Page 51 of Oceansong
“You were not responsible for their deaths.” Kaden slowed to a stop. With quick flicks of his tail, he descended upon a coffin lining the burial ground’s easternmost border. It looked no different than the rest, but Angie’s heart filled to the brim, overwhelmed with emotions.
Her wide-open eyes met with Mama’s closed ones, and she jolted. From the shoulders up, she was visible through clear glass, a window to her peaceful, eternally sleeping face.
“Mama.” She laid a flat palm on the window. The tears she’d been holding back sprang forth, swept away by the sea’s watery grasp.
Kaden tugged on her hand, bringing himself closer to her. “Do you need a moment?”
“Yeah.” Angie sniffled. Kaden bowed his head and let go, leaving her tofloat alone. She relished the stillness, the silence, the peace. Mama looked exactly as she did when Angie saw her last, and after two years, her lovely face was still intact.
“Mama,” she whispered again. “Why did you let yourself go? What were you thinking?” Angie reached down and laid her hand over Mama’s cheek once more. “I miss you so much. I’m glad you’re resting where you’re happiest.” With a quick breaststroke of her arms, she moved down head first and grabbed the sides of the coffin to pull herself closer. She pressed her lips to the glass where Mama’s forehead was.
Her mind leaped to alerting Bàba. He would be glad to have closure.
Then she’d have to tell him how she found Mama, and she wasn’t ready to have that conversation with him.
Still, she’d bring it up at the right time. She hated the thought of disregarding the promise she made to Kaden, but Bàba deserved to know.
She calmed and folded her arms over her chest, her feet paddling in quick, small motions to keep from sinking or ascending.
“Mama, I hope wherever you are, you’re not hurting anymore. That you reincarnated into something beautiful.” She bowed her head, mouthing a silent mantra of peace and wishing her well in the afterlife. Or in her new body, wherever her spirit may be, and wishing for her ancestors to continue taking care of Mama.
When enough time passed, she called for Kaden.
“I’m here.” He reappeared from the dark and stopped beside her, their arms brushing. Angie wanted to get closer, given the passion of their kiss earlier, but he was busy looking at Mama. “I can see the resemblance between you two.” His gills opened. “This row is due for their renewal ceremonies. I have to let my family know.”
“Renewal ceremony? Will my mom get one too?”
“Absolutely. When we entomb those who have passed onto the next realm, their family gathers before the coffin is closed. If they had no family, seers and oracles will come with their acolytes instead, and invite any mer who desire to join. They perform a traditional song and dance to allow the soul to depart into the afterlife.” He reached for her hand again and stroked her palm with his thumb. The motion sent excited tingles running to her wrist and up her forearm. “Every few years, the bodies are re-dressed in traditional burial garb, and the song and dance are performed again. Though the body is an empty vessel, they are still respected and honored as they were at the time of their passing.”
“Must be time-consuming. There are like hundreds, if not a thousand tombs.” Her lips thinned, thinking of going through each coffin one by one,performing a ceremony over and over. Her head spun.
“We limit the number of coffins at a single burial ground to ensure adequate participation in our ceremonies and prevent the oracles, seers and acolytes fatiguing. This town is smaller, and larger towns have larger burial grounds, and more seers and oracles.”
“Thank you for showing me. I appreciate it more than you know.” Another surge of emotion brought more tears to her eyes, and she swept her fingertips along his cheek. He placed his sturdy hand over hers.
“You are welcome.” He brushed underneath her eyes, even though the seawater stole her fallen tears. She wanted to go home, sit alone with her thoughts and memories for a time.
“Can we go back to the surface? I want to stay, but I have to get home.”
Kaden nodded. “Follow me.”
When they broke the surface, Angie had no idea what time it was. She recognized the dock’s main gangway, a blurry speck down the coastline. Kaden sighed blissfully and touched her face, running his other hand down the length of her back, and then she climbed ashore. “Angie.” Her name from his lips was a sweet, thrilling sound. “Same time, same place, tomorrow?” His voice rose with hopefulness. Kaden leaned in, flashing her what she assumed to be his most winning smile. It was gorgeous and enticing, but it didn’t sway her.
“Not tomorrow. I’m off, but I have plans with my sister, and she took the day off to spend with me. How about the day after?” She sat on her knees.
“Ah, fine. The day after it is, then.” His chest deflated, and he propped himself up on his forearms. “You asked me once why I kept going to the surface. I didn’t tell you the entire reason why.”
“Because you didn’t want to be engaged to a mermaid you didn’t know?” Angie raised one eyebrow. Where was he going with this?
“Partially. I also hoped to see you. I found you beautiful, if not off-putting from the moment I met you.” He jerked one shoulder back, as if anticipating her reaction.
“What? Off-putting?” Angie folded her arms across her chest, throwing him an I-dare-you-to-keep-talking look. He didn’t take her signal.
“We didn’t start off on the best of terms.” Kaden pointed to his now-healed shoulder, where she’d shot him previously. “But!” He raised his hands as Angie gasped and made a sudden movement toward him. “Thatfeeling has long passed.”
“Two tidesdays.” Before she could say something else, he flashed her a sly, mischievous smile and dove back into the ocean.
Twenty-Two
