Sophie

I sigh as I finally pull into the parking lot and park the white minivan I’ve driven for the last seven years or so. Groaning softly, I let my head fall to the smooth leather coating of the steering wheel. Cancelled. I left at five in the morning to make the two hour drive out to this year’s meeting place for the annual parks board meeting for all marine parks and sanctuaries on the coast. When I arrived, I’d learned the meeting was cancelled and was failed to be informed. So I’d gotten something to eat and made the trip home, extended another hour and a half due to an accident on the highway. After over five hours on the road in such a short amount of time, I’m tired and in a bit of a sour mood. It feels like one of those days where things are going to continue to go downhill.

Sitting up, I step from the car and out into the warm humidity of the mid-morning sun. Despite the park being open, there’s few cars in the visitor’s lot and no lineup whatsoever, so I decide just to enter through the ticket booth. Garret, one of the employees, looks a little surprised as I walk up to the booth. “Miss Brooks, hello,” he greets. “I thought you were out for a meeting today and weren’t due back until around four at least.”

“That was the plan, but the meeting was cancelled,” I reply.

“No one bothered to call?”

I purse my lips and shake my head. “Apparently not,” I sigh. “How are things going here, any problems you know of?”

Garret shakes his head, rubbing a hand over his shaved scalp, coated only in sparse bristles of dark brown hair. “No, don’t think so. Park’s open, obviously, but not too busy. Animals seem to be fine. Although, apparently, Dr. Patter has been in his office all morning. Big ‘Do not disturb’ sign. He’s not normally holed up in there like that.”

“No, he’s not,” I agree with a frown. “He got a shipment last night, but I don’t know much about it.”

“Was it for the park?”

“Nope. Nothing to do with us, I would have had to clear the reports. But it was delivered here late. Maybe his solitude has something to do with it.”

“Not to speak ill of him, but that sounds a little…sketchy, don’t you think?” Garret comments.

I shrug. “It would, if it wasn’t Lewis we were talking about. But I am going to check in on him,” I decide. “After I get coffee. It’s been a long drive. Have a good day, Garret.”

“You too, Miss Brooks.”

I shake my head and suppress the urge to correct him. The man is far too formal for his own good, but he won’t bend on it either. With a final polite wave, I enter the park and make my way to the staff building. The cobblestone pathway produces a clicking noise as the short heel of my dress shoes connects with it. I can’t wait to shed them for much proffered flats or sneakers. Being a Tuesday morning, it’s not surprising that the park is relatively empty. It’s our slow season anyways. Even the staff is reduced today, so with few people milling about the halls, it’s a short and relatively silent trip to the little kitchenette in the building. The pastel yellow walls and crisp white tiled floor gleam with a recent cleaning, the stone counter free of any dishes or containers save the still fresh pot of coffee left on a warmer. I help myself to a large mug, stirring in some milk and sugar. I deposit the spoon in the sink and lean against the counter to take a sip of the warm brew, sighing with relief.

I’ve finished half the cup before I can bring myself to actually move from my spot and head down the hall to Lewis’s office. Sure enough, the blatant ‘Do not disturb’ sign in obtrusive black block letters is posted on his door. I frown. I’ve posted one myself a few times, when swamped with work, but Lewis normally isn’t very close doored unless he’s working on a critical rescue or something, which isn’t likely since things are so tame today.

Reaching out, I grasp the brass knob. It’s always been a bit stiff, so I have to jiggle it a little before it will actually turn and open. I pause at the sound of a chair scraping and frantic movement. What exactly is going on?

I open the door wide, only to nearly jump from my skin as I find Lewis’s standing right in front of the doorframe, looking flustered. “Sophie,” he greets nervously. “You’re home early. Really early. Is something wrong?”

I shake my head, my frown deepening. “Meeting was cancelled, postponed for two weeks, they just forgot to tell me, apparently. What’s going on with you, holed up in here like this?” I inquire, pushing past him. “And what happened with that odd shipment last night…oh,” I pause and pull up short at the sight before me. A game of snakes and ladders is out, set up over a brown folding tray. Hovering over the board is a young girl, likely between the ages of ten and thirteen. Vibrant blue eyes and ridiculously long brown hair define her features, along with lightly tanned skin, as though it’s just seen the sun recently. None of this is what catches my attention however. It’s the long, slender tail stretching from her hips that commands my focus. The sapphire scales gleam like little gemstones as it shifts on the cot set up in the office. “Hello,” I breathe softly.

