Chapter 6: Chapter 5

I begrudgingly put down my emergency money.

My last visit that I am able to afford.

A different receptionist from last time takes my money. An older man counted my cash with his boney fingers. "Why... you're the same young lady from yesterday." He puts the cash away and stared at me. "And the day before that." His dark eyes continued to gaze blankly at me.

Goosebumps manifested on my arms. I nodded meekly.

His wrinkled face cracked a grin, almost madly. "Do something here have a hold on you, dear?" He leaned forward over the counter of the ticket booth and whispered, "Is it the mers?"

I stiffened as chills struck me. I grabbed the ticket and stepped back. "Good day, Mr..." My eyes fell on his name tag. "Grey."

Just as I began to walk away, he responded, "Enjoy, Ms. Meredith."

My breath caught.

I never told him my name.

I shook my head, he probably knows I'm the girl that won the school art contest that led me to have a free trip here. They had did this whole interview of me when I first arrived.

I went down the familiar path as I tighten my hold on my starbucks coffee holder. I gotten two drinks and some sweet pastries. I couldn't wait till Tristen gets a taste of them. Also see his face when he realize the logo of Starbucks.

I have been thinking about our conversation yesterday nonstop, mauling over new information he revealed. Like the fact he could talk! He just stormed into my life and broaden it.

I stepped into the mer globe and searched for him.

There he was.

Tristen was floating in our usual meet-up spot. As soon as he spotted me, my heart raced when his face transformed - smiling. Tristen jerked his head to the surface. He seems to be saying 'hurry up!'. I grinned and quicken my pace to the secret door as Tristen swam up, out of sight. I take in the aquarium and noticed it was empty of mers. Perhaps they were sleeping elsewhere? It was odd that I've never seen them in the mornings I have visited.

I walked in the place where I found out he could talk.

And I nearly dropped my Starbucks treats. I'd forgotten how truly breathtaking he was.

Tristen sat on the edge of the pool, his vibrant tail swishing lazily on the water. My eyes riveted on his bare torso. Water droplets trails down his golden skin, that pooled around his six-pack... What wouldn't I give to run my hands over his -

"Morning,"

I snapped out of it. "Hm?"

He smirked, "Morning I said."

My face burned as I looked away. "Morning," I peaked at him as I walked over. Did he noticed? He was still smirking.

Dammit. He noticed. I commanded my disobedient eyes to focus on his face only. His dark hair curled at the nape of his neck, framing his strong jaw.

His eyes...

Aquamarine that were vibrant and unwavering with a dark emerald, surrounding his irises. His dark, sinfully long lashes held wet dew that hung like crystals. His plush lips smiled as I scooched closer to him. I eyed the water, keeping a safe distance from it. I set my things down and returned a smile of my own. He scratched the back of his neck, "How are you?"

"I'm good. And you?"

His eyes drew to my hand that held the Starbuck products in my hands. "I'm fine... what you got there?"

I grinned and showed him the logo, the siren. "I thought about you when I passed the coffee shop this morning and got some for you."

His eyes sparked as he smiled sweetly that made my breath hitched. "Thank you."

I lifted the coffee. "This is the best coffee and -" I raised my other hand, The Starbuck's brown bags that contained two cheese danishes. "-the most delicious cheese danishes." I gave him a cup and a bag.

Tristen raised the cup to his eye level to study the siren logo. "Is that...?"

"A siren?" I finished for him. "Yeah, it is."  I nodded.

He frowned, "Why would they have a cursed mer as a brand?"

My brows scrunched, "A cursed mer?"

He nodded, "A siren is a mer that is cursed. The mer would turn into siren as a punishment." He looked closer at the logo, "A siren has two tails, making it difficult for him or her to swim, making them bound to protect the sea until he or she does their time."

My eyes widened. "Really?"

He softly smiled. "They are bound to sing, luring any threat away from our city to their watery grave to protect the mers from humans finding us. They physically cannot speak, if they tried, only the siren song comes out of their mouth. They cannot have contact with another since anyone would go mad with desire if one gazes into the siren's eyes as well as insanity if one touches them."

