When The Waters Cry

Nerida's friends were dying, and she knew why. She swatted away crumpled bags of Cheetos and beer can plastic holders as she swam through browned water that seemed hotter as the days drifted by. She tore away from her room, stomach heavy and empty. She hadn't eaten anything since she found one of her best friends belly-up and not breathing. She headed to the grand doors of her mother's room- Queen of the Mississippi river. The tension, stress, and worry of all the fish and frogs vibrated across the vast river, even past these walls made of sioux quartzite, moonstone, and opal.
    Nerida peaked through the door to see her mother running her spindly fingers through long, spiral-like loose curls- a texture Nerida shared with her mother. She turned her head, a pained expression drawing together dark brows across her angular face. "Have you eaten?"
    Nerida shook her head. "How can I when-?"
    "I know." Mother pulled Nerida into a sweet hug, guiding her head against her chest. She smelled of sweet clover and algae, a small comfort enough to relax her shoulders a bit. "Which is precisely why I've come up with a plan."
    "Does it involve killing the humans responsible for this?" Nerida avoided meeting her mother's downturned, dark eyes, jaw clenched and her fingers curled into shaking fists.
    "Let's not jump to conclusions."
    Heat flushed through Nerida's body all the way down to her tail. "They've been dumping their chemicals in the waters, and next thing you know my friends wind up dead," she said, her tone rising as she swept her arm between them while pushing back.
    Mother narrowed her eyes as she backed away further. Nerida got the sinking feeling that her mother was hiding something. "Do you want to throw out baseless accusations or do you want to do something about whatever is causing the death of our people?"
    Nerida crossed her arms, jaw still clenched. "What's your plan?"
    "I need you to seek help from some of our ocean friends."
    "To get rid of the waste the humans caused? Why not just kill them?"
Mother let out a deep breath that turned into a flurry of bubbles. Nerida thought it best not to keep pushing, even though she was sure she was right. She had seen them dumping their trash into her river. Her friends kept telling her not to do it…for morality reasons? She forgot the reasons when she witnessed the death of frogs, eels, and fish- all childhood friends. Mother took so long to respond. She turned back to the mirror and continued to comb her hair with her fingers. "Don't be so eager to shed blood." Her voice wavered, and Nerida ached to know what Mother was hiding.
"You hadn't held a dying fish in your arms," Nerida retorted despite herself.
"Enough." She slapped her hands over the square piece of wood that held a broken glass shard. She shot Nerida with a tired glance, and she bowed her head to the Queen of the Mississippi River. Mother rubbed her temples. "Be ready to go in the morning."

"Should I consult with the Queen of the Gulf of Mexico?"

"Yes."

"Am I dismissed?" Nerida asked coldly.

Mother waved her hand, and Nerida retreated back to her room. Her sleep was not peaceful that night.

The next morning, the Queen of the Mississippi River escorted Nerida to a magic portal. It shimmered with a golden, circular glow- a vortex of clear water and stray pebbles. Nerida had used this to travel between ocean and river ever since she was young. However, this time, it looked different. The middle churned in crooked spirals of brown and green. The air around it was deluged with the stench of rotting deadfall, filling Nerida with a sense of dread in her stomach. Something about it was wrong. Nerida bit the inside of her lip and glanced at Mother. "Are you sure about this?"

Mother snorted, her lips pursing into an ugly twist. "Do you doubt my magic?"

Nerida shook her head, lifting her hands. "No, but-"

Mother grabbed Nerida by the shoulders and forced her to face the portal. "Just do it, Nerida. Lives are at stake."

If this was the way to do anything to help her friends- her community, she was going to take it. So, she entered the portal. Going through it didn’t feel the same either. The waters sucked her in like the claws of a riptide. The water felt like a nightmare she once had of being swallowed by a whale. Then, she felt a rush of ice cold like the chilling winds prickling her skin. Just as the pressure started to feel like it would crush her, she was hurled forward into air that was stale and stagnant. And her feet were gone! She looked below, staring at wiggling toes against mud and brackish water. This wasn’t the first time she had ever been in a form like this, but it had been a long time.

Panic surged through Nerida. The portal must have taken her to the wrong spot. She turned around to find the portal had snapped closed. How was she going to get home? How was she going to get the right allies now? Time was ticking, and another friend could die. As these thoughts raced through her mind, the snapping of twigs alerted her. She glanced below. An alligator hissed at her. "Who are you? I don't recognize you."

