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The Ocean Calls

Mermaid Tails

By NeferitiriPublished 2 years ago 18 min read
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In the 1800s Mermaids were believed to be the ghosts of women who died violent deaths by drowning

She sat on the shores of the beach, letting the warm sand warm her tiny pale toes, listening to the splashing of the Ocean waves as it lapped up around her. The warm sun gently bleaching her hair as she sat motionless watching the seagulls swirl in the salty air.

Her emerald green eyes filled with tears as she took in the entire experience. Memories flooding her of her childhood, and the adventures her parents took with her to the beaches and forests. Her heart always felt home at the ocean. Her fascination with mermaids and sea creatures made her friends and family think she was rather eccentric, but none of them understood how happy it made her.

A gentle breeze brushed through her hair, seeming to call her in.

'Amathyst'

She turned quickly, her brick red hair flowed down her back resting gently at her shoulder blade, her eyes darted around trying to find the source of who ever called her. After not finding anybody on the beach, and realizing the sun was starting to set, Amathyst decided it was time to go.

"I want to know who keeps calling me here." she whispered to herself as she took a final look back out to the ocean, her arms wrapped around her towel and bag, her sandals dangling off of her fingers. A salty breeze engulfed her and swirled her hair around for a second, giving the sensation of a good bye hug.

"Till tomorrow." she said to the sea and blew it a kiss, "Till tomorrow"

+++++

Amathyst unlocked the door of her apartment and stepped inside, sliding her sandals off at the little alcove in her doorway, and letting the sand spill out over the linoleum. She dropped her bag next to her shoes, and discarded her towel in the hamper. Quickly taking a hot shower, and adorning a robe, she wandered to the kitchen, her bare feet padding across the floow as she made her way to the fridge.

'You belong with us.' a voice echoed throw the room startling her and she jumped

"Hello?"

Only silence came back

"What the hell is happening?" she mumbled as she grabbed a seaweed salad and a left over roll of Kimbop from the fridge, and plopped on the couch and retrieving her cell phone from the side table next to her. The phone lit up the room as she punched buttons on the screen and initiated a call.

"Hi sweety" a gentle voice answered

"Hi Dad, how are you."

"Hanging in hun, how about yourself? Were you down at the beach again today?"

"Yes dad I was. I am doing ok, just eating some dinner."

"Well I'm glad your eating."

"Listen Dad.... I keep hearing things, and not like in a crazy person way." Amathyst cut to the chase, "It's weird, I kept hearing my name at the beach, and then even today, while I was in the kitchen I heard voices."

a sigh came from over the phone, "Hun, we have talked about this, it is all in your head."

"But dad.."

"Don't but dad me, ever since your mother came up missing, you have been hearing things, have you talked to a therapist like I recommended?"

"No dad, I don't want to end up in a psych ward." she rolled her eyes and huffed back into the couch, "I just want to know what the voices want."

"Nothing hun. They are a products of an over stressed and overworked mind that has suffered trauma and not had the full ability to process the change and deal with the effects."

"Dad, stop psychoanalyzing me."

"You know what I am saying is true dear, maybe stop visiting the ocean for a bit?"

"But dad, that is the ONLY place I feel at home."

"No, that's the place you visited the most with your mother and thus the last place you feel the connection to her."

"where did she go?"

"I don't know hun, she packed her beach basket like normal and said she was going to collect shells. That was the last time anyone saw her. No footprints leaving the area, she just vanished."

"Like all of the others." Amathyst mumbled

"Yes girly girl, like the others, just gone."

Amathyst's mind wandered for a moment, "I can't believe people are disappearing without a trace. It is so weird."

"Well hun, there are rumors of course, being a coastal town, of dangerous sea creatures who lurk the shores looking for victims, Selkies, and Merfolk and the like."

"Dad, I am not two anymore. You and mom had me fully believing in them back them, but I am an adult now."

"They are more than a mere myth my dear."

"Dad, don't even.. and your telling me that I need a psychiatrist."

"Suit yourself, but don't stay on the beach to late."

"Sure Dad, and I will also keep my feet up on the bed so the monster under it doesn't get my feet."

"Hey, Frank is REAL!"

"Uh huh, alright, Good night ya senile old man."

"Good night my precious, and remember, I love you more than anything."

"Love you too dad."

