“...Yeah, he’s behind on his rent again. I’ve given him plenty of chances before, but now I really can’t give him any leeway. My apartments are in hot demand right now thanks to those mermaid sightings last month.”
Officer Moreno followed the chatty apartment owner up the stairs and to the apartment at the end of the hall near an overflowing trash can. “Yes, sir.” He said out of necessity. He was already well aware of the situation at hand, but played along for the sake of his friend’s secret.
“I think it’s a bunch of baloney if you ask me,” the owner began to flip through the keys on an enormous key ring. “But, I’m not going to complain—everyone and their dog is trying to get a lease here to be closer to the beach! Did you know they’ve already busted two girls for posing as mermaids? Of course you know; you were probably the one who busted them! Silicone tails! Not that I’m complaining—”
The officer reached forward and opened the door with ease.
The apartment owner was silenced. “...Was it unlocked?”
The officer cleared his throat and stepped inside the apartment. Other than a musty smell from a lack of air conditioning use, the apartment was in perfect condition. The kitchen was tidy, dishes were put away, and the carpets were spotless. On the table, the apartment keys were laying on the table beside an empty pizza box.
“Wait, did he just...” The apartment owner slowly lifted the small keychain and watched as the officer walked into the bedroom.
Clothes hung neatly in the closet, the bed was made, and only a folded piece of paper rested on the nightstand.
The officer inspected it carefully before lifting it, and he opened it up just as the apartment owner stepped into the room.
A sketch of a mermaid with short fins just above the wide fluke of her tail had been drawn in pen. Below it was a simple inscription.
“Sapphyre: Gem of the Sea.”
“Oh, sheesh,” the owner grumbled. “Not him too! I always thought he was a pretty bright guy—but I guess mermaid fever takes all kinds.”
Jared’s lips tugged to a half-smile, and he set the drawing back down. “I hope you two are okay.” He muttered under his breath once the owner had shuffled back into the other room.
“This mermaid thing will either be my biggest break yet, or my biggest downfall,” the owner spoke into the empty living room. “You know folks are saying that it was the mermaids that made the tidal wave last month? I’d like to see how a mythical half-fish creature could do that...”
The officer shook his head and began to take photos of the apartment with his cell phone to forward back to investigative services. Out of policy, a missing person’s report would be prepared for Luis Dent, but he knew it would be filed away and forgotten beside the Liana Nichols case filed almost two years prior. However, unlike Liana’s case, Jared was well aware that this particular resident had left willingly.
—
Neva waited at Enclei’s gate with a broad smile on her face. She rocked back and forth while humming to herself as she gazed out into the blue.
“Avena Neva,” Shale called as he swam up to her, “what brings you to the gate this afternoon?”
The matriarch grinned. “My children are returning soon.”
“Oh? I guess I haven’t seen any of them around lately now that you mention it... where did they go?”
“A caravan of sorts across the ocean.” Her round face beamed. “Mi’Phyre is bringing home her love.”
Shale cocked his head. “Sapphyre, in love?”
“Oh, very much so.” She turned back to smile at Shale. “He is a merman very much like her: very bright and caring, but a little on the naive side as far as merkind is concerned. They will both have much to learn, but they are both more than willing to.”
The dull-blue merman shook his head. “I guess that’s why she seemed happier lately. Love can do that to you.” He turned just as a deep blue mermaid swam up to meet him with a baby in her arms.
The matriarch bounced as she chuckled. “Spoken with truth,” she said as Shale embraced his wife and newborn daughter. “Is this our little one’s first outing?”
“It is,” the mermaid smiled softly. “Eisha would not let Daddy’Sha go alone today.” She bounced the tiny merchild in her arms. Eisha’s newborn tail was soft and barely a pale shade of blue. She would undoubtedly grow into her parents’ deeper blue hues before long.
“Ah, I think I see them,” Shale pointed out into the expanse before them.
A few calls behind them alerted them that they were no longer alone. It was not hard to hide a welcoming ceremony even if one had not been planned—and especially when Neva was involved.
Khallista was the first to arrive, as usual. She flit through the gate and into her mother’s arms with a force that knocked her mother backward.
“Mi’Khalli! Is everything all right?” Neva’s voice was muffled behind the mass of golden hair.
Khallista scooted away after a moment. “It’s... just... I missed you, Mama,” she admitted softly.
Her mother returned to her usual glowing smile, and she embraced her youngest daughter as Nathaneal entered the gate and joined them. All eyes were soon drawn to the last two figures approaching.
