A long time ago, the Earth blessed four spirits, making them gods. The gods of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, oversee their realms, creating sentient creatures to help cultivate their lands. These beings constantly fought each other for supremacy, eventually driving the servants of Water, the Merfolk, to extinction. Millennia later Kyle Weathers receives a gift from an old and mysterious lady while working in Haiti. This gift will change his life forever.

Ithycca
Chapter 3- Good Ol’ Auntie Gaia
By AoifeM

What should’ve have taken a least a few men to remove me from my watery prison only took a snap of her fingers for Gaia. In a flash I was transported from her aquarium and onto her couch, already draped in towels as if she was predicting my eventual arrival.

Twisting around a little bit to get comfortable, she warned me, “Now, don’t you go fidgetin’ ‘round like that. You get my floors wet, and I needn’t the time to mop after ya!”

Honestly I wish she wouldn’t act so carefree. She might be enjoying this but to me being half fish is a serious issue!

“You know,” she began as she walked to her kitchen and opened her refrigerator, “A long time ago mermaids would come and go and you wouldn’t think twice ‘bout it.” Grabbing what seemed to be a premade sandwich wrapped in saran wrap she shut the door and came back into the room.

Handing the sandwich to me she digressed, “I prepared this for you ahead of time. I got few supplies since the quake, but I just know how you folk like tuna.”

While I was staring at her offer, she barked, “What you be staring at? Go on, and eat! You be a mermaid only a day now! You be weak from the change, regain your strength, child!”

I held back long enough. I'm tired of being reminded of what I'd become. I needed answers, not a poorly constructed sandwich! Like a volcano I erupted. “Why did you change me in the first place!?” I yelled demanding my right to an explanation.

“What make you think I change you?” she replied. “What made you think you weren’t already this way?”

“What do you mean I was already this way?” I cried, wondering just exactly what she was trying to get at. I thought the whole “wise and powerful being answering questions with vague and non-descript answers shtick” was something that was shown in movies…or during presidential campaigns. I really don’t have time for this.

She reiterated, “Maybe your entire life was just a guise, leadin’ you to this very moment. The moment you broke from your cocoon and became what you are right now. Tis destiny, my dear.”

I didn’t want to hear it. 22 years of my life, living on this earth, and none of my choices, my decisions, mattered? Bullshit. “I don’t believe you,” I defiantly remarked.

She slowly paced around the room, eyeing me. “This form was always there, hiding. The athleticism, the intelligence, the charisma; where did you think all that talent came from?” Coming to a dead stop, she responded, “Because you had over ten thousand years of memories retained in you!”

It was true I was gifted in many skills, and maybe I did have it easier than others. But many people could pick up things faster than others. She still didn’t convince me.

“I suppose I need to prove it to you, yes?” She assumed. “Very well child, tell me, what be your name?”

What kind of question was that? I knew it like that back of my hand! Triumphantly I replied, “Ithycca!”

My smug look turned into utter shock. Ithycca? What? Who the hell was Ithycca? I was Ithycca. But that isn’t right. I’m Kyle Weathers.

Grinning, she revealed to me, “I proved me point. Subconsciously you blurt out the name you be now. You’d hafta take the time to even remember you be once Kyle Weathers”

I was shocked. I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t want to think! I didn’t want to know this “Ithycca,” or whatever was inside of me. I wanted to return to my old self, and by old self, I meant Kyle.

Unfortunately she told me everything regardless, “You are Princess Ithycca of Atlantis. You are the Daughter of the Goddess of Water, my sister, Alora. You were her finest daughter.”

The thoughts came back to me. The visions I had in my sleep, in front of thousands of merfolk, chanting out my name and my title as daughter of a God.

“Ten thousand years ago a major war occurred between the major elements. The beings of water, air, fire, and yes, these humans of earth, battled for the very thing I possess- The planet’s favor and the gateway. The gate is the way of entry between all realms on the planet. The result of this war was the complete annihilation of the merfolk race.”

All this, lost to the sands of time, I thought to myself. It’s surprising how much humankind really can’t remember.

“Alora, realizing this, had set up a precautionary measure. She tore a scale from her very fin, and sent it to Earth. One day, the reincarnation of her beloved daughter, would find this scale, and be reborn again.”

“And apparently, that was me,” I said, finally admitting to myself that this was too complex to be an old-wives tale. “But I don’t get it. Why would you willingly allow me possession of such a thing? Wasn’t my kind enemies with you?”

She sighed, and with exasperated breath, answered. “I do the planet’s will. It be not my place to hate, even if others wish me harm.”

Taking the high road I see.

She continued, “All I know is that your being here is of great import. Somethin’ real big be comin’ soon. ”

Like that answer really cleared up anything.

“Look, my dear,” She solemnly said. “What Alora did, and what I allowed, be unnatural. You live, you die, get reborn and move on; from each life absorbing new experiences and behaviors, without retaining the memories of your pasts. I would not be bringing you back if the planet hadn’t be wishin’ it. But it be what it be.”

