Song of Heritage

Serena was a good liar. She had perfected the art even before she got a scholarship at Insignia Private University. There, students ate out of golden cutlery and floated with the ease, privilege, and loads of money tend to offer. It seemed like everything they wanted, they simply got. Even their language, English, was rich.

Serena found herself a rock among a sea of diamonds when she first stepped on campus, so she had to lie into becoming a jewel. She dreamt of a large house in the city, a rewarding job, and compliance from others. All of the things she never had.

So when she joined a group of students, she would build the perfect spider web of lies to snatch any of them and reach those goals. The light little ones were her favorite. I can't go, I'm not feeling well. You are perfect, just as you are. Money is not everything. Those were so overused people didn't ask questions.

But Serena needed to get a little crafty when it came to thicker lies. Someone could get a detail that didn't make sense or proof she didn't have, so those had to be tight, quick, like she didn't have to think about them.

Finding a steady group of friends took a while until she met Henry Dawford in British Lit class. He was tall, with broad shoulders and unusually long, thin limbs. His mane of fiery red hair, large eyes, and oval-shaped face made him seem like a rare horse. He sat by her side every day and flirted like someone with experience. He was charming and loved her honey skin and her eagerness to sing praises.

Soon they went to lavish parties, shopping sprees, and weekend trips together. Henry's way of formalizing their relationship was to buy her an apartment in the city with a balcony after a couple of complaints about lousy dorm accommodations. She would never go back to her old life.

"Never, ever," she muttered as she glanced at her wristwatch. She sighed, slumping into the chair of the apartment's dining table. The candles flickered, and the chef's beautiful dinner no longer smoked.

Today Henry had gone shopping with his mother, and that only meant trouble.

Henry's dream was to become an author. Initially, he wanted to do it on his own. Then a few rejections later, he took up his mother's offer and sent his manuscript to a publisher friend of hers. His horror gothic novella would be out in a couple of months, and he was already working on his second book.

Mr. and Mrs. Dawford thought writing was a hobby, but as Henry began neglecting family affairs to spend hours in his studio, they started to worry. They bribed him, threatened him, and now they were pointing fingers at Serena. Despite it, Henry brought up his books in every conversation, regardless of the topic, holding on to the idea that his parents would someday accept them.

Serena understood, in a sense, Henry's fervor to be seen and accepted by his parents. Her mother was detective Margarita Villanueva, and she was the head investigator of the countless disappearances in Isla Colibrí. She spent most days locked in her room with only papers for company, and most nights, she left. There was never a good morning or a good night from detective Margarita, and sometimes Serena found the drawings she gave her crumbled up next to the trash. Serena was raised almost entirely by her crazy grandmother, so she knew early that she needed to leave.

"Gorgeous open up; my hands are full," said Henry from the other side of the door.

Serena brushed away the thoughts from home and went to get the door. Henry stood, hair tussled and cheeks red, balancing several store bags in his arms and a little velvet box in his hands.

"I'm so sorry," he said, smiling apologetically.

"That's so sweet of you, babe," Serena said. She took the box and leaned for a quick kiss that never happened.

"I brought some of Henry's favorites!" chimed Andrea Harrison, Henry's self-appointed best friend, and professional date wedge, shaking a bag of takeout from behind him.

Serena's face tightened as they both went past her through the door. She caught Henry by the forearm.

"You said it would be the two of us," Serena hissed.

Henry dipped his head. "I know, gorgeous, but she was feeling lonely. Valentine's coming up and all."

"It's not even the middle of January," said Serena.

Henry shrugged. "Just for a little while, okay?" he sealed his words with a kiss on her cheek and walked inside. Serena sighed and closed the door.

"Don't worry about dinner, Serena," said Andrea. She rummaged through the kitchen drawers with insulting confidence before glancing at Serena. "Henry doesn't really like lamb chops anyway."

Serena curled her lip. "Thanks."

"No problem!" Andrea said with a wink.

