Chapter Fifty Seven

Yara's Pov

I was so unhappy at the events going on and my papa was not making it any easy for me.

"Daddy there is no way I'm getting married to Maithusa" Yara argued with her father.

"You must marry him and that's finally"


"Please listen to your father." mother said


"What were you both thinking giving me to him without my permission"


The arguments with my parents were getting worse so I swam away from them.

I met with my dear friend Isla.

"Why do you look troubled my friend?" She asked

"My parents want me to marry that arrogant king maithusa"


"Really ... how did they come to this arrangement"


"That the king spoke to them about his interest in me and they agreed"

"Without your permission?"

"That is the issue... I'm not going to marry him and that's final.


We were talking when I saw the king's guards approach me.

"The king would like to see you" one of the guards spoke.


"Tell your king that I am not coming to see him. Tell him to leave me alone"

"Don't speak of the king in such a manner" the other guard shouted but I cared less.


"I'm not going with you," I said and they swam away.


"Don't you throng that was too rude?" Isla asked


"No... I don't think so. What sort of a merman was he that will marry someone who doesn't like him"

"Let's get out of here before they come back"


Isla and I swam to the shore. We loved coming here to watch the full folks at the beach. We stayed at a hidden sight because we heard the full folks would kill us when they find us.

They were so special. They could stand on two legs. I wanted to explore the land. But I heard that to do that you'd have to give up something so vital.

"The city looks beautiful from here," I said

"Yes it does...but the human does not as our kind" Isla concurred

"I would love to go and live on land"

"And what will happen to your family. What will happen to me your friend?" Isla said

"I was just kidding" and we started laughing


We stayed at the shore for some hours admiring the people we could see. The little children play around with sand, lovers, and a lot of other people.

"It's getting late Yara. We should go back home"

Isla and I swam back to home. On the way, I met the king. He must have gotten my message and then wants to see me for himself.

"My beautiful bride to be" he called


"I'm not your bride and would never be"


"Why would you say that? I love you and I'm sure with time you will love me too"

"I do not wish to be with you can't you see"

"I want you and I will have you" and then I swam away.


I didn't like this my parents were the cause of all of this and I was suffering the humiliation.


"Why don't you give him a chance" Isla said

"And why should I?"

"Because he acts differently when you are involved"

"I thought you were on my side"

"Yes, and I will always be. I will always support you no matter what your decision is"

And then I hugged her.

"Thank you, Isla"

"You are welcome, my dear friend. I'll see you later." She said and then left.


I was not ready to go back to the house and so I went back to the shore most of the people there had left. It was deserted.


I wasn't ready for my parents' nagging and so I swam far away from home. I swam farther into the water. It was always fun for me. I enjoyed doing it.

My life was becoming so dramatic and I wished I could just leave. I wanted to meet a human and take off with him. Far away from this place.

I contemplated running away several times but to where exactly. Aside from the water, I could not live anywhere else. I was a mermaid and I could not be anything else.

I swam back home. My mother had been waiting for me.

"Where have you been Yara?"

"Been around"

"I've searched for you everywhere"

"Well I went to my usual"

"You need to stop going there. Your father would be so upset if he finds out you still go there"


"But mom I love the views"

"It is dangerous. Very dangerous. Full folks do not like sirens. They will kill you at first sight."


"Why is that mama. Why do they hate us so much"


"They say we bring nothing but confusion and bad luck to them"


"How do we bring bad luck to them"


"With our voice. Our voice makes them weak"


My mother told me a brief story about how sirens left the sea temporarily and what they did to stay on land permanently.

I wanted to stay on land one day but I had no opportunity to do so. I didn't voice out my thoughts and I'm sure my mother didn't tell me of sirens did to become full folks permanently because she was scared I might want to try it.


"I do not want you going there. It is really dangerous and your father won't take it likely if he finds out"

"Okay mama"

And we went home. I had dreams of being on land all the time and I had this particular dream about a full folk.


I was by the shore where I sat and was singing while I wriggled my tail in the water, then I heard a loud sound and went over to see what it was, and then I found a man lying down helplessly.

I tried to carry him but he was too heavy. I managed to pull him to the shore.
And then he opened I was still in the water and half of me was up to while my tails were in the water. He moved closer to me and then he kissed me on the forehead. I held his face in my palm as I caressed it. He smooched my earlobes and felt my cheeks and his hands were so warm. . He was so tender and his smile made me so happy.
He was handsome, he liked me and I liked him too.

It was a dream. What did it mean? 

I have always had a dream about meeting a full folk but not in this manner.

Was there an impending danger?"


"Was this a sign?" I asked myself.


I had to tell Isla about it and so I went in search of her. She never took it seriously.
Each time I spoke to Isla about it she would laugh at my dreams.

"That can never be real."She said

"Mama said I can be human"

"It is true but the price is high."

"But we can try it temporarily.. people do that a lot"


"We are not them Yara. Your adventure for the land is becoming scary."

"To just you Isla. I want more and I'm going to get all of it."

"How do you intend to do that and what's the need now that you are being betrothed to the king."

I snapped at her the moment she mentioned that.

"I will never marry that monster"

"I did not mean to offend you. I'm sorry" Isla apologized.

It was a genuine one and so I accepted.

"Let's go find little fishes and make some food" I suggested and we went in search of fishes.

"I'm tired, we should go back," Isla said but I insisted on going further.

We did that for a couple of hours and we didn't find anything to catch and so we went home.


I met Maithusa at home when I got home.

"Here comes my bride," he said the moment he saw me and I could see my parents smiling at it.

"I am not your bride"

"Oh yes, you... soon you will be mine fully"

I hated how he claimed to own me. It was disrespectful and what annoyed me the most was that my parents concurred with everything he said.

After speaking with my father maithusa left.

"You should learn to speak to him with respect. He would soon take you"

"Papa this is not fair. I have a right to choose who I want to marry"

"Well, my dear child the choice had already been made. King maithusa had been there for all of us including you and so if this is the only way to show our gratitude by giving you to him as a bride then so be it"


My father had made up his mind already. He was a man of his word and he never went back on it. I looked at my mother and she too had nothing to say. She would always support her husband. I turned and went into my tent. I cried because my parents did not understand how I felt and they had sold my love.