Mermaids for Venus, by Boyce

Chapter 2 : I'm Alive!

/ In a weird room \

Mina : NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! (She gets up real quickly, breathing heavily) Oh my God... What a nightmare! (As she comes to her senses, she sees her blonde hair floating in front of her eyes) What the? (She looks around) I'm... I'm still underwater. But how can... I can breathe. (She takes two three breaths, watching the bubbles floating away each time) Am I still dreaming?

(As she looks around, she hears a voice coming behind her)

: You're awake finally. How do you feel... Goddess Venus?

(Mina turns around to look at the voice she just heard. As she spots her, she recognize the same girl she saw before fainting in the sea when she tried to reach the surface, the mermaid)

Mina : Gulp You're a mermaid! A real mermaid! Pinches self OW! I'm not dreaming! Oh my... Oh my! (Panics)

Mermd : Calm down, please!

Mina : How do you want me to calm down? I'm stuck I don't know where. I'm breathing even though I'm underwater and I'm talking to a mermaid! And how do you know I'm related to Venus? And a Goddess? Me?

Mermd : I can explain it all to you, dear Goddess.

(Mina takes a deep breath, releasing a cloud of bubbles)

Mina : Alright. I'm listening to you... Do you have a name?

Mermd : (Smiles) Yes! My name is Nelia

Mina : And my name is Mina. Nice to meet you Nelia... But can you please explain what's going on? How did I get here? How can I breathe underwater?

Nelia : Right. (Swims nearer) I was looking for pearls as I do everyday. Suddenly, I heard a big noise coming from the surface. I watched and I saw a big boat swimming over the water. I hid at the bottom, watching it closely. I saw something floating, left behind by the boat. So I swam toward it, but as I was swimming, the boat turned around and it came back right at me! I teleported near the object, and I took it. After that, I went to hide at the bottom again.

Mina : Ahhh... That sure explains a lot of things.

Nelia : I heard a sound coming from the surface again, and that's when I saw you. I've never seen anything so beautiful in our kingdom! A beautiful girl moving gracefully in our waters, with her long golden hair dancing in the sea.

Mina : (Blushes) Hmm... Thank you. But I was just swimming around you know...

Nelia : But it was magical! You don't have a tail like us to swim, but you were still able to move so gracefully. I saw you come back with another being, very similar to you. But her hair was darker than yours. I looked at her, and she didn't have your grace in the water. When I turned back to you, you were very near to me. I got... scared somehow, thinking you would punish me for taking that red thing. I just put my arm up, and you came to me to pick it up, and swam away again. I was so surprise I turned back at you, and I guess you saw me. That's when I saw your face real close... You had the exact same face of our Goddess Venus. I was stunned for a moment. I saw you swimming again, but forgive me great Goddess, but you seemed to have lost your gracefulness, having a hard time to swim. And I saw you sink moments after, inanimated. I couldn't resist, and I approached myself of you. I touched you, but only small bubbles were coming from your mouth. Even your golden hair had lost some life. I didn't know what to do, and I only had our Legend in mind about our Great Goddess Venus. I concentrated on our priestess shelter, and I teleported you there with me.

Mina : (What is she talking about? Legend?... I'll ask after) So... you can teleport? That's wicked cool!

Nelia : Yes. A mermaid's mind is real strong. Anyway, we appeared in our holy shelter, and the priestess saw me with you besides me. She swam slowly with her wand, and looked at you. "Oh My... Our dear Goddess has finally appeared!", she said. Before I could say anything, she used her wand and babbled in a language I never heard before touching you. And after, she said "Nelia, bring her in the back room and look on her. She'll wake up soon". She disappeared after that. I listened to her, and I watched over you until you awoke just moments ago...

Mina : I see... I bet it's because of the Priestess that I can also breath underwater.

Prists: You are right, Goddess Venus.

Nelia : Priestess Holly (She bows)

(Another mermaid, holding a scepter, entered the room. She had long flowing white hair, and pure green eyes. Besides these differences, she looked a lot like Nelia)

Holly : Little Nelia... How many times have I told you! Call me Holly.

Nelia : But Priestess Holly...

Holly : (Tear Drop) Anyway, welcome to our little village, All Powerful Goddess Venus.

Mina : (Why do they all call me Goddess Venus?) Hum... Thank you, Priestess. But I...

Holly : You probably have many questions on your mind.

Mina : Yes! To begin, why do you all call me Goddess Venus? I mean, how can I be a Goddess in a world of mermaids when I don't even have a tail, or scales, or can't breath underwater? And I never came here before... And...

Holly : I know people with no tails have adapted to the water. I've seen quite a few swim in the water over my life. Great Goddess, can you swim with me? It might be easier to explain this at our Great Statue...

Nelia : Priestess Holly, are you're sure it's alright? Everyone will see her, and we don't know what the reactions will be...

Holly : I have faith in our people, Nelia.

(While they were discussing, Mina closed her eyes, and she gave herself a little push from the bed. Her long blonde hair started to descend slowly, covering her face. She took her hand, and removed the hair blinding her in a cloud of bubbles coming from her mouth. She started swimming around the room, her long flowing gold hair bringing beauty to each of her strokes, only leaving a trail of tiny bubbles behind her. After a minute, she stops her swim in front of the Priestess and starts to sink a bit to be at the same height as the 2 other mermaids. Her flowing hair started to flow down on her face again. She blew a could of bubbles to get her hair out of her face, and smiled at the Priestess)

Mina : As you can see, I haven't lost my ability to swim!

(The Priestess was still in awe, mouth wide opened, while her white hair danced around her head)

Holly : Amazing... Thats was so graceful... She is indeed our beloved Goddess we've waited for so long

Mina : Priestess Holly?

Holly : (Snapping out of it) Huh? Oh yes! Dear Goddess Venus... I

Mina : Please... call me Mina.

Holly : As you wish, Goddess Mina.

(A tear drop appeared over Mina's head while Nelia let a little laugh go in a small trail of bubbles)

Holly : What is so funny Nelia?

Nelia : Nothing, great Priestess.

Holly : Anyway, like I was saying, maybe it would be better if you followed us to our Great Statue in the middle of the village.

Mina : If you say so Priestess Holly, I will follow you.

Holly : Thank you, Goddess Mina! Please, come this way.

(The Priestess swam toward the doorway in a single stroke of her tail, in the amazement of Mina. She turned around to face the doorway, and started swimming toward the exit with all the grace that comes with her swim. Nelia closed the march behind Mina)

End of Chapter 2