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shyvioletcat · 11 months

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The Calling - Chapter Eight

Snuck this one in by the skin of my teeth but it wouldn’t be Mermay without an update of this fic. I think I’m really getting my groove back with this fic, so that’s very exciting for me.

~ The Calling Masterlist ~

~~~~~

Aelin had waited up for Rowan, dressed in her new nightgown and basking in the warmth of the fire. After he had stormed out of dinner, the skies had opened up and she noted that his cloaks still hung on their hooks. With the rain picking up and becoming unceasing it was likely he would be soaked through by the time he returned home. Aelin never got to see it, her skin began to itch and her body became fatigued, it wouldn’t be much longer before the transformation forced itself in her. Reluctantly she went to her current bed chamber, this time leaving the bathroom door open. Shedding her nightgown was another disappointment, she liked wearing beautiful things and the slip of soft lace was no exception. But it served no purpose in the bath and would only be ruined by the water.

She turned on the tap and then shrugged the nightgown off her shoulders, letting it pool at her feet and she gave it one last longing look and stepped into the water. It rose steadily, and inch by inch already soothing the irritation that came with being out of water for too long. If she had her amulet she would be able to last days without needing to shift. The lure to be in her natural form would dampen and she would be free to roam this human world as she desired. Until then, she would be stuck in this nightly routine of soaking and shifting to placate her needs.

The one thing Aelin was grateful for was that her rescuer had a deep tub at her disposal. As the water rose above her hips he let go, letting the shift take over. The transformation was always uncomfortable, sometimes painful, but it wasn’t long until Aelin relaxed, the cool water flowing through the gills on her ribs. Even though this wasn’t the sea, being surrounded by water always held some semblance of home. It soothed her enough that it wasn’t long before drifting off to sleep.

Rowan returning and closing the door to the bathroom is what woke her hours later, only enough to make her stir. All she registered was the room dimming and the click of the latch slipping into place. As sleep took her again she told herself she would have to save her questioning about his hissy fit for the morning.

When morning came and Aelin had shifted back into her human form, she dried herself off and stepped out into the common area dressed in her lace nightgown. Disappointingly Rowan wasn’t there. There was a note in the kitchen that he was out for the day, no other explanation than that. Aelin huffed, arms crossed over her chest. This was not going well at all.

Rowan made sure to bring back dinner in the evening so they had no need to eat in the dining room with the rest of the crew. After dinner he cleaned up and then dimmed the room by extinguishing all the lights except for the fireplace and a candle by his bed. There was no goodnight, he just buried his face in a novel. What was even more disappointing was that the next day he followed the exact same pattern. There was barely any interaction between the two of them and it was enough to set Aelin’s nerves on edge.

When the third day dawned with sunshine peeking through the recently ever cloudy sky and Rowan had left their living quarters soon after, Aelin was determined not to spend another day wallowing away in solitude. With the man she called her husband determined to ignore her, Aelin returned her focus to finding her amulet. She wasn't going to waste the sunshine and decided to take a more dedicated approach for the search for what she had regrettably lost. And it was also time to gather her next payment.

Forgoing shoes Aelin dressed in a skirt and blouse, slung a satchel over her shoulder and wandered down to the beach. The sand was still damp and cold from the overnight rain, leaving a heavy footprint for each step she took. The beach was otherwise empty and Aelin was still alone, but with the pounding of the waves and the scent of the sea, at least this solitude was comforting. Looking out to the dark blue abyss of water in front of her she looked for the flow of the currents. The seascape of the shore was ever changing but the deep currents that this coastline was subject to would stay the same.

Aelin still held out hope that her amulet was hidden somewhere in the sand or caught in a rock crevice beneath the water. The otters still searched, as far as she was aware of, but there were places they couldn’t reach. Right now she dared not enlist help from other local creatures.

She started her observant meandering closer to the township and then wandered down. The consolation Aelin held onto was that if it wasn't in possession, she at least would know if it had fallen into someone else’s. That kind of power did not go unnoticed, and whether by her own senses or being informed by another, she would know. Aelin had been so graciously saved by Rowan scavenging on the beach. She might have to start paying visits to the merchants in town—to see if a fellow scavenger had traded it in.

