Washed Up [Cyril]

[Mercury]

Prelude

The sounds of the waves crashing above was nothing compared to the calls of the whales below. They sang a beautiful song as they begun to migrate further away from the ocean shore. Schools of fish swam away and a large turtle floated past Mercury as she glanced at the lightning through the protection of the Omayan Sea. Wanting a closer look, the mermaid swam up until she broke through the ocean's surface. The strikes of electricity lit up the dark cloudy sky as the rain begun to pour through the clouds. Staring up in amazement with her green and blue eyes, she gently clutched her necklace. Mercury knew she shouldn't have ventured up to the shore during a promisingly strong storm.

The mermaid's lower half was that of a gorgeous black orchid beta fish. Her scales were a midnight colored black with beautiful bright blue stripes. She had many fins that allowed her the ease to swim quickly beneath the water. The scales faded away as it reached her stomach. She was topless on the upperhalf and her hair was insanely long. Her ears, were slightly pointed at the tips, similar to that of an elf.

Her blonde hair clung to her skin as the waves crashed against her. The noise became deafening. She turned her head to look at the shore far away just in time to get wacked in the face with a heavy wave. Before she knew it, she was caught within a riptide, strong waves whipping her in thousands of directions and the rain pouring from above. Mercury attempted to move below the ocean's surface but was forced to jump back up as she nearly crashed into a skittering dolphin.

As a large wave washed against her, she was thrown into a rock and knocked unconscious.

Current

The storm had recently passed over Thekla leaving the grasslands in a muddy mess. On the shore line laid the beta mermaid, unconscious. The sun had started to come out causing her to slowly begin to dry. Her blonde and brown hair laid in a messy frenzy around her as her face was smushed into the sand. Seagulls flew down, lightly picking at her skin. The waves had since receded, leaving her to the quickly drying sand.

[daedric]

The sun reached one cautious, dainty finger towards the receding clouds and their dark purple bellies, thick with storm, glowed yellow. The waters, which hours earlier had been furious with storm, had become calm and returned to their monotonous harmony. The morning air was crisp with the after-rain scent and also sharp with the scent of sea-salt. Seagulls screeched in defiance at the early rising sailors, demanding their pickings as the birds believed these men owed them their fish, and sailors responded to the calls by either ignoring the pests or yelling back at them. Everything seemed so…mundane. It was frustrated to the young man, who had previously experienced something so unearthly he could put no words to it.

He did not stick around the town for long and didn’t even bother to look for “Stormeye” or whatever his name was. He decided he would try the next town he could find, even if it took weeks to get there. He had time to roll around since he wasn’t being chased by vampires or pillaging werewolves. So he headed down a small gray road which ran parallel to the sea that early morning, having already restocked his provisions which he carried in a heavy leather bag strapped around his shoulder. Birds shrieked after him, as if angry he would turn his back on them, and some were daring enough to swoop and even try peck at him.

The birds began to thicken as he walked and he was worried he was about to walk into a fog-like swarm of the pests. However, they were paying little attention to him and seemed more preoccupied with something on the beach which he assumed was a dead animal. The road gradually curved towards the corpse and although he wouldn’t like to admit it, at least he would get a chance to satiate his humanlike morbid curiosity without having to walk up to it. Still more than thirty feet away he glanced towards the limp thing and found that what he was looking at was certainly not a dead animal at all. Now his body was drawn towards it like a magnet and he slowly veered off of the road towards the…thing.

Observation had surely failed him this time around for what he saw was clearly human and his step quickened. Eventually his long stride (for short legs, mind you) transformed into a trotting motion and he dropped his leather bag in the sand and rushed to help what he saw as a person in need. Birds exploded into the air as Cyril neared the figure, making an unbelievable ruckus in the process. It was not until he was standing above her that his eyes sent the message to his brain that what he was looking at was clearly not human.

