Taniwha Boyfriend: Part One (complete)

I can feel a presence here, something strange and unnerving that makes me feel chilled to my very core. The ocean, I think, will always remain an unnerving mystery. There is so much to it that we haven’t even touched, let alone studied. It is as fearsome as it is beautiful, and there will be people, like me, drawn to it for decades and beyond.. Perhaps in the future, hopefully, someone will know more than I do about what lies under the vast waters. But for now, it’s up to me to make those discoveries. .

I have been working for years trying to get this research project started. Even back when I was in college, I was helping my favorite professor champion the research. He recently retired, but has kept me up to date on his own personal studies and findings. Apparently, he has a research assistant named Levi, who has been helping him out quite a bit. He has been sending me emails full of wonderful footage and discoveries. Not too long ago, he sent me a sample of something that the both of us had been working towards for ages. It was proof that there was evidence of a long thought extinct species, still alive and thriving. 

Professor Patrick had been the one who inspired me to become a marine biologist. Back in the day, I only enjoyed the ocean for the recreational aspects, as well as my fondness for animals and mermaid fairy tales. During college, I had taken his class because I heard the ‘old professor was kind of hot’ and I got curious. Despite him being an attractive man, I was pulled into his passion for the subject. Soon, I was on a fast track to becoming a marine biologist. The two of us became close and I got to study under him. It was also thanks to him that I got my job at the massive research facility, Stone’s Throw Tech. The name  was a play on words; not only was the founder named Stone, but she liked to tease we were a stone’s throw away from the ocean, but so far away from knowing it. Mrs. Stone became my hero, much like Professor Patrick. She took me under her wing and soon, I became her right hand woman.

I now lead all her important projects, and with funding coming in to research this supposedly extinct species, I am going halfway across the world to do it. I am stationed in New Zealand, where Professor Patrick insisted that the bones he discovered were from. The bones, when dated, were surprisingly new; the species was thought to have gone extinct thousands of years ago. The creatures had exceptionally long tails, which so far, are the only fossils recovered. Top halves are thought to not contain bone and are perhaps to be made of cartilage of things easily eaten by fish.

I am staying at a small inn, run by a single family. Aside from them, there are only two other rooms aside from my own. One is empty, the other is being used by a man I only see briefly in passing. He is exceptionally tall and always dressed in dark clothing and I never see much more than that.

The Anderson family, who owns the Nestled Crab Inn, are extremely sweet and welcoming. They have two daughters, Mia and Ava, both who are curious about my work. Thanks to Professor Patrick and Mrs. Stone, I am eager to share with them.

One day, Ava shows me an old book that looks near ancient. “This was our Grandma’s book,” she tells me.

“She used to read it to us every night when we were little,” Mia chimes in. “It has lots and lots of old stories from around here.”

“Girls, don’t bother Ms. Hale so much!” Mrs. Anderson fusses. “She’s a busy woman, and god willing, if you’re nice, you’ll be busy women one day too!”

“They’re fine, really,” I chuckle. I open up the old book and, for a moment, my breath is stolen. Inside, is a drawing of a creature with an exceptionally long tail coming out of the waters and attacking a ship. The top half is grotesque and oddly formed, almost human, but extremely deep sea. The picture is painted around the text block. It is beautiful, but at the same time, a little frightening. 

“Grandma called that the Taniwha,” Ava points to the picture.

“Can you read this?” I smooth my hand over the text. 

Mia and Ava exchange and look then shake their heads at me. “It’s Maori, but we can’t read it. Sorry,” Mia replies. 

“But Mama has been trying to teach us.” Ava takes the book from me and looks it over. Her brow scrunches up and she starts trying to read the text. “It’s a type of guardian.”

“A guardian?” I look at her. “It looks like it’s attacking that ship.”

“It’s a bad ship,” Mia points. “See? The sails are a giveaway. This ship was coming to do something bad, so the Taniwha was stopping it.”

“I wish I could read this,” I whisper.

“I thought you only read smart books,” Ava teases.

I smirk at her and I take out my journal. Inside, I have pictures of the fossils, as well as my own sketches of the creature I am looking for. “The picture of your Taniwha looks an awful lot like these fossils.” I give each girl a picture to look over. “Often times, fairy tales and folklore have truth within them. They’re wonderful teaching tools. Not only do they have lessons, but sometimes, people use them to explain things in the world. Gods and Goddesses often depict catastrophes, as a way for people to cope with what is happening. Same goes for monsters.”

“Monsters are real!” Ava seems elated while Mia is less than enthused.