Aelin walked along the beach towards the far end of it where the otters played amongst the rocks. The waves called to her, their crashing as they broke alluring as any song she might sing. She dared not even take the smallest step into the water, not knowing what densiens might be nearby. Her powers had a tendency to run away from her and the consequences were not worth the risk for a little comfort.

As she got closer to the rocks she saw brown heads bobbing out in the water. The sight made Aelin smile and she trilled out a sharp whistle to get their attention. While she waited for whomever wanted to come and greet her, she explored the rockpools. Creatures huddled and swam in the shallow water. Snails dragged along the dark rock, clusters of anemones swayed in the gentle current, starfish clung to what they could.

Aelin went to the hideaway used by her animal friends to gather what they found. It was a decent bounty but not as large as previous pick ups. It was still predominantly pearls and Aelin considered if she might have to bribe the otters to widen their search area to placate her business partners. Eventually her otter friends did arrive, bringing Aelin not only oysters, but also clams, small fish and even prawns.

Looking at the position of the sun, Aelin realised she had been out until almost noon. She smiled at the otters as they squeaked excitedly. “Have you brought me lunch?”

She did in fact share a meal with them, not caring in the slightest that it was all raw. With no knife, Aelin used a stone and a tight crack in the rambling rocks to crack open the shell fish. They were fresh and delicious and she ate more than she shared. The otters did not mind, they seemed eager to please. The youngling she had met before curled up in her lap and dozed in the sunshine.

For a long while Aelin just sat there, happy to stare at the ocean and run a hand through the little otter’s soft fur. When it woke up and presumably scampered off back to its mother it was time to stretch her legs. Aelin surveyed the area, deciding she might as well climb the rocky outcrop and see what lay on the other side. She assumed it was another beach, but she couldn’t know for sure. Weather and lack of guide hadn’t lent itself to adventuring. Aelin tucked a portion of her skirt into her belt and shifted the bag so it sat behind her, then started climbing across the rocks. But she didn’t get too far.

“What a pleasure it is to find you here,” a male voice said from behind her.

Aelin turned, finding Fenrys with his pants rolled up midway up his calves and hands in his pockets. She wasn’t the only one taking advantage of the auspicious sunshine.

Clambering down the rocks, she said, “The good weather is too fleeting to waste it seems.”

When Aelin’s feet had sand under them instead of rock she pulled her skirt loose and let it fall back to her ankles. Her hands were filthy from gripping the rocks but she wouldn’t risk using the sea water to wash it away, so her skirt would have to do. The muck transferred, leaving smudges of residue on the fabric covering her thighs. When she looked up Fenrys had a perplexed look on his face.

“What is it?” she asked him.

“There’s an entire ocean that would gladly wash away some of that dirt and grit,” Fenrys said.

“I would rather not,” Aelin said, this was a topic of conversation that she wanted to avoid. So she walked past Fenrys, heading back towards the town as a distraction.

He was not deterred in the slightest, however, and followed. “Why is that? I thought as a siren, you would be drawn to the sea if anything else.”

Aelin stopped, Fenrys right along with her, and sighed. She could refuse to answer him, dismiss him and keep walking back to the silent apartment. But that was the problem—she’d go back to the silence and the solitude with nothing to do. Her lovely day ruined. Aelin considered for a moment, there was no real reason for her not to talk to Fenrys, she would just have to be particular with what she shared. She and Fenrys had been friendly, he had been the one to help her when she needed assistance on more than one occasion. Whether that was sewing clothes or tormenting Rowan, he was more than willing. Looking at his open and sincere face Aelin decided that they could indeed be real friends. First of all, that would require some honesty and not abandoning conversations on her part.

“It sings to me, even now,” Aelin closed her eyes as the song of the wind and waves filled her. She shivered at the thrill of it, ignoring it the best she could. “But for the time being we need to be lost lovers.”

“I don’t suppose you’ll tell me why,” Fenrys said, trying to charm her with a smile.

Aelin laughed, winking at him. “I don’t think we know each other well enough yet.”

“Shall we rectify that?” Fenrys presented his arm like a gentleman, the gesture proper enough that Aelin bowed her head before accepting.

