It was long ago, too long ago, its almost like mist in the minds of those who remember it...

From the borders of THE LONELY COAST to the deep end of the ocean, men traveled, sailed the sea and returned with it's treasure, but then the things that were unseen, the songs never heard, the beauty never foreseen, the terror about to be seen, came like a mighty wave and washed the land and sea of the lonely coast, men sailed and never returned, only the horrified cries of their depressed souls could be heard... This were in deed the stories of the lonely coast... Now myths, stories for the audience of children.... Soon THE SONGS OF THE LONELY COAST WERE FORGOTTEN.

Hey guys it’s me again Luciecoullet

This is a mermaid fantasy and I hope you really enjoy it, because it’s my first work on Mermaids, it’s a little rough and might still have one or two mistakes, leave a comment below to express a consigh, idea or interest

Also if you want to discuss the book with me, you can check out my next project which will be announced very soon and will allow me to chat with my fans.

Lots of love ❤️ Luciecoullet

CHAPTER ONE

"DREAMS"

Ruth woke up sweating, her body was trembling and her chest hurt, she blinked severally to push the darkness away, her mind was racing, the nightmare unable to clear, it took her a while to realize she wasn't dreaming anymore and was back to reality... The nightmares were the same as always, horrifying, painful and meaningless, if she spoke about them, people will think she was crazy, she's visited many therapist in the past, and not one of them could provide a solution or get rid of the dreams, but they all told her one thing, and it was true...she was not at peace with herself, and it all started 4 years ago, from that day till present she's known no peace, and hasn't been able to sleep well at night.

And now Ruth was in a state, never to recover again...so she stopped talking about it, stopped crying, stopped getting so afraid each time she thought about it...she went to the bath room and washed her face, then she stood there looking at herself, she brush a strand of long red hair away from her face, she used to wear her hair short, neck level, but the Nightmares have kept her mind so busy and wrapped up in the darkness that she's forgotten what she liked to do and what she didn't like to do...she just kept pushing through life each day... Ruth use her fingers to brush her sleek hair, she liked it long, she trailed two fingers down her forehead to her full lips and to her neck, her skin was smooth, Her body has changed, she was curvy, slim, fairer skin and her eyes had a glow in them, that hid the haunted look in her eyes.....

At day she lived in her pathetic reality and at night she lived in her dreams... 'Look at me' she said to herself blinking back tears that threatened to break her high walls of defence and hope... Looking at this Ruth, she felt she's lost the old Ruth forever...she had no peace of mind and was beginning to find her life meaningless, with no purpose.... When people looked at her they saw a beautiful, young, sexy, on going girl, they never saw HER and if she told them about her nightmares and how it has affected her, they will think her crazy or mentally unstable... So she hid the fear, the terror and smiled...she only cried at night.....

Ruth brought out her key to open the door, but noticed it was already open, she went in and was welcomed by the sweet smell of freshly brewed hot coco... She smiled as Cleo came out from the kitchen with two mugs..

"Good morning"

"Morning... You beat me today"

Ruth said accepting the hot mug of hot coco, She usually opened the pub, but today Cleo came before her.

"Thanks"

"Welcome, we are not opening for at least another hour, so we can take advantage of this and check our supplies, and record"

"Sure"

Ruth said, drowning the last of her coco...Cleo was the only trust worthy friend she had, who knew of her problems and yet didn't judge her or try to get her to visit another therapist or shrink house, she helped Ruth in anyway she could and was very nice... Sometimes she came over to sleep next to Ruth.. Nights like that were nice and smoothening.. Her nightmares were less terrorising when she slept next to someone...

An hour thirty minutes later "Blues" Pub was busy and filled with customers, Cleo and Ruth didn't have time to rest their feet or take a break, the only moment Ruth got was to drown a glass of water every 10 minutes, which was a new habit that surfaced last week, her sudden thirst, no! more like craving for water was unquenchable, her throat always felt dry and the longer she stayed without water the dizzier she got, and she needed to be strong and fit for every day's work, she owed Baron good sales for everything he's done for her..

