Margaret: Chapter Twelve

A week had passed since the Ardus sword sensed the presence of Marina. Seirra and I had doubled our efforts in the search for the princess but apparently, she was nowhere to be found again. If there was anything good about that chance (almost) encounter, it was the fact that Marina was certainly in Grasveld Aisles.

It had been 15 days since Seirra and I had met but I had never seen him as restless as he was in the past week. He was always in a hurry to the point that I had to beg him before he realized that we were both already exhausted from all the walking and running that we had done.

“Seirra, I don’t think we’d lose her any further if we stop searching for a while,” I told him as I pulled him off the street towards one of the benches around the Fountain of Venus. The artwork was a landmark located in the middle of the city and famous for being the only remaining masterpiece created by Lorenzo de Guia, Grasveld Aisles’ most renowned artist. All his other artworks were all believed to have been either destroyed or lost under the ocean.

“I really couldn’t waste more time, Marge,” he began the moment I was seated on the bench right in front of Venus.

“I know. It’s just that we’ve been looking for her since I got out of class, and that was five hours ago, Seirra. It’s ten in the evening and we haven’t even bothered with dinner. I’m sorry but I really am worn out now,” I told him in an almost wailing voice.

It was subtle but the moment I finished my statement, I saw that he finally realized just how tired I was. He ran his eyes from my head down to my feet and stared at me for an entire six seconds. Discomfort spread through me at being subjected to his stare but I welcomed it because I know it would knock some sense into him.

Finally, he sighed.

“I’m sorry,” he said in a quiet voice as he took a seat beside me.

“Don’t be. I know finding her is important. It’s not your fault that I get tired easily.”

“No. I’m sorry I dragged you into this. It wasn’t your obligation.”

I heard deep remorse in his voice and I realized just how sincere he was. Seirra might seem easygoing all the time but he did know when things should be treated seriously.

I smiled at him.

“It’s alright. I actually liked helping you.”

He smiled back then, “I’ll go get something to eat.”

I watched him as he ambled towards the nearby bakery. The way he walked steadily towards his destination made me wish I had his stamina.

He wasn’t tired at all, I thought enviously.

I let my eyes wander around while I waited for Seirra to come back. It was late at night and there were only a few people outside—or at least in this part of the city. The small bakery was on my right. The bakeshop lady seemed to have been drawn in by Seirra’s charm and I swallowed the burst of jealousy that sprouted from my throat.

Several meters from my left were two elderly men intent on playing chess in one of the tables of a closed restaurant’s porch. A young couple, probably in their late teens like me, passed by the players but the old men didn’t seem to notice. The young guy was wearing a black hoodie and jeans—making him look like an amateur snatcher. He took a drag from his lighted cigarette and sent out the smoke into the night air. His girlfriend, who was wearing a red tight-fitting dress and shiny, black thigh-high boots, took the cigarette from him and breathed in some smoke for herself.

Hmph. Those two would be dead long before they see their grandchildren, I thought as I imagined how I would chastise them should I ever get around to it.

My friends would call me meddlesome but I didn’t care. I never liked cigarette smoke. It was a bad habit of dad’s and I never got used to the overpowering smell that always surrounded him. I loved him all the same but I always thought that if the fire hadn’t killed him, the cigarette would.

The two rounded the corner of the street and disappeared from my view. Just as I began to look for another focus for my observation, Seirra turned around and caught my attention. He grinned and lifted a small paper bag that was probably filled with bread as well as two bottles of C2 iced tea.

I smiled and waved at him. He quickened his pace and as soon as he was beside me, began to enumerate the things he bought.

“The lady was even kind enough to add two more donuts,” he finished.

“Ha! I’m sure she did that because you charmed her into it,” I teased as I began to eat my dinner.

He took a bite of one donut and swallowed before he said, “You know, I’ve never met a woman so obsessed with my charm.”

“Excuse me?” I exclaimed, aghast at the possibility that what he said was true. “I’m not obsessed. Just…well, amazed. That’s all.”

He exploded in laughter. I glowered at him then slapped his arm to let him know his mocking didn’t suit well with me.

