I Gave the Merman's Cure to a Siren

I spent every penny of my savings on a beauty restoration pill for the ugly merman I'd found with his tail cut off.

But the floating comments told me he had extraordinary healing powers. He could restore his face and grow a new tail in five minutes.

For six months, he'd let me tend his wounds and take care of him, all because he was sulking over the female lead. The real joke?

According to the comments, a tsunami was coming, and I was going to drown because I'd be too broke to afford a boat ticket.

Later, I put the pill I'd paid so dearly for into another dying sea creature's mouth—a siren this time—and asked him cautiously, “Would you like to come home with me?” Chapter 1 The market was bustling as I stepped out of the trading exchange, light on my feet.

Inside my pocket, my hand was wrapped tightly around the precious little box. I couldn't keep a small, excited smile off my face.

Jasper would be thrilled when he found out I'd spent all that money on a beauty restoration pill, wouldn't he?

Thinking of the merman sitting at home, bored out of his mind, made me walk a little faster. “Ms. Gardner, I'll take these whiting and that octopus.

Could you clean them for me?” The seafood vendor recognized me and deftly chopped the fish into small pieces.

Then she wiped her hands on her apron. “Treating that merman of yours again?” I pressed my lips together in a bashful smile. Everyone in the neighborhood knew I'd taken in a merman.

They also knew I treated him better than I treated myself. Ms.

Gardner handed me the packed black plastic bag. “You need to spend more on yourself,” she chided. “Merfolk are ungrateful pets.

No matter how much a human gives them, they take it for granted.” She'd always spoken her mind, and she'd helped me plenty of times.

My hand went instinctively to the box in my pocket. I smiled. “Okay! I know!” Carrying Jasper's favorite seafood, I headed eagerly home.

I'd specifically asked for today off so I could attend the auction at the exchange.

When Jasper saw me home so early, he'd cling to me, making little plaintive noises, and coax me into feeding him and tending his wounds.

Then he'd ask me over and over whether his looks bothered me. Just thinking about it made my heart melt.

But as I strode up to the alley, unfamiliar comments drifted through the air. [The disposable side character's still grinning like an idiot?

The male and female leads have been using her as a prop in their little game for almost six months.

And she still hasn't figured out the male lead is playing her?] [She doesn't know the male lead has insane healing powers, does she?

He could have his good looks and a brandnew tail back in under five minutes.] [He's only doing this because he's mad at the female lead!

Hurting himself so she'll come crawling back and have to work for it!] [The side character probably has it worst. When the tsunami hits, the male lead will just take off.

She won't have the money for a boat ticket, and she'll drown.] … I stopped in my tracks. It took a moment for it to sink in.

The male lead they were talking about was Jasper—the ugly merman with the severed tail I'd brought home from the dump six months ago. My heart lurched.

Chapter 2 I could barely stay on my feet. The comments said Jasper had been lying to me all along… How was that possible?

He was right there under my nose every day, so sweet and obedient. When could he possibly have found time to see another woman?

As I desperately tried to reassure myself, the comments supplied a merciless answer. [He can thank the disposable side character for working herself into the ground to buy that beauty restoration pill.] [Besides her cleaning job at the dump, she delivers food and washes dishes.

She gets half as much time to eat and sleep as a normal person.

How would she ever find out that the merman who seemed to spend his days behaving himself at home had long been sneaking off to see the female lead behind her back?] [Doesn't she own a mirror?

She could at least look at herself in a puddle of piss. Does she have any idea what she has to offer? No mom or dad to love her growing up, living in that drafty shack for years.

Sure, she's kind of pretty, but a pretty face doesn't put food on the table.] [She can't compete with our richgirl heroine, but I guess she's good for something.

If she hadn't spent every penny on his medicine, our girl wouldn't have started scrambling to win him back this soon.] … The comments kept chattering.

My heart sank into the cold depths. Their reminders brought images flashing through my mind—all the odd things about Jasper that I'd deliberately ignored.

I was always so careful when I treated his wounds.

Yet every two or three days, new ones appeared, or a cut that had only just scabbed over would be violently slashed open again by some force.

Whenever I asked him about it, he'd vaguely steer the conversation elsewhere. And though Jasper let me hold him while we slept, he wouldn't let me touch him wherever I wanted.

I could only put my arms around his waist. … Looking back, maybe he'd never intended to let me keep him at all. I was just a tool he could use.

And that clueless tool had spent everything she owned on him, just to buy one tiny pill. My mouth twisted in a selfmocking smile.

Bitter hurt welled up in my chest, and my lightly callused fingertips dug deep into my palms.

I was still standing there in a daze, unsure whether to go home, when the manager at the dump called. “Hey, Iris. The cleaner covering for you today passed out from the heat.

Can you come in now? You'll get the extra money, of course…” I barely heard anything after that.

All I remembered was murmuring yes. “I'll come right over.” By the time the first streetlight came on, I'd just finished hauling the last load of garbage, huffing with the effort.

The salty sea breeze swept the sweat from my temples. Exhausted, I took off my cap and mask and gulped down an entire bottle of mineral water.

Looking out at the ocean, I raised a hand and wiped my sweaty cheeks. Honestly, I had no idea how to face Jasper when I got home. Should I ask if he'd been lying to me?

Or pretend nothing had happened? My head ached. I closed my eyes for a moment. Forget it. Things would work themselves out when the time came.

I pressed my lips together and flung the plastic bottle away. A sudden thud followed. That didn't sound right. Instinctively, I looked toward a nearby pile of garbage.

