The Heart of the Ocean
A Disastrous Mistake

“It’s a mistake you always made;

Trying to love a wild thing.”

-Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Author’s Warning: This chapter includes explicit context. If you aren’t comfortable with scenes of violence or get triggered easily, it is best not to read it. I’ll put a note at the end of the next chapter, explaining briefly what happened for those who can’t read it.

The next days passed slowly, filled with responsibilities and impatience. The weather had changed too -the dew of autumn had given way to the cold of winter. The fragile flowers that adorned the lands surrounding the village had begun to wither -their shoots were curling miserably as their petals were falling off them. The colorful flowers were dancing carelessly above the cliffs as the strong winds carried them.

The ocean was wild -the sea was angry. It looked like an infinite silky sheet in the color of precious sapphires which someone was constantly waving -never leaving it at peace. The waves were huge -they were terrifying to look at from Seaworth. However, they disappeared as soon as they reached the shore, leaving behind countless freezing droplets of saltwater.

Not that the weather could change her mind. Aide had been looking forward to the weekend, counting the hours and minutes until the end of the week. As soon as the sun rose on the raining sky, she dressed in her waterproof jacket and short boots, leaving the house before Alexandra could notice it. She disappeared on the Saturday morning before her fellow villagers woke up and asked noisy questions.

A genuine smile decorated her face at the thought of her merman. The truth was that she had missed him terribly. Life was boring without his crazy stories and purple eyes. She enjoyed his company more than she would like to admit to herself. But no matter how much she denied it, deep down she knew; she was falling harder and harder for him, each time she met him. Her eyes drifted to the ocean and the wild dance of the waves. A tinge of worry filled her heart -she hoped he was safe. His kind lived underwater and he was a skilled warrior -the weather wouldn’t be an obstacle, right?

Honestly, the waves were no match to him. His powerful tail was moving quickly as he made his way to their pond. The currents were strong but his fins were stronger -he swam unbothered beneath the waves, watching their erratic patterns from the other side. He didn’t waste much time admiring them though. His mind was elsewhere, synchronized with the needs of his heart. Flashes of warm eyes and splashing feet danced in his thoughts, urging him to swim faster.

He didn’t know why she had accepted him or at least, he didn’t know why she did it so easily. When Evander realized his mate was a human, he expected her reaction to be ...different. He had expected her to be scared -her kind wasn’t aware of the existence of merfolk or at least, they thought they were just stories. He waited for her to scream and run for the hills, which was something that would pain him greatly but it was an understandable reaction. What he didn’t expect was for her to be comfortable around him.

His lips curled up in a soft smile at the thought. Aide was truly an amazing person. His beloved let him plead his case and explain everything he needed her to understand. She was a great listener, who provided comfort and tranquility to her interlocutor. His mind was filled with the melody of her laughter and the softness of her touch. He felt drunk in the memory of their kiss -her lips dancing gently on his own.

Unfortunately for him...

He’d pay a high price for his distraction.

He didn’t foresee it. He didn’t know where it came from. A sheering pain appeared on his back before he was forcefully thrown a couple of meters away. He hissed in both pain and surprise, watching as the water around him turned scarlet. Like ink that was spilled, his blood floated in the water and filled his nose with the burning scent of iron. The three slashes on his back were deep but he didn’t let them distract him. His eyes locked on his attacker, standing behind the delicate curtain of red that surrounded him.

Purple irises turned into slits.

Tenebris.

The rogue didn’t even look like a merman. It was a wild beast -a lethal predator with the instinct to hunt and kill its prey. His huge body was covered with multiple scars, evidence that it had been a long time ago he had lost his mind. His tail was missing a few scales and a fin, which probably was cut off in another fight. Raging growls left his mouth -his canines were on full show. Evander knew he could not negotiate with him -he had lost both his ability to speak and to think. The only thing that remained was his bloodlust and his madness. He wanted to sink his nails into its prey and taste its blood.

And in this situation...

...the prey was Evander.

He had no choice -he would have to kill him or be killed. Letting out a warning growl to win sometime, he let his body change. His gums hurt slightly as his teeth turned into sharp razors. His nails were replaced by long black talons, ready to tear flesh in his attempt to defend himself. His fins grew slightly larger -his scales becoming spiky and protecting him like armor. This was no training section -it was reality. He wasn’t worried about accidentally hurting someone. He had no need to cover his true nature.

He could be a beast too when he needed to be.

