🍣 Sushi Night

Based on a prompt from Betrayal at the House on the Hill.

“Mersteak” the meat of merman and mermaids is said to be the most fantastic delicacy. Rich, flaky…. And it grants you eternal youth. You wonder how it tastes paired with soy sauce.

The day the crates arrived the staff kitchens thrummed with activity. Imogen noticed them being brought inside as she scrubbed out her hundredth cast iron pot, doubling down her efforts as one of the bodyguards caught her wandering gaze. So the rumors were true- the Boss had found a mermaid and planned to eat their flesh.

Imogen grimaced as the slimy base of the pot sloshed against her calloused hands. Kitchen work was far better than the ‘other’ work available and she was able to dine on the leftovers when the head chef disposed of them, snatching up all kinds of neglected delicacies from the trash and waste. Better her than the rats and crows.

Was there a whole body inside? Multiple bodies? The crates seemed quite large- maybe multiple merfolk had been captured and were to be the main course at this evenings High Society Banquet.

The smell and thought made her stomach turn.

As she began to dry the pot with her dish rag, a Bodyguard began using a crowbar to pry open one of the boxes, a curious hush falling over the staff.

Looking up for a bare moment she saw the guard- removing a headless armless female torso and placing it on the butchers table.

Horrified she doubled her efforts into cleaning her pot.

“Yes- yes. It will all be prepared for the Boss, Of course- Sushi styled prep.”

Her hands hurt, but she swallowed the pain, listening to the wet slaps and grim sounds of butchery as the kitchen began preparations in earnest. Her heart stopped as a large hand clasped around her shoulder and she let out a tiny shriek.

“Dishpig!”

One of the chefs thrust a large bonesaw covered in a purple liquid into her hands. “Clean this. Now, then bring it back to me.”

“O-Of course, sir.”

Imogen dropped the blade into the water. The mysterious liquid swirling into the opaque soapy stew. It was thankfully an easy clean, and after gingerly wiping down the blade she held it to her breast as she went to return it.

Mayhaps she would have taken a moment to compose herself before beholding the extent of mersteak being prepared.

Spread over the tables was the remains of a creature- once only relegated to folk tales and fairy stories.

A large fish tail- in the process of being descaled, iridescent scales being collected in buckets. Purple blood coating each surface as several men cut, sawed and broke through scaled arms, a head- eyes open collecting flies on a bench, expression a permanent grimace of pain.

She tightened her grip on the saw, marching herself to the chef that had requested the blade.

He stood over a hefty portion of tail meat. “Uh sir?”

The chef finished adding slices to a small mound of steaks. “What! Oh, it’s you.”

He snatched it from her and inspected it. “Clean Enough I guess”

Moving over to a larger chunk near a fin- Imogen watched him struggle to work it through a fin. The steaks left unattended.

Her hands moved before her mind could even process what she was even doing, two slices of mersteak finding their way into her apron. Her heart vibrating in her chest.

“Would you like these cleaned too sir?”

She picked up the knives he was using.

“Ah yes, and that saw over there.”

As she took the tools to the sudsy water- the thumping in her ears drowning out anything else happening.

As she worked the possibilities swam in her mind, she could sell the steak! A fortune! Or she could eat it! Or even both.

The work flew by as she drank in the delusions of the money to live her dream of becoming a singer, moving to a grand home, traveling abroad. If she was caught, a bullet filled death would surely follow, but for a chance to change her life forever it would be worth it.

As the twilight fell the meals were taken away and Imogen was thankfully allowed her leave. Hands red, peeling raw as she climbed on her rickety bike pedaling towards the lower district with all the strength she could muster. A pale glow diminished as the darkness of night began to creep in. The fruits of her theft nestled safely away inside her pocket. She noticed that the fisher boats had all returned to port, so she took the side street to the pier where she hoped that Josh had come back from the fishing trip.

“That girl there- look.”

The screen flickered for just a moment, hand sweeping across the bench, then into a pocket.

“Fucks sake, when will these stupid bitches learn.”

He leaned back in the chair- “So you wanna tell the Boss?”

“After the party- don’t wanna ruin their good time.”

Josh secured the knot with all his strength, the boat properly secured to the dock. It looked so small surrounded by some of the yachts nearby, but his Dad was waiting for “the big catch” to upgrade it.