He had seen these creatures before, when he was training as a youth, but only as detailed illustrations in old rustic books. Cyril was very down-to-earth; he did not completely push these legends away as meaning nothing but he did not entertain the possibility of their existence, or even wonder what he would do if he stumbled upon one. Out of all the things he had heard about, some real and some fictional, he had always viewed mermaids as one of the least threatening, thinking that was something that was interesting only to the seafaring. However, now that he was faced with one, even though it wasn’t conscious, laying face-first in the pale sands, a tendril of doubt crawled up his spine. Doubt, for he did not fear, but he still worried. After a moment of hesitation, he carefully knelt near the creature and turned her onto her back.

She was certainly a female, as her bare chest clearly illustrated, although nothing Cyril would want to bang anytime soon. Her face, tanned and sharp-featured, was crusted with specks of sand as was her less human half when Cyril glanced down. The sand was dry and fell from her in the slightest of moments and Cyril concluded that she had been lying here for far too long. The scales on her fins were covered in fine, white substance, possibly dried salt. She was not dead, this much he knew, for although he wasn’t a fish he had caught the flaring of small gills around the neck area in a glance.

The question isn’t whether or not she is dying…it is should I help her?

If he did he could be releasing a menace back on the fisherman and sailors, who were his comrades in blood. If he didn’t, he had made a solid enemy of whatever lived in these waters and he would possibly never be safe again, moving from island to island. If he left her here she could die without ever waking up and it would be a painless death or...she could wake up and suffer the burning fire of suffocation until she passed out. Cyril struggled with the indecision of whether or not to aide this creature when at last the better half of him won the battle.

He grasped her under the chest, not daring to let his arms touch her breasts in case she did wake up in the process. He pulled her up the best he could, though her body was much longer than his and very awkward to try and drag. He did his best, pivoting her body on the sand and dragging her fish half towards the water. Birds cried in protest and swooped and pecked and shat on him the whole time he drug her, making sure to cause a living hell for the man who was stealing a potential meal. Dragging her took only a few moments, but all the while it was uncomfortable and she was rather heavy because she was essential dead weight which made her twice as hard to carry. He was only granted mercy by the gods when he got her far enough in that he was slightly passed his knees and then the heavy density of the ocean water aided in carrying her across its surface. He did not carry her in very deep, not wanting to risk her waking and immediately drowning him in the waves, and instead pushed her body down as soon as he got in deep enough for her body to be covered. At least this would allow her to get some ‘air’. He could not leave her floating in the waves for her body would no doubt wash up on shore again. If there was an off-chance she floated out to sea, sailors would either hit her with their ships or they would find her and gut her. After all, her body would not go under so easily when she was unconscious and the heavy ocean water was holding her up.

Cyril sighed and crouched in the water, realizing he would have to wait for however long it took until she stirred.

“You better thank me for saving your ass,” Cyril said to deaf ears. “Er…fin?”

[Mercury]

In the midst of Mercury's sure death, she had begun to dream. Her dream consisted of odd flashes of memory thrown together in an jumbled mess. She could barely make sense of it. But then, a cool water touched her skin and she imagined herself swimming freely in the ocean. Dancing along with a male as he touched her back. Little did she know, her body was responding to an actual occurance.

The aycayía begun to awake as her gills filled with oxygen and travelled through her blood to her brain. She shifted slightly until she realized there WERE hands on her. Snapping her eyes open, she stared at the silver ones of the male who held her. He was dressed in CLOTHING which could only mean....her brows instantly furrowed and her mouth opened in a curtling scream. Her tiny sharp teeth glinted in the sunlight as she suddenly lunged forward at him; unaware that he had just saved her life.

As she moved forward, a sharp pain strength through her body as she suddenly realized how injured she really was. Fear flashed before her eyes as she fell right into the water. Mercury frantically started to inspect her body and momentarily forgot about Cyril. Her skin felt as though it was on fire and the cool ocean water only eased the pain slightly. She also notice the small flesh wounds and heard the screech of the birds up above. The vile creatures swooped down in an attempt at securing their stolen meal but she had ducked down, grabbed a shell and threw it at them. They all scattered, yelled, and flew off. They would surely be back in due time.

