Clash of Tides (A merman story)

I HAVE COME TO make you an offer. What kind of offer? I have nothing of value to give the Governor, so what does he want from me?

From the corner of my eye, I see mother glance at me. This must be hard for her, to be silent when I know she has much to say. Despite trying to stay calm, my body flinches at what his offer could be. My heart beats with anticipation inside my chest, and even my breathing becomes heavy. A sudden thought washes over me, and I wonder, does the Governor know about the undersea world? Can he see through my facade? Fear wants to drown me and lay my corpse in its depths, but I must be strong.

“An offer? Please, tell me, Governor, what is this offer you speak of?”

The Governor turns slightly and then leans his body against the doorframe. His reaction is calm to my question; he is confident, but about what?

“You are aware of the charges brought against you, no?”

“I am.”

“Then, Elena, I will not hold back the truth from you,” he says, flicking his gaze to Nathan and back to me. Again, unspoken words pass between them, like they have been waiting for this moment. The Governor coughs, clears his throat, and says, “As you know, the magistrate is calling for your arrest and execution. Death, or send you to the Americans to be sold into slavery.”

At his last word, I gasp and then place my hand over my mouth. Slavery. My mother tries to speak, but the Governor lifts his palm while not looking away from me.

“Of course, no mother, regardless of their station, wishes for their child to be sold, especially a young woman. So, I propose we make a deal, yes?”

“A deal,” I repeat after him, wondering where this is going.

“Yes, a deal.” He beams. “You see, Elena, the magistrate, he is a man of great power, a judge as you know, and not many can fight against him. In exchange for assuring your freedom from the reaper and the Americans, agree to be my mistress, and I will protect you from the magistrate.”

I open my mouth, gasp, and step back, feeling my knees buckle beneath me. Before speech comes to my mind, my mother says what I’m thinking.

“Mistress...as in, you will take my daughter?” Her voice is shaken, in clear disbelief over this offer.

“Yes, I don’t believe I stuttered.” He laughs, then Nathan chuckles. We must be a joke to them, mother and I, poor women who have nothing but the hole between our legs to play their games.

Almost falling over, seemingly overjoyed with his handout, no, I survived the sea and lived, so I will not be mocked.

“And if I say no?” I pipe up, straightening my back and taking control once more.

“No.” He snarls at me and narrows his eyes. “What do you mean no?” The once collected sound leaving his lips is no more, replaced with a male rage I know all too well.

“What you offer me, sir, is no better than the death or servitude, and even I know death is better than being just an enslaved person or a whore to your every call. No, if I am to be a mistress, I will need more.”

“More! I am offering you life and protection, and you spit in my face! Nathan may have said you pleasured him well, but your demeanor as a lady was different than what I heard.” He glances towards Nathan and then returns his sight to me.

He’s right. My eyes would have wept with happiness at his offer back then, but before anything is accepted, Joe must be safe, and my mother bathed in riches.

In shame, I lower my head. “You are right, and I appreciate your kindness. However, how do I know the magistrate will be content with just me being punished? What about my mother and my little brother? They have no one to protect them. If you have me in your house and bed, then ensure their safety.”

Unwavering, I look at the Governor and wait for him to speak. Instead of his voice, I hear my mother call my name, and she walks over to me, placing her hand on my shoulder. Nathan stands still, with a smug smile gracing his lips. Watching his master make deals with a whore must be entertaining for him.

The man in charge of Hylnn thinks for a moment, averting his eyes. He then claps, still showing no emotion on his face. “Well played, my lady.” He bows to me, throwing me off guard. “Your mother and brother will move into one of my mansions by the countryside. They’ll have plenty - food, a proper name, and I will offer your mother five hundred pounds a year for taking you.”

Unable to contain herself any longer, my mother steps in front of me. “Five hundred pounds and a new home,” - she turns around to face me - “Elena, I know you will do what is right. You are my daughter, after all.” She cups my cheeks, looking at me with genuine glee on her features. Of course, she is happy; she is about to get everything she wants again - money and a proper name.

I place both hands on my mother’s wrist and wrap my fingers around them, moving them away from me. Emotionless, I turn away from her and back to the Governor.

“Your new offer is most generous, and before accepting, may I speak with my mother alone?”

The edges of his lips lift in a warm grin. “Of course. Nathan, let us wait outside while these two ladies discuss my proposal.”

“Elena! What are you do—”

Nathan cuts her off. “Leona, listen to what your daughter has to say. You no longer hold the keys to a man’s desires at your age.”

Fuming, my mother glares at him before moving her rage to me. Nathan’s mocking laughter is heard as he walks out the door, and before the Governor follows behind him, he says, “Don’t keep me waiting too long, Elena. My generosity comes quickly and ends the same.”

His warning is not lost on me, and with a pleasant smile, I dip my head and reply, “I understand. I will not belong.”

