Iris 3b

Indigo was ten, and one of the surprises for her birthday was getting a small present from her pen-pal Colin in England. Somehow the two of them had hit it off even better than the teachers had expected, and while all the other pen-pals in her online class had dropped off, she and Colin kept going.

The present was a book about the maritime history of the town he grew up in. Most of the year now he lived in London at a boarding school. It sounded like a tough time for him, but his speed in the pool had brought him respect from his classmates.

-----------------------

At eleven, Indigo's letter writing to England continued. If Colin ever wondered about the odd gaps that she left in her letters, he never mentioned it. The idea of living on a boat, though, thrilled him.

Indigo's letter to him for his birthday that year was returned "Addressee unknown" which left her in tears. Iris and Dave started checking news records in case something had happened to the boy. Nothing.

A week later a letter with a strange address appeared in Dave's post office box, addressed to Indigo.

It was from Colin. There had been some trouble at his school, and he had moved schools, so now his letters had to go via his home in Walberswick. Indigo immediately re-sent the birthday letter.

#SF #SFF #UrbanFantasy #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris Part 3a

Dave had resigned from the police force just over a year ago, sold his home, and was now renting a place next to the river. Dating Iris had been an experience, especially with a young daughter in the mix. Mind you, almost as soon as she could talk she was calling him "Daddy", and with that he was family.

Indigo was five, nearly six now, and a bundle of curiosity. Both Dave and Iris had their work cut out keeping her out of the public eye, and keeping her stimulated.

Keeping her out of the public eye was mainly for her safety. Because of the circumstances leading to her birth, Indigo was a mermaid. Blue and silver scaled tail, subtle gills along her sides, and all. She could also breathe air, but would never be able to walk on land.

Dave and Iris had been teaching her as best they could, but keeping up with the precocious bundle of energy was a full time job. Which was why Dave was on his laptop investigating The School of the Air. That this was for a child of the Sea made Iris laugh every time they talked about it.

The gotcha was that they would need ID for Indigo. And Iris would need to come back from the dead.

Fortunately Dave still had a few contacts, and was able to bring Iris back to life under a pseudonym. Indigo was more trouble, but Iris had managed to make contact with a group of selkies who lived off the coast, and they had been wriggling their way into the records for decades.

Armed with the paperwork, Dave completed the application. All that was left was setting things up so that Indigo would appear as a normal kid online.

Iris was in the lounge room with her, and he could hear Indigo giggling as they played with the web camera.

---------------

Indigo was in grade four now, and their teacher was encouraging them to try sending actual letters to students in other countries. Pen pals. This had followed on from a discussion about email, privacy, and some of the more unpleasant aspects of the modern online world. One of the things the teacher was trying to encourage was patience - with actual post it could be days or even weeks between messages.

Which was why she was carefully hand writing a letter to a boy in England. Colin had been chosen by his teacher as a good match - he was a keen swimmer and was obsessed with the sea life of the English Channel. For privacy, his letters were directed via his school, and Indigo's via Dave's post office box.

All Dave and Iris had to do was make sure they never actually met. At least not until Iris could properly look after herself.

#SF #SFF #UrbanFantasy #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (Part 12)

Alice was really annoyed. She had absolutely wonderful news, and there was absolutely no-one she could share it with. None of her classmates knew about her mother or her best friend. They couldn't. It would not be safe for anyone.

So there was no-one that she could tell. Indigo, her best friend was the one who told her, so she was out. Her mum already knew. There was no. No, wait. There was someone else.

Siobhan was marking history assignments when there was a knock on her door. Final bell had been a few minutes ago, so probably another teacher. "Come in!" she called.

Alice opened the door, and stepped in.

"Miss Ringly!" Siobhan was surprised to see her, given how low a profile Alice kept.
"Hi Ms Embrason. Um, can we talk?"
"Of course, but you're not in any of my classes this year."
"It isn't about school. It is a private thing."
Siobhan frowned. "Are you sure you should be talking to me?"
"Absolutely! You're the only other person who knows."
"OK, but you will have to leave the door open. School policy."
Alice paused, and looked up and down the corridor. No-one. She sat down. "OK."