Henry was oblivious to this exchange as he was too many things regarding Andrea Harisson. He didn't know that she had introduced herself as Henry's girlfriend when neither of them was there. He also doubted the true story of how Andrea had stalked her for weeks when they first started dating or that her friendly touches occurred every minute. At least, that's what Serena calculated as she watched them sit on the kitchen counter to eat, and Andrea's hand slid over Henry's forearm for the second time already.

Serena could yank Andrea's hand away, call her a psycho, and throw her out if she saw the slightest bit of apathy from Henry, but today was not that day.

Serena blew out the candles on the dinner table and wished for that day to come soon.

"So, what did your mother say?" asked Andrea.

Seriously? Even that she knew? Serena shook her head and sat next to Henry. She wondered if Andrea had prodded him for the info or if Henry blurted it out casually.

"We went on a guilt trip today," said Henry. "You're killing your father! He has done everything for you! You owe him!" Henry scoffed after the high-pitched nasal imitation of his mother's voice. "I wish they could hear themselves."

"Did you tell her of the new draft?" asked Serena softly.

Andrea tensed. "New draft?" she asked.

"Yeah…,” said Henry. He blinked, confused. "I didn't tell you?"

Andrea stared at Henry blankly. Serena covered her smirk with the back of her hand.

"Oh! You were waiting to finish, so I'd be your first reader!" Andrea beamed.

Serena shrugged. "I read it yesterday. It was great, full of unexpected plot twists." She embraced Henry from behind. "I loved it, mi amor," Serena whispered in his ear and kissed it, looking right at Andrea. It was like her face was melting.

"Aw, babe," said Henry. He tilted his head for a slow kiss, the type that crackles as the lips separate.

"You both look happy. I don't know why Mrs. Dawford would be against someone like Serena," said Andrea. "Perhaps it's because she can't find the hotel chain owned by the Villanuevas."

Shit.

Henry frowned. "She can't?"

"She probably forgot the tilde," said Serena.

The hotel chain lie was the original, the foundation of every other lie Serena had ever told. It labeled her as one of them and swept her real family and their lack of money under the rug.

Henry nodded. "Just another excuse to stop me."

Serena shrugged, trying to seem composed and unbothered in front of Andrea, not relieved beyond measure.

Andrea's eyes glinted. "I have an idea! Let's go to your little island, Serena, and stay in one of the hotels. We have vacations anyway, and I'm desperate for a suntan," said Andrea.

"And I'll get my parents off my back about you," said Henry grinning. "It's perfect!"

"I'll book the tickets right now," Andrea said, pulling her phone from her purse.

Shit, shit, shit!

"No, don't bother. It's always crowded with tourists and mosquitoes and—" Serena said.

"Check it out! Every 50 years, there's a festival, and the legend is that mermaids come out of the lagoon and join the human guests. If we book now, we'll be able to go," said Andrea.

"Let me see." Henry pulled out of Serena's embrace and peered over Andrea's side. "Did you know this, babe?"

"It's just to commemorate our inheritance; nothing worth the effort. My family and I avoid it like the plague," said Serena.

"Even more of a reason to go," said Henry. "I can meet your parents."

Serena's blood drained to her cold feet.

"I'm not even sure they'll be there, and really there's nothing you can't see on any other island. Let's go to Acapulco or—"

"Window seats for you, Henry?" asked Andrea.

"Yep," he said.

Serena's phone started to vibrate as they kept talking. She pulled it slightly to peek at the screen. Grandmother, it read. She pursed her lips as a pang of irritation settled in her stomach. She had ignored nine calls before this one. Her grandmother was intense but never like this. Perhaps it was something important this time.

"I gotta take this," Serena muttered. They didn't even flinch.

Serena swallowed the impulse to ignore the call and ran to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She pressed the answer button and placed the phone on her ear.

"Abuela?" she whispered, even though no one could possibly hear her from there.

"She is gone, mijita," her grandmother's voice in Spanish sounded like paper being crumbled. Had she been crying?

Serena frowned, knowing exactly who she was talking about.

"Mamá always returns, abuela. God knows when, but she does. You can't be calling me every time this happens. I was in the middle of a very important conversation," Serena said.

