The Salt of the Sea

‘Her wicked ways brought doom’

‘All hope was lost, thought we’

‘But with Sutton to our rescue’

‘She drowns forevermore in salt and sea’

Meris tore her eyes away from the sea as a group of children in blue masks ran past her, belting out an old tune, the melody haunting and familiar. A fresh breeze made her hair dance around her face, tickling her cheeks as she took a deep breath and tilted her head back, the smell of the sea carrying on the wind. It was calm this morning, its waves rolling lazily as if it too were basking in the beautiful day.

She turned and fell back in step with the rest of the tourists making their way towards the festival entrance. Everyone was elbow to elbow, the crowd only beginning to thin once she was through the gates. As she made her way forward, she was inundated with vendors shouting at passersby trying to sell their trinkets.

“Take a look at my salt jewelry collection miss, who says you can’t ward off the evil spirits while accessorizing!”

“Try my par fum de salt, guaranteed to block evil from miles away!”

“These here salt crystals are a must for any home or business owner! Protect your home from the evil unknown!”

Meris quickened her steps, ignoring the vendors trying to get her attention and followed a small crowd to what looked like a mini pop up theater. The small stage was set up with varying shades of blue wavy paper meant to mimic the sea. Two actors, a woman wearing a blue mask similar to that of the children earlier, and a man dressed like a knight, fought on stage. The woman seemed to be winning until the knight pulled something out of his armor, a small vial of salt. He threw it at her feet and the woman shrunk away in fear, giving the knight time to push her into the sea. The onlookers all clapped and cheered as she ‘drowned.’

Meris turned to leave, not wanting to get caught up in the exiting theater crowd and immediately bumped into someone.

“Excuse me miss, I didn’t see you there.”

She looked up and met a pair of sea green eyes staring down at her. The boy was tall, at least 6’5’’, with hair the color of straw that fell across his forehead. He looked to be around her age, twenty, maybe twenty one, and he was gazing at her intently.

“Well hello, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure…?”

“Meris.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance Madam Meris”, he did a little bow, holding out his hand for hers. Meris raised a brow and tentatively placed her hand in his.

“Finley Sutton at your service, but you can call me Finn. " He winked and gave her hand a chaste kiss before righting himself and offering her his elbow, keeping up his gentleman shtick.

“Would you allow me to escort you through the festival? We wouldn’t want you getting into any more accidents now would we?’’

“Sutton? As in Sutton Salt?” Meris took his offered elbow and they started making their way through the crowd.

“The very one.” Finn smiled down at her showing off the dimple in his right cheek.

“What a coincidence, you’re just the man I was looking for.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes, well, this is my first Seaport festival, and I have to admit I’m a bit fascinated by the lore, I fancy myself a bit of an amateur historian. Who better than a Sutton to indulge all my silly questions?”

Finn lit up, his megawatt smile on display once more.

“Seems more like fate to me, ask away Miss Meris.”

“Well, I know the basics of the story: An evil witch put Elias Sutton, your great grandfather, under her spell and he fell madly in love with her until he found out her true nature. She goes on a murderous rampage targeting all his friends. He discovered salt was her one weakness and used it to defeat her and trap her under the sea, saving all the townspeople of Seaport and becoming a local legend. How am I doing so far?”

“So far so good.”

“Well, what about before all that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t she grow up here, in this town? What was she like? Did she have friends? A family? Did anyone suspect her of being a witch before then? I mean I can´t even find a mention of her name anywhere.”

“Woah, slow down! An amateur historian huh? More like a cutthroat reporter.” Finn smirked, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

Meris smiled shyly, shrugging her shoulders. “There are just so many unanswered questions and I love a good mystery.”

“Good to know. I’m not really sure about her past, dad never really got into the specifics, and he said great grandfather was adamant that no one ever say her name aloud, said it might conjure her up.” He smiled teasingly.

“There was one thing dad said great grandfather always made to sure to mention though. Her eyes. He said the were the bluest eyes he’d ever seen, like looking straight into the sea, and they almost seemed to glow.”

“Huh, glowing blue eyes were definitely not in any of the texts I’ve read.”

“Very glad I could be of service. If I’m being completely honest, I know about as much of the lore as any of these festival goers, maybe even a little less.” Finn chuckled. “I was never all that interested in the witch stuff, I mostly focus on the business side of things. I can however, point you in the direction of the town library, we’ve got tons of books on the history, and I can use the Dewey Decimal system like nobodies business.”

“I’m going to hold you to that Mr. Sutton.”

They’d stopped walking at some point and were just standing in the middle of the festival smiling at each other like idiots. Unfortunately, they had stopped right in the no-go zone and were broken from their reverie by an ax whizzing past their heads.

They both jump back watching as the ax lands nowhere near the intended target, a haggard illustration of the sea witch painted on to the ring of a tree.

“Hey, what the hell are ye two doin’? Get out o’ the way!”

“Sorry, Amos!” Finn waved and apologized as he once again linked arms with Meris and they continued their stroll a bit more briskly this time.

‘‘I thought I was supposed to be safe from accidents with you!’’ Meris hit Finn playfully in the arm as they ran off.

‘‘And you are!’’ Finn made a show of looking her over. ‘‘Not a scratch on you.’’

