Lewis

Sophie’s hair is silky and smooth as I lace my fingers through it. It’s pulled into tight ringlets instead of its usual loose waves. After a few moments she breaks our kiss and pull away, but the soft smile on her face is enough to pull a wide grin onto mine.

“Dinner was really nice,” she murmurs. “Thank you. It’s been a while since I’ve gone out and enjoyed myself. Thank you for this.”

I cup her face and lean in to kiss her again, tenderly, for a few seconds. “Thank you for coming out with me. Have I told you that you look beautiful?”

Her sea green eyes sparkle and she laughs. “Only six times. Flattery will only get you so far, you know,” she teases with a wink. She pulls her keys from her purse and turns away from me to unlock the door.

I step forward and wrap my arms around her waist, leaning close. “But it will get me somewhere? Will it get me the promise of another dinner sometime soon?” I inquire, kissing the nape of her neck.

“Perhaps,” Sophie replies as she opens the door before twisting to face me.

“Oh…Will it get me a goodnight kiss?”

Sophie smiles and shrugs. “I think I’d insist on it,” she answers, pursing her lips and smirking.

“Well, I wouldn’t want to disappoint.” Sophie tilts her head up and catches my lips in hers for all of two seconds before pulling away. “Don’t suppose that I can earn my way inside? We could watch a film?”

“Now you’re pushing it,” Sophie replies, her grin widening further.

“I didn’t hear a ‘no’ in there,” I counter, kissing her again. “What do you think? It’s not that late, there’s no Riley at the moment. We could go in and watch a movie, your pick. No one said the night has to end here.”

She rolls her eyes and chuckles. “Alright. One movie. That’s it, I mean it. I have to be up early tomorrow for a board meeting out of town,” she warns. I hold up my hands in mock surrender before gesturing her inside. Following behind her, I close the door and remove my shoes.

“So did Riley say when she was coming back?”

“Quarter moon according to her. So a week, I assume, five days now. We’ll see how well she keeps to that. It’s been quiet again without her.”

I pull her into another hug, pressing my lips against her jawline. “Well, I’ll just have to keep you company until she comes back then.”

“You’re relentless tonight,” she laughs, gently shoving me away as she makes her way into the kitchen. Running water fills the otherwise silent apartment as she fills her kettle and sets it on to boil. “Coffee?”

“Please,” I reply.

A few minutes later, I find myself seated on the couch, my fingers curled around a steaming mug of black coffee. Next to me, Sophie is curled up and stirring milk and sugar into her own cup. The soft clinking of her spoon against the ceramic rings in my ears. Our chosen film is paused until we’re comfortable and ready. After a few moments, she sets the spoon aside, her mug following after a sip. Shifting in her seat, I then have her leaned against me. “Are you ready?” she asks, her voice soft and content. I smile and nod, draping an arm around her shoulders, I raise the remote and hit play. Sophie shifts and rests her head on my shoulder with a soft, relaxed sigh. “I’ve had a really good time tonight,” she whispers. “Best date yet.”

“I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it.”

“Mhm,” Sophie agrees. “I only wish we’d started this sooner. Feels like we missed out on a lot of time.”

“Still feels like a dream,” I reply. “But if it is, don’t you dare wake me up.”

We lapse into silence soon after, though I have trouble focusing on the movie. I find myself distracted by the woman next to me. A woman who somehow manages to make me feel like a lovesick teenager every time I so much as look at her. I bring a hand up and tangle it in her hair, enjoying the silky feel of it.

There’s a lot to be admired about her; her strength and determination, her kind heart and generosity. She’s an exceptional business woman, wonderful friend, and a fantastic motherly figure. She’s been through so much hardship over her life, especially of late, and yet she still finds a way to keep going. She still manages to keep the park up and running, managing all the affairs of running a tourist business. She opens her heart and her home to a teenage mythological creature in need of love and care. And in the mixt of everything, still found the time to give the guy crushing on her for years a chance.

I continue to stroke her hair, finding her to be half asleep on my shoulder while a whirlwind of thoughts rampage through my mind. I feel a stabbing pang of guilt suddenly as I look at her. Everything she’s been through and she still manages to smile and give everyone around her kindness and respect. And in return, I’ve been lying to her. Or at least keeping something from her, which feels like the same thing.

I haven’t heard word from Olivia in over two months, not since the initial phone call where she dropped that bomb of news and then told me not to expect further contact to keep suspicions low. It may have been paranoia, but if her claims are true then I imagine that the paranoia is warranted. Katie alive…It’s a hard thing to comprehend considering I was present at the funeral, watched her be buried. I suppose there is ways to manage that, fake a death, but it feels too much like something out of science fiction novel.

