Contemporary fiction has shifted toward "feminist horror" and "romantasy," where "wickedness" is often a survival trait or a rejection of traditional gender roles.

In British and Scottish folklore, seeing a mermaid was an unlucky omen, often foretelling disasters like violent storms or shipwrecks. 2. Modern Literature: Reclaiming the "Wicked" Archetype

Some beliefs suggest that "mermaids" are actual principalities or evil spirits that occupy and rule over specific bodies of water, responsible for chaos, destruction, and spiritual strongholds in coastal areas.