The last two months had gone quickly… well… so most people say. My Grandfather had indeed passed away. We had a funeral for him and he was cremated and given a soldiers burial. In his will everything more or less came to me, which I was thankful for… but… I miss him, a hell of a lot.

But Rosemarie to try and get me out of my sorrows decided to take me away, and had brought me up to Scotland for the weekend… Right now we were having a tour of one of the old castles. I wasn’t having any fun at all… I wasn’t one for history but I listened. Though as we walked through one of the main halls I noticed that some of the vines and flowers that had managed to sneak their way into the old building grab the tour guides attention. I heard them mention that the plants hadn’t been there yesterday so I hung back. Rosemarie hadn’t noticed me leaving the group as I stood in the middle of the main hall of the castle.

The building looked like it was ready to fall apart and collapse. But some parts of it was still strong and showing what fine workmen had been building this fine and mighty castle.

I walked over to the plants and I stroked one of the leaves gently but the vine wrapped around my hand like it was being controlled. Someone was controlling this plants and it wasn’t surprising to me… there was a mutant most likely hiding out in this building. I pulled out my bottle of water and pulled the lid off. Using my powers I pulled the water out and moved it over the plants to water them. Hoping to get the other mutants attention to let them know I mean no harm.

I heard small light footsteps behind me, as I turned I saw something I had never seen before. A young girl, with long hair as red as the rose and skin as green as an emerald with small vine marks on her arms and legs just about showing through her tattered clothes and her eyes were white, no pupil showing at all. She was beautiful. I smiled at her,
“Are you not going to scream for help?” The little girl asked,
“No.” I replied and slowly knelt down in front of her, “For we are alike. We both have powers.” I spoke and she bowed her head down a little and then her eyes looked up at me, they seemed to shine a bit brighter as she nodded.
“You are… Oceanus… I heard about you on the TV from other people’s houses and people’s radio’s.” The girl explained as I nodded sat on the floor.

Though one thing highly concerned me.
“Are you alone?” I asked, the girl’s hands moved together as she looked at them and pulled some dirt from under her green nail. I looked over her body and saw the signs of an abused and homeless child. “I take that as a yes. Here.” I held out another bottle of water towards the girl and smiled. The girl stepped forward slowly and then taken the bottle off me and drank the water inside quickly. I then gave her my sandwich and crisps I had in my bag as well since the day trip was all day. The girl soon moved to sit next to me on the floor and I studied her more closely.

“I’m Honey Blood.” Honey spoke as I smiled and watched her eat the food like she hadn’t eaten for days.
“I’m Precious, and I have a feeling that was your other name.” I replied, Honey Blood nodded and swallowed the mouthful,
“Courtney…” Courtney looked up at me as I smiled at her and placed my hand on her shoulder gently,
“A beautiful name for a beautiful young girl.” I spoke and brushed her cheek with my thumb getting rid of the crumbs on her face.

Rosemarie appeared by the door again and I stood up, Courtney hid behind me and gripped onto my shirt. Rosemarie frowned in confusion as she tried to look behind me,
“What are you doing? The group is leaving here…” Rosemarie spoke,
“We are going back to the cabin.” I replied,
“We?” Rosemarie shook her head and put her hands on her hips, I gently pulled Courtney out from behind me as Rosemarie blinked at her in amazement.
“It’s okay. Rosie is my best friend and knows about my powers and she’ll understand you just the same.” I looked down at Courtney and she nodded. Though Courtney still stood half behind me. “We can’t leave her here…” I spoke.

Rosemarie gave in. We got a taxi back to the cabin (Rosemarie owned) and took Courtney inside the cabin by the lake. Rosemarie owned the cabin after suddenly buying it to get us our own place to live in while in Scotland. I looked to Courtney as she sat at the table while Rosemarie was in the kitchen making us something to eat. We both watched the young girl for a while since she wouldn’t speak to me again. Most likely because Rosemarie was there… I looked to Rosemarie as she stood in the kitchen making food. I offered my hand to Courtney and she took it as I led her outside onto the balcony that led onto a walkway out onto the lake we were living by.

