The Medallion

Nilla: Truth Revealed

"Stop." I was panting.

"Why?" he asked. He head cocked to one side confused.

"I just want to slow down, that's all. I've never done this before."

He chuckled. "I find that hard to believe."

I tried to push him away, but wasn't strong enough. It was appalling that he could think such a thing about me. I wasn't that kind of girl and definitely wasn't about to start with some guy I didn't feel was completely honest.

"Have I offended you?" he asked.

"Yes! Get off me."

He laughed but rolled away.

"What's so funny?" I snapped.

"You are." He looked me in the eyes and smiled. "I do not remember seeing you so angry. The way your nose wrinkles is very adorable." He rubbed my nose once with his fingers. "I just keep apologizing to you today. Things are very different where I live."

"Well, here on land, girls don't just jump into it with any guy that gives her a little bit of attention, not all of them anyway."

I stood and dusted myself off. As I started to walk away, he leaped up to follow.

"How do things work around here, then? I thought the purpose of male and female encounters was to find a mate and produce offspring."

"I suppose. I mean in the grand scheme of things."

"Well then, why do you refuse to couple with me?"

"Couple?" I started to walk faster.

"Yes, to make a baby."

"You want a baby?" I was flabbergasted.

"You have confused me once again. Please stop walking so fast."

I turned to face him.

"What have I done wrong?" he asked.

"I'm too young to make a baby with you."

"Actually, you are of perfect mating age."

"No, I am not." I continued to walk. "Humans of my age value companionship more than making a family, at least I do, anyway. They go out with different people so they won't have to guess, they'll know what they want from a potential mate, someone they'll find suitable for the job."

He reached out and grabbed my arm. I didn't appreciate the force he exerted. I started to claw at his hand trying to force him to release me, but he seemed very insistent on keeping me there. I could only imagine what for.

He grabbed me and forced me to look him in the eyes. They were filled with worry and pain. There was another flash in his eyes. It was a sort of silvery light that started at the bottom of his eyes and moved upward in the length of time it took to blink. She fell into his chest once more.

"Please let me go," I said. I felt groggy and could barely lift my head.

"Just stay with me for a little longer."

"I don't understand why you keep me here."

"Do you feel that I am forcing your hand? Do you believe I am trying to control you somehow?"

"Yes, I do. Let me go."

He grabbed my face forcing my eyes back to his. I saw another flash in his eyes and once more wanted to stay.

So that was it. That flash was the thing that was making me want to stay with him. It was the thing that made me want to turn against my friends just to be with him. He was controlling me, using the powers in that medallion to make me fall in love with him. I was sure of it now, like coming out of a fog.

He shook me squeezing my arms tighter. I let out a yelp.

"So now you know. I can see it in your eyes," he said.

"What do you want from me?"

"I had hoped to create an offspring with you. I had intended on it being voluntary, but now I may need to use force."

"You're a monster. How could you make me believe something that wasn't true? How could you force me to love you? I don't understand."

I something resembling desperation in his eyes before he released his hold and turned away.

"I never wanted you to think of me as a monster. I chose you in part because I could sense your fertile time. Today would have been an optimal day to impregnate you."

"Why do you want a baby so badly and with a human?"

"I heard stories in my homeworld about such a baby. It would come back into the sea with its dolphin parent and restore the flow of power back to the dolphins. I had merely hoped such a union did in fact exist and that I could create it."

"I don't understand."

He let out a sigh.

"There are those in my world who view dolphins as horrible creatures. They fear our intellect. I was simply hopeful. I never should have tried to control you like that, but I preferred not to take the risk. I needed the baby to regain power for my species. I am tired of always being the butt of jokes and constant accusations."

"So why tell me these things now?"

"You never asked any other reason for my choosing you." He smiled. "I think I started to like you the day you saved my life. I felt the kindness of your heart and your gentle soul. I did not mean to taint it with my own ambitions."

He seemed to be speaking from a genuine place in his soul, but I couldn't be sure of anything anymore. Was I feeling this way because it was true or because he was manipulating me with that damn medallion. He turned his face away so our eyes wouldn't meet.

"Okay then," I said.

I continued on my way and he let me leave. I didn't expect that. I almost hoped that he would stop me just so I knew he loved me. A part of me still wished to be near him. It was hard to try and sort out the feelings that were truly mine and the feelings that were forced on me by magic. It was my hope that I could sort it all out if I was away from him for a while. But the thought of being away from him, the thought of losing him, made my entire body ache.