"So, what is it? Is there some trouble?" As soon as she had spoken, Siobhan could tell that it wasn't. Alice was practically vibrating with excitement.
"No! It is really good news! Iris, that's Indigo's mum, is pregnant! Indi is getting a sister!"
"So another mermaid in the family?"
"No, Iris said that was only because of the fish. Long story. No, Dave, that's Indi's sort-of-dad, is the father, so she'll be a Naiad like Iris."
"And she'll be a girl?"
"Yep, all Naiads are!"

Siobhan smilled. Alice had had a rough life, really, having to cover for her mother's past, and being unable to explain her absent friend.

"Well, I am certain you'll be the best Aunty for her!"
Alice froze. "Aunty?" she asked in a small voice.
Siobhan revised rapidly "Well she'll be your best friend's sister, and there's going to be nearly seventeen years between you. So, yes, honorary Aunt."
Alice relaxed.
"Oh. Cause Indi isn't like that, not that that would be a problem, she'd still be my best friend, but um" Alice's words came out in a rush, tumbling over each other. She stopped.

The teacher smiled, "Well, that is wonderful news. I'll send a card via your mother. Off now, you don't want her to worry."
"Yes, Miss" was the meek reply, and Alice fled.

Resting her head in her hand for a moment, Siobahn smiled. Alice had it bad for her friend, she could tell. Ah, teenagers. All drama and angst. She picked up the assignment she'd been marking. Yep. Drama and angst.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris #UrbanFantasy

Iris (Part 11)
Adele pulled up at the dock in a thoughtful mood. Checking the surrounds, she got out of the car, and went aboard. "Just me!" she called out.
"In the galley!" Came the reply. That meant that all was well aboard.

She went into the main cabin, and found Iris and Dave on one of the couches. "The girls?" she asked.
"Swimming" Iris answered "What's up? Something happen?"
"No, yes, sort-of, but nothing bad?"
"That sounds like an answer that needs support. Hang on," Dave said shaking his head. He poured a small measure of brandy for Adele, a shot of Irish for Iris and himself, and carried them over.

Adele nodded her thanks, had a small sip, and then looked at the couple. "The meeting did not go how I expected. The teacher just knew that Alice is fudging her scores. Then she smelled me. And that 's where it got strange."
"Your daughter's teacher smelling you isn't strange?" Iris asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It was not like she sniffed my hand. She just sort of opened her mouth and inhaled. The weird bit was when her hand went furry."
"What?!" exclaimed Dave.
"As I watched, her hand became a furred claw, and then changed back. She said she was a werepanther."

Iris and Dave stared.

"You've never heard of them?"
"Uh, no. Iris?"
"No, nor any other sort of were. I mean there are selkies and some dolphin and shark shapeshifters. But then, I'm a water sprite, and I only really know about that side of things. It kind of makes sense that there are other people out there."
"Siobhan called you 'exotics'."
"As good a term as any, I guess."

There were noises from the aft of the boat. "Mum?" called Alice.
"In the galley" Adele called back.

Alice came in, with Indigo flop-sliding behind her. "How did it go? Did she buy it? Do we have to move?"
"Ok, no, and no."
"Great ... Wait? How?"
"Well, have you ever noticed anything odd about Ms Embrason?" Adele asked.
"Uh, I know she's got a black cat from the bits of fur. She's gay, but in the closet. That's about it."
"Well, it turns out she probably does not have a cat. She is one. A panther."
Indigo excitedly broke in "Like in that movie?! Did she try to eat you?"
"Who let you watch Cat People? And no. Not really, she can control it. Even change just part of herself. She smelled you and your mum, and then showed me. She's not going to push about your marks anymore."
"That's good?" Alice's reply sounded like an uncertain question.
"Alice! Your teacher's a werepanther! How cool is that?" Indigo was practically vibrating with excitement.
"And I'm still waiting for an answer about the movie, young ladies."
"Yes, we'd like to know, too" Dave added. Iris nodded.

