Take me to the Deepest Blue

E-20. Louise glanced at the cabin seat number. She threw her backpack onto the seat and picked up her carry-on to place it in the luggage compartment. A man who sat across from her got up and motioned to see if she needed help. She shook her head with a half-smile and mouthed ‘I got this.’ Despite her petite size, she was physically fit, and probably stronger than most men she knew. Aside from being sarcastic and bold, she was known to be self-sufficient and fiercely independent. She’d never felt she needed anyone, nor wanted to be committed to anyone—until Nick came long. While they did put an indefinite pause on their relationship, she never thought she’d see the end of it, but this was becoming more evident ever since Narya appeared.

As she settled comfortably into her seat with the airplane blanket tucked around her, she put on her headphones and closed her eyes. She had drifted off under the hypnotic spell of Daniel Caesar’s voice when an unwelcome tap on her shoulder woke her up.

“Pete! How humbling of you to come into economy class where us peasants sit.”

She and Pete had parted ways during boarding; she knew he had upgraded his own seat, abandoning her in the economy section.

“Is anyone sitting here?”

“Nick will be, and I think he’s almost here. He just texted me.” She winced as he sat on her blanket and wanted to pull it out from under him before it picked up his scent.

“Good—I want to talk to you before he gets here.” He held a champagne glass—one of the business-class perks.

“Oh, please. We went over this three times already. What kind of idiot do you take me for?” She rolled her eyes and started to put her headphones back on.

“All right, all right. So where’s the girl? She’s still coming, right?” He suddenly felt alarmed at Narya’s absence.

“Yeah, yeah. Nick said she had to delay her flight by a day to attend to some personal stuff.” Pete’s eyes darkened with concern. “And no, he didn’t explain what. But I’m sure everything is still going according to your genius plan.”

“Uh-huh.” He rubbed his chin, his glasses sliding down as he nodded.

“Look. She’ll be there. Nick was pretty affirmative.”

Pete took a big gulp of his champagne. “Does he—did you tell him about our plan?”

“No, I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

“Right. No, probably for the best. He’s pretty taken by her, isn’t he?”

“Well, I wouldn’t know.” Louise grabbed his glass and drank the rest of his business-class perk.

“Do I detect some jealousy?” Pete jokingly nudged her with his elbow, and she grew more annoyed. Another touch and she knew she’d punch him in the chest. Hard.

“I think it’s time for you to get back to your fancy cabin, Pete.” She forcibly pulled her blanket from under him, almost causing him to lose balance.

“Just let me know when Nick gets here.” He frowned at her bluntness but smiled agreeably. She was a much-needed ally in this situation.

The water was calm as she swam at a leisurely pace with migrating whale sharks. The gentle giants encircled her at first, curious to spot a lone mermaid so far from her original grid. One young male brushed against her with his pectoral fin before swimming away to join the stately procession. She was in no rush, as she was already ahead of her schedule, and took in all the underwater sights she had missed during the past few days. She had few transitions left, and although the reality unnerved her, a rebellious part of her craved to test Keames’s theory.

The ocean floor was delicately lit by the full moon. A perfectly orchestrated school of angelfish danced around her before scurrying off toward their destination. A lone tiger shark moved in the distance, its shadow mirrored over the open ocean floor. As she made her way into the Indian Ocean, she felt a change in temperature, and more foreign fishes came into sight. A Southern right whale, which she’d only ever read about in Nick’s books, swam toward her. From its body language, the whale was as nervous as she, and she was so transfixed by its presence, they almost collided before it swerved out of her way.

She spotted a seagrass meadow from a distance and knew she was close to another grid. This was her cue to stop and ask for directions. Though she knew the Caribbean Sea like the back of her hand, she had not the slightest idea of how to get to this particular island from the Indian Ocean. She slowed down and looked around carefully to see if she could spot a group of merpeople. Rumor had it that those who reside on this side of the ocean were of a shyer, more skittish breed. As she made her way into the narrow opening of a deep trench, she found herself surrounded by a few dozen black swallowers, eyeing her unwelcomed presence. There, in the midst of the darkness, she spotted the bright reflection of a mermaid’s tail. She approached carefully so as not to scare her away. It was obvious her tail was still not of mature formation. Some of her scales were still shedding in preparation for the new, brighter ones that would eventually replace them. Her skin was darker than most mermaids she’d come across.

Narya smiled at her and tried to appear calm and unobtrusive. She wondered if her thoughts were being transmitted as she watched the girl’s blank expression and hollow eyes. She swam a bit closer, and her sudden change of pace inadvertently spooked the mermaid, who bolted away. The cavernous area was dark, and vampire octopuses lurked nearby, making Narya think twice about chasing after her.