I breathed. "Wow." I looked at the logo again. I would never see the starbuck siren the same way.

Tristen raised the cup to the mouth and sipped the straw tenderly. His eyes shut and he groaned. "Where have you been all my life?"

I giggled at his over exaggeration. We both nibbled our danishes and finished our coffee in silent. Strangely, I didn't feel weirded out from the silence between us, it was comfortable. I sneaked glances at him. His eyes met mine, the air grew heavier with something.

Well, sort of not awkward.

Tristen once again raised the cup and grinned, "So you thought about me?" He raised on of his brows teasingly. "Does that happen often?"

My face heated and I attempted to play it off cool. I shrugged and smiled coyly. "You may have crossed my mind once or twice." I took a sip of my frappe. He didn't crossed my mind once or twice.

He lives there.

Tristen chuckled and finishing off his coffee. He still didn't stop smirking.

I paused, did I say that outloud? I think back. No, I didn't. Weird... it's not like he could read my mind. My heart stuttered. No... Can he read minds? My grip tighten on my empty cup. God... I hope not...

Once he finished his treats, he waited patiently for me to finish... well, almost. His fin eagerly flickered side to side. I lean back and smiled, "I know you have a something you want to ask me." I gestured to him. "Fire away."

He laughed quietly. "Sorry for not hiding it well." He scooted closer. "So how much of sign language do you know?" He nodded.

"The basics." I signed and spoke at the same time. "I can carry a conversation and understand most, but I'm still learning."

He nodded. "Why did you want to learn it again?" He leaned back, "I noticed humans don't really sign unless they're deaf or hard of hearing. I would think all humans would use it more since it's useful."

I nodded feverously. "Agreed." I shrugged, "It just the way it is." I pondered my answer. "I wanted to learn it again because I thought it was a beautiful language. I think it's incredible that we can tell an epic story with just ten fingers." I think back to our previous conversation. "So if you guys have Thalassa's Hands, do you also have a spoken native language?"

He looks at me longer. "Yes, we do." He answered tentatively. As if he wasn't sure he could tell me but did so anyway. "The mer language. It's a very ancient language."

I scoot closer. "Just taking a stab here- did mers have a spoken language before humans?"

"Smart." He smiled. "Well, you're correct.. We have been around much longer than the humans."

I breathed, "Incredible."

My eyes wandered to the skylight, noting the blazing sun as it eased into noon. My eyes fell on my watch, but before I could read the time, Tristen reached out and covered my watch with his hand. "Don't." I looked up and he smirked. "You won't get caught."

I countered. "Well, I also don't want to get in trouble with my parents."

He sighed as he removed his hands. But just before I read the time, Tristen said, "It's ok. It's only 10:45."

I looked at the hand of my watch.

It was indeed was.

Surprised, I asked. "How did you know?"

He shrugged, "I feel the tide rise and fall at certain times."

In awe, I asked. "Any powers I should know?"

Like mind-reading.

He tapped his chin as if he had to recall powers he forgotten he had. "Well, I'm known for my irresistible charm."

I rolled my eyes. I walked right into that. I looked around the empty dome. "I should go... How do you know I won't be caught." I raise a brow.

He waved away my worries. "You won't get caught." He said with such confidence that I almost believed him. Tristen slipped into the water and laid on the surface, sunbathing under the glass dome.

I scooted back and wrapped my arms around my raised knees. "Why is that?"

He floated closer. "They never come up before noon, which is the only time they come to feed us."

"Huh." I tsked. "Well, my luck sucks." I shook my head and took another look around. Still empty. "I shouldn't risk it."

He flicked his tail and when he reached the edge, he lifted himself up and sat on the ledge once again. "Stay a bit longer." He smirked. "I have enough luck for both of us, so don't worry."

I paused.

His face flushed

He chuckled awkwardly. "Ah..." He rubbed his neck. "Maybe I shouldn't have said that. Considering..." He finished be gesturing to the aquarium he is in.

