Cascada Bulma

“Cascada Bulma,” Kayla read running her hand along the words on the wall. The painting was fading and although she risked smudging the ancient ruins, she couldn’t help but touch it. The painting bestowed an image of the sea, above and beneath. Beneath lay the fish, crabs and mermaids of different colours. Above were the birds of the air and ships of the Europeans.

“Cascada Bulma,” she whispered it this time, afraid someone will hear her. She placed her hand on the one she thought might be Cascada and sighed. It was a long sigh, a sigh that released not only her breath but her hopes.

Cascada lay not just beneath with the merfolk but her head peaked above with the humans. Her silver tail glistened in the water clearly outshining her friends or family. Her hair was not painted a colour, which was quite a mystery to Kayla. Every part of this ruined wall had a splosh of colour except Cascada. If not for her tail, you would fail to notice her.

Kayla’s eyes closed for a moment stroking the image. She could feel her. She could feel the scales. She could feel the soft skin. She could feel Cascada. And in a moment she was there, under the sea. Panicked, she began to sink.

A flash of sliver flashed before her. Kayla reached out her hand. Cascada is here. Her hand was not grabbed. She felt the scales as if a snake, coil around her legs and her arms lunged upward. She felt herself being propelled up and it was exhilarating.

Landing upon a mermaid made for good support. Kayla wondered if she broke her as took her in. Her hair was not colourless but a velvet sort of grey and her eyes were the colour of stars. Her skin was pale and clammy; it was no wonder the artist couldn’t quite paint her.

The mermaid stared back in equal amusement.

“Cascada,” Kayla began.

“No, my dear, I am Elmeer. The one you seek is the there,” she pointed at the sea, “a ship of bloodthirsty men.”

Kayla sat up and so did her rescuer. She looked at the ship which could not be compared to the beauty beside her.

She turned to Elmeer, “No it’s you I seek,”

Elmeer smiled and took Kayla’s face in her hand and lay a soft kiss on her lips.

With a kiss and a sigh, Kayla was back to reality.