The two girls looked at each other and said together "It's my fault."

#SF #SFF #Microfic #Tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (Part 10)

Alice had a reputation at school for being a stickler for the rules. She was the one who never got hauled up, never got sent to the headmistress. She was not top of the class - but in the upper third. Good enough to not need attention, and not good enough to attract it.

It was the end of term, and Alice had just picked up her first report card for year 10. She looked it over, and saw what she wanted to see. Steady "B"s and "B+"s - a single "C+", and a single "A-". Then she read the comments.
"Shit." she said softly.

Nearby one of her classmates looked up "Alice? Did you just swear?" he asked in wonder.
"What?"
"I thought I heard you swear."
"Swearing is uncouth." was Alice's prim reply.
Tim looked at her. Alice looked back.

After a few moments, Tim looked away "Whatever."

That evening, she showed her mum. "Alice is holding herself back, and deliberately dropping marks. Parent-teacher meeting required." was the comment from her homeroom teacher.

"Alice, what do you want to do?" Adele, her mother asked.
"If I change schools again, it will attract attention. I guess, you'll have to meet with Ms Embrason."

Two days later, Adele dropped off Alice with Indigo and her parents on their boat, and drove to the school.

"Ah, Ms Ringly. I'm Siobhan Embrason, thank you for meeting with me. I'll get to the point. I want to know why Alice is throwing tests and assignments. She should be straight 'A's and in line for Dux in a couple of years."
"I am sure my daughter is doing the very best she can."
"And I am certain she isn't. Is there some sort of trouble at home? I've noticed that she does not really make friends - " Siobhan broke off, and deeply inhaled through her mouth. She let out a small "Oh."

"Ms Embrason?" Adele started to look alarmed.
The young teacher shook her self. "Ms Ringly, please look at my left hand."
Adele looked down, and her jaw dropped open, as she watched the hand turn into a hairy claw, and then back into a hand. She looked up.
"I am a werepanther. I can smell that you have met other exotic people."

Adele sighed. "My daughter's best friend is a mermaid. Her mother is a Naiad."
Siobhan nodded "I see. And her marks?"
"To protect me since I retired."
"Retired from what?"
"Mob boss."
"How does dropping marks?"
"Low profile, no attention. Never stand out, nothing that might end up in the press."
"Couldn't you move?"
"Alice would kill me if I tried to take her away from Indigo. Assuming Indigo's parents didn't get to me first."

Siobhan sighed. "OK, I'll drop it."
"Are there many exotics around?"
"A few. I'm surprised you've not met any others."
"Only Indigo and Iris."
"What about the father?"
"Oh, he's just a pain in the butt ex-cop."

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (Part 9)

