Hau the Merman: Part Two (special preview)

I repaired the front door as best I could, but while the storm raged I didn’t have the proper supplies to fix it completely. Rain still came through and puddled on the floor, and the house maintained a bone penetrating chill the entire time. Fixing the window Hau broke was another matter as well, I had no clue when I’d be able to order glass for it, or if my letters would even reach mainland.

Once the storms did cease I was able to go out to get lumber and perhaps make a trade with the harpies. I was still beaten and bruised, and I had to use a crutch to make it further inland. I was used to doing things on my own, so aside from some pain, this wasn’t an issue.

Mali and Hana followed me, chased me really. They weren’t eager to be left alone with Hau, so he was close behind as well.

“If you’re going to be coming with us, do you mind carrying this for me?” I held out the axe to him, which he just glared at. “I’m trying to repair damages that you caused. It could be the least you could do.”

Hau sneered and took the axe from me. In the sunlight, his colors appeared much more vivid than Hana and Mali’s, so were his scars. He was covered from head to toe in battle wounds that ranged from tiny cuts to ragged gouges and bites. He shone bright blue in the daylight, but in the shadows of the lighthouse he appeared more purple.

“If you go further inland, you’ll risk the harpies,” Hau warned.

“I have a tentative alliance with Nyris. As long as I give offerings, I’m to be left alone.” I held up the satchel I brought filled with fish that I would leave on the offering stone. “I am fully aware of what I can and cannot do here.”

Hau’s eyes narrowed, slanting upwards as his grimace turned further down. He had sharp frills that went into his sharp cheekbones and under his jaw, giving him a very severe look. Not that his size didn’t leave that to question.

I placed my offering and heard the harpies whispering beyond the trees. I moved aside, going further down where I often chopped my wood. I set my things aside and propped my crutch up so I could reach is easily later.

I held out my hand to Hau and wobbled. “I’ll take it back now.”

Hau handed it back and moved away from the treeline while Hana and Mali started collecting small stones and seeds from the ground.

“Stand back,” I told them gently. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

They scurried further back, ducking behind a big rock to play. I started swinging at a tree, but I lost my wind sooner than usual. I stopped, clutching my arm around my side. After a few moments, I started chopping again, only to encounter the same problem.

“What are you doing?” Hau scoffed. “You’re supposed to breathe air and yet you can’t seem to do that right.”

I scowled back at him. “You threw me against the stairs. I’m not a fast healer as it is. If you have something more to say, I suggest you leave.”

Hau looked down at the children as they played, ignoring me as I turned back to my work. I chiseled away at that tree for hours, but eventually it came down, crashing onto the ground. I took a break, sitting down upon a stone as my body cooled and the stabbing pain in my leg became a dull throb.

I looked over and saw Hau was gone. I looked around for Mali and Hana, but I didn’t see them anywhere. I grabbed my crutch and attempted to rush back to the lighthouse, but my body had enough of it, and the slick ground helped assist it in keeping me from moving forward.

I fell to the ground and cried out in agony as I landed on my side. I curled up in a ball, choking on breaths as the pain racked through my body.

“Mama!” Through blurred vision I saw two small shapes run up to me, while a much bigger one followed behind. Their hands were soaking wet and, when Hau picked me up off the ground, my clothes soaked through.

“Useless,” Hau snarled.

“Where did you go?” I wheezed.

“I took them swimming, which is what they should be doing. They can barely dive! What have you been doing to them?” Hau walked harshly, jostling me and adding to my pain as he carried me back down the hill to the lighthouse.

The girls chirped and hissed at him, biting at his ankles every time I made a sound.

“Very good, children,” he told them. “But I am taking her home! You need to save your energy for a real attack.”

“Take me back, I have to finish this,” I scolded.

“You’re in foul shape. What do you think you could possibly do aside from advancing your own death?” Hau carried me inside and laid me back in bed. “If you die, I would greatly appreciate it.”

“Sweet talk gets you nowhere,” I huffed.

Mali and Hana climbed onto the  bed with me, snuggling up against me and nuzzling to my face.

Hau snarled. “It would make things so much easier. But I fear you’ve rubbed off too much on them.”

“Is that all you have to say?” I huffed. “Can’t you be cruel elsewhere? You’ve been here several days and all you’ve done is snarl nasty things under your breath. Doesn’t that get exhausting? Because it is for me!”

Hau recoiled in surprise. I’d held my tongue the entire time, but I was not in the mood then. I was in agony and I had so much to do. I also needed to go up to the top of the lighthouse to refuel, which sounded impossible the way my legs felt.

“Mean,” Mali hissed back at Hau.

“Mean!” Hana screeched.

I sighed and patted their heads. “You don’t need to join in.”