“And what makes you think the planet wished for this?” I asked. Honestly I don’t know why something so omnipotent would need a little thing like me.

“Look around here,” she stated, “do you think this quake be natural? It was crying, begging, pleading for help. And I fear it will continue. The planet can sense the feelings of all beings. That means it can sense their intentions just as much. And if there’s an overwhelming feeling of anger and resentment…I fear it might be a repeat of 10,000 years ago.”

“But, I’m not a superhero!” I cried, “I’m just a plain guy!”

“Ithycca,” she sternly countered, using my new name for added emphasis, “I have existed for many of eons. I’ve created what you be seein’ here. I created human life. Soon after, I began interacting with them, going so far as to live as one. I had loved, been loved, and have punished much the same. I experienced everything one could. I even bore children- two of which be growing up right here now under me watchful eye. I heed the calls of the planet, not because of my position as Goddess, but because I care about me people, and me children. I refuse to let anything happen to them.”

Sad thing was Gaia’s feelings were resonating with me. The thought of someone’s children dying before they even had a chance to grow up would be depressing. My thoughts drifted deeper. What if they were my children? What if they couldn’t have the opportunity to grow up?

…Great, I thought, quickly trouncing the subject. If these feelings were my maternal instincts, then she’s really doing a good job bringing them out.

Fortunately, she ended her little chat, and like a flip of a switch, she returned to scolding me. “That sandwich be going bad, dear. Maybe you mermaids adore that smell, but I’d rather not be smellin’ that odor all over me house!” With that she turned and walk off, most likely giving me time to absorb all she told me.

Geez, lady, don’t need to be bitching at every little detail.

Reading my thoughts she yelled back, “Don’t be acting like you own the place! And it’s Gaia, or Auntie Gaia to you!”

Man, this will be one complicated relationship.

Turning back to my tuna sandwich, I began to unwrap it. Not able to recognize any stench, I brought my nose to it and gave it a quick smell. What stench? That didn’t smell all that bad. As in fact, it smelled pretty damn good! Smelling it again, I almost couldn’t help but drool. Not waiting any longer, in a most unladylike manner I started to scarf the thing down. It was bliss. Guess I know what I’m eating for the foreseeable future.

Laying back I still had a hard time believing in such an extraordinary story. I, Kyle Weathers, was just a vessel, reincarnated and predestined to be reborn as my former incarnation, Ithycca, and slowly her memories are returning to me.

But what’s the point of all this? Even if at some point I was this…girl, it’s been ten thousand years! You can’t just change someone’s gender, or species, for that matter, and think I’ll just go about my business like it isn’t any major deal. And what exactly does Ithycca have that I don’t? As far as I could tell, Kyle was stronger, just as intelligent, and oh yeah, he could actually walk. And it’s not like humans hadn’t advanced these past ten thousand years. Scuba gear, submersibles, hell even robotic drones could easily accomplish anything this body could!

To me, this tail was more a hindrance than anything. Since last night I’ve gotten somewhat used to my new body. With a better grasp of my motor skills, I began to move my tail in a slithery S like motion. It was strange, like every muscle of my tail could move in any way, with no joints locking them in place. It was obviously a lot more flexible than any pair of legs a human could possess. If I wanted to, I could touch the top of my cranium with the fin of my tail, either by bending it forward covering my face, or backwards behind my head.

There was another realization I immediately noticed. It seemed that my tail changed color too. When I first saw my tail, it was a fluoride green color. Now, it had an amethyst like hue. It must’ve been similar to the scale Gaia gave me; my tail changed colors at night.

All these new observations, while interesting, were proving to be way too much for me to handle. My new body and its history- we talked for a good while and yet I didn’t even accomplish what I set out to do. I wanted my human body back.

Gaia returned, apparently from putting her children to bed. I took the opportunity and grabbed her attention.

“Look, if by helping you or the planet out or whatever, can you change me back?” I asked, finally getting to the crux of the issue.

“Child, I can’t change you back,” she stated. “It be beyond my power. Only the planet can make such decisions. But I’m sure that by helping it you be currying it to your favor.”

Fine, so be the planet’s slave, get to be Kyle again. At least I felt I had a chance.

“Fine,” I reluctantly decided, “What is it I have to do?”

Her sullen face now sported a mischievous grin. Whatever what about to happen it wasn’t going to be good.

Her eyes shined a pure white as she raised her hand towards the ceiling. Some sort of vortex sprung forth as electricity came crashing down like lightning.

Scared to holy hell, I cried, “What the hell are you doing!?”

“It be worthless sticking around here lyin’ about like a sack of potatoes!” She explained.

“Better be you in an environment more suitable!”

“Wha-?”

I couldn’t even finish my sentence. With a flash the room disappeared and my vision became black, clueless of where I was heading next.