Our Fated Tail

Seren

She was so peaceful when she slept. I knew that I had responsibilities that needed to be taken care of, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave this room. Her white scales around her chest glittered in a rainbow of colors every time she took a breath. Her long brown hair was splayed everywhere and floating around her hair. I continued to see those scars marking her tan skin that was so soft and smooth. Even underwater, she still smelled like strawberries. Something about her drew me in and I didn’t know how to handle this.

She whimpered in her dreams and wrapped herself around me like an octopus. My body froze. What was I supposed to do? Hold her or wake her up? I went with the former and timidly wrapped my arms around her waist. This then caused her to slowly slink off of me and roll over and off the bed. I was immediately by her side but she was still sleeping. Deciding it was time for me to go, I picked her up, placed her on her bed, and making a hasty retreat for the door. As I made my way towards the throne room, Shelby joined me. She was tense and upset. She didn’t like Anilena. She thought she was too much like our mother, with the same white scales and soft green eyes.

“What do you see in her?”

I looked at my sister with an open mouth. “I don’t see anything in her in those regards. She was dying and I couldn’t just let that happen.”

“Sure,” she drawled. “You know Father will never let you be together. Even if she was Royal. She looks too much like our mother.”

I stopped and turned to her. “I know who she looks like. I know that it will never work out. She is my student and I am her teacher. So if you try anything on her, I will have Father deal with you as he sees fit. You were already warned to stop with the last girl I brought home.”

Leaving her to glare at me, I went to our Father and took my place at his right side. Looking at the servant’s stool next to him, I smiled. I would be seeing Anilena a lot and that pleased me. Father gave me a smirk and went back to listening to a subject complaining about how their neighbors are destroying there sponge gardens. For the next few hours, we sat there listening to people’s problem. Then the doors opened and Anilena slipped into the room. She made her way towards us gracefully and bow from her waist to both of us.

“King Arkeanus. Prince Seren,” She said quietly. I saw the teasing gleam in her eye when she addressed me.

“Anilena-Ray,” I drawled out with a smirk.

Father gave us an amused look and told her to sit on the stool. She was right next to me and I tugged on her hair. Her head whipped towards me and she scowled at me. We spent the next few hours teasing each other. I would tug her hair and she would call me by “Prince,” or “Seren.” Father finally dismissed the rest of the court and looked at Anilena, who was currently trying to pinch me as I tugged on more of her hair. Finally, she jumped up and whirled on me.

“Stop it, Eren! That’s so freaking annoying!” She was breathing hard and then noticed the king staring at her like she was insane. Immediately, she fell to her “knees.” “Oh my gosh! I am so sorry, Your Majesty!”

I looked at Father and we both started laughing. She turned red as she blushed and glared at me. Father took a deep breath before he dismissed us for the day. He was still laughing as we left the room. As soon as the doors were shut, my arm was throbbing from where Anilena punched me. I yelped and turned to glare at her, but she was already around a corner and headed to her room. I made my way to the kitchen and found my best friend in here. He was helping the cook with the dishes and getting whacked in the head every time he stole something from a plate.

“You need to have manners Cobius,” I said mockingly.

He spun around and gave me a grin. “Eren! Where were you earlier? Did you hear about the new person?”

“What?” Was he talking about Anilena?

He moved from the dishes and came over to me with a wicked grin. “Shelby told me about her. She’s like a witch or something.”

“She is not a witch just because of the color of her scales,” I snapped. “And since when did you believe anything Shelby told you? Anilena is the king’s personal servant and my student. You would do best to treat her as such.”

Cobius grinned at me knowingly and put an arm around my shoulder. “Sure prince. Let’s go find something fun to do. Think you could introduce me to Anilena?”

We swam through the halls and finally got to her room. I heard voices in the room and one was a maid that was never really assigned anyone. She just kind of stood in the back of the room and tried to ignore everyone. Cobius went to knock on the door but I grabbed his hand and shook my head. We pressed our ears to the door.

“Do you like it here, miss?”

A sigh. “I guess I do. Do you think I could ever see my family again, Georgia?”

There was a tsking noise. “Don’t move your head. Maybe you could, miss, but the Royals never let anyone go up to the land. They say it’s too dangerous.”

She shrieked and there was a crashing noise. “That is so ridiculous! I had a life. Not a very good one but I had one. I had a family that’s probably worried sick because I’ve disappeared a few days ago. Now I’m told that I can’t go see them? Couldn’t I at least make up some story that I am moving and that they can’t see me?”

Cobius took the opportunity to knock on the door and wait for them to answer. Anilena opened the door and I wanted to laugh. There was a black streak that went from the corner of her left eye to her ear. Georgia was trying to scrub it off as Anilena looked at us. Her eyes glimmered with tears and she slapped Georgia away gently. If looks could kill, I would be dead. She slowly moved and invited us in. The room was a mess. There were shells everywhere and there was a kelp blanket on the floor.

Anilena went back to her bed and Georgia grabbed a black color stick. She continued to due Anilena’s makeup and Cobius took a seat next to her. “Hi. I’m Cobius.”

“Hi. I’m not interested,” she deadpanned. “Is there something you needed Prince?”

I moved in front of her and crossed my arms. Georgia moved away. “Is there a problem, Anilena?”

“In fact,” she stood up, “There is. I want to go up to the land. I need to see my family.”

“They probably think you’re dead,” I said.

There was sting in my cheek and her hand was raised. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that. I don’t care if you are a prince. Get. Out. Now!”

