Siren // Orm Marius

Chapter 6: Atlantic

Chapter 6: Atlantic

13:00 hours
King Nereus' Ship

The group looked at Cora, waiting for her response. She wrung her hands together, unsure how to begin. She swayed slightly, trying to gather her thoughts.

"When Kordax and I married, I placed a curse on him." She began, noticing the flash of anger on Orm's face, "If he was to kill me, I would come back, but if any magic was used on him, I would return to death."

"Why would you do that?" Orm snapped, stepping forward. His hair fell in front of his eyes, and he angrily pushed it back. She looked at him, and he shifted his weight.

"Blood magic is dark, and demonic. I had never used it before, but Atlan did." She paused, raising her hands, creating an illusion in the air, "When a spell is cast it is never permanent, it shifts with the tide."

She moved her hand so the illusion shifted slightly. The green magic shifted into a straight line, and branched off in the middle. Nereus looked at it curiously, the emerald reflecting in his eyes.

"The spell caster must always be living to keep the spell alive. In my case, I was killed before I could change the bindings and make it permanent."

"What are you saying?" Arthur asked, stepping forward, leaning onto the table in the middle of the room.

"When Kordax formed the black trident, he meddled with my magic, causing my curse to change," she paused, picking at her fingers, "If he is broken from his prison before I can revert it.."

She broke off, her voice dropping to a whisper, "I'll be dead by the end of the week."

Orm staggered back, clutching onto the window ledge. His eyes were shockingly wide, and his face was pale. Arthur put his hand over his mouth, dragging his fingers over his beard, his jaw tense. The energy in the room was thick, and the temperature had dropped. Everyone was silent, until Orm stumbled to his feet.

"E-Excuse me," he choked out, rushing from the room. Cora stood, staring at the top of her boots, picking at her fingers.

"I'll go talk to him," Arthur grumbled, but Cora placed a hand on his chest, shaking her head.

"Let me."

She walked out of the room, squaring her shoulders, brushing her hair away from her face. She walked slowly, trying to formulate what she would say to him. Her heart hurt, she had never felt this way about anyone before, and now she had to tell him she was dying.

She looked up and saw Orm standing in one of the rooms built into the ship. He was tenderly working on the wraps that were on his burns, moving his fingers against the toned muscles of his chest. Cora blew out a long sigh, and stepped into the room.

"Orm?" She said, her voice shaking. He looked up at her, and she could see the tears in his eyes. Her heart shattered watching a single tear drop down his face, past the stains of the previous ones.

She stepped forward, cradling his face in her hands. He was stiff, but slowly, gently leaned into her touch. His breath was warm on her hands, and she rubbed his cheek with the pad of her thumb, wiping away his tears.

"My mother used to tell me the ocean carried your tears away," he said, his voice shaking, "Feeling them is strange, but I can't help letting them fall knowing I won't see you again."

"Orm..." she murmured, "You don't need to carry my burdens."

She raised his chin to look into his eyes, and he squeezed them shut, letting his face bury itself into her hands again. He placed a tender kiss into her palm, before meeting her gaze. She had never seen him this vulnerable before, and her mind was racing. Her cheeks tinged pink, as his gaze flickered around her face. He reached his hands up, taking her hands in his, interlocking their fingers.