Chapter Five: Meeting Josephine Huntington

After explaining her purpose on land and making Joseph realize that she's real, she let out a relieved sigh. She felt her body slowly sink into tiredness. Joseph is out of her magic and now staring at her with an unreadable expression.

"You're telling me that you're here because the ocean is in danger because of the poison of a sea witch and you're looking for a human that can help."

Meria nodded, pressing her eyes closed hoping to ease the pain that is slowly crawling into her head. "Basically, yes."

Joseph fell silent taking all the information he just heard. First he took a stranger into his ship. Second, she's not human. Third, she's a princess of the sea. Fourth, she's damn real. And lastly, he can't deny his attraction towards her that seems to tug him closer convincing him to believe even the most ridiculous thing on earth.

"Who is that---" before he could finish his sentence Meria's whole form is sprawled out on the floor.

Panic started to take him over once again. "Meria!" He called while shaking her

She slowly opened her eyes, "Water..."

"What do you mean?" He asked while still in panic.

"I need to be underwater..." She answered weakly.

Joseph can't function straight until he sees her close her eyes again. He thought about asking for help but the realization hit him that he can't. If he himself freaked out seeing her tail, what more if it's someone else? It's dangerous. A mermaid in the land of humans is a mermaid in danger.

He immediately ran inside the bathroom and filled the tub with water. He carried Meria and dipped her into the tub full of water.

He sat on the edge of the tub looking at her. Aside from her tail, she looks human. Her silver hair is fascinating and her eyes are like the ocean. Although he always thought a human can't be that beautiful. And on that level, he's right.

He sat there waiting for her to open her eyes but the longer he waited the more anxious he got. Did he do the right thing? What if she meant about sea water?

He started pacing the bathroom floor while waiting for Meria to gain consciousness. He started thinking of ways on how on earth he'll deal with a mermaid. Just the thought of a mermaid being in the same room as him bothers him but thinking that it's Meria, it now feels different.

A knock on the door cut his chain of thoughts.

"Sir?"

A voice from outside the room called, he walked to the door and opened it. Enough to face the Ship's captain. "What is it, Captain?"

"We'll be reaching the port of California in 30 minutes, sir."

He nodded. "Thank you, Captain."

After muttering a 'no prob' the captain disappeared in the next hallway. Joseph closed the door immediately, securely locking it and walked back to the bathroom where Meria is.

She's awake.

"How are you feelin'?" He asked sitting on the edge of the tub

"Fine." she answered, "Thank you."

"So do you mind telling me how you will change back your tails to legs? Because we're about to reach the port in less than an hour."

"Don't worry, it'll just take a few minutes and water to– oh, there it is." As if there's light shining through Meria's lower half, they both stopped and looked at each other. Slowly the light transformed her tail to legs.

Joseph scanned her new form and realized that she's naked before looking away. Not that he'd never seen a woman's body before, he just doesn't want to seem like a perverted human to a mermaid. On the other hand Meria doesn't seem to care when she stood up completely naked in front of him and out of the tub. She walked back to her bed and sat on the edge.

"I don't have clothes..." She realized that humans put on things to cover their body. For whatever reason, she doesn't know.

"I can see that." Joseph said, walking towards her holding a bathrobe. He hands it to her and she looks at him in confusion.

He was about to think that she's stupid but he remember that she's not human and everything is new to her. He observed that she also doesn't care about being naked in front of a man. It will be more awkward for him if she does. He already saw her naked the night he pulled her out of the water.

He pulled her arm making her stand and slid the robe around her body not missing the sight of her magnificent breast that seemed to awaken his inner fire. Her pearly white skin that envelopes her whole curve. Damn it.

She's driving him crazy without her even knowing it.

He tied the knot securely around her small waist and when he looked at her, his eyes seemed to drown in hers. His breath is shallow and rugged. The pain inside him grew more and more and his body ached for hers.

And in one swift move his hand cupped the back of her head, smashing his lips to hers.

Taken aback by his actions, Meria couldn't find her strength to argue or question him. She felt lost at first yet she found his pace and their lips moved in sync. As if her arms knew exactly what to do, it wrapped itself around his neck and pulled him closer.

His hand found it's way inside her robe and cupped her bare breast. A soft moan escaped her lips encouraging him to deepen the kiss. As if at the moment the world vanishes from around them.

"Jesus!" Joseph's mother cried seeing her son and a silver haired girl in an intimate position.

Joseph and Meria broke the kiss and looked at the woman who barged in.

"How the heck did you get in, mom?" He asked with a creased forehead.

Josephine Huntington, Joseph's mother, lifted up the keys that's dangling on her fingers.