"Margarita said she had a lead this time. Algae that was only found in the cursed lagoon, so she had to go there. I begged her not to, it was late, and they always hunt at night…You remember, don't you? When she took you nearby once you saw them…" said her grandma.

Serena sighed. Her grandmother was getting too old to be left alone. Lately, she spoke nonstop of the ancient family legend about an enchanted lagoon, ravenous mermaids, and the disappearance of her great uncle, who happened to be the first islander to pop out of existence. Of course, the townspeople forgot, but her family seemed addicted to the idea. Especially her grandma. Besides, the mermaid she saw was a log that her childish mind transformed to ease herself that night.

"I'm sure everything is going to be fine, abuela—"

"Her team brought her bloodied uniform last night, with teeth marks, mijita," said her grandma before breaking into sobs.

Serena froze. Everything in her sight blurred, and the only thing real was the voice on the other side of the phone.

"Q-que…?" Serena said.

"Please come home, mijita, please…" said her grandmother.

Serena's mind started to dart everywhere, from the people outside her door; to a night in the enchanted lagoon many years ago that she thought forgotten. Then the image of her grandmother taking the bloodied uniform in her trembling hands sent an ache in the pit of her stomach.

"…Mierda," said Serena.

"Don't you curse in front of me," said her grandma.

"Booked!" said Andrea loudly from the other side.

***

Paraíso was 6 hours away on a direct flight. They took a boat from Puerto Sardina at noon and arrived at Isla Colibrí by two o'clock. The sun's rays poured over their bare backs. Henry and Andrea's faces were red and glistened with sweat that never finished pouring out of them. Fanning the heat only made them more tired. It didn't help that the island was packed to the brim and that there was no private limo to pick them and their million bags up. It certainly didn't help that all hotels were booked, and Serena was starting to run out of excuses.

The tiny, antiquated houses with zinc roofs and saturated in different shades of burnt colors were a momentary distraction that lasted a few minutes. Andrea sat on one of her Luis Vuitton suitcases, arms folded, and Henry paced from one side to the other, holding up his phone for a signal.

Henry stopped in front of Serena, "Where the hell's our ride?" he huffed. "We've been here for an hour!"

"I don't know. I'll try calling again," said Serena fumbling with her phone.

"I'm so thirsty…and everyone keeps looking at us," whined Andrea. "Your parents knew you were coming, right?"

Serena nodded; her fingers trembled as she thought of a hotel, any hotel she hadn't called yet.

"Why aren't they here?!" said Andrea.

"Shut it," spat Serena.

"Then what is going on?" asked Henry.

Serena could only gape like a fish out of water. Her supply of lies had finally run out. She tried to think, but all her thoughts were muddled.

"H-henry I-I…I just…"

"Villanueva?"

Three police officers stepped into their gathering, geared in their dark blue uniforms and black combat boots.

Henry pulled her close to him and smiled.

"Is there a problem, officers?" he said in English.

The policemen looked at one another until the youngest one replied in broken English.

"Doña Villanueva was harassing people on the streets, as always. Threw holy water and prayers, warning everyone of tonight's festival. Tenemos retenida en la estación,” he said.

Mierda, Mierda, Mierda…

Henry slowly turned around to face Serena, "as…always?"

The words in Serena's mind came tumbling one after the other, shouting from every side of her head until there was nothing but noise.

"Yes, the Villanuevas, crazy mermaid family with their little shop in the corner," the officer said. Henry paled, and his fists clenched.

Andrea snorted from behind.

"That can't be right. It's the Villanuevas, the ones with the hotel chains," Henry said.

The policemen scoffed.

"No Villanueva hotels, only the store," said the officer.

"H-henry I-I…" said Serena. Everything was crumbling right in front of her. She clutched Henry's arm, and he shook it before walking away.

"Henry, wait!"

He stopped, stomped back, and pointed an accusatory finger right beneath her chin.

"What was the one thing I told you I hated the most when we first met? Hm?!"

"…Liars," Serena whispered.

"Liars," he said and walked away into the crowd, forgetting about his bags.

"Too bad…" said Andrea with a shrug of her shoulders before dashing behind Henry.