Pressing the end button on her phone, she sighed and clapped her hands, a lamp across the room switched on, casting a dim orange glow across the room. It had only been two years since her mothers disappearance, and the ache is what drove her almost daily to sit on the beach. Dropping the phone on the table next to her, she reached up to the back of the couch and grabbed a blue and purple scale print blanket and wrapped it around her legs, laying back to rest her head on the pillow she sighed. The nautical décor that she collected around her place brought her a since of comfort and homeness.

As she drifted off to sleep, a soft tone caressed her ears, the almost lullabyish sound seemed to warm her and give her the comfort she felt when her mother was near.

Amathyst dreamt the same dream she has had since her mother disappeared. She is sitting on the ocean beach, the small gentle waives barley touched the tips of her toes, and when a warm breezy filled the air, she would look towards the ocean and her mother would rise from it, and walk gently towards her, her bare feet leaving very little indentation in the wet sand, she would always reach out for Amathyst, and cup her hands around her face, and sing a sweet song, that while it felt like she had known it her whole life, never understood it or whatever language her mother was singing in.

Waking up in a fright, she sat up and looked around, a heavy storm had moved it's way in, and high winds were crashing everything around outside. Standing up from her bed she looked around confused,

"How did I end up here, I was in the living room..." she cautiously wrapped her robe around her and padded out to the kitchen.

Putting a mother of pearled kettle on the stove, she grabbed a matching mug, and scooped her tea leaves into the mermaid strainer and dangled it in her cup, just waiting for the whistle.

'My sweet child you know of not, we fear those who walk amongst the sands, heed our call, and know our prayer, trust not those who hold the key."

the lyrics popped into her head, in the same tone as the foreign song her mother sang in her dreams. Amathyst shook her head at the sound of the kettle singing, and she poured the tea.

"I must be delirious" she mumbled as she plopped back on the couch and hit the button on the remote. The bright light of the tv casted shadows amongst the room, some seemingly moving in the darkness.

She sipped her tea as she spaced off to reruns of 'Friends' occasionally giving a small chuckle, but remembering fondly how her mother and her used to watch it together. The late nights laughing and talking, drinking tea and nibbling on cookies. They would cuddle under a blanket and talk about what the future would hold. It never crossed Amathyst's mind that one day, her mother would come up missing. Her and her mother always walked along the beach in the evening. It was a calming, welcoming feeling, and someone stole her happiness.

Amathyst drifted off to sleep on her couch as the episodes continued to play on. Waking up to the sun shining in the window and spilling onto her, she rubbed her eyes and stretched. Her empty tea mug sat on the side table by the couch, dried up with soft stains that ringed on the inside. Old rerun episodes of 'Friends' still playing on the tv.

"Damn they had a ton of episodes." she giggled to herself as she tidied up the living room and took her dishes to the small kitchen.

After showering and changing her clothes, Amathyst started preparing to go for a morning jog on the beach when her phone rang. The caller ID giving away that it was a very unusual hour for her Father to call.

"Your up strangely early Dad." she greeted him

"Turn on the News." he said quickly before disconnecting.

Amathyst stared at the phone that now displayed her home screen in shock, "That, was unusual." she mumbled, but did as her father said and clicked on the TV to the news station.

"Channel 4 Morning News with your Hosts Marie McConnel, and Arthur Stimson." The announcer introduced.

"Good Morning, we are coming to you live from Cantwell Beach where passerby's found the body of Amelia McGuire washed up on the shore. For those who haven't been following the rash of missing persons reports lately, Amelia came up missing three weeks ago after telling her Son she was going on an evening walk down by the shore. Her body was discovered by a couple out walking there dogs, as what they said, is a daily morning routine. The Medical Examiner on the scene said this is a gruesome murder, and they will be investigating fully. There is no chance this is NOT a homicide."

"That's right Marie, there are currently no persons of interest as the investigation continues, but this is the first missing person to be found. Amelia was found with her throat slit, signs of drowning, and some of her internal organs missing, as well possible signs of rape and malicious activities done to her body, whether she was still alive for those or not, is still to be discovered. Police say they found items with the body that were not known to be hers or with her at the time of her disappearance, calling into question if these items belong to the killer, or the other victims."

Amathyst gasped and fell back into her couch as the camera panned over a golden necklace with a tiny shell pendent.

"Happy Mothers Day Mommy!!!"

"oh honey thank you! it gorgeous!"

"On day, I will be a real mermaid! And I will get you a real shell necklace! Just wait and see!"

