Amphitrite - Wilbur Soot

~two~

There was a rock jutting out of the surf in a cave and that was where I spent the majority of my time. If I wasn't in the cave, peering around the walls to watch the boys, I was wandering the town from whence they came, unnoticed. Every time I walked the beaten-down paths of the village, the child in me yearned to see my parents' faces, but I never did. But would I even recognize them if I did see them? It had been decades since I had heard their voices. Would they even recognize me? Probably not. The lifestyle I had grown into left me a very different girl.

"I hear he's quite a hit with the ladies," Daphne sighed, her chin in her hand. She was always more clued into the kingdom's gossip. I don't even know how, since she physically can't leave the water.

"From who?" I asked. She looked up at me, her eyes sparkling.

"Well, Apollo told me. The prince is one of his favorites," she said. She turned her attention back to the boys on the beach, and as did I.

"Wilbur, play the one about the girl," the blonde said. He was sitting next to the other boy, the one with the horns, in front of the eldest boy. Man. Wilbur.

"Which one?" Wilbur laughed, a sound that rang out clear as day. I could feel Daphne smiling below me. Wilbur shifted in the sand and set his fingers on the fretboard of his guitar. "Techno wrote this one. Did you know that, Tommy?" He asked. I watched as the blonde's eyes lit up.

"No way. Tubbo, did you hear that?" Tommy turned to the horned brunette beside him. These boys were nearly adult men, but around Wilbur, they acted so young. It was refreshing, in a way, to see them act how I never could.

Then Wilbur began to play his guitar and the music wafted on the breeze. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Daphne sway back and forth to the tune.

"I wish I could sing along with him, but he's too good. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I broke him," she said softly. We were sirens, by birth. Well, not by birth for me. By resurrection, I guess. As long as we were in the water, our song would drive any man to drown himself in pursuit of us. But, if I were to go out of the water, any and all enchanting properties of my voice would leave.

"He has a very nice voice, doesn't he?" I asked. His music almost filled the hole in my heart left behind by merciless hands and salt-stained bearded faces.

"Gods, Lorelai. Would it kill you to warm up a little?" She said. I felt my face heat up and my fists clenched. "Just say you think he's cute."

"I don't. I don't even know him." My voice was low and serious. I knew the intimidation that came with this tone; Thetis often used it on us. "You said he's one of Apollo's favorites?" I changed the subject and my tone reverted.

She hummed in response. "He's got a bright future. How could he not?" She said. The boys were laughing now at something one of them had said. Just then, seven crows flew overhead, their black wings a stark contrast against the cloudy-white sky.

"Have you learned nothing? Any human who is favored by Apollo has nothing but pain and suffering ahead of them," I scoffed. She rolled her eyes playfully as if she thought I didn't mean what I said. And perhaps she did. She was never great with spoken words.

"At least his suffering will be beautiful. He is a pretty man, isn't he?" She asked. It was my turn to roll my eyes. Pain was never beautiful. Pain was ugly and merciless and didn't care who you were. Pain was never kind; that was Death's job. In death, you are finally home, away from any that would try to harm you. Death is a warm hug and Pain is a sizzling inferno.

"He is a man, nonetheless," I said. I did not know then that Wilbur had seen me but quickly looked away.

"Not all men are like the ones you knew. Men can be sweet and lovely if you give them the chance to be." She spoke like she had ever known mortal men. The only man she ever knew was Apollo, and he barely counted. He was a god; he was bound to be perfect.

"Wilbur comes to the tavern often. Did you know that?" I said. Daphne glanced up at me before returning her gaze to the men on the beach.

"Lorelai, listen to yourself. I have a tail. I can't leave the ocean," she laughed, and it sounded like a seal's bark. The boys looked around, searching for the source of the noise, but Daphne was concealed behind the rock, and none of them looked at me.

"Fair point."

"I'm going back to the cavern. What do you want me to tell Mother Thetis?" She said. She always made sure I never got into trouble, but I think we both knew that Thetis wouldn't snap at me. Really the only way to get her angry is to bring a man, alive, to the cavern.

"Tell her not to wait up for me. I'll get something to eat in the village," I said, and Daphne nodded and ducked under the water, her gray tail swishing behind her.

Finally, I could be truly alone.

While my thoughts aren't exactly the most ideal place to get lost in, it's better than other things people can get lost in. After I knew that Daphne had to be back home, I slipped off of the rock and waded to the shore, my bare feet sinking into the sand. I took the long way around, not wanting the men to see me from the beach. If I was lucky, the nice lady would be working her part-time shift at the tavern, and I would get a drink for free. Those were always my favorite days. I never learned her name, but I could recognize her from a mile away. She always wore mustard yellow and she had a decently sized gold ring on her left hand. It was the kind of ring that a queen would wear.

Oftentimes I think about what I might say if I were to ever speak to the men I had watched grow up. There's nothing I could say that wouldn't sound awful, really. I was never good with words anyway.

Unfortunately for me, as soon as I opened the door to the pub, I was bombarded with a cacophony of loud voices and raucous laughter, all complemented by the smell of heavy liquor. There was a very tall and skinny man sitting at the bar, but there was no cup in front of him. Behind the counter was the nice lady I was talking about, her black hair tied up in a bun on top of her head. She and the man seemed to be laughing about something.

Get out of the doorway, you idiot. You look like a stalker.

Almost timidly I walked through the tavern until I reached the end of the bar and sat down on the stool, my leg bouncing uncontrollably. The pub was never this crowded. What was happening?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter poggggggg

Make sure you get some sleep, eat some food, drink a glass of water or two, take your meds, and do your homework! :DDDDD

I love you all dearly and I'll see you in the next chapter!!!!!!