37. Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Dominick

W hen I awoke and my pain felt almost completely gone and warmth and peace flooded through me, I was sure I was in the Ancient Lands, certain I was dead.

I felt a warm wind on my face, warmth wrapped around my body as if I were in an embrace. I was hugging that warmth back, that peace, pulling it closer and closer to me. I buried my face in that warmth.

Then the warmth, that peace, made a sound. A small sigh of contentment, and I opened my eyes. It took me a few blinks to see the picture clearly before me. There, right before me, was the face of the most beautiful maiden I had ever seen, but she was all too familiar, although my memory seemed fuzzy around the edges. Her light blond locks in a tangled mess made me smile. I realized then that her arms were wrapped around me, yet mine were also wrapped around her. It was as if had we not latched onto each other, we would have both died.

What transpired? How had I landed in this situation?

I could not be upset because the pain was nearly gone, and without the pain, my negative thoughts were gone. All I thought about was Meria, her beauty, her grace, her heart, and her soul.

Can Meria and I sail the seas together? Will she want to? With me? After I have my revenge on my mother, can we be together?

“Dominick?” I heard her whisper, but her eyes were closed. She was still asleep, and she clutched me tighter.

Can I really be the one Meria clings to? Really be the person she wants beside her, day and night, for the rest of her life?

How wonderful that felt, even for a moment, even if it was fiction to imagine, it brought such a brightness to my soul.

“Dominick,” she gasped again as if in fear. The tremble of her lips, and the furrow upon her beautiful brow caused my heart to ache. It was the same reaction that most people had–what people did when I touched them.

Did I hurt her?

“Meria–” I whispered, untangling one arm.

“I need you, Dominick,” she said faintly into my chest, her face pressed there. I watched in awe as she tilted her face up, her eyes still closed.

I reached down to caress her cheek.

Is she real? Or is this a dream?

She whimpered in her sleep, and I wanted to take away the furrow from her brow.

“Meria, you are well,” I whispered as I moved some hair from her face. After a few minutes of my gentle words, her eyes opened. I would never forget that sleepy smile that came upon her face as she looked at me, the cursed, pirate that I was.

Did I truly kiss those lips? Will I kiss them again? I wanted to–how desperately.

“Dominick, how are you feeling?” she said faintly, untangling her arm to reach up and brush hair from my brow. I was surprised and frozen as she traced her finger over my scar, then to my ear, and touched my golden earring there. That was new. I wondered what she thought of it.

“I am well,” I said, barely even audible, and she continued to play with my golden hooped earring.

“I am so glad you are awake.”

“As am I. If I am awake, that is,” I said, caressing her cheek and her mouth as she smiled. “Ancients, you are beautiful, Meria.”

“You are so wickedly handsome,” she said.

“Wickedly? Rather accurate.”

She looked at me with a gentle smile, and when I dropped my hand down to touch her back and hair, she stiffened. She was partially on top of me, a rather compromising position. Not prince-like nor gentlemanly of me at all. But in my defense, I had been unconscious; she was the one who climbed into my bed, at least I assumed that. I wished for her to never leave. She looked down as if just realizing our positioning. She gasped, placed her hands upon my chest, and removed herself from on top of me. She slid from the bed and landed on the floor, standing and running hands over the large shirt she wore. I smiled, even though I wished she was still in my arms. She was wearing my shirt, and I absolutely loved it.

“I am so sorry; I should not have–”

“Been in my bed?” I smirked.

I enjoyed seeing the pink of her cheeks.

“Having you in my bed is rather preferable,” I said with a wicked grin.

“Dominick! Although you are a pirate, you are also a prince!”

“And you keep forgetting that although I am a prince by birth, I am more a wicked pirate,” I said with a wink.

“You are not wicked,” she said, taking a step back.

“Is that so? Then why are you moving away when I desire to kiss you so thoroughly that everyone aboard this ship will see it about your mouth.”

“What?” she said in shock.

“My whiskers, when I kiss you, they leave a little redness.”

“I should not be here,” she said, avoiding eye contact with me.

“Ah, you should be here , my beautiful mermaid,” I said, raising my hands out on each side and motioning to my chest. She looked at me for a moment and stepped even further away.

“Why are you going so far away? I thought I was wickedly handsome? This wickedly handsome pirate wishes to ravish you with kisses in my bed.”

“Dominick! I know you are only saying these things to shock me.” She placed her hands so attractively on her hips. I tried to not look at her rather beautiful exposed legs.

