Will's POV

Looking down at the will before I made me cringe. My great uncle had just passed and since I was the only living relative he had left, I was the only one listed on the will. I didn't remember much about him except he was a mean and crazy old man. He used to tell me stories of some mermaid living in the pond out by his house, the house that I now owned. Coming out of a divorce where I had lost everything to my now ex-wife, it was good to know I would have a place to rest my head. No doubt it would need a lot of work since my uncle was not the handiest of men. The lawyer didn't look up at me once, his head was down as he read off what was listed on the paper before him.

"Along with a lump sum of $500,00 dollar to be entrusted to you-" he continues but I stop him.

"What? How in the world did he have that kind of money?" I question and the old man finally looks up at me.

"Your uncle was quite a famous author, he told sea tales and though he never used his real name for any of the stories they sold quite well. Now back to what I was saying-" he began again and looked back down at the paper.

He was a writer? How had I never known that? Once the lawyer had me sign all the paperwork, he handed me the keys to the house as well as the deed and banking information. Without another word, he tipped his hat and headed off in the opposite direction of where I was walking. This was all too strange to me. I knew uncle Carmichael had secrets but this wasn't something even I could dream up. Getting into my car, I put in the address of his old house. 5 hours to the house, that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Grabbing some food along the way I had plenty of time to think. Debbie and I hadn't been close in a long time but to know that she had fallen out of love with me within the matter of a year and moved on behind my back left a bad taste in my mouth. I knew she was mad because we hadn't had any children and she desperately wanted to be a mother. I guess I didn't understand just how desperate she was. At least it wasn't my best friend she cheated on me with. Nope, instead, she left me for her boss who also left his wife for her. Apparently, they were meant for one another. I didn't wish anything bad on her but I wanted her to be happy even though something deep down inside me told me that she would end up in the same spot as her bosses ex-wife one day. However, who knows? I could be all wrong about it.

Pulling up the old house...it was larger than I remembered. It was all wooden and looked like it could use a little work but surprisingly uncle kept it in pretty good shape. Walking up to the large oak door I put the key in the lock and unlocked the door. Gently pushing it open, the old dusty smell came forward from the center of the house. Dusting would definitely be on my list, at the very top. Going inside and shutting and locking the door behind me, I walk down the step and look around the foyer, it was cleanish. It just needed dust, there was nothing lying on the ground just a few shoes and a few coats that hung on the wall. Walking into the main room, I saw the old recliner sitting there, that's where uncle would always sit and tell me those crazy stories. Grinning I walked up to it and gently touched it. I could tell smell his aftershave, he said he put it on to impress any girls he may happen to meet. I thought he showered in it. Chuckling I then see the sun shining inside the large glass sliding doors. Walking up to them, I look outside and there is the pond. It was really deep, I remembered that. Uncle would never let me go out there alone, probably because he thought I might drown or something.

Shaking my head I go to the bookshelf and see all the crazy titled stories. One title catches my eye though. 'Love of the Sea'. Piquing my interest, I take the book off the shelf and go sit down on the couch. I was tired but maybe the book could help me get a little sleep before I started cleaning the place. Only a few pages in and my eyes were closed and I was knocked out like a light.

SPLASH

My eyes quickly burst open and I looked around. The sun was gone and the moon was high up in the sky. The only reason I knew that was because the moonlight flooded in the room through the glass sliding doors. Putting the book on the coffee table I go right to the door thinking it was probably just some kids playing around. Once I look outside though I don't see anyone. Not even a ripple in the water. Carefully unlocking the door I open it and walk out to the deck. Looking down at the dock before me I see a set of wet footprints. Once again thinking it was probably kids, I turn around to be met face to face with a woman completely drenched staring at me.

"Will...you came back?" she questioned as though she had known me my whole life.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" I question as I back up not thinking about what is right behind me.

"Oh! Don't you'll-'' she didn't have time to finish as I fell backward into the water.