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” He gave me a lopsided smile as he apologized so I wasn’t sure whether he was being sincere or not. I looked away and took the bottle to my mouth. “But you see, your ob—amazement is just too obvious. It makes me wonder if you’ve fallen in love with me.”

Could you remember how painful it was when water enters the wrong pipe? I couldn’t even describe how much agony I felt when Seirra said that last sentence. For a moment, I thought the iced tea would kill me.

“Are you alright?” Seirra worriedly asked me as he patted my back.

It took me several coughs before I could finally breathe properly again.

“I’m fine now,” I assured him. “I was just…careless.”

Sheesh, that choking incident was enough evidence that what he said was most certainly true. Honestly, it was as good as telling him “I love you” out loud. And I hadn’t even fully admitted it to myself.

Until now.

God, how could I let it happen?

This was exactly the same thing as Grampa’s story. Worse, he couldn’t let himself love me because he had a duty to his homeland. He needed to find Marina, bring her back to Aquania, kiss her then ultimately marry her.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

He continued to pat my back and the concern on his face almost made me cry.

“Are you sure?”

“Yup.”

Seirra exhaled a sigh of relief. “Really, I see no reason why you could have accidentally choked yourself to death. Unless of course…” His head turned sharply at me, knowing eyes boring into mine. “You are in love with me, aren’t you?”

“Shut up,” I told him as I broke our eye contact.

I saw his eyes narrow even further. “You are.”

My eyes rolled as I covered the truth with my sarcasm. “Hmph. Contrary to popular opinion, you’re not always irresistible.”

“I beg to disagree. I am Aquania’s most eligible bachelor ever since I was eleven,” he proclaimed confidently.

“Yeah, sure. An eleven-year-old bachelor. How old do you mermen get married anyway?” I mocked, hoping the question would lead our conversation away from me and my feelings.

“The heir to the Celari leadership is determined through a vision given to the current leader. The vision doesn’t appear until the qualified heir apparent turns eleven. Turns out, my uncle died the day after my eleventh birthday—making me the official Celari leader before I could even fight a real battle.”

“Oh. I see,” I remarked in a yielding voice. “So you’ve been leading Aquania’s strongest military force since you were eleven?”

“No. My father temporarily assumed leadership when King Tideus and the Royal Council decided that I cannot take the position before I turn twenty-one.”

I nodded in understanding. “I guess that’s the wisest thing to do.” I turned to him then asked, “So how is your father like?”

“He’s strict and very reliable. I guess you can say he was the best man for the job.”

“You aren’t close? I mean as father and son.”

“Maybe. He’s the only family I have—aside from the other members of the Celari clan—so I guess we have no choice but to trust each other.”

“What about your mother?”

Curiosity made me want to know more about him. I didn’t know he would be willing to share the information to me.

“Father doesn’t usually talk about it but as far as I know, she has died already.”

He said it as if he really didn’t know his mother that much and I felt the need to comfort him.

“I’m sorry about your mom,” I said as sincerely as I could.

Seirra smiled. “Don’t worry about it.”

After three seconds, his smile turned devious and I didn’t have to wait long before he revealed the reason why.

“Are you trying to find out more about my family so you can prepare yourself for becoming my wife?”

“Oh come on.” I stood up in exasperation. “I only asked because I was curious.” I glowered at his smiling face. “Besides, aren’t you supposed to make Princess Marina your wife?”

“Did I just hear the sound of longing and regret?” he teased as he stood up from the bench.

“Ha. Ha.” I could only be sarcastic or I would end up losing my composure. His question was spot on and I couldn’t let him know that.

He laughed and poked me until I could no longer keep myself from smiling.

“Okay, okay. Enough with the teasing,” I commanded as I slapped his hand on its way to give me another nudge. “I think it’s time to go. It’s getting really late.”

“Just a few streets at West End then we go home,” Seirra replied, standing up. “I wouldn’t want you to blame me for lack of sleep.”

I just rolled my eyes at him, knowing that he was merely teasing me again. We agreed to restart our search by asking the old men playing chess. They were getting ready to pack up and we hurried over before they left.