“And are you shocked?” I asked. It was true; I was more of a gentleman, but I was also a man, a man looking upon the most beautiful maiden I had ever seen, and she was wearing my shirt. It was even more attractive to see her reaction to my teasing and flirting.

“No,” she said rather hesitantly. I sat up and with only a few steps, I had her in my arms, where she belonged in my opinion. She resisted, playfully, for only a moment before sighing and placing her head upon my chest, her hands clutching the fabric of the shirt I wore. I looked at her eyes–those beautiful blue-white eyes that held me captive with their light.

“I know you are honorable,” she whispered.

“Pirates are not honorable, my little mermaid. We keep having this conversation,” I said as I brushed my nose along her jawline and trailed it down her neck, making sure my breath was hot on her neck. I felt her body relax, and I wanted to cheer, so satisfied that I had made her feel so relaxed. Has anyone else ever felt that way with my touch and my presence? No, only Meria.

“Dominick,” she sighed, and although I was as honorable as a pirate prince could be, I wished at that moment that I was not. I wished I truly was a wicked pirate. But, I had very little that I could claim as actually good about me. I faked many things, but it was true that I was not a man who sought to take advantage of women’s attention. I did not have many things–but I had that virtue. Meria’s kiss had been my very first, and if I had it my way, it would also be my last.

“I am enjoying seeing you in this shirt of mine, Meria,” I said, touching the fabric at her shoulder.

“Dominick!”

“It looks good on you–might be my favorite thing–”

“Stop!” she said, swatting at my chest.

“Okay, I will stop, and I will release you, but for a price,” I said against the side of her neck.

“What price could a pirate want? I have no treasure, no gold, no gems.”

“Ah–you are very much mistaken. You are the treasure I want,” I said.

“I already told you, I am your mermaid.”

She had, but was it our jest? Or was it that she truly wanted to be my mermaid? We had kissed, and that was something, something I would never let go of. I was far too selfish to give her up, ever.

I tangled my hand in her messy hair. “Tell me what happened,” I asked as I began to caress her hair.

She turned.

“Will you braid it again? It’s driving me to madness.”

“Well, we cannot have a mad mermaid aboard this ship,” I chuckled. She turned around, and I began. It took some time to untangle it, and then, I slowly sectioned and braided her very long hair.

“You were taken by a siren,” she said.

“A siren?”

“One of the crew members pushed you over after being coaxed by one of the sirens. One of them explained that after you fell, a siren knocked you unconscious.” I closed my eyes and stopped braiding. I had no memory of such a thing.

“If I was taken by a siren, why is my heart not ripped from my chest?”

“Did you know that not all humans are affected by the siren call?”

“No,” I said, continuing to braid.

“Only those with willing or weak hearts. It seems your heart was strong. They could not take your heart.”

“Because my heart was already taken?” I wanted to say something about it being hers. But no, it was way too soon to tell Meria that she had begun to take up a large place in my heart. I did not know anything about true love–or even the idea of love for that matter, but I felt something with Meria that I had never felt before.

Was that love? I was not sure. So until I was sure, I would stay silent on matters of love.

“Or you are strong enough to resist them.”

“I am sure that I am strong because of all the pain I endure.”

“I am so glad you are well. We did not know if you would wake up. We were able to save most of the crew, but Sands said we lost about seven men to those soulless abominations.”

“Horrible loss. Did the crew honor them?”

“Yes, a true sea burial. Sands performed it all, and only just this morning.”

I nodded. A sea grave was the way I wished to go someday, but, hopefully, after a longer life–that is, as long as I can live it on my terms.

“Thank you, again, for saving me, and the crew,” I said, but there was so much more I wanted to say. She had done so much, and I would never be able to repay her. I finished her braid and took a small piece of ribbon sitting on the side table, and I tied it at the end. I placed the end over her shoulder, and she touched it.

“You are so good at this, Dominick."

“I told you, it is nothing. Maidens have much prettier ones on land. They don't look so much like a rope when they do it,” I shrugged.

“My sister would sometimes braid sections of my hair, but usually I did nothing to it.”

“Do you miss your family?” I asked curiously.

“Not my father, but I do miss my cousin, sisters, and my nieces and nephews.”

“How many nieces and nephews do you have? I am sure you are a wonderful aunt.”

“Nineteen boys and twenty-five girls. I love children, and I hope to have a large family someday,” she said, standing with her head down as if that was a shameful thing.