The girl shrinks down a bit, looking up at me shyly and waving her hand a little before focusing intently on her scales.

“Soph, this is Luna,” Lewis says. “She came last night. In that,” he nods to the other side of the room. Instinctively, I turn to look. On the floor by his desk are two shipping crates stacked on top of one another.

“She was in a shipping crate? Why? And there’s two crates, Lewis. Who or what was in the second one?”

“Me.” I freeze at the sound of the quiet voice that answers the question. Turning, it’s then that I notice the second cot positioned beside Luna’s. I didn’t see it right away, sitting between her and the wall. Sitting up and staring at me are the bright hazel eyes of a painfully familiar face. My heart skips a beat and my breath hitches in my throat as my chest constricts. The half empty coffee mug slips from my fingers and shatters on the floor, splashing hot coffee over my shoes and feet. Beside me, Lewis tenses slightly, and Luna flinches at the noise. I can’t bring myself to even acknowledge the broken ceramic, feeling my eyes begin to burn as tears well up in them.

“If this is a dream,” I whisper, my voice strained.

“It’s not,” Lewis replies.

“Katie?” I inquire, still unable to elevate my voice past a whisper.

Tears shine in the teen’s eyes as well and she nods.

Shards of the broken cup crunch awkwardly beneath my shoes, but I don’t care. I cross the room rapidly and cup her face with shaking hands. “I don’t understand,” I murmur. “You-you died, there was a funeral, w-we buried you…”

Katie shakes her head. “It wasn’t real,” she replies, swallowing heavily. “I don’t know all the details, but it was never real. I’m alive.”

A gentle smile tugs across my lips. “I missed you, sweetheart. So much.”

The tears that were previously brimming, mine and hers, finally spill over. She nods. “I missed you too. Every day. I-I wasn’t sure I’d get to see you again.” Then her arms are around me, fingers clawing at the back of my shirt and her nose burrowing into my shoulder. “I love you.”

I choke on a sob and hug her back, one hand lacing into her hair and pulling her closer. “I love you too, Katie,” I force out, my knees shaking, legs like gelatin. Confusion is still rampaging through me, but I can’t quite bring myself to pull away long enough to interrogate the three of them.

After a long moment of simply gripping my daughter tightly, I finally sigh softly and begin to pull away. Instantly, Katie’s grip tightens. “Not yet,” she whispers. “I promise, I’ll explain everything that I can, I will. Just not yet; I’m not ready to let go. I’ve wanted you to hold me for so long, and I know that might be childish, but…I just want my mommy.”

I nod, feeling my heart crack, and hold her tighter. “It’s okay,” I breathe. “Whatever’s going on, we’ll work it out, we always do. I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere.” I gently untangle myself from her grasp, despite the crippling desire to hold her close and never let her go. Keeping her wrists enclosed in my grip, I meet her tear-stained gaze. “But you need to fill me in a little, Katie. What’s going on? Where have you been?”

Katie takes a deep, shaky breath. “I don’t remember everything. In fact, I really don’t remember anything after waking up that morning, but I know that the dive I was hired for was a setup,” she begins. I take a seat on the edge of the cot, frowning as I notice her clutching the sheet tightly to her body. “But the next thing I knew, I was waking up strapped down to a table in some sort of underground lab room. At first I thought maybe it was a hospital, but it wasn’t. I was cuffed down, covered by a blanket, but nothing else.” She shudders. I press my lips into a thin line but don’t interrupt. “There was a man there. His name is Dr. Auldon. He asked me questions at first, just simple stuff like my age and identity. He was really just confirming it. Then he started talking about the center we were at, the research and science it was involved in. He told me about Luna, about how they found her a little over six years ago,” Katie states, nodding to the young Mer. “Sophie, she’s real, from the ocean. But when he started talking about mermaids…I thought he was crazy. He kept going on about the research and genetic advancements they’d made. I guess that after six years they finally decided that they wanted to go public with the information.

