Merman Boyfriend: Ty (complete)

The sun is painfully hot, and the sand grates against my body as if it were trying to peel it away. I can barely breathe. I can’t move at all. I just lie here while the sun continues to beat down on me. I can’t remember how I got here. Vague faces and voices flash in the back of my mind. I’m so weak. Why am I here?

“Daddy!” a voice screams in horror.

Am I Daddy? What’s a daddy?

“Echo, go get your mother.” Another voice. Perhaps that’s Daddy. “It’s alright now. I’m going to help you. Poor thing. My god, you’re sick.” Something cold touches my face. “We’re going to get you help. Ruby! Get Haytham and a few others to help me carry him.”

“I’ll be right back!”

I take in a slow, painful breath that feels like rocks scraping down my throat. Relief runs through me as Daddy pours water over top of me. The relief is so sudden and so welcome, I start to cry, but I’m still too weak to lift my arms to cover my face.

“My name is Authaire,” Daddy says. “I’m going to get you help. My home is nearby. I have a very good doctor on staff, and he’ll be able to take care of you. You’re lucky we found you.”

I blink a few times, and through the blinding white light of the sun I see a man with very pale skin and short red hair. He smiles reassuringly at me while pressing a damp cloth to my face.

I can’t remember why I am here. I feel like it is important. I have to remember. I don’t know who, or where, but someone is waiting for me to come back. I can’t remember, but that someone is very important to me.

I wake to the sound of voices. There is no more sun scorching me, no sand rubbing away my flesh. Instead, everything is dark and there is something soft and silky around me. I breathe in and something feels strange inside my body. I don’t feel quite right.

“For the time being, this will stop the spread of the infection. I’m working on getting the cure, but it’s old, and there aren’t too many books on merfolk health anymore.”

“Just do what you can. I’m sure he’ll understand when he comes to. My only concern is that, if he’s sick, how far has the infection spread?” I recognize the voice as the man from before.

“We can’t know yet. But one of the symptoms is memory loss, so it may take time for him to remember. He may have come close to the shore hoping to find help. We won’t know until he has had some time to recover.”

I push back my cover, and rather than seeing my tail, I see two strange sticks jutting out from my torso. A strangled cry leaves my throat and suddenly, there is a light and two men standing beside my bed.

“It’s alright! You’re fine!” Daddy says comfortingly. “Just a small spell.”

My screams turn to coughing, and the second man hurriedly fetches me a glass. The water inside is cold, but it has a strange taste to it. I breathe deeply after gulping all of it down and hold my hands over my chest.

“What have you done to me?” I whisper.

“You’re very sick, and I had to use this spell in order to treat you. It’ll stop the disease from spreading, and it’ll give me time to whip up a cure for you.” The second man is tall with dark skin. He looks down on me with golden eyes. “I’m Dr. Haytham, and I’m going to see you get better.”

My body still feels weak, but I’m able to lift my hands to my face. “I was sick?”

Haytham sits beside the bed I am on. “It’s an old disease that plagued the merfolk to near-extinction. There is a cure, but I am having a hard time tracking down accounts of it. This disease will affect your memory, but it is important for you to tell me anything at all you remember, in case any more of your kind have become ill as well.”

“I don’t...” I struggle to bring up anything. I can recall images more than anything else. I see faces and places, small hands reaching out to me. I shake my head and clasp my hands around my face. “I don’t know. I can’t remember anything.”

“It’s okay,” Daddy says. “Haytham said in a few days, things should start coming back to you.”

“Hopefully, by then Puck will have found something for me,” Haytham sighs. “You look strong, though. You should be able to recover quickly with some rest and a few good meals.”

“Thank you,” I murmur. 

“Is there anything you need right now?” Daddy asks. “Ask for it and we can get it for you.”

I look down at the legs where my tail had once been. They have the same scales with deep red spots and stripes of black and white, but they feel very foreign to me. I glance back at Daddy. His hair isn’t what I remember - long and gray. I could have sworn it was short and red.

“Authaire, the coffee is ready if you want it,” Haytham calls.

Daddy’s eyes light up. “Would you like some?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know what it is.”

