Deep Dive (L.s AU)✔

Chapter 18 Waves Pt. 2

Niall's Pov

"I'm a mermaid!"

I stood there, with my eyes close, waiting. I was scared of course, because before I even came up onto the surface, I promised myself I wouldn't ever tell another human what I am. But here I was telling my soulmate who stood before me silently.

Perhaps, too silent.

I peaked an eye open to see my human, still there, looking speechless.

"What?" He finally asked and my nerves shifted to panic.

"Um, well, I-i, I'm not really human," I started. "I'm a mermaid and I have a tail and- would it be better if I just show you-"

Zayn suddenly came forward and placed his hands on my shoulders. Immediately, from the warm touch, I melted.

"I heard what you said," he chuckled and the sound made all of my nerves go away. I looked up at him, seeing only his sea gold eyes shining in awe.

"Actually, I've had an inkling for a while that you weren't human."

This time, it was my turn to blink in surprise. "What?"

Zayn let go of my shoulders and I had to keep in a frown because I missed the warm touch.

"My father was a mermaid, or merman," Zayn smiled and I stirred.

"Wait-really?" It was rare for a human to have a mermaid for a parent as such. Normally, from the pacific, no mermaids ever dared to go up on the surface. The only exception was when Atlantis had fallen by the hunters.

"Does he still have his tail?"

It also meant that there were half breeds among us but if the mermaid parent chose to lose their tail before the child is born, the kukani, half human, half mermaid, don't ever get to grow their tail.

"No," Zayn answered. "But, he did have it after my mum gave birth to me before choosing to give it up. He stills calls me kukani but I never grew a tail."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You could still be kukani...maybe you have your karulum?"

Usually, if kukani don't get their tails, they get their karulum, our power we gain as we meet our soulmate. It is said that when Neptune made the first mermaids, they were made for each other and grew marks upon their wrists, shaped as tridents, gaining powers of the seas. Its why I was curious because I know, Zayn could gain his karulum any time and especially now as we had found each other.

Zayn shrugged. "I don't know. My father has told me many stories about the kukani and your karulum...but I explored much more into it...even though, I've always had a close connection with the seas...and to meet a mermaid..."

He shook his head, smiling at me. "I knew it. I could tell when I met you. And I know, you know, we're soulmates...another thing that made me think you were one of Neptune's descendents is that I couldn't see your mark."

I blushed, playing with my fingers. "You're right...it only shows up when I'm in the water."

Zayn hummed, taking my hand to lock our fingers together. "Now, I have to ask...truthfully, how did you meet Harry and Lottie?"

I met his sea gold eyes. "Part of that story, is Harry's to share, but long story short, I saved Harry and we grew to be best friends. For years, he's been trying to convince me to come up to the surface but I was afraid. All my life, I've been taught humans were the bad ones but when Harry told me he found my soulmate, you, I couldn't stay below the waves."

Zayn nodded, understanding, a small smile climbing his lips. "I know, my father tells me that the king there right? Of the pacific, says that. After since Atlantis had fallen, I believe."