49. Chapter Forty-Nine

Chapter Forty-Nine

Meria

H is lips–so soft and warm with a heat that burned me from the inside out. Once I pressed my mouth to his, it ignited a fire within him that burned, and I felt it. He took my face in his hands, turning my head this way and that as he kissed me, just as I wished him to. I moved my mouth against his. That kiss was different from the others we had shared. Our feelings and desires had finally been spoken aloud. My heart was beating for him, wishing to be close. My soul’s melody aching to dance with his–to entangle my soul with his and never to part. I pushed my magic into that kiss, wishing to do just that.

He grunted, and his hands found my waist, trailing down my back, pulling me closer to him.

“I can never get close enough to you, Meria,” he said.

I could never get close enough to him, either. The song within my soul echoed between us, and the beauty of that moment caused tears to fall from my eyes and drip off my cheeks. That did not seem to bother Dominick, even as my tears dripped down my face. I cried for joy, not loss. It was joyful as I said goodbye to my old life and embraced my new life, my new life as a human, and to always be beside Dominick as he was released–freed from his curse. There was not even much sorrow in the magic and tears as I thought there would be, only peace, hope, and joy for the future–a future with him without the burden of his curse. He did not wipe away my tears, and I was grateful for the magic I embedded inside of them. It would work all the better if he consumed them–if the magic worked from the inside out. I pressed my intent, singing:

–Heal him.

–Break his curse.

I poured all my magic into him, and I felt it when his heart released its own melody as if it had been locked inside of him for all that time. My soul's melody twisted with his, sealing us together in a way that I felt was impenetrable.

Us , forever.

One moment, we were entangled together, and the next minute, Dominick was stepping away from me, his eyes growing wide as his body started to glow. I also stepped back.

“What was that?” He clutched his chest.

“Are you alright?”

“I feel wonderful–but what was that?”

“I am a mermaid. Our souls’ melodies are how we use our magic, and I found yours; they became one.”

“I have no idea what that means, but if it makes me more connected to you–” he said, pulling me against his chest, “then I love it, but why am I glowing? Is that the magic?” he continued, and then, with a pop and a shift of black smoke, a figure appeared before us.

“Ah, the heart of a mermaid. I thought the knowledge had been lost long ago,” an unfamiliar voice said. We both stepped away, still holding each other, but we turned to see who was the owner of the voice. “Mermaid hearts are precious. The first souls’ melodies came from mermaids, who had souls that sang, long ago. They helped all magical beings discover their souls’ melodies, and even humans were taught about them. There was a time, during the Great War when humans tried to steal mermaid tears, as well as mermaid hearts. But the only real way to use mermaid tears and own a mermaid’s heart is if they are freely given. I am happy to see a human who has captured a mermaid’s heart after all this time.” There was a man in a black cloak at the center of the room, speaking to us. His pale skin was striking, even in the partial darkness of the room.

“What is happening?” I whispered, more to Dominick than to the stranger.

“Who are you?” Dominick asked.

“I am an Ancient, Draken, and your curse, Prince Dominick, to inflict pain and take on pain has been broken.” As he said those words, the light left Dominick, and he stood there with a lightness I had never seen in him before. He looked at his hands and quickly took off his gloves; the black veins were gone. “I hope you are sure of your great sacrifice. There is no way to undo what you have done,” Ancient Draken said to me. I knew what he meant, but also knew that Dominick had no idea. But it was my choice, and I was determined to not be swayed. I trusted my heart and my soul.

This is right.

“What does that mean? What sacrifice?” Dominick asked, turning from Ancient Draken to me. But before I could speak, the Ancient continued.

“She is, now, permanently a human. She gave up her tail to be with you–to save you.”

“What?” Dominick shouted, looking down at me. “Please tell me you did not give such a thing up to break my curse, Meria–”

“I did, and I would give up even more to see you without pain–and for you to be truly happy,” I said, wrapping my arms more tightly around his neck.

“I am happy. I can handle the pain. I have endured it for my entire life,” he said sadly, pressing his forehead to mine.

“I do not need to be a mermaid. I have had my entire life as a mermaid. It is time for me to embrace being a human, and besides, I can still swim. I’ll just be a human who is swimming.”

“There is nothing I can do to get her tail back?” Dominick asked, taking a few steps toward Ancient Draken, breaking our contact.

“No. It was a beautiful gift that she has given you; do not ruin it. You have found the love of a mermaid. They have the purest souls among all of us.”

With another pop and a mist of blue smoke and sparkles, a woman stood beside Draken.

“Dominick, I am so happy that you are free,” she said with a smile. “You can leave now,” she said curtly to Ancient Draken.

“Ora,” Draken said to the woman in annoyance.

“Draken,” she snapped back.

“Where is your little lap dog?" Draken asked.