I bit my my lips, trying not laugh and cry at his predicament. I asked quietly, "How many mers are here?"

He sighed, "117... and counting."

I gazed down shamefully.

I was so ashamed of my species.

I swallowed, "I can't even begin to tell you...how sorry I am..." My voice cracked from the overwhelming guilt.

"Hey." He scooted closer. "Look at me."

I raised my eyes and met his eyes that were swimming in turmoil.

"Did you captured us?"

I shook my head, "I know where you're going with this-"

"Then you know it's not your fault." He injected. "You have nothing to apologize."

I nodded. "I know...But if I was in your shoes..."

He laughed.

I rolled my eyes, "I mean, if I was in your tail, I would be pissed at the entire human race."

He smiled sadly. "It's no good to be piss at everybody, because there is no worse feeling knowing that you're alone and angry... especially when you are screwed."

I raised a brow. "How old are you?"

He noted my surprise, "I'm 20, why?"

"You seem..." I searched for for the right word. "Wise."

He laughed, that lightened up the somber mood. "That's word I haven't heard been used to describe me. If I were wise, I wouldn't be here."

My smile died. "May I ask?"

He nodded. "Yeah... you can."

"How?"

He sighed. Tristen knew what I meant.

How he got captured.

He answered. "One night, I got in an argument with my parents. A really bad one."

I jolted. I hadn't considered the mers other than mers, but sons and daughters of grieving parents that would probably never know what happen to them.

Tristen continued. "It was bad... I couldn't... so I swam away."

I didn't dare to say a word that would stop his tale.

Tristen casted his sad eyes to the water. "I swam away from home to here, San Diego. I have a small place in the pacific. One day, as I was swimming, there was a commotion near a pier. There was a merchild stuck in the fishnet. I had rushed over quickly as possible. I tried to untangle her from the net, but she was really tangled in. I tried everything - biting, yanking and used shells to try to cut it. To no avail, nothing worked. Just then..." Tristen's jaw clenched. "Someone threw a net over me. I was useless. I couldn't get out. The fishermen pulled us both up on board." He looks at me. "Nixie, the merchild I tried to save and I are still here." He shook his head. "If I tried harder or fought back more..." He ran his hand through his hair, "Or even noticed that mers were going missing."

I grasped his other hand and he jolts and stared at me. I continued, ignoring the heat that slowly crept up my arms. "It's not your fault. You tried everything. That's what matters."

He shook his head in disagreement. "But-"

Sternly, I gripped his hand. "No buts. You tried. You fought and survived. You didn't allow Nixie to be captured alone. Despite her misfortune, her silver lining showed up. You." Tristen stilled and stares at me, but I continued. "You could've swam away from Nixie, leaving her trapped and saved yourself. But you didn't. You may not believe you're wise, but you are courageous."

Tristen entwined his fingers with mine. My heart swelled. He smiled, sending my butterflies on a rocket test drive. "Thank you. You're the one who is wise."

I shrugged modestly, "I know." I smirked at him.

He laughed and continued to hold my hand. I felt something strange in his hand, particularly between his fingers. My eyes fell. There was a thin web between his fingers, from his lower knuckles down. I ran a finger over his web. He gazed at me questioningly. "That doesn't gross you out?"

"Why would it?"

"It's abnormal."

"But what is normal?" I raised his webbed hand, "This is normal for you." I gestured to my legs with my free hand, "Walking on this two stick like things is not normal to you."

He laughed then shook his head. "How old are you?" He leaned in, "Are you somehow immortal and somehow have gain great wisdom?"

"Oh yes. You shall call me 'O wise one'."

We both laughed.

He lets go of my hand -disappointment sat with me - and he went in the water. He turned and rested his elbows on the edge of the opening, resting his head on the folded arms. "So O wise one, how old are you?"

"Eighteen- soon to be nineteen in a few weeks."

His eyebrows rose in surprise. "You're younger than I expected." He smiled. "I had you pegged for early twenties." He cleared his throat, "Not that I'm saying you look old, mer ages slower than humans and I have a hard time guessing humans' age."

