The Sea's Heart

I awoke to sunlight shining on my face. Again I was surrounded by pink and as I opened my eyes a cabinet full of books came into view. Slowly I could tell the difference in colors and then, just as slowly, the words formed but I couldn't seem to grasp their meaning. My eyes moved over the towards the entrance way. A large quilt was nailed up over the bulk of it. The floor had been cleared...

That seemed odd to me. Was there something there before? What happened to the door? What would need to be cleared away? Everything seemed to slip through my grasp. I closed my eyes and rubbed at them as I rolled onto my back and tried to sit up. I failed miserably. My head swam and I fell back to the pillows. When the world stopped swirling I tried again and succeeded to make it to my elbows. I recognized the room as the Captain's cabin. Everything was neatly put away and the desk was cleared off. Everything seemed so very quiet. Unusual. The sun wasn't that high... the men should be working still, and they were anything but quiet. As I concentrated harder I made out someone talking. I think it was the Captain. The words that parried her seemed strange too. Carefully, I made my way to the end of the bed and I tried to stand. The wood groaned and my knees buckled under me as I crashed down. I felt so weak. Footsteps approached swiftly and the curtain was swung aside as the Captain walked in. Her boots clicking in rythum with her stride.

"C... captain... I- I." My voice cracked and I had to clear it several times. " What happened?"

The captain smiled down at me and helped my back onto the bed. She man handled me just a little until I was laying down and was comfortable. She was in a one of her moods. Her mother mood, as Charlie called it. At certain times she became overly motherly. Most often It was me on the recieving end. Her hair was pulled back into a thick braid and she wore a red tunic shirt. Roseline felt my face and cooed at how hot I was... Did I have a fever? Her hand was sooo cool agains my skin. A sound came from the doorway. Someone had asked to enter. The voice seemed familiar but then definantly foreign sounding.

"Don't scare him." Her voice was strong but kind.

The quilt was pulled to one side and I gaped at what I saw. I MUST have a fever. I was hallucenating! Standing taller than Dango, was a man with pale blue skin. Like that of the Krisna god in a painting we salvaged from a trader ship. Yogiiki, an elderly pirate who passed away the previous winter, had told him a little of the Indian god. The man had long blackish blue hair that looked like the sea when the moonlight hits it. It had many braids mixed in with long beaded strands In a multitude of colors. Along the fore arms, shoulders, hips, and his high cheekbones were small irradecent scales that collected the light like small prisms. He wore relatively little except for the kilt looking sarong tied at his waist embelished by a multitude of shells. He was beautiful. God like. I felt I could drown in his solid deep blue eyes. They looked familiar. The blue was so unique, but I had seen it before. I felt calm even as this creature came closer. Somehow I knew I would never have to fear him. He was safe. The man hesitantly reached out and touched my face.

"He is warm." He looked to the Captain.

"I know Cerenan, I'll get a cool cloth." She rose from beside me and the man... Cerenan took her place.

He laid his hand on top of mine and I looked at it curiously. I grasped it between my own hands and touched the smooth scales on the back. The fingers had stretchy webbing between them with long, sharp, and thick nails. He wiggled his fingers a bit and I suddenly realized that the large hand I was studying belong to a person. Releasing the hand, I looked up into his face as he leaned over me. Cerenan was smiling and slowly leaning closer. My heart beat sped up as he came nose to nose with me and I swear he was going to kiss me until a elegant hand shot out and snatched his ear. His head was jerked back and suddenly he dissappeared off the edge of the bed. A thud and curse followed as the Captain retook her position to coo and fawn over me. I could kinda get used to this. Everything was so surreal. I was lethargic and tired. Roseline studied my eyes for a moment and sighed. Cerenan took up a spot on the other side of me, taking the damp cloth from my Captain and patting my head gently. Something told me I should be afraid, but I felt like I was wrapped in warmth when he touched me. Like it was right. Him and I.

"I think he is still under." Roseline said after studying me.

"Sithi is dead. The hold is broken. It has to be." Cerenan rubbed delicately at my fingers.

"I still can't believe that you killed him." Roseline smacked his hand away as she made him rewett the cloth from the basin on the desk.

"He challenged me for my mate! I was within rights." He said as he shook his hand. " By the sea goddess, mother! My hand still stings! I'm your one and only and look who your babying!... But I'm glad he has had you to watch over him." Cerenan gave me a warm smile and I couldn't help but smile back. His smile widdened as he came back with the wet towel ...Wait a minute...

