Calm (8 page)
“Yes. Even if the shift doesn’t happen, we will still have our first swim.”
She winked and went up on her toes for a kiss, the pearls in her hair swinging heavily.
They held hands, and together, with the crowd cheering them on, they walked into the surf.
He tried to pass calm to her, but he was far too excited. She grinned as they waded out, her skirt allowed the full sensation of the salt water on her limbs, and as they got up to waist deep, a tingling started.
“Here we go.” With Vehn holding her hand, she dove into the water and inhaled sharply. As salt water wrapped her all around, her body convulsed in a sharp movement, fire spreading across her body from ribs to toes.
Love, calm down. You are lovely. Beautiful and amazing.
She looked at him, and even under the murky water, he was perfectly clear in her vision. Meri looked down and saw what the flippant diagnosis had hinted at. She was a mermaid with a tail of gold scales.
Her hands were webbed and she reached out for Vehn.
This feels so weird, right but weird.
You aren’t even touching me, but you can still project.
Apparently.
She circled him easily. Harlivs were mermaids. They needed a minimal salinity to work the elemental change that armoured their legs for optimal propulsion.
You move so easily. I am envious.
She chortled,
And I am venomous. Do you want it?
You know I do. Harliv DNA is the dream of our people.
Well, only I carry the DNA, but I can give you the chance of passing those genes along.
She chortled and flicked her tail against his thighs.
Vehn twisted abruptly and grabbed her in his arms, pulling her into the deep.
Perhaps later, for now, we will spend some time at my family home, and I will take those pearls off one by one.
Meri enjoyed the freedom that the change had brought to her, but she enjoyed Vehn’s arms around her.
A flick of her tail and she was through the wet entry with her gills purged. Her tail disappeared when she was completely out of the water.
Vehn sat next to her as she skidded to a halt. “That was impressive.”
She squealed and jumped on him. “I can’t believe it. I mean, my family has had rumours and whispers of women with tails and men with scales. I thought it was all fairy tales and smoke.”
“The Harlivs left this sector two thousand years ago, and no one knew where they went.”
“Apparently, they snuck onto Earth during the Enjel and Dhema thing. No one would notice a few drops in the ocean.” She smiled and gently stroked her fingers over his gills.
“I am glad for those drops, though I would love a look at your histories about the Harlivs.” He smiled and stroked her spine.
“There isn’t much, just stories of sailors pulled from ships and seduced by watery maids. Then again, there are also the selkies, the kelpies and a few other water-born stories. Huh. I guess it might be useful after all.” She rubbed her pearl strands against his chest.
He chuckled and cupped her ass. “I am thinking that this is not the time for a history lesson.”
She kissed her way up his neck and settled on his lips, murmuring, “I think history is best left in the past. I have a distinct interest in your present.”
He rolled her to her back and loomed over her. “Is that a euphemism?”
She laughed and wrapped her legs around his thighs. “It wasn’t, but it is now.”
* * * *
Mediating neighbour disputes took up most of Vehn’s time and meeting with scientific officers took up Meri’s. She provided venom samples to the Lahash researchers and was set to appear at Niika’s school now that she had caught up to the others and gained the self-control that would keep Vehn and Meri from getting calls.
With Vehn mediating, Meri was on after-school collection, she swam into the wet entrance to the school and climbed out to face the teacher and two other parents with their offspring.
Niika walked over to her and took her hand. “I got into a fight today.”
“Oh, Niika, what happened?”
One of the parents stepped forward, “Madam Kao, our son was forcibly restrained by your daughter.”
The teacher watched intently.
“What were the circumstances?” Meri kept tight to Niika’s hand, sending reassurance through their connection.
The father on the other side inclined his head when the first speaker didn’t say anything. “My child was being picked on, he is younger and smaller than the others in the class, so it makes him an easy target. Your daughter kept the other boy from attacking my son Powik, his father wishes you to bear the punishment for his spawning a bully.”
Meri scanned the other parent and the sullen child. The parent felt rage, guilt and frustration, so Meri dampened it with calm before the aggression could get out of control.
He looked at her with shock, but it was calm shock.
“So, Niika merely restrained a child from striking another? Where is the issue?”
The man opened and closed his mouth before saying, “Your daughter laid hands on my son.”
Meri shrugged. “In two decades, it will be one of his fondest memories. Being a bully is not a good choice for making oneself attractive to the opposite sex. Being known to be the father of a bully is not a good idea either.”
The man flinched and nodded. He jerked his head toward the teacher and tossed his son into the wet exit.
The other male came forward and shook her hand. “Thank you, Madam Kao.”
Powik did the same with Niika. “Thank you, Niika.”
They inclined their heads and disappeared under the water in a few seconds.
The teacher came forward. “Madam Kao, you handled that well.”
Meri bent and Niika climbed on her back for the swim home. She still wasn’t fast in fresh water, but at least her hands webbed when she breathed liquid. “Thank you. It was nice to practice.”
The teacher shifted from side to side and cleared his throat. “I have been asked to pass on a request from the school board.”
“Yes?”
“Would you be interested in having a seat on the school board as one of the trustees? We occasionally need someone to speak to other parents when issues such as this arise and you have a unique ability to deal with this sort of thing.”
Do you mind if I am involved in your schooling?
Does it mean I am in trouble?
No, silly. It just means that I will be at the school more often.
Niika’s light voice piped up, “She will do it. Mom will be here when you need her.”
Meri smiled. There was always a bit of a thrill when Niika called her mom. “Apparently I will do it.”
The teacher grinned. “Excellent, I will forward you acceptance to the board.”
Meri nodded and slipped back into the wet entrance.
Are you happy about my participating in your school?
I am. It will mean that my classmates will have to believe me now.
Believe you? About what?
That you are special.
Aw, honey, you are the special one. You helped that little guy and knew it would get you in trouble.
Her small voice was very solemn when she said,
I did what you told me to do. I stayed calm when I wanted to hit him and grabbed him instead.
Pride overwhelmed Meri as she returned them home. Her skills may have twisted with her changes, but her ability to instruct Niika was her proudest moment.
Wait until your father gets home. He will be so impressed with how you handled it.
I can’t wait to tell Dad that you came to school naked.
Oh hell.
Author’s Note
Maintaining calm lets everything roll and break around you as long as you can hold your centre.
The next Terran Times story will be
Catalyst
. Some people have good luck, some have bad luck and for others, all hell breaks loose in their wake.
I hope that folks will choose to join me in
Catalyst
, I intend to make it a rollicking good time….or at least a fun story.
Thanks for reading,
Viola Grace
Find me on Facebook…if you dare.
About The Author
Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of tim
e. Her line of day job tends to be analytical which leaves her mind hopping to weave stories. No co-worker is safe from her character analysis. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales.
Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush. Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.