Chapter Text
The sea crashing against the cliff-side struck in a thunderous roar, a penance for an ancient evil. The moon hung high, the fallen mist and the howling wind had cooled the wooden floor. The weight of Cream’s bones and the faint song of gulls told her it was early morning.
Wrapping herself in her thin quilt, Cream navigated through the dark room, taking small steps with a hand stretched out in front of her. The splintering wooden planks snagged at the wool of her socks. The wind whistled through the gaps in the walls. She found her mother’s bedside. Wrapped in every blanket they owned, but chilled to the touch. Still breathing, heavy with sickness. She crept, trying to slide underneath the blankets without disturbing her mother’s deep slumber.
Vanilla urged her to stay away for fear of her falling ill too. Cream couldn’t care less. She wanted to keep her mother warm. As she hung off the edge of the small bed, with only a leg and an arm wriggled underneath the blankets, her eyes grew heavy and sleep befell her. The recesses of her mind granted her one last dream before she was to wake in the morning.
Blackness gave way to the twinkling sky full of stars. Cream heard the sound of her mother’s hushed laughter. Cool grass brushed against ankles as Cream and her mother made their way up the hill. Fireflies weaved in and out of the bracken as cicadas chirped in the distance. Vanilla picked up Cream with ease and placed her in her lap as they sat at the edge of the cliff. Cream was only 4 years old.
“Where are they?” Cream murmured, squinting through the darkness to the sea below her. Scents of saltwater and rain flooded her senses as she watched the moonlight glinting against the surface of the water.
Vanilla patted her hair and whispered, “Any moment, dear. Keep watching.”
As they sat in near silence Cream glimpsed teal in the pitch-black waves, glowing as bright as a rare gem. Cream felt a rush of excitement before it vanished as soon as it arrived. But, as she sat in anticipation, more rays of light lit up the darkness. Soon the whole bay was sparkling with the fluorescent backs of glowing stingrays. Cream was silent with awe.
“Mama, where are they going?” Cream asked. Vanilla sat, realizing she never thought about it. She should have picked up a book before taking her daughter to the migration. Instead, she told her what her mother said.
“They say stingrays are messengers, calling to the merfolk that winter is nearing.” Vanilla said. Cream giggled, followed by another beat of silence.
“Are merfolk real, Mama?” She said. Vanilla took another breath through her nose.
“Nobody knows, but between you and me, I believe they are. Your grandmother said they live in temples at the bottom of the ocean. Beautiful glass kingdoms where they protect magical artifacts from pirates.” She tickled her daughter as she said the last part, teasing her with a growl. Cream laughed once more. She was always such a joyful girl back then. As silence overcame them once more, Vanilla felt fear take her over once again–the same fear that haunted her the day he left so long ago.
“You best stay away from the ocean, love. The sea is beautiful and alluring, but deeply powerful. It’s something to be valued, but can be dangerous for people like us. I’d rather you stay safe than go looking for trouble. Do you understand?” She said. Cream nodded and sunk into her mother’s lap, letting her comb her fingers through her hair.
“I love you, Mama.”
“I love you too, dear.”