The rogue let out an echoing roar before attacking him. His protruding talons swiped at him, missing him for mere millimeters. Evander found the opportunity to give him a powerful hit with his tail on the chest, sending him away. The Tenebris didn’t seem to register any pain, immediately swimming back his way while indistinct sounds escaped his mouth. The merman attacked first this time, his talons replaceing the flesh of the rogue’s stomach and creating deep gashes. His victory was short-lived. The Tenebris let out a roar of pain and fury before fighting back.

It was at that moment that Evander realized he couldn’t win. Not like this, at least. The Tenebris was acting impulsively and with no tactic, but it was extremely strong and tireless. Without the help of his trident, his chances of survival were limited. He couldn’t defend himself properly in the open sea. But what about in a secluded area? A place he knew like the back of his hand? A space that would offer him both the protection he needed and the chance to have the upper hand?

He turned around and started to swim as fast as his fins allowed him. A furious roar followed his retreating form, showing his opponent’s displeasure. A faint smirk appeared on his face as the rogue chased him swiftly. However, Evander was faster -the rogue couldn’t match his speed. The Tenebris could only follow the bloody path he left behind, licking his canines in anticipation. Evander successfully lured him towards the underwater caves beneath the familiar pond.

He was now the predator...

...and the rogue the prey.

The merman hid in the darkness and silence of the familiar waters, allowing the Tenebris to enter his den. The rogue entered roaring and growling -his sounds echoing on the rocks and making his position known. Evander started to swim towards the surface, knowing that his blood would entice the rogue to follow him. However, there was a difference this time -the Tenebris wasn’t familiar with the concealed caves inside the rocks.

The rogue followed the only path he could see -the one that was leading to the opening of the pond. On the other hand, the merman knew there was a gap a few meters beneath the surface that would allow him to abandon his hiding spot and attack his opponent. And that’s exactly what he did. He waited patiently for the Tenebris to swim all the way up, hearing his low growls and hisses as he followed the scent of his blood. And before he could replace his position, Evander attacked him without making a single sound.

His strike was efficient. His right hand covered the gills on his neck, covering his airways and sinking into the sensitive flesh. As the rogue tried to attack him, he used his left hand and his talons found their target. The Tenebris roared in excruciating pain as his left palm started to sink to the bottom of the ocean. His teeth snapped at him angrily, wanting to punish him for his lost limp. His red eyes were glowing like melting lava, seeking only one thing; revenge.

Evander let go of his neck, to take hold of his good hand that was still capable to kill him. The Tenebris snarled in outrage, moving his tail and guiding them above the surface of the water. The merman’s terrifying growl echoed around the beach as his enemy tried to free himself. Evander swam quickly towards the walls of the pond, taking a good hold of the rogue’s head. When he was close enough, he hit his head on the rocky surface repeatedly in hopes for the fight to stop.

However, the rogue didn’t die. His remaining hand reached for the merman’s chest, in an attempt to sink his nails in his heart. Evander was faster though -his talons tore his stomach open, surprising the rogue who let painful whimpers as his guts spilled around. The Tenebris’ hand drew small scratches on his chest in his attempts to survive, but they were in vain. With an enraged growl, Evander’s canines sank into the rogue’s neck, finally cutting his thread of life.

When he was sure of his death, he finally let go of him. He was breathing heavily -the adrenaline hadn’t yet left his body. His true nature was still showing -the instinct of survival didn’t allow him to relax. He could still taste the iron in his mouth as the rogue’s blood created rivers from his mouth to his chin and neck. The scent of it was heavy too -his nostrils were burning with it. But something else caught his senses too -a scent that was familiar.

His heart dropped to his stomach.

His brain stopped working.

His breathing grew labored.

Turning around slowly, a familiar figure greeted him. Aide was standing a few feet away from the pond, her knees shaking and threatening to buckle. Her eyes were filled with tears that she didn’t allow to escape. Her lips were shaking as her whole body trembled. The silence between them was terrifying, but the view was worse.

Aide felt like her world was crumbling down. There he was -her beloved merman, in their favorite pond. But there was nothing familiar about the sight in front of her. The water in the pond had turned scarlet -evidence of the violence she had witnessed a few moments ago. The man she had fallen in love with -she could tell it was him, but she could recognize neither his looks nor his behavior. He had killed someone, right in front of her eyes.

“Aide”, he whispered brokenly.

Evander watched painfully as a silent tear glided down her cheek, disappearing with the droplets that were falling from the sky.

He knew it before she uttered a word.

He had lost her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

End of chapter 14!!

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