They started to stroll down the beach, both barefoot and arm in arm. Only a few moments passed before Fenrys resumed their conversation.

“I’m a curious man, by nature,” he said, glancing her way.

“Is that so? I would never have guessed,” Aelin teased.

“I did mean what I said, I would like to get to know you better,” Fenrys fought his grin. “It’s only fitting with you being the new wife of one of my dearest friends.”

That made Aelin laugh. “That’s a very generous term.”

“Friend or wife?”

She laughed again, covering the sound with her hand. “Wife on my part, I can’t judge your friendship. I do feel like Rowan gives everything begrudgingly though.”

“A very apt observation, I call him a friend but I sometimes wonder if he’d do the same,” Fenrys said. “It makes for a good sailor, rivalling the waves with their unrelenting stubbornness. It means he’s willing to stand against it the best any man can.”

“The sea is a contemptuous mistress to have,” Aelin agreed.

“I would say it makes her that much more endearing,” Fenrys said with a wink.

“Would you pass out if you went an entire conversation without flirting?”

Fenrys tipped his head back and laughed. “I just might. How can I help it when I find myself in such fine company?”

Aelin rolled her eyes. “You are incorrigible.”

There was another charming smile from Fenrys. “So I’ve been told… Amongst other things.”

“All awful, I suppose,” Aelin said.

A surprisingly large wave crashed offshore, drawing Aelin’s attention away. Her free hand swayed to the melody of it as her eyes trailed after the fading foam. Aelin could almost feel it—she wanted to feel the push and pull of the tides. All she could settle for was bath water that smelled of rust.

“Do you miss it? The sea?”

Fenrys’ question broke the hold the waves had over her and she turned away from them to make the separation less tempting. “I do. It is where I truly belong, no matter the enticements of human life.”

“How long do you intend to grace us with your delightful company?” Fenrys asked.

“It’s hard to say,” Aelin replied. It was a vague answer, an avoidant answer. And she had just become resolved that they were to be friends, so she decided to give him a little more. “I’m waiting to be called home, and until then it is safest for myself and those I care about to stay here.”

“It must be lonely, to be separated from not only the sea but your loved ones as well,” her companion noted.

Aelin ignored the discomfort of empathy that Fenrys so freely gave. He was right, she might as well admit it. “It is.”

“Would you count your husband as one of those enticements?” Fenrys asked, trying to lift the sombre mood that had fallen. “Is he treating you well? Not pressing his advantage with all those hours spent alone together?”

A wearied sigh escaped Aelin before she could stop it. “I couldn’t get him to press his advantage if I tried.”

Fenrys snorted, the cough he attempted to disguise it with afterwards was pathetic. “I… could you have marital relations? I mean, with him being human and you being, well, you.”

“Yes of course. The, ah…” she paused as she considered the right wording. “The insides are the same. The transformation only occurs on the outside. So, yes, that is more than possible. It’s not like there are added teeth or anything.”

The poor man choked, he had to stop walking entirely to compose himself. “That is good to know.”

Aelin let Fenrys’ arm go and walked a few paces ahead so she could face him. “Why? Planning to entice a siren to your bed?”

The way Fenrys laughed told her he was still recovering from her revelation. “You never know when the opportunity might present itself.”

There was a slight promise to his voice, maybe it was an invitation. Considering how lonely Aelin was, it was a tempting offer, but she knew she and Fenrys were better suited to being friends. They both did, so his teasing smirk was both an apology and a reassurance there was no offence intended or taken.

“In fact,” Aelin watched as the man braced himself for whatever new information she was about to give him. “If we so desired, a human and myself in siren form could still in fact have relations.”

Aelin watched as Fenrys’ handsome face contorted in confusion and curiosity. He was silent for a moment, no doubt trying to picture the arrangement without the finer details Aelin had left unsaid. He was thinking about it so hard that Aelin thought a vein might burst. Eventually there was a small scoff, and another ripple of confusion across his handsome features. “How?”

Aelin laughed, the sound taking over her entire body. Fenrys’ open curiosity was endearing and seeing him dumbfounded was beyond entertaining. He looked at her expectantly, waiting for the answer to his question, entirely confident he would give it to her. If Aelin could control her own laughter she would answer—or she might just supply him with more vague suggestions to lead him on. However, before she could decide which path to take, a newcomer interrupted them.

It seemed that bad weather would be ruining her day. Instead of rain clouds it was a broody sailor to drain away the warmth of the sun.