“Señorita Villanueva…are you coming?”

Serena stared blankly at the empty space, unsure this was real, if this was actually happening…

***

The police station of Isla Colibrí was a small, off-white square with an insignia corroded by humid sea air. A ceiling fan dangerously swayed and clicked loudly as it moved; the floors were dusty, and the whole place reeked of sweat. The walls had foggy posters of the missing people. The old ones were wrinkled and dirtied. However, the image of her mother was fresh and stood out among all, staring at Serena with unblinking eyes. They are still holding up hope for their captain. She knew her mother was in the picture, but she couldn't recognize that woman with dark circles under her eyes and tussled brown hair. It had been so long since she spoke to her mother that now looking at her, she realized she didn't remember what her voice sounded like anymore.

"Over there," pointed one of the guards in Spanish.

"Mijita, gracias a Dios," said her grandma upon seeing her.

Her grandma sat cuffed by one of her wrists onto a chair. Her eyes were shimmery and wild coils sprung from the neat braid she always wore. She was missing a chancleta, and her pale-yellow dress with tiny violetas was dirty. A Silver crucecita hung from her neck, tucked inside her dress like a little secret.

Serena approached and hugged her the way she would a fragile thing. Her grandmother clung to Serena with her free arm, and hushed sobs shook her body.

"You didn't put her in a cell?" Serena asked in Spanish to whomever of them would answer.

"It's Captain Margarita's mother…everyone knows Doña Clara here," said one of the older guards. "We thought you'd pick her up and take her home."

Serena nodded. The older guard replied with a nod of his own and uncuffed her grandma before walking away.

Her grandmother straightened herself up and wiped her tears with the hem of her collar.

"You look sickly, mijita; what happened to you?" asked her grandma. Something snapped inside Serena.

"Abuela, thanks to you, I was humiliated in front of my boyfriend, who broke up with me in the middle of the street. I might not have a home to return to or money to buy a plane ticket back. All because you had to throw water at people like it was freaking carnavales!" Serena yelled; she could tell people were staring, but she could care less.

Her grandmother squinted her eyes and crossed her arms, and the child in Serena shrunk into a ball.

"I ought to lash you with a belt when we get home. That'll remind you where you come from," her grandma hissed.

Serena pursed her lips and looked away.

"Does this boyfriend know about your mother's disappearance?" asked her grandma, "or that you can't afford the same college? Or that our destiny is entangled with monsters?"

Serena huffed, "Not this again…."

"You've always been a great storyteller, mijita, but I can't help but wonder if your determination to hide the truth has permanently blinded you to it. What I'm saying is real and may lightning cut me in half if I was lying," said her grandma.

"How long has it been, grandma? Years and no single evidence of mermaids?" asked Serena.

"Your tío abuelo Nicolás was taken by them," said her grandma.

"Great uncle Nicolás was an ignorant drunk who decided to go swimming on Holy Friday and drown—." The words were cut as the impact force fully came to Serena's cheek; her head tilted by the side. Heat spread on the skin, and soon it began to sting. Serena pressed her cheek and slowly moved her head towards her grandma again, who gazed at her with blazing eyes. Serena knew interrupting would only fuel the fire for now.

"Your great uncle Nicolás was my brother and a great poet. I believe he is why you came out so creative," said her grandma. "Ever since he disappeared, more and more people followed with no explanation, but your mother discovered the pattern a few days ago. She realized mermaids were taking people with specific blood. First, Rosario, the painter, then Mario, the sculpturer, Ester, the writer, all of them have a thing in common," said her grandma.

Serena waited for her to continue.

"They create things out of nothing. There is magic in creativity, and thus the flesh of the creatives gives them more power," grandma said.

Serena scoffed internally, "and my detective mother?"

Her grandmother wrung her skirt and hesitated. Then, after a moment, she leaned closer to Serena.

"I've been having these…dreams about a silver city underwater, and from within the darkness of one of its caves, I saw two yellow eyes I…I couldn't explain it, but I knew," her grandma gulped before adding, "…I was sure…it was your great uncle. I could feel it in my bones…and his children are coming for you and me to have the family together again."

