Deleted Scene: Changes

Another scene of Calder with his crew, and Ari that didn't make the cut. There is not much to tell about this scene without going into spoiler territory. This is happening while Marie and Dorian are heading to the ruins. Things occur that lead to Calder and the others returning to mer form. Now, that Calder and crew are no longer part of the equation, this is one big thing I don't have to worry about anymore. I felt that it led to too many story lines and complications.

Steph traveled down the stairs and around to the kitchen, not surprised to find Diane sitting at the island counter with a cup of coffee clutched in her hands. Dark circles marked her features under eyes that stared at the dark liquid. There was no steam from a beverage that had long grown cold. How long had Marie’s mother been sitting there, she wondered. Tugging her fleece robe closer to hide the scooped neckline of her tank top, Steph approached the woman across the granite counter.

Reaching out a hand, Steph wrapped her fingers around Diane’s, prying the hold away from the mug. “Marie is going to come back, okay?” Steph insisted to the older woman, gently. “She wouldn’t want you to worry about her like this, ya know.”

“I know,” Diane sighed, running her other hand through matted, strawberry blonde hair. “But it’s been over a week since Travis took all of you sailing and three days since you and he came back with all those mermen. I can’t help but worry over my baby.”

“I know,” Steph said giving her hand a squeeze.

Steph thought it to have been good for her to have called her mother as soon as she had gotten back. Of course the woman was a wreck, but happy to know that her daughter was okay. However, given the circumstances with Marie, it was mutually agreed that Stephanie stay with Diane to keep her somewhat sane. To be a mother must be the most difficult job in the world. Therefore, it was something that she planned never to be. Meanwhile, Travis had gone home and hasn’t been seen heard from since, to Steph’s great annoyance.

A knock on the deck window nearly made both women jump out of their own skins. Immediately, Steph whipped her arms back, clutching hands into fists in ready for a fight. Though he was of no threat, the identity of the knocker released very little tension in her. “What do you want, Hobo?”

Calder frowned deeply then reached for the handle, struggling to get the locked window door open. Diane, who could sense the contentious mood from Steph, got up to let the former merman in. With a click, she had the lock flipped undone and the door parted for him to enter. This he did with black trench coat flapping softly behind him, encircling the legs when he stopped at the island. His face was twisted into more of a scowl than usual while locks of blonde hair clutched to sweat soaked skin. “Where is he? Why hasn’t he come here yet?” demanded Calder.

“How should I know?” Steph snapped, while slamming her hands down on the counter. “I was only told to come back here an’ wait, didn’t ya‘ll get the memo?”

“It’s been nearly two weeks now!” Calder shouted his impatience. “There is only so long that my men and I will stand around waiting to discover Dorian’s promise to us broken!”

“Maybe if ya all didn’t stand around wearin’ turtle necks an’ trench coats you wouldn’t have that problem,” Steph spat, waving an arm and slamming the palm down again for emphasis. “Don’t go blaming me for your problems Hobo, or I will knock you into the ocean myself; merman or not!”

If it was possible for someone’s eyes to catch fire, it certainly happened then as the former merman threw his one hands down on the counter, rattling the mug of cold coffee. “Don’t threaten me you little whelp! I was born a Ruby Tail, heir to the fifth elder and I shall not be talked to in this way!” Calder roared.

“Enough!” Diane screamed through the commotion.

They both ceased their prattle, staring wide eyed at the weary, suffering mother. Without a word, Diane looped two fingers through the handle of the coffee mug. With back slightly stooped from emotional weight, the older woman shuffled her way to the sink, and dumped the contents of the mug down the drain. Silence plagued the kitchen for a brief moment until broken by the soft sobs that managed to escape Diane’s lips. The strain had left the mother to be no more than a thread that had finally snapped as her face fell into waiting hands.

Steph was quick to take Diane into her arms, letting the slightly taller woman sob upon her shoulder. Rubbing small circles upon her back, Stephanie spoke soft, soothing words of comfort. Meanwhile, a slightly embarrassed Calder leaned against the counter with his back to them. He twisted locks of golden hair between two fingers as was an apparent habit of his, not daring a look at the two women. However, though Steph would never want to admit it out loud, Calder was right about there being very little time. There was only so long that a group of them on the beach could avoid suspicion.

As the sobs ebbed a bit, Steph then led Diane to the living room couch to lie down. “You should get some sleep, Ms. Stevens. It’d be better for you if you do.”