"What happened to me..."

She had not meant for the words to come out aloud. The mermaid was clearly too weak to swim deep into the ocean and now felt trapped on the beach. What if the humans captured her? She'd be tortured, used as bate, and never return to the ocean again! Or what if they captured her as a "pet." Her eyes suddenly darted back to Cyril and she glared at him.

"What did you do to me! I'll kill you I promise..."

Another bout of pain hit her as if a knife was stabbing her many times. The tanned female suddenly passed out once again. The loud splash most certainly would have hit Cyril as she floated on top of the waves once again.

[daedric]

“SONUVAB-“ Cyril snapped as he stumbled and landed on his ass in the water. Having a mouthful of teeth coming at your face, no matter how tiny, was not something most stood and took stoically. “You’re a crazy, stupid, sea-bitch! I should have left you on the shore for the birds to eat! They would be more grateful!”

He slid his bum along the sandy floor causing a cascade of sand to well up in the water and simultaneously spat at her. Spitting in the water wasn’t very progressive in showing his distaste of her and he drew his sword in a sloppy manner (as it was slick from being wet) and pointed the tip in her general direction while trying to find his footing on the slick sea sand. Although his face was set in hard lines he failed at looking intimidating due to his clothing being drenched and still spotted with bird shit. His hair seemed rather clean but it hung around his face as if he was wearing a dead animal on his head, saturated with sea water as well. Overall, he looked less frightening and more like a confused puppy that had just been dropped in a bathtub for the first time. Cyril liked bathes but he didn’t consider swimming with a mermaid that tried to rip his face off a very comfortable bath.

Then she accused him of ‘doing something’ to her, he didn’t dare wonder what she was thinking of, and then promised to kill him. The corner of his lip curled up, revealing larger and less deadly looking teeth, into an obvious expression of disgust. What a bitch!

“I didn’t do anything to you,” Cyril snarled. “I pulled you back into the sea, because I assumed that having gills meant you needed water, but I guess I was wrong. Your promise is going to be pretty damn hard to fulfill; I’m not some dumb sailor looking for a pretty face. Don’t set your standards so high or you will face a crushing disappointment.”

She flopped into the water and water hit him in the chest. He stumbled back a few steps before daring to look over to her again and risk getting saltwater in his eyes. She seemed to be limp once again and Cyril didn’t know whether this was an act or not, so he did not near her. He wobbled back towards the shore, sopping wet, attempting to get out of what he perceived as the immediate danger. As he found himself several feet from her body he remembered the singing he had heard on the docks in the last town. Had this been what had called to him? Sure he had boasted that he wasn’t dumb enough to be fooled by a siren and yet he had gone to that singing that night without realizing the risk he had been in.

What is the worse sharp teeth, boobs, and singing, can do?

He thought about it for a moment and came to the conclusion: a lot. Especially to men who were more impulsive than he. Cyril had a very narrow view on women. They were either nice or they were bitches. He wasn’t positive if he should even consider this a woman for although it had vague appearances of a human woman it certainly wasn’t. He pulled off his heavy, drenched coat and laid it on a piece of old, dried out driftwood, far from the reaches of the tide, where it would be safe. He proceeded to undo his spats and kick his boots off, leaving his feet bare, and once again approached the seemingly passed out mermaid.

Cyril was cautious and kept his sword prepared and this time his footing was much steadier with his feet sinking into the sand. This time he pressed down on her body with one foot. He was well aware he was giving up his balance, but he wouldn’t risk having his face bitten off. Cyril kept his hand on his sword, which was now sheathed, for if he did fall he didn’t want to fall on the blade of his sword which was far deadlier than her little shark teeth. Although he pushed her under the water his expression was that of distaste.

“The last thing I want to do is nurture you back to health,” Cyril said. “You’re nothing but a heathen to men. I guess you’re just so damn pathetic I can’t help it if I pity you. I’ll know better next time than to drag the next half-dead mermaid I see out into the ocean. You’re nothing but a bloodthirsty monster.”

