34. Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Four

Meria

H e was in pain. I could see it all over his face. And, yes, I knew that he was constantly in some sort of pain, but that pain felt different. He loved his brother. That was clear, but he was so worried about him. I had a sense that Peter would be fine. Pixies, although mischievous and childish, were not truly wicked. They meant well, and from what I heard in the chimes, they expected Peter to come to their isle. They expected him to go after his love . Peter may not have understood that he loved Gwendolyn, but everyone else could see it.

I touched my cheek as I walked to the railing of the ship, watching the water below us splash against the hull. My heart was so light; I felt like I was floating. Dominick’s lips had pressed against my cheek–so close to my lips. I realized as I touched my face where his lips had been that I wanted him to kiss me, to truly and fully press his mouth against mine. I was sure that it would be life-changing. As terrifying as that was, and even with how unsure I was of what a life with a pirate would be, I still wanted it. I still wanted Dominick, even though I did not know how it could work between us.

Us. I smiled. The sound of ‘ us’ made my heart flip. What I wouldn't give to wake up beside Dominick every single day. I could see him in my mind, being a father, holding a child in his arms and with a smile, grunting as our child touched his face; I wanted that. I had never pictured Edmar in such a way. Every single daydream about my life after marriage included the babies I would have, care for, and love–a family of my own. Edmar had never been interested in that and never found his way into my dreams. Sure, he would have been needed to father my children, and in my imaginings, some of the merchildren I had imagined did have his red tail. But in my thoughts about a life with Dominick, it was clear that I could see us sailing the seas. I could see him teaching me all about sailing. We could raise our family on a ship and in the sea. I could see a barefooted little boy, running around the deck with Dominick’s brown hair and blue eyes.

I clutched the side of the boat. I wanted that. I wanted that life so badly. I shook my head and moved my hand from my face. Dominick had a hard time opening up. I did not blame him for that. He had gone through much in his life, and I did not know all of it.

I still needed to find my mother in Walden. That voyage would not be our only adventure together. I took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly as I watched Pixie Isle shrink away in the distance. I forced my thoughts away from Dominick. How were my people? I missed my nieces and my nephews and my sisters, even though the latter could be rather irritating. Would Finn be waiting for me when we returned from the Misted Seas? I wished he was with me. I missed Finn possibly the most. I told myself that once I found my mother, once I found out the truth about Marren, I could save my people and return home. Sure, I wanted to go home because I loved the sea and my people and my family, especially Finn, but I didn't have the same all encompassing desire that I had before my journey with Dominick. I watched the crew work, and I wondered if I would be satisfied never again returning to the sea. Sure, land, it was dry, and humans were strange, but I was growing used to my legs, and even though Dominick was closed off more than I liked, I wanted his company as long as he would give it to me. I looked off into the distance, and Pixie Isle was gone, and a darkness crept over, not only the sky, but the water–it was so dark, almost black.

Then there was a slight shift in the magical feelings within the sea; it soon sounded like there was thunder beneath the ship, shaking the boat. I turned around, and the crew were all standing there, frozen.

Dominick burst from his room, his hair handsomely disheveled. “These are sea serpent infested seas, here, just before the Mirror Sea. The serpents hunt in large schools and can gnaw holes into the hull of the ship. We must hurry through these waters!” Dominick shouted. I looked into the water and saw that it was already full of small green-gray tails– serpents? Sea serpents had been extinct since before the Great War, I thought. Sea serpents ruined everything in their path, eating whatever they came in contact with. They used to eat the reefs and had destroyed so many miles of seaways. They would sink us all. While I would be fine, the men aboard would not be.

There were loud scrapes and crunching, like breaking wood. I looked down again, seeing the serpents latching on by their teeth, trying to get into the hull. I began to sing within my soul:

Creatures of the sea–

Calm–calm–

Shift with the waves–

Float away–Float away.

I urged them to leave the ship alone, wondering if my song would be effective from the ship’s deck. I tried to shift the current, moving my hands back and forth to cause the waves to move the creatures away from the ship. I repeated the song for a fifth time, and the sounds of the wood breaking lessened. The ship, which had vibrated with intense pressure, quieted. They were still swarming around the ship, and I was certain that the ship was going to take on water because they had already done damage, but hopefully, we would make it out of those waters.