“So the Taniwha could be real?” Mia squirms.

“Perhaps.” I look back down at the picture. “Some say dragons and monsters from way back in the day were based on fossils people had found. They had no idea; how could they explain these strange bones in the ground?”

Ava gasps. “So in a way, dragons could be real!”

I chuckle and nod. “Exactly. There is so much about our world that we don’t know and almost all of it is in the ocean. Did you girls know we know more about outer space than we do our own ocean?”

“I’d rather know more about aliens than monsters any day,” Mia huffs.

“Not me! I wanna know what’s in the ocean,” Ava exclaims with glee.

“You may very well be on your way to being just like me then, Ava. And Mia, you’re on your way to being a scientist too. If you want to know more about space, I can get you some books on it.” I then look down at the book in my lap. “Do you girls mind if I borrow this? I would like to get it translated.”

“As long as you take care of it. Mama likes you, so I’m sure she won’t be worried.” Mia answers. 

I smooth my hand over the picture of the Taniwha. “Thank you. You girls have been a really big help to me since I got here.”

The girls are called away to have dinner and finish their homework. I remain in the common area where the fireplace is nice and hot. I like to stay there and do my research and whatever work needs done. While my room is nice, it is cramped and I much prefer the open space of the commons.

As I am sending a picture of the book to Professor Patrick, the door opens. Outside, it is raining and dark, so at first, I don’t see anything. Then, in steps the man renting the room right next to me. I flinch, a bit shocked by his sudden appearance. He takes off his hat and, for the first time, I see his face. He is obviously Maori, he has dark skin and his hair is black, but filled with gray. He has tattoos around his mouth and nose, and his eyes are dark and piercing, with a hint of warmth to them.

“Good evening,” I set the book on the coffee table. “Rough night?”

He glares at me for a moment then turns to the front desk. He’s dripping all over the floor, much more than the rain outside would allow. He glances back towards me, but his eyes fall on the book. He furrows his brow and steps towards me.

“What is that?” He points.

“Oh, this?” I pick it up. “The girls let me borrow it. It was their grandmother’s.”

A thick brow arches. “And what are you doing with it?” 

“Oh, uhm-” He makes me feel extremely nervous. “I was hoping to get it translated. I wouldn’t mind being able to read it.”

The stranger in black grunts and looks away. “You’re with that research crew on the coast, right?” 

I nod.

“Then it is not a tale for you.” he walks away then, disappearing up the stairs.

I’m not sure what he meant by that. Did he mean me as someone who is like an outsider or is it because I am a scientist? I try to put it out of my head and go to bed. I need to go to sleep early, since the next day is going to start early.

In the morning, I am going to be taking a single person submarine down to study the ocean floor and try to find where these bones came from. I have been training for this for ages and I am so excited to begin. 

A ship takes us out quite a ways before I get into the submarine. My hands are shaking as I sink into the cockpit. There is just enough room for me while the rest is saved for whatever material I collect. After a few safety measures and balances are checked, we start. Once I am below the surface, I feel a sense of belonging. Being under the water always holds a sense of peace for me. I feel lighter and it is easier to breathe. The vastness of the ocean is a calm thought for me. 

I make regular check-ins as I take the sub out. I have to keep a log as well, and I record my process religiously. As the hour is coming to a close, I come upon a rocky formation, and it seems the sea life is actively avoiding it. I begin to approach, seeing something perched on top of the rocks, which I think might be bones.

Something strikes the sub. I gasp and look around, checking all my cameras. There is some damage done to the left side. I am then hit again from the right. This time, I am spun around and around. I stumble and hit my head inside the cockpit.

“What’s going on? Dr. Hale!” The crew is calling me.

“Something is hitting me!” I reply back, only to be knocked from the bottom. “I can’t see what it is! It keeps evading the-” I stop when I glance out the window. My breath seizes up within me and I can no longer breathe. The wide gaping eyes that stare at me glow with a green bioluminescence. 

“Dr. Hale! Dr. Hale!”

My jaw drops and I lean closer to the window. The creature outside looks almost like a lizard, but the body is long and whipping outside. I notice it has two large arms at the front that are holding the sub.

“It’s you,” I whisper.

“Dr. Hale?” The crew is shouting at me now to respond. “We’re pulling you back now!” I feel a jerk as the cord attaching me to the ship is pulled. 

The creature holds fast, keeping me in place.

“Dr. Hale, the line won’t pull! Dr. Hale, answer us, now!” They scream.