Two customers approached Ruth, the woman was quit young and beautiful, while the man was old and grumpy looking.

"Good day...how many I help you?"

The woman looked around nervously, as though not sure about what she wants to ask, the man tightened his grip on her hand in a comforting way... Ruth waited patiently, they were too tense for people who wanted to just order a drink or meal.

"Here... I hope its enough"

Ruth said sliding 20 dollars to them, they looked at the money bewildered, the grumpy man sighed in irritation, but the woman smiled kindly before pushing the money back to Ruth.

"We are in no need of money"

"Okay......"

Ruth said taking the money back, but she did that slowly just in case they changed their mind...the woman got serious again once she put the money away...

"What we need...what we want to know about, is the boat"

"Boat??"

Ruth was perplexed, they came here to ask about a boat?...what boat...then it stroked her...Baron did own a boat, it was one pretty little boat that caught tourist eyes..

"Am sorry mam...that boat belongs to Baron Perkin and he is not selling... But if you want..you could contact him...."

"The Boat in your dreams child, the one you see...the little brown boat"

The man finally spoke, a rich fine tenor, a young voice for an old man...Ruth froze, they couldn't possibly be referring to the same boat she knew..

"Its the same boat, the one with the XS mark on it.."

The woman said, as though she could read Ruth mind, Ruth stomach clutch and twisted...could it be that she wasn't crazy, were her dreams real...she hasn't dreamt about that boat in the last 6 months...she blinked rapidly...

"Your dreams are real, the boat is real...listen to me Ruth..."

"How do you know my name..."

She asked forgetting the tag on her left pocket had her name written in bold letters...she looked into the woman big bold blue eyes and through her eyes she could see her dream, the horrifying one, the woman's eyes were the exact shade of ocean blue saw in her dream, she could see the wave raising up, like a mountain, and crashing against those rocks, the same feeling returned, when the waves crashed against the rock it felt as though she was been knocked into a wall...her chest burnt, her eyes became puffy and her throat was dry as a desert land..

"Do not let her control you...she had no control over you... You can beat this...Ruth..."

The woman touched her hand, and it felt like an electric shook, Ruth withdrew her hand quickly, knocking an empty glass to the ground in the process...

The clash of glass and floor got everyone's attention and soon Cleo was beside her..

"What happened what did you say to her?"

Cleo demanded once she saw Ruth's pale face and widened eyes...Ruth looked horrified.

"We need the boat"

The man said to the woman

"Come on...let's go..."

The woman dragged him away without answering Cleo, at the door she stopped and gave Ruth one last look....

"THE AWAKENING"

Cleo tried to calm Ruth down, she gave her lots of water to drink, and something to eat, yet it still didn't settle Ruth's uneasy nerves, she kept repeating the words "THEY KNOW" over and over again...Cleo was beginning to panic, not sure what to do..

"Tell me Ruth...what do they know?"

Ruth stopped shaking and looked at her wide eyes..as though searching for an answer, Ruth swallowed with difficulty..

"They know about my dreams"

Ruth said, her lower lip quivering..

"How? did you tell them?"

"No...they even know about about the boat in my dreams...they told me that everything I dream is real...that am not crazy"

Ruth said a hint of excitement taking over the fear and anxiety... If they knew...it meant she wasn't mad, she wasn't going crazy after all and it meant there was a way to get rid of the nightmares.

"Ruth those people were just toying with you... Think about it, what if one of your therapist told them about you and now they are just here to tease you"

Cleo said taking Ruth hands in hers... She knew what Ruth has been through and it pained her to see Ruth suffering or been messed with, She hated to see Ruth like this... Ruth shook her head, not listening to Cleo

"Cleo it wasn't the therapist... They were asking about that boat 🚣🏽‍♂️, the one in my dreams"

"And if they heard you telling me about it?"

"NO CLEO!!"

Ruth shouted...

"I've told you everything but I never told anyone about the mark on the boat"

"What mark?"

