Fins
Chapter Seven

I was floating in darkness. Not thinking, not feeling...not existing. I could see only blackness in front of me and for a moment I wondered if I was real. Inside this overwhelming obsidian I waited. For what had been long buried, long forgotten. A flash of light burned into my skull, then everything went white.

"Hey! She's awake!"

"Finally, it's been two days already."

"Why isn't she opening her eyes?"

Voices swirled inside my consciousness, stirring me into the waking world. My eyes fluttered open to find a plethora of faces inches away from mine. I shrieked, rearing my head up in shock. Dizziness quickly claimed me as I fell back on feathered pillows. Skie Nicholson grinned. "Morning sunshine!" She exclaimed, two sky blue eyes stared down at me, twinkling with amusement. Skie was a senior at Daylight Falls High and the town slut. It's rumored that she'll sleep with anyone who's willing. She was a pretty girl. Short honey blonde hair framed high cheek bones and tan skin. Full lips coated in a shiny gloss.

Beside her was Mr. Jorden Garris. His dirty blonde hair spiked carefully atop his head. Bright green orbs observed me carefully. Like I was a rare animal.

On his other side was my parents. Oh my poor parents. I could tell mom had been crying and dad had dark circles under his eyes. They must have been through hell.

And finally, next to them was someone I didn't recognize. She was older, maybe in her 40's. She would have been considered beautiful. With dark skin and a shaven her eyes were a cold gray, lifeless and her mouth was frozen in a scowl. Covering her body were strange markings. They sort of reminded me of Henna tattoos. She wore a long black flowing gown, dragging on the floor.

"Where am I?" I gasp, trying to prop myself up with my elbow.

"At the Loves." My dad tells me.

"Don't try and sit up. You need to rest." My mom smiles softly, stroking my forehead. "You took quite a wallop."

"Yeah you looked like the devil shit you right out of hell." Skie said, shaking her head.

"Language." Mr. Garris warned, glaring at his student.

"Sorry Teach, schools out for me."

"That is beside the point. You shouldn't curse just because you can."

She snorted, "I cuss because I can."

"Can we please stop dis idiotic conversation and get to da business at hand?" The older woman roared, accent thick against her words. Mr. Garris quickly shut his mouth, bowing his head. Skie glared at the scary foreign lady for a moment but then turned to me.

"It's hard to believe that this child is the last of the Merricks." Mr. Garris says, leaning in closer to me.

"I agree. Show us some proof of her heritage." The scary woman demands, crossing her arms. Mom glares hard at her, mouth set in a deep frown. "Do you doubt me Narhira?"

"This isn't the place to have this conversation." Dad whispers. Moms eyes widen and she slaps her hand over her mouth.

"You're right dear. Sol you rest . I'm sorry I know your confused. Just please don't leave this room." And before I can get a word in edgewise, I was alone. I shoved my face into my pillow, screaming into it. When will I ever get a straight answer?! And what the hell is a Merrick?!

"Hi."

I tumble out of bed in a mess of sheets and limbs. "Parker!" I exclaim. He was standing in the open doorway, arms crossed. He grins in amusement. "You know you fall a lot."

"It's one of my many talents." I joke, pulling myself to my feet.

"It's not something to be proud of you know." He smiles waltzing up to me in long confident strides. He's only a few feet away when he stops. "So I guess you have a ton of questions."

"A ton doesn't even come close buddy."

He sits on the bed, eyebrows furrowed.

"Ask away. I'm not going to hide anything from you Red."

My heart swells as I look at the man in front of me. He really was so handsome. Looking closer I could see a scar starting from the corner of his mouth, down his neck and disappearing into his t-shirt. But this imperfection in no way damaged his charming appearance. If anything, it added more to it. I stare into his silver orbs, getting lost in their beautiful unnaturalness.

"Red? Are you ok?"