Still, if it’s true, which I find myself desperately hoping it is, then Sophie deserves to know. I can’t stop thinking about how much she would want to know. I’m keeping it from her, and while I understand the logic in remaining silent, I’m having trouble sitting on this. But every time I think of telling her, I pause on what to say. How do I explain something like that, something I can barely believe myself? And then the waiting that would probably tear her apart if she did actually believe me.

Perhaps it’s best to keep it quiet for now and see what happens. After everything these past few months have brought; I don’t want to see her hurt again.

Soon Sophie’s breathing deepens, the faintest hint of a soft snore echoing from her as she lies limp against me, her head resting on my shoulder. I should wake her, get her into bed so she gets a good rest before tomorrow, but I find myself hesitating, wanting just a few more minutes with her.

The blaring ring of my cellphone going off disrupts the moment. Echoing through the silence left by the ending of the movie. Sophie moans in her sleep, disrupted by the noise and my movements as I fumble for my phone. Her vivid green eyes flutter open and she frowns slightly, sitting up. “Everything okay? Who would call this late?”

“No idea,” I reply. Finally finding my phone, I answer it and bring it to my ear. “Hello?”

“Hey, Dr. Patter, sorry to call so late, but I’ve got a delivery for you down at the gate,” a voice says. I frown, not recognizing it. Must be one of the new night guards. “It’s not listed as for the park so I can’t sign, they need you. Would you mind coming down?”

“No, not at all,” I reply, my frown deepening along with my displeasure at having a peaceful moment ruined. “Be right there.” Hanging up, I rise and turn the television off.

“Is everything alright?” Sophie inquires as she stretches, a yawn parting her lips.

“Fine,” I respond. “There’s some sort of delivery that only I can sign for. It’s a little odd, since I haven’t ordered anything and it’s not listed as a park order, but it is what it is. I’m going to run down and check it out.”

“Oh. Well, would you like me to come with you?”

“What? No, no it’s alright. You go get some rest, you were asleep anyways and you have that meeting. I can handle it and I’ll see you when you get home tomorrow, alright?”

A soft smile touches Sophie’s lips and she nods. “Alright,” she agrees. “Goodnight then, Lewis. Thank you again for a wonderful evening.”

“Goodnight,” I respond, leaning it to kiss her one final time. “And thank you for joining me.”

The room is silent enough that my own breathing sounds loud. I pat my twitching hand against my thigh as I stare at the two large shipping crates in my office. Stacked neatly on top of one another, still sitting on the trolley they’d been transported inside on, the words ‘fragile’ and ‘this side up’ are stamped onto the wooden panels in black ink. Small breathing holes have been carved into the wooden lid, indicating something living within, though it could just as easily be mistaken for a manufacturing design or flaw. Along with the crates, I’d been given an envelope. Simple and plain, sealed tight with my name stamped on it.

I release a shuddering breath and tear open the envelope. The letter inside is simple and short.

‘Lewis Patter,

Delivery as promised. Apologies for the long wait and silence. Everything is handled, strings cut and tied off. Best of luck.

L, O.

I frown, not recognizing the initials. The letter is very short, formal, and vague. Which, presuming my assumptions are right, is warranted and purposeful.

I tip the envelope upside down and a small folded piece of paper slides out, followed by a key ring with two keys on it that jingle as they dump into my palm. Unfolding the second paper, I find a fully colored coloring page from some sort of children’s book. I doesn’t hold my interest long and I set it aside, finding it odd, and eye the thick padlocks on the crates for a moment before setting the letter and envelope aside as well. Taking another deep breath, I kneel down in front of the crates and insert one of the keys into the lock of the top one. One twist and it pops open with no trouble. My hands shake as I stand up and remove the lid. Wonder quickly replaces the nerves as I stare at the young girl within the crate. Incredibly long sandy brown hair spills over her slumbering form. Her lower half is concealed, wrapped tightly in towels, another one simply draped over the fin, except for the blue tips that are poking out from underneath. I imagine that the towels were damp, perhaps soaked, at one point, but when I lift one to pull it away, I find it virtually dry in my grasp. There’s some resistance, so I have to tug in order to pull it away and reveal the tail underneath.

The scales gleam a bright sapphire in shade, small, tightly knit together, and beautiful to look at. The girl doesn’t so much as move as I pull away the rest of the towels and I begin to wonder just how heavily sedated she’s been, how long she’ll sleep for.