Serena stared at her grandma for a long time. She had to hand it to her grandmother. Serena didn't think a story as stale as that would have something new to tell, but she stood corrected today. It was the first time she'd heard anything about a silver city.

"That's why you can't go to the festival tonight," said grandma.

Serena blinked; she had completely forgotten about that.

"I assumed that's why you brought your boyfriend here. I bet he pressured you until you bent," said her grandma.

A glimpse of hope shone inside Serena. Henry would go to the festival; Andrea was sure to drag him there. There Serena could explain herself, find a better excuse, and then they would go back home and forget this ever happened.

"I'm not going. He wanted to take a city tour instead," said Serena, knowing well that her grandma would not accept a yes for an answer.

Her grandmother encased Serena's hands on her own. "Swear in your mother's name you won't go," said her grandmother.

"I swear by my mother I won't go," said Serena. Then, she remembered that there were Melatonin jars somewhere in the house.

***

The pills were on her mother's nightstand, as it turns out. Serena slipped just enough in her grandmother's soup to put her to sleep before sundown. Despite using one of her old outfits, Serena made sure to look her best. She went through the streets rehearsing what to say. Her brain only produced far-fetched lies. Even though those could explain everything, they were so unbelievable Henry had to be drunk to believe them.

It was unlike her to be this nervous; then again, she didn't have anything to lose before. Henry would kick her out of the apartment, and Andrea would sing like a canary to everyone at the university. She'd be alienated.

Serena arrived at the edge of the jungle. A group of tourists and locals were beginning to enter the mouth of the jungle. Henry and Andrea walked at the group's tail.

"Henry!" she said.

Henry took hold of Andrea's forearm and hastened his pace.

Serena sighed and went behind them in silence. If she kept at it, she would seem needy, which would translate as guiltier. Perhaps a better time, preferably when Henry was happier, would help.

The group was guided in the forest by sun-kissed young men with flashlights. The sound of their steps mingled with the nocturnal creatures of Isla Colibrí. They went down rock stairs, irregular and slippery, and then followed a small path that led to the lagoon by the beach. The breath of the rainforest had made them all sweat, even the natives, and the clear air of the lagoon was a welcoming caress.

The lagoon's edge was adorned with guirnaldas, flowers, lights, a large fire pyre, and stereo speakers that blasted Hector Lavoe, daring the natives to stand still. A few opened coolers were scattered here and there, with perspiring bottles of national beer and many other alcoholic delights of Paraíso.

Like the afternoon streets, the lagoon's edge was swamped with a mixture of people. Nature's sound was engulfed by the music and the loud chattering.

Serena had imagined how this celebration would be many times, and she was glad that it seemed like any other party here on the island. The glowing water of the lagoon was the only thing out of place, but no one seemed to care like they were always like this. Henry and I could've had a great date here. Instead, she stood alone, tapping her foot to the rhythm of the music as people began to couple up.

Serena had been so lost in her new vulnerability that she forgot to keep an eye on Henry. This was her chance to ask him for a dance and talk. Serena stretched her neck, looking for him, and found him within a group of fluid bodies, dancing sullenly with a cheerful Andrea.

Andrea caught sight of her and quickly retreated deeper into the crowd. Chasing after them would only create a scene, and with her grandma's little stunt today, Serena didn't want the attention.

Damn it.

Serena chugged a hand into the cooler's ice. She pulled out a beer, opened it, and took a gulp. Eyes seemed to follow her every move. It was to be expected; the people were surprised to see her. After all, the Villanueva's were the only ones that abhorred this celebration and actively tried to ruin it. If only she could've been born with another name, far away from here, perhaps everything would be different. She wished she could leave and begin new.

Henry came into her sight. The skin of his cheeks and nose was colored an angry red and was beginning to peel. The same reddish-brown curls she was fond of fixing were stuck on his sweaty forehead, and he grinned next to Andrea.

Serena took another gulp. Could it all be different if she had been honest from the start? Would he have introduced her as his girlfriend at parties?

Don't go soft 'cause of a man. Her mother would've said.