That was the opposite of shameful. She would be an incredible mother. I could see it already in the way she was so kind, gentle, and loving. She was someone who deserved to be protected, yet she always cared for others. I never had a mother in my life, of course, aboard Veeto’s ship, but for the years I did, my mother had been all those things–although it had been an act. With Meria, it would not be.

“That sounds perfect,” I said.

She whipped her head up, looking me directly in my eyes. The look she gave me was astonishing.

“What?” she asked, surprised.

I chuckled, brushing her cheek. “You will make a wonderful mother. You should have as many children as you desire; they shall be incredibly blessed with you as their mother.”

“Thank you, but I need to find them a father first. I thought I was ready for that part of my life, and then–although I am happy I discovered the truth–I am far away from it yet again,” she said as if in defeat.

An image flashed before my eyes: me sitting on the beach beside her with three children at our feet. It went away as quickly as it came. I had always enjoyed when I was able to help children find relief from their pain, using my curse. If I was not a cursed pirate, but a cursed prince, I would have a similar dream of a family with a load of children to take upon my ship and travel the world together, exploring.

I could create an entire crew, I thought with a smile.

But such a thing was not possible. The best I could hope for was my own crew and ship as far away from Walden and Veeto as I could get.

“You would make a wonderful father,” she whispered. “I hope you have a daughter so you do not lose your braiding skills,” she said with a smile.

“A father?” I was surprised. I could not say anything. I was too consumed with my thoughts and feelings. Not only because of the things she was saying, but because of the never ending need–or desire–that I had for her. That I wanted to make all those dreams come true for her, but with me beside her. I meant what I said when I kissed her. I was selfish enough to keep her even if she could be with someone better suited, someone who could help her create the family and life she wanted.

I suddenly heard something faint inside of me. There was something inside of me that started to sing, just for her. If I had a soul, I would have argued that it felt like my soul.

“Yes, and I dare say, even though you tease that you are wicked, you would do a fine job of it, better than my betrothed would have; I am sure of it.”

I could not contain the irritation I had for whoever that merman was. He was an idiot, a blasted fool. But I was also grateful that he had chased her away.

Without that, would she have ever found me? I would be very sad to have never met Meria.

“I am so sorry for what he did to you,” I said, trying to contain my irritation to my fists, which were clenched painfully at my sides.

“He broke–” she shook her head. “I gave him so much.”

“I–” But before I could say anything, the door to the cabin swung open.

Sands was going to walk the plank.

“What is it?” I growled.

“We have arrived, and I am afraid we can not stay in one place, so the boat is circling the island where the Mirror Sea is located.”

“And that has you scared so senseless that you had to barge into my room when I just might have been having my way with my mermaid?”

“Sorry, Nick, I assumed you were still bedridden.”

“You are lucky we are dressed!” I snapped. I knew Sands would not take offense. He knew me too well. I was hoping my words would rattle Meria. I so liked to shock her.

Meria gasped, trying to push me away. “Dominick!”

“What, Meria? You are a mermaid, and I can never be sure what you will or will not be wearing.”

“Stop it!” she said, covering her cheeks.

I laughed. I felt so different, so light. There was no pain keeping a smile from my mouth.

“Save the poor maiden embarrassment. I know you did nothing with her, except maybe steal a few kisses,” Sands reprimanded me; then he smiled at Meria with a wink.

That annoyed me, and I moved to block his view of her wearing only my shirt, though it was long enough to be considered a dress of sorts.

“Prepare a boat. We shall head to the island, and you shall stay here to make sure the boat and crew are well,” I said.

“Of course, yes.” He saluted, then left the room, closing the door behind him.

“Time to go.”

If I could find my sister, I would speak with my mother. But if I found a way to remove my curse, perhaps, I could have a life with Meria, one like she dreamed about, and her dream was starting to sound like the perfect dream for me, too. If I broke my curse, perhaps, Meria could have what she desired, but with me. I would gladly help her have the family she desired. I smiled and ducked my head to kiss Meria gently on the lips, something I was sure I had no right to do, but I had kept doing it after our first kiss, and I would continue until she told me to stop. I did not know what all those feelings meant, or what those kisses meant on that day, but I enjoyed my life at that moment for the first time since I was a young boy back in Walden.

“See you on deck.” I did not meet her eyes, but walked from the room as quickly as I could, needing to figure out the path before me, and fast.