A Mermaid is Formed

As the Titan, Astraeus, covered the sky with darkening colors, a shadowy head peaked above the waves of Poseidon. Her inky black hair flowed with the weight of the water as she emerged onto the sandy beach. The starlight glittered off of her hair and into the water like falling diamonds.

She walked across the beach towards a picnic table as seashells formed beneath her feet. Bright emerald eyes enhanced her translucent green skin. Aquamarine, connected by strips of tiny shells, hung from her forehead. She ended her walk at a picnic bench. Upon sitting, the picnic table turned into a mosaic of tiny shells and ocean sand.

As she sat there a clear pool of water sprang up, surrounding her delicate ankles. As she gazed jeweled eyes at Artemis’ sacred palace glowing brightly in the sky, a soft voice behind her whispered, “Ambrosine! You came.”

Ambrosine turned to face the newcomer. Her pixieish features were full of hope. Her dark, wavy hair blew in the light breeze provided by the trees and sapphire blue eyes were brighter than a bolt of lightening. “Of course I did. You’ve been praying to meet your ancestors since you found your mother’s book. Why should such as simple wish not be granted, when you’ve been talking to us for years.”

“Mother said no one ever answered her prayers,” the child whined.

Ambrosine shook her dark head and replied, “Gaiana, we can’t answer all prayers. Yours struck the heart of the queen of the oceans herself,” Ambrosine explained as she reached slim fingers forward to caress the child’s ragged and tangled hair.

“Your family’s blood runs strong in you, Gaiana,” Ambrosine murmured. Her fingers left a trail of kelp and sand entangled in the child’s hair.

“Mother doesn’t think so,” Gaiana answered mournfully.

Ambrosine smiled mischievously and answered, “Sea kelp wouldn’t wind through your hair otherwise,” Ambrosine returned as she cupped the child’s jaw.

As she pulled her hand away, Ambrosine noticed a dark spot form on the Gaiana’s cheek.

“You’ve been harmed, little one,” she asked in confusion.

“She doesn’t mean it,” Gaiana answered trembling.

“Our blood does not harm each other,” Ambrosine sternly informed.

“There’s nothing that can be done,” Gaiana reasoned.

“Yes there is. Our beliefs may no longer be prevalent, Gaiana, but we still hold power,” Ambrosine insisted.

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt,” Gaiana said as tears fell from her sapphire colored eyes.

“We can help you,” Ambrosine insisted with a nod.

“How?”

“Come home with me. Queen Amphitrite would welcome you under her protection and I could teach you our ways,” Ambrosine kindly enticed.

“I wouldn’t have to come back?”

“No Gaiana. A mermaid you would stay, along with the rest of your long lived kin.”

“Please take me home,” Gaiana whispered prayerfully.

With a gentle smile Ambrosine stood and took the child’s hand. As they walked back to the ocean, Gaiana’s legs began to feel weak and slimy. When they stepped into the welcoming waves, a strength of power filled her little body. When the water was waist deep, Gaiana looked down. No longer did she see two thin little legs. Instead she saw a swirl of green, purple and blue. She could barely make out the translucent form of her fins. The grin that lit her face caused Ambrosine laugh harder than the waves.

“Come Gaiana, it is time to meet your future.”

As the sun began to rise the two mermaids disappeared from the mortal and into one that only they could see.

Alice Tethysdaughter

Alice Tethysdaughter In Search of a Home

The salty waves lapped at Alice’s bare feet. Her eyes were the same stormy color as the clouds above. Her long blonde hair was matted to her face as the tattoo on her arm glowed a soft green. A sad smile played on her lips as her tears blended with the ocean.

She had played in the ocean for her entire life. It was the one place where other children couldn’t tease her. None of them could swim like a mermaid. The water never bothered Alice, not even in winter.

Winter, with its cold reminders of another year gone by; its short, dismal days that never had enough light. The winter solstice that other looked forward to with much fanfare. Others that weren’t Alice.

Alice had always hated the winter solstice. The low tides continuously shortened the visits with her mother.

Tethys, wife of Poseidon, was one of the gentlest souls that Alice knew. She was as gracious as the Queen of the waters should be. Yet she was often distant. That didn’t bother Alice though. At least she saw her. Time with her mother was precious to Alice; Poseidon would only allow her to visit once a year.

Every year on this, the shortest day Alice made her way to the shores at dawn. She would walk until she was waist deep before feeling her mothers loving embrace as the waves crashed against her frail body.

At any other time of the year Alice wasn’t allowed in the waters of Poseidon. This was better than the punishment from her fathers wife though. Hera, the Queen of the Gods, was a woman who constantly had to defend her position to the others. Sadly, it was Zeus’ offspring that usually paid the price. Consequently Alice was never allowed to have a child, or to marry. Nor was she allowed to grow into an adult. To make matters worse, whenever she was near live cattle they tended to stampede.

Alice couldn’t blame the great Queen though. To constantly have to defend yourself against the others must be humiliating. This was something that Alice could relate to.

Humiliation. Alice knew that emotion well. The feeling of never being good enough for the families that came through the orphanage wanting a spritely child. Never being pretty enough for the other children to play with. Never being polite enough for the caretaker at the orphanage. Always being compared to another person.

Centuries ago Alice had been condemned to eternal childhood. By the time she reached sixteen or so the waves always carried Alice away from one culture and into the uncertain arms of another.

This would be the last time she saw her mother in these waters. Within a few hours she would float away and wash up on another shore or in another time. With luck the shores would be warmer than these. Alice always hoped for that.

The chance that someone, somewhere would want a solemn child in search of a home. The chance that someone would defy the ancient gods and want an Alice of their own. That someone would let her grow up and live a life other than that decreed by the gods.

Alice didn’t think it was too much to ask for. Then again she didn’t think living was too much to ask for. After all if she could truly live, she could die. She had seen so much in the centuries since her birth that Alice yearned to feel any of it. All she needed was for someone to deny the gods and give her that chance at life.

Before her thoughts could finish the waves pulled her further into the ocean and under its crisp, clean surface. Alice gave a sorrowful smile as the inevitable occurred; it was time to go. The waves rose higher and higher as the current pulled her into deeper waters, that modern mortal eyes would never see.

Rather than struggle against the waves Alice drifted into them; she accepted their chilly comfort as she would the arms of a parent. Hoping that this time they would carry them into the arms of a forever home.

 

If you enjoyed this piece you might enjoy my latest book, “Spirit of Winter”. Available here. As will all my books, Spirit of Winter is printed in the double spaced format. This is a format that I have termed “Easy Read” because it allows for people with dyslexia to read.

As always,

Happy Reading