The Mermaid That's Sweetest

10] A Dream Come True

10] A Dream Come True

The run from the Ezili Castle is excruciatingly exhausting. After no sleep and so much action all day and all night, I was near done. But I needed to see if this was the actual dream, the reoccurring meeting between Eros and I that held so much significance.

Eros was already at the village by now. I knew I was too late to stop him from his revenge, half way through my trek towards the village. I see the sky being darkened by smoke.

He had chosen to swim while I, still, could only use my legs and not my tail. I didn't even know what my tail looked like, it had been too long.

While Eros would have made the swim towards the village in seconds, it takes me a lot longer even while I run in intervals.

I'm only half way when I decide to stumble towards the nearest ocean shore, utterly exhausted.

I walk out on the sand and I can see the fire of the village behind me even though it's far away.

I'm too exhausted to go any further, but I know he'll find me from the smell of my blood.

I fall to my knees in the sand and I gaze at the water of the ocean.

I was nowhere near the village, the Orphanage for the Darvs... nowhere near any Clan castles.

I was just in the middle of the Island, sure I was about to pass out.

I stare at the orange hues, getting stronger as they spread across the navy blue sky. The sun was rising so slowly.

My eyes are half hooded as I stare at the ocean, it's calm... despite it being the Rough Season.

That just meant the calm was unnatural.

Magic.

I blink slowly, wondering if I'll face plant into the sand if I pass out kneeling like this.

I was so weak, even as a Mermaid. I was just this pathetic little thing who had legs for an entire decade. I got sea sick on a boat and now I was going to pass out on a beach because I couldn't make the rest of the run.

My legs are jelly, like they aren't even mine. Everything is numb.

Some strange part of me, moves my body in that moment. I stand up and I take one step to the ocean. I close my eyes and take another step and I stop.

I hear the fire distantly still burning behind me. I open my eyes and the sea is still calm. So... strange. I do not look behind me but I hear the confident footsteps as they melt through the sand.

I hold out one leg, I hover it and slowly dip my toe into wet sand as a tiny wave washes over.

A mini river... a trickle... a soft kiss.

I smile, feeling delirious – until I almost die at the arms that wrap around my entire body... in a... in a...

A tight, all consuming, rib crushing hug.

I feel icy hot strength all along my back as my spine feels weightless. I am being supported by his arms, wrapped around my elbows, along my stomach... his face is nestled in the back of my hair, breathing in ragged snarling breaths.

I don't say anything as Eros holds me and for the first time in a long time, I relax all of me. I loosen my shoulders and I let him hold me, even though I'm not entirely sure if he was about to harm me in some way.

"...it's done..." he snarls it quietly, "I slaughtered the remaining Overseers of the Coral Clans. I used the swords and left them there... as bloody gifts... as omens," he takes his nose from the strands of darkest green on my head as his hands slide down to my elbows, "Now tell me, Lily... what made you so afraid of the water ten years ago?"