Magic by the Sea

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Chapter Six

Sea Monsters

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Pain. That was all that registered in Ryan’s brain. The sharp cutting pain around his neck, the aching of his lungs and the dancing strobe lights that winked behind his eyes were all completely disorienting. He became distantly aware that he was breathing.

Somehow.

He was still underwater. He must have blacked out because when he opened his eyes, he didn’t see the shore anywhere. In fact, he couldn’t see any solid object of any kind. No rocks or the ocean floor.

Just… blueness.

He was still being towed along by his ankle. There was something tight and thick around his throat and as he was pulled deeper he became somehow aware that it was the contraption around his neck that was both causing him pain and allowing him to breathe. He felt dizzy and sick. The world was a deep blue around him, the water cold.

He turned his head very slowly. There was a sluggish trail of brown in the water. Blood. With a great effort he reached up and touched the back of his head. Pain flared so bright he may have yelled if he had been able.

He looked down. He was being pulled down and buffeted by the water. A powerful silver tail was in front of him. A clawed hand was wrapped painfully tight around his ankle. Ryan had a brief impression of cold dead eyes staring back at him before he blacked out again.

Ryan wasn’t sure of just how long he had been unconscious. The act of waking in itself felt like a milestone. He blinked sluggishly. The first thing he was able to note was that he wasn’t moving anymore. Or at least, he wasn’t being pulled. His shirt was gone, and he was wrapped in what looked and felt like thick strands of seaweed, anchoring him to the seafloor. He was in a cavern. It was dark and the absolute silence of the place made Ryan deeply uncomfortable.

He shifted. He could feel that something had been wrapped around his head. His arms had been wrapped too, covering the cuts and scrapes from the rocky shelf he had been dragged from. His pants were ripped, and his boots were exceptionally heavy. The blow to his head must have been bad because even now, he felt dizzy and a little nauseous. He couldn’t quite process the absurdity of the situation.

He was underwater. And he wasn’t drowning.

It took a while for him to wiggle one arm free of the thick kelp that wrapped his body. He twisted, reaching for one of his knives. Movement in the corner of his eyes made him freeze.

‘You’re awake. That’s good. I’m afraid my temper got the better of me.’ It was him. This was the first time Ryan had been able to get a full look at the creature. It was like something out of a children’s fairy tale. Or nightmare. He was a classic example of a mermaid.

Only… his fingertips had long claws. Only… his teeth were a little too long. Only… his eyes were like a dead fish, cloudy and emotionless.

The creature’s face was almost elven with sharp high cheekbones, silver hair and eyebrows. The hair was long, floating with an ethereal quality in the water. He had pale skin like Ryan had never seen on a living human being. His lips were petite like his nose, and he would have looked pretty if not for the mouth of sharp teeth and those dead eyes. His shoulders, arms and chest were all powerfully built. He was all muscle and lean lines. Lastly was the tail.

It too was both fantastic and twisted. It was covered in a shiny mix of silver and white scales. It was long and massive with several long spikes and the fins at the end of the tail looked truly dangerous. The merman swam smoothly in water. Just one powerful flick of the creature’s tail and it had covered the distance of the small cavern. Ryan opened his mouth to speak and was surprised when words came out instead of just bubbles.

‘Who are you?’ The words sounded odd to Ryan’s own ears. He had an odd feeling that the collar had made speech possible. He didn’t know how and at this point, his head hurt too much to care.

‘I am called Firth though you will not be addressing me as such.’ The creature tipped his head to one side and Ryan felt the kelp loosen. He wiggled free.

‘I have brought you to one of the outer caverns of my home.’

‘And where is… home for you exactly?’ Ryan asked. His body felt strangely weightless in the water. With only a light paddling of his legs he was about to stay upright and buoyant. The creature smirked unkindly, showing far too many teeth.

‘Home. The place where your wretched father trapped us. The islands,’ the merman hissed. Ryan tried to shake his head, but the action only made him feel sick, so he soon stopped.

‘My father is a banker in California. I don’t know him and neither do you,’ Ryan said in what he hoped was a calm, reasonable voice. He thought he was doing quite well considering the concussion and overwhelming desire to scream like he was being murdered. The merman seemed to sway in the gentle current.

‘Look much like your father, do you?’ it asked snidely.

‘Of course, I do!’ Ryan barked and then… hesitated.