“He said that they couldn’t just open an exhibit because people wouldn’t like the idea of a sentient creature being alone in a tank, but about how there had been no luck in locating another.”

“I don’t understand,” I can’t help but butt in at this point. “What does this have to do with you, Katie?”

Tears swim in her eyes once more. “Genetics, Sophie. They studied Luna’s DNA, played around with it. They discovered something in it that they call the omega gene. He said that it was a special gene that went virtually unnoticed when introduced into a host, but quickly spread and took over…”

“You mean, like-”

“It didn’t really seem possible,” Katie continues, “What he wanted to do to me. Take the DNA of a mermaid and graft it onto me, turn me into one too. He said that since he can’t find another, he’d just make one.”

“Well, then he was wrong, that’s not possible,” I argue. I glance back at Lewis. “Right?”

“It shouldn’t be,” he murmurs.

“That’s what I thought,” Katie agrees. “I thought he was crazy and yet…” she sighs. “He wasn’t.” With shaking fingers, she pulls away the blanket covering her body. Instead of the long, slender legs that I’d expect, a long tail stretches down from her abdomen. The scales glitter in the light, a bright violet reminds me of amethyst gemstones. I hesitate but reach out and place a hand on the tail. The scales are smooth, yet firm and warm beneath my touch. Despite knowing, deep down, I bring a hand to her hip and push down against the scales, looking for a seam to pull away.

Katie’s hand catches mine and she shakes her head. “Soph, it’s real. I have gills, can breathe underwater. It’s not a costume.”

I continue to stroke the scales in awe a few times. I want to argue, protest that it’s not possible. But I have to admit that the likeness to Riley is uncanny. The tail looks perfectly real. I blow out a long breath. “Okay. It complicates things a bit, for sure, but we’ll figure it out,” I decide, meeting Katie’s hopeful gaze. “It’s going to be alright.”

“So you don’t care?” Katie demands, her grip on my arms tightening desperately. “About the tail? And the fact that I’m not really…well human anymore?”

I shake my head and pull her into a tight hug. “No, I don’t. Not even a little bit. The only things I care about is the fact that you’re home, alive and safe, and stopping those bastards from doing anything like this to someone else.”

The tension in her body vanishes and suddenly the girl is melting in my embrace. “Thank you,” she whispers. After a moment, she pulls away, a thoughtful expression on her face. “You know, I don’t think we have to worry about them doing it again. I don’t think they were able to create that gene. They need Luna. So as long as she’s away from that lab and they don’t find any other Mer, they can’t transform any more people.”

“Then let’s hope it stays that way,” Lewis chimes in. A long moment of silence stretches awkwardly in the room, broken only by a poorly concealed sob.

I glance in the direction and find the young Mer curled in on herself, hands over her mouth in an effort to smother the sound, and tears streaking down her face. Her azure eyes are fixated on Katie. “You mean…they used me? Something inside me to do this to you?” she whimpers. “I just thought that they had based it off me…used some of my blood or something, but that it was ultimately their doing. This is my fault.”

“What? No, Luna; this is not your fault,” Katie replies. I gently pat Katie’s arm before rising from her cot and walking around to stand beside the younger Mer. Luna stares up at me with wide, tear-filled eyes, shrinking down as I approach.

I take a seat on the cot beside her and lift her chin to meet my gaze. “Hon, I want you to listen to me very closely, okay? I don’t know all of what happened to the two of you, but I can imagine that it wasn’t good. But I can assure you that nothing that happened to either of you is anyone’s fault but the people who held you captive, alright? Don’t blame yourself for things beyond your control.”

