A Mermaid's Cry

Chapter 45-Never Anger the Mer

🌼I would like to thank everyone for being patient with the irregular updates. I have been busy with helping my folks around the house, and catching up on my to be read list. 🍃

🌸I have also had a dry spell with this story, figuring out what to write next can be a challenge for a writer. So I hope you enjoy this chapter, more will be coming soon.✨

🍁I hope you all have a wonderful day, and continue to hang in there till the end.🥀
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"No we will not," Ares cuts in, forcing me to look up at him with fury surfacing in my blood. How dare he say that to me right here and now. When I finally have a chance at making my family whole again.

"What?" I seethe, straightening myself to my full height. "Are you telling me that you are not even going to consider that my father might be alive? That we have a chance of bringing him home."

"That is not what I'm saying Corintha," he replies, drawing up close to me, our chests but inches away. "What I'm telling you is that you, Lucas, Adila, and Octavia are going back to Isla de las Madres where it's safe. Arcus, Zola, and I will find your father."

I glare at him, the feeling of betrayal churning in my gut at what he means to do. "He is my father, I will be the one to find him," I sneer, angry at this male who dares to send me back to the place filled with memories of ridicule and fear. Ones that have become fresh in my mind by the cracks he has made in my crafted veneer of iron calm. Bringing forth emotions and desires, that I never thought I could posses.

"You may be the chief's son, but I will not be told what to do any longer," I growl, unconsciously grabbing hold of his shirt front. Forcing his jungle green eyes to meet the flecked brown specks of mine. "You will have to tie me to the ship to make me go back. I have come too far to be robbed of my chance to make those devils pay for what they have done to my family."

I swiftly release the ragged cloth, stepping back smoothly from a now red faced Ares. His hands fisted at his sides, murder written in his gaze. Breath coming hard and fast through his chest, and fangs quickly lengthening in his mouth. By the mothers, I made the beast angry. Not irritated when I pushed him, not teasing as he was in Isolde's hut. But pure undulating rage at what I have done, again. I didn't even have to draw a blade like I did with Nox.

All I had to do was undermined him in front of other Mer, and a human no less. To expose the dark side that he still harbors, reminding myself that I still must tread carefully when I'm around him. And knowing when I must stay, and when I must run.

I don't hesitate, not even for a second before turning on my heel and running full tilt out the front door. A roar sounds from behind me as I barrel into the crowded road. Humans shriek and shout as I twine through their midst. Possibly from the wild look in my eyes, and the blood red halo of my hair fanning out behind me. I breath in and out through my nose, dodging scraggly children, crates, and puddles of piss, rubbish, and muddy water.

But the effort to maintain my pace, is already taxing me more than usual. I blame the skirts that stick to my skin, the corset inhibiting movement, and the shoes pinching my feet with every hurried step. Skirting round a wagon loaded down with cages of chickens, I dare a glance over my shoulder. A mistake that will surly cost me.

Barreling through the crowd behind me, Ares appears. Fangs and claws hidden, but with a red sheen boiling in his gaze. Spurred on by his snarling twisted mouth, I hoist up my quickly tangled skirts. Heedless of any human scandalized by the pale skin of my knees, or the animalistic whistles from male onlookers.

The sun beats down on my back, finding its way through the shawl and chemise. Making sweat bead between my shoulder blades, mixing with the salty sheen of fear that I force back into its cage as I rush out of the way of an oncoming horse and its rider. As I do so, a cat careens into my path, tripping me and effectively slamming my side into the wooden wall of a peculiar looking book shop. The soot spotted windows, displaying frayed leather bindings and towering bookcases inside.