I continued to sing. Their heads were, then, out of the water, and I was shocked by the hundreds of sea serpents that I saw, their heads bobbing to my song, the sea rocking them back and forth and away from the ship.

Float away–

Float away creatures of Mother Sea–

Float away,

away from me.

I watched as the swarm of sea snakes slithered slowly away. I clutched the side of the railing as I realized how weak I had become from using my magical song.

“Meria!” I turned to see Dominick, his hair tousled in the wind and his dark blue eyes locked onto mine. He rushed to my side and held me in his arms. I was pressed against his chest, and his warmth made me feel better–not as drained. “What did you do? Are you hurting? What happened?”

“I am fine.”

“What did you do?” I was shocked when he touched my cheeks, turning my head this way and that as if inspecting me to ensure that everything was in its place.

“I just did my job. I am your mermaid, afterall,” I said, feeling both more exhausted in his embrace as well as more energized. How that was possible, I did not understand.

“Meria–” he reprimanded. “We were taking care of it down below.”

“We were all going to die. There was nothing you or your crew could have done to stop them.”

“But–”

“I can persuade with my song. It is something the mer do–”

“Persuade?”

“Yes–it was one of the other reasons humans hunted us. But only sirens use their songs for luring humans. Mermaids only use them for the sea and its inhabitants.”

“But you seem so weak again–”

“Yes, but I will be fine, like I always am.”

“No pain?” he asked, looking into my eyes, back and forth, impatient for my answer.

“No–I do not fear pain, Dominick, and even if it did cause me pain, I would still help.”

“I am glad you are okay. Let me help you back to the cabin so you can rest. Thank you. We all owe you our lives.”

“There is a reason that your studies informed you that you need a magical creature of the sea to safely navigate these waters. I do not think the magical creatures of the sea want humans here. I have a feeling that humans have not been in these waters for hundreds of years. The mists have protected these seas.”

“Hopefully, we will reach the island soon, accomplish our task, and then be on our way,” Dominick said with a nod. Then he bent down and picked me up, my arms around his neck. and his arms holding my legs. I was cradled so close to him. I never wanted him to put me down. I smiled as he carried me to the captain's cabin. He kicked the slightly ajar door, left open from when he had suddenly emerged to tell us of the sea serpent waters. He walked to the bed and set me down, gently placing my head upon his pillow. He brushed some loose strands of hair from my face, and his hand trailed down the hair of my braid beside my shoulder. I closed my eyes, feeling his touch all over my face, and I laughed.

“Sorry,” he said, pulling away. I opened my eyes.

“I am well, Dominick. I just need to rest a little,” I said.

“If anything ever happened, Meria–”

“If anything happens to me, you would never reach the Mirror Sea, nor would you make your journey home, I know,” I said, knowing that he meant more than that–he had to. But I also knew he was closed off, and wondered if he would agree with my reasoning.

“That isn’t what I meant.”

“Are you okay?” I asked, looking him over.

“There is much on my mind, but I am fine. I was worried about you–really worried, and it frightened me. You keep doing that.”

“ I am sorry for making you worry.”

“I just need a minute without the crew's eyes on me.”

I reached up to him and touched his arm. He flinched. “What truly happened to you, Dominick?” I whispered.

“It doesn't matter,” he said, his voice rough.

“I think it does. It matters to me.”

He leaned over me, and I moved my hand from his arm, over to his face, tracing his features, just as he had done to me. How I loved every single ridge and freckle, and scar.

“I cannot remember the last time someone touched me–touched my skin,” he whispered.

I moved my hand from his face.

“And it was never like this. Don't stop–unless–you don’t–”

“I want to.” I smiled, and I reached for his hands, which were braced against the bed, so he moved, making them available for me to hold. I slowly pulled the gloves from each of his fingers. I lifted up his hand and traced the black veins–veins filled with pain. I could feel the magic of his curse pulsing there within his blood. How badly I wanted to take it from him.

He was still stiff as I traced his skin. Still stiff as I placed my palm against his and held our hands in front of his face.

“You will not hurt me, Dominick.”

