Under the sea (mermaid stories)

Iara

Have you ever seen a mermaid?

It is a serious question. People normally think they are mythological creatures, out of the mind of Greek poets that just wanted a reason for the sinking of their ships near the coasts. Creatures as ancient as the oldest mythologies, who appear in many stories. However, reality is that there are more than just children's stories. Mermaids are real, and they still roam around oceans and rivers, stalking as they have always done.

It is curious really, because people hear the word 'mermaid' and they might think of a beautiful maiden with a fish tail, singing happily under a waterfall, or high up in a rock, combing her long hair and humming to herself. Some even have in mind famous movies that show them as young good-hearted girls in search of true love. Mermaids willing to help others, granting wishes to those who help them.

Boy, is this from reality. At the very least, the myths and legends of yore knew mermaids were dangerous and that you should never approach them. They were demons, who hypnotized men with their songs, and thus managed to bring their ships close enough to the rocks to drown them. Reality is mermaids are not beautiful women, they only look like that to those under their spell. Women with a naked chest, a long blond or brunette hair falling down their back, big eyes, and beautiful white skin. But in reality, they were deformed monsters, with fangs and scales, their hair matted and uncared for. Very few could see them in their true form, those lucky enough to escape before dying drowned in the water.

Myths say they hypnotized men to make them crash their ship and eat those who fell into the water, because that was all their nourishment, as fish never swam near them. Others said that, since mermaids were immortal, they didn't actually need food, and just liked enchanting men to drown them. These are the mermaids that still swim the waters, stalking men both young and old. Whether for love, hunger... or just pleasure.

However, this story is not about European mermaids. Much less so about nice ones. No. The mermaid in our story does not have long blond hair, nor blue eyes, or pale skin. She doesn't even has a beautiful turquoise fish tail. The mermaid in our story doesn't even look like one half the time, although she is also not a monster like the ones in Greek myths. Her legend passes from mouth to mouth to all the children in the village, and they are always reminded never to go near the river on full moon sunsets, for that is when she catches her prey.

She is a Brazilian mermaid, known as Iara by the locals, but she wasn't always so. The elders say she used to be a beautiful indigenous woman, and an amazing warrior, the best of them all. Her skin was tanned from the sun, and her hair black and straight, going all the way to her waist. She had bangs covering her forehead, and dark brown eyes, covered by an orange strip marking her as a warrior. In her arms, several tattoos where showing, symbols of her courage. She had a spear too, which she made herself, and two knives strapped to her legs.

She was a beauty, and the pride and joy of her father, who couldn't be happier of having a daughter with such a stance, and as brave as any men of his tribe. But her two brothers hated her, and were envious of her. How did she, a woman, dare be better than them? How did she dare outshine them in front of their father? Envy had rooted so deeply in them that they even came with a plan to kill her. If they got rid of her, they would at last become the best warriors of the tribe; they could elevate their status, and win their fathers approval.

Their plan was to murder her in her sleep, go into her tent and cut her neck quickly, so she could not raise the alarm. But they did not count on their sister's cleverness. Since many moons ago, she had already felt the hatred that came from them, and she knew that, sooner or later, they would try to hurt her. That was why she always slept with a knife near her, and never slept deeply, but was always aware of her surroundings. One new moon night, she heard them coming into her tent and her body tensed up, preparing for the attack, one of her hands grabbing the handle of her knife firmly, no shaking whatsoever.