One of Us, Part 4

"It's been a long time since a mermaid has come to the Dutchman."
"I know. But it's important."
The captain smiled warmly. "Of that I have no doubt. Please, how can I help you?" He fingered his scar. "It's my job to help you. What is the problem?" The captain looked closer at the mermaid. "It's a man, isn't it?"
"What? No. No. Yes."
The captain laughed. "May I ask your name?"
"Syrena."
He smirked. "He named you. This is interesting. Please, explain the rest of this situation. I take it the old mermaids who had men are gone?"
Syrena blushed. "He did name me, Captain Turner. And yes. They're gone. They tried to pass the stories along. But the young ones wouldn't listen. I tried. But men have killed us! They razed our home and harvested us for tears. It was hard to believe stories of love, until a silver fin was swimming with us."
Captain Turner rocked back in his seat. "So you kissed him." Syrena flushed. "But you haven't married him."
"No. I think he was about to ask me before he started changing the first time."
"And then what happened?"
She looked down, eyes lidded. "He became one of us, but with a silver fin as the older ones described. He was a natural, perfectly adapted to swimming. But he remembers nothing. It causes him pain to change, every time. For me, the pain and disorientation occurred only the first time. Now he avoids all water. I'm scared. I don't want to lose him after all we have suffered."
"I see. You need to bring him to me. All will be resolved."

*

In the morning, he set off to explore the island.
Curious, Philip walked through forest and jungle, climbing over and through rocks and bushes. He worked up a sweat and just when he about to rest, he came to a clearing.
Excited, Philip pushed the last branches aside.
He emerged to find himself back at the pool where he'd began.
"What?"
He knew he had not traveled in a circle. With a puzzled expression, he started back into the trees.
Again, after traveling, he found himself back at the pool.
Philip sat down beside the water, just out of it's pulsing reach. "I am not yours," he whispered to the empty waves. "I am not yours. No."
There was a moment of silence before he slipped into the welcoming waves with a sigh of relief.

*

Syrena rocketed to the surface. "Philip?" she called softly to where he kept his mattress. It had taken her longer to get home than she had thought. "Philip? Are you there?" She swam as close as she could, but he was not there.
Biting her lip, she dragged herself out of the water, growing legs. Shaking, she walked to the edge of the trees and called out desperately, "Philip!"
He did not answer.
It suddenly dawned on her. With a small gasp of horror, she turned to the water. She dove into the pool. Swimming as hard as she could, she screamed into the sea, "Philip!"