As he turns on his heel and exits the door, a part of me wants to thank Assan for what he taught me. Being around Assan helped me understand what powerful men are like, at least a little bit. Men hold all the cards in my world, and women like me need to be the hand that plays them.

Before I say anything more, I stroll over to the door and close it; this next conversation is a private party, with only my mother and me as the guest.

“You stupid girl! What are you thinking?” She tries to yank my arm from behind me, but I sidestep her, returning her glare with my own.

“Calm your nerves before you give yourself more wrinkles.” I snarl.

“Why, you little….”

“Enough, Leona! I will take his offer.”

She does not move and then says, “Of course, you will; there was no questioning that you wouldn’t. Now go out there—”

“On one condition.”

“Condition? What foolishness are you talking about? Elena, we don’t-”

“Stop talking over me! If you want money and a proper name again, then listen.”

She goes cold, simply standing and waiting as if someone smacked her.

“I will only take the Governor’s offer if you give me your word that you will never hurt Joe again. Don’t treat him the way you did me. Make sure he gets educated and is never touched for money or whatever else you want.”

She purses her lips and crosses her arms over her chest. After huffing, she resigns herself by loosening her arms and nodding her head.

“No, say it. Give me your word.” Neither of us averts the other’s gaze; she knows what this means. All she has worked for will be lost if Joe isn’t safe. Is it worth it to her to lose the chance she has waited ten years for?

“You have it, I will never let Joe come to harm as long as you keep the money flowing”—she laughs—“it seems my dumb daughter has finally grown a brain. Although I wonder, Elena, will you truly be able to keep the Governor happy. I heard some of his tastes are particular. No matter, you don’t have to contend with a wife. Unlike poor Seidon, preparing for his upcoming marriage—”

I am sick of her taking pleasure in my pain. He and I, my brother and me, this is the life we were born into, but he will be taken care of now. We are toys to my mother, her last chance of survival in this world. Hearing about Seidon’s marriage makes me want to weep. If I could shed any more tears, I would, but I cannot. At least for Seidon, he can have normalcy now. For his sake, I hope he lets me and the memories of the mers go.

“You have given me your word; we are done here, but if I hear anything about Joe being harmed because of your hands, I will find you and make you suffer myself.”

And with that, I spin around and place my hand on the door.

“I wonder if Joe’s father will treat you better than he did me. It’s a pity, really. I wish I knew his secret; he ages so well.”

Joe’s father...Does she mean? Instead of letting her see the shock that spreads through me, I stare at the wooden door. I am going to sell my body to my brother’s father. Thoughts of disgusts crawl along my skin; however, it makes no difference. He is waiting for me to make my decision, which has been made.

Standing here with my hand on the door, all around me spins like I am back in the sea, tossed side-by-side in a whirlpool. This whirlpool isn’t the liquid or enemy surrounding me, but my own emotions I need to control.

Everything I have wanted for Joe is about to come true with only four words: I accept your offer. However, to think it is Joe’s father I will be selling myself to leaves me distraught. Why didn’t he support my brother or offer any aid? Of course, I already know the answer to that question inside myself. My brother is a bastard, and no lord can be seen with his bastard.

Despite my anger over the Governor abandoning Joe, I must press on. Both of our dads have abandoned us, but still, I will not let him suffer as I have. At least now, if the Governor wants me, he will have to provide for Joe.

Maybe I should be afraid or nervous, but my feelings are empty like before. One can only handle so much heartache, sadness, and hopelessness. My boat stayed on my mother’s path for me, but Joe will be safe and protected. My chest rises and falls; I exhale the breath I was holding and push open the door. A beam of sunlight hits my face, blinding me for a quick second. It has been days since my body moved and saw the sun, and the pain in my eyes proves it.

Once I adjust to the light, I look around. A small carriage is in front of our door, fit for only two people, and there is one horse. On the other side, I see four legs, probably two guards. Nathan and the Governor are standing by the open carriage door.

As I walk their way, the Governor catches sight of me and turns in my direction. Nathan follows suit and says, “Finally, we are tired of waiting in this disgusting hovel.” He clicks his tongue and leans to one side.

The man of true power lifts his hand, quieting Nathan. “Not all the people of Hylnn can live in good means, Nathan. We shouldn’t call their homes such names, wouldn’t you agree?” Although his words seem well and full of concern, behind his pleasant grin is something unknown.

The guard in charge doesn’t respond but instead makes a dismissive gesture with his hand and stalks to the guards on the other side. Now, it is just the Governor and me, standing face-to-face.

“Have you made your decision?” With his fingers resting on his hip and his voice laced with confidence, I soon wonder what the true Governor is like; what monster am I giving myself to?

“I have,” I pause, bracing myself for the words I am about to say. Whatever lies ahead of me after this, I will remain valiant and keep my promise to Joe. First, I need to forget Assan, Seidon, Lucas, Mika, the undersea world, everything that will pique my curiosity and keep me from the world I have prepared for.