paradise

Chapter 2 (Edited)

Two days later HE arrived. My sister and I were playing hide and seek in the castle when I had run into him, literally.

" I'm so so-" I looked up to see Charles? Charles?! I smiled wide and looked up at the man who once was the center of my attention. Charles and I used to be very close friends since we were well born, but he had to move away. I never got a full explanation from my father or any of his friends. It wasn't until I finally broke down and cried for hours when my father told me he was the one to send his family away so his father could train other warriors. I never saw him again till today.  He held his head high towering over me. His hair was a sandy color and his eyes a deep hazel. He was perfect! I had a crush on him and if he was the one I would-

" No manners at all ! I hope my bride is much better looking than you. You're too thin and weak. I need a women who is strong and willing." I stood still. It felt as if I had swam into arctic waters. I was looking up at the man who was once such a kind boy.  He looked at me with such disgust. Did he not recognize me? He was not the same boy- once again I was thrown out of my thoughts when my sister Bella grabbed me telling me father had called.

I swam to my father's office feeling numb. I knew what was to happen ... I was the last to be paired. The arranged marriage I feared. Charles was to betrothed to me but he hated me. He said I was... ugly.

We arrived at my father's office and I refused to look up from the floor.

" Rainey ! Always a late one" my father chuckled. " Do you remember Charles? Oh I remember you said you liked the boy very much when you were younger ! He has grown to be a great warrior and soon a leader of a strong generation. I have picked him to marry you." My father's words rang loud in my ears. I dared to look up and I regret doing so. Charles' smile didn't reach his eyes. There they showed guilt,but it was too late the damage was done. He didn't want me. I will mean nothing to him.

My sisters and I sat in the room while my father and Charles' father talked. Charles didn't even come up to talk to me once. He was too busy talking with my sisters. Laughing... not once burdened by what was to come. Why would he. He got everything he wanted except the girl. I stared out the window watching the dolphins dance to the singing in the square.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed but soon my sisters and I were back in the room. I couldn't hold back any longer. I had finally broken and cried my heart out. Maryssa swam over to me in a panic.

" Ray ! What's wrong? He is a boy you like yes? why are you hurting?" She waited till my sobbing had slowed. In a low whisper I answered her hoping it was too low to hear." H-he said I was ugly. He doesn't w-want me." All of my sisters came to me giving me words of empathy and hugs to help me feel better. Soon we were all in bed. I couldn't help but think that this situation was about to get worse.

The feelings did get worse. Empty apologies. The two words I had bouncing in my brain for the past few days. Charles had apologized to me in every way possible. He cornered me before breakfast the next day and stumbled out a weak apology to which I nodded to. I still couldn't face him so I proceeded to skip breakfast. He sent me clams with pearls in them, sea star earrings that whispered " I love you"s , he even went as far as getting me fruits from the humans that I liked. I had already forgiven him by the second gift. The hurt still stuck. I wasn't what he wanted and so I know he wasn't sorry, not truly. It wasn't his fault. He got the black sheep out of my sisters so he had every right to dislike me, but I wish he would stop. Every letter he sent with the gifts had empty words of "love" attached to them. It hurt my heart even more because they made me swoon and smile... till I remembered what he said and I knew it was just to make amends. He wanted to marry for the title, I get it, but I can guess he also wanted a pretty princess to go with it and unfortunately for him I wasn't that.

By the end of the week I had gotten so fed up with my broken heart I willed my legs to grow and decided to go to the human market. It was my favorite thing to do to pass the time. They had all kinds of food and cool things to buy. What I loved most were the paintings. They showed beautiful rays of light and lands I could only dream of visiting. I could only view them for if I were to take them home... they would dissolve into mush.

I had stopped to feed the birds on the way back to the water when I heard a ship pulling into port. It looked a bit out of place. I walked forward a bit to get a better look and then I saw it. The captain. He had walked into town with pride a pride no other man would carry . He was a pirate. That's when I smiled wide and looked to the sky. A chance to see the world and give a chance to make Charels happy.

I all but ran and dove back into the water growing my tail mid air. To any other mer I probably looked like a madman laughing to myself but this was my chance to make everyone happy. I swam to the room and grabbed what I could. It wasn't much just my hair brush, some jewelry, and some food. Before I left I wrote a note placing it on my pillow for my sisters and father.

As I was leaving the city border I looked back and frowned. I was going to miss my father, my sisters, and my brothers , but maybe I would be able to find love . A mate. Maybe with me out of the picture things would be better.

I swam to the one place I knew my sister would find me and my dad wouldn't.

Paradise.