If any other man had found her they would have killed her or enslaved her. Cyril wasn’t afraid to kill her if he had no other choice, but he was no personal enemy of mermaids being that he never thought they were truly real before today. He would never willingly enslave a person due to his horrible past and because this was certainly a person, although one who was trying to kill him, he would never try to bring her back to a human settlement and turn her into some kind of freak show. If worse came to worse she would become a tasty treat for a swarm of hungry birds.

“Guh. I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

[Mercury]

Mercury continued to now float in the water as Cyril gently pushed her beneath the water with his foot. For whatever reason he had, he was showing some sort of compassion for the underwater human. During her years, she had killed many men who had ventured too far into the ocean. Normal humans were seen as a threat to the race. And should they ever believe these creatures were not dangerous; that would be certain death and enslavement.

She was out for about another 20 minutes. During this time, her skin begun to scab over and some of her strength was returning with every bit of oxygen that entered her body. The gills on her body flapped open and close. For a moment, she actually looked peaceful.

And then it happened. The mermaid begun to wake up once more. Only this time, she was a much more calm. Mercury lifted her head up and glaced down at the foot holding her body in the water. Sounds of the water running down her body were masked by the soft ocean waves. Looking at Cyril's disgusted face confused her. Why the hell is he helping me? She knew that as soon as she was able to swim away, he'd go about his day and continue on. Suspiciously glancing at him, she touched his foot and gently pushed it off.

Subconsciously, her hand moved to her necklace to make sure it was still there. Her arms flapped backwards to provide some distance between her and the human. While Cyril did not look terribly intimidating, his sword can do much more damage. Unless she grabbed him by the foot, her changes of dragging him into the water was slim. But for what? This one had let her live. Despite his 'kind' actions, her opinions on the race did not change. He was merely an exception to the rule.

Honestly, Mercury had NO idea what to do. She was still unable to swim much in the ocean and there was a human in front of her. So she merely stared at him. She studied the color of his skin, his clothing, build, and the like. He was not a vampire due to the lack of pale skin. He was not a werewolf because he hadn't the built. An elf was highly unlikely. Frowning, she continued to just stare at him from the ocean. She was 'sitting' on the ocean floor so that just her head was sticking out.

[daedric]

When the creature came through this time she did not lunge at his face or even bite his toes off, which was amazing to him. Either she realized he was no threat to her or she didn’t want to get skewered into a mermaid shish kabob. Whatever the reason the man did not argue when she pushed his foot away and just as she propelled herself backwards away from him, the man also took a step away from her. She was more of a threat to him for he was standing in her element and rarely would a human recognize a threat from a siren. Her expression was as difficult to read as ancient scrolls, her actions hard to predict. In that moment Cyril wished he was staring down a werewolf rather than this thing, for he knew nothing about her or what she would attempt. Perhaps the best move would be out of the water.

I have a funny feeling she would very much like to kill me if I give her another chance. She was just forgiving the second time around, but third time is the charm on her end.

“So are you the one who was singing on the docks the other night?” Cyril asked, though he didn’t expect much of an answer. “To anyone in particular or were you looking to just kill me.”

Although his blatant bitterness and vulgar language suggested it, Cyril did not hate the mermaid. Hate suggested there was some kind of emotion between them, but they had only known each other long enough to know each was a danger to the other. No emotion was involved here, just instinct, a fight or flight reaction. Then again, Cyril was outwardly rude and vulgar on a day to day basis, so his insistent swearing and hand clenched on the hilt of his sword was nothing new to any who knew this mask.

Cyril let out a long, aggravated sigh, “Not much point in speaking to you is there? Do you even understand me?”

If she spoke another language he might as well have been speaking at the water, or at the morning sky, or at the seagulls, or the trees. He could have said anything to her and if he said it in an even tone she would not understand him at all.

