Nota bene: the chapter features mature content!
When I returned home, I turned the sound on my phone off not to listen to mom and dad's "vital" pieces of advice about how I should live my life.
I was exhausted and on right earnest was ready to throw myself on the bed and fall asleep dressed in street-clothes and dirty shoes. Overpowering my caveman desires, I trudged to the bathroom. In spite of warm weather, I was a little bit chilled; so I persuaded my laziness to let me take a relaxing bath. While the water was running, I took off my clothes and heard a coin strike the tiled floor and saw it roll under the sink. "I'll find it later," I yearned, getting into an almost empty bathtub.
I promised myself to close my eyes just for two minutes. I did not want to fall asleep and drown in my own bathroom. I was pondering over today's job interviews. I think my parents were right telling me I shouldn't jump higher my own head and be more humble in desires and expectations. "My friend Liana, you know her," my mom would say, "…she has a nice offer for you. You may work in her office; all perks and privileges, dear. Dad and I think you should accept it," she always mentions dad every now and then, as if he is a weighty argument or a final authority. "Your degree doesn't allow you to be fussy about the future work."
I had philological education, having considered it to be a brilliant idea back then. Now I am pinballing between a little profit job in my degree field and some office plankton work. I couldn't decide which poison I should pick, going from one interview to another just to satisfy my conscience rather than really be intended to get hired. I had one little hobby that was cherished secretly in my heart, but I never considered it as my future career that might bring me at least a coin. "Ha, a coin! Nice beginning for the rising of my capital. Soon I am going to have plenty of them in a shapeless hat when living in a big carton box, for I would never move back to my parents place even if mom's cousin returns". Three happy months ago my relative won a tender, got promoted, and was sent abroad, so I was lucky to live alone at her apartment. Since she and her husband had no children, and she owed my mom (some dirty secret, I suppose), the resolution was carried in no time: I was obliged to clean two-roomed flat, take care of plants, be grateful till the rest of my days, and check the mail box with a spam avalanche while spouses were absent. Every day I hoped she would sign a lifelong contract and never return, sometimes sending me postcards with seascapes and bending palm trees. My lids were getting heavier; thoughts were mixing and intertwining.
I was probably dead, for there was no chance I had such a beautiful dream. I woke up on the soft white sand. My nuclear family has never been to any foreign country when I was a kid, and I couldn't afford it when I was a student. Mom and dad are simple down-to-earth people: if you want beach holidays – go to the south of your own country; if you want skating or skiing – wait till winter comes. "We are not millionaires, dear". So what if all my school mates and next-door friends returned with big smiles on their sun-touched faces and gave me a bunch of small souvenirs and funny stories from their overseas trips? What's the big deal?
I got on my feet and looked around. I was standing on a beach that was a border line between a long ribbon of rich southern vegetation and a huge mass of black water in front of me. The labradorite blue sky with golden flash of Milky Way was above my head. I was alone and started getting nervous when noticed an obscure figure. I watched her coming out of the tar black water where even the bright galaxy arm was unable to glass itself. It might have been euphoria of a dying person in oblivion, but I believed I had never seen such a beautiful young woman before. I felt lukewarm waves touching my bare feet; it forced me to recover composure. Shameful of my nakedness, I tried to cover my breasts and cross my legs together. She laughed like a silver bell at my attempts. She was naked too, but looked more like an ancient goddess that didn't need any garments.
When a transparent cloud was gone and a dim celestial light fell on her dark skin, it revealed tiny scales that were glowing faintly like a welo opal: grass-green, yellow, orange, aquamarine. Instead of a simple shape, a girl had a spiral ammonite shell ears decorated with tiny iridescent moonstones. Wet green seaweeds, that I thought were long braids, were falling on her shoulders, clinging to her bare breasts. I didn't dare to cast my glance lower or move, forcing myself to look into her brown almond eyes starred with golden sparkling dots. Still the apparent absence of her navel couldn't escape my notice.
She looked serene and benevolent. Suddenly like a dark cloud covered the moon her face gloomed.
"It's time to wake up, silly!"
Her hands were the same temperature as the water when she touched my shoulders and slightly pushed me back. I didn't resist feeling listlessness in my whole body.
I thought my back would touch the coolness of the night sand but not the slippery hard surface. I had slid down, and my head was under the water. By some miracle, I didn't inhale being underwater during the sleep. Have you ever seen videos about cats getting into a bath by mistake? Right, that's how graciously I finished my ablution and left the room.
Next morning I was oddly disengaged; I could just imagine how my hypothetic employers saw me during the interviews. Every time I blinked I saw her. I avoided calling my night date "mermaid" for the sake of my psyche, also chasing away self-invited crazy thoughts about the curse of a lost coin.
After just another "we'll call you" (let's better name it "thank you, next") I called in at a small cafe on the corner of my block of flats. I stood in a queue, gratefully using free Wi-Fi.
"One latte, please," I said it, slowly tearing my eyes from a display.
"Would you like anything else?"
I gave her no reply: the girl at the counter was my mermaid. Surely, her scales disappeared, sea plants turned into black coils, sea shells looked like normal human ears, but the rest was exactly the same, even a melodically luring voice that must have ruined numerous lives of brave sailors. I shut my eyes tightly.