“I’ll let you try mine, and if you like it, I’ll get you your own cup. It’s wonderful. I think you’ll really like it.” He leaves, but returns a moment later carrying a steaming mug. “Be careful, now. It’s hot.”

The aroma is quite strong. Looking into the cup, I see an inky liquid within. I take a cautious sip and, for a moment, the bitter flavor disgusts me until it has time to settle on my senses. “I’m not sure what’s happening,” I murmur. “Is this bad for me?”

Daddy’s smile brightens and a glow comes into his eyes. “Oh no, of course not. Coffee is good for everyone.”

“Authaire,” Haytham scolds from behind him. “He doesn’t need coffee! He’s dehydrated enough.”

“But it’ll help his energy,” Daddy protests.

“I said no!” Haytham snaps.

Daddy sighs and sits back down. “Okay, fine.” He sips his coffee with a slightly sullen look on his face, then turns as if hearing something. A moment later, a little girl pokes her head through the doorway.

“She wanted to make sure he was okay,” the woman’s voice from before says. “She’s been worried all day.”

“Ruby,” Haytham calls, “I need to speak with you.”

“He’s awake now,” Daddy says to the little girl. “Let me just make sure he can accept company.”

There is a vivid pulse in my mind - a flash of a small, round face and high-pitched giggling, a blue tail rippling through the waters ahead of me. “Is this your daughter?” I ask.

Daddy looks back at me. “Yes, my Echo. She’s the one who found you, so if you must thank anybody, thank her.”

A little girl steps into the room. She has messy, wavy black curls and bright green eyes. She comes towards the edge of the bed and looks me over, and is quiet for a long moment. There is something about her that feels so familiar to me. “Your name is Echo?” I ask.

She nods.

“My name is...” I stop. “I can’t remember. But I like yours.”

She smiles shyly. “Thank you.”

The woman steps inside. “Haytham said you have memory loss. I wonder if I could help.”

Daddy picks up Echo and sets her in his lap. That’s when I see that one of her legs is made of silver. “My Ruby has a special gift. She can help unearth your memories.”

“Is it alright if I touch you?” Ruby asks.

“I’m always happy when pretty women touch me,” I reply brightly.

“Hey now, that’s my wife,” Daddy says warningly. 

Ruby chuckles and places her hand on my cheek. Her fingers smooth up along my temple, and I close my eyes, feeling as if there is a pool in the back of my head. The water surges, coming closer and closer to me. It feels cool and familiar, and I can hear a voice calling out to me.

“Tybrus! Tybrus!”

“Tybrus?” Ruby whispers. “Is that your name?”

I open my eyes and look up at her. Her hand moves away from my face, and I see blue scales appear on her fingertips before vanishing again.

“It is,” I whisper.

Ruby turns as Haytham steps in. “It’s strange,” she says. “I can see things and reach them, but there’s almost a sort of barrier. I can mostly hear the memories, but I can’t feel them like I usually do.”

“I was worried about such a thing.” Haytham sighs. “This merfolk disease is tricky, and I really hope Puck gets back to me.”

“What did you do?” I ask Ruby. “It felt strange, but… nice.”

“I’m an empath,” she answers. “Haytham thought I might have a chance of helping you with your memory loss, but it seems it will take time.”

Over the next few days, I learn how to use my new legs. I’m not used to walking, let alone being out of water, and I stumble and fall a lot, but at least I am feeling stronger each day. Little Echo has also been a great comfort to me.

“When I got my new leg, it was hard learning to walk with it,” she tells me. “But I practiced a lot, and now I’m taking dance classes with Uncle Oriharu.”

“I should practice,” I say. “But I wouldn't know where to begin. This place seems so big! I feel like I could get lost.”

“I can show you, Ty,” Echo says happily. “The carnival will be opening tomorrow, so we’re doing our dress rehearsals today.”

“What’s the carnival?” I ask.

“It’s my home,” Echo says softly. Her eyes light up. “But it’s, like, all sorts of things. You know, like shows, food, games. It’s fun! The whole family works in it.”

“Family?”

Echo smiles at me. “My Dad started it, and everyone who’s in the carnival is here because of him. Just like you. So that makes you family too.”

