Leaving Sardina

Chapter 14: Sirens don't fall

Renesmee



I dragged Sardina to a deserted corridor and pushed her back against the wall.

A rosy hue filled her cheeks, but not knowing what was up with her, I let it go. My boss pulling up one of her filthy stunts at my best friend infuriated me. And knowing Sardina, she would've accepted the offer. But I knew Lady Esmeralda's unhealthy attachments to anything magnificent, like Sardina. Especially a girl as precious as Sardina.

I mean – hearing my best friend sing after all these years made my insides turn into sea foam, but no, I couldn't let her share her passion with this wrecked world filled with wretched creatures on legs. Her voice was her special mermaid power. One that only lucky ones were born with while the rest of merfolk succumbed into searching for it their whole lives and could either find it or not. Her singing possessed the capability to compel, the same way the sight of my tail could mesmerize people into a cease. It was a mermaid thing. Something we weren't meant to share with these despicable humans.

"What are you doing?" Sardina's voice pulled me out of my head, making me realize I stood too close and hadn't uttered a damn word for too long a while there.

I took a step back.

"I need you to do something for me." I looked at her. "Please don't get yourself personally associated with these humans. Especially Lady Esmeralda. She has a way to manipulate people into enslaving them and I'd rather die than lose you to her. That goes for everyone here, but especially her."

"She can't coerce me to do anything I don't want to do, can she?"

"She very much can. That's why I prefer you anywhere but alone with her."

Sardina's eyes turned down, and I ogled her beautiful face to my satisfaction as she thought about my words.

After a long while, she sighed in defeat.

"Fine." She gave me a nod. "I won't associate with her or accept any of her offers."

I released a sigh of relief before smiling.

"Promise?" I moved strands of hair out of her face, noticing some pinkness erupting on her cheeks again, but not questioning it.

She seemed to be stuck in a daze for a bit before she responded.

"Promise."

That's my girl. I moved forward and hugged her, burying her head in my shoulder.

Then I pulled back and planted a ghost-like kiss on her mouth.

"And it's sealed." I whispered, not believing what I just did, either.

Sardina struggled to hide the shock in her, but I could see it in her eyes as I backed off.

Nothing happened there. Nothing.

"Now, let's go get something to eat." I suggested with a casual smile. "Pretty sure your stomach could use some refilling?"

                                   * * *

"You two should come over to my party this Saturday." Roxanne changed the subject excitedly after she finished telling Sardina about how I was, alas, the legendary Salacia. Goddess of salt water. Sardina found it funny for some reason, and I swam in the beautiful seas of her melodious laughter.

The two of us had run into Roxanne on our way out and leave it to my girlfriend to want to tail me everywhere. The plan was to straightforward decline but of course, goody-goody miss kindness a.k.a my best friend told her she could totally join us. Something about needing me to be sweet to my fucking girlfriend and spending time with her more than I did with my best friend because apparently that's how it's supposed to be? Whoever made that universal law was insane, and once again, I questioned my priorities between the two girls.

That's how I got stuck on a restaurant table with Roxanne being questionably nice to my best friend and Sardina, pretending to be nice back, as if I couldn't see through her. As if I met her last night. As if I couldn't tell Roxanne's fake nicety ticked her off and if it went on for a few more seconds, the bomb might blow. I knew Roxanne was just trying to get on my good side after the weird rude shit she pulled last night and nothing else. I fought the urge to take my best friend’s hand and drag her away. I couldn't. Because I didn't need another 'You should treat your girlfriend right' lecture from her. I had enough of those to last me a lifetime, though I doubted if a lifetime was how long I wanted to stay with Roxanne. Did I really want to keep her?

"It's this Saturday, babe. Please don't forget to put it on your calendar." Roxanne emphasized, touching my knee from underneath the table.

"Oh – What's special on Saturday?" I moved her hand away before forking my fries.

Something in both Roxanne's and Sardina's face fell. I worried about the latter, looking at her with a questioning expression just so she could elaborate on what I missed while I spaced out amidst their fake chit-chat.

"Really?" Roxanne looked heartbroken, but tried to cover it. And Sardina, with her eyes, urged me to do something about my girlfriend. I had no idea what to do. What was I supposed to do, kiss her away?

I leant back and carefully perused my mental calendar. Fuck.

It's Roxanne's freaking birthday this Saturday.

Like always, I had forgotten all about it. The guilt immediately settled in, but only because Sardina looked displeased by my actions.

"It's your birthday, right?" I asked, a bit unsure if I should even ask to confirm.

Roxanne nodded with an excited smile, forgetting all about my bad habit of not remembering anything that had to do with her.

"That's amazing." I said, the words tasting anything but genuine in my mouth.

"I know, right??" Roxanne squealed in excitement. "I'll be throwing a big gigantic party at my house. Don't miss!"

"Of course. Don't worry, we won't." I answered for the both of us, even though deep down I knew I wasn't going to go. I'd rather stay home with Sardina –

"We'll be there." Sardina smiled that beautiful smile.

Okay, I guess we're going then.

In a split second, I was reminded of the sound of her singing. How heavenly it sounded and how Esmeralda ate it all up, like the predator for out-of-this-world artistry she was.

I seriously wished I could lock Sardina up in my place and have her all to myself just by the way everyone looked at her, so mesmerized. How easily she could fascinate an audience. How bewitching her whole existence was.

She had always been a sight to see. And I had a feeling this would happen once I get her out of the house, but not so soon. People seriously stared. And honestly, I didn't like it. I didn't want to share my best friend. I didn't want her anywhere near these humans.

She was my best friend.

Yeah. Just my best friend.

Was that enough reason to call her mine and only mine?