Page 22 of Sea's Secret

“I know you say you are a pirate, but you are also a prince. How can you let this happen?” The Grimm asked, coming up beside me.

I did not turn to him. Pain still coursed through me, and I could not control myself fully yet. He grabbed my arm, and I pulled out my sword, placing it at his neck, panting into his face with a fiery glare. His eyes glared right back at me. I was always enraged after using my curse. I could not endure his irritating words. He did not understand the position I was in. He did not know what I had endured, nor the life I had been forced to live. I never had a prince’s pampered life, or that of a renowned knight, whatever easy life he had, where he was friends with a prince.

“Dead men tell no tales,” I growled.

“But the Ancients, Nick, They will not take kindly to this.”

“They are pirates, the lowest humans on Terra. Ancients care not for their lives.”

“Every life is precious.”

“Even one who has killed, plundered, and lied?” I spat back.

“Yes–Everyone deserves a second chance.”

I chuckled at his sentiment, but there was no humor in it.

I was surprised by that comment–it shook me a bit. I lowered my sword, and placed it back in its sheath. Then I pulled out my bottle and took a swig, making a show of wiping my mouth on my sleeve while looking at The Grimm.

“You do not agree with the captain. That is why you drink so much; you hate it here, too,” he accused.

“His ship, his rules,” I said. “You may not be a prisoner on this ship, but some of us are.”

“You don’t have to do his bidding. You can leave.”

As if it were so easy to leave Veeto’s crew.

“You know nothing, Grimm. Do not forget the code you swore to.” I walked away from him, giving him a parting shove for good measure. I slammed my cabin door behind me as I entered. Then I sank onto my small bed, burying my face in my gloved hands, letting the pain have its way with me so it would fade faster.

I listened to the men I’d tortured as they were tossed overboard. With one splash after another, their screams ended and so did their lives.

“Set sail!” Veeto called, and the crew cheered. I felt another spasm of pain burst through me, and I clenched my teeth and fists.

You are so weak, my uncle’s voice echoed in my mind.

No. I am not. I can endure this. I have before, and I will again, I thought as the pain reached its peak at a level ten, unbearable. I bit my cheek, letting my body twitch.

I can endure this. I am strong enough.

I am strong.

Chapter Eight

Meria

“Shall we kiss again?” Edmar asked, swimming closer to hold my waist in his hands. It was an hour before the formal announcement of our betrothal, in the evening of the very same day I had discovered that mermaids might have the ability to develop legs.

“Kiss?” I gasped bubbles into the sea water, making Edmar laugh.

“Yes, Meria.”

Maybe another kiss would do the trick. I needed something that would not shock nor surprise me.

Before I knew what was happening, his mouth was on mine. It lasted longer than I wanted, a little bit different under the sea than it had been above. I stayed there, though, swishing my tail back and forth to keep myself even. His mouth was a little aggressive, and I wondered as I pulled away, just after he took a nip at my lip, if a shark was near the area, because if so, they would have smelled the blood from my bleeding lip.

“Did you like that?” Edmar asked with a large smile on his face.

I was silent, looking at him in disbelief, covering my lip with my fingers. He moved my hand and winced.

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