LEGEND OF THE MER (12 page)

Authors: Sheri L. Swift

“I was just about to leave and I remembered that I hadn’t given you your gift yet,” s
ai
d Miss Perry as she handed Lana the small wrapped package.

Lana opened it up and lifted the lid on the box to reveal two white combs. They each had a carved raised dolphin at the top.

“Why Miss Perry, they’
re beautiful, thank you.”

“You’
re quite welcome. They once belonged to my mother. She said that when she was fifteen, she found them at
Gull
Island
when she took the mermaids her gift. She believed that they had left them for her. She gave them to me and now I’m giving them to you,” she said as she hugged Lana.

“Let me see those. Yep, they’
re whale bone and I believe tha
t they were carved by my friend
Prince Tarrock. It was a hobby of his,” said Lana’s father. Lana was surprised that he was speaking so openly in front of Miss Perry and then her father sent his thoughts to her, “I’ve told her everything Lana, it was the only way if we’re to have any chance of a future together.”

“I’m glad Dad, you two make a great couple,” Lana sent her thoughts to him. “
T
hat makes them all th
e more special,” Lana said out loud
to her father and Miss Perry.

“Yes, it does
.
”
Miss Perry
smiled
.

“Well, I gotta go take a shower, I’m freezing standing here,” Lana said as she quickly left the two alone on the dock.

Lana decided that she would wait to talk to her father until tomorrow about wanting to stay with the mer for a month. He had driven Miss Perry home and didn’t get back until after
midnight
.

