Marilyn

MARILYN

SPLASH!

Thrown into the pool with a force that sent water splashing dramatically, I found myself amidst a whirlwind of commotion. Fellow mermaids quickly huddled together in a corner, their hushed murmurs of gossip filling the air. Their words were directed at me, but I paid them no mind. I knew their whispers were meant to sting. Just then, Mr. Alphonso rushed to the poolside.

“I heard you returned Marilyn. What could be wrong, sir?” he asked, a touch of panic in his voice.

“I trusted Star Ocean management and decided to purchase a mermaid here. You assured me that the mermaids here were obedient and well-behaved. How is it that the mermaid you sold me has turned out to be a fucking idiot?” The dark-eyed wolf growled.

“Isn’t this the fourth time she is returned here?” One of the mermaids asked, and others murmured in agreement.

“What a fool she is,” Another added, and I glared at her.

“I’ll scrape out your eyes if you look at me that way again,” the green-tailed mermaid flared, making me look away. I focused on Mr. Alphonso, the director of Star Ocean, and Mr. Ryker, the nasty old man who just returned me.

In my world, humans occupied a lower class, while mermaids were considered the lowest stratum. Mermaids faced treatment akin to trash, even worse than omegas. Werewolves held respect for humans due to their sole possession of the secret of capturing mermaids from the sea. Mermaids within the ocean lived in concealment, while the unfortunate ones were trapped and confined in pools, presented for werewolves to purchase for sexual pleasure and servitude. In addition, we mermaids possessed healing abilities. The majority were fortunate to find masters who sought them exclusively for their curative powers. However, my situation was different.

“I’m sorry, sir. You wanted the prettiest mermaid, so I chose her,” Alphonso pleaded, emphasizing her beauty.

The mermaids in the pool scoffed loudly, their disdain evident.

“Who said she is the prettiest?” one of the mermaids asked, glaring at me skeptically.

“Having a sparkly tail doesn’t make one pretty,” Harriet, the youngest mermaid, chimed in.

Others readily agreed, their chorus of approval echoing Harriet’s sentiment.

I turned away from them, focusing on Alphonso and the old bastard.

“I’ll quickly choose another mermaid and send her to your mansion,” Alphonso offered with a bow, his voice tinged with apology.

The man nodded in affirmation, sending a final glare my way before turning to leave.

Sighing in relief, I watched him depart, grateful for his exit. Among the four werewolves I’d been sold to, Mr. Ryker was the worst. While the others purchased me for my healing abilities, which were inexplicably dormant, they found me useless and swiftly returned me. Ryker’s home overflowed with mermaids, rendering my healing powers irrelevant. He and his perpetually lustful sons desired only the most physically attractive slaves. I resisted their advances, fighting them relentlessly each time they approached. For over a week, I endured their presence. Despite Ryker’s determination to break me, my unwavering resolve prevailed. Last night, I resorted to biting off one of his son’s ears, which compelled him to return me hastily today. I smiled, recalling how he kept covering his ears each time I looked at him during our ride here.

“You have the nerve to smile after tarnishing the image of this mermaid foundation,” Alphonso growled.

I stared dumbly at him, not uttering a word. My silence wasn’t by choice; it was because I was mute. I used to be quite the chatterbox beneath the sea’s surface. However, since that dreadful day when Alphonso’s net ensnared me, my speaking ability had vanished.

“Dumb bitch,” Harriet spat, eliciting giggles from the other mermaids.

“Drag her out,” Alphonso commanded the guards around the pool.

My eyes widened upon hearing this. I vigorously shook my head and clasped my hands together, attempting to apologize. Alphonso, however, was not one to forgive easily. I was hauled out of the pool and placed on the ground, my tails remaining wet, preventing their transformation into legs.

“Get me the whip,” Alphonso growled.

I gasped and looked up at him, pleading silently.

“Let’s see if you’ll remain the prettiest after this,” a jealous mermaid remarked.

Soon, the whip was presented, and Alphonso wasted no time using it on me. With each strike, the whip’s thorns tore into my tail, causing tears to stream down my face. I struggled to scream but couldn’t; my captivity had stolen my voice. I writhed on the ground as the whip continued to lash against my body.

“You dare tarnish the reputation of this foundation,” Alphonso’s voice was harsh with anger.

He continued to curse and whip me mercilessly. Soon, I was covered in wounds, my body seeping blood.