They went back into the cabin, and Adele looked up. "Well? He clearly was not buying it."
Dave sat down "He accepted that I was protecting Indigo, not that I mentioned her name, and that everything else was above board."
"You're lucky they sent him."
"No luck, I knew they'd send him. It helps that he's seen Indigo a few times, although he has no idea she's a mermaid."
"How?"
"He's seen Iris and I playing with her down the beach. He just never got to see below her waist. Speaking of which - Hey, Indi!"
The bench seat opened, and Indigo hauled herself out. "Phew - it was really dark in there!" Dave gave her head a scruff. "Daaad!"
"Good work keeping quiet. You heard everything?"
"Yep. Is Alice still with her doctors?"
Adele responded "Yes, it is likely to be quite a long session. He won't be able to give her anything to tide her over and give her a chance to process."
Indigo looked down. "She's had it really hard, hasn't she?"
"She has - and most of it is due to me. So, yeah, time to wrap up the business and move on to something else."
Iris looked at Indigo, and her face set into a hard line. "Adele, you know they'll still gun for you for a few years yet, don't you. Even if you go completely straight right now."
Adele glanced at Dave and Indigo "Yes. I could move cities, but that would be no guarantee, and I couldn't do that to Alice now."
"So what will you do?" Indigo asked.
"What I can to mitigate things - make them not as dangerous. I'll put the word out that secrets will be kept, unless someone goes for me or Alice. Or you three, I guess. "
"Will that work?" Indigo looked worried.
Adele smiled grimly at Iris and Dave "She really is sharp, isn't she?", and looked back at the young mermaid "A bit. But only a bit. I'm going to have to be on my guard for quite a few years to come."
"Couldn't you get all the other bosses arrested?"
Dave grinned "I like the way you're thinking" and then he turned serious "But it would not work. We'd not be able to get them all under lock and key quick enough or for long enough."
"Sorry Indigo, yes, we break the law, but we also keep a lot of very good lawyers on retainer."
"So Alice won't be able to come and visit?"
Adele looked down at her "Only if I want a complete revolt in my own house. We'll be able to visit, we'll just have to be clever about it."
"So let's make plans!" Indigo bounced in excitement.

#SF #SFF #microfiction #microfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (Part8)

Dave had called his old station, and they'd sent his old partner around. Liam could tell that there was something screwy with the story, but could not work out what, so he took the statement, and then asked Dave to walk with him back to the car.

As they walked, Liam stopped and turned to Dave "That was so much bulldust, Dave. What is going on? Does Adele have something on you?" That got a reaction. Just not the one he'd been expecting. Dave burst out laughing.

After he'd settled down a little, he managed to get out "If anything, we've got something on her!" And then started laughing again.

Liam waited. And waited. Eventually Dave pointed to a bench, and they went over and sat down. Dave still having the occasional fit of laughter.

Dave forced himself to stop, and went on "Yes, the statement has been doctored a little, but only so someone gets left out. She's a kid, and was just helping. Involving her would just add to the target list."
"Who's the kid?"
"My girlfriend's daughter."
"I didn't see her?"
"Nope, we kept her out of the way on purpose."
"What's this about you having something on Ms Ringly?"
"Well, she's kind of responsible for Iris and I getting together. And very indirectly responsible for Iris' kid," seeing Liam's face, he hurried on "Nothing like that - she just set up a bunch of events that resulted in Iris choosing to have a one-night stand. So her kid now reckons that makes her her godmother."
"Your girlfriend's kid thinks Adele Ringly is her godmother?"
"And has convinced April that they are therefore godsisters. An idea April also adores."
"That is really ... I don't know."
"Look on the bright side, it is driving Adele nuts."

Liam thought about this for a few moments "OK, I'll not say anything about the kid. Is everything else above board?"
"Yeah, I think they'll both testify and follow the statement. So you've got the Watson boys cold."
"And Ringly?"
"I think you'll soon stop having problems with her organisation."
"Really?"
"Yep. I've got the perfect weapon up my sleeve."
"What?"
"Two pre-teens making puppy eyes and looking sad at her."

Liam shook his head "If anyone else said that, I'd say they needed their heads examined. But you know what? I think you might actually be right."

With that he got up and gave Dave a half wave, half salute "OK, go back to them. I'll write things up. And Dave?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't make a habit of this."
"Oh, no, certainly not Officer!"
"Stick it, Dave."
"Say Hi to the team, will you?"
"Sure."

Liam headed to his car, and Dave back to the boat. Iris met him at the side "Everything OK?"
"Yeah, Liam's good, but won't press. Let's go back to our guests."