“I could. Just because I have not yet, does not mean it can’t happen.”

“No–you couldn't,” I said, moving his hand so it was touching my cheek. He took in another sharp breath as his warm skin touched mine there. I reached down for his other hand and placed it on my other cheek, his hands cradling my face. At first, when I dropped my hands, I thought he would remove his hands, but we remained there, frozen–for how long, I did not know, but he kept his hands there. There was a slight twitch of his fingers, and then he caressed my skin, pressing his warmth into me. When he did that before, he wore his gloves, and it still made me tingle and feel warmth –but this is–this is fire–a molten lava flow. More and more intense every time.

A loud knock came at the door, and we both jumped apart. For some reason, my breath was heavy, and I was having a hard time focusing my thoughts. I missed his touch instantly.

“Nick?” Sand’s voice came from behind the not fully closed door.

“Yes?” Dominick nearly growled with an irritation that I felt, too. He turned his gaze from me to the door.

“We have another problem.”

Dominick looked at me, as if he were going to say something to me, but he quickly looked back to the door.

“I will be back,” he said quickly and left the room, leaving me alone and cold without him.

I awoke to the sounds of boots hitting the floor. I turned to see a stumbling Dominick, walking across the room and over to me.

“Dominick?” I asked, sitting up. He looked in my direction, but it was like he wasn't seeing me; he was merely seeing through me.

“Meria–” his voice was like a sweet caress. He had never sounded like that before. “You are still here.”

“Where else would I go?”

“You can swim. You could spell every creature and beat us to the island. Or swim away across the sea where I could never find you again,” he said with a frown.

“I made a promise to help you.”

“Yes–yes you did, didn't you?” he said, walking closer, still stumbling. He held himself up, using a chair. Why was he stumbling as if he had been drinking? Dominick never drank with the crew. A moment later, Sands rushed to his side.

“Can you help me, Meria?” Sands asked when he saw me sitting on the edge of the bed. I nodded and rushed to his side.

“Meria loves to help–to heal. Can you heal my shattered heart, Meria? Can you make me feel more than just pain?” Dominick said, slurring his words.

“What is wrong with him, Sands?”

“We don't know. He was down in the hull of the ship, helping to get the holes patched. A few of the other men are in just the same condition.”

I looked at him again. He was wet from the waist down.

“Take off his pants.”

“Excuse me, Meria?” Sands asked with a chuckle of confusion.

“She wants me, Sands. Who am I to deny her?” Dominick asked.

I gasped.

“She blushes for me, how sweet.”

Sands had Dominick sit as I gathered myself. That was not truly Dominick, but his words made my pulse quicken. Sands pulled off Dominick's boots, stockings, and pants. Of course, he was covered with his under layer, but it was strange to see him so uncovered . Sands took in a deep breath as he saw the black veins that covered his legs. He was careful not to touch Dominick’s skin directly–he knew of the curse. Sands stepped back, and I moved to Dominick’s legs, inspecting them. Sure enough, there were over a dozen bite marks.

“What is it?” Sands asked.

“I need rum, clean linens, a hot poker, and a basin of water,” I said.

“I do not drink, Meria–but you are thoughtful, aren't you, my little mermaid?” Dominick said with a saucy grin and a wink.

I felt my cheeks darken.

“What is it?” Sands asked.

“The sea serpents; they bit him.”

“How?”

“Were there any in the hull?”

“A few, but the crew got them.”

“It seems, not before they were bitten.”

Sands turned and walked away. “I will tell the others.”

“Tell them to use the rum to numb the pain–as it will get rather painful.”

“And the hot poker?”

“That is to seal up the wounds.”

There were many poisonous creatures living in the sea, so many of the mer had knowledge of their poisons. The wounds needed to be cleaned and sealed. The rum was something I knew from our journey that helped to ease the pain of so many sailors.

“You are so warm–so soft–so lovely,” Dominick said, his head bobbing to the side.

“You are very poisoned.”

“I have been through worse.”

“Have you?” I asked. I didn't want to take advantage of his intoxicated state, but I wanted to know about him, about the secrets he held onto so tightly.

“I have, but you have not; you are pure and good, untouched by the evil and pains of this world.”