"That's not the point here, Joseph. I've been calling you for hours and you're nowhere to be found. Captain told me you're here and I'm curious to see what keeps you from coming out." Josephine explained to her son before turning to face the silver haired beauty his son is keeping. "Now I see why. If I'm a man, I would gladly spend the whole day with this kind of company as well." She said with a glint of mischief

Josephine closed the gap between them and reached for her, "What is your name, darling?" she asked sweetly

Meria looked at Joseph unsure of how to react to her.

"Mother!" he warned. "Not now please."

She looked at her, "You are his mother?"

Josephine nodded. "Shame that he didn't even bother to introduce us and I don't think we've met each other. I'm Josephine."

She blinked twice before realizing that she's face to face with Joseph's mother. "Oh! Right. I am Meria." She introduced herself.

Instead of taking her hand, Josephine pulled Meria for an embrace. "Welcome to the family!" she said excitedly which confuses Meria but didn't bother to ask what she meant.

***

With the help of Josephine, Meria got a blue dress that compliments her body. The rest of the time the two ladies meet, Josephine instantly knows that she's not one of those dates her son tries to keep for occasions. His son can't keep his eyes off her. He won't leave her alone with her. Who knows that his picky son could be swept by a silver haired beauty. She can't contain her happiness knowing that her demands to Joseph about settling down didn't fall on deaf ears.

When Josephine needed to leave to attend something, she promised Meria another bonding time without Joseph which Meria got excited about.

Joseph groaned for the past 15 minutes, his mother is talking non stop to Meria and she's planning to take her out. He loves her mother but she can be over the top sometimes.

"We're here." Joseph said looking at Meria that is now looking at the pair of shoes his mother gave her.

She looked at him questioningly. "Where?"

"California." He answered simply and walked towards her, pulling her into the nearest chair and making her sit.

"Is it the land?" she asked curiously

"You can say that." he answered, walking back to her with a pair of nude heels in hand. Kneeling in front of her, his nose catches the intoxicating smell of sea and something else he can't descibe. He took her foot and slid a shoe on it, he did the same to the other.

When he looked up to Meria, she looked amazed. "So that's what it is." she said when she realized what the shoes are for.

Joseph couldn't help but smile at her innocence. "So now that you're not far from setting foot on the ground, where are you going next?" he finally asked her plan

He stood in front of her and she did the same only to find her balance missing and stumbling upon Joseph. "I'm sorry." she said in embarrassment

Joseph smiled. "Just be careful next time. I might not be around to catch you."

Meria nodded and muttered a 'thank you', "I need to find my mother before the red moon comes out."

"Red moon?" he asked and took his phone out of her pocket

She nodded, "Until then, I can find the cure to the poison and stop it from spreading and killing the sea."

"It's on the thirty first of the month." he said looking on his phone before looking back at her, "That means you only have 3 weeks to find her."

"How long is that?"

"Twenty one days." he said, "I don't think that's enough if you don't know where to start."

"I don't know where she is." She admitted. It's been a long time since she saw her mother.

"Do you know her name?" Joseph asked

She nodded. "Yes. Mellisa Turner."

Joseph's forehead creased on the mention of the name.

"Did I hear Mellisa Turner's name?" Josephine suddenly entered the room impeccably dressed. Their attention focused on her.

"Why are you so dressed up, mom?" Joseph asked

"There are reporters outside the ship waiting for the arrival of the Napoleon, son. They want to hear some news about the party."

Joseph groaned and massaged his temples.

"I don't want any reporters, mom. Tell the security that I'll be heading home."

"Oh sure, dear. I know you want some privacy." Josephine said, sending her son a knowing look. "By the way, I heard Mellisa Turner's name."

"You know her?" Meria asked in shocked and excitement

"Of course. She made my pearl necklace my late husband gave me on our anniversary."

Meria and Joseph look at each other as if they just found the answers to their prayers.

"Do you think she's in California right now?" Joseph asked

"I can't assure you that coz she's a pretty busy woman. I heard she made a necklace for the duchess of Cambridge."

"Mom, we need to go." he said pulling Meria out the room

"Send my regards to Mellisa!" his mother shouted before they turned the corner and to the private exit he takes when he doesn't want to face the media.

Josephine couldn't contain the happiness for her son's new found beauty. She sure indeed is breathtaking. She watched them disappear from her sight with a heart full of hope that he's beloved son can finally settle down.

She hoped that the silver haired lady that goes with the name Meria will be the one for him.

"Ma'am we need to go. The media press is waiting for your presence."

Her secretary said which she nods to. Now it's time to break the nice and juicy news that the media will surely feast on.