2. Chapter 2
DAREN
The next morning, Daren took a little time to decide exactly what would be considered an appropriate reciprocating gift for a god, be it nature spirit or mad hallucination, and eventually settled on one of several rocks he had collected as a kid during a trip to the opposite coast. It was unique from those found along his own coastline and hopefully of equal value to what he had been offered.
Once in the estuary, after Daren had first cast his net for the day, he set the rock on the ledge of the bow where his gifts had been left and tried to keep his back to it, so as not to anticipate an exchange.
Whenever he checked, the rock remained there the entire time he was fishing, making him feel a bit foolish, but as soon as he was readying to leave for the day, there came the same splash he had heard each time before.
Daren was stunned, for the rock was finally gone and in its place was a far more treasured item than the first two gifts. It was a copper broach, a cape pin perhaps, well-preserved, and looked like it must have come from the Viking era.
Scanning the ocean depths, Daren could discern nothing to explain the gift, other than the age-old saying that once was an accident, twice was coincidence, but three times… might just be magic.
“You seriously got this from Glooscap?” Curtis asked when Daren showed him the broach later, knowing Curtis had a knack for appraisals, given he sold similar replicas from cultures familiar to their province. What Daren had was no replica.
“I didn’t say that, but… yes?” He couldn’t explain it any other way. “I don’t know how it’s happening, but this is the third gift in a row. Just sitting there, exchanged for my rock while I wasn’t looking.”
“Dude, this could be worth something.”
“I’m not going to pawn it.”
“Yeah, yeah, obviously. Doubtful the gods would look kindly on you making money off their gifts.” Curtis slid the broach back to Daren along the checkout counter.
“That’s all you have to say?”
“What else can I say? If it was anyone but you, I’d think you were conning me. But if this is real, you better keep giving gifts back. If you’re gifted the Heart of the Ocean though, I’m hopping in your boat with you next time.”
Daren would have laughed, but he may as well have been given something of that value. The broach should be in a museum! But there was no way he could part with it now. He slipped it back into his jacket pocket and took out his card to pay for today’s items. “Just all this, a bag of ice, and—”
“Hi, Curtis! Hey again, Mr. Montgomery!” Bradley Cooper breezed in with the same jubilant friendliness as the other day, this time heading straight for the grocery section.
“Hi, Bradley,” Daren greeted back, while Curtis tensed up and couldn’t even seem to find his tongue. Daren had to smirk. “It’s Curtis now instead of Mr. Selvik?” he asked beneath his breath.
“Shove it,” Curtis hissed.
“In all seriousness, Curtis, why not—”
“And an extra $29.95.” Curtis plucked a broach off a display on the counter made by a local Mi’kmaq crafter, adding it to Daren’s pile.
“What's that for?”
“Glooscap. If he’s going to up the ante, you better too.”
“Avoiding the subject, are you?”
“Would you like that gift wrapped, sir?” Curtis smiled flatly.
Daren wouldn’t be getting anywhere trying to push his friend to get over his nerves, apparently.
Curtis’s loss. Who was to say Bradley wouldn’t be interested?
Daren honestly couldn’t remember the last time Curtis actually liked someone.
But, for now, he accepted the inclusion of the broach and kept quiet. “Add it up.”
As Curtis did so and Daren paid his new total, he couldn’t help wondering what he might be given tomorrow.
LILO
The human left a reciprocating gift! That must mean he was pleased by the previous ones and understood now that they were left purposely, not mere coincidences. He was aware he wasn’t alone in the inlet. He knew.
And if he knew and was willing to offer gifts in exchange, that must mean he was trustworthy. He had to be. How wonderful if he was, because he was so lovely to watch. Lovely to look upon. Lovely to wonder about.
It would be dangerous, foolish, and possibly even deadly to reveal oneself, but life was so lonely beneath the waves, and finally, a handsome human who was respectful and kind and seemed to maybe also be lonely, had braved the estuary where a safe and secluded meeting might be possible.
A couple more gifts were warranted to keep with custom, and then, if the human continued to return and reciprocate, the risk might just be worth it.
DAREN
“Now you have to be fucking with me. Is this French?”
Daren still couldn’t explain it, not to himself, nor to Curtis when he showed him his newest gift—a magnetic compass that had to be at least five-hundred years old and absolutely priceless—but with his collection steadily growing, and his bountiful catches of fish continuing, he wasn’t about to stop.
