Fates: Chapter Forty-Seven

Seirra

Walking home with Marge last night was filled with both hope and regret.

We did not know what was in store for us and it was obvious with the way Marge walked slowly- taking in everything she could see as if she was trying to remember every single detail of her surroundings-that even though she was happy to be with me in Aquania, she was going to regret leaving everything behind.

"No matter what happens," I blurted out, "I will always be here for you."

I lifted her hand and brought it to my lips. Somehow, I felt the need to always assure her that she will not be facing the unknown without me.

"I know," she replied with a smile. "It's probably the biggest reason why I am not scared of going."

"I'm glad."

We reached Books and Covers and as I waited for a light to open in her home above the bookstore, I finally found myself smiling with peace of mind.

She went to the window and finally waved me goodnight.

In a few hours, everything will no longer be the same.

*****

I woke up with a start.

It might have been because I did not get enough sleep but it took some time before I could remember that there was nothing wrong with waking up in my room.

I dressed comfortably, knowing that it did not matter what I wore. In Aquania, clothing did not exist. Wearing charms and jewelry was what separates normal days from special ones.

The sun was already up but there was time before noon. I promised Erwann we would leave Grasveld Aisles this morning.

I arrived at Books and Covers but it was closed.

Before I could ring the bell, however, Marge was already opening the door.

"Where's Amanda?"

"She came in earlier but before either of us could say anything, I broke down and just ended up crying in her arms."

Now that she said it, I could finally recognize how puffy and red Margaret's eyes were. Naturally, I pulled her inside and gave her a hug.

"And then?"

"She kept asking if I was alright but I knew I couldn't tell her what was happening." She sniffed again but went on, "In the end, she just told me that the reasons didn't matter. She decided to close the shop and told me to wait for her while she did the groceries. She said she'll cook for us both just to make sure I'd feel alright by the end of the day."

She openly cried now and my arms tightened around her.

"She left and I knew that was the last time I would see her. She has become like a sister. I'm truly going to miss her."

I ran my hand through her back and then released her.

"You know she won't remember you once you become a mermaid, don't you?" When she nodded, "But you won't forget her?" She nodded again. "Then it's alright. Her life here will be okay-she will be the owner of the bookshop, I'm sure-and you will always have memories of her to remind you of happy times. It's fine, Marge."

"I know. I think it's just so difficult at first but when I get used to it, then it'll be alright," she replied, taking a deep breath so she can finally calm down. "I prepared breakfast. Can we eat first, before we leave?"

It will be a totally normal gesture and I agreed. She was savoring every moment of her life on land.

We finished breakfast long before Amanda came back from her chores.

Memories flooded me as soon as we got to the beach. I smiled as I finally told myself that from this day forward, I would remember that this was where the rest of my life with Margaret has started.

"You're smiling," she told me, a similar smile plastered on her face.

"It's our new beginning."

"That sounds nice."

Without any warning however, Erwann's voice penetrated through the sound of the waves.

"Before anything else, thank you for being here today, Margaret. And thank you, Seirra, for finding her."

"I couldn't be more thankful that I did," I replied.

"I think it's the best decision I have ever made," Marge told the prince.

Erwann nodded with a smile but immediately got serious.

"I hope you don't mind if I leave out any more chitchat. I am only looking out for Princess Marina," he began.

Marge and I both nodded.

"We don't want her in danger, either," I told him.

"For a human to become a mermaid, she must drink the blood of a real merman or mermaid," Erwann explained.

Marge listened, immediately entranced by the reality of becoming a mermaid.

"However, it was never as easy as that. You cannot drink a Celari's blood as they have the most mysterious bloodline in Aquania. It's why they are also the most skilled warriors-not only to protect the kingdom and the royals, but also to protect themselves from anyone who wishes to take advantage of their special abilities.

"What makes this transformation most difficult for humans is that drinking the blood of a mermaid does not guarantee that you will indeed become a mermaid."