~~~~~

Rowan spent the day fishing with not another soul in sight. He had gone to the headland at the far end on the next beach over from Mistward. It had been quiet and secluded, exactly what he had been craving. All he had was himself and the expanse of tumultuous ocean in front of him, and that was all he needed. His efforts had been fruitful as well. He’d caught five decent sized fish, too much for him to eat before they spoiled but Emrys would appreciate what was left after Rowan took what he wanted.

He had decided to walk home along the shore, and when one beach ended he fully intended to continue the same path after he’d crossed over the small rocky break between beaches. Then Rowan saw two figures on the beach and started to question his decision. Fenrys and Aelin walked on the sand, arm and arm deep in conversation.

Not for the first time Rowan questioned why Aelin hadn’t chosen Fenrys for this whole endeavour. They made a more likely pair. She had told them that she’d chosen Rowan to torment him, and he believed her without a single doubt. Aelin seemed determined to irk him at every turn. Spending his money, leaving her intimate wear around his apartment, snarking remarks when she could. It was like everything she did was to rile him. Considering her nature he didn’t know why he expected anything else.

In the end he decided to keep to his plans and walk on the beach. If the siren had found more treasures he could take them straight into town to trade. Rowan eased down the grass and scattered rocks onto the sand, following the footprints to his destination. Ahead of him he saw Fenrys stop and Aelin kept going a few paces in front before turning. For a moment she just watched Fenrys, her face brightening with amusement. In the end that amusement crested and laughter broke out of her.

The sound rang along the beach, so sweet compared to the creature who it came from. Not only that, but Aelin herself was beautiful in this moment, her face transformed into something joyful. Something human. Aelin played the role well enough but Rowan had to keep reminding himself that his guest was not like him. Beauty and charm be damned, this thing was a killer dressed in fine clothes. Clothes that he had apparently bought.

That was just another reason Rowan had found himself eager to be out of her presence. At every turn she sought out to provoke him and taking his money to buy frivolous things had agitated him enough that he was about to call the whole thing off. That was not what they had agreed on. Rowan thought it might be time for her to go back to the ocean and leave him be.

Aelin’s laughter sobered when she saw Rowan a few feet away. Her eyes darted over him, snagging on the bundle of fish. Fenrys noticed him too, turning and standing in between them. Rowan couldn’t decide if it was to step in and prevent physical blows or to watch it play out.

“Productive day, I see,” Aelin boasted. Rowan’s response was only to nod. “I was too, if you were interested.”

Aelin patted the satchel on her hip, looking proud of herself. She wasn’t going to receive it.

“I decided to take a stroll along the beach and found our friend exploring. We… had some interesting conversations,” Fenrys said, laughter bubbling in his voice. “Most informative, and entertaining.”

The two of them shared a conspiratorial look, Aelin’s mouth spread into a stunning smile. Rowan knew this… this allure around the siren was all part of the ploy to trap her victims. He saw human teeth, but he knew what truly lay beneath. All it would take was a little song and ill intent and she could have them on their knees.

“I saw the outcome of you enjoying yourself. You almost seemed human,” Rowan chose not to look at Aelin as he added, “not the monster you are.”

A sharp and inhuman hiss had Rowan looking up as Aelin’s turquoise eyes narrowed, full of anger like a stormy sea. Rowan waited for the retort, but it never came. Instead she threw her satchel at Fenrys and walked away. The only sound for a few long moments was the crashing of waves and crunch of sand beneath feet.

Rowan didn’t watch Aelin walk away, but Fenrys did. She had nearly disappeared from sight when Fenrys turned back, looking far less amused than he had moments earlier.

“You don’t need to be such a bastard,” the blonde man said, shaking his head in what could be described as disappointment.

“Don’t let your feelings construe your judgement,” Rowan added.

“Gods above, Rowan,” Fenrys muttered. “She has teased and taunted, but she had never meant us any true harm. Would it kill you to show the smallest amount of kindness?”

Rowan gestured a hand in the direction of when Aelin had now disappeared. “We know what she is.”

“I stand by what I said.”

Rowan fixed his exuberant crewmate with a look. “What did she tell you?”

