Merman's Love (Merman's Kiss, Book 4) Read online

  Merman’s

  Love

  By

  Dee J. Stone

  Copyright © 2015 Dee J. Stone.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to real life, movies, television, games, or books is entirely coincidental and was not intended by the author.

  Titles by Dee J. Stone:

  Young Adult Superhero Series:

  No Ordinary Hero (Keepers of Justice, Book 1)

  Hero’s Revenge (Keepers of Justice, Book 2)

  Hero Reborn (Keepers of Justice, Book 3)

  No Ordinary Villain (Keepers of Justice, Book 4)

  Villain’s Choice (Keepers of Justice, Book 5)

  Young Adult Romance:

  Cruiser (Cruiser & Lex, Book 1)

  Second Chance (Cruiser & Lex, Book 2)

  Forever (Cruiser & Lex, Book 3)

  Chasing Sam

  Young Adult Paranormal:

  Emily’s Curse

  Paranormal Romance:

  Merman’s Kiss (Merman’s Kiss, Book 1)

  Merman’s Touch (Merman’s Kiss, Book 2)

  Merman’s Bond (Merman’s Kiss, Book 3)

  Merman’s Love (Merman’s Kiss, Book 4)

  Damarian (A Merman’s Kiss Novel)

  Falling for the Genie (Genie’s Love, Book 1)

  Loving the Genie (Genie’s Love, Book 2)

  Keeping the Genie (Genie’s Love, Book 3)

  Email the author at [email protected].

  For more information and updates on new releases, check out Dee J. Stone here: https://deejstone.wordpress.com. Or follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  Merman’s

  Love

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Excerpt from Damarian (A Merman’s Kiss Novel)

  Excerpt from Falling for the Genie

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  They say your life flashes before your eyes when you’re about to die. I see it all, as though a movie plays in my head. My dreams, my hopes, the life I yearn to have with the guy I love. My merman, Damarian.

  The two of us swimming together in the ocean as children of the sea. Exploring his world with total freedom, without anyone or anything trying to tear us apart. Running on the beach as humans in my world, our hands interlocked, the wind blowing through our hair. We talk, we laugh, we tackle each other to the ground and roll over one another as we make out like we have all the time in the world to enjoy every second together. He whispers romantic things in my ear, telling me how much he loves me and how he can’t wait to spend the rest of his life with me. How much he’s looking forward to learning more about being a human, getting a job and marrying me one day. Starting a family, one that would be filled with love and total acceptance from both our families. He tells me that our kids will be the luckiest kids on the planet, because they’ll have the chance to live in both our worlds.

  He tells me it doesn’t matter what obstacles lie in our path, because all that matters is that we have each other and that our love will triumph over all.

  As the life seeps out of me, I try to hold onto his soft, musical voice. To his promises. To the beautiful future he painted before my eyes. I promise myself that Damarian and I will be together one day and that my dream will no longer be a dream but a reality.

  When I hit the bottom of the pool my father tossed me into, with its cold, dirty, salt-filled water, and as my vision turns black, I know deep in my heart that this isn’t the end.

  ***

  Reclaim the ocean. Reclaim what is ours.

  My eyes shoot open to the lovely sight of water. My mouth snaps open and eagerly gulps the delicious salt water. It rejuvenates every part of me, from the tips of my fingers to the bottom of my toes. I close my eyes and rise out of the water, my arms spread out, my head tilted back. The sea water caresses every inch of me, giving me what feels like new skin.

  I float out of the pool. When my feet make contact with the floor, I wobble a bit. Gone is that human weakling. Gone is that pathetic excuse of life. I’m here, and I am life. My eyes fly open. I am me and I am FREE.

  “Cassie?”

  My father rushes over to me and stops a few feet away. Eyes assess me. Closely. Studying. Wondering. Hoping.

  “She’s still human,” Jace nearly spits. He turns to storm away, but Dad holds out his hand.

  “Wait.” He moves closer to me. Hesitantly. Still wondering. Still hoping. “How do you feel?”

  Inhaling the stale air those wretched humans need to survive, I let the oxygen fill me up. I stretch my arms toward the ceiling. “I. AM. FREE.”

  Dad, Sheila, my brother Bobby and sister Ruthie, Jace, and some of my other brethren that are gathered around, stare at me with their jaws nearly sweeping the floor. I stretch my arms even higher to shove that ridiculous ceiling away. It’s time we leave this poor excuse of a home and return to where we belong. To reclaim what’s ours.

  “No, don’t!” Dad hurries over and grabs my arms, pinning them to my sides. “It’s still daylight.”

  I make a disgusted sound at the base of my throat. Sunlight. Blerg.

  “We still don’t know what kind of affect the sun will have on us,” Dad says. He moves around until he’s right before me. Sheila and Jace do, too, pushing their faces in front of mine. Again, they study. Assess. Wonder and hope.

  “Is she…are we…?” It looks like Jace has forgotten how to talk. “But she’s still human.”

  “Cassie?” Dad hesitantly puts his hands on my shoulders.

