Mermaids and Vampires

70: The End

DYLAN

My head emerges from the water. I gasp for breath and realize I'm alive. It's an incredible feeling, but it's tampered by the sting of my open wounds and the uncertainty that my opponant may also be out there.

The waves are so high, they're impossible to see over. I can't tell where the shore is. Which direction do I swim?

I feel lost.

The thrill of victory is gone. Now, another challenge presents itself.

Where is Cordellia? Surely, she could feel my presence and come to me.

I glance down into the water and am surprized by what I see. There's a tail down there. And it does not belong to a mermaid. It's long and grey-blue. It feels so natural I hadn't noticed it until now.

But what does this mean for Cordelia?

I swim frantically in one direction, not knowing if it's the right one but knowing I need to get to shore.

There is no time to waste. I need answers. I need humans.

I suddenly see a mermaid in front of me. Stopping abruptly, I nearly collide with her.

She has brown hair and familliar eyes. I've seen her somewhere.

We rise to the surface where we can talk.

"Dylan," She smiles warmly, approaching.

"You know me?"

She nods, "I'm your mom."

I stare into her eyes for a long moment.

"Nice to meet you." I finally speak.

"Thank you for fighting for us. We won." She explains.

"What happened to..."

"Cordelia? She's human now. The changes are permanent. She's with her family. Her sister, and her dad."

"How long has it been?" I ask.

"Two days."

That's a long time. She'll be worried. Which way is shore?"

Her arm extends and her finger points me in the right direction.

"Thank you, see you again."

I dip below the surface and swim as quickly as I can.

 When I arrive at the docks, I realize I don't know how to contact her. I can't exactly walk up on land and find her. But then I spot a soft, feminine figure dangling her legs into the water at the edge of the longest dock. She moves her feet gracefully, reverantly, as only someone with new legs would.

Slowly, I swim to her. Watching for her reaction.

When she notices me her body freezes, then she stands up, pulls off her hoodie, and jumps into the water.

She's a crappy swimmer without the tail.

I quickly move to her and scoop her up in my arms.

We kiss.

"I was so worried about you." She whispers.

"I'm okay." I reply. "How do you like having legs?"

"It's great, but all I could think about was how much I missed you."

For the first time, she looks down into the water, squinting past the ripples to see the change.

"Oh my god," She breathes.

"It's different."

"Now you'll be stuck in the ocean." She pouts.

"Not really. We can still see each other. And I'll get my one day a year." I smile.

"I'll come to the shoreline every day." She promises.

"So will I."

She suddenly looks back to the docks.

"Lauren was asking about you. Should I get her?"

I nod. "Dad too."

She climbs back on deck, towels herself off and runs towards the town.

I smile, floating peacefully in the water.

Finally, everything is as it should be.

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Author's note: There will be an epilogue.