"Why do you always have to make things so hard for me? I just want to make you happy!" he suddenly bursts.
Turning around, the usual affection present in his eyes when I see him has morphed into anger, clouding over his usually soft blue eyes. It's...
My heartbeat accelerates as I push through the water towards the blonde girl floating peacefully in the distance. I thrash towards her as fast as I can but try as I might, I can't get any closer, even with my tail allowing me to swim faster. She just continues to float, her expression blank, devoid of emotion. A stark comparison to her usual infectious lively and upbeat expression; present even in the darkest of times.
Almost as if in the flick of a switch her expression turns panicked and scared. She begins to hit and kick at the water around her, despite the resistance water would ordinarily give, she moves as if fighting against thin air. I'm filled with dread, as I struggle to get to her, filled with a need to hold her and comfort her, just like she had with me so many times.
But I can't comfort her.
Her screaming and thrashing stir the water around her and she quickly becomes lost in a cloud of bubbles and foam. I push forward still, but as the water calms she is nowhere to be seen. I look around frantically but she's gone.
Forever
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An unknown pressure starts to push me towards the surface, but I cant go back up there again. Not wherethey are. The monsters that did this to my precious Lena.
I can't help but be pulled up, facing towards the blinding sun above the cool water. And with one last triumphant push, I break through.
¤¤
Gasping awake, I lurch forward and cling onto the body in front of me. Looking around the dimly lit room, just how we left it, I start to ground myself back into reality. Soothing hands graze over my back as my husband whispers calming words into my ear. The nightmares have been happening for decades, so this isn't exactly a break in routine for us. Night terrors involving Lena generally get alternated between the two of us, when he hasn't fed, or I haven't had a swim for a few weeks. Things our bodies are made for. Over time our communities have become more and more controlled, these once freeing and revitalising tasks have become difficult to accomplish regularly.
Easing myself off of his damp shoulder, I palm his face and give him a chaste kiss. "I love you forever, Sebastian", I tell him. "And I love you forever, Drusilla." Those loving words have become somewhat of a mantra for us, but they never fail to hold their meaning. Never fail to calm each other down after something goes amiss.
After we lost her, we were all each other had. To say we were inseparable would be the understatement of the century. We had lost the majority of our friends to the war, and the others who remained went into hiding; not that we really blamed them. Our decision to surrender ourselves was one that was risky, but it was either that or go on the run forever. To us forever is an unimaginable amount of time. But that is still what we tell each other; 'love you forever', and we mean it.
Remembering the half-full bottle of whiskey on the bedside table, I manoeuvre around Sebastian and snatch it up before he can protest. He always has disapproved of my drinking habits, saying that alcohol is my only vice.
Putting the bottle to my lips I go to take a sip, only to find it empty. Damn him.
"You know you should really be careful what you leave out in the open. You never know what might happen," Sebastian says with a smirk. The bastard poured out my whiskey.
Groaning at my sober state, I make a move to get up to fetch some of my favourite rum when I'm suddenly flung onto the bed.
"I don't think so darling, we have our meeting with the council today. Probably best to stay lucid."
"Oh, now I remember why I opened that whiskey in the first place," I say solemnly. These meetings always put me in a bad mood. Just a bunch of old entitled pricks, proudly representing a species which revelled in the destruction of my entire world. Funnily enough, I don't enjoy the monthly meetings where I am looked upon as a disgusting abomination and my husband as a race traitor. However, they are the only thing that ensures me and Sebastian won't be persecuted for our roles in the war. Sirens and witches vs vampires and werewolves, with mermaids steering clear of it all. Me being a siren I would gladly fight for my people, but Sebastian was given the difficult choice of either fighting with his fellow vampires or with me and my sirens.
He chose me.
But we lost.
Even though it was brought to an end over 70 years ago, vampires and werewolves are unforgiving creatures, and we are subjects to their "mercy"; as they would always say proudly.
However, I would much rather endure these monthly meetings than being dead.
Begrudgingly, I heave myself out of bed and do my best to look presentable, but not too presentable, lest I be accused of "attempting to use my bewitching beauty to alleviate my punishments". Truth be told I just like to look nice, but arguing my case is like arguing against a brick wall, especially when that brick wall is an old, drugged up, widowed alpha from the 70s.
Throwing on one of my favourite pink tops and some white pants, I move over to Sebastian attempting to tie his tie in the mirror. Silently taking it from his hands, I begin to tie it for him.
"You would think that after so many centuries doing this, you would know how to tie a tie."
"But why ever would I want to when I've got you?", he remarks unabashedly, smiling down at me with love in his eyes.
Finishing it off, I adjust his clothing and smooth the ends of his blazer. Perfect I think to myself, giving him a peck on the cheek. Sebastian especially needs to present himself well to the council. After decades of convincing, he was finally allowed to become a teacher at the local high school for the supernaturally inclined (that being only vampires and werewolves of course). It was his greatest pleasure in life and had even been a university professor before the war. I on the other hand never found my niche, preferring to follow the lead of the ones I love.
I grab my purse, and Sebastian grabs all the supplies he needs for his lessons today. We step away from our mansion like the power couple we are, get in the car, and drive towards the people that I would love more than anything to put 6ft under.
