A Third Kind of Madness

I turn to my left and seated on the stone wall under a scraggly-looking tree is a Nyxen. It strikes me immediately that this is not one of my Nyxen, as much as any Elemental could be called mine. I’m not even sure how I know it because they are such amorphous beings, and even this one can’t seem to settle on an appearance. It keeps shifting between long and short hair or whatever the watery substance is on its head. Otherwise, it’s surprisingly stout in build, quite different from the Nyxen I know, and almost squat. It still has that blue-green-purplish hue to it, though, as much as I can through the meager shadow the tree provides.

“I don’t believe we’ve met before?” I keep my voice light and noncommittal. 

“We have not. But you have the blessings of my cousins on you, mortal, and that is rare indeed. And you look troubled.” It chuckles in a low voice. “More than looking troubled, you are broadcasting it loudly. And luck is on your side, as I believe I may have insight for you.”

“It’s true that I don’t know what to do. But I can’t afford to be in the debt of someone as powerful as an Elemental, especially not now.” Oh, I can’t afford to disrespect it either, crap. “Your offer is much appreciated, though.” Fuck it, I add a little bow at the end. Can’t hurt.

The bow earns me delighted laughter from the strange Nyxen.

“Ah, you’ve been well tutored! Not that one such as myself stands much on ceremony. As you can see, I’m hardly fastidious.” It gestures to the dark, polluted water below us. “No worries, mortal. Your bond with my cousins speaks well of you. No need to return favors for me.”

It gestures me closer, then seems just as quickly to change its mind.

“I am used to staying in the shadows, but let me step to you. The reputation of my kind is not a good one, and deservedly so. But I will not harm you. I will come away from the water to prove that.” 

As it emerges from under the shelter of the tree’s branches and few remaining leaves, the streetlight’s yellow-toned glow illuminates the Nyxen’s stout body, revealing all the details that were hidden before. 

It’s not a Nyxen at all. 

It looks similar in face and colors, and how it shifts, but the resemblance ends there. Its sturdy frame is not as streamlined as the Nyxen I know, but rather bumpy and textured. It takes me a minute to realize that the bumps are actually barnacles. They cover its ankles and wrists heavily and less so across the rest of its body. Its hair is mixed with long strands of seaweed, and there are clumps of it wrapped around the creature’s body as well. I catch the dark shine of a mussel shell in its hair as the not-Nyxen throws its head back and laughs heartily.

“Ah, I see that I have surprised you! You thought I was the same as my cousins, yes?” 

I nod, speechless.

“That tells me that you have not had much experience with Elementals. Yet you are properly cautious and respectful. I like that. I see why my cousins have marked you.”

“I—I am marked? What does that mean, exactly?”

Again, it laughs. “Not like a sign or a marking you would recognize. But there is an essence around you that signals to any of my kind that you have been favored by one of us. And being unaware of it means you do not take advantage of that favor. Though I would suggest to you that occasionally, you should.” It leans closer to me and winks. I can smell the familiar tang of brackish water and a hint of something fishy. It’s not unpleasant, surprisingly, because normally I would find it so. 

“So, um—if you aren’t a Nyxen, then what should I call you? If that’s okay to ask?” 

“At least one culture calls us Nereides, and that is as good a name as any. Once, we were known as beautiful, but as you can see, I reflect my home.” It indicates the dirty canal behind us with a wink. “Unlike my cousins, I live here in your harbor’s waters with others of my kind, and we are not as bound to each other as the Nyxen. Their bonds are by necessity, you see.” 

I didn’t, but that was something to puzzle out later. 

“So, is there a name I can call you? Or would you prefer I didn’t? I would give you my name in exchange…” Maybe that’s not the wisest offer, but I’ve made it this far through being polite, and I don’t see any reason to change that.

It looks me up and down as if judging my worthiness, which is fair enough. For my part, I stand there trying to muster all the confidence I can, which, as we know, isn’t much. After a moment, it nods thoughtfully.

“You’re a trusting child, aren’t you? Luckily for you, it’s a charming attribute. You may call me Dorcha, which is a name I have never offered to any but my own kind before today. Perhaps that makes me a trusting child as well, now.” When it smiles, its whole face creases up with the expression. It’s surprisingly endearing. I probably shouldn’t let down my guard, but it’s making that difficult.

“I’m Denny. I’m also known as the Photographer, at least by the Nyxen I know.” This gets me another full-faced smile. “I’m still new to this whole interacting with beings that are much more powerful than I am, so I hope you’ll forgive me if I make mistakes.” 

“Points for your honesty, Denny the photographer. You are respectful and thoughtful and that counts for a lot, especially when dealing with water in any of its forms. But perhaps I should tell you what you need to know.” Again, it winks at me, and all I can think of is sunlight flashing on ocean waves. 

I’m not sure how to answer, so I nod encouragingly like the fool I am.

“You can see that everything that you mortals discard eventually finds its way to me and my kin. It travels through the waters of the city to come to rest in the harbor. They’ve put a device now at the end of this channel to collect debris, but the emotions, secrets, and everyday concerns that travel with the trash escape those sorts of traps. And my kind? We hold it all. Those are our treasures.”

It moves a little closer to me and holds my gaze with an unnerving stare that makes the hair on my arms and the back of my neck raise.

“Water never forgets, Denny. And we Elementals know all the secrets the world wants to wash away.”