"There have been a number of cases where a human died after drinking a mermaid's blood," I revealed. I took Marge's hand as the statement registered in her face. "But I'm sure you'll be fine. You're my Fate, after all."

"I won't die," she whispered-as if she was trying to remind herself of that. "I see."

She was still breathing hard and continuously convincing herself that she will definitely not die when Erwann revealed his sword and cut his palm. Margaret was surprised to see him doing so but she did not protest nor speak. She watched as Erwann produced a small vial and filled it drops of his blood. Margaret looked ready to gag but she was brave and I knew she was going to drink it no matter what.

The way she fought her fears made me so proud of her.

I released her hand to go to the water and get the vial from Erwann but she took it back and went with me.

When I gave it to her, I gave her a kiss on the forehead and jokingly said, "I'm sure it'll just taste like vinegar."

That made her smile and relax a little.

"I hope not. I'm not much of a fan of vinegar."

She stared at the vial for a while and with one look at me and Erwann, she drank every single drop of merman's blood.

Nothing happened at first. She even looked pleased and proud that she managed to finish it without any sort of mishap. I began to grin at her and Erwann was even smiling when she suddenly grabbed her neck with of her hands and began to gag.

I tried to stop her but she did not seem to hear or see me. Every time I tried to touch her, she screamed as if she was in great pain. Her eyes were on me but I knew she was seeing something else. Something terrible.

"What's happening?" I demanded, as I stared at Margaret in horror.

"I don't know. I have never seen a human becoming a mermaid before. I have only read that not everyone survives," Erwann replied, his voice sounding sharp with panic.

I tried to touch her again but she screamed at me and dropped to her knees. She kept whispering to herself and after three more minutes began to whimper, openly sobbing with despair. I knelt down beside her, hoping that whatever it was that she was experiencing would finally stop.

"Marge, it's me. It's alright. I'm here for you," I told her again and again to no avail.

When she raised her head, it was difficult to look at her eyes. This was the most sorrowful that I have ever seen her and I was frightened. Margaret did not deserve this. I tried to hug her again but she moved away as if I was the one who scared her.

"Marge, please. Fight it. Please come back to me," I told her. Hoping my voice would penetrate through her mind.

"Seirra, this must be what they meant when they said the transformation was not easy," Erwann began. "In her mind, she must have been transported to another, more terrible world."

Marge suddenly looked at Erwann when he spoke and before we knew it, Marge was running to him, as if he had something she wanted.

Water splashed all over and without being able to predict what she was going to do, Margaret grabbed Erwann's sword and raised it.

"Marge, no! You can't kill anyone!" I yelled in fear.

Erwann recovered from his surprise and was ready to deflect her attack but she was not aiming for him but at herself.

As she swung the sword that pointed at her stomach, all I could think about was how I was going to revive her if she died. There was no time to reach her, especially with the water slowing each of my step.

Erwann tried to block the sword that would kill her but right before the sword touched her clothes, she froze.

The prince was the first one to realize that no one died and when he reached out to take the sword from Marge, she did not resist.

I was beside Margaret as soon as the sword was a safe distance from her. When I held her chin and forced her to look at me, I could finally see that the woman I loved was back and that she was alive. Fear and sadness still lingered in her eyes but I could see that her nightmare was over.

"Seirra..." she whispered. "I'm sorry."

"Hush..." I said as I wrapped her in my arms. "It's alright now. You're alive. You're safe. All of us are."

"I didn't know what was happening and it was scary. Everybody was dying and there was blood everywhere. Even you died. I was the only one left and they were all coming for me and I didn't know what I was doing..."

"I know, I know. It's okay now," I assured her. "It's okay."

We stayed that way for two more minutes. I wished I knew that this was the price she had to pay to become a mermaid. I did not want her to feel as if becoming a mermaid meant that she was going to suffer.

"This may not be the last time you get these nightmares," I reminded her.

"I know."