Cleo asked feeling mentally exhausted

"The boat in my dream had a mark, 'XS' boldly carved on it...I never gave that detail away, I always thought it irrelevant, but those people know...."

Cleo was getting very confuse and afraid.

"How could they?"

"They even told me its all real, that someone was trying to control me...that I should fight it.."

Ruth was trying very hard to make Cleo believe, and understand... And even when she believed Ruth, she was still confuse...

"So what are we going to do?"

Cleo always said we to signify that Ruth was not alone...Ruth wiped her tears and thought for a moment, she didn't know what to do, Cleo spoke up

"How about we apply for that break we should have gotten a long time ago...at least we can figure out everything within 2 months...what do you say?"

Ruth looked at her with gratitude.. Without saying a word she rushed into Cleo's arms, giving her a big hug

"Thank you Cleo"

Ruth didn't know what she would have done without her..

"Your father's been calling"

Cleo said as Ruth was about leaving... Ruth's face dropped and she nodded.

Ruth dropped her keys on the table and rub the back of her neck, their Break was starting tomorrow and Ruth didn't know what she would do with 2 and a half month off and away from work...but it was a good thing...at least now she can take time to figure out what's going on and find those people, if she couldn't find them, she would find answers, if they could tell her something about her dreams, she would be glad... One of her therapist had told her to take this spiritually and Ruth was beginning to believe him...This had to be spiritual, she couldn't even remember the last time she went to church or prayed..and for the first time in a long time, she went on her knees beside her bed and clasps her palms together..

"Dear God, if you are like listening, if you still care and consider me yours... Please help me, bring everything to light, whatever it is...put an end to this nightmares..."

Ruth could barely believe it, even as the tears rolled down her cheeks, she was crying while praying, she wiped her tears and said a long silent prayer, immediately after the prayer, she felt really tired so she climbed up her bed and laid down...

DREAM

the little brown boat rocked gently against the water, everywhere was still and quiet, even a graveyard sounded better, this silence was a horrifying one, but some minutes later the environment changed, something stirred up, and the tides changed, the boat capsized and everything went quiet..... Then out of no where an arm came out of the water and grasp the bottom of the boat, the hand went back into the water and the boat turned back, the next thing was a young woman coming out of the water *****, she push her body up and landed inside the boat, laying down, she had blazing red hair and her skin was pale, she slowly sat up, pushing her hair back , out of her face and there she was "RUTH"...

Ruth woke up, unable to breath, she was coughing continuously, she went to the kitchen and drown a bottle of cold water, that immediately knock of the heat in her body, Ruth drop to the ground clutching to her legs, she saw herself, in her dream, how could this be?... She was inside the boat, it was her, she was *****...she was there in the boat..

The knock at the door jolted her and made her heart skip, she was so afraid she felt her heart will jump out of its cage.... She rush to the door and opened it.. Cleo was standing there looking very impatient, when she saw the tired, weak look on Ruth's face she smiled kindly...

"Nightmares?"

Ruth nodded before opening the door for her to enter, she shot it and lean on the wall sighing.. Cleo went straight to the kitchen and returned with a bottle of red wine and two glasses, she gestures towards the sitting room, Ruth left the wall and went and sat beside her, Cleo poured wine into the two glasses and handed her one..

"Since we are taking drastic majors to resolve this once and for all we might as well embrace alcohol"

She said touching the tip of her glass to Ruth's own...Ruth smiled and sipped a little, Cleo was a fan of alcohol not her, for some reason it made her unstable and messed with her system quickly

"Cleo..."

Ruth explained her dream to Cleo not leaving any detail out, Cleo listened attentively and by the time Ruth was done explaining Cleo had Finished half of the wine ...

"I see.. Well if you must know... I contacted a friend who helped me check on those people, the old man and woman and...."

"You got their address?"

Ruth cut her excited

"Not exactly, but I did find out about their ware about... And you might not like it..."