“Oh, me? Right here.” In another pop of silver smoke and a trail of sparkles, another man appeared in a brown cloak. “Hello again, Dominick. Good job keeping your word. I will remember that,” he said with a flick of his wrist toward Dominick.

“You know him?”

“He came to me last night–told me to stop being a fool and confess my love for you.”

“Oh–I like him, then. I was starting to think you never would.”

“I am sorry it took me so long,” he whispered.

I squeezed his hand, and the Ancients started talking again.

“Of course, you are never far behind,” Ancient Draken said in irritation to the Ancient in the brown cloak.

“You know, for someone who put Ora and I together, you seem rather jealous,” the brown cloaked man said.

“Jealous?” Draken barked. “You know not a thing. You are a fool.” Draken was laughing, and the man in the hooded cloak seemed confused.

“Do be quiet, Theodore! The last thing he is, is jealous . Creator, please help me,” Ancient Ora said with closed eyes.

“Well, why else is he so obsessed with getting your attention?” the Ancient named Theodore asked. “Huh? Why do you care about making her hunt you down so much if you are not looking for her attention?”

“I do not seek her attention. I want to be left alone,” Ancient Draken said with a cruel smile upon his lips. He still seemed amused, and Ora seemed angry.

“If you wanted that, you would not be cursing humans, and flirting with Ora,” Ancient Theodore said.

“I’ve had enough–set him straight, Ora.” With a flick of his wrist and a puff of black smoke, Ancient Draken was gone.

“You really made yourself look like a fool,” Ora said with a shake of her head toward Theodore.

“That is my thing–”

“Yes, but you lout, he is my brother !” Ora shouted.

There was silence. That was Ancient Ora, and Ancient Draken was her brother? I had never heard such a thing before. Draken was the most famous Ancient. I had no idea he had a sister.

“Ah–I can see why the jealous angle did not work on him,” Ancient Theodore said with a shrug. “Brother, though, huh? I will say, I am shocked for many reasons, but one thing I will note is that you two do not look alike at all.”

“We can talk after this, Theodore–” Ora said, motioning to where Dominick and I stood, still taking everything in. “Dominick, be well, and know that your sister will also be well in time. You are much loved by your mother, brother, and Meria.”

“What do you mean? Where is his sister?” I asked.

“Sometimes, humans with good intentions try to break a curse, like Dominick searching for his sister, although, yes, I know your true motive,” she said, looking hard at Dominick, who nodded. “The Creator has a plan, one I do not always understand, but one thing I know for certain is that you have already helped your sister break her curse.”

“Her curse is broken?”

“In the process–like I said, she will be well and is being looked after. Someday, you will discover how you helped her, but for now, I cannot say more.”

“I am glad she will be well–” Dominick began.

“Of course, sometimes, humans do foolish things and mess up the course of things,” the hooded Ancient Theodore said.

“True–but I have hope for the humans of this generation. As you know, curses are breaking. Draken is slowly being stopped,” Ancient Ora smiled. “I have to go, but I wish you well.” Then with a snap, and shimmering blue smoke, Ora was gone.

“I am Ancient Teddy, and by the way, Ora likes to call me Theodore –rather endearing, really, calling me by my full name. At first, I hated it because, well, you would have to meet my father, and then you would understand. It truly is a pity that I was named after him. Wretched man.”

“So is everything alright? I am truly free of my curse?” Dominick asked. “And Meria, we are going to be speaking about what you did.”

“For the hundredth time, you told me to not just do as you say. So I made my own choice, which is mine to make, correct?” I asked.

“Well, yes, but–” he began.

“What, do you not like me without my tail?” I asked.

“Of course, I like you without it, and with it–but I–”

I touched his face. “I am truly alright. This is what I want. Please, let me have what I want.”

“But you love the sea.”

“I love you, and what we will have together in the future, even more. So much more.”

“Can I still call you, my mermaid?” he asked with a wicked grin.

“I will always be ‘your mermaid,’ even without a tail.”

“My, that is sweet!”

We both turned to see Ancient Teddy was still there.

“You know, what I would truly worry about at the moment, if I were you, is Princess Briar, Dominick.”

“Why?” Dominick asked.

“You lost her brother. Do you not remember, Prince Stephan was on your ship?"

“Prince Stephan?” Dominick asked, confused.

“Oh, did you not know that Prince Stephan is The Grimm?” he asked, looking back and forth between us. I had no idea who this ‘Grimm’ was. “No? Well then, surprise!”

“Blast it all. We can send some ships to search for him,” Dominick said.

“I should go. Do not fret; The Grimm is still alive. ”

“Can you tell us anything about where he is?” I asked the Ancient.

“No,” he said with a smile.

“Helpful,” Dominick said under his breath. I poked his side, and he smiled, leaning down to kiss my cheek, then traveling to my lips.

“See you two later, and what Ora forgot to say, but usually does, is this–” he began as he spun around in a puff of silvery smoke. His words echoed around us:

“May you both live happily ever after.”

THE END