Chapter 1 Brighton Beach New Ice Cream Shop
It was a bright afternoon on the coast of England, where the Atlantic waves gently crashed against the rocks and golden sands. Brighton Beach, known for its joy and diversity, was preparing for a very special event: the opening of the most wonderful ice cream shop ever seen. An ice cream parlor called "A Thousand Ice Creams," famous for its unique and magical flavors, promised to turn every visit into a magical and incomparable experience. The secret of the thousand flavors' ice creams lay in the magic formula, created and founded by Charlie, a young and handsome Englishman from wealthy roots, who dedicated himself to making the ice creams. Whenever Charlie imagined a flavor, he could also taste it, feel it through synesthesia, close his eyes, and be transported to other worlds and memories with each of his creations. The flavors were as inventive as they were delicious, ranging from “Purring of a cat under the sun” to “A walk along Brighton Pier under the rain at 11:11 PM.”
Mía kept wondering if breaking up with Arturo had been the smartest decision, as he continued to insist on getting back with her. She could feel his passion and desire to reunite, and she also noticed beneath the surface how the fire of desire and attraction still burned fiercely between them. But Mía knew deep down—thanks to her siren’s sixth sense—that it didn’t matter if they had chemistry or not; she had to find a way to move on and leave behind her passionate relationship with Arturo. She wondered, while caressing Abundia, who was swimming and fluttering through her blond hair, if she would ever truly fall in love with someone. If she did, she would recognize it because her passion would transcend physical barriers and even feel more spiritual.
That afternoon, to stop thinking about her ex-boyfriend Arturo—a handsome, wealthy Italian who used to date mermaids and had Triton-human offspring—Mía and Abundia, her dancing fish, surfaced in search of communication with the human world. Mía still felt a special desire, especially now that she had experienced sex with a human man, a passionate longing to get to know humans and deepen her understanding of human activities.
Brighton Beach is located in the south of England, in the seaside city of Brighton, about 76 kilometers from London. The city is famous for its Victorian pier, pebble beaches, and vibrant atmosphere, making it a popular destination from London.In the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, beneath the surface, Mia was a mermaid of dazzling beauty. Her long, wavy hair shimmered with silvery hues, and her eyes had the shade of the deepest sapphire. Mia lived in the underwater city of Atlantic, a hidden paradise where mermaids and marine creatures coexisted in harmony. Although she enjoyed the tranquility of her home, she also felt an insatiable curiosity about the world of humans, especially about that beach that now buzzed with excitement. Additionally, Mia possessed a very special gift: only the love of her life could see the true color of her eyes; otherwise, all humans saw their deepest desires reflected in her eyes. This gift allowed—most of the time—her to make people fall in love with her without any apparent reason, simply by looking into their eyes.
Alongside her swam Abundia, her dancefish, whose grace and joy were contagious. The mermaid whispered excitedly, "Today is a special day, Abundia. The ice cream shop will open its doors on the beach! They say it has flavors we've never tasted… flavors of rain, good luck, forbidden kisses."
Suddenly, a sparkle in the water announced the arrival of a group of mermaids and mermen ascending to the surface to witness the opening. The magic in the air was palpable. Mia decided she also wanted to participate in the celebration, so with a sigh of determination, she prepared to emerge.
With a gentle movement, Mia let her tail transform into human legs—a magic that only happens when a Neptune’s daughter mermaid prepares to surface. Her legs transformed easily into human legs. Some mermaids, like the daughters of the god Jupiter, possessed another style of magic and could even transform without a fish tail for seven consecutive years, once every seven years during Jupiter’s full moon. The disadvantage is that during that period, unfortunately, they lived as humans and forgot their marine origins, unless the God Neptune made them awaken and their powers appeared. A risk that Mia was not willing to take because she loved being a mermaid and remembering it every day. Besides, she had no desire at all to fight monsters and evil forces that sought to attack humanity as a guardian of Neptune. At that moment, she emerged from the water onto the Brighton beach, dressed in a light, shiny dress, ready to immerse herself in the human world.
The crowd dispersed to make way for the opening of the ice cream shop "Mil Helados." The store had a charming design, with glass walls displaying a variety of flavors in magical showcases. The sweet, exotic aroma filled the air. Abundia, still a fish, waited for Mia at the shoreline, swimming along the stone breakwater that bordered the coast. Mia transformed and quickly put on a pair of jeans, which remained dry inside her stylish mermaid waterproof bag—a very chic bag she had bought at the Atlantic City bazaar. Also, a shiny lilac bra with purple pearls covered her breasts, and she added a loose silver blouse in a halter style that revealed her well-toned, worked back. Without a doubt, her swimmer’s back made her naturally have athletic and toned arms and shoulders. Around the beach, many people enjoyed the sunny morning with ice creams, cones in their hands, and also tubs of ice cream. However, when she entered the ice cream shop, it was completely empty. A purple velvet canopy decorated the entrance, hanging over the main street of the beach, which bordered the corner where the sandy path began toward the colossal, foamy sea. The first to arrive was Mia, with eyes full of wonder and a shy smile. In front of her was Charlie, the young owner of the ice cream shop. He had a special sparkle in his eyes, as if carrying a spark of magic within. He was a guy about twenty-seven years old, with dark hair and warm eyes. His passion for creating unique ice creams was evident. Charlie, with a welcoming smile, greeted her by saying:
"Welcome, would you like something special?" – He asked, observing her carefully while Mia looked into his warm, blue eyes and noticed the pink blouse she was wearing that highlighted her muscular arms and defined pectorals.