The first thing I hear is yelling "Sire, I've known you since you were a little boy, you have never seemed like this kind of person before but still I can't bring myself to tell this young girl to kiss you. If she chooses to kiss you that is fine but she has to want to." It's a woman's voice she seems upset. Confused I slowly open my eyes, the world coming into focus only to be met with a dim, watery light. My nose tingles with a burning sensation, and a dull ache pulses through my head. I blink a few times, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, but the heaviness in my body makes it difficult to move.
As I take in my surroundings, I realize I'm submerged underwater! I Cover my mouth and hold my breath. I'm surrounded by an assortment of blankets piled high around me. The strange texture of the kelp fabric pricks at my skin, and I can't help but shiver slightly. I push aside a few of the blankets to look for an escape route, and that's when I notice them—three small seal pups, their dark eyes gazing curiously back at me. Oh, there to cute, but I shake my head not wanting to be distracted. I can't hold my breath for long! I see massive double doors that form a large arch doorway. I swim over but can't open them.
What on earth happened? Confusion washes over me as I try to piece together the events leading up to this moment. I remember the attack by the narwhals, falling into the water, calling for Sean for help as a merman held me tightly to his chest, then I think I saw Sean, maybe. I felt an overwhelming sensation of shock, and then… nothing. Just a void.
I swim, looking around the room. It feels surreal, like I've stepped into an entirely different world. The windows are large but they don't open. I can see the beautiful sea floor and the breathtaking city that sits on it. Lights glow all around because of bioluminescent plants line what seem to be streets. I bang my fists on the glass. I'm trapped and any minute now I'm going to drown in this beautiful underwater bedroom. In a breathtaking city that I'll never get to see up close, streets I'll never walk through. My heart aches and races as I try to orient myself, but the heaviness in my limbs makes it hard to process everything. I need to focus. Just then I feel a tap on my shoulder. I spin, in a panic. Not knowing if I was captured by the other merman. Relaxing when I see it's just Sean. He chuckles "it's alright I brought you here after one of my Knights kept you safe from the narwhals who decided your boat was a toy. You know you're like a mouse when you wake up." I gawk at him. I point up and then back to me placing my hand by my neck around my neck. Hopefully he under stands me and my need for air. He laughs, " oh yeah, I couldn't tell you before but you can breathe underwater while wearing this." He touches a orange and silver glowing necklace that lays over my breasts. I shiver at his touch. At first I'm skeptical, then I think back to that first time I jumped into the ocean after finding out he's a mermaid. Deciding to trust him. I take a deep breath, the water filling my lungs feeling oddly refreshing yet foreign.
"Hello?" I try to speak for the first time sense waking up, my voice sounding muffled in the water. There's no immediate response, just the soft rippling of the ocean around me. Sean, looking both anxious and relieved. He's more striking than I remember, his expression a mix of concern and something else I can't quite place. "Hello" he says with a big smile.
His voice a rush of urgency. My mind races as I take in his presence, the reality of my situation crashing down on me. I'm underwater, and was surrounded by blankets and seal pups, I had slept here and he's… here and that woman she called him Sire, he's the king of the East Sea and we are in his home. I gasp the girl the woman was talking about is me!
"Sean, what's going on? Where did you go?" I manage to ask, my voice trembling slightly.
He looks at me, eyes wide with emotion. The intensity of his gaze sends a shiver down my spine, and I can't help but wonder what I've gotten myself into as he stares at my lips.
" I went to get this" his eyes never leaving my lips.