Cora sat in front of a mirror in the common room, attempting to style her hair. She had tried a dozen ways, but none of them seemed quite right. She was going up to the inlet to meet Mason in a few minutes and she wanted to look perfect.
For the past two days her thoughts had been filled with Mason, even though she realized that in their interaction she hadn't learned much about him. She had spent a lot of time in the common room, hoping she would overhear the other mermaids talking about him. They had mentioned him a few times, but it was only to comment on his dreamy eyes and gorgeous smile. Oddly, none of them brought up his missing foot.
Cora sighed and shook her hair out of the braid she had started. She'd just leave her hair down, it was more comfortable that way. She glanced at her reflection one more time, then swam down the room's tunnel and out of the gate.
*****
"I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I brought a variety."
Cora laughed as she looked at the spread of food and snacks that Mason had set out on a small blanket. There was shrimp, sushi, nuts, scones, small sandwiches, and crab salad.
"Thank you," Cora said, taking a handful of almonds, "but I should tell you now that I don't eat fish."
Mason slapped his palm to his forehead. "Of course you don't! How insensitive of me!"
"It's fine! Don't worry about it."
"Well, I hope you don't mind if I eat fish, because this sushi is divine."
Mason winked and Cora felt her cheeks warm. He was sitting on the ground with his legs stretched out, his metal boot prominently catching the light. He had carefully propped his crutch against a rock away from the water. At Mason's suggestion, Cora had come out of the water and was sitting next to him with her tail in full view. At first this had made her nervous, but Mason had a way of putting her at ease.
"So Cora," Mason said, putting his hand on her tail in a way that was terrifying and exciting at the same time, "do you have a last name?"
Cora had to swallow to get rid of the dryness in her throat before answering. "It's Walters."
"Cora Walters," Mason murmured, a smile playing across his lips. "Do you have any family?"
Cora looked away. "Not that I know of."
There were a few seconds of silence before Mason spoke again.
"Both of my parents died in a plane crash when I was twelve," he said soberly. "I went to live with my uncle after that. It was difficult, but I was glad that I at least had somebody."
Cora glanced over at him and saw pain and tenderness in his eyes.
"It is hard to be alone," Cora said, a little shocked that she was letting her guard down so easily.
"Maybe I can change that."
A tingle ran through Cora's body, and her mind raced through scenarios that she had always believed would be impossible. But then reality edged back into her subconscious and she shook her head.
"I'm not sure you want to go there," she said bitterly.
"Why not?"
Cora flicked her purple tail. "My situation is complex."
Mason made an effort to flick his metal foot. "So is mine."
Cora laughed in spite of herself, and Mason beamed at her reaction. He took her hand in his.
"Cora, I know what it's like to be different, but I can't even begin to understand what you've been through. You can't imagine how desperately I want to know about you. Please, tell me about your life."
And so, she did. She started with the orphanage and then told him all she could remember about Mrs. Carnivera and the operations. She told him about finding herself trapped in the lagoon with a tail in the place of her legs. She told him what it was like to live with the other mermaids, to sleep in the water, to swim with fish and to communicate with dolphins. She told him things she'd never told anyone else.
When she finished talking, Mason was silent for a long time. At first Cora thought she had freaked him out, but when she looked at his face, his eyes were glistening.
"So, I gather you hate being a mermaid," he said softly.
"Was it obvious enough?" Cora replied with a small smile.
Mason nodded slowly as if he were considering what to say next. "Would you like to see if it can be reversed?"
"Reversed?" Cora repeated, wondering if she'd heard him correctly.
Mason shrugged. "Sure. You weren't born this way. This has been done to you. It can probably be undone."
Cora blinked. She'd never considered it that way. She'd always thought being a mermaid was her fate, that she'd have to live with it forever.
"But, how...?"
Mason held up his hand. "I happen to know someone who dealt quite a bit with situations like this. His name is Doctor Glasser. He's a retired military scientist, and he spent many years experimenting with methods that would allow soldiers to be more effective in the air... and in the water."
Cora stared at him as she let that statement sink in. "You mean, you'd introduce me to this man, and then what? He'd study me?"
Mason chuckled. "There's really not a more delicate way to put it, is there? It would all be very private, but if you're desperate to get out of this lagoon, he would be the one who could help you."
Cora chewed on her lip. If there was any way she could live a fraction of a normal life, she'd take it, even if she had to live without legs. If there was nothing this man could do, then she'd just go back to the lagoon. She really didn't have much to lose.
Cora looked at Mason and smiled. "When can I meet him?"