“Well, I hope you’re a better businessman than you are a protector. The salt business seems to be booming under your leadership.”

“It is indeed, we can’t keep the stuff stocked. We’ve even had to start going into the “forbidden sea” zones.” Finn bowed his head and lowered his voice to a whisper.

“Ooh, what makes them forbidden?”

“Well, my great grandfather claims the salt there is what keeps the witch buried.” Finn rolled his eyes, the lilt in his voice giving away his disbelief.

“You’re not afraid of freeing the big bad sea witch?” Meris teased.

Finn threw is head back and chuckled, “Well, she’s been trapped for over a century, so it’s I think it’s safe to say she’s long gone by now.”

“Hmm, well are you prepared to slay her if need be? Take up your great grandfather’s legacy?”

“Oh, absolutely!” Finn reached into the top of his button down and pulled out a small glass vial filled with salt, looped around a leather cord hanging from his neck.

“That sea witch better watch out cause I am armed and dangerous baby!” He shook the vial playfully.

Meris smiled and shook her head at his antics as they continued through the festival.

They passed a long queue of people waiting in line for the dunk tank. The dunkee sat on a perch donning a version of the blue witch mask. The sign above them read:

“Drown the Witch and Save the Town! $1 for 6 salt laced bean bags”

“So you really don’t believe in any of this stuff? The magic, the witch, the all powerful evil spirit shielding salt?” Meris gestured to his necklace.

Finn smiled at her. “Not at all, that was more my father’s speed, I’m much more grounded in reality, trust me.”

“Is your father around here? Oh wait, let me guess, he’s somewhere on sea witch lookout armed with a salt cannon?” Meris teased.

“Uh, no, he actually passed away about a year ago, all those cigars finally caught up with him.” Finn smiled sadly

Meris’ eyes widened at her blunder. “Finn, I am so sorry, you just talked about him in the past tense, I didn’t even—-” “No, no it’s okay, really. You’re not far off actually. He was always very tense this time of year, especially the week of the festival. It’s like he was waiting for the witch to come back and and wreak her vengeance or something.” Finn chuckled but it was devoid of humor. “Would you like to maybe go somewhere a little more quiet? You know, so we can talk more?”

Finn smiled softly. “I know just the place.”

He led them to a small clearing a little ways from the festival, close enough to hear the faint yells but far enough they could have some privacy.

They were right by the water, the waves a bit rougher than they’d been when Meris arrived.

“This is where I come to think. The sea has a way of clearing my head.” Finn watched as Meris walked a few steps closer to the waves, the wind tossing her hair around her shoulders.

“You’re nothing like him, you know? Elias.” Meris spoke without turning around.

“You can tell that just from reading some texts?” Finn chuckled. I’m liking my reporter theory more and more.”

“It’s a shame really, I was kind of starting to like you.”

“What do you——”

Finn gasped for air, his words getting stuck in his throat. His green eyes widened as he froze in place. He dared not move a muscle as he slowly glanced down, down, down to see Meris’ hand sticking out of his chest, her grip around his heart strong and unwavering.

Her eyes were blue, so blue they seemed to glow.

‘‘You see Finn, there’s a few very important details that your family’s lore leaves out, but the biggest one? Your great grandfather drowned me twice. The first was while I was still human. I guess I said no one too many times. So he took what he wanted, while all his friends watched and laughed and laughed. Then they threw me into the sea like I was garbage. Like I was nothing.’’

Meris had to almost shout to be heard over the waves now. They’d suddenly turned violent and unforgiving.

Finn’s breathing had slowed, coming out in choppy gasps every few seconds.

‘‘I guess some bored goddess took pity on me, brought me back to see what havoc I could wreak.’’ She was somehow, suddenly, soaked to the bone, water dripping from her hair and clothes and her skin had begun to take on a blue tint.

‘‘I’d never felt anything like it before, all that power in the palm of my hand. I started with his friends first, picked them off one by one so he’d know I was coming. I drowned them on land with just the flick of my wrist, then brought them back just to do it over and over and over again, until the sound of their laughter stared to fade from my mind. Or until I got bored, whichever came first.’’

Finn was growing paler by the second, all the blood rushing to his heart to try and keep him alive.

‘‘An all powerful sea witch defeated by a seasoning.’’ Meris laughed without humor.

‘‘Then Elias finds a way to not only profit off my murder for over a century, but to celebrate it!’’ Meris gestures to the festival, her blue eyes glowing brighter at the sounds of their laughter.

‘‘I’m sorry about this Finn, I really am,’’ Meris tightened her grip on his heart. ‘‘It’s not fair that you should have to pay for the sins of your great grandfather.’’ Her eyes were practically luminescent now and her teeth had grown to sharp points making her mouth bulge.

‘‘That’s why I decided to make it a quick one for you love.’’ Her hand came away from his chest quickly, the blood dripping down her arm as she help up her prize.

Finn’s body dropped before his heart stopped pumping its last few beats in her hand.

Meris turned back towards the festival, taking in the sounds of celebration and merriment.

‘‘You all want a witch?’’ She dropped Finn’s heart to the ground with an unceremonious thud.

‘‘I’ll give you a witch.’’