The child sniffles and rubs at her nose. “But it is,” she insists. “If I had not gotten captured, then-”

“You were six,” Katie protests. I swallow thickly, struggling to imagine such a young child enduring what sounds like horrendous treatment. It makes me physically ill. “It was in no way your fault. You were a child. If anyone is to blame for what happened to me, besides the people truly responsible, it’s myself. I was much older than you when I got caught, and I should have known that it was all a setup. I did know, something just felt off about it. But I chose to ignore my instincts. But this was certainly not your fault, and honestly? I don’t really regret it, Luna,” Katie admits. “I mean, yeah, some things suck, and it was awful there, but…If I hadn’t been kidnapped, you’d still be in that lab, possibly still alone, and I’m glad I met you. I wouldn’t change what happened even if I could.”

A small smile twitches at Luna’s lips and she lifts a fist to rub at one watery eye. I lean forward and drape an arm around her bare shoulders. She’s a little scrawny for her age, even Katie is looking thin, and I make a note to see them both well fed to get their weight up. Pulling the seemingly reluctant child closer, I rub her arm. “It’s okay,” I assure her. “None of this is your fault, and we’re going to figure things out. I’m sure you have a family out there somewhere too, and we’re going to help you find them, no matter what it takes. In the meantime, stay here with us.”

“So, you want me to stay?” The desperate hope in the girl’s face has my chest tightening.

“Of course I do,” I assure her. “You’re more than welcome here any time you like.”

“I told you,” Katie teases gently, reaching out to poke Luna’s ribs. “All that worrying for nothing.”

A small smile returns to the Mer’s face and she nods. A frown just as quickly twitches onto her face. “But how are we going to find my family?” she whispers. “I do not remember anything about them or where I came from. And even out on the boat, we never saw any trace of other Mer.”

I purse my lips and chew the inside of my cheek. “I don’t know, yet,” I admit. “But we’ll figure it all out. I’m just going to need some time to consider the situation and make a plan. I may have an idea of how to start, however. Katie, did these scientists ever mention where they found Luna? What part of the ocean?”

Katie cocks her head to the side, nibbling on her lip a little as she ponders. “No, not specifically. I do remember Dr. Auldon mentioning that she’s from a tropical area with consistently warmer waters, but that doesn’t really narrow it down enough to be helpful.”

I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “No, it really doesn’t help immensely. But I’m sure together that we’ll think of something. For now, let’s just get the two of you upstairs and settled. I’d feel much better about having you in a more private location than Lewis’s office.”

“I agree,” Lewis chimes in. “Soph, we may be best to use the shipping crates and I can bring up some wheelchairs after.”

I nod. “Good idea,” I agree.

Fifteen minutes later, we’re up and settled in the apartment. Katie has her tail curled underneath her, while Luna’s is stretching down from her seat in the wheelchair, her fin curled so it won’t trail on the floor or get caught beneath the wheels. I reach out and squeeze Katie’s shoulder. A grin spreads across her face, eyeteeth elongated into fangs. I force myself not to show surprise at seeing them on her. “It feels good to be back home,” she murmurs.

“Feels even better to have you here,” I counter softly. “Why don’t you go get a shirt that fits properly,” I suggest, tugging on the sleeve of the baggy park tee that’s at least two sizes too big for her. “I’ll make us all some hot chocolates and then we can sit down and talk a little bit more about the present situation. I’d like a bit more detail as well.”

Katie nods. “Alright,” she agrees. She lays a hand on Luna’s arm. “Wait here, okay? I’ll be right back.”

“Oh, o-okay,” Luna replies softly.

I can feel her gaze on me as I move to the kitchen and pull down four mugs for the hot chocolates. Lewis is getting rid of the shipment crates and then rejoining us.

“So-Sophie?” Her voice is incredibly quiet, just loud enough for me to hear.

I turn back to face the young Mer. Her wide eyes are watching me intently, one fang poking out of her mouth as she chews on her lip. “Yes hon?” I acknowledge.

“Umm, what is hot chocolate?” she inquires, her head tilting to the side, vivid eyes sparkling with a curiosity that has me pausing mid-action; removing the fourth mug from the cabinet overhead. That expression looks immensely familiar.

Giving myself a little shake, I set the mug down and offer her a smile. “It’s a warm drink, Luna. It’s a little hard to explain, you’ll just have to try it once it’s made, okay?”

The child nods, clearly satisfied with the answer. Then; “may I help?”