“Not everything.” Fenrys paused to consider his words. “But here’s an idea, why don’t you ask her.”

“There’s no need,” Rowan answered quickly.

A wry smile appeared on Fenrys’ face. “She’s your wife.”

Rowan rolled his eyes. “She’s no more my wife than she is yours. And she can go home.”

“She can’t,” Fenrys answered.

The simple response gave Rowan pause. “Why?”

Fenrys shrugged and slipped the satchel over his head. “I don’t know. But what I do know is that she is lonely and isolated from the world she knows best.”

Rowan didn’t have a reply, he petulantly kicked at the sand instead.

“She needs friends, Rowan,” Fenrys said. “So stop being such an ass.”

“Wait,” Rowan called after Fenrys had started to walk away. “Give me the satchel, I have to trade those.”

Fenrys didn’t bother to turn around. “Not this time. I think it was pretty clear I should be the one to take in this load.”

There was no room for discussion and Fenrys kept up in the direction of town, leaving Rowan alone on the beach. Although he didn’t want to admit it, there was merit to what Fenrys had said. Aelin had alluded to the fact that she had spent time in the human world, but she was stuck where she did not belong. And not by choice if what Fenrys had said was anything to go by.

On the walk back to the bunkhouse Rowan considered the issue. He avoided the back stairs to his apartment and headed around to the main entrance instead. There was a variety of delicious aromas coming from the kitchen with Emrys already prepping for the evening meal. When Rowan stepped into the kitchen he found the gracious host at the stove, sliding an array of chopped vegetables into a pot.

Something nudged at his shin and Rowan pulled the fish he had up a little higher so that the resident cat did not take a bite out of one of them.

“Stay out of it, Pearl,” Rowan said affectionately. The cat’s answer was a soft meow.

“A good day fishing then?” Emrys said, dusting his hands off on his apron.

“As you can see.” Rowan handed over the bundle of fish, Pearl’s yellow eyes following the movement.

“How’s that wife of your’s, boy?” Emrys asked as he put the fish on a counter away from the cat’s reach.

Rowan’s immediate thought was to tell the truth, harking back to his thoughts of being done with the whole falsehood. But… He would lose his added income and what Fenrys had said nagged at him. Rowan was curious about Aelin’s world and why she had come here. They didn’t need to be friends, but acquaintances might suffice.

“She’s well, thank you for asking,” Rowan said.

Emrys looked pleased. “We haven’t seen you around much. I hope you’re treating her well, she seems like a nice girl. I should have asked, are all these fish for me?”

It had been Rowan’s plan to take one back to his apartment for dinner for another night shut in his awkwardly silent apartment. Another idea struck him, and it didn’t include any of the fish he caught today.

“All yours,” Rowan said, then crouched to pet the cat at his feet. “Make sure Pearl gets some too.”

Emrys laughed. “I don’t think she’ll give me a choice.”

Rowan walked through the dining room as a shortcut. He hoped Aelin hadn’t wandered off again, it would potentially make him question what he was about to do. He unlocked the door attached to the hallway into his apartment. It was quiet, but not empty. Aelin was by the armchair sorting through her clothes. She didn’t acknowledge him, not for a full five minutes. The siren had reason to be angry and no reason to offer him pleasantries. Rowan had to clear his throat twice to get her attention.

Aelin turned, very slowly, it almost seemed preternatural. “Yes?”

“I thought you might like to go out for dinner tonight,” Rowan said before he could think better of it.

“You mean to the dining hall?” Aelin asked, dropping a pale blouse onto her pile of clothes.

“No,” Rowan said, watching as curiosity seemed to spread through Aelin’s whole body. “I mean I would like to take you into town and get dinner there.”