She backed away, pulse racing. She swallowed, and replied, "My name is Nerida; I come from the freshwaters. I need help- my people- we need help."

Before the alligator could react, a fishing net hurtled through the air, entangling it in a jumble of rough, knotted rope. Nerida jolted back, her pulse quickening even more as a gangly, pale man sprinted toward them, his breath ragged with urgency. Instinct took over- she parted her lips and let a haunting melody blossom into the air. The effect was immediate. His frantic steps faltered, his wide, hungry eyes glazing over as the song wove its spell around him. He swayed for a moment before turning on his heel and stumbling in the opposite direction, completely ensnared by her enchantment. Wasting no time, Nerida rushed to the alligator's side, her fingers working swiftly to untangle the net and free the creature before any more threats could emerge."Thanks miss."

“You’re welcome.”

"You said yo people needed some help, huh?"

Nerida nodded. "Yes; we need allies wherever we can find them."

"You can talk to da king; he might be able to help ya."

Nerida nodded eagerly. "Yes, please take me to him."

The alligator who called itself Ben led her through the swamp. The sound of a banjo caught her ears, and someone was singing off key. They followed the strum of the banjo, blended in with the music of cicadas and birds and bullfrogs.

Ben and she arrived at a tree covered in moss in the middle of a circle of alligators. Sitting in a deep groove of the tree as if it were a throne chair was a woman with short curly hair, a reed tucked behind her ear, and soft eyes. She was covered in this beautiful dance of alligator scale and dark skin and claw. But this was no time to be ogling, she had a home to save. "Hey Marj, we got someone who’s lookin for some kinda help; she saved my life so I thought I might-uh help ‘er out." 

Marjani strummed the banjo and laid her soft eyes on Nerida. “Ohhh, don’t see Mermaids this far out very often; name’s Marjani. Nice to meet ya.”

Nerida gave a firm nod. “Hi, I’m Nerida, and I’m looking for some help.”  

Marjani’s soft eyes flickered with interest. "Of course I can help." With an easy grace, she slung her banjo over her back and strode toward Nerida, draping a casual, unhurried arm around her shoulders. The scent of briny algae and damp earth clung to Marjani.

"But first," Marjani said with a knowing grin, her voice rich with mischief, "Lemme welcome you to the swamp."  

Nerida’s gaze flickered to the murky water, where ripples slithered between the gnarled cypress roots, whispering secrets she couldn’t quite catch. She hesitated, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. A tour wouldn’t hurt- perhaps it would even be useful- but time pressed against her, an urgent reminder that her people were waiting.  

Before she could decide, Marjani’s arm tightened slightly around her shoulders, her grip warm but firm. “So,” she drawled, her voice smooth as the swamp’s slow-moving current, “tell me about yourself, Nerida.”

“Well,” Nerida began, shifting slightly, “I come from the river. I went through a portal my mom made, but instead of taking me to the ocean, it dropped me here. A lot of my friends have been turning up dead, and my mother thinks finding allies will help.”  

Marjani’s golden eyes gleamed with understanding. “Ahh, I see.”  

Nerida tilted her head. “How long have you been in this swamp?”  

“For thousands of years.” Marjani smirked. “Tell me more about you.”  

“Like what?”

“What do you like to do for fun?”

Nerida hesitated, and then shrugged. “Um, I like to race?”  

Marjani’s grin widened. “Really? Are you fast?”  

“Yep!”  

“Prove it. Race me.”  

Nerida blinked. This was hardly the time for games, but if this was what it took to earn Marjani’s help, so be it. She nodded with a game-face frown.  

Without warning, Marjani bolted forward, her laughter ringing through the bayou as she weaved effortlessly between towering cypress trees. Nerida shot after her, feet splashing through the marshy ground. Though Marjani had the advantage of knowing every twist and hidden path in the swamp, Nerida was quicker, mermaid magic pushing into the soles of her feet, and she cut through the humid air as if she were swimming. She surged ahead, her breath steady, heart pounding, the thrill of the race momentarily pushing aside the weight of her mission- the weight of death, disaster, and grief. “Apex predator couldn’t keep up, por shame,” she taunted with a cross of her arms.
 
“Alright, you win.”

“Now will you help me?” Nerida asked with pleading eyes.

“Let me show you your prize.”  