The water was actually warm and comforting. However, since I had never learned to swim I was in full-blown panic mode. Thrashing and trying as hard as I could to get to the surface. I was beginning to get tired and running out of the air when I heard another splash, looking around I try to see what is happening when I feel someone turn my head their way. It was the woman and I saw her lean in and kiss me, no wait...it wasn't a kiss. She was giving me air. Once she did, she hooked her arm around mine and took me to the surface. Once there I looked at her completely shocked and confused.

"Have you truly forgotten about me William?" she asked me with a sad look on her face.

Looking down into the water almost against my own will I am met with a sight I was not expecting. Instead of seeing her legs, I saw a blue-green tail keeping her stable in the water. She gently put her hand under my chin to have my eyes meet her own.

"You have forgotten me. I have saved your life twice now but I doubt you can even remember my name," she says with a sad voice.

"I don't know who or what you are...I don't remember anything about this place really." I say as she takes me over to the dock and pushes me up on it.

Turning back to look at her, I see her keep only her head above water. She looks so sad and maybe a little afraid. I had hurt her feelings because somehow she had memories of me but I had none of her. Though I really wish I knew what memories she thought we had together.

"Where is Carmichael? He hasn't been home a few days," she says looking down into the water.

"He died, he was old. He had a heart attack...he left me the house...I came here because I had nowhere to go." I admit to her without even thinking.

"He was always so kind to me, he found me out at sea when I was injured. He brought me back here to heal but I never went back to the sea." she sighs as she looks up at me.

"Why not?"

"You had better go get changed, you will get sick staying in wet clothes," she says as she dives back under the water.

I must be dreaming...mermaids aren't real. One did not just scare me, save me and then ditch me...I really am losing it. I am just tired, that's it just tired. Running back inside and up to the shower. I strip my clothes and get in the shower. The hot water hitting my body seems to calm me down but I look out the window facing the pond and see he sitting on the dock, she didn't do anything at first. All she did was sit there and look out to the water. How was any of this even possible? I couldn't tear my gaze away from her, I felt a connection with her. Turning off the water and changing into spare clothes. I walk back to the dock and see she's still there.

"I had an accident the last time I was here, I fell into the water-" I start and she looks up at me.

"You hit your head...I remember, I dove down deep and grabbed you. Once your mother came and found out...Carmichael said she forbid you from ever coming back." she sighs as I sit down beside her.

"I lost a lot of memories in that accident...including what ones I had of you," I tell her as she nods her head.

"I thought you might have...we use to have so much fun but now you are all grown up. Probably have a family of your own and moving in here," she comments as she looks back out to the water.

"Not exactly, my wife just divorced me for her boss, she wanted a family and I guess she didn't want one with me...or maybe I wasn't fast enough..." I sigh as she whispers something and there before my eyes her tail turns into feet and she puts them on the dock.

"I am very sorry to hear that...I wish I could say something to make you feel better but I can't think of anything," she tells me and I'm still in shock that she has feet at the moment.

"How can you have feet?" I question really wanting to know the answer.

"The moon, the night before, the night of and the night after I can have legs but I can't get too far from the water...or else I die...the house is the furthest I've gotten and I was too afraid to go any further," she admits as she folds her legs close to her chest. "My name is Areona, I was younger when we first met, and you were the crazy human boy who never made fun of me or threw rocks into the water to hurt me. Thank you for that Will."

The name Areona did sound familiar to me. Looking at her wet red hair I tried to remember her. Something about her eyes, the seemed so familiar to me, like a memory I had lost that wanted to come back. I saw her shiver and took off my jacket to cover her. she had a bathing suit top on and probably bottom as well, I didn't ask or look, but she looked at me gratefully and smiled accepting my gesture.

"I'm sorry I forget the memories Areona, I'm here now though...maybe we can start over?" I ask her and offer her my hand.

"I'd like that...it's good to see you again, you look handsome all grown up." she smiles as she shakes my hand.