My smile widens and I nod. “Of course, come here,” I say, moving to the counter with the mugs. I pull down the tin of hot chocolate mix and remove the lid. Once Luna has wheeled over, I scoop a spoonful of the mix and deposit it into a mug before handing the spoon to the girl. “Two tablespoons in each cup, okay?”

The task is simple, perhaps something that might entertain a much younger child, but Luna dedicates herself to it with a focussed passion. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she shakes the spoon over the tin, trying to get an exact measurement. I chuckle softly to myself and leave her to the task while getting the kettle on to boil water.

Moments later, Katie rejoins us, rolling into the kitchen on silent wheels. Her hair has been braided back and she’s donned a pale green t-shirt with white block lettering reading Sun and Surf. She pulls open the fridge door and removes the milk and honey and closes the door, setting both on the counter. I reach over and squeeze her shoulder, unable to quell the joy swelling in my heart.

Katie glances back at me, and there’s a sad longing her gaze, but she doesn’t voice any of it, simply offering me a half smile and then turning her attention back to her young friend.

The sharp whistling of the kettle as the water comes to a boil steals my focus away before I get the chance to comment. Lifting it free of the burner, I claim Luna’s other side and maneuver the kettle over to fill the four mugs. “Katie, you and Luna go sit down on the couch; I’ll be in, in a moment.”

Katie nods. “Come on, Luna.”

“Okay,” the young Mer agrees quietly, following Katie out of the kitchen. Once they’re gone, I busy myself with finishing off the hot chocolates, allowing my mind to puzzle over my daughter’s behavior. She seems so withdrawn, perhaps not unusual if her experience has been as horrid as it seems to have been, but there’s something she seems to be holding back and I want to know what it is.

I glance back at them. Luna is curled in on herself, head bowed with her massive amount of hair falling around her face like a protective veil, while Katie has her hand on the younger Mer’s shoulder. Her lips are moving as she whispers something, likely encouragement or reassurances. It’s then that the problem dawns on me. Taking two of the mugs, I move into the living room and set them down in front of the two girls. “Careful,” I murmur to Luna. “It is hot, so be careful not to burn yourself.”

Once I’ve brought the other two mugs in, I turn to Katie, who has her fingers curled around the mug, the ceramic lip brushing against her chin, but forgotten as she stares off into space, the steam of the beverage coiling up in her face. “Katie, can I talk to you for a second?” I inquire, watching the effect my words have on drawing her from her trance. It still takes a long moment before I seem to have her attention.

“Okay,” she murmurs, setting her mug down and pulling her wheelchair closer.

“Luna, Lewis will be up in a moment, okay? Think you’ll be alright here for a minute or two by yourself? I just need to speak to Katie about something, okay?”

Wide blue orbs fixate on me for a long moment before the owner of them licks her lips and nods hesitantly.

Katie remains silent as she follows me down the hall. I motion her into my room and close the door gently behind me. I pat a spot on the bed and watch her carefully as she braces herself on the edge of the mattress and begins to push herself up. She slips on the fabric, however, and I react instantly in looping an arm around her amethyst tail and helping her up. Her eyes are watery as she tries to avoid my gaze.

I take a seat next to her and rest my hands in my lap, lacing the fingers together. “So, now that we’re away from everything else…do you want to talk about what’s on your mind?” Katie licks her lips, swallowing heavily, but ultimately remains silent. “Katie,” I press. “What’s bothering you? Is it the tail?”

“It’s everything,” she whispers, her voice cracking. I watch a fat tear roll slowly down her cheek to drip onto her scales. She sniffles and rubs at her nose. “I’m scared.”

I nod, reaching out to drape an arm over her shoulders and draw her closer. She leans her head on me. “Of what?” I ask.

“Everything,” she whimpers, more tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m afraid for Luna, and what will happen to her, I’m terrified of them finding us here, taking us back. Sophie, I don’t want to go back,” she cries, wrapping her arms and squeezing me as though I am going to disappear. “It was awful, Sophie. I can’t go back there…Luna can’t. And I don’t know what to do anymore. I feel like everything I had planned for the future is now totally out of reach…And if I’m supposed to be dead…” she sighs. “They’re not going to stop looking for me, for either of us. I can’t even really leave the apartment, can I?”

