Here's the next chapter. ideas are welcome. Thank you for all the reviews.
Chapter 3:
Charlotte refused to go out into the town much to her mother's nagging and irritation. She couldn't live like this forever. She was afraid of any contact with water. She didn't even want to drink it.
She refused bath after bath. Nancy was aghast as well as Charlotte's mother until she was forced into it by Nancy.
"No! Please, I beg of you!" Charlotte cried out and thrashed.
"Now, Miz. Ya must get in here. Ya smell dirty and must get clean." Nancy all but threw her into the tub with her clothes on.
"Nancy!" Charlotte shrieked in horror, "Get out of here before it's too late. Go!"
"Pardon, Miz? What are ya talkin' 'bout?" Nancy furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
Charlotte sobbed, unable to control herself. If Nancy didn't keep this a secret it might be the end of her. The town would burn her at the stake. People were scared of the thought of mermaids and wouldn't think twice about killing one. Mermaids mostly just myths were known to be killers.
"Please go."
"If ya say so, Miz Charlotte," Nancy retreated back a few steps. She didn't get very far.
Charlotte felt a white hot searing pain shoot up her body and she cried out.
"Miz Charlotte!" Nancy ran back to the tub just as Charlotte's tail sprouted.
Charlotte covered her face in horror.
Nancy muffled a scream of surprise.
"Please don't tell anyone," Charlotte begged the maid again.
Nancy shook her head violently before fleeing Charlotte's chambers.
The next day Charlotte woke up to a visiting suitor. Both her mother Amelia and sister Emily sat in the parlor with him looking smug as Charlotte entered.
Her stomach churned. She couldn't do this. Now she really couldn't marry anyone due to her 'fishiness' or 'mermaidness'.
Nancy hadn't spoken a word of Charlotte's secret but she knew eventually it was bound to come out. Charlotte had to go away before someone found out. She didn't know where but she just had to.
The man rose at seeing her. He was quite tall. Charlotte had never seen him before. She couldn't deny he was handsome. He had curly hair the color of coffee and green eyes.
"Charlotte, this is Robert Lawrence, he owns the bank in town," her mother purred.
"Pleased to meet your acquaintance, miss." Mr. Lawrence bowed.
Charlotte curtsied stiffly.
Minutes passed and then it was like time stopped with her heart as well when her mother suggested Mr. Lawrence take Charlotte for a stroll at the beachside.
Charlotte didn't dare argue and dutifully followed her suitor to the beach. Careful to keep away from the tides. Mr. Lawrence held her arm in his elbow and attempted conversation, only she didn't hear a word he said.
"You're a very beautiful young lady, Miss Middleton. It would be an honor if you would…."
It was then Charlotte realized they were no longer by the tide but by rocks filled with water in between them. She gulped and stepped closer to Mr. Lawrence.
"….be my wife. Will you marry me?" He finished with hopeful eyes.
Alarm shot through Charlotte. "I-I—no! I don't even know you." She stepped back and slipped. Forgetting where she was. She screamed and fell into the water.
"Miss Middleton!" Mr. Lawrence scrambled down and grabbed her, pulling her out of the freezing water.
"Leave me alone!" Terror gripped her and she ran as fast she could. The pain shot through her body. "No, no, no!" It was too late. She fell to the ground with a splat. Unable to run and escape from Mr. Lawrence or anybody else for that better.
I'm going to die.
Tears filled her eyes as Mr. Lawrence caught up with her. His eyes widened. "Miss Mid-," then his surprise turned into a look of greed, "Well, well. What do we have here. A little mermaid?"
"No. No please. Let me go. I beg of you."
"Behold!" He yelled to the passing crowd who all stopped to stare at the girl with the fishtail. "A mermaid! What blasphemy is this?"
Gasps were heard.
"Let's burn her!" Someone shouted.
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