Mermaid Of The Huntsclan Chapter 4
This can only be described as one of Mirana's bad days. She's having absolutely the worst like. Honestly it's like someone deliberately set the level on high today.
Mirana left her home at the Moon Pool for the Magus Bazaar not long after the sun rose, but hit major complications almost immediately. It seems as if she can never catch a break.
No sooner had Mirana reached land that a relentless downpour of rain occurred. Thanks to this she couldn't find a suitable secluded place to dry off and change her tail into legs. It went on for hours into most of the morning. Finally the storm clouds broke allowing the sun to come out.
The storm could've dispersed sooner if Mirana had only used the power to manipulate the weather that a large percentage of Mermaids have, but she hasn't perfected that just yet. It's a power she still had a lot of work to do in order to control.
Unfortunately the break didn't come soon enough. Mirana is really late, way behind schedule. Using her ability of hydro-thermokinesis to evaporate the water from her tail. After a couple of minutes of this Mirana's mermaid form transformed into her human one. At the same time clothes immediately appeared on her body.
The clothes Mirana owned weren't much to look at. She didn't keep that many combinations. The one's she's wearing now are quite ratty looking and a little bit too big for her. Mirana's had some lean weeks where rations are low. The state of how she dressed gave Mirana the appearance of being homeless which is both a good and bad thing.
In a way she's grateful for this in more ways than one.
On the one hand barely anyone gave her a passing glance preferring to stay away, not being bothered by her. The other is that the do-gooders who wanted to stick their nose in other people's lives would try to interfere with her life. A couple even called Child Services on her more than once since her liberation from the Huntsclan.
Thanks to Mirana's ability of invisibility all of the attempts to apprehend her ended up unsuccessful. That is one of the first powers Mirana discovered after she gained the ability to change into a Mermaid. Concentrating really hard Mirana puts her hand in a tight fist motion and then she vanishes with none the wiser. It's a very neat trick.
Also, the clothes she bore covered her back perfectly preventing anyone from seeing the birthmark across there. Mirana knew the Huntsclan had carefully placed agents in all types of governmental divisions including those in Child Welfare in order to find children who bore the mark of the Huntsclan. Mirana wants to avoid these at all costs.
Even if the the slightest hint of where she is were to leak then Mirana's father will send countless members of the Huntsclan to get her.
Although last nights incident may have already done that so Mirana will simply have to be extra careful from now on.
Fortunately none of those things happened on this trip.
Keeping her head down Mirana made her way to the NYC subway system that would take her to the Magus Bazaar.
Once there she waited until the subway train she was on reached the end of the line and everyone who's non-magical got off.
The subway driver, an Elf in disguise under a glamour enchantment attached to his cap, activated a switch that would bring the car Mirana's sitting in straight to the Magus Bazaar through a portal above it.
Exiting the subway car Mirana stepped right into the heart of Magus Bazaar.
The market is in full swing. Magical Creatures of all kinds are buying and selling all over the place. Unlike in the human world none of the Magical Creatures here are wearing disguises. This is because here in the Magus Bazaar there is no need. For this place has long been protected by magic. Even with buildings as high as some buildings in New York City no one would ever find it. It's literally hiding in plain sight.
As Mirana meandered through the crowds to find an area to set up her worst fears were realized. Since she got there so late all of the good spots are gone. Not a good sign for business today.
It's quite convenient for Mirana that she always had a plan-b in mind.
That would be Veronica.
You see Veronica is an Arachne, someone who is half-human and half-spider, who is a vendor in the market running her own booth selling an assortment of merchandise for potions and stuff like that. To the contrary of most in the market Veronica is one of the few Magical Creatures that don't despise Mirana in this place. During the occasions when Mirana fails to rent a booth for the day Veronica is always happy to give her the open space next to her designated spot. Also, she looked out for Mirana, teaching the ropes of the Magus Bazaar. Mirana assumed Veronica felt sorry for her and wanted to provide whatever aide she could. Probably because of her situation and the fact she's so young to be living out here on her own.
Smiling as she saw Mirana approaching from the crowd, Veronica said "Hello, Mirana."
"Good morning, Veronica," said Mirana, laying down a large blanket where she could set up her wears.