  I shrug him off and hiss.

  “What is it?” He makes a move to put his hands on my shoulders again. “Cassie.”

  I fist my hands out in front of me and hiss, “Cassila.”

  Dad’s eyebrows shoot toward his hairline. “Cassila?” Then recognition enters his eyes. “That’s right.” He turns to my brethren. “Her true name. Cassila.” He points to himself. “Marikus.” He touches Jace’s shoulder.

  “Jas,” he says.

  “Shil,” Sheila says. She touches Bobby’s arm. “Boni.” She pats the top of Ruthie’s head. “Rula.”

  The others murmur their names.

  “We are one,” we say.

  Marikus clasps his hands together. His eyes shine with tears. He’s not embarrassed the way they slide down his cheeks and into his mouth. He folds his arms around me and spins me. “Finally. Finally.”

/>   “Reclaim what is ours,” I say.

  Marikus puts his hands on my shoulders and squeezes. “Soon, honey. Soon, I promise.” He faces the others. “Do you feel how strong she is?” He bellows. “She has tasted the power of that wretched child of the sea. She has transferred it to us. We are strong. We are free! We will reclaim the ocean. We will take what is ours. Come forth, my brethren.”

  We all step closer and form a circle. We take hold of each other’s hands. We close our eyes.

  “Cassila will lead us to our enemy,” Marikus continues. “We will enslave them. We will take our revenge. We will rule the sea!”

  We cheer.

  “No longer will we be banished on this human land. No longer will we allow our enemy to govern us. No, we will rule the ocean once again!”

  We cheer.

  “Tonight, we will enter the ocean. Tonight, we will invade the home of those foul children of the sea. Tonight, we will reign supreme!”

  “Reclaim the ocean,” we chant. “Reclaim what is ours.”

  ***

  Water.

  That’s the first thing to enter my head.

  I’m so thirsty. I need water. Desperately.

  I can’t open my eyes.

  I can’t open my mouth.

  I can’t move my body.

  I can’t do anything.

  I’m freezing.

  Cassie!

  Damarian. Every part of me yearns to reach out to him. To let him in and help me. But I can’t move.

  I’m so thirsty…I’m so cold…

  Cassie!

  His voice echoes until it’s gone.

  Chapter Two

  Night has arrived at last.

  We leave the house, my brethren and I. We march toward the beach. I can feel the scrumptious taste of salt water in the air. It beckons me. It beckons all of us.

  Vile humans lounge on the beach. The chaos they’re creating causes my ears to bleed. Vile humans and their vile sounds and their vile existence.

  A short one walks over as we enter. “Hey. Here for the party?” He gestures to the items on the sand. Alcohol.

  Marikus waves his hand and the human is blasted to the ground. He’s not dead but merely unconscious. We have no need to kill humans. Too messy. Vile humans and their vile justices.

  “Dude, what the hell?” Another one scrambles to his feet.

  I toss him aside. He, too, is unconscious.

  The others yell and flee. My brethren and I knock each and every one to the ground. We do not need these worthless humans to witness what we are about to embark on.

  Marikus advances to the shore. He gets down on his knees and lifts his palms upward. He slams them down into the water, flattening them on the wet sand underneath. “I call upon you, Linni eel,” he says. “Come forth and fulfill my request.”

  Jas steps forward. “We are too inland, Marikus. They won’t hear your request. Maybe we should board a boat and travel to the middle of the ocean. Gida and I—”

  With his hands still buried in the wet sand, Marikus shakes his head, determined. “They will sense how our true forms beg to burst out of our veins.” He looks back to shoot Jas a glare. “I have little time and patient for boats.”

  Jas steps back, nodding in surrender.

  “I call upon you, Linni eel,” Marikus roars toward the dark waves. “Come forth and heed my request!”

  I step forward and fall down to my knees. Raising my palms outward, I slam them into the water, digging my fingers into the sand. “Come forth, Linni eel,” I call. “Come forth and heed our request.”

  The waves start to crash violently. They spray me with water. The salt enters my skin and causes a moan of pleasure to escape my eager lips. My hands are cemented into the sand. I cannot move.

  Two Linni eels emerge from the water, their electric bodies illuminating the sea. Marikus frees his hands and stretches them out toward the eels. The eels emit electric shocks that connect with Marikus’s index fingers. At once, he is electrified, his own body illuminating the ocean as well. Marikus spasms and whimpers in pain. Then he remains still.

  “Send word to Gyron of the Emerald clan,” he instructs. “Inform him that the ancient rulers of the sea have returned and are to enter the ocean. Be prepared for battle. It won’t be long until the ocean is ours again.”

  A beam of light travels from Marikus to the Linni eels. They break contact and the eels dip back into the water. Marikus collapses onto the tide, his body heaving.

  Jas and Shil take hold of his arms and drag him out of the water. Marikus’s body still heaves. His eyes move back and forth frantically behind closed eyelids. Sweat glistens on his forehead.

  “What is this?” I demand.