Lacking a proper place for them to sleep aside from my exam table, I leave the child in her crate long enough to bring in and set up two cots from storage. Thankfully the late hour means that no one else is about to inquire about my actions, something I can’t help but think was planned.

Leaning over the crate, I scoop the sleeping Mer into my arms. Her head lolls, her hair long enough to be inches from the brushing the floor. Like Riley, the child is heavier than she looks. Her torso is light, but with her tail being solid muscle, it’s a dead weight now. I lay her out on the one cot and drape the thin lime green sheet over her limp form.

That taken care of, I then move the top crate out of the way and stare at the sole unopened one remaining, my nervous tension returning. Taking a deep breath, I crouch down and unlock the padlock.

Nestled within the second crate is what’s left of the eccentric teen who used to offer assistance with the rescues, happily filled in if the interns were unavailable, knew more about marine veterinary medicine than those who were actually going to school for it. The girl how badgered me to look through her latest photos or be her dive partner when Sophie was tied up with meetings. Filled the halls with laughter, hers and others, with her little quirks and smiles.

Her brown-gold hair, shorter and dry, is strewn around her head, haloing it, rather than dripping water from a ponytail or loose wet strands that tumbled down her back. It’s not a bathing suit, or loose tee and shorts, but scales that cover her form. A bright amethyst in color, they almost ripple as they cover her chest and the long limb that’s replaced her legs. Her fin is a bright electric purple, lavender colored veins pulsing through it.

I sigh, looking over her limp form, at all the differences and changes that she’s undergone in the few months she’s been gone. Is the same girl even still in there?

Of course I know that Mer are highly intelligent and aware. Riley’s proved she’s no different from us aside for the aquatic qualities. But this is different. Before me is a girl who was pumped full of some form of scientific chemical cocktail to give her this current form. While the resemblance is uncanny, is Katie Waters still in there? What sort of effects has this had on her mind, her person? It’s one more thing that has me hesitating; stops me from simply racing upstairs and dragging Sophie down here. I can tell her tomorrow, when she gets back from her meetings. By then, I’ll have had a chance to talk with Katie, who should be awake by then, see how she is, how much of her remains, and whether or not I need to warn Sophie ahead of time. I think with something like this, she should have a heads up, otherwise it may hurt her even more. Still, I find myself hoping desperately that Katie is still, well, Katie.

I take a seat on the edge of the cot I’ve just gotten Katie set up on. It’s too small for her, for both of them, and her fin drapes over the edge, but it’s better than nothing. I tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear. “Good to have you back, kiddo. Just, promise to still be you when you wake up.”

I must have dozed off because next thing I know, my neck is cramping up and the clock in my office is reading nine thirty. Sitting up from my slumped position in my desk chair, I roll my shoulders and massage my neck. It’s been a while since I’ve slept like that. Yawning, I let my gaze wander over the two slumbering forms still occupying their cots. The younger girl, whose name I don’t know, starts to stir. Her nose wrinkles up, tail shifting as whatever sedatives are acting on her begin to lose effect. Within minutes, a pair of vivid, crystal blue eyes are fluttering open, dazed and foggy with sleep. She pushes herself into a sitting position, her tail coiling up around her, while one fisted hand rubs at her eyes. Her movements are slow and sluggish, but she gradually appears less groggy as she begins to examine her surroundings.

Her reaction, however, is rather worrisome as she tenses, her whole body becoming instantly rigid as she takes in the room. When her eyes settle on me, her piercing gaze widening, she shrinks back and her lip curls, revealing her long, ivory fangs. A sharp resounding hiss emanates from her seconds after. The primal, threatened reaction stuns me; I’ve never been snarled at like this before, not even Riley took a defensive stance like this.

I raise both hands in an attempt to appear non-threatening. “Easy now,” I whisper. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

My words seem to do little to quell the girl’s defensive attitude. I watch her eyes shift around the room once more, a deep fear festering in her gaze. The sinuous muscles of her tail ripple as the scaly appendage curls more tightly around her body. She’s tense and sinks low on the cot. Her breath quickens, short spurts of air hissing out from flared nostrils. All the while, her snarl never falters as she remains fixated on me. Her eyes do flit to Katie, briefly, before returning to me, and I don’t miss the desperation that haunts her crystal blue irises.

The hope that the still slumbering teen’s mind remains intact only grows. If this young girl trusts Katie, then hopefully she can bed the distrust in the child and settle her down.