“I don’t know if I can until I’m certain that Marie and Dorian are okay,” she whimpered with a lingering sniffle. The woman allowed herself to be eased down upon the sofa, but did not lie down. Steph retrieved a box of Kleenex which was accepted gratefully. Dabbing her eyes with one of the tissues, Diane somehow managed a small chuckle.

“Listen to me; going on and fretting about both Marie and Dorian. Dorian isn’t even my son, but I worry about him just as much now.”

“Yeah, I worry about fish boy too.” Steph said with a sigh while flopping herself beside Diane. “I’m sure he’s okay, though.”

“Did you even see him since the boat was destroyed?” Calder pointed out. “You said yourself that you and Marie have not found him. For all we know, he could have been killed.”

“Boy, you need to shut-up!” Steph retorted, not even bothering to give the blonde eye contact.

The possibility of Dorian’s death was something that she didn’t even want to consider. It would not be right to doubt the merman that she had grown so attached to. Dorian had managed to do something that not very many have accomplished; becoming a dear friend. After all, Steph really didn’t have many close friends that stuck around. Viki is gone, Marie has gone off to find the missing Dorian; at this rate there weren’t going to be any friends left. Steph balled her hands into tight fists upon her lap, fighting back the urge to cry. No, Marie wouldn’t want there to be tears and neither would Dorian, she reminded herself. Taking slow, deep breaths through her nose, Steph worked to remain calm. Now would not be the time to panic.

Meanwhile, a growl rumbled from Calder as he turned away to stare out the window. Diane released a heavy sigh while adjusting the collar of her cotton robe that hid her disheveled clothing. Silence plagued the household, infecting all within its walls. Steph sat wondering how long it would be until all this madness ends. When can things really go back to normal again? It would be nice to go back to being a normal teenager preparing for senior year. The only thing that Steph really had to worry about then was her grades in math and making it to church choir. Things seemed so simple in comparison to the current events laid out before her. One thing Steph knew now for certain was that she will never complain about high school again.

The sound of the doorbell made everyone jump, especially Calder who seemed to have gone a foot or so in the air. “What was that?” he yelped.

“Someone is at the door,” Diane explained, moving herself to the edge of the couch cushion. “I wasn’t expecting anyone, though.”

Once in a while Steph’s mother did come to check up on things after finding out about Diane’s condition. However, she never rang the doorbell; usually she’d let herself in and beckon. “Maybe its Travis having the nerve to come back,” Steph remarked, with a voice dripping with sarcasm.

Another bong sounded throughout the house, startling Calder into attack mode. His eyes darted about the room like a cornered animal, searching for an escape route.

“Dude, it’s just a door bell! Ain’t ya ever heard the sound before?” Steph inquired in annoyance, glancing over the back of the couch while Diane got up to answer the door. “How long have you been human?”

Calder’s look took on that of someone having just stepped on something disgusting, crossing his arms tightly across his chest. “Th… that’s not important. I’m sure a human could go their whole life having never heard the sound or mention of a door bell.”

“Yeah, if they lived in a cave all their life.”

“Richard!”

Steph turned her attention to the two voices at the door at Diane’s exclamation. The vampire man was out of town on business, but apparently that trip was over. Of course far too soon for comfort, Steph seethed. Scrambling from the sofa, the young woman got herself against the closest wall that was out of sight, straining to overhear the conversation. She hoped that Calder would be wise enough to vacate the house, but chances were not very high. How was Diane going to explain the situation? After all, Calder hasn’t been the only one to make a trip up to the house from the beach.

There had been several occasions when one of the other former mermen would come up to the house, mainly requesting food. Diane had been feeding them when she could, but other than that, the men fended for themselves. Ari also made appearances here and there to check up on the stressed mother. Before Steph and Travis had returned, that was Ari’s duty. Even though she considered the ex mermaid to be off her rocker, Steph shuttered to think how Diane would be without her. Maybe Ari isn’t as crazy as she’s been made out to be.

Richard’s voice shattered Steph’s thought process, “Diane! What happened to you? You look awful!” He cupped Diane’s face between his pasty pale hands, face full of concern. “I told you I was going to come see you after the two weeks and you look like you haven’t slept that entire time!”

“I’m fine, Richard, really,” Diane said, not really even trying to sound like her mood matched her words.

“Have you been crying?” Richard exclaimed. “Diane, honey, what’s been going on?”

Steph tried to keep herself still, wishing terribly to come out and try to chase out the man. This wasn’t the time for the ‘vampire’ to show up! Gripping to the side table beside her, Steph struggled to keep herself in place. However, the next exchange of words between the couple quickly changed her mind.

