Daughter of the Sea

The sea was so rough and agitated, that for a moment Neil was certain that they would never reach the shore again.

His small fishing ship seemed to be flying just above the furious water's surface, skipping from one frothy wave as tall as a hill to another, like a walnut shell, unable to resist the power of the surging wind. Only by some miracle the vessel did not get submerged and dragged to the bottom of the gelid sea.

The strong gale made the water roar so loudly that it was impossible to shout orders to the three men who were on board with him, he could only hope that while he tried to steer the ship towards the shore they would remember what to do. They knew the weather would be bad, they had seen the forecast of course, but not even their modern technology could prepare them for such a perfect storm.

But, after hours of struggling against the waves, and the destiny who seemed to have made up her mind to claim their lives tonight, they did it, they made it back to the shore.

Bathed in their own sweat as much as in the freezing sea water, they didn't mind the cold rain washing over them as they secured the vessel in the dock and set their feet on the firm ground.

Instead of going home, as one the four men headed for the village and its pub, to celebrate their miraculous survival.

"Look, there are the selkies again, watching us with those black eyes... They give me creeps, I'm telling you!"

Neil glanced at the rocks scattered at the bottom of a long beach, at the foot of tall cliffs-- each time when the fishermen got back from the sea, a large group of seals lay there huddled next to each other, as if they were awaiting their arrival. He smiled, and was just about to tease and scold the old man who had spoken for his belief in local legends, when his look was attracted by... a flash of something bright, well visible even through the rain and the thickening mist of the approaching night. Neil was sure that in the midst of the seals' black, wet, silky bodies he caught a glimpse of... human flesh.

Curious, he took a step away from his mates but one of them, exhilarated by their lucky escape, overjoyed to be walking on the ground one more time, put his arm over his shoulders and pulled him back into their small group, distracting him.

When Neil turned around and looked back towards the cliffs one more time all seemed perfectly normal again-- the seals were dozing on their rocks under the beating rain, some of them pursuing the fishermen with their looks indifferently.

He shook his head and followed his friends towards the village. He needed a drink.

Later, when he made his way to his cottage standing on the beach not far from the seals' rocks alone, the animals were still there. Neil felt sorry for them; they seemed to fear the angry sea as much as humans and stayed trapped on the shore tonight, incapable of reaching the small island situated a few hundred meters off the shore, where the large pod lived, because of the tall waves.

By morning the sea calmed down greatly, allowing Neil to go for his usual swim-- from the beach to Seal Island. He shivered as he stepped into the cold, the sun had only just risen and the beach was shrouded in a thick veil of autumnal fog.

The seals were still there, he noticed, surprised, as he shed his clothes not far from them. As if encouraged by his brave example they stirred, groaning and calling to each other, some moving towards him curiously, their large bodies slapping against the wet rocks, others slipping noiselessly into the water. It seemed that he would have company this morning... He smiled, looking back towards the rocks to see if all the pod was gone.

Then his smile froze on his lips. A woman was standing on the dark rocks where the seals had been, her bare, alabaster white skin only covered by her long black hair.