As if roused by necessity, a low moan leaves Katie’s lips, her nose scrunching up as she begins to stir. One tanned arm moves, her slender fingers curling into a fist that rubs into one eye. She falls limp and still once more for a few seconds before her eyes finally flutter open, looking slightly dazed and disoriented. The vivid hazel. More green than brown, with shimmering flecks of gold I’ve only really just noticed. She sniffs a couple of times and gives herself a shake, her bright amethyst scales glittering as she moves. Confusion fogs her gaze as she stares around the room, clearly trying to determine where she is. It causes my heart to skip a beat with worry that she may not remember.

My fears are put to rest as her gaze finally settles on me and, rather than reacting like the other girl, her eyes soften. Her shoulders lose tension instantly and when her lips pull up, it’s into a smile that’s lacking fangs all together. “Lewis,” she whispers.

I relax and nod, lowering my hands, previously still raised in a peace gesture towards the younger girl. “Thank goodness; you’re still you.”

“What?” Katie’s voice raises a pitch and her head tilts to the side.

I wave a hand and shake my head as I approach her. “Nothing, don’t worry about it. I was just concerned that after all this,” I nod to her form and frown slightly at her obvious flinch. “I was just worried if it had an effect on your mentality is all, what with all the chemical changes you’ve undergone.”

The teen’s head bobs softly. “I guess that could be a logical concern. But it’s okay, I’m still me, well…mostly anyways,” she comments softly, her fin flicking out. She falls silent for a long moment before; “I really missed you, and this place.” She leans forward and wraps her arms around my neck, squeezing tightly. I bring my arms up to envelope her, fingers tenderly stroking the shorter locks of her hair. “We’ve missed you too, kiddo, and there’s a lot to catch each other up on, but first I need you to do me a favor and placate your friend. She’s a little on edge.”

Katie pulls away from me, her slender eyebrows furrowed as she refocuses her gaze on the other girl. I watch the two of them, watch as Katie’s gaze softens further and at how the other girl seems to fixate instantly on her when Katie makes even the slightest sound. “Hey, it’s okay,” Katie states. “It’s not a lab room. I know it kinda looks like one, but it isn’t. And Lewis isn’t a scientist, he’s a doctor. A healer,” she adds after considering it. “And he’s practically my uncle. We’re safe here, Luna, I promise.”

The child, Luna, nods and slowly uncurls her body from its lowered, defensive coil. Her azure gaze fixates on me once more, but the previous tension and fear has evaporated, replaced with a calm and curious demeanor. “Sorry,” she whispers, tracing a sapphire scale with her fingertip. “For hissing at you.”

“That’s alright, hon; you’ve both been through a lot. Better safe than sorry, right?”

A tiny grin twitches at her lips and she nods again, but offers no verbal response.

Now that the ice has been broken, I turn my gaze away long enough to grab two folded t-shirts from the counter. I’d collected them when I got out the cots. Both are just simple blue shirts bearing the park’s logo, but they’ll do the job. I hand one to each of the two girls in front of me. “Katie, it’s probably best that the two of you hide your scales; we should probably keep it on the down-low about your presence.”

Katie nods in agreement, pressing her arms into the sleeves and pulling the shirt over her head in one sinuous movement. She smooths the fabric down around her hips and tucks her tail properly beneath the blanket once more. Luna seems to struggle a little more with getting her shirt on, her arms tangling in the holes a few times before she manages to yank it on. Katie snickers in amusement. “Luna, your shirt is on backwards,” she giggles.

“Aw, really?” The preteen replies, stretching out the fabric of her shirt for a better look.

I can’t help but chuckle as well, striding forward the few steps in takes to close the distance between us. “Yes. Here, let me help,” I offer. I grip the hem of the shirt and lift if back up over her head. “Keep your arms up,” I instruct as I help her put it on properly. “There.”

“Thank you,” Luna murmurs softly, tugging on the shirt some more.

“You’ll get the hang of it,” Katie assures the girl. Her gaze then settles on me. “So, where’s Sophie?” she asks, a hint of desperation leaking into her voice. “Can we go see her now?”

My heart sinks under her hopeful gaze as I’m forced to shake my head helplessly. “Sorry kid, but she’s not here right now. She left early for her annual board meeting. I didn’t stop her because this is going to be huge for her, seeing you again,” I admit. “And like I mentioned before, I was concerned about your mentality; I just didn’t want to bring her down here until you’d woken and I’d had the chance to talk to you. I think that seeing you again and finding out that the daughter she loves was no longer in there would send her over the edge. I had to be certain. She’ll be back later this afternoon.”

