Sirène hovered silently beneath the water's surface, her pale hands gripping the rocks at the cove's entrance. The currents of the sea felt different today, colder and heavier, and a dark thought gnawed at the edges of her mind. Something was wrong. She had felt it ever since that day—the moment the net had come so close to her, the whispers of danger looming above. The surface world was closing in.
The sky above was clouded and dim, reflecting her unease. It had been three days since her near capture, three days since the quiet encounter with the fishermen. Lyam had yet to return, and her chest ached with uncertainty. Though she had learned to feel when he was near, there was only emptiness now. The bond between them, once so sure, felt strained, as though something had shifted in ways she didn't understand.
But worse than the silence was the fear—the realization that everything had changed. She had made a terrible mistake. She had let her guard down, let herself become entangled in Lyam's world. What had once been a passing curiosity, a desire to understand the strange and vibrant emotions of humans, had turned into something much more dangerous. The connection she shared with Lyam wasn't just a fleeting fascination anymore. It was something deeper. She could feel it pulling her in, like the tides that drew her closer to shore, but unlike the sea, this pull terrified her.
Her wide silver eyes stared up through the rippling surface, seeing the ghostly shadows of the cliffs beyond. The townspeople had noticed her. They had noticed him. Her existence had always been one of anonymity, an invisible figure in the depths of the sea, guiding the souls of the drowned to their rest. But now, her actions had consequences. She was not hidden anymore.
In the stillness of the ocean, Sirène realized something dark and heavy: she had put Lyam in danger.
He had protected her, defended her, but there was only so much a human could do against the inevitable tide of suspicion. And what would happen when they finally uncovered the truth? The sea could only protect her for so long, and though she wasn't bound by human laws, she feared what would become of him. The image of Mikkel's warning voice haunted her thoughts, the words he had spoken to Lyam playing over and over in her mind.
She hadn't told Lyam any of this. She hadn't wanted to admit that her very presence might bring him harm. But the truth was there, unavoidable. The surface world was too close, too dangerous now. And the distance between her and Lyam seemed to grow with each passing day.
As the thought settled in her, colder than the deepest trench, Sirène felt something new: regret. It was not an emotion she had been familiar with before Lyam, but it now clenched tightly around her heart. She had brought him into her world, but by doing so, she had doomed him to its consequences.
She wanted to see him, needed to see him. But the silence of the sea was all that greeted her.
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The air was heavy with the scent of salt and mist as Lyam paced along the rocky shoreline, his eyes scanning the endless expanse of water. His hands were balled into tight fists, his knuckles white from the tension that coiled through his body. It had been days since he had last seen Sirène, and the fear gnawing at him was becoming unbearable.
He had tried to return to their secret cove multiple times, but every attempt had been thwarted by prying eyes. The fishermen were restless, casting their nets closer to the shores where Sirène dwelled, and the townspeople... they were watching him more closely than ever. It wasn't just gossip anymore. It had turned into something sharper, something with teeth.
Mikkel had confronted him again just two days ago, his weathered face twisted with concern—or perhaps it was something darker. The old sailor had grabbed Lyam's arm, his grip surprisingly strong for someone of his age, and hissed through clenched teeth, "I warned you about the sea, boy. There's no place for that girl in our world. She'll bring nothing but ruin, mark my words."
Lyam had pulled away, unwilling to hear any more. But Mikkel's words had burrowed into his mind, adding weight to his every step, his every thought. He had tried to ignore the escalating tensions in the town, but it was becoming impossible. People were starting to corner him in the streets, demanding to know where the mysterious girl had gone, why she appeared and vanished like some specter. His defenses were weakening. He couldn't keep pretending that everything was fine.
As he stood on the shore, the wind whipping his hair across his face, Lyam felt the weight of his decisions pressing down on him. He had always known this would happen. From the moment he had first seen Sirène, there had been an unspoken understanding that they were from different worlds, separated by more than just the ocean. Yet he had pushed those thoughts aside, foolishly believing they could find a way to make it work.
But now, with the town turning against him and the sea feeling more distant than ever, Lyam wasn't sure how much longer he could keep it up. He had never felt so powerless, so trapped between the life he had known and the one he had come to want.
And where was Sirène?
He moved to the water's edge, the cold surf lapping at his boots as he stared out into the horizon. She had always been there, just beneath the surface, watching, waiting. But now, no matter how long he stayed, she didn't appear. The cove, once their sanctuary, now felt like a prison, its secrets slipping further and further away.
Lyam clenched his jaw, his thoughts racing. He couldn't bear this silence any longer. If the townspeople wanted answers, he had to find them first. He had to see Sirène again, had to know if she was safe. If Mikkel or anyone else was planning something, Lyam would not let them hurt her.
His mind made up, Lyam turned away from the shore, determination hardening his resolve. He needed to prepare for what came next, whatever it might be. But as he made his way back toward the town, he knew deep down that something drastic would have to happen. He couldn't protect Sirène from both the sea and the land for much longer.
The moment he stepped into the village, Lyam felt the eyes of the townspeople on him, their curiosity now mingled with suspicion. He hurried through the streets, avoiding their stares, until he reached his home.
Inside, his heart pounded in his chest. He couldn't ignore the threat any longer. Mikkel's warning echoed in his ears, louder now, almost deafening. He had to do something. He had to protect Sirène before it was too late.
But as he looked around his small, simple home, his eyes fell on the one thing he had hoped to avoid—the tools of his old life as a fisherman. A net, a harpoon, the remnants of the life he had once led before Sirène had entered his world.
Lyam's hand hovered over the rough handle of the harpoon, his mind racing. He didn't want to fight. He didn't want violence. But if it came to it... if Mikkel or the others tried to hurt her... he would do what he had to.
His fingers closed around the handle, and for the first time in days, he felt a sense of purpose. He didn't know what was coming, but he knew one thing for certain: he wouldn't let Sirène face it alone.
With one final glance at the sea, Lyam steeled himself. He had a plan now. But whether it would work... only time would tell.
YOU ARE READING
A Mermaid for the Lonely
RomanceA mermaid named Sirène, whose job as a mermaid is to guide those who have died at sea to rest their souls and not be trapped. She typically finds sailors whose ships have sunk, and pirates and convoys alike. Her personality is one of seriousness, an...