Nerida inwardly groaned, torn between exasperation and the unexpected flutter in her stomach. Marjani, ever the playful king, led her deeper into the swamp, where the trees parted to reveal a shimmering expanse of water bathed in silver moonlight. The surface rippled with soft reflections, and countless lightning bugs drifted through the humid air, flickering like stars trapped between the cypress branches. It was breathtaking, a scene pulled from a dream.  

Marjani turned to her with a sly smile, her golden eyes gleaming like embers in the night. She extended a hand, the scent of moss and briny water clinging to her skin.  

“Dance with me,” she murmured, voice rich with mischief and something softer beneath.

Nerida inwardly grumbled, but she danced with Marjani. The air between them seemed to hum with something like sparks, and for a fleeting moment, the world felt lighter with her. Marjani’s eyes, dark and gleaming like gold in the Mississippi River, bore into her own, and her infectious laughter warmed the air like a summer sun.

“This is all beautiful, Marjani. Your Grace-” Nerida began, her voice faltering under Marjani’s captivating gaze.

Marjani grinned mischievously, spun Nerida around, and dipped her low, pulling her close until their breaths mingled. Their lips hovered, tension kindling between them.

But Nerida had had enough. Her frustration bubbled to the surface, breaking the spell. She unclasped Marjani’s hands and stepped back, her tone sharp. “Listen, I need help. If you’re not going to offer it, please don't waste my time."

Marjani straightened, her playful smirk dropping. "You wound me, Nerida. You call being near you- feeling something for you- a waste of time?”

Nerida exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "You're attractive, Marjani, and I won't deny that the time we've shared has been... wonderful. But I need more than charm and games right now. I need help. I need magic."

The confidence Marjani carried so effortlessly faltered. She looked away, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I don't actually have any."

Nerida’s eyes widened, her voice rising in disbelief. "No magic? What do you mean, no magic? You're king of the swamp. You’re supposed to be-"

"More than I am?" Marjani interrupted, her tone defensive now, but her gaze still evasive. “I never claimed to be what you think I am, Nerida. You assumed.”

For a moment, they stood in the tension of the moment. "How can you have no magic? Creatures of the water- creatures like you and me- we always have magic."

“Guess that makes me special.”

"Stop messing with me. What happened to your magic?"

Marjani backed away, a shadow crossing over her face. "Humans."

"What about them?"

“I tried to live among them once. I thought maybe… maybe I could be more than what I was born as. I could be human, be good. But you see, I was born a monster.”

“I tried to blend in with the humans, to make them accept me. I even used my magic to help them. Heal their sick. Grow their crops. But then I made a mistake.”

“What happened?”

“I cursed my ex-girlfriend. She… she cheated on me, and I was so angry, so broken. I wanted her to feel the pain I did. But she was clever, smarter than I gave her credit for. She told them my secret, and before I knew it, I was being hunted like an animal.”

"That sounds hard; they really turned on you."

"They didn't care. To them, I was always a witch first. A threat. A monster. And maybe they were right." Her voice softened, and Nerida felt her sadness through the water.  “I ran to the swamp, where the trees don’t judge and the water doesn't care if you’re wicked. I felt at home here. But I swore… I swore I’d never use my magic again.”

Nerida took her hand. "You're not wicked, Marjani. You made a mistake, yes, but we all do. That doesn't mean you should bury a part of yourself forever. Your magic-it’s not the problem. It's what you do with it."

Marjani snatched it away. “You don’t understand. The magic is tied to my anger, my pain. If I use it, I could lose control again. And I can’t-”

Nerida stepped closer, her voice steady but gentle. “You can’t keep running from yourself. You’re stronger than you think. You just need to trust yourself again. And maybe… maybe let someone else trust you too.”  

Marjani’s face was unreadable this time. "Maybe you're right."  

Nerida nodded. "Will you try? For me?"  

A slow smile returned to Marjani’s lips, teasing but laced with warmth. "How can I resist a face like that?"  

Nerida huffed. “Be serious for once.”  

Marjani chuckled, holding up her hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. Yes, I’ll try."  

“Good.”  

A playful glint returned to Marjani’s eyes. "And then we kiss after?"  

Nerida rolled her eyes. "No." She hesitated and shrugged. "Maybe."  

Marjani's laughter echoed through the swamp, a hearty vibrance. "Lead me to the place where you came in." There was something more steady and firm in her eyes this time.

