Aserme's Missing Mermaid Mother

[ILLYRIAN]

ASERME’S MISSING MERMAID MOTHER

During the years 1860 to 1865 when the amount of rainfall had become too be so much that the rain that fell caused many places where dams had formed large pools of the rivers flow of water to begin to overflow. Many on the lands close to the coast had begun to flow readily. Many of the mermaids sought inland pastures that they hadn’t seen before,

it was Tianomo who took several of her elder daughters with her to seek the unknown areas. They gave little thought to the reduction in the rivers flow. When the mother of the mermaids wanted to return to their tunnels of the underwater home they found their way out was gone. In time the reduced amount of rainfall kept them further away from where they wanted to be,

in the years that followed they were restricted to be in waters they did not want to be in. Tianomo found comfort with a woman near to a town where she met a witch named Vixana. They would spend many hours together talking about the better times each of them could remember. It was during one of those times they were together that they saw a man

he was walking on the path on the other side of the river waving to the other Vixana commented that he had seemed pleasant enough. The man traveled further along the rivers path until he neared the town of Newcastle, it was several days later before they met each other again, he introduced himself as Joseph Johns those there was a few people who knew him as Moondyne Joe.

Joe had become friends with a woman by the name of Ruby who in turn became friends with one of Tianomo’s daughters, Trulian. Tianomo told Moondyne Joe's lady friend that she and her daughters had become trapped there when the waters receded, Joe said he would try to help Tianomo get closer to her home.

Vixana promised her friendship to Ruby and Joe if he could help them. Joe built a wall of rock across the river where the water level could get deeper. After the rains had fallen Ruby told Vixana to call Tianomo and her daughters to gather near to where Vixana told her. Joe and Ruby took down the wall of rock across the river, that allowed the mermaids to get to a passage that was much closer to the coast.

It was in the years later that Aserme took to swimming in the sea amongst the swells, she liked being able to see the humans swimming in the sea within a hundred yards from the beach. Aserme was swimming amongst the waves of the tide and in the times that she rose up then dropped down made her able to keep being happy.

One time she caught a glimpse of some people swimming near to the beach, wanting to see more about them she swam on another time Aserme swam close to where the swells were higher, Aserme was intrigued that she could get so close to the humans though it was true that the humans had swum far out from the beach. Asermes senses told her that there was an unwelcome presence of a ship not far from her.

Without further warning she noticed an increase in the number of fish around her then she realized that she was being captured by fishing nets from the ship she had heard. Many of the fish around her began to panic they were thrashing about and trying to escape. Aserme then saw the trawlers nets just before she began to feel herself being hauled out of the water.

Not knowing what to do she felt the oceans water falling from her body, soon after she was unceremoniously dumped onto the deck of the boat with all the other fish. Deciding to keep quiet she felt hands on her tail, Aserme looked to see who the hands belonged to before she saw they were the fisherman’s hands.

He had started to sort through the different types of fish that he had caught and put them aside to go into the ice boxes on the trawler. Andrew was pleased with the size of his catch. He was busy sorting through the fish that were on the deck of his ship, he was sorting them and putting them into the cold storage units under the deck.

Andrew was suddenly thrust into a situation where he found himself face to face with Aserme. One of the creatures that he had always thought of as just a myth. Hundred meters away Hazel was in her S.C.U.B.A. gear swimming along just above the oceans floor trying to locate the slab of rock that she had previously placed over the nest of twenty-five eggs when she did find the eggs Hazel was disappointed that none of the eggs


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Aserme’s Missing Mermaid mother 2
(continued from number 1)

showed any evidence of hatching. Not that she had discovered what type of eggs they were, a type of fish or mammal eggs. She had put the slab of rock back above the eggs to stop anyone else finding the eggs. Hazel turned around and swam back up to the water’s surface as she neared the back of the ship.

Kim was sitting on the diving platform of her adopted mother’s and father’s research ship ‘The Depth Locker’. Kim had been adopted when Hazel and Terry found her naked on the roadside not that far from their home. No girl had been reported to the police as missing, and as nothing could be discovered about the girl Hazel and Terry had agreed to adopt her.

Seeing Hazel returning to the ship Kim turned and looked to Terry, he was manning the ship’s controls, Terry was glad that Hazel was coming up to the ship, that Hazel would be coming up to the surface soon. Terry smiled
“Is it that that time already?”

Terry looked at his watch before he asked Kim how much air Hazel had in her tanks. Kim answered quite confidently.
“She has a good twenty minutes worth of air,” said Kim.
“Why does she need to have air left when she surfaces?” asked Terry.

“She’ll need to have that amount of air in her tanks just in case anything goes wrong when she returns to the surface,” said Terry. At that moment Hazels head breached the surface, Kim smiled to her then held her hand to help her onto the diving platform. Waiting for her to take her breathing apparatus off before he asked her what she had found down there.

“How did the eggs look?” asked Terry.
“There is still no evidence of any of the eggs hatching, which is good as that gives me more time to try and identify the eggs,” said Hazel.
“Or even if they are for any type of fish, right?” asked Kim.

