Still as the Sea

Siren Song

   The Prince does not, in fact, know how to shut up. Nor does he understand the functions of each rope on my boat.

   "Okay, before we go," I halt the Prince in his speech and steps before he can pull one more rope and fuck up my system. "I don't care if you're the Prince, this is my boat, this is my house, if I tell you to get up, you get up, I tell you to sit down, you sit down, I tell you to get the fuck out, you dive that fat ass right into the water I do not care how cold it is. Do you understand? You are my bodyguard, you are not my boss, my house, my rules."

   "Lorelei you are in no place-."

   "My house, my rules."

   "But-."

   "My, house. My, rules."

   "Fine."

   "Sit." He reluctantly obeys. "Do not touch anything."

   "Fine."

   "And keep your mouth shut before I cut out that slippery tongue of yours."

   "Do not threaten me." His voice is stern, but the look I give him quickly softens the angry look on his face to something akin to embarrassment.

   "Watch your tone, Prince."

   "Do you even know my name?"

   "That's not shutting your mouth." I mutter over my shoulder as I work to undo the rope tying my boat to the shore.

"Lori?" The soft voice of Ivy peeps from beside me, small hands gripping the edge of my boat. "Where are you going?"

"Hey, Ivy, I'm so sorry. I have to go run a few errands, but hey, I'll be back soon." My fingers settle over hers, squeezing three times as I offer a kind smile. Her glittery face of pale blue and patches of scales brightens and warms my heart.

   "Come back." She whispers, flipping her hand to squeeze mine three times.

   "I will."

   With that, she dives back into the water, hardly making a splash.

   "What was that?"

   "A water-nymph. She holds more power over the sea than you will ever hold over anything."

   "Okay but what was that little interaction? Are you lovers or something?"

   "Not that it's any of your business, but no, we are not lovers. We just met."

   "The length of time in which you know one another does not govern the way you feel for each other. Time means nothing."

   "Does it? I think it matters to you." I eye his bouncing leg, and the moment I spot it, it stops. "Hm." I mindlessly

   "Wait."

   "What."

   "You live... in a fishing canoe?"

   "You're just now getting that?"

"Where do you sleep?"

"Right behind you."

It seems he has nothing to say to that, so I relish in the silence, and let down the mainsail. The Prince falls forward from the sudden whip of the wind in the sheet, almost hitting me.

++++++

   "You brought your own food, right?" I ask the Prince through a mouthful of carrot.

   "Yeah."