  “It’ll pass,” Jas says. “Happens every time.”

  Marikus groans. Saliva leaks out of his mouth.

  “Stand, my sea sisters and sea brothers,” I command.

  They obey.

  I take hold of Marikus’s hand. Jas takes mine. The others follow. When we are all linked, I close my eyes. “You will be healed,” I say.

  “You will be healed,” the others echo.

  Marikus’s body stops heaving. His eyes no longer move around frantically. They open and look up at me in wonder. “Your strength, Cassila. It is more profound than I could have ever anticipated.”

  I feel a satisfied smile on my lips. I reach for his hand and haul him to his feet. “I want to wrap my claws around the necks of those filthy beasts. I want to feel their blood pound beneath my limbs.”

  Marikus pats my shoulder. “And you shall.”

  A moan is heard a few feet away. One of the humans has stirred. Shil kicks him in the back of his head, rendering the human unconscious once again.

  “Their species is a waste of space,” she says.

  Marikus takes my arm and pulls me toward the shore. He turns around to face my brethren. “Our moment has arrived at last. For hundreds of years we have yearned to return to our home. The home that had been stripped from us. Those despicable children of the sea have robbed us of our life. Of our essence. But all that will end. For tonight, we will enter the ocean. Tonight, we will fight. Tonight, we will reclaim our home!”

  We cheer.

  Marikus raises my hand. “It is all due to my daughter, Cassila. Cassila, step forward and enter the ocean. Let us witness your rebirth!”

  My sea brothers and sisters cheer.

  But there is one who doesn’t cheer. “Jas,” I say. “Why do you have fear in your eyes?”

  He looks from me to Marikus, blinking. He stares down at himself. “I don’t know. I feel…” He gazes out toward the waves. Then his face is engulfed in disgust. “This human form! It makes me feel scared to enter the water.”

  Marikus nods. “Your true form has been buried beneath that weak human. The human Jace is not gone completely. But have no fear, because all signs of Jace, of Cassie, of Mark, of Sheila, of Bobby, of Ruthie, of Gwen, of Anthony, of all the humans who have taken control of us, will be banished! Tonight, we will be who we are meant to be!”

  Jas fists his hands in the air. “Reclaim the ocean! Reclaim what is ours!”

  Marikus tugs on my hand. “It is time, my daughter Cassila. Lead us. Command us. We are at your mercy.”

  I step forward until the tide washes over my feet. I feel the sea water on my skin, feel it travel upward until it enters my eyes. My vision turns green. A familiar, welcoming sensation passes through me.

  “Do you feel that?” Marikus calls to the others. “Cassila has never felt this before. She was born after those wretched beasts banished us from our home. But she understands it, because we are one. How lovely it feels.”

  The others sigh in content.

  “Go forth, my daughter Cassila,” Marikus says. “Go forth and make us all reborn!”

  My arms that were pressed tightly to my sides rise and stretch outward. My legs move forward, sloshing through the water that is gathering by my ankles.

  “Go forth,
” my brethren cheer. “Reclaim the ocean. Reclaim what is ours.”

  My legs continue to move forward. My eyes stare straight ahead as I walk deeper into the water, letting it swallow up the lower half of my body.

  “Reclaim the ocean,” they chant. “Reclaim what is ours.”

  My entire body tingles. The water is up to my neck.

  My brethren continue to chant.

  When the water covers my nose and mouth, my human side tries to object. It thinks I will drown. But I shove the weakling aside and let the waves swallow me. When I’m fully submerged in the water, all of my extremities shoot outward. The tingly sensation grows more intense, starting at the soles of my feet and moving upward. As it passes my legs, I begin to transform. I see it as though it’s happening to someone else. The pale skin vanishes and is replaced with my true skin. Dark gray, covered in blue, green, and gray scales. My legs merge together and extend as far as my eyes can see. My serpent body. My serpent tail.

  The tingly sensation spreads toward my chest and arms. My torso grows long and slender, molding with the rest of my serpent body. My hands transform to claws. Then my face is engulfed in the same sensation. It’s pulled and stretched, and my nose is flattened until only two nostrils remain. A large fin protrudes from the top of my head. Every part of me is covered in scales. My vision is now a darker green.

  I. AM. FREE.

  Releasing an ear-splitting roar, I shoot out of the water and land on the sand, my serpent tail whipping behind me. The entire ground shakes. Some of my sea brothers and sisters stumble back in shock, gaping at my ten foot frame. Rula and Boni hide behind Shil.

  “Oh my God.”

  A human has awakened. She sits on the sand with her eyes as big as the moon shining on me. Marikus grabs her by the neck and twists it. The human falls limply to the ground. She’s seen too much.

  Marikus looks up at me. “Cassila.”

  Marikus.

  He fits his hands together and smiles widely. “Step forward, my brethren. It is time we all be reborn!”

  Single file, the others walk into the ocean. As each one transforms, as each one’s true form rises to the surface, I feel it. Every one of them is like a piece of armor, and when we are all transformed, we will be the strongest creatures in the sea.