Splash: Becoming a Mermaid Ch:2

Chapter 2: The Deal


Kyle and I disembarked from the boat when we arrived back at shore. We thanked the captain and headed back home for the day. After our scary experience with that shark, we were both exhausted. But I had another thing tugging at my mind. That merman I had saw. He had saved my life. His image was forged into my memory. That jet black hair. The sparkling blue color of his tailfin. His body, oh that dreamy body.

Wait, what was I thinking? I slapped the thoughts out of my head. Was I falling in love with this guy? I mean how would something like that ever work out. He was a merman, and I was human.

‘If only I could be a mermaid.’ I thought. Then everything would work out perfectly. I’d be swimming in the ocean every single day with him, and I honestly had no problems with that. The ocean had always felt like more of a home to me than the land ever did. A mermaid, swimming around without a care in the world. With that dreamy merman that had saved me.

“Hannah? Hannah?!”

Kyle’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked at him. “What is it?”

“You were spacing out.” Kyle said. “What’s up with you?”

I contemplated on whether or not I should tell Kyle about him. Even if it was spur of the moment, I had promised not to tell anyone that I saw him. But Kyle was my best friend, and we had known each other since we were kids. I’m sure he could keep a secret.

“Kyle, can I tell you something?” I asked.

“Sure.” he nodded.

“You can never tell anyone about this, got it?” I told him. “You have to keep this strictly between us.”

“Just spit it out already.” he said.

I took a deep breath before I began. “When I was swimming around in that ship… I saw a merman.”

“WHAT?! YOU SAW A- Mmph!”

“Quiet you!” I said, quickly covering his mouth. “What part of ‘strictly between us’ did you not get?”

“Sorry.” he said as I removed my hand. “But seriously though. Are you absolutely sure it wasn’t your imagination?”

I nodded my head. “Considering he dragged me away and saved me from becoming that shark’s lunch, yeah I’m pretty sure.” I couldn’t help myself but talk about him. “You should have seen him, Kyle. He was so handsome and brave and cool.” I smiled to myself as I thought about him. “He makes me want to become a mermaid so I can be with him forever.”

Kyle rolled his eyes. “Seriously? You still have that dream of becoming a mermaid, Hannah? I get you love the ocean, but that’s kind of impossible.”

“Gee, thanks for the support.” I said sarcastically. “Look, I know it sounds far fetched, but I really wish I could become a mermaid. Swimming all day under the sea. It would be paradise.”

“Like your parents would ever let you try. Aren’t they still trying to get you into that prestigious university?”

I moaned at being forced to remember such a thing. My parents, especially my dad, had been pushing me ever since I started high school to keep my grades as high as possible. They were dead set on me going to a great college so I could get some fancy high class job like they had. My dad didn’t like my hobby of diving in the ocean, and saw it as a waste of time. Time and time again I would fight him on the subject and every time he would never listen.

It was starting to get late, and it was time to head home soon. I parted ways with Kyle, telling him that I wanted to stick around the beach for a bit and think about today. Kyle left and headed home, while I walked on the sandy shore. Everyone had gone home for the day so the beach was desserted. The waves splashed against my feet as I stared out into the ocean. All I could think about was that guy and how badly I wanted to be with him. I sighed to myself. “If only I could become a mermaid. Too bad it’s impossible.”

“What if I told you it wasn’t?”

I turned my head towards the direction I heard the sudden voice come from. I hadn’t realized he was there until he had spoken. It was a guy, probably around twenty or something. He had smooth jet black hair and piercing red eyes. I didn’t know why, but just him standing near me made me on edge. “Who are you?”

“My name is Zane.” he said. “And I may be able to help you with your dilemma.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“You want to become a mermaid, correct? What if I could make that happen?”

I gasped at him. “You can transform me into a mermaid? For real?”

“I have a little gift with magic.” he said. “But just so you know… I don’t offer my services for free.”

The tone of his voice told me he wasn’t here to help me out of the goodness of his heart. But this was possibly my only chance of making my wish come true. “What’s the price?”

“It’s a bit more complicated than that.” Zane explained. “I’m a bit of a gambling man you see. So why don’t we make a deal.”

“What kind of deal?”

“I will cast a spell on you that will turn you into a mermaid for one week. During that week, you have to find this lover boy of yours that you keep talking about and get him to kiss you. Let me emphasize that for you, just to be clear. HE has to kiss YOU. If you do it the other way around, it won’t count. If he does kiss you before the week is up, your transformation will become permanent and you’ll be a mermaid forever.”

A mermaid forever? It was like a dream come true. I’d be able to swim every day, and I’d never have to worry about school, my grades, or my parents ever again. But there was one thing that was bugging me. “What if he doesn’t kiss me in one week?”

“I’m so glad you asked.” Zane said with an evil looking smirk. “If that happens, then you turn back into a human.” He then walked up to me and cradled my face with his hand. “And you’ll belong to me. Forever.”