Katie’s eyes seem to deflate and she suddenly becomes immensely interested in the violet scales coating her lower limb. “Oh,” she murmurs. “I guess that makes sense. I just…I miss her.”

I squeeze her slender shoulder, patting against the smooth skin with my fingers. “If you want me to call her, I will. It will still take her a few hours to get back, but-” I break off as she shakes her head. A small smile pulls taunt across her lips, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

“It’s okay. She’d need a reason and this isn’t something I want to tell her over the phone. I can wait a little longer,” she states. “Can we just go up to the apartment to wait for her? I’m just so ready to be home.”

“I know. But it’s best that you both stay here for now. You’re still in hiding and it shouldn’t get out that the two mermaids that they’re looking for are here. Or that any are here for that matter. Not to mention the fact that you’re supposed to be dead, Katie, remember?”

“Oh…right.” What remains of her forced smile, vanishes. “I guess I forgot about that. Lewis? What am I supposed to do? Things aren’t going back to normal,” she sighs.

I shake my head and shrug. “I don’t know, Katie, I really don’t. Let’s just relax and wait for Sophie. We’ll fill her in and I’m sure she’ll have some idea of how to handle it. She always does, and either way will want to be included.”

“I guess you’re right,” Katie concedes. “So what now then?”

“Well, now we settle in, I guess,” I reply. “Maybe play some cards or something while we wait. Are either of you hungry?”

Luna’s head bobs softly, but surprisingly, Katie shakes her head. “No, I’m alright. I think I’m just going to take a nap or something. Still feeling a little off from the medication and I want to sleep it off before Sophie gets home,” she whispers.

I nod in agreement, taking note of her slouched shoulders and tamed tone. She’s chewing on the corner of her lip, and with one fang poking through, I’m surprised she doesn’t bite into it accidentally. Fingers curled into soft fists, the index finger twitching slightly, it’s not hard to see her distress. “If that’s what you want to do, go ahead. I’ll wake you round the time she’s due to get home if you happen to sleep that long.”

“Thanks,” Katie murmurs. She shifts to face the wall, lying down on her side and curling up under the sheet. She tugs the thin blanket up around her ears, leaving only her hair visible. Splayed out over top of the green sheet in wispy tendrils, they don’t really do much to reveal the person underneath. I have a brief moment curiosity as to whether she’ll want to re-dye it with her signature purple highlight. She seems so downed and depressed, and far from her old cheerful and energetic self, but she’s clearly been through a lot and I’m hoping that she’ll perk up a little when Sophie gets back.

Deciding it’s best to leave her to her thoughts for now, I assure the younger girl that I’ll be back soon, and leave to get some fruit for her to snack on, as well as some cards and a few other board games lying around the staff room.

Over the next hour and a half, I manage to teach the blue tailed preteen how to play go fish and snakes and ladders, which we’re currently engaged in, and she’s taken to them with high enthusiasm. The dice clatter against the wide television tray that I’ve set up as she rolls them. Her chosen dark blue game piece, either selected because she likes the color or simply because it matches her tail and appeals to her, is grasped between her fingers and slid forward five spaces, then up a ladder. A content smile dons her face and she seems to finally be relaxing completely around me. I’ve noticed she’s quiet, doesn’t talk too much, but her smile is pretty and shows a retained innocence despite her trials in life. The longest conversation I’ve had with her was when teaching her about snakes and ladders about half an hour ago. She’d argued in a lighthearted tone that it wasn’t logical to slide down the body of a snake, that no snake could really be long and wide enough to accomplish the feat and that sliding down to its head would only get one bitten. It was, frankly, an argument I could picture having with Riley, whom I’m fairly certain said something very similar when Sophie showed her the game.

Taking my turn, I promptly wind up down a snake and further away from the end goal. Luna giggles a little at my misfortune, the sound light and a little airy. Beside her cot, Katie hasn’t moved, and her deep breathing indicates she’s still asleep. It’s perhaps for the best. Judging by Luna’s continuous concern, constantly glancing back, Katie’s mood at the moment is a little unusual in general, not just unusual for the girl I used to know. It’s probably because she’s finally home and still not reunited yet, must be harder than being away.

Luna collects the dice to roll again, letting them drop to the table. Before making her move, both of our attentions are redirected at the door as it clicks, the handle turning despite the ‘Do not disturb’ sign posted on the door, and there’s only one person who would ignore it and enter without bothering to knock.