Over by the waves, I could just make out an inkyblack tail. Chapter 3 An incredible thought flashed through my mind. Seriously? Another abandoned merman?

When I'd taken Jasper home six months earlier, everyone at the dump had said I was crazy.

I barely made anything in a month, yet I had the nerve to keep the most expensive kind of pet there was. And Jasper was ugly and disabled, too.

None of them had even wanted to take him home. Thinking of Jasper, I bit my lower lip without realizing it. According to the comments, he came from a noble merfolk bloodline.

His family was rich enough to rival a nation. He didn't need a poor cleaner like me to support him. At the edge of my vision, the black tail looked dull and lifeless.

I couldn't tell whether its owner was alive or dead. …I couldn't just stand by. With a silent sigh, I walked toward the garbage pile, resigned.

But as soon as I stepped directly in front of the tail, my eyes widened slightly. The creature before me was much bigger than a merman.

He wasn't one of the beautiful merfolk people kept to admire. He was a siren—a vicious creature humans went out of their way to avoid.

Looking closer, I saw tiny insects flying around his wounds, as though they were already celebrating tonight's feast. Dark red blood slowly spread across the wet ground.

I had no idea why this siren was at the dump. But if I left him here… he probably wouldn't survive the night.

When he saw my conflicted expression, a flicker of selfmockery passed through his vacant eyes. He slowly closed them, as though waiting for the Reaper's scythe.

I pressed my lips together and took the box out of my pocket. Beautiful, fragile merfolk had powerful healing abilities.

Sirens, on the other hand, were formidable fighters who'd put all their points into physical strength and defense.

In other words, without outside treatment, a severely injured siren was very likely beyond saving.

I'd learned this online while hurriedly reading up on sirens after seeing the comments. At the faint sound, the barely breathing siren struggled to open his eyes.

Even through the blood covering his face, I could make out his handsome features. “I'll save you.” To be honest, I was afraid he'd drop dead before he could even get a word out.

So I spoke quickly and, without another thought, pushed the enormously expensive pill into his mouth. A beauty restoration pill did more than its name suggested.

It could miraculously regrow flesh over bare bone. The dying siren didn't even have the strength to refuse. He could only swallow the pill with my fingertip still between his lips.

His throat moved. Color quickly returned to his pale face. I let out a long breath of relief. I looked into those fathomless eyes.

After much hesitation, I asked, “Wwould you like to come home with me?” The comments erupted. [Wait, what? Has the disposable side character lost her mind?

Doesn't she know merfolk and sirens have always hated each other?] [Is she addicted to picking up strays now?

Look at the state she's left our male lead in, and she has the nerve to bring home another fish?] [She really thinks she's the fucking savior.] … I'd never thought of myself as anyone's savior.

I deliberately ignored the comments and kept looking straight into the siren's eyes. He stared back at me, stunned.

Afraid he'd think I wanted something in return for saving him, I hurried to explain. “You don't have anywhere to go right now either, do you?

Those wounds still need to be cleaned properly and bandaged, or infection could set in.” Chapter 4 “Don't worry. I'm only offering you a place to stay for now.

I won't ask you to do anything for me.” My voice grew quieter. “My home's a drafty old shack, if you don't mind…” Before I could finish, the siren interrupted.

He tipped his head back a little, exposing his finely shaped Adam's apple. “I'd like that,” he said, with a hint of urgency and sincerity.

I wheeled Alexander Delaney home on a cart. The comments had been right. Jasper wasn't there. On a normal workday, I'd spend another two hours delivering food after my shift.

Jasper would time his return to match mine.

Without a word, I laid Alexander on the waterbed Jasper liked to lounge on, then brought over a bucket of clean water. “I'll wash off the dirt and dried blood first, then put some medicine on your wounds.

Is that okay?” I kept my voice as gentle as I could, trying to make him less wary of me. A siren's fighting power was no joke. Alexander went still for a moment, then looked away.

His thanks came out a little awkwardly. “Thank you for doing this.” Feeling the muscles beneath my palm slowly relax, I couldn't help thinking that sirens were actually quite polite.

By the time it was completely dark, I'd washed Alexander and treated every wound. I glanced at the clock on the wall, then went straight to work making dinner.

When I set the whiting and octopus in front of him, he was silent for a moment.

Then he asked, “These were meant for your merman, weren't they?” At the question in that slightly hoarse voice, I gave a bitter smile.

See… even a siren visiting my home for the first time could tell.

Drafty shack or not, the biggest thing in it was a tank that took up about fiftyfour square feet, followed by the waterbed.

My own little bed was tucked into a corner, with barely enough room for one person to lie down. “If I eat his food, will he be mad when he gets back?” As my mind wandered, Alexander cradled the bowl carefully, watching my face. “With an owner as kind as you, your merman must be very happy,” he said softly.

I was taken aback for a moment, then slowly shook my head. “Go ahead and eat.” What Jasper really thought didn't seem to matter quite so much to me anymore… I let Alexander sleep on the waterbed for the time being.

Before I turned out the light, he seemed about to speak, then stopped himself. It wasn't hard to guess that he might be wondering why my merman still wasn't home at this hour.

Leaving a kerosene lamp burning, I smiled at him. “Get some sleep. Once your wounds have mostly healed…” Before I could finish, there was a noise outside the shack.

An unfamiliar, urgent voice drew closer. “Sir! You keep coming and going every day. Are you sure Ms. Hayes won't find out?” Jasper sounded impatient. “How would she find out? Relax.

I texted her twenty minutes ago asking her to buy me some seaweed on the west side of town. She's so busy she hasn't even had time to answer. Just go