With a final glance at her, Nerida turned and guided Marjani through the winding bayou. The thick air buzzed with the hum of cicadas and the distant croak of frogs, the water glimmering in the moonlight as they moved. When they reached the spot, Marjani squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and lifted her hands. Energy pulsed in the air as she summoned her magic, the space around them trembling in response. Swirling light illuminated her sharp features, making her look both ethereal and powerful.  

Then, the portal bloomed open—a shimmering gateway revealing the familiar waters of Nerida’s home. Relief surged through her chest. She could almost feel the river’s current pulling her forward, the scent of brine and freshwater mixing in the air.  

“There you are.”  

The voice, sharp as a dagger, sliced through the night.  

Nerida and Marjani whirled around.  Marjani’s mouth fell open, and Nerida held her hand as it began to shake. Nerida didn’t like the way Marjani seemed to curl into herself as if wishing she could disappear.

A woman stepped from the shadows, her eyes dark with rage and spite. The woman took another step forward, her presence coiling like a storm ready to break. “You’ve always been able to hide,” she said, her tone dripping with venom. “But now, I’ve found you.”

Nerida’s stomach twisted with nerves as the woman’s hands began to glow, raw energy pooling between her fingers. She barely had time to react before a sliver of magic shot toward them. Nerida pulled Marjani into the portal with her. They arrived back in front of the wonky portal. “Close it, hurry,” Nerida ordered. Marjani nodded and used her magic to close it.

Nerida took Marjani’s cheeks in her hands. “I’m sorry. I just… I didn’t want you to get hurt; are you okay?”  

Marjani grinned. “Aw, mademoiselle, shall we kiss now?”

Nerida rolled her eyes and playfully pushed Marjani away as she chuckled. “Let’s go to my mother.” Nerida led her through winding waterways and shifting currents until they reached her mother’s domain.  

The moment they arrived, Mother turned to them with a look of sharp confusion. Her gaze flicked between them before settling on Marjani. “This is the ally you’ve secured?”  

Nerida clasped her hands together. “I, uh… ended up in a swamp instead of the ocean.”  

Mother sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “This will not do. I don’t know this stranger. Can she do magic?”  

Marjani squared her shoulders. “Yes.”  

Mother studied her for a long moment, then nodded as if reaching a conclusion. “She will do the magic and return home. She has no place in our conflict,” Nerida said.   

Mother frowned. “You will do no such thing.”  

Nerida yelped and swam back. “Wait, what?”  

Mother’s expression hardened as if she were standing at a war table. “I needed someone to stay for a while to help fight off whatever is killing our people.”  

Nerida shook her head, swimming forward. “That’s not—no, we can’t fight it like that. We’d be treating the symptom, not the cause!”  

Mother’s lips pressed into a thin line, her chin high. “I’ve had enough of you talking back to me, child.”  

Marjani swam between them, her golden eyes sharp with warning. "I don’t know what's going on here, but I'd rather you not do anything to harm her.”  

Nerida’s chin trembled, her shoulders tight. “Mother would never harm me, Marjani.”  
Marjani gave her a look that said she wasn’t entirely convinced.  

Mother merely crossed her arms. "I suppose I will have to go to the ocean myself."  

Nerida's frustration boiled over. “Mom, why are we doing things this way?” Her voice trembled, part plea, part demand.

“This is about politics, my love.” Her mother’s voice was soft, but the weight of it was crushing. Her mother’s words settled over her like a weighted net.  

“I made a deal with one of the executives from that oil company."  

Nerida’s stomach churned. "What?"  

"He promised our home wouldn't be completely destroyed if I allowed him certain… liberties." Mother's gaze darkened; Nerida felt as though she were looking at a stranger. "You don't know the sacrifices I've made to keep us alive."  

Nerida's hands clenched into fists. "Obviously, they've gone back on their word, Mother! Our people are dying!" Her voice cracked, her emotions spilling over like a tidal wave.  

Her mother's expression didn't waver. "You don't understand how cruel humans can be."  

"So we cower? We just let them bleed us dry until there’s nothing left?"  

"Nerida." Her name came like a command, cold as metal. "Enough."  

The silence that followed was suffocating. The walls of the chamber seemed to crumble on top of her. Nerida couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t stay.  

She turned and swam away, the water rushing past her as if it, too, was desperate to escape. She didn’t know where she was going- only that she had to get out of there. The pressure behind her eyes burned, and before she could stop herself, the tears came hot and fast and carried away by the waters.