That…

That wasn’t entirely true. From the few photos he had of his father, the man was fat, balding, and pale with thin blonde hair. Ryan didn’t have blonde hair. He didn’t have the man’s eyes. Or face, or body type. He had also never been pale and had never gotten a sunburn.

‘Really?’ The disgust and disbelief were thick in Firth’s voice. Ryan swallowed heavily.

‘Even if, which I don’t, I don’t know him, I’ve never known him! Why am I here?’ Ryan said, his voice rising to a near shout. His own voice echoed strangely in the water. The merman stared at him for a long time.

‘It doesn’t matter if you know your father well or not. He thought, by sending you away, that he could trick us and spare you the same fate. He was wrong, of course. You are born of these islands, and you cannot leave them. You are trapped to the land here just as we are trapped to the sea.’ This story trickled into his mind, uncomfortably familiar.

‘You’re talking about… the war between the pirates and the sea creatures? That was… over a hundred years ago though, wasn’t it?’ Ryan asked.

Firth smiled and it set his hair standing on end. ‘Has it only? It feels like a thousand,’ the merman spat. Ryan stared without understanding. This made even less sense, if that was possible. His father was not hundreds of years old! Even if he was a pirate the man was still human!

‘I don’t expect you to understand. Your ludicrous whore of a mother thought she could keep you safe by handing you off, thought I wouldn’t find out, wouldn’t find you just because you were living under someone else’s roof.’ Ryan was numb with a mixture of shock, rage and fear. There was a faint ringing in his ears. His head throbbed and even in the cold water, his cheeks were hot.

‘Don’t you ever speak that way about my mother,’ Ryan snarled. The merman laughed. The sound was like broken glass rubbing together.

‘I’ve never done anything to you, or your kind and you tried to kill my brother!’ Ryan shouted.

‘I warned you what would happen if you did not come on your own,’ the creature said as though the matter was a simple one.

Ryan gritted his teeth. ‘My brother could have drowned!’ he shouted.

‘He would not have had to be in the ocean at all if you had obeyed me the first time.’ Ryan wasn’t one for swearing. Usually. Alice had always raised him better. But this seemed like more than an appropriate time.

‘Fuck you!’ Ryan screamed. He swung his fist back to punch. But of course, punching underwater was not then same as punching in air. The creature laughed, grabbing Ryan’s arm and yanking him in close.

‘Were you going to hit me pet?’

‘I am not your pet.’ Ryan snarled.

‘Oh, but you are now, and you won’t have much of a choice, in more ways than one.’ The merman flashed long sharp teeth.

Ryan paled ‘What do you mean by that?’ he croaked. He flinched as the creature ran one long clawed finger over the tight collar around Ryan’s neck. It prickled against his skin, almost as though it were alive.

‘This collar has many functions. Its magic allows you to breathe in water and be unharmed by the deep sea’s pressure, but it also connects you to me. Whilst you have it on, I will know where you are but most importantly, it will influence what you feel. You can hate and curse me out all you like but soon you will crave my presence. You will want me close, want my touch and company. I don’t doubt that you will try to fight it. From what I understand some humans can tell when the magic changes them, like a medication. The change will happen regardless.’ Ryan was staring up at him, completely still. There was a look of abject terror and revulsion on his face.

‘You can, of course, find a way to take the collar off. Given where you are, you will drown or be crushed to death almost instantly but that is a choice.’ Ryan opened his mouth, but nothing came out but a few bubbles. The merman smirked.

‘There is a silver lining. If you behave, if you submit and show that you understand your place then perhaps after a time I will allow you to visit your family,’ he added smugly.

‘Why?’ Ryan whispered.

‘Because a well-behaved pet deserves the occasional treat. This is your world now Ryan.’ The merman shoved him away, finally releasing his now bruised arm.

‘I suggest you get used to it.’

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Ryan was left alone in the cavern. He tried not to glance down at the ugly purple bruise that now adorned his arm. His head was still reeling, and he wasn’t sure if that was still from the concussion or the sheer amount of information that had been dumped on him.

One implication had stuck out with him. His mother kept him safe by handing him off to someone else… Did that mean Alice wasn’t his mother? Were any of his family really his family!? His eyes stung but he couldn’t cry underwater. Confusion, pain, misery and fear all swirled in a sickening concoction deep in his guts. Something big moved in the corner of his vision.

It was another merman. Much older than Firth, this merman had aged features, wrinkles and less muscle tone. There were scales missing from his tail. Other scales were crooked or cracked as though he had been in a hard fight a long time ago. His hair was short and more white than silver.

