The Open Road

@mirssa had made her way from the Fletcher's Mansion after a close encounter with the guards who were there. As she traveled down the road she made sure to stay off to the edge of the main path as to avoid any extra attention, and if possible, hopefully get some more goodies along the way.

She had grown accustomed to the feeling of dirt on her feet. At first it had been a new sensation, different than the hard cool feel of cobblestone, that had caused her to go down to her knees, dirtying the pretty dress that had been gifted to her by the governor-man, and she had run her palms through it.

It was even different from sand, less course, more… fine. It did not, however, taste good. Not as delicious as the throat of the governor had been, anyway. Yes, she had given in to her hunger. She had tried, oh, she had tried to resist! But the governor kept touching her and coming close, making himself willing prey. And what was she, if not a predator?

The mermaid had devoured most of the body, and it had stained her gown with splash of red down its tailored front, now dried to a dull brown. It had also since flaked off her smooth, olive-toned skin, although streaks of it still remained here and there, on the tip of her shoulder, the column of her throat, the swell of her breast.

Now she walked down a road, her the dark pools of her fathomless eyes, tipped at the corners exotically taking in the sights of the road. Even if one didn’t take into account the general air of differentness about her, they would have most certainly noticed the almond shape of her long-lashed eyes and would know immediately that she was no native to this country.

And then those enchanting eyes fell upon two youthful figures walking down the road, one twirling a parasol. She was enchanted by the gesture. What was it? What was its purpose? Barefoot, her dress stained and tattered all around its hem that dragged behind her in a semblance of a once-genteel train, she made her way to Roy Fletcher and Vera, and said the only word she knew in the common tongue…

“Hell-oh.”

"Mother Gaia! Are you alright?"

Vera's reaction was far different from Roy's. She rushed up to the newcomer, her face a mask of concern. She stranger looked like she had been attack, and Vera's instinct was to help. As she got within arms range, Mother Gaia pulsed a warning. The woman was not what she appeared. Vera stopped short, and eyed the woman. She was still concerned, but concern was now tempered with caution. She opens her mouth to say something, when suddenly a fat drop of rain hits her on the head. What the hell? The sky had been clear just a... Storm clouds roll in and within seconds a torrential downpour has started.

"What the hell!"

Just as Roy suddenly became aware of the smell of Nereida, Nereida became aware of the smell of him. So curious! Her dark eyes were locked onto him. The fear. She could smell that, too, and it ignited a predator’s sense in her that Nereida forcefully (and mentally) kept down. But it was Vera of the Celadine who came close, full of concern.

Mm, she was warm and smelled nice as well. Nereida’s gaze ripped from Roy to look at Vera. They were speaking to her, saying words she barely knew. Her dark head tipped to the side.

“Hell-oh,” she said again, and she took a step forward, towards the warm girl when suddenly!

A torrential downpour!

Rain came cascading down, water from the heavens. Nereida tipped her head back and looked up to the dark clouds that suddenly roiled there and she laughed, gaily and openly and held her arms out. She was soaked, her long dark hair sodden on her head and so long and thick that it reached her calves. Her gown stuck to her body, although thankfully it was made of a thick and good material that still kept her modesty (not that Nereida would have even noticed, but surely Roy and Vera might feel more comfortable with it so).

She didn’t even notice the lights in the distance, but she would have noticed the two travelers if they tried to leave and quickly, she’d trail after them, running for shelter from the rain although by the looks of it, Nereida clearly enjoyed it. Her dark eyes were full of her good humor, a smile on her pretty lips as she looked to them.

“Hell-oh!” she said again, and laughed brightly. It would probably become clear to them, by then, that the lovely dark-haired girl did not know their language, apart from that one word she was taught.

"Roy I can barely hear you. Still you are right, I don't think she speaks the language."

Vera is clutching tightly to Roy, and shivering. The parasol is barely providing any shelter from the deluge. Still better than nothing, she just wish he had body heat. She was bloody freezing. Roy knocks, but Vera is a hell of a lot less patient. She tries the doorknob, and finding it unlock she heads in.

They were speaking. She knew they were speaking words, but Nereida did not seem to mind that they weren’t speaking about her right in front of her. She was curious about the building, and just like Vera, she, too, was far less impolite (although the mermaid was not aware of this).

She followed in after Vera, but not before pausing and leaning forward to smell Roy. She smiled at him, a slow curl of her lips and something gleamed in her beautiful eyes. The rain had made the smell of ocean breeze all the more obvious in her hair and on her skin.

And then she was gone, walking into the room with the flickering candles. The golden glow made the faint glimmer of scales on her bare shoulders obvious, near her temples as well. She went to one of the books that was laid open and turned a page. Looking at a quill, she took it from its inkpot and watched the ink drip down onto the paper.

Her head tipped to the side, and she let the point of the quill touch the paper of the book, and she made a large swirl. A gasp, and she turned to her friends.

“Hell-oh!” she said and gestured to the book. Dipping the quill back into the ink pop, she drew more designs on the paper of the book, enthusiastically.

Vera looked at the strange woman, and thought about saying something. Nereida was after all sniffing her man. Still what was the point? The woman wouldn't understand, and it wasn't worth getting violent over. Even if it was weird as all get out. Vera rushes over to the fire, getting as close as possible. Mother Gaia she was freezing, and wet. She glares at the other two. Roy was a vampire so it made sense the cold didn't bother him. The woman though, well more proof that the woman wasn't human. Vera sees she is writing on the parchment.

"R-r-roy, s-s-see wh-a-a-t s-s-he is dra-a-a-wing."

The druids says through chattering teeth.

The damp seemed to make Roy’s smell all the more pungent, making Nereida’s nose wrinkle in displeasure. She didn’t know what Roy was – other than he was not human. That much, Nereida could tell. But he didn’t smell like healthy, wholesome flesh – like Vera smelled as.

She drew in the book when she heard both of them calling to her. It did seem as if Nereida was dripping, but oddly enough, it wasn’t coming from her long hair or her skin, but from the dress itself, as if she absorbed the water otherwise. In fact, her hair looked… healthy and beautiful.

Mermaid hair, of course.

Anyway. She looked up from where she had been drawing in the book to see that both of them were speaking to her. A frown came over her face as she looked down at the quill and the ink stains on one hand. Was she not supposed to do this?

She almost turned back to replace the quill when she caught the open door and the blue light. Quill and book forgotten, she moved gracefully over, her dark eyes curious. Warmth, cold, wet, it meant nothing to her as she stepped through the doorway and looked up the staircase.

She didn’t bother to wait for Vera or Roy, although she certainly would have welcomed the company. The dark-haired maiden began to climb the steps, ever closer to the curious blue-white light.