A mermaid with dark brown hair and a smooth blue tail that faded to lilac at the fluke firmly grasped the hand of her merman companion.
His tail was amber-gold and spotted with blue markings that ran from his shoulders and down his back to the top of his fluke. Two pectoral fins framed his hips, and the underside of his fluke was a brilliant yellow. His chin-length tan hair and scruffy beard framed his face, and his blue-green eyes glanced at Sapphyre as he grinned.
“Is this it?” Luis breathed as the gills on his neck flared.
Sapphyre grinned. “Yes; we’re finally home.”
The small crowd chattered amongst themselves as Sapphyre and the new merman slowed and entered the gate. Who was he? How did Sapphyre find him? The patterns of his tail were unlike any among the village; where did he come from?
Neva drifted forward to meet him, with Nathaneal and Khallista flanking her on either side. The gathering was hushed. “Lyra Sapphyre’enclei, could you introduce this merman?” Neva spoke formally, but she was unable to hide the smile from her face.
Sapphyre bowed, the starfish crown neatly adorning her head. “Avena Neva, this is Luis’crestway. He would like permission to join our village.”
A few murmurs of where Crestway could be rippled through the crowd, but when Neva straightened up, they were quieted once again.
“Luis’crestway,” Neva’s smile widened. “It is an absolute pleasure to meet you. I have heard much about you from my daughters.” She lowered her head in a bow. “I cannot thank you more for all you have done.” She raised her head and placed a sincere hand onto Luis’ shoulder.
Luis humbly bowed before the matriarch. “I have heard much about you as well, and,” he paused as an inescapable grin caught him, “I thank you for this gift. I thank you with my whole heart.” His hand squeezed Sapphyre’s, and the blue mermaid caught his glance with a smile.
Neva began to laugh, and she swept the two into her arms jovially. She continued her laugh even after she had released them. Finally, she opened her arms wide. “We welcome you to our village, Luis’enclei!”
The small crowd of merfolk now broke into cheering to welcome the newest resident of Enclei. Many of them began to come forward to grasp Luis’ hand or give him their own welcoming message.
All the while, Sapphyre remained at his side, beaming almost as much as Neva had. Even with the new merman flipping his tail beside her, was still hard to believe that Luis was now with her—with all of the barriers that once separated them far removed, and with all the love once held inside now fulfilled for all to see.
When the small crowd at last began to disperse, Nathaneal slipped in closer and grabbed Luis in a playful headlock. “You’re finally here! This is great!” He released the amber-gold merman after a moment when he realized Luis was having trouble righting himself. “...Sorry.”
“Get used to that,” Khallista nudged Luis’s arm. “Be’Than is very grabby and shovey.” Nathaneal stuck his tongue out at her, and she quickly returned the favor as her fins flared.
“Hey, no worries; I’ll be more prepared next time. I’m still getting used to moving—” Luis waved his arm backward and ended up sliding into Sapphyre. “Hi there.”
Sapphyre laughed as he looked up at her. “Hi.” She wrapped her arms around his back, and in turn, he cozied up against her and held her tightly.
“Mi’Phyre; Luis.”
The amorous couple looked up and saw Neva grinning beside Shale and his family as the last in line to meet Luis. Slightly embarrassed, they turned and greeted the family.
“This is Shale,” Sapphyre began the introduction as the group bowed to each other.
“Luis, it’s a pleasure to meet the object of Sapphyre’s affection,” he smiled as Sapphyre blushed, and he ushered up the mermaid beside him. “This is my wife, Marina, and our daughter Eisha.”
“It’s great to meet you,” Luis bowed again.
“Likewise,” Marina said softly.
Shale reached forward and took Sapphyre’s hands with a warm smile. “I was telling your mother before; now I know why you’ve been so much happier lately.”
Still flushed, Sapphyre grinned and shook her head as Luis drifted beside her. “It surprised me that it was that obvious.”
“Well, love can sure be transforming for us merfolk.”
“You can say that again,” Luis smiled at Sapphyre.
Shale’s expression changed suddenly, and he held up Sapphyre’s right hand. There glimmered a silver ring adorned with a purple starfish.
“...Have you already wed?”
Sapphyre and Luis both paled slightly, and they turned to look at each other in bewilderment.
Neva chuckled and slipped behind the couple, resting her hands on each of their shoulders.
“They have much to learn!”
<< Chapter 13
Author's Notes