"Spit it"

"Saint Bernard"

Immediately the name of Ruth's home town rolled off Cleo's lips, Ruth froze, she took deep breaths, thinking carefully, Saint Bernard meant HOME.. Which meant her father finding out the truth, it would break his heart to find out that his daughter was still suffering... She swallowed...

"If it will make you feel any better, I rented an apartment in Saint Bernard"

Ruth's face brightened up and she smiled...

"Thanks...so when do we leave?"

"Next tomorrow duff face"

"TRUTH"

Ruth knocked on the the door, she was nervous, its been 3 years since she last saw her father, and she really missed him, she had told him that she wasn't dreaming anymore, that her life was on track, she only spoke with him on the phone not even giving him the chance to video call her, Ruth had a feeling he was never going to forgive her for cutting him out of her life like that...but that's why she was here, to explain, beg in her knees if she must...it was the only way... She knocked again and waited, she couldn't hear anything, was he home, or did he already know she was here and didn't want to speak with her, she blink back tears, how was she ever going to explain, he wouldn't understand, she shrug back the nasty feeling of rejection.. All her life it has been just her father and her, all her memories were crowned by him, it must have scattered him that his little girl didn't need him anymore, and worst she was cutting him off, rejecting him.. She was about to knock when someone called her from behind.. She turned slowly taking her time to mask her worry and watery eyes.. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw her father standing there staring at her with his jaw open, she couldn't make out his expression, was he happy or sad...

"Dad"

She said softly, not able to hold the tears any longer... A sweet sad smile curved her father's lips, he looked tired and older, weary even... He opened his arms for her...

"Am sorry"

She said before rushing into his arms, he was squeezing her but she didn't mind, she was happy... By the time he let her go they were both laughing

"Would you look at you"

He said stroking her cheek, she laughed and finally her eyes settled on the man standing beside her father all this while, it took but only a moment for her to recognize her ex boyfriend, ex best friend Hugh...

"Hugh?"

He smiled slightly revealing a side dimple, Hugh and her grew up in this harbour, they attended the same school and dated towards ending of high school, the Hugh she saw now wasn't the Hugh she knew, he was much taller, and muscular, the Hugh who looked like he was never going to have a hint of masculine... He was looking big and not to mention very handsome, well he was always cute, his eyes didn't change though, the beautiful sky blue eyes were his selling point, well now his face and body got all the credit... She suppressed so much laughter he noticed..

"I know I know, I've changed, nothing a little weight and heavy work can't fix"

She burst into a loud laughter and embraced him, he laughed too, his eyes brightening, her father pulled her to his side once she left Hugh

"He's been helping me out in the harbour and fixing my boat, he's very hardworking and he has muscles to show for it"

Her father said slapping Hugh back..

"Yeb"

He replied, taking her father's tools and leading them inside the house..

Cleo has never seen Ruth so happy, reuniting with her father made her so happy it almost seemed her problems didn't bother her anymore, Cleo was happy for her, but she had to remind Ruth why they were here in the first place, they didn't have much time to spare.

She saw her coming, the time was right and soon she will be free, after so many years... She was here to break the curse that was placed by her very own.... After 4 years of hoping and prayer, that something will bring her back to this small Harbour... Something finally did.. To free the SIRENS.. She watch from the Conner of her house as the girl stood staring at the dark road, the same road she had passed through 3 years ago, the same road that began the awakening... The girl was about stepping into the dark old road, when she approach her..

"Lost your cat again?"

She turned a whole mass of bold red hair swaying back, hair just like her mother's, from the shine of her skin to the glow of her hair it was very obvious her body couldn't wait to reveal its true self

"You?"

"Yes me"

She said watching the girl with a smile..

Ruth felt the exact way she felt the day she encountered this old woman, there was something about her that moved Ruth, that made her want to run

"I know what you are looking for and you won't find it in those dark allies dear, if you go there you will never return, but set free a prisoner.."

The old woman said pointing at the road...Ruth heart beat increased..

"What am I looking for?"

She didn't know why she was busy with this old woman who was obviously crazy, she should excuse herself and leave..

