Star of the Sea

Chapter 5 ~ V

A/N: Again, not going for historical accuracy, and remember natural pair, things will move quickly. 
----------
I just stare at my hands in my lap. Josh is rocking me and humming some song. It is a soothing tune, and probably has words. I let him continue, the same rhythm being repeated over and over again. I didn't notice that I had joined in until I messed up. Josh began laughing which set me off.

"What song is that?"

"It's called Lavender Blue I think."

"Can you sing it for me please?"

"I don't know... I'm a terrible singer."

"I bet you sound lovely, please sing for me."

He presses a kiss to my forehead and nods his head.

"Lavender blue. Dilly dilly. Lavender green. If I were king. Dilly dilly. I'd need a queen."

He continues through the song, it telling the tale of a king finding his queen. As he ends on 'you'll be my queen', his head dips to mine. His face is dangerously close and the tension is high. His eyes dart to my lips and I nervously lick them. His eyes follow my tongue as it sweeps across the skin. Suddenly, he surges forward and claims my lips. He's rough but gentle. Passionate, but loving. I move my lips against him, pressing my chest to his in a desperate attempt to get closer. I separate to draw in a quick breath, before diving back in.

Eventually, Josh's lips move away from my mouth and trail up my jaw. I tilt back as he continues, making it to my ear. He takes my earlobe between his teeth and I become putty in his grasp. I push him away a bit and he respects that, releasing my ear and leaning back.

His hand which is perched on my waist moves to my cheek where he strokes my face with his thumb. His face takes on a stoic expression, and I know our little moment is about to die.

"Vik... who are... they?"

I tense at his question, even though I knew he was bound to ask. I feel myself begin to shake in fear and Josh's eyes widen at my actions.

"I'm sorry Star. You don't have to answer."

"No, I should. It'll probably keep you safe if I do."

I take a deep breathe and square my shoulders.

"They are the... lawmakers. The enforcers. Our rulers. Mermaids are peaceful. We just swim around admiring humans and land creatures from afar... But. There are others that don't believe in the peace. They are mermaids, but not the same kind... Um... they weren't born as mermaids. We call them sirens."

"The creatures that lure sailors to their death?"

"Yeah... basically they are out for revenge against anyone. Sirens are people that were thrown overboard and were granted a second chance. If they are kind before turning, they aren't now. All kindness in their heart shrivels and dies. They become hell bound on ruining everything around them. They easily took over as rulers of the mermaid people, because we aren't aggressive. We have rules we must follow, otherwise... we are punished. That's... that's what happened to Cal. He started showing symptoms of soulmate separation and that's when a mermaid came forward with his claims of seeing Cal kissing Simon. The sirens offer a reward if you can prove it, so while that mermaid was lifted up in our community, Cal was banished and forced from us. It's gotten so bad. Most actually believe the sirens words now. They fear people. They fear the world above and ridicule anyone that is curious about it."

Josh soothingly rubs my back as I talk. The movements relieving the tension building in my muscles.

"They are harsh and cruel creatures. They have no qualms with killing us. They don't care about life, they only live to feed their own blood lust. And they..."

"They what Vik? It's okay, you can do it."

"They purposefully keep us from our soulmates... forcing us into marriages we don't want... Josh.... I'm one of those."