I see a face again, lovely and soft, with black eyes that have vertical stripes running down the skin over them. Her bright yellow scales seem to glow in the dim water. “We’re going to have a family!” her voice rings through my mind.

“Ty?” Echo reaches up and touches my face.

I smile at her. “It’s okay, Echo. I’m fine. I think my memories are coming back.”

“That’s good!” Echo exclaims. “What do you remember?”

“Someone important, I think.” I take a deep breath. “I’m hungry. Where can we go to get something to eat?”

“You want to walk there? Okay!” Echo slips off the bed and offers her hand to me. I use her for balance as I stand, and let her lead me out of Haytham’s doctor’s tent. Outside, the sun is scorching and bright. I can smell the ocean not too far away, and all around us are tents. “The cafeteria is right over here.” Echo points to a white one. “We can get anything we want there.”

“What do we want?” I ask curiously. 

“Echo, careful now!” Haytham comes out of the tent. “He’s sick. You shouldn’t be making him exert himself too much.”

“I feel okay. Besides, I’m hungry.” I start in surprise as I see a woman suspended high in the air with long flowing fabric all around her, making her look like a whal swimming under the water. “That whale looks weird!”

“That’s Matilda, she performs aerial acts,” Echo giggles. “She performs in the carnival on the main stage.”

I stare in awe at the creature, watching her as she takes up the landscape before us. “What a magnificent thing!”

Haytham sighs. “Ty, you’re still recovering. You shouldn’t push yourself right now.”

I look back at him. “I can’t push myself. That’s not how it works.”

Haytham sighs. “Okay, go get something to eat. But come right back.”

“I’ll make sure he comes back! Promise.” Echo tugs my hand again. “You ready, Ty?”

“Ready!” I say excitedly. I stumble a bit, but with Echo’s help, we make it to the cafeteria tent. Inside, there are so many different things - people, food - I have never seen before. “Look how small those seals are!” I exclaim as I press my palms to a glass case. “Oh no! They’re covered in oil!”

“Those aren’t seals, they’re croissants,” Echo giggles. “And that’s not oil, it’s chocolate sauce.”

I look down at her. “I have no clue what either of those are.”

“They’re really good! Have you ever had bread?”

I shrug. “Haytham gave me a bed.”

Echo giggles happily. “It’s a type of food, silly.”

“I’ve had lobster,” I say.

Echo helps me pick out some food, and then we sit together. On my tray is a strange, tiny trident, and I pick it up and look around. “Who am I to fight with this?”

“That’s your fork,” Echo says. “You eat with it.”

I frown at her. Echo demonstrates using her own tiny trident, moving food from her plate to her mouth. “You know! So you don’t have to use your hands.”

I pick up a wad of my food with my hand and shove it into my mouth. “This works just fine.”

Echo can barely contain her giggles. Ruby comes walking up and sits down across from us. “It’s good to see you up and about, Ty. How are you feeling?”

“He doesn’t know what forks are,” Echo replies.

Ruby smiles at her, then back at me. Once again, I see that woman. Her long tail presses against my side and I can feel her lips against my cheek. I shake my head, and concern darkens Ruby’s face. “Is everything okay, Ty?” she asks gently.

“There’s someone on my mind. I don’t know who she is, but I keep seeing her and I know she’s important.” I close my eyes, trying to conjure her up again. 

Ruby lays her hand over mine, and that pool in the back of my mind appears again. I exhale softly as it starts to overflow. It grows and grows, from a pool to an ocean.

“My wife,” I whisper.

“You’re married?” Echo looks up at me with wide eyes. 

“Our daughter got sick… so I had to go to...” I cup my hand over my ear. “Something feels strange. I can’t...”

“You’re leaking,” Echo says in surprise.

Ruby stands. “Let's get you back to Haytham, I think your memory is starting to return.”

She and Echo take me outside, but as we walk through the crowd, I have to stop. “Sorry. I just... There’s water in my ear.”

Ruby looks around nervously. “Come on, Ty, we do have some people not from the carnival here. We don’t want to bother them.”

I rub my ear and make a face.

“He’s leaking more.”