I open my mouth to say something, but a lump in my throat made it impossible to form words. All I could do is shake my head as tears rolled steadily down my cheeks. He shot up from the bed, at my side in an instant. He wrapped in his arms as I cried.

"That was a stupid question wasn't it?"

I laugh a little through my tears. "Yeah. It was." I wrap my arms around him and soak in his warmth. It felt so good to be in his arms. After a minute or two of this I pushed away from him. Finally coming to my am I doing? This is Kats brother for goodness sakes. I defiantly can't be doing this with him. I turned away from him, and I can feel the hurt radiating from him. My heart was screaming at me to go to him, but I couldn't. Not till I sorted out what was going on and what I was feeling.

"You said I could ask any question I wanted right?" I turned to him, and for a split second the hurt was obvious in his eyes. But as quickly as it was there, it was gone. Replaced by the soft silver of a friend. "Yes." He moves back to his position on the bed, and this time I take a seat next to him.

"Tell me everything you know. Please."

He turns to me, eyes hard and jaw tight. "Are you sure? This world that you're apart of is dangerous. It will swallow you whole in a instant before you can even think of running away."

I gulp. His words put the hairs on my neck on end. Despite this I nod anyway.

"I think you know already that you're a mermaid."

I nod again. "But the Mr. Garris called me a...Merrick I think."

"That's what the old ones call you. Mermaid is a more modern term. Merrick actually means Ruler of the Sea."

Ruler of the Sea? Me? I can hardly believe it. "Are there others? Besides Merricks or mermaids or whatever?"

"Yes. There are there are the six kingdoms, vampire, lycanthrope, dragons-"

"Dragons?" I raise a brow.

"Yes dragons. Now don't interrupt. Ok now where was I? Dragons, nymphs, and Merricks. Then there is a whole separate subspecies of being. We call those Jumatate Rase. Which is Romanian for half-breed. The Jumatates aren't exactly fond of the pure bloods. Werewolves are considered Jumatate but they are loyal to the pure bloods. These include pixies and faire folk."

Jumatate Rase. The name sounded so ugly.

"Jorden is a Jumatate. A werewolf. He and I are part of the same pack."

"So you're a werewolf too?" I ask. Parker glares at me.

"Like hell I am. I'm a lycanthrope. A pureblood. Of higher caliber." He sounded so offended. Was there that large of a gap between the classes?

"Oh."

"Yeah. Then there are extremely rare creatures like witches and warlocks. It's said that there is only one witch and one warlock on this planet at one time."

"Why only one of each?"

"It's said because they're to powerful. Lucky for us we have both witch and warlock on our side."

"We do?" That's hard to believe. Only two all powerful beings in the world and they just happen to be on our side? Sounds to good to be true.

"The Loves are. Julius is said to be the most powerful warlock of this millennia."

"That's hard to believe. I mean he's so young."

"Julius Love is at least 267 years old."

I nearly fall off the bed. "267!? Are you serious?!"

"Yeah, and that's just how long my dad's know him."

"How old is John?!"

"He just turned 325 last summer."

Ok. I'm feeling a little faint. Neither of them looked older than 25. I just thought they used L'OREAL or something. "How long do you guys live anyway?!" I squeak.

"We average about 500 years. Warlocks live for a few thousand unless they decide to die. Dragons about the same as us. Nymphs only around 150. Vampires are immortal. Mermaids are too. Well age wise anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"Well mermaids blood holds healing properties that are said to heal any injury. No matter how great. But with a power that great, there is always a price."

"Price?"

"You can't use it on yourself. Mermaids don't have diamond skin like vampires. They're vulnerable."

"I see.I guess I'm not invincible after all. I'll have to remember that the next time I get attacked in the forrest."

"That won't happen again. I won't let it happen." He vowed. I could see his muscles flex from under his shirt. Wow. Big tough guy.

A knock at the door drove our attention away from each other. Mom was standing in the doorway. Her face was grim. "Sol. There's something we need to discuss."