The High Seas Queen

Chapter Five: Hazel Eyes

“Maybe a month.” The words seemed to bounce off the murals on the walls and echo in my ears. A month, that's what he had said, maybe a month. I let the words sink in and decided that it was time for us all to go and rest up after this very long and honestly very weird day. I had been crowned Queen, reunited with someone from the past and met a Monarch siren.

“Let’s divide and conquer, we’ll split up for the night and come back fresh in the morning with ideas.” Leon had asked if I wanted to leave with him, but I needed a moment to myself, so I declined his offer. I sat for a long moment waiting for everyone to filter out into the water-filled hall, shifting their legs to tails as they moved through the bubble wall. Once I was alone, a deep sigh left me as I sunk deeper into my chair. It wasn’t until I heard someone clear their throat beside me that I realized Wren had not left. “You never did understand how to get my attention without startling me.” I teased him, wondering if he'd remember the first time we met.

“That’s not entirely fair, Ashera. You ran into me.” The last sentence was barely louder than a whisper, but only confirmed what I had hoped. I propped my hands on my knees and held my head there massaging my temples and watching him in my peripheral vision. “So princess, when did you grow up and become our Queen? I hadn’t heard of your coronation during my travels, so either it was very hush, hush or very recent.” He stalked closer to where I sat, he was so graceful, like he was swimming and not walking on two legs.

“Today actually, I had just finished my vows when we felt you trying to move through the barrier.” I picked up my head and turned to my right where he now stood only inches from me. Looking up slightly, I found that his face was close, close enough for me to see the flecks of yellow in his eyes and feel his breath. I smiled before pushing to stand, still keeping that bit of distance. I stood tall before him, but he still had to bend his neck in order to look down at me, his own smile widening to show off his sharp teeth, his siren teeth. A cold shutter went through, and trying to hide it, I broke eye contact and started walking towards the door to the hallway.

“Some nerve you have, ruining my party. You’re lucky my grandma likes you, or I'd have you arrested.” When he didn't really show any reaction, I grew even more weary with the weight of the day. The confusion I felt towards the merfolk before me was creating a migraine. With a sigh, I continued moving towards the door. “Alright, come on, I'll accompany you to the guest quarters.”

The silence was uncomfortable as we swam to the part of the palace where we housed guest Monarchs and their families. Nodding to the guards as we traveled through the corridors, past the unusually quiet kitchen up to a door that leads to one of the very large and lavish bedrooms in this area of the wing. I waited longer than I should’ve to see if he would say anything, he didn't even so much as look my way. I looked back at where we had come from, that was the way to my quarters and I yearned for my fluffy blankets and soft pillows. 'If he has nothing to say tonight, hopefully he’ll have some to add tomorrow.' Thinking this to myself, I decided I wouldn't wait any longer.

"I'm going to bed."

His hand darted out and grabbed my arm, sending a shiver through my already over-stimulated body. “I don’t want to stay in the guest quarters.” He finally had something to say, and it was to complain about where he wanted to stay.

“Oh! Well, I could always have a couple of guards escort you back to the ship you came here with. Otherwise, I’m not sure what else I can do for you.” I glanced up at his face, in the dark hallway his eyes gave off a slight glow that illuminated his features, he looked sad and full of anxiety. “Where do you want to stay?”I wasn't sure why I was whispering. When he finally made eye contact, there was so much hesitation. This wasn't at all like the confident black siren I had met earlier today.

“Could I stay in my old room?” Sheepish was a funny look for him, but I didn't dare laugh on the off chance that it broke the serious moment. “The one in your…”

“I know what room you mean.” The blood drained from my face as I remembered what I had done with the room near my own. “I'm not sure if you'll be comfortable there anymore, there's been some changes to it.”

“Is there a bed?”

“Yes.” The original bed and bedding are still in the room, and no one has slept there since he left. I created a permanent bubble of air in the room so that I could use it as a hideout. I used the space to think, paint and read books I found traveling above the waves. No one bothered me there. “There is a bed, but it's also been turned into a storage room of sorts and…”

He was already headed in that direction, when I finally caught up, he was standing in front of the mirrored surface that I had placed there trying to hide that there was a room at all. I just stood there waiting for the next thing to happen. “Oh my dear princess what do you have hiding in there?” It sounded like it was an effort to speak, like something was stuck in his throat and the way he looked down at me, it made me want to swim up a little to meet his height to say something witty. Instead, I just floated there, looking up at him chewing on my bottom lip. Gone was the Queen and the girl standing in front of him was the princess he left behind that night. Without breaking eye contact, he reached over and ran a hand over the surface of the mirror. It shimmered for a moment before revealing the air bubble I had painstakingly trapped there when I was 18. It wasn't easy for me at the time, since I was still developing my skills and didn't want anyone's help. It wasn't until years later that I finally confided in Gail and Sebastian what I had done to the room. He didn't take his eyes off me till I started to move.

“I did tell you it was being used for storage.” I huffed at him and entered the bubble, allowing my feet to carry me through the room as he floated on the outside watching me. “Here’s the bed,” I didn’t look back to see if he entered the room behind me, “let me just clean up some of these things. I'll put some of the books back on their shelves and the paintings away, and it won’t feel so crowded.” I just kept moving around the room cleaning up. I moved to grab a painting I desperately wanted to hide behind some others, but he was already there looking at the colors. I went to grab it from him when I noticed his grip on the frame was so tight his knuckles had gone white, and he was crying.

“Ash.” He just stared at the painting. A bright copper tail disappearing into an inky void was depicted on the canvas. He dropped the painting and grabbed me, holding me close to him as he ran his fingers through my hair, lightly sobbing. “I am so incredibly sorry I left, I have missed you so much.” His deep voice filled with sadness. I wanted to accept this and melt into him, but I was paralyzed by his reaction. “You have and always will be my princess Ash, and the moment this is all over, I will make it up to you.” I leaned back to look at him, surprised when I caught a hint of warm hazel in his eyes before he let me go. When he wiped the tears from his eyes, they had hardened once again and the toxic green was the only color I could find.

“It's okay, Wren. Get some sleep." I detached myself and moved to the exit, looking back at him. He wasn't looking towards me but at the painting that was now lying on the floor. "Goodnight.” No longer tired, I laid in my bed and thought about what I had seen in his eyes. “There’s no way.” I spoke to my ceiling, 'There's just no way.'