The big catch hadn’t come yet and if It didn’t come soon Josh would have to really decide if it was this for the rest of his life.

“Thanks Boy!” He received a heavy slap to the shoulder. “Getting better on those Knots, finally.”

It smarted. He grinned to bear it: “Thanks pa.”

“Oh your lady approaches!”

He pointed out a bicyclist peddling like hell towards them.

“Josh! Josh!”

She pulled to a screeching halt next to the shabby fishing boat. Pulling her hair from inside her hairnet, it falling into a sloppy braid. “Mr. Mawahran!”

She went to shake his fathers hand, only withdrawing it as pain flooded from her fingertips.

“Use the first aid kit in the boat Josh.” He motioned for his son and his girlfriend as he pulled his catch net to the pier.

“Dinners in two hours you two, I expect to see those hands wrapped.”

“Fuck sake, they’re gonna work your hands off at this rate.” He caressed soothing cream over her shaking hands as she sat as still as possible. “No- I’m not going back. I can’t.” She motioned towards the lumps in her apron.

“What-“ he continued to wrap gauze around her fingertips. “What did you do?”

Imogen ducked her head and quietly whispered. “Mersteak.”

Josh’s face was a panorama of fear, curiosity and excitement, “in- there?”

“It’s mersteak, I saw the …mermaid” She swallowed- “In pieces”

“You- you saw a Mermaid?”

He started working on wrapping her second hand, “You don’t believe me do you.” I mean of course he didn’t believe her, she didn’t believe until the corpse was on the table in the kitchen.

She took her bandaged hand and fished it out.

“Here.” Two pristine sliced fillets- could have been just normal fish if it wasn’t tinted an unnatural color and was weeping purple blood onto the gauze.

“It’s real -look.”

Josh was taken back, it looked and smelled like fish, but there was something off about it. He lifted a slice and held it up to his eyes, hard to believe that this was the real thing.

“You and me. Immortality.”

“We can eat one and save the other- sell it, buy a boat and travel.”

It’s not like they were getting any younger, Imogen reasoned. Her best years were working a dead end job in a criminals kitchen- and she knew Josh wanted more too. She had expected some debate, a hesitation but instead he laughed- “Why not!”

“We could borrow this boat and leave dad the other steak to pay for a new one.”

His stomach growled whilst she messily tore one of the steaks apart with her hands.

Imogen looked into his eyes- “Love you.”

They both bit into the slice.

Fish. Definitely tastes like fish, something delicate like Halibut. Odd. Were you expecting a flavor more human like….

Josh licked his purpled fingertips, as Imogen sighed happily. Usually she wasn’t a raw fish fan, but there was something satisfying about the mersteak, like it was a taste best enjoyed by itself.

“Well even if it’s not going to grant us immortality- it’s delicious.”

“I wonder if it’s going to work?”

She removed her apron and threw it over the side of the chair, motioning for him to follow her down to the tiny cabin. Imogen couldn’t wrap her mind around it- but she felt, great. The pain in her hands almost gone completely.

Her lips intertwined with his, soft and sweet- the lingering taste on his tongue. Imogen could feel his fingers clasp onto her modest breast under her shirt, her body twitching in pleasure as he played with her nipple. Their movements rocked the boat a little as she pushed her hips into his, catching the bump in his pants, but it didn’t matter, everything was so good- euphoric even.

Her arms pulled him even closer as they began to rock together, the kiss broken only for air.

“Hhhhh I-“ she went to say something but was interrupted as Josh pushed her stained work dress up and off, his fingers returning to each breast.

Not to be outdone, she drew his pants down his thigh- underwear tight over his ready dick.

God she was soaked already and it looked like he was ready too, his penis bobbing to attention as she pulled his underpants off.

“Two can play at that.” Josh slid her underwear off- before beginning to tease her clit with his tongue and stroke his length with his free hand.

Imogen could feel her body clench and roil as she moaned into the cabins roof.

“Ah-“ A pain.

Somewhere in her legs began a deep muscular ache she must have pushed them too hard. Josh stopped and looked up at her- a trail dangling from his lip-

“Don’t worry-  my legs just hurt after work.” She smiled as she wiped his chin.

“Let’s swap.”