My eyes widened as I backed away from him. This guy wanted to use me as… as… as some kind of personal sex slave! “No!” I said. “Absolutely not! Like hell would I take that kind of risk!”

“So do you not want to become a mermaid and be with your prince charming?”

I froze at his words. What he was offering me was making me risk my freedom. But at the same time, he was also offering me everything I’ve ever wanted. But was it worth the risk?

“So? What’s it gonna be?” Zane asked. “Take a chance and fulfill your dreams and find true love? Or live the rest of your boring life as a human, never knowing what might have been?”

I thought hard about it. If I ran away now, I knew that I would be giving up what was probably my one shot at becoming a mermaid. What was I going to do?

“I…” My resolve hardened as I finally came to a decision. “I’ll do it. I’ll take your deal. Change me into a mermaid.”

Zane was very pleased at my decision, though he wouldn’t be so happy once this week was over if I had anything to say about it. “Very well. Follow me, and I’ll turn you into a mermaid.”

“We’re not doing it here?” I asked curiously.

Zane rolled his eyes. “Maybe you haven’t noticed, but we’re standing out in the open on the beach. You want to become a mermaid in front of the eyes of hundreds of people?”

He had a harsh way of putting it, but he had a point. “Fine then. Lead the way.”

I followed Zane further down the beach, up to a cove that would shield us from view. The ocean waves splashed along the shore. Once we were hidden behind the rocks, Zane turned to face me. “Now undress.”

“What?!” I yelled. “Why do I have to strip naked?!”

Zane rolled his eyes again. “I swear, are all humans your age braindead? You have pants and underwear on, and considering your legs are about to be fused together, that might be a bit problematic.”

“But… what about my bra?”

“If you stay underwater, it’s going to get worn out.” Zane told me. He snapped his fingers, and a pink shell-bra manifested into his hands. “Here, you can use this instead.”

“But… I’ll still be almost completely naked in front of you.”

“Let’s think of it as a preview for when you’re all mine.” Zane smirked.

“Don’t bet on that happening.” I said as I grabbed the shell-bra from his hands and went behind some rocks to undress. I slipped off my jeans and my underwear, letting them fall onto the sand. Then I proceeded to take my shirt off. Finally, I unfastened my bra and let it fall onto the sand with the rest of my clothes. I was stark naked, and my chest was completely exposed. I wasn’t a fan of the feeling so I quickly put on the pink shell-bra that Zane had given me. I was still mostly naked, but I couldn’t deny that Zane was right about my lower body at least needing to be completely bare. Reluctantly, I came out from behind the rocks. The perverted smirk Zane was showing me almost made me want to vomit.

“Oh now I’m really looking forward to when you’ll belong to me.” Zane said.

“Let’s just get this over with.” I said.

“Just one last thing before I transform you.” Zane said. Being the magic user he was, he whipped up a contract that seemed to float in midair in front of me. “All you have to do is sign this contract and the deal will be set.”

I looked at the contract. It recited the terms of the deal I had made with Zane. I had come this far. No point in turning back now. I grabbed the pen and signed my name at the bottom. When I was done, the paper and pen vanished into thin air.

“Good. Now let’s begin.” Zane said. I walked from the sandy shore into the water until the ocean covered up most of my body. Zane stretched his arms out and began reciting something in some sort of odd language that I had never heard before. Almost immediately after he finished, I could feel a sudden change going on in my body.

Violent pain surged throughout my body. I no longer had the strength to stand up straight and I became completely submerged in the water. I gasped for air, feeling water rush through my lungs. I couldn’t breath. I felt like I was suffocating. Then suddenly, I felt myself take a breath. Then another. Soon, I was able to fully breath on my own underwater like a fish. My skin began to lose any of the small traces of hair on it and became completely smooth. The next change I felt was in my eyes. I covered my hands against them until the pain subsided. Suddenly, I was able to see clearly underwater, better than I had ever been able to before.

My legs began to spasm uncontrollably. They twisted and turned, until they finally came together. Scales began to appear on them, first slowly then almost altogether. My legs merged together and suddenly I felt a flopping sensation below my waist and looked down. I gasped as I saw my once two human legs had been replaced by a beautiful pink tailfin. I had finally done it. It had actually happened. I was a mermaid. The pain that had racked my body just now was replaced by a sudden surge of joy. I cheered and laughed. I could swim all day, and I’d find the merman that saved my life. We’d fall in love and we’d be together forever.

Suddenly, I felt two arms wrap around me from behind. I groaned, knowing full well who it was.

“You’re transformation has made you even more attractive, you know that?” Zane said. I didn’t know how he was able to breath and talk underwater. Probably some sort of magic he was using. “I’ll see you in a week, my soon-to-be pet.”

“That won’t happen. I’ll see to that.” I said as I broke free of his hold and swam out into the sea, off to find the merman that had saved my life. The one that I had fallen in love with. The one that I was now risking everything for.