Somewhere behind her, Marjani called her name. A moment later, warm arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. “Shh,” Marjani murmured, stroking her back as Nerida’s shoulders shook. “I’m so sorry. This isn’t how I wanted things to happen.”  

Nerida buried her face against Marjani’s shoulder, inhaling the scent of swamp moss and earth. She felt the steady rise and fall of Marjani’s breathing, grounding her, anchoring her in a way she desperately needed.  

Marjani gently wiped away Nerida’s tears, her fingers lingering against her cheek. "It's okay," she whispered. "We'll figure this out. Together."  

Marjani's words and presence were so kind and earnest. She kissed Nerida on the forehead, and it was the sweetest thing she’d ever known. Everything felt like it was crumbling on top of her, and at this moment she didn’t want to be strong. She wanted to be held. So, she wrapped her arms around Marjani's neck and pulled her into a kiss that brought her back to racing and dancing in the bayou under a silver moonlight. When Nerida pulled away, Marjani didn't say anything; she just held her, and Nerida felt safe and comforted.

Exhaustion pulled at them both, and without another word, they curled into each other, tangled in warmth and quiet solace. Sleep took them as the weight of the night settled over them like a gentle tide.

The water was cool and familiar as Nerida swam beside Marjani, the steady rhythm of their strokes keeping time with the lull of the currents. It felt good to share this place with someone- to show Marjani the waters that had cradled her since birth.  For a moment, she let herself bask in the comfort of it. Then she saw it happening again.  

A dark, sickening cloud bled into the water, twisting through the currents like ink dispersing in glass. The stench hit her even before she saw the source- a boat, its careless passenger dumping waste into her home. Her stomach lurched. The last time this happened, she lost another friend. And if she did nothing, she would lose more. Not again.  

She surged upward, breaking the surface, her breath sharp with anger. With a fierceness burning in her chest, she sang. Her voice carried across the water, sweet and treacherous. The man responsible stiffened, his body trembling as the spell took hold. His gaze turned glassy, his limbs rigid. The air around them grew heavy with power as Nerida reached into his very essence, pulling the moisture from his body. He gasped, his skin cracking like dry earth, his lips parting in silent agony as he withered before her.  

A firm hand clasped her wrist. "You don't want to do this, Neri."  

Marjani's voice was soft, but her grip was strong- an anchor keeping Nerida from drowning in her fury.  

Nerida's gaze met Marjani's, and something inside her wavered. With a slow exhale, she released her hold. The stolen water rushed back into the man’s body, and he collapsed onto the boat’s deck, coughing violently.  

Marjani moved toward him, seizing him by the scruff of his shirt. She bent close, whispering something Nerida couldn’t hear, her lips barely moving. Then she straightened, glancing back. "Sing, Neri."  

Nerida hesitated but obeyed, her voice weaving a different kind of spell this time. Marjani pushed the man back, and he scrambled away, eyes wide with a newfound terror. He didn’t look back as he fled.  

"What did you do?" Nerida asked, her pulse still hammering in her ears.  

Marjani dusted off her hands. "An old mind-numbing spell. I told him to stop dumping in these waters. I told him to fight for them, to protect them." She looked at Nerida meaningfully. "That's more effective than just killing him."  

"Yes, but I—"  

"Nerida, Nerida, what have you done?"  

Her stomach twisted as she turned.  

Her mother swam towards them, fury written into every line of her face.  

Nerida straightened her spine. "We stopped him, Mama. He can’t just poison our waters and expect us to sit back and take it. It's not right."  

Her mother's eyes darkened like a gathering storm. "Treason against your own mother will not do."  

The water churned around them. Before Nerida could react, Marjani grabbed her hand.  
"Run," Marjani demanded.  

They dove through the water, pushing against the current. Nerida could feel her mother's rage swirling in the water like an oncoming maelstrom. Marjani’s fingers tightened around hers as she summoned her power, weaving together the threads of a portal.  

A whirlpool formed around them, pulling them in.  

"Nerida!" her mother roared, reaching out—but the portal snapped shut just as her fingers brushed the edge.  

Everything shifted.  

The magic spat them out violently, sending them tumbling into cool, open water. Nerida gasped, kicking her way upright. The scent, the pressure, the vastness—this wasn't the swamp.  

They were in the ocean.  

Marjani didn't look relieved.  

Nerida followed her gaze across the waves, her pulse thundering in her ears. Whatever came next, they weren't prepared for it.

To be continued...