Lana looked out her window and saw the waves in the moonlight and she wondered
;
what’
s Prince Titus
doing at this very moment?
She knew he must be on patrol and she hoped he’d be safe. She thought about their dance in the blue cavern and how beautiful it was. It warmed her heart to remember his kiss and how handsome he was. She fell asleep with the memory of her cheek against his strong shoulder.

~~~~~

Chapter 8

FINDING LANA

The next morning, Lana woke to the smell of breakfast and the sound of her father whistling in the kitchen.
How strange?

I do
n’t remember
him ever whistling before
.
T
his must be him being happy
. She
knew that the reason must be Miss Rose Perry. Lana quickly got dressed and went downstairs.

“Good morning!” her father called in a cheerful tone.

“Good morning to you too,” Lana said with a half grin.

“Are you trying
to read my thoughts?”

“I don’t think I have to Dad,” she laughed.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Is it that obvious?”
H
e smiled.

“Definitely
.
”
S
he smiled back rolling her eyes.

“I can’t help it kid, it’s been a long time since your old man felt this way. Are you sure you’re okay with it?
”

“Yeah Dad, if I was the one choosing for you, I’d have picked Miss Perry myself. She’s the best
.”

“Yeah, I guess she is at that. Enough about me how was your swim yesterday?”

“It was wonderful Dad. Prince Titus took me to an old sunken ship called t
he
B
ONNIE
S
ARAH
, it was great.”

“Oh, I remember her. I used to scuba dive there with your mother. A striking family resemblance wouldn’t you say?”

“Yeah I would. Then he took me to an underwater cavern that was all lit up in blue and we danced
.
”
Lana beamed.

“He did, I don’t think I’ve ever been there. He is behaving himself isn’t he?” asked her father with raised brows.

“Dad, Of course he is. He always has, you know how he feels about honor and all that stuff.”

“Yeah, but I know he’s waited a long time to be alone with you. He just better keep remembering his place.”

“He’s the nicest guy I think I’ve ever known, not that I’ve really got to know any, but you know what I mean?”

“Yeah, I guess I do. He comes from a great family.”

“He told me that his parents want to meet me,” Lana said hoping he wouldn’t get upset.

“I figured you’d be getting around to that sooner or later,” he let out a deep sigh.

“Dad, I know you must have already read my thoughts, and I hope you understand,” she said hesitantly.

“I know kid. I was just hoping it wouldn’t be so soon.”

“Dad, I love you and appreciate all you’ve done for me, but I have to find out for myself where I belong.”

“I know;
I’ve known for a
while now. I love you too Lana and I guess it’s just hard for me to let go and trust that you’ll be safe,” he said
while
staring into his coffee cup.

“No one is ever safe Dad. I could get hit by a car walking down the road
.”

“Lana, it’s not th
e same and you know it. There’
re a lot more dangerous things to deal with than you realize,” he
said
look
ing
seriously into her eyes.

“I know, but at least I’ll have Prince Titus looking out for me
.
”
S
he smiled.

“That’
s all good, but I’m not so sure that I trust him either,” he
said with
a half grin.

“Dad, I’m just asking that you give me one month to find myself and to get to know the
mer. It’s the only way I’ll real
ly know if I belong there or can even live that way of life.”

“When did you grow up? It’s like I looked away for a few minutes and you turned into a woman,” he said with tears beginning to fill his eyes.

“Thanks Dad
.
”
Lana went to him and hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.

“Okay, enough of that, I’ve got something I’ve been meaning
to give you for a
while and now’s a
good a time as any,” her father said as he went to the counter and picked up a bundle of dark brown cloth. He brought it to the table and unwrapped what appeared to be a white knife. “This was a gift to me from Prince Tarrock when I married your mother. He carved it himself from a whale’s bone.

Lana couldn’t believe the intricate carvings all along the hilt. It was of waves and mermen. The blade was long and thin, coming to a sharp point. There was also a belt that had a sheath for the knife. The folds of dark brown cloth that it had been wrapped in seemed t
o be some sort of hide. “What’
s this?” Lana asked feeling the texture of the cloth.

“It
’
s seal skin, I know a pretty good seamstress who can whip up a nice suit from it
.
”
H
e
grinn
ed.

“Dad, you didn’t kill it!” Lana said with wide eyes.

“No Lana, it’s from a few years ago when one washed up dead on the shore. I knew you might need it someday. What do you think I wore? That old suit of yours wouldn’t hold up a week with the way you’ll be spending so much time in the water,” he
chuckl
ed.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right about that,” she
giggled
.

“I know how fast you sew, but I was hoping it might take you a few days before you leave,” he said a little sadly.

“Yeah, I can take my time. Thanks Dad, this means a lot,” Lana said as she hugged him once more.

T
hat afternoon, Lana took the knife to the dock to show Prince Titus and to tell him about her plans.

“That is wonderful that your father has agreed to let you come. I am glad he gave you the knife that Tarrock had made
for him
.
”
T
he Prince smiled.

“Yeah, your brother was so talented, it’s such beautiful work.”

“Yes, he made many beautiful things. I will show you more of them when I bring you to our people.”

“I would like that very much
.
”
Lana
smiled
.

“How soon may you leave?” Prince Titus asked a little anxiously.

“In a few days, I’m making myself a suit from seal skin that my dad gave me.”

“Will it take so long?”

“No, but I think my dad needs a few more days before he’s ready to have me leave.”

“Yes, I see, it will be hard for him to let you go.”

Then Lana was tired of the seriousness of their conversation and jumped into the water nearly landing on top of the Prince. He began splashing her with his tail and Lana dove down deep trying to swim away from him, but he was too quick and grabbed her by the waist and turned her to face him. They each smiled to the other and the
n he quickly kissed her, winked
and took off leaving a white streak behind. Lana knew th
at she could never catch him,
Yeah, like I could keep up with you
!
Lana
waited patiently for him to return and he did. Then he pulled her onto his back and took off once more. They stayed closer to home, as her father wished for now.

Th
at evening
Lana began to work on the suit. It was a little harder than she thought it would be. Her father even bought her special thread that would hold up longer. She broke several of her sewing needles in the process, but finally got the hang of it. She decided to make a two piece suit instead of one. She thought it would give her more flexibility and that she would try and fit in with the mermaids as much as possible.

~~~

A few days later,
Miss Perry joined Lana and her
father for dinner
. Lana had spent most of the day with the Prince, but made sure she was back in time to help her dad. She could tell that he was a little nervous. He made his famous spaghetti and meatballs. Lana made the salad and the garlic bread. Mi
ss Perry brought an Italian
creme
cake
with cream cheese frosting
.