As she turned away, ready to search for a friendlier grid, she felt a gentle tap on her arm. A mermaid about her age, who bore a striking resemblance to the young mermaid, had somehow materialized. Her hair was dark, unruly, and long, reaching below her waist. Narya was able to obtain the information she needed from her, but there seemed to be something else the mermaid wanted. Her eyes were large and emitted a strange sadness, and as Narya stared into them, she sensed a warning from her about the place she was heading to.

An unexpected, powerful current sliced through the water, and her vision, along with all of her other senses, became clouded. In the blink of an eye, she found herself alone again, staring into the darkened cave that held a lifetime of mystery.

The water was dark and murky as she navigated the foreign territory. There were no signs of other mermaids, but she sensed them nearby or occasionally spotted a familiar glimmer from a tail. She focused on looking straight ahead, trying hard to keep the mental map communicated to her by the mermaid, but her mind was preoccupied with invisible threats lurking in every corner.

She felt it before she saw it: the shadow of a large fish hovering over her. An innate sense of relief swarmed over her. Grey. She quickly swam ahead and felt his snout poking her belly, a familiar gesture that showed his affection. With the large shark swimming beside her, she felt as though she were invincible in this foreign part of the sea.

“What time is Narya arriving?”

“Huh?”

Nick snapped out of his daze and found Louise glowering back at him. He had been thinking about Narya’s journey underwater the whole time he was on the plane. When she had agreed to go, she explained at length the hassle it was for her to fly, along with many excuses, all pointing to the fact that she was terrified to be on a plane again. When she had proposed swimming to Tanzania and meeting them there, he could only shake his head in disbelief. This was his parallel reality—having a debate on whether to swim or fly to their destination with a mermaid, and a stubborn one at that.

When they had agreed to meet in Stonetown, the city on the coast of the Unguja island in Zanzibar, the first stop of their journey in Tanzania, they had to figure out the exact spot where he would wait for her. It took a few hours to figure out the many different beaches on the island, but they finally settled on one that had no hotels or tourist traffic nearby. Narya reassured him she would simply ask for directions, and as much as he wanted her to elaborate on the subject, he dismissed the thought. Ever since she had stopped by the lab with that distressing look on her face, she feared for her safety. He tried to avoid asking her mermaid-related questions in case he scared her again. They had ended the evening with a movie of her choice—one not starring Ken Lauer.

The next morning, they took Pete’s speedboat and drove it far from shore until the island was a small dot. Though he knew Narya was returning to her natural habitat, he couldn’t help feeling he was sending her into the unknown, somewhere far beyond his reach or protection. Not that he had really offered her any—if anything, she was more than capable in taking care of herself and others, and all he could really do was to stand by back and watch in awe. Letting her go was a difficult thing to do. He wanted to turn the boat around and convince her otherwise, but her excited anticipation of being back in the water set his mind at ease. He knew she was glad to be returning to the deep blue where everything was familiar—not a bad place to be.

“You ready?” He turned off the boat engine and admired her from where he sat. Her hair was ruffled by the wind, and her eyes were wild with excitement as she stared at the open sea, a hypnotic oasis for the both of them.

“Yes.”

Before she dove into the water, she turned back and gave him a playful wink. He watched her dive—the girl he found himself undeniably attracted to, transformed into a siren of the sea. This time, she did not resurface, and he wondered whether any of it had been real. Had she really just turn into a mermaid? He looked at where she had sat, and her absence made his heart sting. He cursed himself for having become so weak.

Tonight, he was on the shore of Unguja island, the spot he and Narya decided on—their meeting point. This morning, since arriving in Zanzibar, he had been distracted by thoughts of Narya. Would she make it?

Louise pinched his arm a few times to make sure he was listening to her. Obviously, he wasn’t and didn’t pay the least attention to anything she said. Pete laughed off his absentmindedness and blamed jetlag, but Nick sensed she knew something was up. She said nothing; instead, she fumed silently and glared at him whenever she caught him in a daze.

When he excused himself after dinner, he told them he wanted to explore the city on foot. He took the number of a cab driver from the hotel then made for the door. Narya and he had agreed on her surfacing in the evening, but they hadn’t specified a time. It all depended on how fast she would get here, if she didn’t get lost on the way. He made his way to the beach, settled down on the sand, and dug a hole for his feet. Feeling the warm sand under his soles was one of the best sensations he’d become accustomed to since he moved to the Bahamas. That and the starry skies that knew no limits. He stared into the darkened African sky and counted the stars as he waited for his mermaid to make her long-awaited appearance.

