Page 139 of Sea's Secret
“Well, you are mine–I will keep you forever. You are this pirate's grandest treasure. I love you with every single aching beat of this heart, and I wish to marry you and have a family–with as many little children as you wish. I want to create that with you–play on the beach, in the sea, on a ship, and come back here from time to time. I want all of that, and I will steal it if I have to. I like to steal, rob, and plunder, you know.
“It is true, you are a pirate,” she said playfully with a shrug and a smile.
“It seems my reputation precedes me,” I said teasingly.
“I want that, too–every single thing.” Then Meria took my face in her hands and looked me in the eye. “There is only one last thing to do. Show you what I learned from the star I chose, and finally, let it come to be.” Then she pressed her lips to mine.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Meria
His 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.