With that, we were pushed out of her room and the door slammed. Neither of us said a thing as we heard more crashes and a series of sobs. Georgia came out a minute later, glaring at me. She motioned us away and Cobius grabbed my forearm. after a while of swimming around silently, I excused myself to my room. When I got there, I laid on my bed and thought about what I said. I didn’t mean to sound so harsh. I was only being realistic. She disappeared in the middle of a party, and has been gone for a few days. It’s likely the have claimed her dead. I tried to think of something else and closed my eyes.

When I woke up, I saw Anilena sitting at the edge of my bed. She was running her fingers over her tail and moving it in the light. I sat up and grabbed her hand. Immediately, she pulled it away and fisted it in her lap. She gave me a sad look and pulled out a piece of paper. On it was a note:

Seren,

My voice is gone. I cried too hard when you left. I shouldn’t have slapped you and for that I apologize. I understand why I can’t go back to my family and I know you didn’t mean to hurt me like that. Georgia said you were still outside my door when I shoved you out. I’m sorry for disrespecting you like that. I just really miss my family and I don’t want them to be stuck never knowing what happened to me. Please forgive me?

I looked at the note again and frowned at her. “I should be apologizing, Anilena.” I pulled her to me and hugged her. “I’m sorry I said that. I never meant to hurt you.”

She started to sob again, her tears mixing with the water around us. I held her tighter and smoothed her hair. She finally stopped, only because she was sleeping. There was a knock at the door and Father stuck his head in. When he saw Anilena’s flushed face and her puffy eyes, he gave me a worried look. I shook my head and gently laid her down. I was about to get up when her arms went around my waist and she let out a soft whimper. I shot Father a worried look and he just smiled. It was a smile I hadn’t seen since Mother died ten years ago. Then he came into the room and leaned against the black wall.

“She is definitely something else. Isn’t she?” he asked.

I nodded. “She is. But I don’t understand why you are happy about this. Even if we do develop any sort of feeling, it won’t be allowed. She isn’t a Royal,” I said sharply.

He raised a brow. “And you thought your mother was a Royal?”

He shook his head and without another word, he strolled out of the room. Not even addressing why he had come here in the first place. Anilena’s arms tightened around me and she put her head on my chest. I spent the next hour staring at her with a small smile on my lips. Then I closed my eyes and laid all the way down, moving her arms off of me.

Where was I? The people around me were rushing towards a group of people. There was a scream and everyone was running away. I looked around me. I was on land. Looking down, I saw legs clad in shorts. I ran to where the scream came from and stopped. Anilena was alone on the street with a blade stuck in her chest. She was looking at me like I was breaking up the darkness.

“Eren?” she gasped out.

“Eren?” I was shaken awake roughly. “Eren, wake up!”

I bolted up panting and grabbing for Anilena. When I got a hold on her, I crushed her to my chest. My body was still shaking and I couldn’t get that image of her out of my head. Her arms carefully wrapped around me as she murmured reassurances in my ear. I gently pulled away and held her face in my hands. Examined all of her for any injuries. I couldn’t help it. She gave me a weird look and put her hand against my forehead.

“Eren? Are you okay?”

I nodded and laid my head on her shoulder to catch my breath. “Bad dream. Don’t worry about it, Anilena.”

“Eren,” she scolded. “You were screaming. Your father even rushed over here to see what was wrong until you stopped. What is going on with you? Are you sick? Do you need anything? Can I help…”

I slapped a hand over her mouth the shut her up. “I’m fine. Are you hungry?”

She nodded and we both got up. She grabbed my arm as we swam, looking at the ground to avoid the glares she was getting. I glared back and they all turned their heads. When we got to the kitchen, Cobius was flirting with a servant and stealing fruit out of a bowl. When he saw us, he swam over and looked at Anilena in a way that made me uncomfortable. I didn’t like the way she kept her head down. I gave Cobius a look and he backed off. We grabbed some food and I led her to the throne. Anilena ate as we made our way there and I could feel her hesitation to enter. I gave her a grin and put a hand on her back. When the doors opened, we went in front of my father. I nodded at him and took my seat. She bowed at her waist and took her place at her stool.

Father was smiling and had a pleasant look in his face. When I tugged on Anilena’s hair, she was able to pinch my fins and I let out a yelp. Everyone looked at me startled and the man who came to speak to Father had dropped his hat. I cleared my throat and looked down. Anilena turned to me and politely asked if I was okay. When I looked at her, she looked innocent. As if she hadn’t just embarrassed me in front of the entire court. I wasn’t mad, but I wasn’t pleased either. For the rest of the morning, she would trace patterns discreetly on the back of my tail when no one was watching. If I even touched her, she would jump and move away for several minutes. This game continued until Father dismissed us for lunch.

“Ray,” he called out.

She stopped and turned to him. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Can I speak to you for a moment?” He looked at me. “Alone.”

She nodded and followed him into a room next to the throne room. I decided that since today was going to be her first lesson, I would wait for her. I know Father said that the lessons were to be in the morning, but she needed to begin learning. I leaned against the wall and wet still. How long would they be? What were they talking about? She isn’t in trouble is she?

My eyes were drooping and I wanted to sleep. My dream had given me no rest. If Anilena hadn’t woken me up, I didn’t want to think about how it would have ended. Cobius came in, saw me and nudged my shoulder. “Hey Cobius.”

He frowned. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Not enough sleep,” I clipped out. “Father is talking to Anilena and I don’t know what he is saying to her.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing…”

There was a loud scream and it echoed through the room. It was Anilena’s.