Serena scoffed."To hell with my mother," she muttered and gulped more beer. "It's too late for sage advise from her."

Serena chuckled against the bottle with a dry, sandy laugh.

A tingle began to spread on the tip of her toes, followed by a strange sense of danger. She looked around for peril and found the same scene as before. A flock of terrorized birds flew from the forest. Something big must've come around. Serena shrugged and decided the beers were stronger than she anticipated.

Strange men and women emerged from the foliage, startling Serena. They glided between the crowd and spread. The air changed around her, and the music was the only noise left from the party.

These people were variations of the same person. Some were large and strong and wore clothes too small; others were tiny and graceful and dressed in tatters. But all were dark, their skin shining gold under the lights, their eyes were a deep yellow, and their hair was silver like strands of moonlight.

They didn't speak; they only took whoever was close enough and swayed softly, following no rhythm in particular.

A girl with long white tresses slid between Henry and Andrea. She captured Henry's head between her hands as a male partner did the same to Andrea. Both began to sway like the others, mouths slightly agape, unblinking like puppets.

Serena gazed at the woman and had a weird sense of familiarity coming from her. She actually looks a bit like that painter...

"Rosario?" Serena whispered. The woman's yellow eyes shot toward Serena. A shiver ran down her spine. She left the bottle somewhere; she heard it drop to the ground, but she didn't care. She needed to get out of there and fast. A cold, clammy hand grazed her forearm and stopped her.

The newcomer had only shorts and lacked shoes. Still, his face was angular, full lips looped into a broad smile, and his downturned yellow eyes glinted as if hiding a secret. Eyes that were somehow familiar to Serena.

"Why the rush?" he asked in Spanish. His voice rang through Serena, and she vibrated like a bell. Her skin prickled, and her mind began to mist. She knew that voice too…

His other hand slid serpentine around her waist, pulling her against him, and they swayed, him towering over her. His touch tingled. Serena gazed into the yellow, and everything else became nothing.

"Who are you?" she whispered.

He slowly blinked as if expecting the question from a long time ago.

"Did you forget our promise?" he said. Serena's legs trembled as she tried to make sense of his words between the haze of his voice.

"W-what…?" she said.

"You were a child back then, little two legs, frightened and shivering at the lagoon's edge, while your mother went off to find the trace of my people. Our people…" he said, honey dripping from every syllable.

"It…" she said. Old images began to appear, the heat, the darkness of the forest, the clicks and high-pitched whistles of a creature in the deep, yellow eyes peering from the water, a lullaby in a language she didn't know…

"…It was real," said Serena, her eyes growing wide, looking at the stranger as if for the first time. The new clarity of mind allowed the urgency of her current situation to resurface. The alarms in her body grew larger.

"L-let go ple—" the stranger placed a finger on her lips.

"You promised you'd become great in a country far away from this island and never return. That was your end of the bargain. Yet, here you are again, in the same place, trapped," he said.

A pang pierced through her chest. Serena opened her mouth, but nothing came out of her throat. His arms were iron, and no matter how she pushed, she was indeed trapped.

"Then, I guess I'll have to fulfill my side of the bargain…" he whispered against her ear, and her body shook again. Serena searched for Henry and found him dangling from his partner's arms, eyes all the way back into his skull as the woman chomped pieces of meat out of his neck.

The rest of the people were running away while others, like Henry, were being eaten.

The air burned inside her lungs as whimpers came out of her dry mouth. If she had known for sure, this was true. If only she had stayed home. She would do anything to go back home, even if it was a home she grew to distastes. Tears began to well in her eyes.

"Shh," he said, "Don't be scared…fear only makes me hungrier, and I don't want to eat you. No, you and I made a covenant, and a covenant with seafolk is eternal."

"Please, please let me go!" she said.

"I'm sorry, little two legs, but your great uncle is impatient to see you, and I will be the one to take you home to him." He pressed Serena into a hug and jumped into the lagoon water.

Serena drifted downwards. The lights faded, and the deep welcomed her with open arms. She wished she could've said goodbye to her grandmother.