He barely noticed the two hours or more that passed. The evening breeze was a welcoming contrast to the humid temperature that lingered in the air. He sat on the sand, watching the dark waves roll in and out, a natural certainty he’d always enjoyed observing. As a new wave swept in, he thought he spotted a distinctive movement—the flutter of a fish tail that emerged from the water. He jumped up and ran to the edge of the water.

Narya’s face was abovewater, her features glowing and her eyes shining as she signaled to him. He wanted to reach his out hand to her, but he had forgotten something.

“Oh, shit.”

“What?” She waited in the water, her mermaid body safely submerged, hidden from the outside world.

“I forgot your clothes.” He couldn’t believe that he had forgotten such an important detail. They had been left it by the door as he rushed to meet her.

“Well, then, give me your clothes,” she said, motioning impatiently.

“What?”

“I can’t walk around here naked.”

“What am I supposed to wear?”

“Well, don’t you have underwear? Just give me your clothes, Nick.”

He opened his mouth, trying to formulate an alternative to stripping down to his boxers, then shortly realizing this was the only quick and logical solution. He took off his shirt and brought it to Narya, opening it wide and turning around so that she could undergo her transition. She no longer groaned in pain, nor did he hear her breathing quicken as he had before. He heard her stand, her feet splashing the water as she stabilized.

“Wait!”

He felt her hand tug at his pants.

“I’ll need these, too.”

He shook his head in defeat and unbuckled his pants and handed them to her over his shoulder.

“Thanks.”

She came up behind him, and he turned to her. She stood before him in a shirt too large and his pants folded several times around her waist to keep them from falling. He couldn’t help but smile at how ridiculous she looked, and she shrugged at his reaction.

“I wouldn’t look so funny if you had brought my clothes.”

She was displeased with her appearance, and it seemed to him the first time she actually cared about what she wore.

“Well, I think you look just fine.”

They walked away from the beach toward the lights in the city that sparkled in the night.

“This reminds me of the first day we met,” he said.

She giggled softly as she recalled how he first found her on the shore.

“Alright, let’s get going. I think Pete and Lou will be wondering where I am.”

Pete sat upright in his chair, listening intently to the person on the other line. Their conversation sounded very top secret, and though Louise tried to eavesdrop, Pete wasn’t speaking much and seemed to be taking instructions. They were in the empty hotel lounge by themselves. Tourists preferred being out of the hotel, which worked out even better, since Pete insisted they go over the details of the plan for the next few days. He didn’t divulge much to her except that she was to distract Nick tomorrow afternoon while he took Narya to a lab.

When he finally hung up, he scribbled more notes in his book. She craned her neck to see if she could make out any interesting information but couldn’t get a clear view.

“All right. My colleague, Mike-something, is coming over tomorrow for breakfast, and he’ll take me and Narya to the lab while you—”

“Yes, I know, distract Nick.” Louise had her doubts about this plan. What would Nick do when he found out what they were up to? This seemed like a pretty low move, even for her. But Pete had promised over and over again to include her in the research that would revolutionize marine biology, and all the accolades and possible grants that awaited her were too tempting to turn down. She had shoved her uncertainties aside along with any goodwill she had felt toward Narya.

“Your colleague’s name is Mike-something?” Pete was horrible at organizing anything, and now she was having another round of doubts about this risky project.

“Hey, I don’t know anyone’s last name. What’s yours, Smith?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Pratt.”

“See? I don’t care much for formalities.” Already tipsy, he staggered over to the bar and ordered another drink for himself. “Anything for you, Miss Pratt?”

“I’m good. I’d rather be sober for the big plan tomorrow.” She was tired, her mind constantly busy with thoughts of Nick’s inevitable disappointment in her. But then, this could all be a big misunderstanding. Mermaids, she thought to herself, and scoffed aloud. If Pete was wrong, they would all have a big laugh and go home. But if he were right . . . She pursed her lips. Then it would change everything.

Stonetown was as vibrantly alive at night as it was that afternoon when they arrived. The old town was filled with imposing, ancient-looking architecture of Arabic influence, and the lack of adequate lighting left it looking mythical at night. The busy streets were filled with people, excited to be out and about, chatting loudly or selling food and goods from the stands that crowded every corner. Local vendors called out to them as they passed by, others eagerly greeted them in English. Nick wanted to get Narya back to the hotel, but her curiosity slowed her usual pace. To make matters worse, he wore nothing but his boxers and tried to ignore some very disapproving glares, some people yelling at him in a language he didn’t understand. He stopped by a stand to buy a touristy T-shirt and what he could only assume were second-hand swimming trunks.

“These can’t seriously cost this much.” He handed a fifty-dollar bill to the smiling vendor who had sold him the mismatched items.