“I’m here!” I snap. “I’m stuck, I’ll let you know when I can get out. Just retract the line for now!”

“But. Dr. Hale!”

“Do it!” I bark.

The cord stops pulling and the sub relaxes into the creature’s hand one more time. They glow under the waves, each scale has its own radiance. If I could describe them, it would be like the mixture of a dragon and a mermaid. Strangely beautiful, but extremely haunting in appearance. Not the beauty you would expect from fairy tales, but the visage of something deeply unknown.

“This place is not for you,” the creature growls.

My heart stops completely. “Did-” I am shaken to my very core. “Did you just talk?”

“Stay away from these waters.” The creature warns me with a dark tone. “You do not belong here. Your intentions are not welcome.”

My throat is tight and my body seizes up from the fear. My hand hovers over the controls as my mind hurries over what I can possibly do.

“Stay away. Go back from whence you came. Or I will handle you myself.” The creature slams their clawed hands against the sub, pushing me back. I hit the controls, commanding the cord retracts and pulls me back towards the boat. I am beyond terrified. I have stared an actual monster in the face and somehow lived.

I am surrounded by questions when I get back, but before I can answer any, I am immediately whisked to the doctors to make sure I am ok. The sub is badly damaged, all the cameras have been destroyed. When recordings are listened to, the voice of the creature comes through as garbled and dark screeches. 

“What happened down there?” Seems to be the most asked question.

“I don’t know,” I whisper.

I return to the Nestled Crab Inn that evening, still reeling from the events I had witnessed. The creature is real, it is alive. I had seen it with my own two eyes, but I doubt anyone will believe me. 

As I go to the stairs to head up to my room, I am blocked. The Maori guest is standing there.

“Excuse me, please,” I say with a hushed voice. I try to pass him, but he doesn’t move. “I said: excuse me, please.”

He puts his hand on my shoulder and I feel that cold spike of fear again. I glance up at him, meeting his dark yet warm eyes. 

“You look troubled,” he says.

“I am.” I shake off his hand. “So please let me by so I can go to my room.” I manage to slip past him and start to go to my room.

“My mother used to tell me that the ocean is haunted,” he says. I stop and look down at him. “She says that it is filled with ghosts and that all the creatures we do not see are spirits.”

I furrow my brow at him.

“I am surprised someone like you shows fear when you have made the ocean your life’s work.” He looks me over. 

“Ghosts would explain it,” I grumble. “Excuse me. I have some things I need to do.”

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

I turn and glare at him. “It will take more than ghosts to make me leave,” I snarl. “Once everything from today is fixed, I’ll be going back.”

The stranger nods. “Good luck then.”

I go into my room and lock the door. I then sit down on my bed and hold my head between my hands. I have no idea what has happened or what will happen. I just know that I cannot leave now. After what I saw today, even with the warnings, I feel as if I can not just leave it at this. I need to know more, I need to see more. 

As I sleep, I’m haunted by the creature, the Taniwha if that is what it is. I am swimming in the ocean and it surrounds me. Its long body coils and circles me, closing in until I am crushed by its long tail. I struggle and kick, trying to free myself until it faces me. It looks at me and the glow of its eyes becomes so bright, it blinds me.

I wake up covered in a cold sweat and my hands are shaking. I get out of bed and go to the bathroom to splash my face. As the water pours from the sink, I notice something is coming out of the faucet. 

It is teeth. Sharp, jagged fangs like those of a shark. I turn off the water and leave the teeth there. I hurry out of my room and go to stand in the cool, dark hallway. I cup my hands over my face, shivering there alone.

I then feel the hairs on my body begin to prickle and I look up to see the Maori man standing in his doorway. I frown at him.

“Can’t sleep?” He asks. He’s shirtless and I can see all the tattoos on his body. His hair is longer than I thought, and hanging free and loose around his neck and shoulders. It’s dark and filled with silver.

“No,” I whisper. How can I possibly tell him anything? Let alone the teeth in my drain.

“I know the feeling.” He opens his door a bit more. “My name is Tane.”

“Hi,” I shrug. “Rina,” I reply. “Rina Hale.”

“Dr. Hale,” he smirks. “Nice to meet you.”

I nod at him. “Sorry if I don’t return the sentiment. You’ve not exactly made yourself a hospitable figure around here. You’re actually kind of freaking me out.”

Tane chuckles. “Forgive me. I admit I can be quite awkward.” He poses in the doorway and I look over his tattoos. They’re beautiful and intricate, I can’t imagine how long it must have taken to get them all done. He’s barrel chested with thick arms and a somewhat pronounced stomach, but he’s not unattractive.