She spoke it in a way that told me she remembered my parents' story. I resolved that ours would not end the same way. We will fight it and we will be happy.

When she finally pushed back and got out of my embrace, she suddenly turned to my right and with a repentant voice, told Erwann, "Your Majesty, I'm sorry. I had no idea what I was doing."

"It's alright. As long as everybody is safe," my friend replied with a small smile.

With a smile of her own, she said, "Thank you."

"Are you sure, you're okay now?" I asked her again.

"I think so," she answered. "But why am I still a human? Does that mean it didn't work?"

I gave her a soft smile because I knew that there was no way it did not work. Her skin was changing and I was starting to see some slits in her neck that could only be her gills.

She noticed that I had started to smile and was about to say something but I decided there was no reason for me not to kiss her right then.

It was a kiss of promise and new beginnings. It was a kiss to remind her that everything will be alright as long as we were together.

And I think she understood what it meant because she responded with just as much enthusiasm.

When I had broken our kiss, Margaret had not immediately realized that we were already sitting on the sand, with the water reaching our chests. Erwann was nearby and pretending not to have seen anything.

The first thing Marge noticed was me taking her blouse off.

"Whoa! Seirra, what are you doing?" she gasped.

I raised my eyebrows, feigning innocence. "Making you feel comfortable?"

"What?!"

It was getting more difficult for me to contain my mirth and I laughed, splashing the water with my tail.

She instinctively shielded her face from the water but when I saw her freeze and then slowly remove the arms that were covering her eyes, I knew that she had finally realized what happened.

"Seirra, is that...what I think it is?" She asked, dumbfounded.

I smiled gently and answered, "Yes. It is."

She was a beautiful mermaid.

Her hair remained unbound but was even more lustrous, making it a brighter red than it originally was. Her skin glowed and her blue eyes sparkled like gemstones. It was weird looking at a mermaid wearing a blouse with buttons that were halfway open but it made her look more unique and sexier. She was, as a matter of fact, enchanting.

Not to mention the surprised look on her face as she obviously wondered how on earth her feet had turned into a turquoise-colored tail.

"Erwann's blood was what turned you into a mermaid," I reminded her, answering her unspoken question.

"Oh. Yes, of course. I just, I don't know." She turned towards me. "I'm just really, really amazed, I guess. I-I turned into a mermaid. And you're—look at you. You're really a merman!"

Her head moved from side to side as she looked at our tails in wonder. She tried to move her tail and when she managed to lift it, a giggle actually escaped from her lips.

She looked even happier than I've seen her in days. Which was how as it should be.

"Are you alright?" I had to ask as I took her hand.

When she looked straight into my eyes, I knew the answer before she uttered it.

"Yes. I am alright." Her smile widened. "I always will be."

There was now a calmness that surrounded her as she giddily tried to make herself used to having a tail. She ran both her hands through it and moved from one side to another, inspecting it.

When she realized that she was still wearing her blouse, she glared at me.

"So...how will removing my blouse make me comfortable?"

I said that just to have an answer to her question but a thought suddenly struck me.

"It feels a little itchy wearing human clothes while I'm a merman and I assumed you'd feel the same." It was true. Clothes were itchy.

"Hmm. Well, I don't feel itchy yet but I guess I can't wear this if I'm already a mermaid, can I? That would probably make me so weird that I'd be an outcast."

"I doubt that. When we get to Aquania, everybody would have known that you have saved our kingdom when you kissed me yesterday. No one can and will make you an outcast."

Her eyes were like saucers after I finished talking so I had to ask, "Is something wrong?"

I couldn't help but notice her blush when I said we kissed and I found myself leaning in to kiss her again. It was short but it made her blush almost as red as her hair.

"That's okay now, you two. Time to get moving. We have a kingdom waiting for us," Erwann finally declared with a huge grin on his face.

With one last look back at Grasveld Aisles, the three of us set forth for Aquania.