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Authors: Holly Kelly
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in various ways. Some Mer have been known to create elaborate plots to kill and/or injure others (see the story of Aella).
“ Myth #2: The Mer are born of the sea.
“The Truth: While the Mer are descended from Triton and thusly sea creatures, they are almost always also descended from humans. At birth, Triton would erase the memories of the humans, and take the babe to live with him in his kingdom. Other descendants of Mer may come from unions between Triton’s offspring and other creatures, including humans. This has been known to lead to unwanted births. Humans giving birth to children born from these unions were quick to kill them—driven by superstition. The Mer were often as eager to rid themselves of any baby born too human—ones born with legs or without gills.”
Kyros skimmed over a few pages until he came to the subject he’d been searching for.
“Myth #7: The Mer are not capable of compassion.
“The Truth: This is perhaps one of the greatest fallacies among Dagonians. The Mer are just as capable of showing empathy and kindness as any Dagonian. But, because of the power they wield when they are cruel or vicious, they can wreak much more damage than other creatures, including a Dagonian. Thus, the cruel acts of the Mer overshadow any kind acts they may perform.”
Kyros frowned. Was he wrong? Was his thinking based on ignorant stereotypes?
Perhaps.
He continued to read on for a couple of hours before his back protested. The hours of reading were mind changing and enlightening, but his body wasn’t adapting to the toll gravity took on it. Standing, he stretched. He could use a good swim before he returned to bed.
He strolled into the pool room and stripped. Diving into the salty water never felt better. It slicked over his body like a lover’s caress. He braced himself for the pain of the transformation from human to Dagonian. H e growled as his skin tore open, his muscles morphing and tying his legs together, forming his fin. It always hurt like Hades, but it was worth it. When the pain subsided, he began his swim. He circled around, his powerful tail driving him forward. He swam as fast as he could in such a tight space. Diving down and skirting the bottom of the deep end. He swam back up, leaping out of the water, only to dive back down into the surface.
When he had swam enough to satisfy him self, he slowed his pace and circled leisurely. At last he surfaced, finding himself face to face with Gretchen. She raised an eyebrow. “Out for a late-night dip?”
Kyros plastered his tail against the side of the pool. Had she seen it? He searched her face for surprise or shock. She looked tired, her eyes shadowed . Her brown eyes stood out, dark against her pale face. But she seemed composed.
“I couldn’t sleep ,” Kyros said smoothly, regardless of his racing heart.
“I know what you mean. Listen, I’m sorry for, you know, before. I shouldn’t have come on to you. I didn’t even know if you had a girlfriend, were married, or whatever. My behavior was uncalled for.”
Kyros frowned. “No.” He sighed and shook his head. “You have nothing to apologize for. I may have overreacted.”
“So why did you?” she asked.
Kyros was surprised by her boldness. How should he answer? He couldn’t very well say he didn’t want to get mixed up with a human. He also couldn’t say she wasn’t attractive enough. Not only was that an outright lie, but he couldn’t bring himself to say anything that might crush that fiery spirit of hers.
“You know, I can handle the truth,” she said. “I’m no stranger to criticism.”
“It’s not you…”
“Oh please!” She chuckled. “Don’t tell me you’re going to give me the it’s-not-you-it’s-me line.”
Kyros pressed his lips into a fine line. He wasn’t used to females handling rejection as easily as Gretchen, and it bothered him. Probably more than it should.
“Listen,” she said, “let’s just forget it happened. But, just to make
“ Myth #2: The Mer are born of the sea.
“The Truth: While the Mer are descended from Triton and thusly sea creatures, they are almost always also descended from humans. At birth, Triton would erase the memories of the humans, and take the babe to live with him in his kingdom. Other descendants of Mer may come from unions between Triton’s offspring and other creatures, including humans. This has been known to lead to unwanted births. Humans giving birth to children born from these unions were quick to kill them—driven by superstition. The Mer were often as eager to rid themselves of any baby born too human—ones born with legs or without gills.”
Kyros skimmed over a few pages until he came to the subject he’d been searching for.
“Myth #7: The Mer are not capable of compassion.
“The Truth: This is perhaps one of the greatest fallacies among Dagonians. The Mer are just as capable of showing empathy and kindness as any Dagonian. But, because of the power they wield when they are cruel or vicious, they can wreak much more damage than other creatures, including a Dagonian. Thus, the cruel acts of the Mer overshadow any kind acts they may perform.”
Kyros frowned. Was he wrong? Was his thinking based on ignorant stereotypes?
Perhaps.
He continued to read on for a couple of hours before his back protested. The hours of reading were mind changing and enlightening, but his body wasn’t adapting to the toll gravity took on it. Standing, he stretched. He could use a good swim before he returned to bed.
He strolled into the pool room and stripped. Diving into the salty water never felt better. It slicked over his body like a lover’s caress. He braced himself for the pain of the transformation from human to Dagonian. H e growled as his skin tore open, his muscles morphing and tying his legs together, forming his fin. It always hurt like Hades, but it was worth it. When the pain subsided, he began his swim. He circled around, his powerful tail driving him forward. He swam as fast as he could in such a tight space. Diving down and skirting the bottom of the deep end. He swam back up, leaping out of the water, only to dive back down into the surface.
When he had swam enough to satisfy him self, he slowed his pace and circled leisurely. At last he surfaced, finding himself face to face with Gretchen. She raised an eyebrow. “Out for a late-night dip?”
Kyros plastered his tail against the side of the pool. Had she seen it? He searched her face for surprise or shock. She looked tired, her eyes shadowed . Her brown eyes stood out, dark against her pale face. But she seemed composed.
“I couldn’t sleep ,” Kyros said smoothly, regardless of his racing heart.
“I know what you mean. Listen, I’m sorry for, you know, before. I shouldn’t have come on to you. I didn’t even know if you had a girlfriend, were married, or whatever. My behavior was uncalled for.”
Kyros frowned. “No.” He sighed and shook his head. “You have nothing to apologize for. I may have overreacted.”
“So why did you?” she asked.
Kyros was surprised by her boldness. How should he answer? He couldn’t very well say he didn’t want to get mixed up with a human. He also couldn’t say she wasn’t attractive enough. Not only was that an outright lie, but he couldn’t bring himself to say anything that might crush that fiery spirit of hers.
“You know, I can handle the truth,” she said. “I’m no stranger to criticism.”
“It’s not you…”
“Oh please!” She chuckled. “Don’t tell me you’re going to give me the it’s-not-you-it’s-me line.”
Kyros pressed his lips into a fine line. He wasn’t used to females handling rejection as easily as Gretchen, and it bothered him. Probably more than it should.
“Listen,” she said, “let’s just forget it happened. But, just to make
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