Chapter 4
Mermaids
Mermaids
September 5
James says we have to leave. He tells me that we’re going to see the next mythological creature, but he won’t tell me what it is. What he will tell me it’s far away.
September 9
I managed to find out that we’re going to southern Australia. We need to take a plane to get there though. James isn’t able to swim across with me accompanying. I don’t know why, but I won’t ask.
September 12
We’re finally in Australia in a small town near the coast. Its name is Morningville. James says that we’ll be staying with some old friends of his.
James led me to a house built on a cliff. “This is where my friends live,” he said. We went up the steps and knocked on the door. We were greeted by a tall, brown-haired man.
“James? Is that you? I haven’t seen you in ages, literally! I think it’s been, what, about a century since I last saw you!” he said. He noticed me, and bent down so that we were at the same level. “I'm Titus. What’s your name?” he asked and smiled.
When I saw his vampire teeth, I hid behind James. He was the only vampire I trusted. “She travels with a vampire when she’s afraid of them?” he asked James.
“Her parents were killed by rogues. I think I'm the only one she trusts. It’s probably because I told her how I was friends with her parents.” James told him. “I think you met them once. Do you remember Michelle and Sean?”
“They called themselves the ‘mythological protectors’, right?” Titus asked. James nodded. Then he looked at me and continued saying, “I'm’ sorry they had to go that way, and when they were so young, too. Your parents were good people. They did a lot to protect our secrets.”
“Yea, they helped us out of tight spots more than a few times.” James agreed. I decided that if my parents could trust Titus, then so could I.
I stepped out from behind James. “I'm Nicole. Nice to meet you.” I said.
“Nice to meet you, too. Well, let’s not stand here all day. Come in and I’ll introduce you to my wife,” he said.
“So you finally settled on someone, then?” James asked.
“Yep. She’s quite pretty, and I think you’ll like her.” Titus answered.
“I'm sure I will.” James said.
We walked into a small living room, where a lady around twenty and a baby were sitting on a couch. “How did you-?” James started to ask.
Titus interrupted saying, “She’s human. Her name is Kara.”
James continued, “Then that would mean that that baby is-”
“Yes,” Titus answered James’ unfinished question, “and we decided to name him Lai.”
“Nice to meet you.” James and I said simultaneously.
During dinner, I noticed that Titus doesn’t eat. I guess that means he still drinks blood. The thought of possibly having my blood sucked terrifies me, but if James and my parents trust him, so will I. After dinner, we watched the sun set over the ocean. Then, we went to bed.
September 13
“Are you ready to meet some mermaids?” James asked.
“When do we go?” I asked eagerly.
“In about five minutes. Titus is friends with one of them, so he’s going to take us. Be careful though, mermaids get jealous very easily” He answered.
After about ten minutes or so, the three of us were sitting on a small island, with Titus’ boat tied to a tree. I saw some people in the distance. At first, I thought they were swimmers, but as they came closer, I noticed their tails.
“Hello, Karin.” Titus said to one of the three mermaids. “I believe that you met James before, and this little girl,” he pointed to me, “is Nicole. Nicole, come meet Karin.” He said as though I was a two-year-old. Obviously, he hadn’t spent too much time around kids.
“Hi, Karin.” I said.
“Nice to meet you.” Karin greeted me, “I could take you for a swim if you want.”
“Umm… no, thank you.” I answered, moving closer to James.
“Why not? It’s fun.” James asked me.
“Well, I, uh, never really learned how to swim.” I said. Although, it was embarrassing to say out loud.
“I can teach you if you want.” He offered.
“O-okay.” I accepted somewhat nervously. We spent the rest of the day in the water. I was knocked over by the waves quite a few times, but I eventually learned how to swim, float, and avoid the few jellyfish that were there. James told me that most of the jellies (which is what I call them), live near northern Australia.