“What are you doing lingering just in your doorway then?” I ask him.

“I was having a pipe,” he chuckles. He then motions to the window next to his door, which is open. “My windows are all painted shut.”

“Oh,” I glance back to him. “It’s been too cold for me to even attempt to open a window.”

Tane chuckles. “You’ve been here a while though. You must be itching to get back home. Must have some lover waiting on you.”

I scoff. “I enjoy it here. I miss home, but I much prefer doing my work,” I scold him. “As for a lover, that is none of your business.”

A smirk crosses Tane’s face. “Lonesome dove, are we?”

I scowl at him. “The first few weeks I was here, you were silent and uninviting. I much preferred that.”

Tane straightens and he stands his full height. “Well then, you must be scared if you’re not going back into your room then.”

I flinch and look away from him.

“Have you disturbed the ghosts, Dr. Hale?” Tane tilts his head and his hair falls over in front of his face and across his chest.

I consider going back into my room, until I remember the teeth as they rattled and clinked into the sink. My hand slips away from the doorknob and I look back up at Tane. His eyes surprise me. They actually look gentle. 

“Who are you?” I whisper to him. 

He smirks again and I see one of his teeth is gold. “I’m looking for something, same as you.” He closes the window then presses his finger to his lips. “Don’t tell the Andersons I smoke. I like it here.”

“What are you looking for?” I take a step towards him.

Tane dips his head and titters. “Nothing for you to worry about. It’s getting early, perhaps you should retire to bed after all, Dr. Hale.” He closes his door behind him and I am standing in the hallway alone.

I look at my door and take a few deep breaths. As I start to open it, I hesitate. I glance back to Tane’s door and crinkle my brow. I didn’t quite catch it at first, but now it came to me. Tane called me Dr. Hale, but the Andersons only called me Ms. Hale. How did he know that?

I get dressed, not wanting to linger on that question or my own thoughts. I don’t even look in the bathroom out of my own fear. I put on my jacket and head down to the beach. It’s still dusky out and overhead, the sky is already filled with clouds. The air is damp and a cold dew clings to my face as I walk along the beach.

I stand there for a long time, watching the waves lap at the shore and as the seafoam builds and makes a slush with the sand. I wonder if the Taniwha is out there and knows I am here. I wonder if it is watching me right now.

I turn to head up the beach and find a place to eat breakfast and drown my doubts in coffee. I then see it, sitting on the rocks at the shore, its great big arms clutching to the jagged cliffs. The Taniwha is watching me.

I approach it slowly, going up the rocks and the creature ducks behind them. I follow, trudging through the marsh-like sands as I chase his tail. It curves and whips, nearly hitting me in the face as it scurries deeper around the cliffs. I give chase, running after it. 

I stop suddenly, seeing it is lingering in the open mouth of a cave. Above it, I see the bridge and the road; cars are already driving overhead on their way to begin their days. The Taniwha stares at me from the cave, lowering itself down into the waters lapping inside.

“What are you?” I am breathless from the pursuit. “Why do you want me to leave here?”

“My kind has kept its distance from people like you for far longer than mortals will be here,” it growls. “It will be a sad day to see you go, but it was not a welcomed one to see you arrive. You are made to understand me, so I will not explain.”

I gulp down a large breath. “But I want to try,” I urge. “I was told that you might be a ghost.”

They laugh and swing their head. “What I am is close to that. It is best you leave it there and go along your way.”

I step closer to it, coming to the mouth of the cave as a truck drives overhead. “Are you the Taniwha?”

“That is just one name,” they reply. “I have different ones.”

“I’m not going to leave.” I shake my head in defiance. “I have worked too hard to find you. I won’t leave until I have the answers I want.”

“Sometimes we get what we need, not what we want,” the Taniwha murmurs thoughtfully. “What you may end up needing is a lesson.”

I frown and clench my fists. “I just want to know you.”

The Taniwha lurches out at me. It kicks up, jumping over my head and splashing into the sea behind me, I watch its long tail curl and coil until it slips into the waters. It leaves a trail in the water as it swims away and then it finally disappears.

I stand there looking after it, nearly jumping from my skin when a car from above honks angrily. I turn and look up at the bridge, realizing I need to go back to that world. My stomach is growling with hunger, so I make my way back to the beach.

On shore, I see there are storm clouds forming overhead. That isn’t a good sign. As long as it storms, I cannot try to find the Taniwha again. But I suppose I can wait. I can be patient.