‘Don’t be afraid. I am called Den. I have come to move you to your new quarters and treat your wounds.’ The man named Den had a much deeper, quieter voice. Ryan, who didn’t particularly want to float in a massive dark cave anymore, swam weakly after the merman. Den was hardly moving his powerful tail, just drifting as Ryan struggled to keep up with his heavy boots. The passageways were everywhere, all dark, murky, and disorienting. With almost no light and no pressure, Ryan couldn’t tell if they were swimming up or down. Slowly, the corridors they swam through became less hard jagged rock and more smooth carved walls. Still round, the passageways were now lit with softly moving plants that glowed in hues of pale gold and lime green.

With their light, Ryan could see shells in hues of purple, rose, and white spangling the rounded floor. Schools of small fish scattered as they swam by, darting away into the plants or cracks in the rocks. The labyrinth would have been beautiful if Ryan had been in a state of mind to notice.

Finally, they swam upwards, and he could see light above them. The water burst as they emerged into a low-ceilinged room of smooth polished stone. Ryan dragged himself out of the pool, arms shaking violently. With the horrifying change from almost weightlessness to above water gravity, added to the head injury and trauma, Ryan stomach finally gave out and he vomited nosily.

He continued to vomit until there was nothing but bile. Lights twinkling painfully behind his eyes, he slumped over sideways, shaking from head to toe and still gagging. He heard words that could have been a curse in a language he couldn’t understand. He nearly screamed as he was quickly picked up from the ground, head pounding.

‘Hang on, little one,’ the old man grumbled. He was laid down on something soft and warm. With a flash of panic, he shoved the hands away as they started to undo his boots.

‘No!’ Ryan yelled. Den stared at him.

‘I can do it,’ Ryan spluttered. He wasn’t sure he could though. He tried to bend down to undo the laces and his stomach threatened to contract. With cold, wet fingers he struggled with the laces until they finally came undone. It was hard work getting his feet free of the heavy saturated leather.

Mercifully, Den had walked over to a table in the corner and was busying himself with the contents of several delicate bottles. Ryan hadn’t seen the merman transform his massive, scarred tail into legs, but the old man was now fully human looking with the exception of the unearthly pale silver skintone. Ryan shoved his boots away and quickly stripped his clothes with the exception of his boxers, shoving them on top of the boots to block any view of the sheathed blades.

When he looked up, the room spun hideously. With a groan, Ryan collapsed back onto the soft… whatever the hell it was. Den came over.

‘Onto your side,’ the man grunted, helping him roll.

‘Put this under your tongue,’ the creature said. Ryan opened his mouth and something solid and faintly sweet was placed in his mouth. He rolled it under his tongue. It tingled weirdly, like having pins and needles in his gums. The tingling spread through his skull, down the back of his neck and through his limbs. He closed his eyes with a weak groan.

Hands carefully unwrapped each wound, the bandages odd and slimy. The various cuts and scratches were painted with what smelt like sour oranges before each arm and his head were carefully wrapped in blissfully dry wrappings. A blanket was thrown over him and tucked in. Den was sure the boy was asleep before he even finished the job.

The old merman became aware of the presence of his king. He didn’t bother to bow. He was too old for that shit. Instead, he gave a brief incline of his head as Firth walked in. The king was clearly ruffled. He shot the sleeping boy a glance.

‘How is he?’ Firth asked in mermish. Den snorted.

‘If you wanted him dead you could have given him the kindness of slitting his throat back on the island. At least his family would have something to bury,’ Den sniped as he packed away his supplies back into their bottles.

Firth tensed angrily. ‘It was my right to bring him back here. He must pay for the crimes of his people,’ Firth snarled. Den looked at him. The silence was heavy. The distant roar of the ocean was all around the chamber.

‘The crimes of his people…’ Den said slowly. ‘I’m old, Firth. I’m old and I’m fucking tired but none of that matters because thanks to your war we are all stuck here, unable to move on.’

‘My war!?’ Firth roared and Den had to drag his king out into the corridor to prevent waking the boy. Centuries ago, Den could have been executed for treating his king in such a way but too much had happened.

‘Yes, your war! It’s done! It’s over! Over for everyone but you!’ Den straightened himself to his full height, feeling the old scar on his hip stretch.

’You won’t let it go. You won’t let yourself heal. That boy angers you not because he is like his father, but because he is not. You can’t accept that the rest of the world has moved on and we have not.’ Den said. Firth was shaking with his fury.