"Answers... To your mind, your dreams, about your true identity"

The old woman said and started walking away, Immediately Ruth heard Dreams she started following her

"What dreams?"

"The ones you consider nightmares, but in truth they are who you are, what you are..how you were"

Ruth took deep breaths and followed the woman...today was the day she found out what was going on and nothing would stop her..

"What is your name"

The girl asked her once she had entered her house.. She smiled

"Gau"

"Gau?"

"Yes...an awkward name right?.. Where I come from we don't always bear familiar names..."

"Where do you come from?"

"Come, sit... To know you must be prepared and calm"

"I am prepared, but calm not so much"

The girl said sitting down and accepting the cup of tea she was offered, the girl looked unsure, probably wondering what she was doing in a crazy old lady's house.

"Ruth right?"

"Ye..s"

She said and drown the tea.. She smiled at Ruth knowingly, she too was easily dehydrated, water was an essential part of their lives. She offered her a large glass of water..

"Thank you"

Ruth said and lean forward a little bit more comfortable.. When Gau was certain it was fine..and she was ready to know, she began..

"Have you heard of THE LONELY COAST?"

Ruth's brows curved in a frown...

"No!..."

"I see...what is your believe on mermaids and mermen?"

Ruth laughed and lean back..

"Child's tales, everybody knows they are not real"

Gau frown, how was she going to convince a full adult that what she thought was child's tales, was actually very real..

"Well it is real..."

Ruth laughed, but stopped once she saw the look on Gau's face, it was disrespectful and rude to laugh at your elders...especially ones who believed that mermaids exist..

Ruth cleared her throat and sipped her water..she decided to Handle this like her father would..

"Do you have any prove?"

"You, me...we are both prove.. Your dreams should be prove enough"

This time Ruth couldn't hold back the laughter, she laughed till she almost choked and had to Finnish her water, she went to the sink to get more..

"If I was crazy then you wouldn't be drinking so much water, and that boat you see in your dream it once belonged to a pirate, John Bellon... And the place where the boat is seen is called THE AISLE OF SOULS.. Were the Mermaid "FAWN" Stays.."

Ruth pause by the sink, dropping the glass in the sink and staring outside, this woman might be crazy believing all these mermaids things...but how did she know about the boat and her dreams..

"The Mark on the boat XS... was carved by your mother"

This got Ruth, she spurn around her stomach in knots...

"My mother is dead"

"Yes..but she was a mermaid and died a mermaid"

"My mother is not a mermaid... Are you saying my father .."

"Is not even your father... You want prove?"

Gau stood up and went to Ruth, Ruth wanted to run, what had made her follow this woman here, Gau smiled kindly and gave Ruth her hand..

"After today believe me, you won't have any nightmares and you see nothing but the truth...I promise"

Ruth knew she should leave, but Gau gave her a reassuring smile, and her eyes held so much kindness.. Ruth took her hand, Gau lead her to her bathroom..

"Get into the bath"

Gau instructed, Ruth hesitated but went in, gathered her skirts and waited, Gau went to her up drawer and returned with a bottle of water..

"This water is straight from the ocean...LONELY COAST to be precise, it is said that once a mer-person comes in contact with the ocean, it triggers one's true self, because the ocean is where you are from and the ocean is where you shall return, its home to all aquatic creatures.. Including you and me"

She place a small Stoll inside the big bath tub and Ruth sat down, then Gau poured the ocean water on Ruth's legs...for a moment everything seemed normal until Ruth felt a tingle under her feet, the tingle spread to her fingers up her legs, and right in front of Ruth she witness her legs change colour, they shone and glimmered, she touch her legs and felt its rough skin

"What is happening"

Her legs glowed, a dull sliver

"That's the colour of your tail...but you won't transform now, in the next 2 weeks you find yourself more drawn to the ocean than you ever excepted, and in the next full moon..your transformation will come to an end.."

Ruth didn't know what to believe.. She just stared at her legs in shock

"And if I don't go into the water?"

"You will die"