#SF #SFF #microfiction #microfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (part 7)
Alice emerged from the spare cabin to the sight of her mother banging her head against the table.
She looked at Dave, who pointed at Indigo. Indigo grinned unrepentantly "I explained about the godmother thing, sis!"
"Sis?"
"Well, we're godsisters, right?"
The banging got louder.
"Err, Adele, careful, or you'll do yourself a real damage" Iris said with concern.
She paused, and looked up at Iris "Why would that bother you?"
"Well, you are my daughter's godmother."
"Argh!"
"Er, Lawson, you can come in now" called the other doctor. The rotund therapist got up from where he'd been enjoying the show and went over to where Alice was standing, and in a stage whisper said "I think it is quite wonderful", before leading her back into the spare cabin.
Adele had faced down other gang bosses, been in fierce firefights, but against something like this all her defences and attacks went out the window. Then the infuriating Detective Chandler had to get his two cents in "You know, they say that the best way to destroy your enemies is to make them your friends. I think making them family is even better."
That started Indigo and Iris laughing. Adele just glared at him. "You're retired aren't you?"
"From the force, yes. You know after this Alice is going to want you to go straight."
"What?"
"Well, if you don't and you're family with an ex-cop, it will paint us in a pretty bad light, and that would make her unhappy I would think."
Adele looked around the cabin. Indigo made puppy eyes. "Shi... OK. Fine." she ground out. "I hate all of you."
"No you don't godmum!" A vein in Adele's forehead began to pulse.
"Now, we know Alice's birthday, Indigo's is June 11. When is yours?" asked Iris.
Adele groaned.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris

Iris (part 6)
By the time Dave docked young Alice had had a shower, and was wearing one of his t-shirts as a dress. She was also starting to come off her artificial calm, and was starting to head towards a full panic attack.

Indigo and Alice had quickly become as thick as thieves - and Dave had been surprised to learn that Alice was only nine months older than his daughter. As it was, it was only Indigo that was keeping her together as Dave and Iris tied up.

His former nemesis, Adele Ringly was waiting for them, along with a young woman and a short, round man of around sixty.

"Ms Ringly."
"Detective Chandler. These are Drs de Walt and Lawson", the young woman waved, and the man nodded, "they are our GP and Alice's therapist."
"Come aboard. All I ask is that you repeat nothing about what you see on board," Dave's eyes grew sharp as he spoke.
The three people on the wharf nodded, and stepped aboard.
"Just through here," Dave opened the door to the main cabin.

Inside Adele could see two figures on a padded bench. One was Alice. The other, that Alice looked like she had a death-grip on, was a girl of around the same age, but with bright green hair. And a tail. A long, silver and blue-striped tail. With scales. A mermaid. Even from the door, Adele could see that it was not a costume.

She paused, blocking the door, "Doctors? Not a word to anyone ever, OK?", and then she stepped in as Alice looked up and tried to get up, only for the two girls to get tangled and collapse back into a heap on the bench.

"Mum!" Alice called as she wiggled free, and then ran over and hugged her. "Mum, please don't hurt anyone, they've been really nice and Indigo is so brilliant, and..."
Adele crouched down "Alice, it is alright. I'm calling it water under the bridge. After all, they did save you. Now let Dr de Walt have a look at you, and then have a bit of a talk with Dr Lawson.
"They can use the spare cabin" Dave pointed to a door.
"Thank-you," Adele gently passed Alice to the young GP.

"Come and sit down. We have a bit to talk about," said Dave as he sat at the table on the other side of the cabin. As he did, Iris entered.
Adele looked up "Ah. The annoying girl who refused to stay dead. And what's this godmother business?"
"I'm Iris. I'll let Indigo explain that."
"Ms Ringly" Dave started.
"Adele."
"OK, Adele. You're not going to like this. Don't strike back at Watkins. Go to the police and report the abduction and attempted murder."
"What?"
"It is the one thing Watkins won't be expecting. We just need to tweak the events slightly. We'll say Iris and I were diving. I have a scooter, so we can make the times line up."
"And we don't mention your daughter?"
"No."
"OK. Now I've a question for Iris. Why didn't you die?"
"Because I'm not really as I seem" Iris replied, and became a human-shaped mass of water "I'm a Naiad."
Adele closed her eyes and sighed.
"And the godmother thing?"
Indigo helpfully explained.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting #NereidIris