Sam's Fish Tale
Chapter One
Now, I didn't want to use the song from Pirates 4, but it was better than anything I could find, and you guys already know how that song goes, anyway. So, whatever. Enjoy!
Sam Winchester clicked on the internet link, ready for information on Lillith.
Sam and his brother Dean had been on the Lillith hunt since Monument, Colorado, and the "station explosion" that killed Henrickson and two others. Sam couldn't really explain it, but he just had a feeling that Lillith was connected to Dean and his deal. I mean, Lillith shows up with a hate-on for Sam and an extreme interest in both of them? That can't be coincidence. Of course, he hadn't shared any of that with Dean. Dean was perfectly satisfied with hunting down Lillith on the principle of revenge alone.
Sam cocked his head to the side as he read the news article. "Huh…"
On one of the beds, Dean looked up from his hot rod magazine in interest. "What?"
"A man in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was found floating off shore in the ocean, reported as a drowning," said Sam.
Dean shrugged. "That's not so unusual."
"It is when there was no fluid in his lungs," Sam told him.
"Sounds like someone dumped him in the ocean," Dean said. "Why's that our problem?"
"Because he has suspicious bruises and contusions around his torso," said Sam, looking at morgue photos. "It looks like something was wrapped around him and squeezed him to death."
"Squeezed him to death?" asked Dean, finally intrigued and abandoning his magazine to join Sam at the table. "What could do that?"
"I'm not sure," speculated Sam. "But they found scales on him."
"Scales?" asked Dean. "What, like, an alligator?"
"Alligators don't live in the oceans," Sam told him. "Forensics have run the scales through an analyzer and can't find a match to any marine life in existence."
Dean's eyebrows rose, interested. "Really?"
"And…" Sam began as he pulled their father's leather-bound journal out from under a pile of lore books behind his laptop, "Dad earmarked the same county as a possible nest of—get this—mermaids."
"Mermaids?" said Dean. "Oh, come on—" He left the table and headed towards the bed.
"Well, I did say possible," Sam pointed out. He flipped the journal open and found the page he wanted. "Dad cited several sightings in the area, and even a couple first-hand accounts in the tabloids of encounters with them."
Dean turned back towards Sam. "But where's the proof? I mean, mermaids? That's right up there with unicorns and Bigfoot; they don't exist."
"Well, a man killed in the ocean but not drowned, covered in unidentified fish scales?" said Sam. "What do you suggest? Nessie?"
Dean sat down on the bed. "Fine. See if there's any lore."
Sam stared at him. "You even gonna help me?"
Dean picked up his hot rod magazine. "Hell no." He smirked at Sam and flipped open the magazine.
Sam rolled his eyes and began searching for merfolk lore.
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"Holy crap," Sam muttered as he closed his laptop, rubbing a hand over his eyes.
"What?" asked Dean as he put his magazine down.
"It's like looking up lore on zombies," said Sam, leaning back in his chair. "There's just too much."
Dean got up and headed over to the table. "What'd you find out?" He sat down next to Sam.
"Mermaids are known as squant by the Native Americans," Sam began, "Menanna in Ottowa, Ne Hwas in Passamaquay. The Brazilians called them Lara, Uira or Yara, which means 'water lady' or 'Water Queen.' They're known as Aycayia in the Caribbean, which means 'she with a lovely voice.' And Mami Wata in Africa: 'Mammy Water.'
"Merfolk lore goes back to the time of the Greeks. The story goes that a Semetic moon goddess named Atargatis killed her lover and retreated to the sea in shame to live as a fish. However, the sea couldn't hold her beauty, so she retained the upper body of a human. Thus, the first mermaid was born. She must have been the mother of the entire race.
"Turns out, they're considered part of fairie lore. There are water fairies called nymphs, selkies—which can turn from seal to human—and mermaids. They squeeze the life out of drowning men and drag humans down to their underwater kingdoms.
"According to lore, they have many supernatural abilities, the most famous of which is their voice. It's where the whole 'siren song' myth came from. Merfolk can entice humans with their voice, luring them to their murky depths. They're also known to possess super strength, which is how they squeeze the life out of people. But that myth about them changing into human form at the full moon? That's not true. They can take human form whenever they want."
"Well, if they have so many powers, what can kill them?" asked Dean.
"Well, they have a few weaknesses," said Sam. "They can't be out of the water too long. And, being fairie, they are repelled by iron. However, unlike fairies, they can't be around salt. You know, salt drying out fish and all. Most of the lore leans toward killing merfolk with an iron dagger, coated in salt, to the heart."
Dean shrugged. "Works for me. Pack your crap."
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"So, where do we find 'em?" asked Dean, dipping the adhesive-covered iron knife in salt.
"Well, they're pretty secretive," said Sam. "They tend to shy away from humans. But, this is the second mysterious drowning this month. Both of the vics were last seen down at Pier 15."