“A little bit, I was just in the middle of watching a sad movie,” Diane explained. “It’s no big deal.”

“No big deal?” Richard echoed in disbelief. “Darling, I know that’s not true! Have you seen how terribly pale you are and that shadows are under your eyes. Come on, why don’t I fix us some coffee and you can tell me all about what’s been going on.”

“Crap,” Steph muttered under her breath. This guy wasn’t the typical guy who would just go with whatever his girl says. The creaking of the front door closing sent her into a mad dash for Calder. Snatching the bewildered blonde by the elbow, Steph towed him out the deck window doors. Once they were closed behind them, she yanked him to follow down the steps for the beach below the slope.

“What are you doing?” Calder demanded, stumbling upon his own two feet along the way. “Are we in danger?”

“Only if Richard sees you,” Steph retorted. “We’re gonna have to remain scarce as long as he’s here. Richard can take care of Diane.”

Skidding down the grass and dirt, Steph didn’t stop until her bare feet had touched hot grains of sand. Calder more or less stumbled after her, hitting face first into it instead. Steph couldn’t help rolling her eyes at the lack of grace that mermen were supposed to be gifted with. “You make us humans look clumsier than we really are, ya know that?” she remarked.

Calder lifted his face up, spitting out a mouthful of sand. “You were born with those ugly things!”

“Feh!” Steph let out a rather undignified snort in response. “If they’re so ugly then why’d ya bother gettin’ a pair of legs yourself?” In saying that, she kicked sand at him just as the blonde was just getting up on his own two feet.

He spat out more of the sand then furiously turned on her, “You think I wanted this, this form? I only did it to get back my brother who had wanted some human slug! I was going to get him to come back home!”

Nothing but the sound of gulls flying overhead broke the silence between them. Here Steph had figured that all the men that used to be mermen came to land to pick up women. Yet, here was Calder finally telling a bit of his story as to how he came to be. All this time Calder was stuck on land was because of someone else’s decision. Steph wasn’t quite sure how to respond to this revelation. Admittedly, she actually felt a little sorry for the guy... a little

Sea winds took any loose clothing into a dance, matching Calder’s mood all too clearly the way his coat snapped angrily. “Not all of us came to human life over one of you females,” he hissed, with the breeze. “We have families, loved one whom have chosen incorrect paths that we’ve tried to recover. Others are cursed as a result of anger. While there are those who have done nothing but question the ways of our elders, sensing that there was something not quite right about our people.”

With hands clenched tightly, nails digging into his flesh so deep that Steph feared that he may bleed, Calder stared at the ground below. “My own brother was taken while I was left here… Why the mermaid who turned me did not tell the elders, I do not know, but I am stuck here. Dorian is my only hope in going back and if that means fighting alongside him against the elders, then so be it!”

Silence still held her, but Steph instead managed a nod in response. Steph wasn’t sure if she’d be willing to basically mutilate herself to get one of her own siblings back. She always considered herself more under the frame of mind that if they chose it then it’s their own fault. Then again, it does show how important family was to Calder in order to do this to himself. He could have just sat around feeling sorry for himself, but instead found the others. Perhaps he wasn’t that bad after all.

“Calder!” a voice beckoned as a dark haired man struggled to jog across the sands, stumbling along the way.

Though anger still lingered on the blonde’s face, Calder attempted to keep his tone from matching his mood. “What is it Ravi?” he asked.

The young man by the name of Ravi doubled over with hands braced upon knees, struggling for breath. “I… it’s Ari… she… she wishes to speak to you.”

Calder’s eyes rolled to the sky as though Ravi had told a bad joke that had wasted five minutes of his life. “What would that old sea hag want with me now?” he muttered sourly. “Very well, I’ll come see her.”

Though she wasn’t invited, Steph stubbornly followed along. Whatever was about to go down, she didn’t want to miss any part of it. If they expected to be able to help each other then there certainly should be no secrets among them. Fortunately, Calder didn’t seem to care either way whether or not the human was following him. Even if he did care, Steph wasn’t going to let him stop her.

As they hiked their way across the hot sand, Steph had to swallow any voice of pain she felt upon her bare feet. It was as though her feet were treading across hot coals, which threatened to blister her flesh. Cursing inwardly for having not thought to put on slippers, Steph did her best to touch the sweltering grains as little as possible. As well, her plush robe helped very little with her lack of comfort; therefore it was shed to lie upon a nearby rock. Now exposed in pajama shorts and tank top, Steph began to feel much better.

