Whispers of the Tide

Soulmates

Serene’s POV

Soul mates? How was this possible?

The pirate captain could not be a mermaids’ soul mate. Surley.

I was staring right at what I was sure was a soul mate mark.

I had seen this mark once, in a book I had read about our ancient ancestors and their customs that have long since died out. There was a very thin chapter about soul mates. It described that a soul mate's mark would only appear after a passionate kiss between the two connected beings. The feeling of intense burning in the chest is the soul mate bond working to pull the two people together. 

There was no reversing that was documented, I would guess no one would have wanted to. The connection is unlike any other. It is a connection of heart, body and soul. A connection to last beyond this lifetime. 

How had I missed this. I can only assume that the fact that Connor is a known enemy of my kind must have clouded any thoughts about a possible soulmate bond. 

My thoughts were running rampant. I was reeling with a mixture of emotions. 

How could this possibly work? That was probably the biggest question at the forefront of my mind. 

How would the captain feel about this revelation?

Would he want me?

Do I want him? 

I am not naive enough to ignore the fact I am drawn to the capticativating pirate captain.

I wanted him with every fiber of my being. My body craved the feeling of his rough hands on my skin, the caress of his breath and the heat of his glittering, green gaze.

I had never craved anything as much as I craved this man. My body sung in a way that had my knees trembling and my heart pounding.

Did he feel the same? 

Judging by the kiss he had initiated, he was in just as much turmoil as I was. 

I belonged under the ocean, In fact, I belonged to the ocean. I am a future queen, and Connor is human. 

My eyes were glued to the mark glowing on the captain's chest, our mark.

 I felt his hands release me as my words hit him. 

‘Soulmates.’ The words echoing in my head. 

As he dropped his hands from my arms, his lines remaining, merging perfectly with his tattoos, like waves curling around the mermaid inked into his skin that looked ridiculously like me.

I quickly looked down at my own chest to see mine was not going anywhere. It was real, I had not imagined this. I looked up to see the captain had also noticed.

“Connor?” I questioned, without knowing what I wanted to ask. 

His eyes snapped to mine, a mixture of shock and sorrow swimming in their depths. 

My heart sunk. Even though I knew it could never work, rejection was never pleasant. 

Was this what Talain had seen in my eyes when he had proposed? The thought almost made me feel sorry. Almost.

The captain looked away from me and started buttoning his shirt back up. Covering our mark.

I watched as his guarded expression came back into place. His energy shifting, like a solid wall going up between us.

“Ya should put some clothes on.” 

Then he moved past me, and flung himself over the Port side of the ship onto the dock.

I watched frozen in place as he stormed away from me. 

It is for the best, I tried to tell myself. But I could not help the tears that escaped my eyes and slid down my cheeks.

I reached up and touched my lips with my fingers, closing my eyes to draw in the memory of his kiss. Like the most precious gift, I would never forget the way his lips felt when they crashed upon mine. The feeling of his rough hands burning my flesh as he cupped my face.

My body lighting up as every nerve ending responded to his touch.

I knew I would never feel anything like that again for as long as I lived. I was not sorry it happened, it was a moment I would forever treasure. 

I took a deep breath to compose myself and wiped my tears from my face heading below deck to find something to wear. The last place I wanted to be was the captain's quarters surrounded by his intoxicating scent. I did not want to wear his clothing either, but I had little choice in the matter. 

I stepped into the captains room and made my way over to the draws to pull out a shirt. I found a dark navy button up which I threw on, and then fastened a belt around my waist to keep it secure around my body. 

I was ok without shoes or a coat, I was used to being barefoot and the evening was warm. I wanted desperately to go for a swim, but a walk on the beach would have to suffice.

I started to head up the steps to the main deck when I heard someone clear their throat behind me. 

I turned around, recognising the man in front of me straight away as the man that had accompanied the captain in the cave when I had first seen him.

Lee.

His salt and pepper hair and beard was neatly trimmed, his shirt pressed and clean.

“Oh Hi Lee, I do apologize, I do not believe we have officially meet. I am Serene, It is such a pleasure to meet you at last.” 

He smiled with genuine kindness shining in his eyes. Smile lines decorated his face which only made him look more handsome and friendly. He seemed too approachable to be a feared pirate. The only thing harsh about him was a scar that ran from the bridge of his nose, across his cheek finishing at his jaw.

“The pleasure is all mine, your highness.” he said as he bowed his head in respect.

He knew who I was? Connor had assured me he would not tell his crew out of concern for my safety.

I would not let his knowledge of me deter me. I held my head up high and straightened my shoulders. 

“Thank you Lee, Please, call me Serene.

May I ask how you acquired information of my identity?”

“My apologies Serene, I knew the moment you boarded the ship. Your eyes and unnatural hair colour is of royal lineage I believe?

Then you disappeared and reappeared. I was able to put the pieces together. I have meet many of your kind in my life time at sea. I mean you no harm.” He assured me, placing his hand across his heart.

“Thank you for your honesty. Have you come across many royal Merfolk? I find it hard to believe many of them ever appear above the surface.” I asked, I was honestly curious.

“Just one. In fact she looked much like you. Her name was Queen Verity of the first kingdom.”

I am sure my jaw hit the floor. My mother? He had meet my mother? What was she doing above the surface? I couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with the lead up to her death. I knew she had been investigating some conflict between the three kingdoms, but maybe there was more to it like I had suspected.

“Queen Verity was my mother.” I said gently.

He seemed to pick up on the word ‘was’. 

“She has passed on?” He asked.

“Yes, a few years ago now. We believe she was poisoned but there was no evidence.” I replied.

He seemed to pale at my words. 

“Serene, I am so sorry. She was a wonderful woman. Strong, intelligent and beautiful. Much like you it would seem.” His words were sincere. 

“Lee,” I began, “How did you meet her.”

He took a breath and leaned against the door frame to the crew quarters which was across the corridor from the captain’s quarters. 

“She was looking for answers much like you are. She believed that humans were responsible for the murdering and kidnapping of merfolk. Which was in fact true. Merfolk were being drawn in towards pirate ships using black magic witches. 

Your mother thought we were one of these ships. This was before Connor had joined the ranks. She was also looking for a mermaid that was important to her who had gone missing years before. She quickly realised we were not the feared evil pirates that we were known to be. We offered to help her on her mission to uncover whatever was going on. She was going to return to us after a few months to share findings, but she never did. I always wondered what happened.”

“I had no idea.” I heard myself whisper. I looked back up to the man in front of me.

“Who was the woman she was looking for?”

“She said she was known as Lordessa. She had suspected she was land bound but had no idea where or why.

I'm sorry Serene, that is all I know.”

I believed him. Lordessa was my mothers friend from the second kingdom. She was the third born daughter of the Queen and King of the Second kingdom. We used to have a strong alliance with the Second kingdom. But since my mothers death, things have been peaceful but a little strained. 

“Lee, your honesty is refreshing and greatly appreciated. Thank you for sharing this with me.”

I turned to leave.

“Serene, If I may,” He started. “Be patient with the Captain, he has had a hard life, and does not let people in easily.” He smiled then, a knowing in his eyes.

“No patients necessary Lee, we only intend to work together to mutually benefit from the collaboration.” I laughed. We both knew it was not entirely true.

"Let's get a drink yeah?" He invited.

I nodded and turned to continue heading up the steps, Lee close behind me. Maybe a drink would be good.

What a day.