Clash of Tides (A merman story)
Chapter 24 - |Water vapor| Part 2

“You want to know why Assan needs a child. The mers are dying, and soon, none of us will be left. To preserve our race, we need to start anew; we need mers that are both land and sea; we need humans and mers together in one form. And with this new race, we will survive and finally purge the Belua from this world.”

“It was you, wasn’t it?! It was your idea to impregnate a human woman, but why...why would she—I need to die—”

“Because the child must be raised as a mer, not as a human. Mixing different worlds confuses those that don’t understand. The child-the child you would have created was going to be our hope, our survivor. However, somehow, you cajoled my son into giving you freedom, but that will be his burden to bear.”

I clench my fist as anger swarms to every inch of me. The reason I was captured, the reason Assan took me, it all makes sense now.

I grit my teeth. “Even if this is to save lives, how could you make Assan do such a thing?”

The king looks at me a moment and then laughs, chuckling louder and louder until his voice bounces off the cave walls. “Assan is no stranger to human women. Even I, myself, have made love to a human woman and took her into my embrace.”

Despite knowing Assan has had sex before with human women, the pain of his father’s words still hits me. Assan is not mine, and I am not his—we never declared our intentions to be together. I shouldn’t ache to his mocking me and telling me of Assan’s sexual life, but I do. I cannot falter or show weakness, so I stay firm and rise from the bed.

“Then replace yourself another woman, one who will agree to help your world. I have someone who needs me—“

He cuts me off with the wave of his hand. “I am aware of your life on land. Assan has told me about it. Since he decided to free you, as the future king, he must pay the price for his decision and replace another means to save our people. He will take the pain you would have endured on to himself,” the king growls out.

“Assan…” His name is but a whisper on my lips. My body feels heavy, knowing Assan’s decision has caused him more pain. In the end, it was never Assan’s choice to hurt me, just like he said that day by the waterfall.

The sound of rumbling water reverberates through the cave, and I dart my eyes towards the pool of liquid. Arising from the water is ahead of brown locks. Hass.

He flicks his gaze between me and the merking. “Your majesty, the queen, and some of her mermaids, have arrived,” he says as he bows his head.

Assan’s father’s eyes go wide, and his lips twist into a smirk. “Ah, my wife has finally arrived. Let us see what she wants.” With the smile still etched on his lips, he strolls over to the entrance of the cave.

Before he enters the water, I run up beside him.

Even after everything he revealed to me, there are still questions nesting inside my mind. He said the Belua could walk on land, but why would Mika speak to one of them? And Seidon, his power… Did Assan tell his father about Seidon?

“Wait! There are more things I wish to know.”

“Humph, what is it?” His father’s eyes slowly narrow, and it’s clear he is growing bored of me.

Hass stays silent, watching me like a cat observing a human.

“You said the Belua want to take over the land, but—but would a Belua speak with a human?” I stammer out. “And the woman you slept with, what happened to her?”

The merking tilts his head, pondering to himself for a moment, watching me with a curious expression.

“The Belua are unpredictable, so it is hard to read their movements. If a Belua speaks with a human, then I am sure that human is marked for death.”

Mika…I curl my fingers into a ball, worried for my friend. Once I return to the surface, I need to replace her and confirm my fears.

“As for the woman, I don’t know what happened to Sarah Ann,”— the merking slumps his shoulders and his once gleaming irises go dull—“she was a sad, yet beautiful human. I hope she found peace. Now, return to your world, Elena, and leave your lands for a safer place. Forget about the seas, for you have no place in these waters,” he says, or more like threatens in a cold voice.

I take in his words, all of them, shuddering slightly at his last sentence. To my surprise, it is that name again: Sarah Ann. I remember my mother said that name, and still, it sounds so familiar. Who is Sarah Ann? Why does she have connections to my family and the undersea world? Why don’t I remember her?

“Is there something you wish to share with us?”

The king’s question snaps me from my thoughts. His gaze roams my features, studying me.

“You answered everything, but for the mermaids. Unless you tell me willingly, I know I cannot force the truth from you.”

“Then I bid you farewell, Elena. Before I depart, Assan said you may pick anything you want from his collection,” the king says as he gestures his hand towards the pile of gold and jewels.

A small smile graces my lips. “I do not want anything, but please, tell Assan, thank you.”I want to protect Joe with my own strength and abilities, not with alms.

“Nothing”—he spins away from me—“quite an unusual human you are, to ignore gold and jewels, especially for a woman. Then so be it, Elena. Hass will attend to you now.”

The merking steps on top of the water, walking with ease. Starting from his feet, a bubble surrounds his form. Quickly, he dives into the liquid, leaving Hass and me alone.

“Are you satisfied with the truth now?” Hass asks bluntly, with a hint of anger in his tone. I never wanted to hurt anyone, especially Hass and his sister. All they ever did was help me, and here I am, the savior of the mers, leaving them behind to suffer. I didn’t ask to be brought here or save the undersea world. Despite Hass’s anger against me, I stay unwavering.

“Yes, I am, but I am ready to go home and to stay there.”

Hass swims up to the edge and says, “Then let us depart; if the mermaids see you, then this royal meeting will be for nothing.”

“Royal meeting?”

“Yes. Assan and the King are talking peace, but there cannot be peace with a human lurking in their midst. We must make haste, Elena, before the queen’s creatures or mermaids can replace you.”

Instead of responding to Hass, I gaze beyond the cave’s hole, to the clear ocean sky. I think of the king’s words: you have no place in these waters. He is right; this is not my world; I don’t belong here. Assan, you protected me from your world, but now, I have to protect myself and Joe from my own.

To protect Assan, I need to leave him behind. As long as I stay here, he will want to watch over me, and I don’t want that for him or me.

When I first entered the world of the mers, my boat was following on my mother’s current. And now, I have found my own way. When I return home, I know what I must do.

“Then let us go, Hass,” I say as I look at the merman waiting for me, wishing it was the prince I am leaving behind.