Tail’s Curse Chapter 1

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“Our ancestor was a mermaid. Sadly, deceived by a human, she could never return to the beautiful sea again.”

 

Cordelia did not like the old story her frail mother told every night while stroking her young daughter’s hair with bony fingers.

 

Because that story always had a sad ending, and her mother’s face, reciting the warning, was sorrowful and pitiful.

 

No child at an age of dreaming would enjoy such heavy tales.

 

But a good child endures even what they dislike—especially in front of a mother gradually wasting away from illness.

 

“The sea queen Calypso had seven beautiful daughters. The youngest among them was the most beautiful mermaid in the ocean kingdom. Her abundant hair shimmered like moonlight spilled upon the water’s surface, her amber skin was smooth, her lips were pink as coral, and her eyes sparkled like the rarest jewels of the deepest abyss. Everyone in the sea adored her. No one could meet her gaze without falling in love. Wanting her daughter’s beauty to last forever, Calypso gifted her the most precious jewel in the ocean.”

 

That jewel carried a magic that granted eternal youth, prosperity, and wealth, freeing its wearer from disease and suffering.

 

“Perhaps because she knew only happiness, misfortune befell her. The youngest mermaid princess, too curious about the world above, ventured onto land and fell in love with a human youth. But love between a creature of the sea and one of the land was never meant to be. Worse still, Queen Calypso despised humans. Her hatred ran so deep—ever since her beloved eldest daughter was kidnapped by humans—that she slaughtered any human in sight and wrecked every ship that sailed her waters. In her fear, the princess’s lover whispered sweet promises of the future.”

 

“Come with me to land, and we’ll live happily. He swore it would be forever.”

 

Cordelia held her breath when the hand stroking her hair stilled.

 

Ever since she once saw her mother’s expression at this part of the story, the girl felt an indistinct dread, as if her heart were sinking into the sea. Because the mother who loved her daughter most in the world, in that moment, seemed to hate everything—including her.

 

As if resentful. As if regretful. As if she wished to disappear.

 

Only when warmth faintly returned to the pale, withered face and the dry voice resumed did Cordelia secretly sigh in relief.

 

Then her mother would stroke her silent daughter’s hair again. Though her fingers were cold enough to freeze her scalp, the touch itself was velvety soft. The girl closed her eyes.

 

“But it was all a lie.”

 

Her mother continued whispering to her daughter, whose eyes were shut.

 

“The princess, deceived by a human youth, fled with the sea’s treasure, married him, and ended up bound to the land. In truth, what he coveted was her treasure. The youngest mermaid princess realized too late that she had been tricked, but the princess, who had betrayed her mother, could never return to the sea. She lived wretchedly, filled with regret, until the day she died.”  

 

So, Cordelia…

 

“You must not make such a mistake. Do not fall in love.”  

 

Because you, too, will end up like her—like me.

 

A fierce storm raged. At this rate, she would be caught.

 

Gasping for breath, she ran desperately.

 

It was the night of the full moon. Just like the day she first met that man. A sob welled up in her throat.

 

Even as she sprinted, a contradictory urge surged within her—to turn back, to return to him.

 

But her oldest friend had risked everything to help her. She couldn’t afford to be selfish.

 

Ignoring the childish tantrum of her inner voice, Cordelia kept running.

 

Bang!

 

“Gah!”  

 

Her heart plummeted. That ominous noise was unmistakably a gunshot.

 

Had that person… killed him?

 

Oh, no! Jonathan!

 

Staggering, nearly falling, Cordelia dashed toward the source of the sound. She was terrified—terrified that he might have hurt Jonathan. She felt like she would lose her mind.

 

What if Jonathan was dead? Oh, God. How deep would her sin be then?

 

Her fate was already sealed. But not Jonathan’s. He deserved to inherit his family’s legacy, meet someone he loved, and live happily.

 

He had already shouldered too much responsibility—unnecessarily so.

 

Simply because he was kind and good.

 

Tears threatened to spill. Just as her father had said, perhaps she was a vengeful spirit, dragging everyone around her to their doom.

 

Blinking through half-drenched eyes, she prayed to God. ‘Please. Please…’

 

She knew that man, though tender to her, was inherently cruel.

 

But surely he wouldn’t kill without just cause?

 

No—even if he didn’t kill, there were countless ways to harm. And he was a man well-versed in all of them.

 

Panting, she reached the dock—and saw the familiar figure of a man collapsed on the ground, the back of his head visible. He was bleeding.

 

“Oh, no! No!”

 

Cordelia screamed as she rushed forward and frantically pulled him into her arms.

 

It took several desperate pleas for help before she realized Jonathan, his eyes rolled back, wasn’t dead—just unconscious. When he twitched, his face contorted as if about to wake, she burst into sobs and muttered,

 

“J-Jonathan… Are you okay? I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”  

 

Her frantic murmurs stopped abruptly as instinct made her hold her breath.

 

Slow, deliberate footsteps scraped against her ears. The sound was deliberately loud, as if meant to be heard—even though the predator could have silently snapped his prey’s neck in one swift motion.

 

Cold sweat beaded on her skin, her fine hairs standing on end.

 

Haa, haa…  

 

A long shadow engulfed her as the man stopped just a step away. The world seemed to freeze as the two stood in silence, breathing in each other’s scent and the sound of their ragged breaths. Cutting through the cold night air, his voice came softly.

 

“Cordelia.”  

 

Ah.

 

She couldn’t stop herself from turning around—only to see him pointing a loaded gun. Not at her, but at the man she held.

 

Click—

 

The moment she saw his finger tighten on the trigger, Cordelia threw herself in front of Jonathan.

 

In that instant, she thought she saw his eyes—bloodshot—flare with something unreadable.

 

A deafening gunshot echoed across the empty dock.

 

“Gah—Ack…!”  

 

The bullet missed by a hair’s breadth, grazing her ear, strands of hair fluttering to the ground.

 

The man’s face twisted into something monstrous as he snarled curses, tossing the rifle aside before seizing her arm in one swift motion.

 

Pain lanced through her like a deep bruise.

 

The man before her, his expression warped like a beast’s, looked ready to tear her apart.

 

“If you meant to drive me insane, you’ve succeeded.”  

 

His teeth ground together as he growled.

 

“Do that again—try to protect another bastard in front of me one more time. I’ll chop him into pieces and feed him to the sharks.”  

 

Madness flickered in his bloodshot eyes. Her head spun, tears pricking at her vision. His fingers, which had been gripping her hair as if to strangle her, loosened slightly, his expression shifting.

 

Then—damn it—the next second, he was crushing his lips against hers.

 

“Ah—!”  

 

A searing heat surged through her, bending her back.

 

The rough intrusion was overwhelming, like molten metal pouring into her fragile body, yet Cordelia yielded completely—surrendering, clinging, as if begging to be ruined further.

 

The creaking of furniture, the slick friction of skin, the lewd sounds filled her ears.

 

Gasping, she heard his groans mingling with the crashing waves. His red eyes, glinting like a distant lighthouse, burned into her as sweat dripped from his furrowed brow.

 

Without thinking, she reached up to wipe the sweat from his forehead—and for a moment, something like fire flashed in his fixed gaze. He snatched her wrist, pinning it to the floor before claiming her mouth again.

 

His movements grew even more relentless.

 

Whimpering, her slender legs trembled but locked around his waist—like helpless morning glories clinging to a towering tree.

 

Between ragged breaths, he murmured, his voice deceptively gentle:

 

“Does it hurt?”  

 

Her lower body ached as if being split open, but Cordelia shook her head. He chuckled darkly.

 

Liar. Again.