“I have had pain,” I said, taking note of each wound. I counted ten in groups of two. The skin about his legs was turning a sickly yellow. I didn't have time to waste.

“I am going to get the poison out.”

I like the poison; it helps the cursed pain–it is nearly gone.”

“I am so sorry, Dominick,” I said as tears dripped from my eyes. He reached down with his gloved hand and wiped at my tears.

“Do not shed tears for me, beautiful,” he whispered in such a sweet voice, I wanted to memorize it.

“I am going to heal you.”

“Okay, but it is a shame–”

“This poison is not real freedom from the pain, Dominick–only temporary.”

He nodded.

I moved my body to sit on the floor. I cried very carefully over the wounds so they were sure to catch my tears. Minute after minute dragged on, but as I reached the final two puncture wounds to heal them, my head started to feel fuzzy again from the effects of my healing.

“Dominick?” I asked, looking into his eyes. He still seemed dazed, his head lulled to the side.

“Yes, beautiful,” he said with a smirk.

“Do you feel better?”

“That is an interesting question because I feel more pain, which is normal. I do not feel better, but I feel more like myself if that is what you mean.”

He winked at me. It seemed that some of the poison’s effects were still working.

“I am so sorry, Dominick.”

“No—no sorry, my mermaid. My mermaid–”

Tears dripped down my face, and I wanted again, to break his curse.

“Can I put my pants on now?” he asked with another smirk.

“Yes, of course.” I stood up and turned my back to him, hearing him shuffle.

“Thank you for helping me.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I am going to check on the others,” he said, and I turned around.

“No–I will go find Sands and make sure they are well.”

“I can go. I feel fine,” he said.

“Just rest, will you?” I snapped.

“Did you just–”

“You will stay here, Dominick, and you will sit in this chair until I return. Do you hear me?” I poked him in the chest until he sat back down in the chair. That was when I saw the smile upon his face. He took my finger that was poking his chest into his hand and tugged me forward–I fell into him, sitting on his lap.

“Dominick!” I squealed. He wrapped his arms around me, and I was engulfed by his embrace. That was the warmest, safest, most cherished I had ever felt in my entire life.

“Thank you for demanding something. We will teach you to use that voice yet.”

I laughed, shoving his chest. “I do not like being mean.”

“Saying what you want–asking others to follow you–that is not mean, Meria,” he said, caressing my cheek. He had his gloves on, and I wished he hadn’t so I could feel his full warmth.

My heart beat erratically as he pressed his forehead against mine, breathed in deeply, and closed his eyes.

“How do you make the pain go away?” he asked, his breath caressing my lips.

“Dominick–” I began.

But he pressed his lips to my forehead, and I lost all sense of reason. His hot lips pressed against my skin made me forget where I was, even what my name was. All I could think about was Dominick.

In the next moment, his hand slacked at his side. His head bent back and rested on the chair.

“I think I’m passing out. What a shame when I desired so much to kiss you and ruin your reputation–”

“My reputation?” I laughed.

“It would be ruined. I would ravish you.”

“Stop it! You would not!”

His head lulled even more to the side, and he blinked up at me, a small smile upon his lips. “I would enjoy every single moment–”

“Dominick, stop. Rest, you wicked pirate,” I laughed, climbing off of his lap.

“Meria?”

I turned around to look at him. He was even more slumped than before.

“Yes?”

“Do not leave me. At least–I mean, come back. Will you, my mermaid?” His voice was so faint–and a little garbled.

“It will just be a few minutes,” I assured him.

“Alright–but I think you've ruined me, just like this poison. If I am going to die from this poison–I would rather die by drowning. Yes, I want to drown by being consumed by you.”

“You are not drowning. I just saved your life,” I said, placing my hands on my hips.

“I used to not think about having a normal life, kissing your sweet, soft lips and having a family–beautiful children with your tail color and my dark eyes. I never thought such things–only thought about being the captain of my own ship. Now, after knowing you and being with you, I want you more. I want you more than a life at sea, and more than this ship. I want my mermaid, forever–my Meria.” Then his eyes closed, and he passed out.

My heart was thudding within my chest. I wanted that, too–more than anything.

Are these words his real feelings? I hope they are.