Jennifer dropped the phone as a shiver coursed through her.
"Oh God," her hands moved to her breasts, stroking them, kneading like bread dough as they rose. She grabbed at them and felt the soft skin separate, four still-growing breasts on her petite frame. An itch skidded across her as new nipples stiffened on each pert new breast.
The tingling sensation spread below. She felt her nether regions tighten. Her right leg crossed her left and a hot, melting shot down her body as they merged.
"Ah!" she moaned. A skittering itch cascaded down her legs as silver scales grew over her skin. Her bones twisted and muscles strengthened. Her knees no longer bent, but she raised her legs high, now the beginnings of a fish tail, just the hint of feet still visible. She thrashed downward and felt new muscles spring to life, a stretch of skin. When Jennifer looked again, a wide fluke spread where her feet once were.
She felt a tear at her waist. Her skin separated on either side to reveal gills.
She felt dizzy and closed her eyes. Jennifer suddenly plunged into chill water. She struggled in the water, her instinct to scissor kick somehow powering her sideways instead of up. Jennifer finally pumped herself in the right direction. Her powerful tail thrust her upward quickly despite her top heavy body.
When her head broke the surface, applause rang out, catcalls. Jennifer spun and saw a crowd of people staring at her.
"Let's have a hand for Jennifer, the world's only captive mermaid," the voice was familiar. Jennifer turned and spotted him. Kyle. At the edge of what appeared to be a large tank. The crowd dutifully doubled their applause.
Without conscious thought, she swam toward a cluster of rocks near the crowd and shimmied her way on top of them. She shook her long hair behind her, laying naked on the rock, unable to cover herself as people stared down. The sun pounded on her breasts and tail as it grazed the water lightly. She managed to brush her fingers against scales. Her scales.
Kyle's microphone crackled again.
"Folks, be sure to get tickets to tonight's mating ceremony. This will be the first time for Jen, but we're sure it won't be the last," Kyle announced with a devilish grin. "We're hoping to have lots of little mermaids at the zoo soon enough."