“It’s okay. Nobody else can see us on this lake. So nobody will see you.” I spoke as Courtney was looking around seeing if she could find any life. When we got to the end of the planks I sat down and put my feet in the cold water. Courtney followed suit soon after, and sat next to me.

“I was abandoned when I was born…” Courtney spoke, as I looked at her and my eyebrows furrowed a little, “Who would want a child with green skin?” Courtney looked up at me,
“They don’t deserve such a wonderful child as yourself.” I spoke,
“You don’t even know me.” Courtney quickly replied,
“I know you enough to know you aren’t a bad person.” I replied just as quickly and looked back down at her, “You may have been living alone all your life and stealing food just to survive, but I understand your pain of rejection. But I can also sense that you aren’t a bad person. Just misunderstood because of your looks. Which is wrong, but I do understand that.” I explained and looked down at the water.

“When I enter the water, I turn into a mermaid.” I spoke and looked at Courtney as she was looking at my legs,
“Why haven’t you changed now?” Courtney asked,
“Because I am not fully submerged and I have not allowed myself to change.” I explained, Courtney looked up at me,
“Can you show me?” Courtney asked as I nodded. I looked at the water and then pulled up enough water to wrap around my legs and waist as my shorts and underwear ripped and my legs changed into a beautifully scaled tail. I lifted my legs out of the water and shown my fin as Courtney looked over me quickly, “Wow… that’s amazing!” Courtney put her hand on my tail and stroked it gently, I jumped a little because it tickled,
“Tickles when people stroke my tail.” I giggled as she stopped and pulled her hand away. I moved the water over my legs still as I looked to Courtney. “Think you could grab me a towel? I get naked after changing back to normal.” I smirked as Courtney nodded and stood up and ran down the path.

As I sat there I looked out onto the lake, how can her parents just abandon her and leave her alone… The poor girl has had to live alone most of her life. Or some of it, I doubt she was left alone for too long else she wouldn’t be alive right now. Maybe she was found and brought up by some nice people for a while and then ran away? I’ll have to see if I can enquire further and find out more about her and find somewhere she could possibly make a future…

I smiled when Courtney returned with the towel and I placed it over my legs as I removed the water and let my legs return to normal. I stood up and smiled at Courtney as I turned and started to walk back to the cabin with her.
“Why don’t you speak to Rosemarie or when Rosemarie is around?” I asked,
“I… You’ll most likely understand how hard it is to trust people…” Courtney bowed her head down as we walked,
“You can trust Rosemarie, just as much as you trust me. I’ve known Rosemarie since I was 5, and she is a very well respected young woman.” I explained, Courtney looked up at me and nodded though she still looked unsure.

That night we had fed Courtney and Rosemarie had gone out shopping and got Courtney some new clothes to wear. I was going to find out what I could do with her… she needed somewhere to live… someone to look after her, a role model to show her the rights and wrongs and take her on the correct path.

I sat on the sofa by the window, as she was asleep in my bed. I wanted to make sure she was safe and secure. I felt protective over her… like she was a younger more vulnerable version of myself who needed help. I was going to help her and protect her. My promise that I made to my Grandfather was to protect those who were weak. I know that Courtney isn’t weak by her powers of being able to control nature. But… mentally and physically she was powerless. Courtney needed an adult to look after her.

I looked out the window as the sun had now set and the sky was black with the moon shining brightly. I closed my eyes as I let the moon shine on me through the window. For some reason, whenever it was a full moon I felt more powerful, like the moon was fueling me and rebooting my systems. Rosemarie once came up with the theory that the moon would enhance my powers and make me stronger if it was full due to the fact that the moon effected the ocean in some ways. It didn’t make much sense to me because she was talking too quickly having one of her light bulb moments. We haven’t had much time to practice that theory though… but we will in years to come. I’ve got my whole life ahead of me to train my powers. It’s not like I’m going to always get attacked by people or be called upon to save the world… I hope not anyway.