Josh went to stand and stopped- his legs wobbly for a moment before he sat on the chair and she went to work- mouth wrapped around his head. She brushed away some loose hairs from her face, tongue languidly swirling over and around his dick.

Her legs felt like they were burning- No, don’t ruin this Imogen, her mind chided in response.

As her mouth explored something strange was happening- she could feel his cock change shape, ridges bulging under her lips, the taste of pre becoming more-

“Aah! Ah! Imogen!”

Josh pushed her back and both of them sat in awed silence. His dick had changed considerably, it curved even higher than usual, taking on an almost gentle spiraled shape, the ridges laced with soft bumps.

“My- my dick!”

It was strangely beautiful.

Imogen moved closer- a morbid curiosity- she wanted to touch it. Her hands were still wrapped though, she began to tear at the gauze as fast as she could.

Josh looked at it, could feel the air around it- this new member, sensitive- throbbing.

As he wrapped his hands around it- it was longer too, the sensation of it made his toes curl.

“Josh!!” Imogen placed her hand on his thighs. “My hands! Look at them!”

Her slender fingers almost glowed in the dim light, they were free of the years of hard labor, sores and scratches, nails clean and perfect. They were new hands.

“I-Is it working then!?” He stuttered out as she traced the ridges on his new dick. Instead of answering- she pulled him onto her- soft fingers lining up him with her entrance. She had also changed internally- his dick massaged by what he could only imagine as short tendrils, each guiding him deeper inside.

“Oh my god baby- you feel-“ Imogen mumbled barely coherently as he began a steady rhythm.

Below they were both changing still- the gentle pat of his balls becoming less and less as they were merged with the dusting of scales blossoming over his thighs. Her pussy lips becoming less distinct as her hairs shed, replaced by scales rippling out. Even looking up at Josh- she watched his skin clear, acne scars melting away and his features defining.

His eyes screwed shut as he halted-tensed, sharply inhaling as he came in her.

“Haaa- haaa-“

Imogen felt her body cringe as he went to pull himself out- she grabbed his waist and pulled him close. “I- Imogen- your face-“ his hands caressing her cheeks.

“So beautiful.” He deeply kissed her again.

Her legs felt stuck together. She desperately wanted to stop thinking and enjoy herself but the burning was ruining it.

“Josh- my - I can’t feel my.”

He lifted his upper body over her, blanching.

“You’re growing scales-“

She pushed herself onto her elbows, lines of shining scales haloing out from where they were tied together.

“Oh-“

How could she have been this stupid! Immortal? Mermaids were, not humans.

The high came crashing down- “Oh God, I fucked up!”

“Josh! I’m so sorry! I-“

“We’re becoming Mermaids.”

She could feel tears stinging her eyes, but Josh kissed her on her forehead.

“Shh- it’s okay.”

How could he be like this! This was the end of everything- they’d have to live in the ocean! Or in a tank somewhere! What would they tell her mom, what would they say to his family! They were going to miss dinner-

He caressed her hair, “Imogen.”

“Imogen! Hey- It’s not the end of everything.”

Her legs knit together towards her knees, matching pace with his changes. “I wanted to get away from all of this- with you.”

He arched his back as a large fin pushed out between his buttocks pushing into her and taking her breath away. It felt amazing. Imogen let out a sharp moan.

“Sorry-“ he gingerly pulled himself from her oozing slit.

She rolled to the side with him- a shimmering dorsal fin springing free behind her.

His penis, going limp, withdrew inside his body, disappearing within a discrete fleshy slit.

“Oh- that’s what that does!”

Her fingers laced curiously around the opening, feeling it pulse and the head of Josh’s new member peek out. A deep pink flushed his cheeks and he shuddered.

“F-Fuck.”

“You’ve changed T-too!”

He motioned to her front- the space below her belly button splattered with tiny pearlescent scales- flattened over with a soft pink slit facing forward.

Hands pressing against the skin, it opened to reveal what could only be her transformed vagina.

Josh prodded it gently- spilling some of her juices and then slipping his fingers inside.

“It’s- it feels cool! And different.”

“Oh, like- good different.”

There was the sound of creaking, cracking and shifting as the changes reached down their thighs, causing both of them to gasp in pain. Unseen- their bones fused together, forming a solid column which then segmented into a facsimile of a spine.

