. "That woman right there is going to wake up. And when she does, I will let her break your nose for suggesting putting her to rest." 

My eyes fluttered open and I sat up slightly. The palace doctor was shoved against the wall by her throat with a limp and oddly angled hand. Eren was glaring deadly. 

"I think my violent nature is rubbing on you," I rasped. "It's cute." 

Eren dropped the doctor and she looked at me. It was the snobby woman from before. I was engulfed in his arms and he kissed me. I smiled against his lips and pushed him away slightly. I just woke up and I was a little light headed. I was examined for a little bit before I was taken to Eren's room. All the things I had in my old room was now in here. A few cool shells and jewelry that Georgia made me. Laying in the middle of the bed, sat a little baby boy who looked like Aiden, but was at least six months old. 

When he saw me, he squealed and flopped around on the bed. I laughed and went over to him. His tail was a beautiful onyx. I then noticed the little white scales specked here and there. I looked at Eren and saw he was smiling. So, did he know what was going on here? How had our son grown so much in a week?