Both Hazel and Terry faced her, neither of them had considered what if any other sort of creature the eggs could be for.
“An undiscovered form of sea life, it makes you wonder what it could be,” said Hazel as she shrugged her shoulders.
“I just hope that when the eggs do hatch they are such that they make it worthwhile for the research company to have given us

the grant they did of sufficient size to get us this Depth Locker. Another grant will enable us to get the ship upgraded
or even replaced,” said Terry.
“An unknown life form would be great,” said Hazel.

Andrew had altered his plans for the day and was directing his ship back to the harbour and the fish market. As soon as he
tied his ship up on the harbour wall he carried his catch of fish into the markets freezers on the trays provided, he put his
name on his catch so they would know who to pay. After looking about to ensure that there was no one else nearby

he went back to his ship where he had covered the mermaid in black plastic before he carried the mermaid from his ship
to his van. He laid her on another plastic sheet before covering her body with a tarpaulin. Once behind the steering wheel
of his van, he formulated a plan of what roads to use so he would get to his home without being seen by any police.

He’d never had to contemplate not being stopped by the police because

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[ILLYRIAN]

Aserme’s Missing Mermaid Mother 3

of his catch. He was concentrating on his driving so much that he had kept at just below the speed limit all the way home, then he reversed his van into his drive as far back as he could. When he stopped he took the boxes of clothing he’d taken with him into his home. Then he began to pour water into the bath, he put a couple of bags of the salt that he used in his ship’s refrigerators.

When he considered that it was dark enough outside Andrew carried the mermaid from his van into the back door of his home, then he carefully put the mermaid into his bath. When the water was almost at the top of his bath Andrew went into the kitchen, to make himself something to eat, that was when he tried to comprehend what a mermaid would eat.

Going to the cupboards he looked at what he had told himself, there were plenty of them to choose from even those that he had which were covered in breadcrumbs. Andrew began to talk to the mermaid without any concept of what he was doing, that was until he suddenly realized what he had been doing, he was awestruck at what he had been doing, so he faced Aserme.

“Is it because I am speaking that you are watching me or, do you understand what I am saying and if you do understand me please tell me what sort of fish should I get for you to eat?” asked Andrew.
He waited for a while but after not hearing anything, he guessed that she had not understood him.

Not knowing what to give her he offered her some fresh fish he had just caught.
“I don’t even know what of fish this is, not that it makes much difference, I have no idea how much I should feed you or how often, oh, is there anyone I can ask?”

Going to the phone he rang one of the research facilities hoping to speak to someone who knew about mermaids. When the phone was answered the woman questioned him about what his question was for?
“I have never been asked a question about a mermaid before let alone a live mermaid,

I will call some of the supervisors here, hopefully they will give answer your questions.”
Andrew heard one of the supervisors want him to repeat the question. Then after listening to what Andrew asked that supervisor asked.
“So you want to know how much we will give you for a live mermaid,

that is a good question one that I do not get asked very often the last time was by one of the policemen in town. I will have to get back to you on that, hopefully they will let me know one thing though do you know if it is a Mermaid or a Merman?”
Andrew admitted he’d no way of knowing, nor did he know how to ask the mermaid.

When he went back to his fishing boat he met Kim on the jetty and asked her why she was there.”
Kim said about the Depth Locker then asked Andrew if he would like to see the sea floor.
“While we are down there would you like to swim with me to look at some eggs?”

Once on the Depth Locker Andrew smiled too Terry and Hazel.
“Yes I would like to see them,” he said to Kim.
Terry told Hazel he’d stay on the boat to watch the ships dials.

As he glanced at the ships underwater monitor he saw two shapes moving along the ships keel. Terry was unsure of what they were, they looked like Dolphins but there was something about the way they moved. He watched them for just a minute before he realised what it was, they had arms! Terry wanted to tell someone but decided to wait until Hazel was back aboard the ship.

In Andrew’s home Andrew was with the bathroom with Aserme when she first all the whale song, Andrew watched as Aserme kept trying to leap up from the bath to the window. Andrew didn’t understand exactly why she was doing that, as he was concerned for her safety though he put his hand to open up the bathroom window.

As soon as he had done he looked to Aserme, it was as if the whole room filled with the sound of whale-song. Andrew leant down and held Aserme to the window. He was stunned at how loud the mermaid sang whale-song



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Aserme’s Missing Mermaid Mother 4

Andrew apologized to Aserme then held her body up so that she was close to the now open window. He was stunned at how loud her whale-song was and even more amazed at how loud the reply was, Andrew gently let Aserme down into the bath as gently as he could. Back in the house he knew he ought to return her to the sea.

After putting her into his van he drove her down to where the nearest part of the estuary was, once in the river Aserme looked as though she didn’t know which way to go then she pointed to what he was wearing. Wondering if she meant she wanted clothing like he had on he helped Aserme to lay on the ground.

Andrew was stunned when her tail began to transform to appear as, he rushed to his home and returned with a pair of jeans his girlfriend had left at his place she also had left a blouse. At the river’s edge Andrew put them in a sealed plastic bag. Aserme took them with her, she swam far to the coast.