More disturbing was the swelling, tearing of skin open on each side of their necks- which Josh recognized as the beginning formation of gills.

“Oh, we- we gotta go…”

They looked at the small staircase up to the deck, only 5 steps now seemed like a million as they were being slowly robbed of their ability to walk.

Their legs hadn’t completely transformed- so using his feet- Josh pushed himself forward in a distorted commando crawl.

Imogen followed suit, new fingers finding purchase in the boards of the cabin floors as she could feel skin growing into webbing.

He reached the stairs first- propping his body to the side, turning and motioning to her.

“Come on, Im, baby- get in front of me and I’ll help you up the stairs.”

When she was in arms reach- he clasped a surprisingly strong and webbed hand to hers, and pulled her in. Not just his arms- his whole body- Josh had always been of a medium weight and build, but the transformation had given him a cut figure- an incredible swimmers body.

“Hey-“

He snapped his fingers in front of her

Throwing Imogen back into her own changing body.

The zipper like merging downwards between her two legs now past her knees, the fact that her breathing felt labored, scales blossoming across warping skin.

“Sorry!”

He lifted her up the stairs- hoisting her fully scaled rear up onto the fourth step.

“Go, go, go!”

Lifting herself onto the deck, Imogen was greeted by the soft sounds of the pier and the slapping of waves against the boat. Turning back, she grabbed Josh’s outstretched hand as he used what little strength he had left in his mutating feet to push himself up the steps. The ocean was so close now, the cool night air nipping away at their skin.

Their calves and lower legs were almost gone, replaced with long serpentine like tails. Imogen sniffled in pain as she watched her feet- and Josh’s too, begin to distort. The toes splaying outward- skin forming webbing between them as the bones melted into flexible cartilage- pulling and lengthening outwards. She wanted to cry- but no tears would come, ever again.

Josh wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead.

It helped relieve the sensation of her gills growing in.

“Yours too-“ was all Josh could hoarsely whisper as his lungs burned. The water was waiting- just over the guard rail.

Essentially now having lost the use of their legs- all either could do was grab the metal bar and lift with everything they had.

Thanks to his new physique, Josh cleared the bar with ease, sliding over the side and landing with a loud splash in the water.

A din rose in the night air as Imogen tried to do the same. The screech of tyres, flashlights being turned on and the slamming of doors.

“There’s her bike!”

Imogen froze. Maybe she hadn’t gotten away with her theft. Heavy footsteps drew closer.

I have to go. I have to go! Her mind screamed.

There was a loud crash as it sounded like her bike was pushed over- and the glow of a light threw her shadow in front of her face onto the dark waters.

“What-“

A flood of pure adrenaline ripped through her body and she pulled her upper body over the rail- hinging forward- seconds later hitting the water, tail streaking behind.

The oceans embrace was not cold but comfortable.

Instinctively holding her breath and clenching her eyes shut- Imogen was surprised when her gills began to take in water and filter it.

A hand grabbed her shoulder.

“Imogen!”

As she opened her eyes, a small film remained from her eyelids. Josh, now a gorgeous merman waited before her- silken fins gracefully waving. His coloring was less pearlescent and more a rich metallic blue, his ears converted into fins.

She looked herself over-

“You’re beautiful.” And she thought so too, her coloring more a salmon pink.

Floating in the water together they kissed.

“Dude- what the fuck- was that!?”

He looked up at his coworker from the bike he had pushed over. “Heard another splash.”

“Don’t suppose she- is?”

Sam couldn’t believe what he’d seen. Another mermaid, two in one day- but this one was very much alive. He rushed over to the side of the boat and could only stare down into the dark water.

He turned to the others and spotted a discarded apron- filthy and stained. Recognizing it immediately- he grabbed it and looked inside the pocket.

“Found the steak.”

Their leader clicked the bullets into his revolver- “Yeah, good- where’s the fucking girl.”

Sam couldn’t bring himself to say anything about what he’d seen- he wasn’t even sure if he’d seen it himself.  They searched the boat- coming up empty handed apart for the girls clothes, underwear- a young man’s underwear and clothes and wet patches of unidentifiable liquid.

Hope you enjoy! I find writing easy when I’m sick. 🍱🍣🍱