"More like afternoon at this time of day, Mirana. Late start," said Veronica.
"The worst. It started raining when I left home. I had to wait for hours until the storm passed on before I could move an inch onto dry land. Took a big chunk of time out of my schedule," said Mirana, impulsive, already in a bad mood that clearly showed.
"Cheer up. There's still a lot of time left so you're bound to make some money today," said Veronica, looking on the bright side of things as she sold a bag of raven feathers to a Fairy and a vile of longhorn beetle blood to a Witch.
"I hope so," sighed Mirana, mildly, sitting down pretzel style as she'd finished spreading everything out neatly so as to make it appealing and attract customers.
Mirana sat in the shade shouting out loud to any who were in range to hear the types of things she had to sell today. Basically herbs, shells, jewelry made from shells, pretty stones, scales and bones from fish she'd find. When she first began here Mirana had merely stood around plucking at the sleeves of passerby's to see if they were interested in buying anything in a meek and skittish manner, fearful of making a spectacle. So now she bellowed for what seemed like hours.
All in all it was a lousy day.
A few customers dribbled by to purchase some dried sea grass, a shell bracelet, and bright coralline algae. Towards the end of it Mirana barely made enough to make a visit to the Leprechauns for a money conversion worth it.
"Well that could've gone better," said Veronica. "How much did you make?"
Counting the coins in her hand, Mirana said "Not much. Man that rain totally killed my business."
"Why don't you come back early tomorrow? I'm sure you'll sell more then. Tell you what. Just come straight here and this same spot will be waiting for you. Don't waste your money on trying to rent a stall," offered Veronica.
"All right," said Mirana. "See you then."
Mirana then gathered her things to make the journey home.
On her way out Mirana bumped into the Oracle Twins, Sara and Kara. These two sisters are very peculiar. Since they're twins the ability is split between them. Sara can only see the bad stuff so she's always perky. Kara can only see the good stuff so she's always acting depressed.
It's all very confusing. Mirana never got it, but they usually came by to see her whenever they were in the Magus Bazaar. The ornament Sara wore on her head to tie back her hair is actually one of hers. The first time they met Sara and Kara spoke her future.
Sara had actually forewarned her in a very perky way that a Child Service Officer would try to get her soon while Kara said a good deal of money would be coming her way. Thanks to them Mirana managed to avoid that person from Social Services and the money was actually from a hundred dollar bill that she located stuck in a storm drain. That money kept her fed for close to three weeks once she stretched it out.
As usual neither of the Oracle Twins could stop themselves from voicing the visions the moment they were hit with them.
Speaking really fast all sunshine and giggles, Sara said "Hey, Mirana. Better watch out. You're gonna run into someone from your old stomping grounds really, really, really soon!"
"You're gonna meet your best friend for life in a way you'll least expect. Good for you," said Kara, face blank, tone of voice dull and lifeless to all.
The Oracle Twins then walked off leaving a stupefied and scared Mirana in their wake.
Mirana's thoughts went back to the previous night. Her old stomping grounds? Oh no! Sara must mean from the Huntsclan. Did her actions in Central Park finally alert the Huntsclan to her presence here? And who is this new friend Kara spoke of? It's extremely difficult for her to interact with anyone in this sort of environment let alone make an deep connections for friends.
But the Oracle Twins are never wrong. Their visions always come true one way or another.
The question plaguing Mirana's mind is which one is going to come true first?
The next visit Mirana would take to the Magus Bazaar one of these predictions would come true at the very least.
Authors Note:
Happy New Year!
Hope this a good start to a brand new year! ;D
How do you guys feel about in the episode Dragon Breath Jake asks Mirana to the dance instead of Jasmine?
Also, regarding the mention of homelessness in this chapter. There are thousands of homeless people all over the world. People who have fallen into hard times and need help. You see them on the streets with their signs telling their life story's or just asking for a couple of dollars or coins to get by.
Whenever I see one on the street my heart just goes out to them. For myself, I always give whatever change I have on hand to help out.
Basically what I'm trying to say here is don't judge anyone just because they're homeless. Imagine yourselves in their situation and think about what you might be doing if stuck in the same situation.
Heads up guys! We've got trouble. I received this alert from another fellow author.
Subject: #SAVEYOURINTERNET
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