Submerged

El Fin

What was blurry before was crystal clear now. I could see for hundreds of feet under the water. The liquid coolness flowed easily in and out of my lungs as I took deep, long breaths. If you could call this breathing. My hair slowly floated out around me, my arms waving in the openness. Mikko stood next to me, our feet on the mushy lake bottom, many feet under the surface. The sun danced in the ripples above our heads and I smiled at this. Everything was so peaceful.
So graceful and serene.
So much different than my world. My old world. I reached out to Mikko and grabbed his hand, squeezing it.
"So what do we do now?" The watery sound of my voice was strange, but clear at the same time. I stared out into the open darkness of the water as the sun went down. I could hear him as if he was talking in my ear. It made me shiver to hear his voice.

"I love you, Sophia." He said deeply and calmly, like he had been waiting his entire life to say it but wanted it to last. "I love you like no one has ever loved anyone else. I know what sounds crazy but it's true." He pulled my in, pressing my body to his and holding my waiste in tightly to his. He was taller than me, and looked down at me, his eyes scolding. There was something about him now, like he wasn't afraid of this anyomre, like it was no longer forbidden. But the lust was still there, and he made that very clear. He grabbed my head with his free and and held his lips to mine so they were bearly touching. I felt the cool water flow softly out of his mouth and I breathed it in. My hand tangled in his hair and my other around his shoulders, I mushed mysef into him, frantically kissing him, touching his lips with my tongue. I felt his lips part and for the first time in our few kisses I felt his tongue, it stung mine with a burning pleasure that traveled from my mouth to my neck to my chest and into my gut. I pulled my face away but kept my body pressed into him, the heat between us growing. I let out a sigh."As much as I love being underwater with you, can we get somewhere, dry?" I smiled sheepishly. Would he think strange of me to not want to be in the water 24/7 with this new talent? But he simply kissed me lightly and led me back to the cave opening.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We dried off and were twisted in eachother on the floor infront of the fireplace in his cave. The warmth was enough to put me to sleep, add in the exhausting day I had and it wouldn't have taken much for me to drift off. Mikko's father and mother, who I had yet to meet, were still with the elders. Mikko said they were just talking details about the wedding we were to have soon, on the next full moon. What is it with these people and the full moon.

I was asleep in his arms when I heard them come in, slamming the door. I jumped to my feet and Mikko was already meeting them at the door. He could sence the panic and so could I. Something was wrong.

"Aquiam is furious," his mother stated, her voice muted and feelingless. She looked at me in disgust. I put my hand to my chest and tried to be subtle about the pain that caused me. I haven't even met this woman yet and she hates me already. Maybe it was the idea that I was human. Who knows. Mikko put his hand up, "Mother, I'm sure he is. But please," he looked at me and took my hand, "is that any way to treat my mate." She growled at the word, I shivered. I didn't know merpeople growled. She shoved past me and went through the curtain across the room, their room I believed. Mikko was having a silent conversation with his father, their eyes doing all the talking. Finally his father thought it was my turn to know what was going on and looked at me."Aquiam has declared enulment. He wishes to invalidate the ceremony and take the crown from Mikko. If he challanges him and succeeds, you become his." My face dropped in horror.
"That can't happen!" I felt tears well in my eyes as I looked at Mikko for some explanation, he simply stared through the wall, focused on something else. His mind far from here. Mikko's father walked away and stood infront of the fireplace where we had just been laying, quiet and content. I spoke up, my voice serious and calm now. "When is he planning to do this." It was not a question, and no one answered me.
"Maybe we can take him by surprise before he-"