"I bet you will baby! You will be the prettiest mermaid ever!"

Amathyst's mouth gaped open as the rest of the segment played. Once the news caster switched to Sports, she turned off the TV and sat back on her couch.

"Could it be? Could that be Mom's necklace? Could she be dead?" the thoughts swirled in her brain, "I may never see mom again."

Amathyst lost track of time while she sat there reeling, and before she knew it nighttime had crept up on her. She looked out the window and gasped, she let the entire day slip away and had not even gone out for her morning jog.

"I could take a rest day, or go do it now." she said quietly, as she continued to stare at the TV, "If I do it now, I could be the next victim." she sighed "But how many people are out on the beaches after dark and nothing happens... Mom just happened to be unlucky." She stood up determined for her jog.

With her bright green jogging shorts and sports bra equipped, she tied her shoes and tucked her wallet and phone in her bra, and reached for the door, pausing for a brief moment and took a couple breathes.

"It will all be ok." she said to herself, "just a quick jog, clear my head and get the blood pumping."

and with that she turned the nob and stepped out into the cool night air.

Amathyst kept her pace up as she jogged down the walk of the pier, trying to stay in lit up areas. She stopped just short of the end of the wooden path, this was the last spot of light before it broke into straight sand. She looked around, so far it had been an easy jog, no one followed her, or talked to her. She looked ahead at the waves crashing onto the beach,

"Should I keep going or turn back?" she said out loud looking in all directions. "I could turn back, and just up my speed, to make up for the distance." she turned and looked behind her, occasionally stealing a glance back to the sand, "Or I can just keep pressing forward, I mean what are the chances I would be next?"

'Come my Daughter...' a whisper caressed her ear, feeling a tug towards the sand, 'Come lets be together'.

Amathyst turned towards the sand and stepped off the planks, her steps quickening as she slowly broke into a jog, her brain screaming at her to turn around, she new she shouldn't be out there, but she couldn't help it. The darkness seemed to envelope her, welcome her, and suck her into its void. In the distance, a figure stood out near the tide line, from the frame and basic features, she seemed female with a long skirt that waived in the wind. Long hair the swirled around and wrapped around her head with every gust.

"Hello?" Amathyst called out to her, "You shouldn't be out here alone." she picked up her pace and waived at the woman, "hello?"

As she got closer, the woman came more into focus, and stopped Amathyst in her tracks, just paces away from her.

"Mom???" she gasped as the woman turned around

"Hello Darling, it has taken you long enough." she smiled deeply

"But... you.... what....?" Amathyst's eyes filled with tears, "How is this possible?"

"My Dear, there is much to discuss, but not here. Come." she reached her hand out "Come with me."

Amathyst stuck her hand out to reach for her mother, a force pulling her closer to her, like a puppet Amathyst's felt like her movements were not her own. Her brain screaming at her, it was a trap, her mother is dead, there is no way this is real, run … Run... RUn... RUN!

"There there." Her mother smiled, as she grasped her hand, "Now, let us learn."

Amathyst let her mother pull her a bit towards the ocean before she was able to take control of her body, the water lapping at her feet, soaking her shoes.

"What are you doing?" she dug her heels into the sand, "Why are you dragging me to the water?"

"Everything will be ok dear." she said smiling again with a sweet and loving smile.

"What is going on." Amathyst tried to pry her hand out of her moms

"Trust me darling, everything will be ok." the toothy grin slightly changed, revealing sharp, pointed, ivory teeth.

"What the HELL??" she screamed, frantically trying to remove her hand

"Your Father never wanted you to know, he trapped me, I was forced to be his bride, and after having you I knew I needed my life back."

"What are you talking about?"

She pulled Amathyst further into the water, the cold ocean sat at her waist now, chilling her to the core.

"My dear, I can explain better if you trust me."

"How can I trust you? I don't know who or what you are!" Amathyst started to panic, "how do I know, your not the murderer and I am your next victim?"

The creature rolled her eyes, and with a forceful tug, pulled Amathyst to her, where she wrapped her hands around her waist, lifted her and threw her into the deeper part of the water, and then dove down, grabbing her wrist again.

"Are you going to trust me yet?" it said as little slits appeared on its neck.

Amathyst wriggled frantically, holding her breath and trying desperately to free herself.

"Calm yourself child. Look, if you calm for a second, your own gills will appear."

