The little Merman: Ariel's Story

Chapter Five

Ariel
I woke up to see it was really dark and wondered how long I've been out. I didn't get much sleep yesterday after Zeke slept off when I woke up and used the time to cook and clean what I could.

I sat up but was met with a stinging pain that made me gasp in pain and lie back gently on the bed. Zeke was so large and he really did hurt me more than I could physically bear.

I tried to attempt getting up again when I heard the door open. I looked to see Zeke who had a tray in his hand and a guilty look that made me feel sad for him.

I didn't hate him even after what he did but I was scared of him. I was scared of the power behind him. I forgave him because it wasn't his fault but I wanted him as far away as possible from me because I didn't want to experience such fear and pain ever again.

"I brought you dinner or more like breakfast." Zeke said softly as he dropped the tray on the bed.

I looked at him as he gave me sign to eat. I don't know what can cause him to get that mad and I don't want to get him angry by refusing him. I took the spoon and then had a taste of the pudding.

I froze before I looked at him and back at my meal before tears started to flow. It was so sweet that I rushed everything that he cooked as he silently watched without disturbing me. I was glad that he let me cry because it had been so long since I've had someone do something so nice for me that didn't include trying to know my past.

He was the first person since I came into town that I first had a meal with in my house. I cleaned my tears after eating and then he took the tray.

"Thank you so much." I appreciated him before he dropped the tray and sat on the bed and hugged me.

His hugs were warm and I could feel myself melting in his warmth. My heart felt warm and then I could smell those familiar scent that Uriel had. The scent of ocean and sand. I felt my soul calling out to him and then I accepted he was my new mate.

Why so soon? Why did the fates give me another who resembled my dead mate but not in personality? I loved Uriel but I felt attracted to Zeke. Unfortunately I couldn't love him because I was scared.

I was scared I'd lose another mate and I was scared of the darkness controlling him.

Zeke stopped hugging me and then he cleaned my eyes before he stood up from the bed.

"Sorry I got so carried away." He said before he took the tray.

"I drew a hot bath for you. You need it." He said gently before he walked away.

I stood up after what he said as I held the bed for support. I was limping to the bathroom which was in my room and then I closed the door without locking it.

I took off my clothes and was limping to the bath when the door opened for me to see Zeke standing by the door with a bowl of hot water.

Zeke
I stared at Red head to toes as I saw what I did to him completely.

He had fingermarks on his hips and back. He had bruises from his neck down to his ankles. The hickeys were painful and there was a lot of bite marks with few looking deep. He had scars that looked like someone used a glass to his back and then I saw that his wrists were bruised from something forceful like a rope.

Red covered himself with a towel but it still didn't hide the bruises. I walked to the tub and poured the hot water into the tub before I silently left the bathroom.

Seeing everything I did to him opened my eyes that I was too dangerous to be around him. I love Red yes, for a reason I don't understand. I remember seeing his face in my dream in my dreams two years ago and I fell in love with him.