Aelin smiled, free of all malice. If Rowan had to describe it, he would call it excited. “I’ll get my cloak.”

~~~~~

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#the calling #happy mermay

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redd956 · 1 year

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Prompt 30

Content: Water Whump, Merfolk Whumper, Merfolk Caretaker, Human Whumpees, Multiple Whumpees

CW: Drowning, Asphyxiation, Underwater, Violence, Torture, Captivity

Two people scrambled across the slippery deck of their dinky boat. Shouts and commands were drowned out by the roars of an aggressive sea. A strong wave smacked against the boat, causing Character A and Character B to break into a panic, forgetting their footing, their brains, and the severity of their situation. They clawed and kept themselves as far away from the edge of their boat that they could.

Character A’s eyes widened as they caught a glimpse of vibrant color disappearing into the dark blue. The color popped up once more, even closer to the side of the boat, scales sparkling underneath low light. A sharp fin pierces through the rough waves. Barely scraping the edge of the boat the two watched in horror as the metal hissed, a large slice being left behind once the creature vanished back underneath the blue.

“It’s going to kill us!”, Character B shouted, wishing the creature hadn’t torn the harpoon from their boat earlier. They stared at the spot where claw marks now stood in it’s place, as if doing so would will it back into existence.

An eerie silence befell the area. Only the angry waves of the ocean spoke. Finally something slammed into the already tipping boat, plunging both underneath. Character A got one last gasp of air before they became surrounded by the darkness of water. Instinctively they flailed, being unable to find Character B in their desperate grasp.

A tug pried against Character A’s ankle. It was everyone’s worst fear... a really angry merfolk.

...

Character A woke up next to Character B, both sopping wet, a sky of dark sea above their heads. In a merfolk made bubble of air the two gasped and gaped like fish out of water. Movement caught Character A’s eyes. The merfolk angrily and slowly swam by, shooting them a glare. Their new captor wasn’t planning to let them back to the surface anytime soon.

“They been circling us for as long as I’ve been awake.” Character B lamented.

Character A pondered aloud between breaths, “Do you think our air in here is limited?”

They both sat in silence not answering that question, watching the merfolk go around and around again. After awhile the merfolk finally vanished, however swimming up was an impossible notion. They would drown before ever reaching the surface. They don’t even know how they got this far down without doing so. They knew that time was passing though. Especially when the merfolk came back, sometimes with waterlogged snacks likely stolen from beachgoers or boats, other times non-salty water sloshing around in a half drunk water bottle.

Before either knew it the one that put them in this predicament wasn’t the only one swimming by. Others eventually showed, gawking and glaring at the two. It started with only stares, large, strangely colored eyes hyperfixated on the two of them. Overtime the interest became hostile. They would grab at them, snatch them by their arms, and drag them to the bubble’s edge. Sometimes they pull Character A or Character B’s face into the water, chuckling as the chosen human struggled in response.

Merfolk laughter is like nothing else. It’s ear-piercing, able to be heard through the water. Character B described it as melodic, while Character A argued it was haunting. Their captor, a quite large merfolk, would come by with conjured bubble of air. The two miserable humans could do nothing but watch as the captor replenishes their fresh air.

What they hated most was when a particularly mean looking merfolk arrived. They were often scarred. Occasionally missing things, such as an eye, a limb, patches of scales or scratched up blubber, frayed fins, snagged teeth. They sometimes had trash entangled onto them, that no one could seem to figure out how to free. They were often the meanest.

They arrived usually with something in mind. The captor often let them have the most leeway. They could etch whatever wanted into their skin. They brought equipment, usually trashed fishing line or broken harpoons. They pulled on Character A’s hair, and pressed against Character B’s bruises. They arrived often deadpan, and miserable looking, only to be faintly smiling by the end.

...

“Character A get up! Get up now!”, Character B pleaded, shaking them by their tattered shirt.

They stirred, looking around frantically. Their heart sunk when they saw it. A merfolk much larger than whumper loomed at the edge of the bubble. Their muscles were patterned with thick painful looking scars. A fishing hook, with line swaying behind the tail, remained dug into a tailfin. One eye was gilded over with gray, not shifting as much as the other when the merfolk analyzed the humans.

The unit swam around the bubble, getting in every angle they could of the two. As they swam their pitch black scales only slightly glinted with light, unveiling a large slash across the back, devoid of any new ones growing back.

The humans gulped, when the two merfolk whispered to each other. Finally for the first time ever, their captor swam away, instead of observing greedily. Cold angry eyes finally had them all to themselves. However that coldness and anger came from the fact that Caretaker, was looking upon themself. Scared, toyed with, and trapped in almost a completely alien world.

Revenge came fleeing from their heart, they couldn’t bring themselves to do what they originally came here for, and buried the unnoticed sickle into the sand.

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