“Good evening sirs,” Seirra began. “I am Seirra and this is Marge and we were wondering if you can help us find someone?”

The old men eyed us with curiosity then sat back down. One of them, the shorter and bald man, asked, “Who could ya be lookin’ for, kids? It’s late night.”

I grabbed Seirra’s arm to stop him for answering. He glanced at me and I signaled that I was going to answer instead.

“Uhm, we’re looking for a friend. She asked us to come over but we forgot to ask her exact address. It’s the first time we’re visiting,” I answered in an attempt to avoid making complicated explanations.

“Can’t you just call ‘er?” the taller and larger old man inquired.

“Uh, well…”

“We can’t seem to contact her. We tried but nothing,” Seirra replied.

I mouthed a silent ‘thanks’ when he turned my way and he smiled in response. The two men nodded and I took it as a sign that they were willing to give us some answers.

“So who’s yar friend? George here an’ I know most ever’body here in West End, North Grasveld, even,” came the short man’s smiling inquiry.

“We’re looking for a girl our age. She’s called Marina and one of her most noticeable features are her eyes. Lime green in color,” Seirra described.

The men looked at each other, probably trying to remember if they know the girl we were looking for.

“Don’t know anyone called Marina but there’s a young girl who has green eyes that shine. Ever’one likes ‘er fo’ it,” the large man said.

Both our eyes widened in surprise and excitement.

“Do you know where she lives?” I asked.

“Round that corner, in the sec’nd buildin’, I think. Right, Henry?” George said, pointing towards the same direction I saw the young couple disappear to.

“Yeah. I think that’s it. But if she ain’t Marina, then she ain’t your friend,” Henry declared.

Seirra and I looked at each other, excited at the lead we found. I tried to bring up a disappointed face to hide the excitement.

“Are you sure you don’t know Marina?” I asked them.

“Yeah, we’re sure,” they answered in unison.

“Okay. Thank you anyway, sir. Have a good evening,” I said before Seirra and I turned around, hurrying towards the direction the old men pointed.

We tried not to run to avoid making the men suspicious but the moment we rounded the street corner, we began to run until we reached the second building’s entrance.

Unfortunately, the receptionist was drunk and we couldn’t get any clear response from her. We went out of the building, frustrated.

“Dammit! We were so close, Marge! Damn receptionist!” Seirra was pacing outside the building while I stood by the door, trying to think of a way to find Marina among the building’s occupants.

A few minutes had passed and no solution entered our heads.

“I think we ought to give up for now, Seirra. We can simply go back tomorrow when she’s most likely to be awake,” I regretfully told him.

He raised his hands to cover his face then ran dragged them up his hair in frustration.

“Okay.”

Three steps from the end of the street and the Ardus sword suddenly glowed. We instantly turned our bodies around and found the couple I was observing a while ago.

“Oh yeah? And you think I care? Fuck you, bitch!” The guy shouted at his girlfriend.

“Yeah, you fucked me, alright! And that was the biggest mistake of my life! Get lost, asshole!” she shouted back.

The guy’s face turned red with anger, visible through the street lights illuminating the couple. He raised his hand, obviously intent on striking the girl. But the moment his palm landed on her face, a strong gust of wind passed by and electricity shocked him. He dropped to his knees and the guy’s eyes widened in fear.

Marina leaned down, smiling. Before I could even guess what she was smiling about, she gave him a soft slap—one that brought him flying towards one of the lamp posts. He screamed in agony and stared back at Marina. She began a slow pace to where he was currently writhing in pain and the terror in his eyes tripled. Panic must have given him the strength to stand and run away from Marina and he disappeared from our sight within a minute.

That was when Seirra began to saunter towards the princess.

“Your highness,” Seirra said with a bow the moment Marina turned around and saw us.

Surprise registered in her eyes though she tried to hide it with nonchalance. Her eyes darted towards the glowing bracelet.

Seirra stood back up and smiled at Marina.

“I’m Seirra Celari from Aquania. I have come to bring you home.”

Marina raised an eyebrow then said, “Fuck off.”