Amathyst stopped for a second, and looked at the creature confused. She took note of the gills to the side of its neck, a silver and blue fin replaced the legs. After only the moment she took to take in the changes of the creature, she felt a searing pain on the sides of her neck, the feeling like she sliced her own skin cause her to scream and try to grab her neck.

"Let it finish, the first time is always the worst." the creature said calmly holding her hands down.

The pain only lasted a moment, but once it subsided, Amathyst could feel the innate urge to breath calmly. This scared her, and her brain kept telling her to hold her breath. Normal logic told her she cannot breath underwater.

"You can do it hun, breath, let your natural senses take ahold."

Amathyst thrashed for a moment, but her lungs were screaming, she couldn't hold her breath anymore.

'This is it. I am going to die. I should have taken dads advice and avoided the ocean.' she thought to herself, before her body forced her to take a breath.

She opened her mouth, and the gills on her neck flared open. relief crossed her body as the life affirming oxygen flooded her lungs and blood supply.

"How is this possible?" she said out loud, shocking herself at the fact she could talk.

"You gonna listen now?"

Amathyst brought her eyes up to the creature, and slowly nodded.

"Good. Now dear, here is the thing." the creature held up a small shell and pearl hair comb, "This is my special item, and years ago I saw your father on a fishing boat. My original plan was for him to be my dinner." it shrugged, "When I lured him near me, he reached out, I thought to touch my face or hair, cause that is normal, but instead he pulled my comb out of my hair, proclaiming that he was now my master."

"What? What are you talking about?" Amathyst looked confused

"Darling, we are Mermaids , Water Nymphs, cousins of Selkies. Did you ever wonder why you were crazy for with Mermaids and Oceans? Why I encouraged it, but your father discouraged?"

"I just thought they were a myth..."

"See dear, here is the thing; Mermaids, like Selkies, have a special item they wear all the time. This item, if stolen from you, the person who possesses it, has complete control. Usually this is men, and they force you into wedlock with them, the general thrill of marrying a mermaid. When we are on land, we have legs and no gills, but once we are fully submerged in water, and calm." she gave her a quick glare, "Our gills and fins will emerge. "

"But I did not grow a fin." Amathyst argued

"Yes, the first fin takes a bit. The body does the gills quickly, to prevent death." The creature pointed to Amathyst's legs, "You should start feeling a tingle soon."

She looked down and noticed scales starting to appear on her bare legs, beautiful deep purple outlined the main seafoam green of each scale. The shimmer was almost mesmerizing. Her mouth dropped at the sight as each individual and beautiful scale emerged. Glancing up at the creature she was finally starting to acknowledge as her mother.

"This is... this is insanity, I swear... am I going crazy?" Amathyst gasped

Her mother released her hands and smiled, "No my dear not crazy, you are normal." she smiled and pointed to the necklace Amathyst wore

"Remember when I gave you that?"

Amathyst nodded

"Good, don't let anyone take that, that is your item."

"Mom?"

"Yes my love."

"I'm …. hungry?"

"I knew you would be, first change is always a hard one. Come, lets go up and find some food."

++++++++++

"Channel 4 Breaking News with your Hosts Marie McConnel, and Arthur Stimson."

"Good Evening, we are coming to you live from Cantwell Beach where fish mongers came across a disturbing sight. Local resident Amathyst Nettle, Daughter of missing woman Cerulean Nettle was found on the beach laying next to a deceased body of a jogger, covered in his blood, with bite marks matching her mouth all over his body. It appears as though she was attempting to eat the remains. When troopers arrived on the scene, she was screaming about her necklace, and begging to be released to the water. Mental Health professionals feel this is the result of a mental breakdown and psychosis due to the extreme nature and stress of her mother being one of the many missing, and the bodies turning up. The jogger found was the body of another missing local Fredrick Hempler, who has been missing for almost six months. Ms. Nettle is being taking to Edwins Hospital for the Criminally Insane, pending further investigation, and will receive Psychiatric help. We will keep you informed as this story continues to develop. The question on everyone's mind though, is Amathyst Nettle the main suspect in the disappearances and murders? Answers at 11.

Fantasy
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About the Creator

Neferitiri

A hearing impaired, physically disabled Mortuary Science college student, with a love of true crime, horror, and historical fiction. I am a wife, dog Mom, and motorcycle rider.

Dreams of becoming a well known author.<3

Cashapp: $neferitiri

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