"Are you ok?" asked the girl compassionately.
"I am alright, just had a bad night of sleep. Th-thank you."
I hurried away grabbing a cup, dropping my phone on the counter, making billiard useless moves. Being outside at last, I gave my crimson face to the chilly autumn wind.
"Marina! Marina, wait!"
I swung round. "Mermaid" was approaching me. In the daylight I could tell that she looked my age, maybe younger. She stood in a white T-shirt underneath a green apron. Shivering with cold, she offered me something really familiar.
"I'm so happy to find you here! I thought you've already gone. You left your document folder on the counter. Don't get me wrong: I didn't open it or anything. Here must be your name," she pointed with her index finger at my name in the top left corner of A4 paper that was showing through the transparent plastic.
I was so mad at myself for being a perfect imbecile: there were my documents, my id, my e-book and what not. I was, beyond all doubts, a person who put all eggs in one basket.
"Oh, I don't know what to say. Very obliged to you," I was at a loss and had no idea how to continue our conversation. Only one minute ago I hoped the awkward moment was already over.
"I like your name," she smiled.
"Thanks, I guess," I blushed again, lowering my eyes.
Her amicable smile and goldstone eyes bemused me. I felt guilty: the image of her naked body was dwelling like a ghost on my brain.
"If you need to have a talk, you can always find me in the cafe. Usually I work in shifts, but these days I'm at the counter almost every day. Drop in anytime; I would love to see you again."
"Sure. It's very decent of you," it sounded less friendly than I expected from myself, for the girl looked empty and disappointed. She nodded absentmindedly and left me in the street alone.
***
"...she was stunning: beautiful body, glowing skin. She had no tail: more like a folklore creature rather than a "little mermaid" type. As a character from Oscar Wilde's fairytale she had amazing ears. You know what I mean."
"Yes, I know. I know every Wilde's work and can quote him on every occasion, and keep his books under my pillow. And when I read his fairytales, I secretly cry like a baby."
"Listen to me and don't interrupt,” I went on oblivious to his words. He was done talking and started listening with a smirk, his arms folded.
Sylvester was one of those rarest persons who were totally digested by our city unlike almost all my school or university mates. They popped out like a champagne cork and anchored in more ambitious cities and countries as soon as they graduated, slowly musting with new family members, colleagues, hobbies, friends and ways of life on brand new places. But not Sylvester, he was my constant. The boy never changed, as if he suffered a severe form of Peter Pan syndrome. His copper shaggy hair disgusted any combs. His appearance could be characterized as a lanky nerd if not his broad shoulders and sly bedroom eyes, that seemed almost transparent blue. He was gifted with good humor that was swaying on the edge between sarcasm and irony.
He has always been goofy and nerdy like a classic character from a teenage comedy. That's why it was difficult for me to believe how terribly popular he was among opposite sex: girls way out of his league adored him. Sylvester has never been alone: falling in love easily, falling apart easily. Disruptive flirt and open relationships were his credo. Not all of his ladyloves shared same ideas; consequently, passion and love scandals were Sylvester's perpetual satellites. Unfortunately, being his close friend and sharing same university building, kept me somehow involved in all his drama episodes. All dumped girlfriends found my shoulder a perfect place to cry on, considering me strong enough to resist his charms and immune to his charisma.
At university he studied history and took up a job as a tour guide in this hometown. Lucky it was old enough to provide its visitors with plenty of historic buildings and other significant places of interest. I had the honour to be present at one of his tours; he was a star among provincial old ladies and their granddaughters.
"Don't tell me you still believe in that story about a lost statuette?" I had no idea he remembered his theatrical performance on the playground.
"No," I rolled my eyes. "Who do you think I am?"
"Let's better get back to your sex dream, specifically the part when you both had no clothes on. And don't forget to support me with all necessary details so I can clearly see the whole picture and work on it when I'm alone."
"Moron!" I slapped his upper arm. "If you don't believe me, I'll just leave. I came here not to be mocked at," I said bitterly.
"Take it easy, I didn't mean to hurt your damsel's feelings. Peace?" He raised his hands in an apologetic manner. "I'm your brave mage knight in a bright armor," he straightened his shoulders. "Now show me this super powerful magical artifact," with monkey enthusiasm he quickly grabbed my coin.
"An interesting thing! The ornament is unusual, and it's not typical for our region, and it's not a modern one for sure. I have not seen anything like this during any archeological digs from my internship. Never have I seen it in local museums. We can get in touch with private collectors of rare antiquities. Anyways, you need to show me the exact place where you found it. We also shouldn't exclude the possibility that it could be just an old trinket having been made as a special order. I'll consult my university tutor..."
I couldn't hear him anymore "Please no! Don't tell anybody. It's... it's personal," I caught him by the wrist, as if he was going to call the collectors or the very tabloid newspaper office. "Look, maybe I go crazy or have inhaled the noxious air from the pond or maybe my relative's apartment was built on the ruins of some sacred druid temple, but I saw what I saw. I could swear!" I continued, with a treacherous blush on my cheeks.
For the first time he gave me a serious look.
"I believe you," he said resolutely. "Besides, there is always enough time to put you in a home, no problem."
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