I swallow thickly and stroke her hair. “Luna is going to be fine, Katie,” I assure her. “Don’t worry about that, okay? We’re going to sort her out. And you’re both safe. I promise you that, Katie. I’m not going to let them get to you this time. And even if things go astray, at least we know what’s going on. They can’t trick us the next time. You know I would never stop looking for you, never just let them take you like that.”

“Yeah…yeah, I know,” she whispers, hiccupping softly and wiping at her eyes. “I’m sorry. I just…you don’t know what it was like. I didn’t think I was going to get to see you again.”

I sigh and pat her back. “I can sympathize on that,” I whisper. I pull her closer and hug her tightly against me. “I’ve missed you so much, Katie. I can’t even begin to imagine what it was like for you. And part of me doesn’t even want to know…But I want you to know that you can still talk to me. That part hasn’t changed,” I assure her.

Katie sighs softly, her body falling slack against me. “I know. Soph?” she glances up at me, her vivid hazel eyes shimmering with more tears. “Thank you,” she whispers. “I guess I just needed to admit to myself what I was so afraid of. Say it out loud, you know?”

“I do,” I agree. “I know you, Kate; you care so much about others, and you’re trying to keep it together for that little girl out there. It’s commendable, but just remember you have to worry about yourself as well.”

“I know,” Katie sighs. “I do feel a bit better now. Really.” She smiles softly and this time it does reach the rest of her face. IT’s genuine. Worry still glitters in her irises, but I feel more confident now that she’s feeling better. “So hey, can I ask you something? When do we get to meet this other Mer that you know?”

I pull back, a little startled by the question. “How did you know that?”

She grins, the fangs gleaming in her smile a little unnerving on her. “Well, for starters, your reaction to Luna was far less than what I would expect. You’re good at just rolling with a lot, but not like that. Besides, you never once asked how long Luna and I can remain out of the water or if we need to be kept wet. You didn’t inquire as to if we can have things like hot chocolate. There was just an overall sense of chill, like you already knew. And I could maybe understand Lewis knowing ahead of time. That perhaps Olivia would have told him.”

“Olivia?” I interrupt. “Lewis’s friend? She was involved in this? Just how long did Lewis know about this?”

Katie shrugs. “I don’t really know all the details,” she admits.

“Never mind,” I state with a wave of my hand, forcing myself to let it go for now. “Go on.”

Katie pauses for a moment and shrugs. “Yeah, I just suspected. This confirmed it.” She reaches into the little chest pocket of her t-shirt and produces one of Riley’s sandy colored scales. This one lacks the usual luster, making me suspect it fell off a little while ago. “We tend to shed scales, I’ve noticed. This was in my room.”

I shrug sheepishly. “Caught red-handed, huh?” I chuckle. “Her name is Riley, and she’s around your age,” I begin. “She was a rescue about two and half months ago. She’s not here full time or anything, but she comes to visit often.”

Katie’s grin widens and excitement sparkles in her gaze. “Really? Wow, that’s actually great,” she exclaims, her tailfin flicking out. “She could teach both Luna and I more about…well, everything. Luna was only six when she was captured, she doesn’t know too much about her own culture or history or way of life. And I kind of want to learn, given it is sort of who I am now. Do you think she might be able to help Luna find her family, too?”

“I’m hoping she might be able to assist. She might at least know some of the family groups in the area and possibly be able to inquire about a missing child for us. It should help get us started at least. Maybe we’ll get lucky. She’ll be back in a few days and we can ask then. Listen, Katie, it might be best not to tell Luna right now, alright? She seems rather fragile, and Riley’s not the most dependable character. She may wind up being late. And regardless, I don’t know if she’ll be able to help. Just…don’t get her hopes up yet.”

Katie frowns but nods. “Yeah, you’re right. It would just get her worked up and excited. Better to let her settle in,” she decides. She slumps against me and smiles. “It feels so good to finally be home.”

“Kid, you have no idea how much better it feels to have you home.”