Ari could soon be found settled upon the shadows of the rocks, posed as though she were a mermaid. Her legs tucked to the side, grey red hair waving in the breeze. Picturesque of a mermaid through and through, thought Steph. Calder didn’t speak up until after taking a seat upon a rock himself, “What was it that you wanted, Ariel? Anything important enough to mention or have you found more trinkets to sell of our home?”

Ari ignored the snide in Calder’s words, while her fingers busied themselves in braiding locks of her own hair. “Impatience has never quickened anything but frustration, Calder. This you must learn at some point should you hope to find some shred of happiness.”

“I did not come for your so-called-wisdom,” Calder remarked with a huff. “What have you to tell me?”

“The seas have been feeling strange lately,” Ari said. “There is something about the lapping of the waves, the vibrant colors of the coral, the movement of the fish… something has happened or is going to happen very soon.”

“How do you know?” Steph wondered. “I mean you’re human.”

“Doesn’t mean I’m deaf,” Ari remarked as she began on another three strands of hair on her head. “The voices of our people of other oceans carry along with the winds. They can sense this change.”

“Other oceans? You mean there are more fish peeps out there?” Steph inquired out of disbelief.

“Of course,” Calder stated while crossing one leg over his knee. “Our kingdom is not the only one. It takes too much work for the elders to handle ruling all of the seven seas.”

While Steph took a moment to let the idea of there being multiple mer-kingdoms set in, the salty droplets of the ocean flew up to meet her. A breeze had begun to pick up, pulling water up bit by bit to twirl in dance. Steph took notice of the change when her beaded hair began to rattle as it joined in the gustiness around them. Slowly she stood from the rock, looking up as gulls began to fly overhead like a swarm of jet planes. Their cries sounded like many small sirens in the sky. Calder and Ari joined her, standing to stare above them at the noisy fleet.

“What has gotten into those birds?” Steph wondered out loud, slapping hands to her ears to block out the persistent screaming.

"A warning,” Ari whispered, her eyes not leaving sight of the skies.

Calder turned away to look at the former mermaid, catching Steph’s glance in the process. Her stare widened at the change in his eyes. What were once irises of grey had been laced with bright gold, veining across the dull making them beautiful. Steph’s gasp had startled Ari into looking herself, her own eyes having changed as well with the addition of silver. “Calder… your eyes,” whispered the red head whose hair was beginning to melt away the aged locks.

He turned to her with a startled gasp of his own, “Your hair!”

Steph was caught looking between the two people standing there, shocked into stunned silence. Before she could even think to utter a word, Calder tore away from Ari, shoving his way past the teenager that stood in his way.

“Everyone get into the water now!” he cried out to the other former mermen upon the shore. “This is your chance to return home! Go! Go!”

The response to the leader’s call was almost immediate as about thirty or so former mermen made a mad dash to the ocean, stripping off articles of clothing along the way if they could. Ari soon joined the throng, wincing as her legs hit the water, but not letting it stop her from diving as soon as it was deep enough to do so. Calder ran alongside his men, tearing off his jacket and shirt along the way, exposing he well muscled torso. If it weren’t for the urgency of the situation, Steph would have liked to stare at him for a while longer; however she was far too confused to even think about it. So she looked to the mermaid that remained sitting in her spot, watching.

A round of agonized wails tore through the air as some of the former mermen were in the shallows, writhing in pain. “Get into deep water! Hurry before it goes too far! Dive!” Calder barked out commands, having not gotten to the water himself.

Somehow these commands from him were enough to get the stragglers stumbling into deeper water. The ocean also seemed to help them out by swallowing them up in a burst of massive waves, pulling the agonized ex mermen into its cold embrace. Some of the men had actual gills that grew back upon their necks. Others were showing signs of being unable to walk as easily as a glimmer of scales revealed the beginnings of a fish tail. In horror, Steph scrambled back onto the sand in fear that she may change just from standing in the water. Better to have hot feet than no feet at all, she thought.

As the last of Calder’s men vanished beneath the waves, Calder gave one last glance. “If I’m not conscious, tell Dorian thank you!” he called out to Steph.

“Not conscious?” Steph repeated to herself before shouting after him, “What do ya’ll mean not conscious?”

It was too late. Calder had already disappeared into the sea with the rest of them, leaving the two behind on a beach becoming increasingly littered with human clothing.