"Mate? Mother?.... What?" I croaked "Whats going on Captain?"

"My treasure... your not well yet, let me care for you?" His lips, a unique purple, brushed my temple and I looked up at my captain.

"Who's this guy? Why is he wearing makeup? Did we ransack a ship with a theater troop?" The Captain burst out laughing. Cerenan looked a little put out.

"He isn't wearing make-up Juniper, Thats his natural coloring.... I think..." She responded. Cerenan looked like he could kill her.

"Ohhh..... uhhh... you look fine sir." My words slurred a bit."His eyes brightened and he snuck a kiss on my hand when the Captain wasn't looking. After a few moments Roseline just looked at me with her hands in her lap. She gazed over at the blue man and than made a dramatic sigh.

"I guess my puttering about wont make a difference. My son you have my blessing for Juniper-"

"Actually shouldn't he have your blessing for m-" Her hand snaked out, gave him a good smack, and returned to her lap in an eye blink. Cerenan sulked over his now purple hand shaped mark.

"Sharp tongues get cut out around here! Juniper isn't 100% with it right now, but I shall trust you with your mate, If he was all there he'd probably be freaking out like all the rest of man kind, But I expect you to explain to him and cherish him... or else." Her sharp voice gave Cerenan no room for arguement. " Since June set foot on this ship I have not allowed any harm to befall him. Now that I pass my charge to you, I expect nothing less." She got a nod as a response and then she turned to me and smiled softly. "If he upsets you in any way I am right outside with Charlie, You are always safe here." Patting my hand she slipped off the bed and didn't even glance back when she dissappeared past the quilt.

I was alone with the creature. We were both silent as I reveled in his tender ministrations. Never, had anyone cared for me with such gentleness. I started to doze off when he began to comb his long taloned fingers through my hair. After awhile, I felt a warmth settle at my side and something heavy drape over my stomach. The feeling on my head never quite either. Im in heaven.


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It was night when I awoke next and I was much more coherent. I'd been cuddling with the sea monster!!! I must have hallucinated that I awoke earlier because I was in the Captain's Chambers and she was no where to be seen. The oil lamp had burnt out hours ago too. She never let her lamps burn out. Something bad had to have happened. I untangled the deadly claws from my head and slipped off the bed. The blue creature rolled onto his back exposing its stomach and stretched. I held my breath in anticipation of it waking up, but thankfully he let out a sigh and relaxed against the pillows. His claws glistened in the moonlight. I could just imagine him ripping me apart. I had to get out. We were near Isla Branna still? What of the others? Where was the Captain? I slipped out onto the dark deck and gazed around. At first you could see nothing, but then I made out the shapes of figures laying out on the deck. Many of them had human tops and then had bottoms like large fish or snakes, some tails flicked as they slept.

I rounded the edge of the deck keeping the group in sight. Their spears and weapons glistened in the moonlight. I backed up until I hit something and it WASN'T part of the ship.

"Ccccerenan wouldn't like you running about out hear withh your bond sssso new and fragile."A voice hissed closer to my ear. Fear clawed up my spine as I spun around. A tall creature outlined by the moon looked down at me with glowing eyes. He was as big as DANGO! I backpeddled fast and hit the railing hard. Then, I felt myself start to fall and the hissing creature reached out for me a moment to late.Letting go a yelp, I tumbled backwards and down helplessly as the water got closer. Swinging my arms to right my body, I land in the water sideways and sank like a damn rock! Breath was knocked from my lungs from the coolness and I thrashed to find which way was up. Why couldn't I swim? I was good at it! Whats wrong with me!? The pain in my chest from lack of air hurt so bad. I was getting weaker and I realized that the boat must be near a current and I got sucked down. Then, after what seemed like an eternity strong arms encircled me and held me tight. Oh god in heaven, It was going to kill me! The creature from the boat. I thrashed in its grip and felt closed in on all sides.

Then... there was air. I sucked in the sweet night air as if I were drinking it. My upper body was effortlessly held above the water as I was allowed to bring in as much air as possible.

"You jussssst HAD to pick the clumbsssssy one didn't you!" The hissing creature said at my back. He didn't sound angry... more amused. He wasn't the only one holding me either. The one who's arms I awoke in just minutes before had me pinned against his chest as he looked down at me worridly.

"Don't you dare speak Ill of my intended!" Cerenan said softly. His lips brushed my forehead and smiled at me. The sharp teeth looked deadly and I started to shake. His smile melted away.

