Talia's Storm

An original fantasy horror short story

---

Tears glistened on Talia’s reddening cheeks and her whole body shook with rage. Her hazel eyes hardened and trailed the long white boat as it kicked up foamy waves while speeding from the lagoon. The trespassers did much worse than steal a few fish. They committed a cruel, unforgivable crime.

Those land parasites ripped her mate from her life.

Talia unleashed an anguished scream after the boat passed through the inlet leading back to the ocean. Her tail slapped the water, sending out expansive ripples, as she plunged beneath the surface. Talia clenched her teeth and pinched her eyelids shut. She swam in a wave-like motion away from the lagoon. Her entire soul ached as though a violent wave crashed upon it.

Kano tried to convince her that he could reason with the fishermen. His plan sounded simple and logical. Swim to their boat. Explain how the lagoon was a sacred space reserved for their merfolk colony. Persuade the fishermen to journey to a different island. Other humans chose to leave in peace upon learning the truth about the lagoon. Kano believed these would do the same.

Doubts swarmed Talia’s mind once she laid eyes on the two trespassers and their boat. These were not curious humans who took a wrong turn while sailing. Their boat resembled many fishing vessels Talia saw in her journeys. A hard shell with windows enclosed the helm. Unshaded chairs sat near the stern. Long poles lined each side of the boat behind the helm. These humans journeyed here harboring an obvious intent to raid the sacred lagoon and deplete the fish raised by the merfolk colony.

“Humans who fish are unpredictable and selfish creatures,” she said, turning back and facing Kano. “Our legends share this truth. You can’t approach fishing vessels like you’re engaging other merfolk. It’s too dangerous.”

“Salacia will protect me.” A reassuring smile graced his lips. “She blesses her children who do her will in watching over the sea.”

Talia frowned and trailed her hand down his arm.

“Stay here at my side,” she said. “Let the council decide what to do with these trespassers.”

He drew closer and brushed his fingers through Talia’s flowing black hair. Kano pressed his lips against hers with a warm gentleness.

“I’ll be fine.” His smile deepened as he drew back again. “I promise. You can stay and watch from here in the cove if you’re worried.”

Kano’s words convinced her. His words failed to convince those vile humans.

Every muscle in Talia’s upper body tightened as her mate swam out to the fishing vessel. Talia concealed herself behind a rock outcropping, peeking around the jagged rocks at the lagoon. Kano called out to the humans aboard the vessel with a booming voice. The nearest human snapped his head toward the water and flinched as Kano drew closer. He turned away, shouted at the second human, and pointed back at the water. A panicked tone threaded through his words. The second human stepped out from the helm enclosure and approached the boat’s starboard side.

Their conversation did not reach Talia from her spot in the cove. Her eyes discerned what remained hidden from her ears. The second human’s body language grew increasingly troubling. His blue eyes hardened into a stony stare. He jabbed a finger at the lagoon and made other wild gestures with his hands. Kano tossed up his hands and his expression grew more animated.

The first human drew out a weapon concealed near his waist and pointed it at Kano. A high-pitched pop followed. Kano flopped backward, arms flailing. A red cloud spread out from underneath his back as his blood gushed into the once pristine water and the light faded from his sky-blue eyes.

Talia pressed her hand to her lips to stifle a scream. The two fishermen cast a massive net over him. They dragged his body aboard their vessel before Kano sank into the lagoon’s depths. Their eyes widened when they fell upon Kano’s tail. The first human studied the lagoon end to end while the second human dashed to the helm and started the boat’s outboard motor.

---

---