I laughed, "Understood." I sighed. "I wish I was twenty, then I would be done with high school." I paused, "Ages slower?"

He tilted his head and smirked. "Nothing gets by you." He pursed his lips. "Yes, mers can live a very long time."

I asked slowly. "How long?"

"Millennia."

I stopped. I think my lungs stopped working too.

"How old are you really?" I asked quietly.

He bursted out laughing. "I'm twenty years old, and that's really my age. I swear I'm not some creepy old vampire, preying on young girls that are vying for an immortal love story."

I let out a breath and laughed. "Oh thank goodness." I paused, how does he know our culture so well. I added that to my nonexistent list of questions to ask.

Tristen wiped his eye, "You should've seen your face." We both laughed.

I calmed down, "So how many millennium are we speaking?"

He shrugged, "Our oldest mer is thirty millennia old."

My eyes bugged. "Thirty thousand years old?" My mind raced and my history gears started churning. "Homo sapiens evolved three hundred thousand years ago."  I think out loud, "So if you guys can live that long, that means the mers that already passed had probably evolved before humans even walked on this earth..."

"Yes and no..." He must have seen something on my face. "Let's stop here before you get overwhelmed."

I nodded in agreement. It was a lot to take in.

Then suddenly, something moved in the water. The mers were coming out from their slumber. Begrudgingly, I checked the time. I groaned, "It's already 11:30!" I began to gather my stuff. "Where does the time go?"

He frowned, "Stay a bit longer,"

"I can't." I paused. "Actually, there's something I need to talk you about." I sat on my knees with my hands on my laps. "I may not be able to come for a while."

"What?" Tristen scooted closer. "Why?"

"I can't afford to come here." I shrugged. "I should be able to get a summer job quickly."

He was silenced for a few moment, pondering on something. "How much do you need?"

I jolted. "What?"

"How much?"

I hesitantly tell him. It wasn't as if it would make a difference. It's not like he's gonna bust out his checkbook.

He nodded thoughtfully. "Stay here. I'll be right back." With that, he sank into the water.

What's happening here? What is he planning? I shifted uncomfortably. Does he actually have...money? Huh, that's another question. Do they even have a currency system and how does he know about human's currency value? I shook my head of my never ending questions.

Then his head popped out of the water and he swam to the edge to pull himself up. "Give me your hand."

He was holding something and I reached out with my palms facing up. He dropped something small and cool in my hands.

"Should this be enough?"

Seven gleaming white pearls stared back.

My jaw dropped. I jerked the pearls to him, "I can't take these."

He scoffed, "These have no values to us mers. It is very easily retrieved. Humans places too much value on shiny things and green papers." He shoved my hands to me. "If you don't want it, you can throw it away when you leave."

I choked. "O-Ok, I'll take it. But I will pay you back." I looked at it closer. "How did you..."

He stopped and watched me carefully. "They're our tears. Pearls are mer's tears."

I breathed in astonishment and looked at the pearls closer.

Tears.

My heart stopped. They were prisoners, surely some cried...

"We had to hide them. Humans would..." He seemed to have heard my thought. "We try very hard to not cry...."

My chest constricted. They didn't even have the freedom to cry.

I nodded in understanding. "They would make you cry to get pearls..."

He nodded.

I shivered. Why was he telling me this? Does he trust me that much? My stomach lurched from the way he gazed at me with so much trust and like it didn't even crossed his mind that I will ever betray him.

I clenched the pearls closer to me. "Thank you for telling me." I looked down. "And for trusting me." I smiled at him. "I'll pay you back."

He smiled, "Thank you." He tentatively reached out to my hair and tucked a curl behind my ear. ""You can pay me back by seeing me."

I nodded. I stood up and then turned to him. I smiled. "See you tomorrow then."

I left.

Tristen sighed. He turned to gaze at the water. Another mer head appeared over the water. His friend, Gale. "Is that her?"

Tristen turned to the door, "Yeah, that's her."

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