The little Merman: Ariel's Story

Chapter Seventeen

Ariel
I heard voices arguing and I recognized one clearly to be the love of my life Zeke. He sounded angry and then I started to wonder if I was dying or if something was wrong with the baby.

Ocean. My little boy. I thought of him as I felt tears fall down my cheeks that I couldn't say his name because I was too tired. I was too exhausted to even move my body.

"Ariel." I heard a voice calling my name and then slowly I opened my eyes.

I was surprised to see Argus. He was smiling at me as he rubbed my hair and his hand touching the scar on my stomach.

"Where is... Zeke?" I asked weakly but he placed a finger on my lip.

"Hush my love, your tired and need rest." He said and then he stood up and covered me with blanket properly.

"Sleep now, we'll talk later." He insisted and then I closed my eyes, letting sleep to take me away.

I saw a man but I couldn't see his face. He felt so familiar to me because he was smiling and he seemed to be saying something.

I tried to look into his eyes but all I kept on seeing was black spiral webs. The annoying buzz stopped in the background and then I heard one word that cleared the darkness I was feeling.

Red.

I opened my eyes and then looked around the unfamiliar environment. The room I was in was large, a dark shade with lights that glowed but still made the room dull.

I sat up to feel a sting on my stomach. I raised up the new shirt and saw a small neat scar that was healing properly. I removed the cool blankets from me and tried to stand up but my knees buckled and I fell.

I was surprised I hadn't touched the ground but a warm chest that helped me sit back on the bed.

"You shouldn't move immediately. You've been asleep for a week." The man told me as I touched my stomach in pain.

"It hurts." I informed him as I placed my hand on my stomach.

"It'll all heal love. Here drink this, it'll make it better." He said before he brought a bowl to my mouth and then I drank the horrible tasting liquid.

I gagged before he squatted and then wiped the liquid that was dripping pass my chin with a soft cloth.

I stared into his eyes to see it was Argus and he seemed concerned as he raised my shirt to exam my scar.

"Your still weak and you have to eat love." He said as I heard the door open and a small boy brought in a tray of food.

He smiled at me before he waved bye and then he ran away with a blush on his face when Argus looked at him. The boy didn't seem older than nineteen years old, apparently a year older.

Argus was about to feed me when I stopped his hand and he gave me a confused expression.

"Zeke, Ocean." I said hoarsely because my throat was finding it difficult to talk much but he understood what I meant.

"Eat, when your healed we can talk about them." He said and then I nodded as he started to feed me.

I don't know how many days had passed since I stayed here since my schedule was mostly eat, sleep and talk to the young human boy whose name was November. He said that he had this name because he was an orphan and born on November 8th. He was found by Argus when he was nine and has been living with him as a pageboy for ten years.

He talks excitedly about Argus and its evident that he more than just admired Argus but I felt pity that the person he was getting close to was the one Argus was obsessed with.

I was sitting in my room observing the waterfall outside my window when the door opened and I saw Argus. He had a smile on his face but I gave a bored expression.

"Are you ready to let me go home?" I asked but then he just sat down beside me.

"Take a walk with me." He invited and then I stood up as well as he.

I put on the sandal kept for me and was about to leave when he grabbed my waist and pulled me into his chest. I pushed back but he held me tight before he snapped his fingers and we were in a large garden.

I separated myself from him and then I frowned as I stared at the lake that the waterfall was flowing. My eyes glittered as I saw the water and then I slowly took off my clothes, ignoring the presence of Argus.

Before he could say anything, I dived inside and then took off the necklace my father gave me as I felt my legs joining together, my toes growing a fin. I swam to the surface and then I looked at Argus who seemed to be admiring my body.

"Your more beautiful in your original form. Why chose to be human?" Argus asked as I scoffed.

"Because land seems interesting. They have so much to offer and their culture is dynamic and less barbaric." I responded with a smile on my face as I remembered the first time I came to the surface and met Eric. "But amazing things also happen underwater too. It's my home no matter what."

Argus sat down on the grass and then he placed his legs into the water as I came closer to him.

"Why do you want me so bad? We've never met." I asked and then he smiled as his fingers lightly brushed my cheeks.

"Wrong. We met when you were too young to remember on Olympus. Your grandfather was so excited to meet you so invited you. You were the first person to ever befriend me with a smile and a fearless heart. It was refreshing." He responded and then I stared into his eyes and then I noticed something.

"I really like you Argus but you should learn to be more honest with yourself." I told him before I smirked and when he asked what I meant, I swam into the water.

"Your avoiding my question."

"Not really. I'm just telling you to be more honest with yourself self and your heart. When you are then you'll take me home." I responded and then he laughed thinking what I said was silly.

My visions were never wrong unless an event was changed and what I saw was his deepest desire.

He wanted November but was scared to have him.