She wore the jeans after she had dried herself and put on the blouse. Aserme returned after a few minutes and by using hand gestures, she made it known she wanted Andrew to fetch four more of each plus a larger one. Going to the shops Andrew bought four more outfits and a towel, ten minutes later Aserme returned followed by several others like her and an older one.

As soon as Aserme had plunged herself into the water she let out a continuous stream of whale-song. Then once she was wearing the jeans and a blouse she presented herself to Andrew.
“I am sorry, I did not think you could be trusted with knowing who, or what I am or who we are, so my name is Aserme. Those calling for me

are my sisters the eldest of whom is Tyunalci, my father has also replied, he will be here soon.”
Andrew was stunned.
“Excuse me but who is your father?” asked Andrew.

Aserme smiled.
“He is the father of all mermaids; his name is the Godking Aqueion. He is who you may know of as King Neptune, the God of the Sea.”
“Those sisters from the sea who are they?” asked Andrew.

“They are Maralda, Raisula, Dianara and Meralci,” said Aserme.
“Just one thing, all that whale-song that we heard, it sounded as if there were a lot more than just my family, there might have been the whales and dolphins the voices came from the sea, it was those who I had heard that had come from inland that confused me,” said Aserme

“Inland? I am not sure who that could be, how far did you go up the river?” asked Meralci.
“I went further down to the river than I’d ever been, there’s a shallow area several miles inland.”
Andrew offered each of the mermaids some clothes then he took the rest and swam inland to the shallows where she met more mermaids,

Aserme gave them their the outfits in the plastic bag.
When Andrew girlfriend arrived he called her to where he was. She asked him what the extra outfits were for.
“Just in case Aserme comes back with more sisters than she thought.”

Andrews girlfriend Amy asked who Aserme was. Andrew was about to tell her when Aserme returned with several others.
Aserme told Andrew that those with her were her sisters, the elder of them is my mother, she is the mother of all mermaids. Andrews girlfriend Amy handed her the clothes she had brought with her.

“When I get to go home I am going to tell my friends about my adventures here, I am on holiday from Sunnydale in America. We have some strange friends over there so I doubt they will be surprised that I met or spoke to some mermaids.”
Andrew was glad at meeting some of Aserme’s sisters let alone others from her family.



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[ILLYRIAN]

Aserme’s Missing Mermaid Mother 5

Watching the Mermaids swim away from them Andrew and Amy said they were glad of the companionship they gave each other. After sitting on a log near the water’s edge Talulah lifted a thermos flask of soup from her jacket pocket. Being sat there they were surprised to see Aserme rise from the water in front of them.

“I have some big news, my father has requested that you join him for a tour in the waters near the beach.”
Andrew smiled to Amy and soon enough they were in Andrews fishing boat alongside the Depth Locker, Terry offered to let Andrew and Amy use a couple of their S.C.U.B.A. outfits.

When Terry and Hazel were on the diving platform ready to join them Kim dove over them into the water.
“Quick, take a bottle of air down to Kim,” said Hazel.
Before he could Kim had surfaced and proudly displayed her tail for Terry and Hazel to see.

“Father wanted me to secretly watch what you were doing with our eggs,” said Kim.
Both Hazel and Terry stared at her.
“What, you mean you are a mermaid?” asked Terry.

Aserme rose from the sea and hugged Kim.
“Mother told me she is so happy that you have watched over those who cared for her eggs,” said Aserme.
Hazel leant over the end of the ship to speak to Aserme

“Please I’d love to know when the eggs are ready to be hatched?” asked Hazel.
Aserme smiled too Kim, Mother had said it would be alright for you to see them born.
Andrew waved Hazel and Terry to follow Aserme and Kim and the eggs that they had collected and taken into the passage.

They swam deep into the tunnel where they met Godking Aqueion. They followed him deep into a cavern until Aqueion stopped, he pointed ahead of where he was. Neither Terry nor Hazel knew what he was pointing at. “Look carefully at the water, notice that some of the water is clear then there appears to be a line where the water is hazy, that is the line that is known as where the extremeofiles live.

For the eggs to hatch they need to pass through that joining of salt and freshwater for them to hatch. Hazel and Terry glared as the eggs passed through the joint, the eggs hatched for the mermen and mermaids could swim to their mother. Passing down into the cavern where they allowed the sea water to cover them knowing that is where and how the eggs would be hatched.

Father has said that he will allow the both of you to name one of the young,” said Aserme.
“There is a friend who I owe a few favours to back home, I would like to name one of the mermaids after her, to give her the name Willow,” said Amy.

Kim asked her father if one of the young mermaids and the egg shell she came from be swapped with the egg in the research facility, the Godking Aqueion grinned.
“I wonder, would that be the best time to ask for more finances?” asked Hazel.

“That depends would you like a new Depth Locker or would you prefer to have a complete refit for the existing Depth Locker?” asked Terry.
Stood in the cabin of the Depth Locker Hazel looked a bit further out to sea at what she thought were two blue whales.
“I do like to see two Blue Whales, swimming close to each other,” said Hazel.

Kim rested a hand on Hazel’s shoulder.
“Only they are not Blue Whales, one of them is but the other was my father before he became the Godking Aqueion father to all mermaids,” said Kim.


The End