“Can we go this way?” Narya was already walking away from him as he put on the swimming trunks. Trying to catch up with her, he cursed while tripping over his own legs.

“Hey—the hotel is not this way!”

Narya was transfixed by the exoticness of the setting and continued on ahead of him. As they walked, she paused at every food stand to inhale the pungent smell of local herbs and spices, shying away from the ones that proudly showcased freshly grilled seafood skewers.

Small children trailed behind them, laughing and pointing at their foreignness, and Narya reciprocated with her bell-like laughter. Soon, they were surrounded by large crowds of children, some braiding Narya’s waist-long hair, which she didn’t seem to mind. Nick watched her, enchanted by her charms. She was a stranger to this place, but in less than an hour, she had become immersed in the local culture so effortlessly. He found himself wishing transitions could be endless, as Ken had guessed. That she could belong in both worlds without being forced to choose. He would be lost if she chose to leave.

When he was finally able to pull her away from the children, they entered a narrow alleyway dimly lit by small candles and kerosene lanterns.

“Wewe! Wewe!” A frail-looking elderly woman reached out to Narya, her sunken eyes open wide in shock. Her dark skin glowed under the candlelight, and she spoke in the local language, frantically sputtering out words they couldn’t understand.

Narya stood still as the woman pulled her close, their foreheads almost touching. She whispered to Narya, her lips moving fast, as though chanting an unknown spell.

“Hatari. Hatari . . .” The woman kept repeating the same words, and her grip on Narya tightened.

Other vendors began to murmur, and approached them looking concerned. They had attracted unwanted attention, and Nick stepped in and gently pulled Narya away.

“Let’s go.” He had his arm around her, and as they made their way out the alleyway, the woman rushed toward them and tried to block their way.

Nick let Narya go ahead of him while the woman grabbed unto his arm. A glimpse of her profile showed a familiar scarring on her neck. The scars blended in with the wrinkles on her skin, but the memory of Narya’s gills was still fresh in his mind. He managed to detach himself from the seemingly distressed woman. As he turned, he searched for Narya frantically with his eyes, before finding her standing near a food stand ahead, safe and out of the alleyway. He looked back to where they came but could no longer see the woman.

“Well, that was weird.” Narya rubbed her arm, recalling the woman’s tight grip.

“Yeah.” Nick was lost in his thoughts. He wanted to tell Narya what he had seen, but he was afraid the information would set her off again. In retrospect, perhaps they were just scars. It could mean nothing at all.

“This way,” he said, ushering her through the crowds in the alleyway until they had made their way back to the hotel entrance.

The hotel was nestled in an old building in the heart of Stonetown. A sultan’s ancient residence had been converted, and it still retained its palatial charm. As they walked through the open courtyard, a stray cat skittered by and hissed at them before being shooed away by a hotel staff member.

“Hello, Jambo.” He was dressed in a white tunic with an intricately sewn decorative pattern on the neckline and wore a matching kufi hat. “My name is Baraka. Welcome to Stonetown Palace Hotel.” He presented a reassuring smile and gestured for them to follow him.

“This place is beautiful,” Narya said, her eyes taking in the details of the splendid building. The tall, white stone walls were more than a dozen feet high, and the white, marble floors were impeccably maintained and sparkled under the moonlight.

Baraka led them to Narya’s room, between Nick’s and Louise’s, and he offered a quick tour of the room.

“I think we’re good.” Nick smiled politely at him, wanting some time alone with Narya before the crammed day that Pete has planned for them.

She busily explored the room, awed by the fabric of the beaded bed runner.

“Of course,” Baraka said, turning to leave.

“A quick question,” Nick lowered his voice as he watched Narya on the other side of the room, seemingly distracted by the view from her window. “What is the meaning of the word Ha-ta-ri?”

“Hatari, sir?” Baraka seemed puzzled by the question. “It means ‘danger’.”

“I see.” Nick glanced at Narya. It could have been a warning. He tried to remember what he saw. Were they gills? Or just scars?

“Is everything okay?” Baraka’s voice sounded concerned.

“No, no. It’s fine. I saw the word on a sign somewhere, and I wondered what it meant.” He felt a strong urge to stay by Narya’s side.

“Thank you, Baraka. Goodnight.”

“Good night, sir.”

The door closed and Nick turned to find Narya already in bed, her hair in disarray as she buried her face in the pillows. He quietly approached her and covered her with the thin, cotton blanket. The temperature was still high outside, but the fan on the ceiling helped cool the room. He made sure all the windows were locked, settled into an armchair, and put his feet up on the ottoman. He still felt deeply unsettled by Narya’s encounter in the alleyway, but after spending considerable time trying to connect the dots between the woman at the shop and Narya, he gave up fighting the will to sleep.