A brief moment of lucidity was all it took for you to realize that this wasn’t what you wanted. “Um… don’t be offended by this, but… I’m not the kind to just sleep with a woman I just met.” You say as you sit down on a stool in front of the vanity. “I’m sorry if I came off as a tease because I agreed before. It’s just that… you’re so beautiful and I guess my hormones got the better of me.”
“It’s understandable,” Cleo said, “mermaid hormones are quite potent; and our libido can sometimes get away from us. Especially with how beautiful you are. I just can’t resist you.” Cleo said seductively, hoping to sway your decision.
You look at the mirror of the vanity and saw how right she was. Your long hair floated around you like a golden cloud, your face was flawless and youthful, sultry eyes were framed by pink coloring that matched your glossy lips. “I am beautiful, aren’t I? Still, you deserve better than a one-night stand.”
“Really?” Cleo asks.
“I can tell; there’s a beautiful, intelligent, strong woman in there who’s better than this.” You swim up to Cleo, sit next to her on the clamshell bed and place your arm on her shoulder. “I’d rather have that than some tawdry fling any day.”
Cleo was shocked; she turned her head away, her face showing her deep in thought. When she turned back she said, “My mothers were right.”
“About what?”
“True love.”
You blush a little. She was right, you did feel something when you saw her after regaining your age, but it was more than a mere physical attraction.
“I didn’t believe in it, but they said that I would someday find one who would rather take my heart than my body. I thought it was some silly human notion. We had a big fight about how a proper princess should seek true love than to cavort with any mermaid that catches her fancy.”
“Princess?”
“Yes, I am a princess of New Atlantis. I left there after that fight and eventually came to be a part of this carnival.” Cleo swam to the closet and opened the bottom drawer. She pulled out what looked to be the top of a ball gown and put it on, followed by a tiara made of coral and a pearl necklace with a clamshell locket. She took another gown top from the drawer as well and fit it onto you. “I’ve come to a decision;” Cleo said. “I’m returning home, and I want you to come with me.”