"Alright," said Dean. He pulled the knife out and stuck it in his jacket. "Let's go."
They jumped into the Impala, driving down to the pier. Dean parked, and they got out, stepping up to the pier railing.
"So, what are we looking for?" asked Dean.
"I'm guessing a mermaid," Sam said.
Dean looked at Sam with a sarcastic little chuckle. He rolled his eyes and looked down at the water, waiting for something to happen.
They waited for a while, beginning to wonder why they were just sitting there.
"Hmmm-hm, hmm-hmmm…"
"Wait," said Sam, putting a hand on Dean's arm. "You hear that?"
"What?" asked Dean, looking at him.
"Hm, hmm-hmmm, hmmmm…"
"Wait, now I hear it," said Dean, also looking around.
"It's beautiful," said Sam breathily.
Dean rolled his eyes. "Yeah, Sam, beautiful."
Sam glanced down at a rock outcropping at the shore. He spotted a woman staring at him. She was so beautiful. Flowing blonde hair and vibrant green eyes and glowing skin…
Sam left the railing quickly, heading down the pier.
"Sam?" asked Dean, following him.
Sam moved rapidly, heading down to the shore, drawn by that enticing voice.
"Sam!" said Dean, running after him.
Dean came to a stop as he spotted the woman also. She was leaning her elbows on the rocks, flinging her long hair over her shoulder. Shiny, luminescent lavender scales were scattered across her neck and hands. She was bare at her torso with more lavender scales covering her breasts. Behind her, a long, lavender-scaled tail rose from the water, shining in the moonlight before disappearing again.
"Oh, wow…" breathed Dean, entranced by her.
The mermaid was staring lovingly at Sam. She opened her mouth and began to sing.
"Come, all you pretty fair maids…" the mermaid sang, her voice so haunting and angelic, "whoever you may be…who love a jolly sailor bold that ploughs the raging sea…"
Sam stared at the mermaid in fascination. She was like nothing he had ever seen. He started moving towards her, his feet drawn to her like magnets. Dean stared at the beautiful creature singing to his brother. He could sense that something was wrong, but he only had eyes for the mermaid.
"My heart is pierced by cupid…" the mermaid sang, beckoning Sam closer with a long, slender finger.
Sam smiled as he stepped closer, stumbling a little over the rocks.
"I disdain all glittering gold…"
Sam dropped to his knees in front of the mermaid, who reached out and caressed the sides of his face.
"There is nothing that can console me, but my jolly sailor bold…"
The mermaid brought her face forward as Sam leaned down towards her. The mermaid leaned her head up towards him, framing her hands on both sides of his face. As they drew closer together, the mermaid suddenly grabbed Sam by the head and pulled him down to the water.
The spell broken, Dean jumped forward. "SAM!"
The mermaid brought her tail up and wrapped it around Sam's torso.
"Ah!" Sam yelled, fighting against her fatal hold.
"SAM!" Dean cried out, pulling the salt-coated iron dagger out of his jacket.
The mermaid pulled her tail tight around Sam's chest, squeezing him to death as she held onto his neck with her hands. Dean jumped forward as the mermaid began to drag Sam to the water.
"No!" Dean yelled, plunging the knife down towards her tail.
The iron sliced into her tail, and she let out a screech as smoke curled from the knife. Dean pounced on her, grabbing at her arms to free Sam. But, just like Sam told him, mermaids really did have super strength. She would not let go. Her fingernails were digging into Sam's neck, causing him to start bleeding. Dean began punching her as he also pulled at her arms and tail.
"Let him go, you bitch!" Dean yelled.
His punches finally dazed her enough that Dean was able to pull the iron knife out of her tail. Dean could not get to her heart from the front; she had Sam pinned to her chest. Dean flipped the two of them over and plunged the dagger into her chest, shoving it hard enough that it reached her heart.
The mermaid arched back as smoke curled out of her wound. She screamed as she still held onto Sam. Her skin dried up and turned white as tears fell down her face. She collapsed onto Sam, dead.
Neither one of them noticed when a shiny tear fell from her face and down into the cuts on Sam's neck, glowing slightly when it mixed with his blood.
"Sam!" Dean called, pulling the mermaid's body off of Sam and uncurling her tail from around him. "Sam!"
Sam groaned as he grabbed at his abused chest.
"Sam!" Dean yelled. "Say something!"
"Ugh…" Sam moaned. "Why are the freaks always interested in me?"
Dean laughed in relief. "Must be your raw animal magnetism."
"Shut up," Sam muttered.
"Come on," said Dean, pulling Sam to his feet. "Let's get you cleaned up."
"Okay," said Sam.
Dean led the way to the car, and Sam followed him. Sam frowned, suddenly wondering why the ache in his chest and throat had diminished over the past minute or why the night looked so much brighter than it did earlier.