A Merman's Tale

Fates: Chapter Forty-Four

Margaret

The next thing I knew, we were standing in an alley.

A dark, dirty alley.

There were crates and metal bars but other than that, I could not figure out how this place could hold any special memory for me.

"What are we doing in this place?"

Seirra simply glanced at me and then back at the alley. His smile, however, was so mysterious that my heart started pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness. What could possibly have happened here?

"I had not realized it until we were a few steps out of Books and Covers." He left my side and looked at the entire alley as if seeing it with different eyes. "I knew I had to bring you here."

He suddenly turned back towards me and his next words were probably the most meaningful things I have heard from him.

"This was where I started falling in love with you."

The way his green eyes sparkled was so mesmerizing as he gazed at me. My heart thundered against my chest, my breath caught and in that moment, I felt time freeze.

I watched him start walking towards me and when he took my hands, everything melted with the fire that started from the simple spark of his touch.

It really was like...magic.

"Wha-What exactly do you mean?" I asked.

He raised both of my hands and kissed them before answering.

"This was where my father's soldiers came after you for the second time. The first time they attacked you, you were alone and they almost killed you."

His mood got darker as he recalled the incidents and I found myself shaking. 

His grip tightened before he continued, "When I found you covered in blood that first time, I swore that it would never happen again. So when they showed up here, my first thoughts were to make sure you got away safely.

"And you did. I was so relieved when you managed to run away that I never felt pain from the wounds and bruises that I got from the fight. But not more than two minutes passed and I saw you again, shooting at the enemies with a gun in your hand."

My eyes widened. "You mean I went back? And with a gun? But where did I get it? How could I possibly have gotten something like that?" Seriously, what was I thinking at that time?

He smiled briefly at my confusion. "Yes, you were there with a gun and I assume the Key of Saol gave it to you. But to be honest, when you showed up again, I didn't know whether to thank you for your help or shout at you for putting yourself back in danger."

"I seriously don't know why I did what I did. Sorry," I said automatically. Well, what else could I say? "So...I suppose you won the fight?"

That's when he grinned at me like a boy showing off his most expensive toys.

"Of course. I'm not the Celari leader for nothing."

He looked extra charming at that moment that I knew I had to indulge him.

"Oh, really? So you're saying you beat your enemies because of your superior skills?"

"Yeah," he replied with a hint of sarcasm. And then just like that, he sobered. "But I wouldn't have won the fight without you. Thinking about it, that gunshot distracted the enemies, which was enough for me to catch them off guard. And I really thank you for that."

When he used too much sincerity in his words, it was difficult not to feel a hundred emotions in response, enough to make me feel as if my heart would burst.