If only there was another word strong enough to convey Minah's shock and dread at the sight of Emerald as he waddled deep into the sea, his heavily muscled body almost submerged in it.
He slowly turned to stare at her, his gleaming jade-green eyes brilliant against his olive skin. His hands gently stroked the water as he smiled hesitantly. Right before her eyes, tiny pale scales began to cover his skin as his eyes sparkled brighter. The tip of his ears grew pointy.
Fear beat a staccato pulse in her throat as her chest rose and fell. The sight before her was unexpected. Minah struggled to breathe in enough air to clear the haze before her eyes. Hairs rose on the back of her neck and hands, her mouth dry and parted in shock at the brilliant, extraordinary sight.
She regarded Emerald's emerging form with a clinical fascination. Although he was chiselled and contoured beyond human standards of beauty, it was foreign to her.
"You are afraid. I can smell your fear," he said gently, displaying tips of what she was sure were fangs protruding from both sides of his mouth.
"I-I…" Minah was tongue-tied. She glanced around her. The soft column of her throat moved as she swallowed, anything to distract her from showing fear before this man who she loved. There was not another human being in sight. Only her and Emerald.
"I wasn't expecting this…you are…" she stuttered.
"Different?"
Minah nodded, and her eyes widened as they caught the skin under his arms stretching out like translucent fins. The realization of the scene before her unfurled with layer upon layer of horror as she realized curiosity and revulsion warred within her, against her love for him.
Crystal clear, water washed up gently to shore, wetting her feet and leaving tiny bubbles of seafoam before receding into the sea. Her thoughts strayed back to past scenes that should have alerted her to Emerald's difference.
In college, he was seen among the most popular boys on campus. His friends looked up to him for directions. Even the lecturers were careful around him. The heads of departments sometimes consulted him on curriculum matters.
Leadership was a role that sat suitably on his broad shoulders; he never shied away from responsibilities. There was this aura of brilliance around Emerald; everyone wanted to be his friend, the ladies more forward and eager for his attention.
He headed most groups and associations in college. Every word or statement from him was always strongly worded, striking with powerful effect, almost hypnotic —everyone did exactly what he said.
Minah was the complete opposite. She'd rather hide in the crowd, away from attention of any kind until Emerald found her at her first frat party, no thanks to her chattering friends.
His enigmatic eyes told her he was oddly different from the men she knew. He also remarked often that her generous heart drew him to her.
His promise to reveal a big secret about his origin, his true self, brought them both to the Caspian sea. He made her swear an oath not to panic or run away.
Faced with his true nature, an amphibious being, everything made sense to Minah in that instant. She locked her trembling hands together to hide her fear. Her mind admired this novel creature she'd fallen in love with, standing in all his glory, intriguing the logical part of her mind. But her heart? Sadness crept in where love once blossomed.
A certain warm calm enveloped her as she sat smack down on the wet sand, more water lapping at her feet.
Emerald swam back to her and stepped out of the water to sit beside her, his hands stretched out on his raised knees. She turned to look at him. He held her gaze, his eyes nearly black, intense with raw emotion. Her heart lurched, not in fear but in pain and remorse.
"You swore," he whispered harshly, his jaw tightly clenched.
Tears streaked down Minah's face. "What will you do to me?"
Emerald bowed, his jaw hitting his chest. He sighed. "I will never hurt you if that's what you mean. You'll simply forget…me," he answered sadly.
"Oh, Emerald. I wish I was stronger…", she started to say but he shook his head.
"Maybe in another lifetime but I'll always love you, Minah."
Minah gasped awake and sat up straight in her bed. She slapped her hand on her chest, a feeling of intense loss echoed in her heart as tears fell from her eyes.
Much as she tried, she had no recollection of the loss. Only a nagging headache.
The following morning, while walking to her philosophy class with her hardcover books clutched to her chest, her shoulders brushed that of a tall, muscled student. She turned to apologize and looked right into a set of jade-green beautiful but sad eyes.
The owner smiled, inclined his head slightly and walked on. Minah felt the familiar loss again, her hand on her chest as she walked to her class.
I hope you enjoyed reading this short piece. This is my response to The Ink Well Prompt #78 — brilliant.
Many thanks to @dreemsteem for going over this story with a fine-toothed comb. 💖