[Mercury]

If Mercury could bet on it, she would of thought the human would have left now that his job was essentially done. Either that or have waited quietly until she swam off into the distance. But no, he surprised her yet again and began to speak. Her facial features remained blank as she listened. She could understand many languages, including the one he spoke. She knew she would be diving into dangerous waters if she spoke back. But hadn't she just been saved by him? Could this all be some sort of setup?

She softly begun to stretch out in the water, lifting her arms up high above her head and pressing her chest forward (though not to seduce him.) Her fins also opened up to stretch their aching scales. Sighing, she finally opted to speak. He seemed genuinely curious but not intent on doing her any harm. What would happen if another human were to appear? Would he ward them off? Or would he allow them to attempt a capture? Cyril would probably find it best not to meddle in such affairs. He'd be seen as some sort of traitor for allowing himself to help a creature bent on killing their species.

"Yes. And I had every intention to kill you should you have been the one to answer my call. It was nothing personal, human."

Smirking slightly with her large pouty lips, she continued.

"Most of us can understand you're kind. But it's best to not converse with the enemy. Did you like my singing?"

Leaning back, Mercury dunked the back of her head and hair in the water to ease the feeling of the sun on her scalp. The cool water instantly soothed her. She only stayed down there for a few moments until lifting back up to watch Cyril from afar.

"I could sing again...as a thanks of sorts. Perhaps you might want to come a little closer..."

She knew he'd never take her up on her offer. Simply, she grinned.

[daedric]

He froze when the creature replied to him, like a stunned deer, shocked and confused. Water sloshed between his legs, filling the silence with the sounds of ocean ambience. A slight breeze lifted, tugged at his clothing, and caused the cold to finally sink in beyond the layer of skin, chilling him. Cyril made no response for a moment, but slowly started to gain the composure only second earlier he had lost somewhere in the waters. When he did speak, he would not let himself come off as uncertain. That could be confused for fear, which was a sign of weakness, and he had no fear of this creature.

“You’ll have to forgive me,” Cyril said while slightly cocking his head to one side. “I dislike the sea. I don’t care for the burn of salt in my nose and throat or the smell of bird shit and dead fish in the air. I try to stay away from it when I can. I don’t really care for swimming either. So, I guess you could say I am a little confused, a bit ignorant, on the subject of why fish people consider humans enemies.”

He ran his tongue over the top of his lip and tasted the fine layer of sea salt that had dried on his skin. For once Cyril was being sincere and there was no need to honey up his words or put on a façade so he could better interrogate the…thing. Cyril Daedric honestly could not think of a reason why she was so intent on killing him. She either hated him or she found it extremely amusing to drown human beings. Cyril could not sympathize with her; he found no enjoyment in making others suffer, regardless of whether they were an enemy to him and regardless of race. If he had to kill he would do in quickly and mercilessly and would not give them a chance to cry out in pain. The longer they lingered the more of a chance they had to return the favor; to kill him as well. That was not always the way things stood and at the moment he was very well giving her a chance to kill him, but only because a cloud of threat hung over her that warned her Cyril had a good opportunity to run her through with his sword before she was able to pull him out far enough to drown him. Even now he kept his grip on the hilt of his sword.

“Your singing was very nice, much better than I have heard most of my own species, even if it was a deathtrap for men,” Cyril complimented. “I would prefer to stay a safe distance away from you. Like I said, I don’t much care for the sea or for swimming. I also don’t know why you are so intent on killing me other than you think I’m an ‘enemy’ of some sort.”

But I have made a lot of people want to kill me lately…especially those of my own race.

Cyril was well-aware people were difficult to force change on and he didn’t know if he could say the same for other creatures. Even if he did reach some kind of understanding with the…woman…thing…he would always have to be on her toes. He trusted her more than some men and less than some murderers. Wanting to kill him didn’t make her much more of a threat to him than the average individual; it was the ones who were quiet about their hatred that were the most dangerous. Being aware of her want to drag him into the waters and be lost in the tides, however, would keep him on his toes regardless of whether he could convince her that he wasn’t an enemy to her personally.

“So tell me…what makes you think I’m an enemy?”