Chapter 13: Images

[Ocean]

Weeks had passed and I never had an encounter with Quillan again. I go out in my room if he isn’t around and Aria never leaves my side just in case, I’ll get a surprise run in with him.

Arzhel had been extra caring and we’re taking one step at a time. Aria is blabbing around everyone that I am possibly Arzhel’s mate. I’m not complaining, though. He’s always there if I need something or if I need some company if Aria’s not around.

Strange as it may seem, but lately, I felt someone creeping into my room in the dead of night. I don’t know who but every time I open my eyes, no one is there except me.

“I’m glad that you’re doing fine now.” Arzhel’s voice pulled me back to my senses. We’re both cuddled up in my bed, and I’m soaking up his warm embrace.

“I’m doing fine unless Quillan shows up and decides to ruin everything.” I scoff, snuggling closer into his chest, inhaling his musky scent. His chest vibrated as he chuckled. He never mentioned to me about the conversation he had with Seraphina, and I decided not to probe in on it. I know he’ll tell me if something’s not right and I trust him enough not to ponder about it.

“That guy needs some serious whipping.” … and I don’t understand what he just said. Who would want to whip Quillan? I’m sure not everyone is willing to put their line at risk just to hit Quillan. Right? I arch my neck and I give Arzhel a quizzical look as I raised my brow.

“If anyone tried to whip him, seriously that person wanted to have a death wish.” What I said made him laugh harder, also shaking me in his arms.

What did I say? Was it funny? His laughter died down but amusement still lingered on his face.

“Moons! Ocean, you’re so innocent. I love that.” He said this while cupping my face with his big hand and gently caressing my cheek. That sends my heart racing into gallops, sparks danced around the surface of my skin, not as intense with what I felt with Quillan but the contentment that Arzhel gave me is more than enough. My heat crawled up to my face.

I instinctively burrowed my face into his chest to avoid subtle humiliation. I didn’t want him to see my flushed face.

We stayed in that position for a little longer, he gently patted my hair, and I hadn’t even realized I had fallen asleep. His soft voice woke me up.

“Ocean, I need to go. Sleep tight.” I barely even manage to raise my head and nod in response. I heard him chuckle towards my gesture, and I felt him lean in closer to my face, then his warm lips landed on my forehead before he let go.

Cold seeped in as soon as his body moved away from me. A moan escaped my lips in protest, but I felt him pull the blanket up to my chin, warming me up again.

I was lulled back to sleep by the light thuds of his feet.

I didn’t know how long it had been since Arzhel left when a gust of wind blew from my window.

Have I left it open? Or, was it the person who’s been watching me sleep lately? To conclude my speculation, soft footsteps padded towards me.

I want to open my eyes to see who it is, but I am too drowsy to even lift my lids up. However, I heard a man’s voice whispering incomprehensible words into my ear while tracing the outline of my face. His breath was hot against my lobe.

“Spavaj mala moja…” (Sleep my little…)

“…Siren.”

*******

When I woke up the next morning, the house was teeming with people. I stick my head out to see what’s all the fuss about.

I remember hearing a man’s voice last night, but I was too exhausted to understand what he was saying. I’m just glad he didn’t do anything bad to me.

What’s even strange is that Arzhel didn’t detect his scent. Though, I didn’t tell him because I didn’t want him to be worried, but with his extraordinary sense of smell, I’m sure he’d notice if anyone he didn’t know had been in my room.

“Uhm, what’s happening?” I asked the lady that was walking briskly down the hallway, who’s carrying a load of fresh linen.

“The Pack will have a visitor.” She said without stopping or even cast a glance on me.

Visitor?

I saw Aria coming to my room with a tray in her hand. She’s beaming as she approaches me.

“Who’s coming for today?” I immediately asked her the moment she stepped inside.

“Oh. You’re aware of the blood moon, right? Well, it will be next week, and I’ve heard that the Alpha’s daughter from the neighboring pack will be here for the ceremony in the hopes of finding her mate in our pack.” She explained, plopping herself at my bed after she laid the food tray on the side table.

Alpha’s daughter? An Alpha just like Quillan? How many packs were there on this island?

“You should eat your meal before it gets cold.”

“Thank you so much, Aria.” I took a seat at the table and blessed the food before digging in.

She had brought me a bowl steaming hot porridge mix of peas, onions, and chicken meat on the tray, as well as freshly picked raspberries. I ate in silence while Aria was busy staring at the ceiling with her legs and arms spread wide.

“My uncle invited her.” She suddenly said out of nowhere with an annoyed tone.

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Actually, no. It’s just that Uncle Quillan is in desperate need of a mate. He’s turning forty-six and still unmated.”

I eyed her carefully, with my spoon halfway from my mouth. Quillan is turning forty-six already? I had no idea he was that old. I thought he was either in his late twenties or early thirties. Her head didn’t move, but her eyes rolled towards me.

“Ocean, don’t give me that look, I know what you’re thinking, and yes, he is that old. It didn’t show on his face and that scar doesn’t even tempered his youthful demeanor.”

“How did he get his scar, by the way?” I asked out of curiosity. Arzhel had mentioned that it was because of humans but he didn’t say how.

“Seven years ago, they were out hunting. Humans arrived on this island by mistake with their ship. They welcomed them, but they had no idea that those humans would be haunting the likes of us for money. They got into a fight and killed the humans, but my uncle was the only one who survived.” Her eyes were distant, and her voice was laced with sorrow as she narrated the fateful event.

There were humans haunting them? Is that how humans became so desperate with money and they took the life of other kinds? Is that how far humanity had fallen? I can understand Quillan’s revulsion towards them.

“Is Seraphina’s husband and your father with him?” I can’t help but ask the question that’s been running through my mind, and she just nods in response. I want to say sorry but I know Aria wouldn’t like it. She does not want someone to feel sorry for her. She’s a strong young lady.

I finish my food without saying anything further.

Aria helped me clean my room first before going out and helped others with the chores, while, of course, in the look out for the bright green-eyed scarred rouge looking man. Seraphina said that Quillan went to the border to personally assist the said visitor on the way here.

I was scrubbing the kitchen, cleaning the dishes, wiping around the tables, and dusting the shelves when I saw a small porcelain figurine.

It is a woman, perched on a stone but what got my attention is the lower extremities, she has a human upper body and her other half is a scaled fish tail.

Suddenly, images flood in my brain, flashes of gleaming scales, ocean waves, flicking tails, sharp talons and razors row of teeth. A sudden pain blasted through my skull, causing me to drop the figurine. It bounced and shattered when it hit the floor while I was clutching my head. The shattering sound echoed in my ears, and I’m sure everyone else in the room heard it as well.

“Ocean!” Seraphina’s voice pierced the air when she watched me collapse to my knees.

The sharp pain was unbearable; it was like splitting my head in half. A loud scream slipped through my lips and my eyes rolled up in agonizing pain.

What is happening to me? The images continue to flash across my head but none of them make sense. They were all in bits and pieces, fragments of what I supposed were my memories.

Frantic shouting was everywhere, my body suddenly swayed as a pair of strong arms lifted me, and I couldn’t care less of what was going on around me.

The excruciating pain that was killing me was all I could think of.