A Mermaid's Curse
By: Donna L Martin
The singing of the whales ripple all around me as I swim closer to the rocks. Belfazar always warns me not to go near these mighty ghost ships but when have I ever listened to my older brother? Tattered strips of sails long torn sway with the current as small fish dart in and out of port holes running along the ship's side. Stories from the elders whisper of the ancient curse said to bind forever to the world above any mermaid caught in the web of a ghost ship. Can it be true? The hypnotic pulse of forbidden adventure lure me on and I thrust my tail behind me as I edge closer to the wreckage.
This may have once been a merchant's ship, carrying treasures to lands far beyond the home of my people, but it lay in shadows below the ocean's surface now; only a hint of the great vessel it may have once been. Ships like this one pass by often throughout the centuries as humans on board come in search of us but seldom are we found. Only a glimpse of shimmery tails in the moonlight and stories to tell themselves of their chance meeting with another world.
All at once I notice a flash of light coming from deep within the ship. What can it be? The reflection of sunlight coming from above? Or maybe a ghost trying to trap me within the ship's ancient curse? My heart beats faster. I pause for only a moment to think how upset my father will certainly be to know his only daughter has gone against his wishes. He would never want me to travel to this mystic place but I can't turn back now as the whales continue their song and the ghost ship beckons me to come closer...
**Now it's your turn. What happens next? Does the mermaid fall victim to the ancient curse? And what is that strange light shining from inside the wreckage? Join in the fun with a sentence or a paragraph. You don't have to run with my flash fiction...if someone else comments and you want to add to their story, then go for it. Let's see where this picture prompt takes us!***
... the light summons me on, I can't resist ... I see beautiful scenes, I want to join in and see another world - the world of the ancient travellers ... oh what a world ... I've been told about ....
ReplyDeleteYour turn now - next commenter!!
Cheers Donna - Have a very happy Christmas and New Year .. Hilary
Hi Hilary! I'm a visual writer so I was really looking for you to maybe describe what she sees to me...lol...nice job!
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
...but as I draw closer, I have this feeling of tightness around my tail, slowly it moves upward like a creeping net of pressure, gripping me. I look down, I can't see anything. Why do I get this feeling of being steered, drawn into the gaping hole of the ship? The scenery like visions before me, are more clear. Am I crossing into this other world?......
ReplyDeleteCool, Diane...you joined in! Good for you! I like it but would love to know more...;~)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
Can I explain the ghost ship?
ReplyDeleteThe ship was alive with the poundings of feet, whooshings of the wind, slashing of the waves, the spinning of the whirlpool, and the barking of a voice.
"Raise th' main sails! Up an' at 'em! Tug Lansky, tug! All hands on deck! Crahd! Stop swabbing th' deck an' take yer weak, liddle body to the crow's nest an' make a stinkin' report, will ya?" Captain Claws ordered his crew of 10. He was called Claws for instead of one hook on his left hand, he had five in the shape of a claw-like hand. His beloved ship, The Bloodlust, and all of his crew, were heading towards the biggest whirlpool in history, big enough for 20 British Navy ships to fit into, with room for a half of a ship left over!
Claws walked around the ship, the tapping of his peg barely heard. His left eye, his eagle eye, scanned over everything. Seeing all was done that could be done, he pulled an eyepatch from his jacket and put it on his bloodstained Crystal Eye. It was an extraordinary ruby with blood mixed in. The captain valued his Eye above anything else, following close was his left hand.
"Tie your worthless selves t' somethin' and when we start spinning, hold yer breath... NOW!"
And everyone listened. Then it went black.
~~
Captain Claws knew something wasn't right. He was underwater, for heaven's sake, and he was... BREATHING! Something else was off... his right hand was trapped, so then, what was he using to grab the wood of his ship? He looked over and saw that his left hand was MOVING! Now unsure, he lifted his eyepatch up and closed his left eye. He could see! He quickly put the patch back on. He clawed his other hand out and swam.
"What th'?" Claws whispered. He could never swim because of his leg. The peg came up to above his right knee, and it was bending! Claws was being to get the hang of this. "Lansky? Fredricks? Anyone still alive?"
Something stirred. He swam towards it, drawing his blade, Quickblood.
"Captain! 'Tis me! Fredricks! Me leg be stuck!" came a muffled voice. Claws was about to sheath Quickblood when he saw two people with fish tails. He had an idea. He concentrated on a fish tail, and... bravo! Looking down, he saw a ripped, tattered, blood-red Mermaid tail. The right fin was a plank, but did he care, not really. He tugged Fredricks out, who was surprised to see his Captain like this. Claws explained, and soon two rugged looking Mermaids were swimming towards to nearest village to find out what was happening.
--
I must say - that was enjoyable. :)
ERIK! That was wonderful! I could see it all happening. Don't keep your stories to yourself, young man.
DeleteErik, you took my Flash Fiction Friday picture prompt and made it you own! Way to go...that was a delightful twist I wasn't expecting...:~)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!