At this rate, he wasn't just keeping up with quota but replenishing the frozen stores for the season that had been woefully short.
The following day, he didn’t have anything to offer that was as valuable as the compass, and a modern compass wouldn’t feel right the same way the Mi’kmaq broach had, but he assumed something personally of value would do and decided to give his favorite keychain.
It was an old teal sea glass carving of a lighthouse that the original crafter didn’t make anymore.
He had gotten it years ago from Curtis’s shop when he’d first returned from college.
It seemed a little sad now that one of his most prized possessions was something he had given himself.
He’d liked it, wanted to feel better about resigning himself to a quiet life back home, and since Curtis had been the one to sell it to him, it had also been what rekindled their friendship.
Daren hadn't really had many friends before then.
A handful, as he was just the quieter, keep-to-himself type, but none of those friends had stayed in town, and he had been losing touch with them since being at college.
From then on, his life had revolved around taking care of his dad, fishing, and daily trips to the shop for groceries and necessities, besides dropping off fish.
Curtis had other friends, and Daren would tag along at times to the bars or a movie or something or another, but over the years, he’d found more and more excuses to opt out when it was more than just Curtis.
He was never the same Tourist Trap as Curtis either, but he had occasionally found himself charmed by a stranger.
He hadn’t been celibate all these years.
It just never went anywhere, and after a while, he wasn’t sure if he wanted it to, because it felt inevitable to end in heartache.
This was the first time in a long time that he had felt excited about what each new day might bring.
So, like usual, after casting his net, he left the gift on the ledge of the bow, wondering if he was in for a gold coin or something inlaid with precious gems this time given the escalation, only to hear the familiar splash earlier than the previous days…
And find a tarnished fork waiting for him instead.
Daren laughed. Fitting if his benefactor was the Little Mermaid, but not what he had expected. He picked it up, oddly charmed by the offering. Maybe Glooscap had a sense of humor.
It was while thinking that, about to turn to check his net, that Daren first saw him.
He yelped, falling backwards onto the deck, and dropped the fork to clatter beside him. Seeing a head floating in the water was not a calming experience!
Slowly, Daren stood again, wondering what poor soul had drowned out here, only to realize the eyes looking back at him were blinking.
“Are you okay?” Daren called. “Are you lost? You’re not swimming in that water?”
The head bobbed higher, revealing the tops of bare shoulders.
The man was beautiful, even if Daren had to wonder about his sanity.
His skin had a bluish-purple tint to it, so he had to be freezing, but he was still gorgeous, with eyes so dark, they looked black, and short black hair plastered to his forehead and around what appeared to be pointed ears.
He almost looked like a pixie, or an elf, or…
Or…
“Hello?” Daren tried again before he could allow that thought to enter his mind. Maybe he had been out here too long on his own and was starting to see things, because he couldn’t possibly be looking at a… mermaid?
Well, merman.
Although whether that would be less insane than meeting a god, he wasn’t quite sure.
The beautiful head dove back under the water, and the next thought Daren had was that whether this was man, god, or sea creature, he might be about to capsize Daren’s boat.
Only, before Daren could think to react or even move, his net was suddenly thrust up onto the deck as if by itself, spilling its already full catch of fish around his feet.
Daren blinked.
The next moment, the man’s beautiful face peered at him from over the side of the bow.
“Uh… th-thanks?” Daren stared, unsure what to do. “Y-you’re not… gonna drag me to a watery grave now, are you?”
The man’s—merman’s—eyes really were black with no whites at all and no discernable pupils.
His skin was bluish-purple. His ears were pointed—and with three points, one at the top, side, and lobe.
He had obvious gills on his neck, and when he tilted his head and smiled at Daren, his mouth was full of a dangerously sharp row of fangs.
He disappeared beneath the water again.
Daren was being toyed with, the gifts were merely a ruse, and soon, the merman would capsize his boat. But as he waited, once again, that wasn’t what happened.
A fish popped up out of the water and landed on the deck.
Then another joined the first. And another. And another. In minutes, Daren had two-dozen more fish than what had been in his net, and he had to cry out to the water, “Stop! My boat can’t take much more! This is plenty!”