"Great going Cer... Now you made him cry." He was right. I could feel the hot warmth traveling down my cheeks.

"Rune! You're... not... helping!" Cerenan loosened his hold around me and the other set of arms disappeared. "Please calm little one... You never have to fear of me... I will let no harm befall you." He attempted to let me go a couple times, but I only ended up in sinking and flailing. He held me out at arms length and let me calm on my own. Maybe he wasn't going to kill me. "Juni? Let us get you out of the water. It was a shock to your fevor and Mother will kill me if you fell ill because of my negligence."

"Who... what are you?" My voice squeeked as I laid my hands on his bicepts and treaded water along with him.

"My name is Cerenan, I am of the sea." He looked a lot less dangerous than I first thought. He was actually very handsome.

"A... mereman?" I questioned softly.

"One of many names for my kind. You're my mothers cabin boy? She has put you in my care." He answered. I felt his thumb rub softly against my wet arms soothingly.

"Mother?" Surely he didn't mean the captain!

"Yes, the Sea Heart's captain, Roseline, was the one who birthed me." He did mean it...I looked over his shoulder and saw small fires on Isla Branna. Cerenan noticed the change in direction my eyes took. "Mother is on the island with the crew. She decided it was best since most of them were there anyway and wouldn't want to be near my kind. Some need to heal anyway. You have nothing to fear from any of us. You are mine and all my guard know it. My treasure... beautiful treasure..."

"Don't say that!" I told him.

"You are! Your beautiful and your mine." He ment them to be reassuring but thats not what I heard. I began to panic. I had heard those things before and they just got you hurt! I remember the hands on me, the cloth in my mouth when I got too loud, the pain. I began to scream and fight his tender hold. It was gonna happen again! Cerenan crushed me to him and began to say something but I wouldn't listen.

"Let me go!!! No please! Let me go!" He ended up pinning my arms as he adjusted his embrace. I breathed heavyly and tears were flowing again. I couldn't get free, I didn't have his strength. My heart hammered as we bobbed in the water. Cerenan then started to hum something and instanly the fear subsided. I felt safe and my pulse slowed as my harsh breathing became easier. Cerenan began to sing and he was my world. I got sucked into his voice and I relaxed in his arms. It was beautiful and haunting, the song he sung me. He smiled softly as he realized he had my undivided attention and was calm again. Was I on an emotional roller coaster or what...

"Feel better?" He said after his song was done.

"How did you do that? I can't even be angry at you for doing that." I asked.

"I am what many land walkers call Siren." He said.

"You call men to your shores to crash in their confusion." I heard the tale many times.

He gave a nervous laugh and looked away for a second. "Sorta.. The mates do that... BUT NOT ON PURPOSE!!!" I felt tired and couldn't help but lay my head on his shoulder. The sea rocked us gently. "They don't mean to do that." He said softly. "When we are away some get sick with lonelyness and call out to us from across the sea with their song... unfortunatly land walkers get caught in the middle sometimes and follow the call to our shores."

"Come, let me get you out of the water and back into the captains cabin. We have much to discus my love." He grasped a rope and ran the other hand around me. I threw both my arms around his neck as we were hoisted out of the water and I buried my face into his chest. When I felt my feet touch the ground, I was picked up bride style and carried into the Captains cabin and this time we were not alone. A large... male was lighting a few more lanterns. His skin was a darker blue than Cerenan's but his hair was much the same but a very pale green with black and white pearls beaded throughout the braids. Where Cerenan had irradesecent scales, this man had glisening dark dark blue. However there was a big difference in the two. This other one had the bottom half like a fish. A long tail much darker blue than his skin with a few lighter scales here and there, was curled around the corner of the desk as he sat in the chair.

"Aw! I figured youd be back ssssometime... Juniper, I apologissss ssssincccerly for ssscaring you." He bowed his head and Cerenan rolled his eyes.

"How come you show everyone else your noble side, besides your ACTUAL lord? Eh Rune?" Cerenan guided me to sit on the edge of the bed. wrapped me in a blanket.

"Oh I apologizzzze Princccce Ccccerenan! How foolissssh of me to be sssso dissssressspectful infront of your mate... The future queen!"

All was quiet for a second and then I realized he was meaning me. "WHAT!!!!"

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I hope you like it! Thanks for the reviews! You guys really motivated me to finish this chapter early! I've really enjoyed this one, and It's coming along nicely! Please review and thank you!