The Bad Boy And The Mermaid

Hunter

Leslie was barking and growling non-stop when he saw Adrian walk inside the apartment. He literally bared his teeth and growled which was so unusual for Les. He was the friendliest dog I knew, never making a big fuss over the guests. I’d always wondered if Les would casually hand my wallet over to a burglar if he brought his favorite snacks.

“Leslie....Adrian is my friend.” Blue cooed as she kneeled down to pet him.

The stupid dog padded over to brush his cute little wet nose at Blue. She looked at Adrian. “Isn’t he just so cute?”

“Yeah.” Adrian replied.

He joined Blue on the floor; his hand raised towards the animal, an open invitation to the dog growling at him. “Come here...I won’t hurt you.”

Leslie continued to growl. “It’s okay, Les, he won’t steal anything from the house.” I assured the dog.

Adrian threw me a look. “Merfolk never steal anything from anyone.”

Yeah, like you aren’t trying to steal my girlfriend right now.

Heck if I let that happen.

I faked a cough, “Point taken.”

It seemed like no matter how much unfriendly Les was being, Adrian wasn’t going to give up. He kept his hand raised towards him. Slowly Les walked to him and licked a bit of his hand, Adrian took that opportunity to pet him on the head and just like that they were friends. Adrian grinned as Les stared at him and I realized they were doing the same weird communication thing.

“See. I told you. He’s a sweet doggie.” Blue said proudly. “Les and I sometimes bathe together and he lets me shampoo him. And I feed him too, a total of four times a day and guess what...” Blue rambled on excitedly. She totally resembled a kid who was telling her classmate about her very first trip at the zoo.

Maybe...that was exactly what Blue thought this was. Maybe she found this amusing, and I was just another fascinating creature for her. A human.

I imaged Blue growing old and telling her dozens of children a very interesting story. All her children had either golden hair (like Adrian’s) or blue like hers. And she said, ‘My little ones, did you know that when I was young, I went to the land and met this really foolish human boy who fell in love with me. It was hilarious because I really made a total idiot out of him, right, Ade, honey?’

I shook the thoughts away, but I couldn’t ignore how she was acting with him, constantly smiling and giggling. How selfish of me to want to be on the receiving end of those smiles and giggles. My hands were balled into fists but I counted back from ten and slowly the anger began dissipating.

I had to be confident that Blue would choose me over him. Then again, choosing me would mean leaving her world for good. How could I ever make such a selfish request just because I couldn’t let her go? Wouldn’t it be so much easier on her to listen to Adrian, forget about coming here, forget about me and marry Adrian the way her family had planned?

“What is that on your hand?” Adrian was making his way towards me and before I could roll down my shirt sleeves he got hold of my wrist and turned it.

His eyes went wide when he saw it. He saw the red markings that had appeared a few nights ago just below my wrist. I pulled my arm away abruptly. Adrian looked at me and then glared at Blue. “What the hell did you do?”

How had this gone from zero to hundred real quick?

Blue looked between me and Adrian. “What now?”

I hadn’t told her about this because I didn’t want her to worry.

Adrian looked like he could use a bag of ice to cool his head. He was completely scandalized. “You branded him!” He said through gritted teeth.

“She what?” I asked, baffled.

He caught my hand and showed me the red markings that resembled a mermaid’s tail. He traced his finger over it. “This is a mark of a mermaid. Do you know what she’s done to you?”

Blue had miraculously stopped chattering and was looking a bit guilty and avoiding eye-contact. The question was, why?

“What has she done?” I inquired.

“She’s marked you as her own!” Adrian bellowed, as if that was even a bad thing.

Blue had marked me as her own.

Hallelujah!

Maybe I should open that bottle of champagne.

“I don’t know what gibberish you’re talking about. Yes, she said she loved me, and I don’t understand how that is even a problem.”

Adrian yelled something to Blue in a different language sounding like greek. Blue responded with silence.

“Do you know what this mark means?” he asked.

my head. “I

didn’t do it on purpose.” Blue said

talk to

she seemed to be so nervous and fidgeting which was unlike her. Why was she letting what Adrian said

was lying about not knowing anything. She wasn’t meeting my gaze and that

of your business.” Blue said

You’re going

He

won’t be here to

got a job in

shouldn’t have said a

I did.” Blue snapped. “Again, none of

Feisty.

of Blue before, and I kind of liked it. Had to admit that she looked downright adorable when she was angry and all I wanted to do was pull

“You’ve changed.” Adrian said.

to her chest she said, “yes I have,

her eye before walking into the bathroom and slamming

the shower turn on. Adrian sighed and settled

* * *

I wanted to ask her to stop working at the club, it wasn’t very safe even

the balls to

the car but I locked the door. I touched her soft cheek and leaned in to kiss her. I kissed her mouth open, and my tongue entered her mouth. I groaned when she sucked on my tongue desperately. She

trying to distract me from saying what was on my mind. Her fingers flew to my jeans front, but I quickly grasped her wrist. “No,

“I know what he’s going to tell

matter what he tells me. I’ve told you this before. I love you and whatever

asked

“I promise you.”

you about it before.” She apologized. “I was scared about your reaction. I still don’t

over with. I’ll hear what he has

for her. She opened the door of the car and before stepping

* * *

when I came back home

are you saying?”

locks out of his face, “You’re going against nature, you know that right? Mermaids and humans are

sin part.” I said.

touched my hand and pointed at the mark. “This happens when a mermaid marks a human as her own, which Blue has already done by telling you that she loved you. But as you can

“What do you mean?”

undo it and you’ll be connected to her and it also means you could die with or without a

from the circle

to come back to the ocean.” He said simply. “Tell her you

“You’re crazy if you think I’ll do that. I prefer dying over telling her that I don’t love

hers.” He paused as if he couldn’t imagine of such a thing happening. “If you die,

“What?”

and human lives are very delicate and short. God forbid if you died, she will live forever in misery missing you,

me a little elated, but that didn’t mean that I wanted her to live her life feeling unhappy

case with one of the other merfolk in our community. The merman fell in love with a

after that?” I asked

the mark by wiping her memories

that, I’m sure he didn’t

rather take away her memories and let her live her life than watch her die. It was painful

that’s fucking tragic.”

the right thing.” Adrian said, “Blue is being stubborn, I’m sure she doesn’t even love you but she’s

I looked him over. “Is it possible that you’re convincing me to let

gave out a sarcastic laugh. “She looks at me as just a friend, and

over Blue. “If she’s curious about

here? The love making humans do. Did you

cheeks probably turned bright red. “Nah, man. I wish it was

it means it’s not simple?” He asked. “How...how

sex-Ed speech again. Maybe the mermaids could join a sex-ed classes with me just in case they decided to try the most

you maybe later. You can have