“This will teach you to obey your next master,” Alphonso spat. He signaled the guards to toss me back into the pool and walked away.

Roughly handled by the guards, I was thrown back into the pool, my injuries ignored. I curled up in a corner, weeping as I nursed my wounds.

BANG

A heavy impact landed on my injured tail. I wriggled in agony, glancing down to see other mermaids gathered, taking turns hitting their tails against mine. I tried to swim away, but my tail remained dormant due to multiple injuries.

“We’ll make sure no one calls you pretty ever again,” the green-tailed mermaid said.

She raised her hands and scraped my face with her nails.

“You deserve to die,” one young mermaid spat, and others chorused in affirmation.

In the corner of the pool, I was surrounded by jealous mermaids who taunted and injured me until I feigned passing out. Driven by fear, they eventually scattered and left me alone. When night descended, and they were all asleep, I seized the opportunity to rise and tend to my wounds. However, I then noticed something peculiar.

My scales were falling off!

For a mermaid, losing scales was considered the ultimate form of horror. Desperately, I tried picking up the fallen scales and placing them back onto my skin, but my efforts were in vain. My once-beautiful golden scales detached one by one, leaving me exposed and devoid of their shimmering protection. A sense of horror engulfed me as I gazed at my scaleless reflection.

“What should I do?” I whispered inwardly, to myself in sheer fright.

The following morning, Alphonso made his usual early visit to the pool, a routine he faithfully followed. Each day, he checked on us, his source of income, ensuring our well-being was a priority.

“Hope you’ve learned your lesson, Marilyn?” he inquired, approaching the side of the pool where I usually lingered.

I had concealed myself beneath the water’s surface. Fearful they would see my altered appearance, I hadn’t attempted to come out.

“She has been under the pool since dawn. Should we drag her out?” the green-tailed mermaid asked.

“Was I her enemy in a past life?” I mused.

“Drag her out,” Alphonso ordered, causing my heart to race.

Observing from my submerged position, I watched as the green-tailed mermaid signaled two newbies to retrieve me. They swam towards me, but upon seeing me, they shrieked and hurriedly returned to the shore, panting.

“What’s wrong?” I overheard the jealous witch inquire, her tone anxious.

All I could hear was panting, implying the mermaids were too terrified to speak.

The green-tailed witch submerged herself, likely to ascertain the source of the newcomers’ fear. She gazed at me in horror, her expression swiftly transforming into a smirk.

“Look who we have here,” she sang, swimming toward me and hauling me onto the shore.

Alphonso’s scream echoed upon sighting me, prompting the other mermaids to scatter.

“Monster,” an older mermaid jeered, her grin wide.

My eyes stung at being addressed as a monster.

“W-what happened to your golden scales?” Alphonso queried, his panic palpable.

“They’re history,” the green-tailed mermaid quipped, inciting laughter from the others.

“Quick, fetch the doctor!” Alphonso bellowed.

The doctor promptly arrived, his expression of sheer terror upon encountering me. He hesitated, ready to leave, stating he couldn’t treat such an unsightly creature. Alphonso’s promise of increased payment compelled him to gather his courage and attend to me.

After an examination and numerous tests, the doctor summoned Alphonso.

“Her body’s deteriorating rapidly. I’m uncertain she’ll survive past the next five months,” he divulged.

My heart raced at his words.

“I’m going to die soon,” I whispered, tears blurring my vision. I looked up at Alphonso, hoping he’d see my tear-filled eyes.

“You should get rid of her as soon as possible before she infects other mermaids,” the doctor added before leaving.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I locked my gaze on Alphonso, a sense of helplessness overwhelming me. He crouched beside the table I lay on, right beside the pool.

“Other mermaids possess healing abilities, but not you. Others cry pearls, yet you shed tears. I kept you here because of your beauty. But now that it’s gone, you are of no value to me,” Alphonso’s words dripped with indifference.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted. I peered beyond Alphonso and saw a swarm of werewolves surging in.

“Damn it,” Alphonso cursed.

The wolves closed in on us.

“What’s that thing on the table?” one of them sneered, disgust evident in their expression.

“Don’t tell me that thing is a mermaid,” another chimed.

“What an ugly creature,” another added.

At that moment, it felt like the world had turned against me. I squeezed my eyes shut, no longer wanting to endure this existence.