“Just swimmer’s ear!” Ruby exclaims.

The more I rub my ear, the more water starts to pour out. All at once it’s like a waterfall, cascading out with such force that it splatters on the ground and scatters rocks and dirt. Echo starts clapping when people start gathering around us. “It’s such a cool magic trick! Right?”

The stunned crowd suddenly relax, laughing and clapping along. Ruby and Echo hurriedly lead me back to Haytham’s tent, my ear still pouring liquid. 

“Goodness.” Haytham places a bucket under me. “I didn’t expect this to happen so soon.”

“What is it?” Ruby asks.

“The disease is like a fungus,” Haytham replies. “It causes the natural filters in the merfolks’ bodies to become more like dams. They build up water in their systems, and it causes them to bloat. The water trapped inside them stagnates and becomes toxic to them, which allows more of the fungus to grow and fester, causing a multitude of problems. Once the water is able to drain, that means the merfolk can heal.”

“What?” I shout over the rushing water.

Haytham trades buckets. “Puck sent me the cure he found this morning. I didn’t expect it to arrive so fast.”

“Well, that’s wonderful,” Ruby gasps. 

“We will be able to save his family if they’re sick?” Echo asks.

“I remember!” I sit up so fast, I accidentally splash Haytham with the water coming out of my ear. “I remember what happened! I...” I flop backonto the floor, passing out from a mix of sudden memory as well as the water.

I was so happy. I had a beautiful, loving wife and a strong, talented daughter. I was one of the elders of my colony, and my wife, Seira, had been an outsider, causing trouble for us with her small gang for years. I agreed to meet with her face to face, which was a foolish venture, because I fell in love with her at first sight. After some time passed, Seira fell for me too, and we had our daughter almost immediately. 

Seira was still wild at heart, often taking me out on swims in dangerous waters, or showing me land where the landwalkers didn’t go. “Once our child is born, I want to show her the world. I want us to travel and see all sorts of places. The landwalkers won’t stop us. I want this one to have everything.” Seira said dreamily.

Our daughter, Nixie, was born prematurely, tiny and weak, and her tail growth was stunted. She wasn’t a strong swimmer, and often required assistance getting around. Seira never gave up. She practiced every day with Nixie, helping her build strength and stamina. Nixie’s tail was small, but soon she could swim with the best of them.

“I have some news,” Seira said one day. “Nixie, you’re going to be a big sister.”

I could barely contain my joy. But Nixie almost seemed to be confused by the announcement. After a moment, she started to celebrate with us, but it seemed like she was only playing along.

Nixie was one of the first to get sick. I first noticed it when she couldn’t remember where our nest was. She was always tiny, but she began to grow weaker and frailer by the day. All the hard work she had done was regressing. Our whole colony was starting to contract the disease, and more and more began to fall ill. Already, some of the other leaders and I were working on a plan to find a cure, but it would mean seeking landwalkers for help. 

Seira was having a hard time remembering her own name, even though she would say mine with certainty. Unable to take it any longer, I decided to go and seek the landwalkers for help. I wouldn’t let my daughter continue to waste away, and I couldn’t bear it if my wife had to suffer as well. But as I swam away with Seira screaming after me, a strange, heavy dread descended over me. Where was I going? What was I doing?

I washed up on shore, where Echo and Daddy found me. I think I was there for days.

I wake with Echo beside me, holding my hand. Daddy is there too, reading a book while drinking his beloved coffee.

“I need help,” I whisper to him.

Daddy smiles at me. “I know. Haytham has been working all day on making batches of the cure.”

“Thank you,” I say breathlessly. “My wife, my children...” I don’t even know if my second child has been born yet. I can’t remember how long I’ve been gone. “I’m desperate.”

“It’s okay. Once Haytham is ready and the spell wears off, we’ll be helping you find your family.” He gives me a smile. “We have a boat and equipment all ready. We just need you to tell us where to go.”

I look down at Echo and stroke the top of her head while she sleeps. “I understand now why I took such comfort in her friendship. She reminds me of my own daughter.”

Daddy smiles. “I’m glad she helped you. I just hope she’ll be able to say goodbye.”