In Too Deep

Chapter 9

Ouch. 

 My head hurts and my ears sting. 

 I reach for my ear to see if it was okay. Blood. It's bleeding. Great. Everything is just peachy.

"Oh, good. You're awake."

I know that voice. 

Are you alright? I heard the Siren's scream so I went to check on you. Her scream must've had a really bad effect on you since your ear is still bleeding. Here let me help."

Dylon moves a piece of my hair away from my face and I smile. I stay quiet when he applies something on my earlobe. It cools off the stinging.

"Thank you. Note for what you just did for me but what you have done for me all this time. I want to thank you. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be alive right now. It means a lot to me."

He touches my face with his soft hands to make me look at him in the eyes. He starts to lean in. Oh no. This isn't happening. I've never done this before. Before I can move away, his lips touch mine. 

Just for a second, I feel his plump lips on mine. 

I move away instantly and regret it. I need to feel his hands all over me. I mean what did that feel like?

It's not that I didn't like Dylon, he is so wonderful and dauntless when I'm... well ordinary.

"What's wrong?" His eyes are full of concern.

God, he's so cute.

"I'm sorry. I really do like you, but we don't fit well together. See, you're well a great merman and I'm normal. I mean we are polar opposites."

I look down, but when I do, Dylon makes me look at him.

"Are you kidding me? You are anything but ordinary. You're a beautiful, intelligent, amazing girl. Do you think that I'd go on dangerous quests with just anyone? I went because I saw a spark in your eyes. When you told me everything that happened, the way you spoke influenced me to go on this quest. You really do have power. Not just in the water, but in here."

He touches where his heart is.

MY mouth twitches to a smile, that he hopefully saw. I clear my throat. Now it's silent.

"Anyway," I say, changing the subject, "What happened when you were coming into the cave to look for me? Did she leave?"

"Actually no. The Siren sort of disintegrated into many little bubbles in the water. I guess she's gone now. That's why we're still in here," Dylon says gesturing to the cave.

So the Siren was gone? 

What a relief. I don't have to deal with her anymore. Now, I can just go back to the castle and reassure everyone that everything is going to be alright.

"We did it!"

I hug Dylon and he hugs me back. I finally feel like I'm safe. For good.

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'm not sure," I answer, almsot whisper to Dylon.

So much has happened and I have no idea what to do next. I mean I didn't want to rule the sea because I felt like it wasn't what I was meant to do. Aquata is already the queen so there is no reason to push her out of the way just so I could become ruler of the ocean.

"Well, you could stay with me. I could use your company."

I smile at the thought.

It really would be nice, but it still didn't feel right. 

 Something feels off, not right. I don't know what it is but it doesn't really make sense that the Siren would just dissolve into bubbles. I feel like we're missing something.

"How about this. We swim to the castle and we can change out of these clothes, freshen up, and then we can go wherever you like," I assure Dylon.

"I'd love that."

We start swimming to the castle but with Dylon's speed swimming, we get there in no time. I am still in awe with how many bright and beautiful colors there are everywhere.

"To the castle here we come," I say aloud, mainly to assure myself.

My stomach churns when we reach the big castle door. I'm afraid Aquata will order Dylon and I to get killed but I have a slight bit of hope she'll let us go. I mean I was royalty after all.

"Hey! Who are you? Did you have a meeting with the Queen?" a merman says with a low voice.

"Actually, I'm Melody. If you can believe it, I'm actually the Queen's sister."

He looked at me with shock written all over his face.

"You're- You're the lost princess?''

"Lost princess?" I ask.

"Y-Yes. Melody, your parents waited for the day you'd return. But no one knew that they'd die so quickly. Hold on a minute here. Then who's sitting on the throne now?"

"Oh, right. Look, the queen doesn't actually know we're here so if you could just keep a low profile that'd be great. But, you are correct. The mermaid sitting on the throne now is technically royalty, but she is not next for the throne. The beautiful girl here is. She is the king and queen's first daughter after all," Dylon explains.

He really is wonderful.

"So what are you guys doing here then? Trying to steal the throne."

"No. Of course not! My sister can rule the ocean because I'm not even sure what I want to do in the future. We just came in for a nice bath and clean clothes," I tell the merman that worked in the castle.

"Alright, if that's all you need, follow me. I'll get a room set up for each of you."

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guys i wrote this in like 6th grade, gimme a break. i feel like we need more spice in the story tho. any thoughts?