Page 140 of Sea's Secret
“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.”