‘And whose fault is that!?’ The king snarled. Den shook his head.

‘Not that boy’s. Keep him if you wish. I know damn well you never listen to what anyone has to say anymore but mark my words, his being here will only worsen the curse. If you keep that boy, there will be repercussions.’ Den turned.

‘How dare you, do not walk away from me!’ Firth charged after him.

Den spun, his eyes flashing. ‘And what will you do, my king, kill me? I wish you could, by the gods how I would greet death!’ The two mermen stood for a long tense, angry moment. Finally, both figures seemed to crumple inwards.

‘Forgive me, my king,’ Den murmured. Firth only shook his head, expression pained.

‘There is nothing to be forgiven old friend,’ Firth rasped.

‘I can’t let him go. I just can’t. Not after everything they have done to us,’ the king added.

Den shrugged. ‘So be it.’ He walked away, trying to ignore the pain he felt every time he saw the once powerful king, now so lost and filled with unseeing hatred. He honestly didn’t know how this curse would ever be lifted.

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Ryan had the faintest impression of raised voices, then blissful silence. He drifted in and out of sleep. He could not really tell what time of the day it was as the soft blue light of the plants in this chamber shone anyway. He was too weak and sore to move, his muscles stiffened and his cuts aching. The headache had lessened a little. Den had left a tray of dishes on a finely sculped small table. Ryan didn’t try to sit up. He just dozed, allowing his mind to slip in and out of consciousness. Occasionally he could swear that Firth was standing close by, but he could never be sure if that wasn’t just another figment of his imagination.

Thirst and hunger finally encouraged Ryan to sit up. He went slow. As he gingerly rubbed his eyes and flexed his fingers, he was able to take a proper look around. For all its strangeness, the room was beautiful. Its first, most obvious feature, was that like the underwater tunnels, it was curved. There were no had corners anywhere, the ceiling domed and curved down to meet the smooth floor. The polished rock was slate grey in colour but flecked all over with different kinds of crushed shells.

Most stunning of all was that one side of the dome was completely see-through. The deep ocean was his new bedroom window. It was an endless stretch of deep blue. Huge thick kelp swayed outside the structure. He could see stony unwater vents of bubbling hot gases. These vents were covered with life. Glowing plants, enormous spiny starfish, writhing schools of silver fish and striped crabs.

It truly was like magic.

The stone was cold under his bare feet as he stood. There was an oddly woven round mat in the centre of the floor. The furniture was all thick limbed and smooth. A sort of robe had been draped over a chair by the table. He pulled it on. It was a bit long for him, but it covered him warmly. He stretched slowly, some his joints popping after so long without movement. He poured himself a glass of water. As soon as it touched his cracked lips, he realized just how painfully thirsty he had been. He drank down three glasses before exploring the food.

This he was deeply dubious of. He lifted the lid of the two plates. There were several neatly sliced meats on a bed of thin, slippery looking seaweed. The other plate had shredded greenery and what looked like fish roe. Ryan hesitantly took a piece of the meat and popped in his mouth, recognising it as raw salmon.

Okay.

Sashimi. He had eaten sashimi before. He sat in the chair and pulled the tray closer. He placed the meat on the leaf and even dared to add a little of the seaweed before rolling it up and taking a bite. It really wasn’t that bad. A little chewy but harmless. Catlin adored sushi so every time they went to the mainland, she made the boys eat it with her. Besides, you couldn’t really live on Ryan’s island and not eat seafood. He cleared the tray and drank down the last of the water. Feeling full but still a little fuzzy, he went back to his bed and laid down.

He laid there for a long time, watching the ocean outside his little room. He felt a thick mix of awe and fear as something large, ghosted past in the distance. From the way the thing spread out, its many limbs waving, and came together again, he suspected it was a rather large squid.

His thoughts drifted to his family. He felt confused and miserable. He wondered if his mother was still combing the coastline. He wondered if Trent missed him. He wondered if Jo had been able to get Tyler to sleep with him gone. He wondered… what they told Tyler. Did they think he was dead? How could they not? Unless they knew something about all this. Why hadn’t they told him?

Why hadn’t he asked?

He tossed and turned, becoming entangled in the odd blanket. The collar was tight. He ran his fingers along it. The material was seamless. With a great effort, he curled up, staring miserably out into the vast ocean and sometime later he managed to fall back asleep.

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END

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