Page 135 of Sea's Secret

My mother walked closer to me, touching my cheek. Her white, gloved hands caressed my skin.

“I have always loved you, wanted you, and your father died because of an illness. That night when you got that scar, that was because you startled your father, and he was already lost to us. He became upset because he was not himself. I tried to tell you–”

“I remember. I held onto what you said for so long, but Veeto’s torture and lying words poisoned my reality–and those memories. I thought I made up your love for me.”

“I do love you. I have always loved you, and I will always love you, my child. Come, come home, Dominick. Let me show you your home.”

I turned to look at Meria, who stood behind me. She was still holding my hand, and the three of us, hand-in-hand, walked from the dock and into my mother’s carriage. Peter was long gone, having taken another carriage while we were speaking with my mother.

As the carriage door closed, I looked over at Meria, and I could see the thrill of the newness of it all within her eyes.

“This is a carriage. Horses pull it,” I explained.

“Incredible, I would love to ride a horse. I wonder if they are similar to sea horses, even though they are much larger,” she said quietly beside me. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

“I will show you everything. And, no, they really are not very similar; and yes, in particular, their size.”

The carriage rocked back and forth in more unrhythmic and rough movements than that of the sea, and I must have fallen asleep. I did not think the docks were that far from the castle. Perhaps, we had arrived at a port further up the coastline. I was eager to reach land.

“I know that I do not know you, but thank you for caring for my son. He has been through things no one should ever have to go through, and to know he has someone to share his life with, that makes my heart so happy,” I heard my mother whisper. My head was against the padded carriage wall, and although awake, I kept my eyes shut to secretly hear what Meria would say to my mother’s comments. I should have been the one to tell her how I feel–to make her feel safe, yet I was a coward and too comfortable with how things were, right then. I was afraid that if I spoke my feelings, she would choose to walk away. So living in a sort of limbo was what I had let happen.

I was anti-emotions, anyway. I utterly hated the blasted things.

“He is easy to be with, Your Highness. He is so good, although he does not think so,” Meria said.

“How about his curse? I see he still wears gloves?”

“It is horrible. He is in constant pain, although he never complains. I have a plan that will help with his curse, though. I am only waiting till the time is right.”

A plan? What kind of plan? If it involves leaving me, I am viciously opposed. I need to speak to her. My heart raced, and I felt a bit dizzy with the fear of sharing something so personal.

“Do you know how to break his curse?” my mother asked with excitement.

“I can tell you, Your Majesty, that I will do all in my power to help your son.”

“Thank you. He has chosen well for himself,” my mother said.

There was a silence and a massive rocking of the carriage where I could not feign sleep any longer, for such a bump would wake even the heaviest of sleepers. I pretended to stretch and groan.

“Did you sleep alright?” my mother asked as I met her eyes.

“Yes, thank you,” I said with a nod. “I did not know Walden was so far from the sea.”

“Yes, well, your ship docked up the coast, not in the usual spot. The castle is right on the water, but down the coastline a ways. We should be arriving in a few minutes, actually.”

“I am eager to see it,” I said. My mind was not focused on the pleasantries, but on the weighty words Meria had shared with my mother.

“Have you never ridden in a carriage before, Meria?” my mother asked.

“No–I have never been on this land before, being a mer, of course,” Meria shrugged.

“A mer? You do not mean–mermaid, do you?”

“Yes, indeed,” Meria said with a smile and a nod.

“Oh, my! I never knew they truly existed.”

“They do,” I said, smiling at Meria. “I wish to make it known that no harm should come to any mer. It is important to me that our people make the mer feel safe in our waters.”

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