Black Pearl

Chapter 25

"Alright, you girls enjoy yourselves. Me and my men will wait here until you are ready to go. We have some maintenance that needs to be completed," Leo grunted, already spinning away to go to his men.

"Oh no," Oceana giggled. "That simply won't do! We are all dying to meet the man that our sister will be marrying! Surely, you can't turn down the request of dozens of lonely sirens." 

I watched as she wrapped her delicate hand around Leo's wrist. It was as if he was being throttled by a brawler at a tavern. Every inch of him tightened with resistance. He dug his heels into the wood and green flashed as he glanced at his crew for help. 

I knew this look too well. And I knew exactly what it felt like to be wearing it.

"Oceana, can you get the queen for me? I'm sure she would love to be the first person formally introduced to the prince," I murmured, gesturing to the crumbling castle.

Oceana lit up. Her grip released. "Yes, of course! Silly me!" She darted off the ship like a giddy child, nearly squealing with joy as she went.

I turned to Leo, my thrilled façade falling away. I glanced at his confused crew, making sure they were too far away to hear. "You don't have to be afraid."

"I'm not afraid," he spat back. Like a cornered dog, hackles raised instantly. "I brought you here so you could see your family, because you weren't feeling comfortable with the life they provided for you through marrying me. I was just a means of transportation."

My shoulders shrugged and I cast a quick look at the crowd of girls who were gathering at the base of the plank, waiting for us to greet them. All I saw were women that I loved, women who raised me or grew up beside me. Women who were relying on me. All Leo saw was creatures with fingertips that crackled with power.

"They see you as someone who is giving them a chance at a better life. They would never do a single thing to hurt or offend you. As far as they are concerned, you are a messiah. In their minds you have rescued me from this dreary place."

Leo snorted and rolled his eyes. "You certainly don't act like I have rescued you."

"They haven't stared at the most vile parts of human kind like I have," I defended, then caught myself. This moment was not about me. "But that doesn't matter. My sisters will never compel you, never use their powers on you. In fact, I'm sure that they will be so stunned and delighted to see a man that they will forget they have powers all together. Just say hello, and if you don't feel comfortable, I will tell them not to bother you for the rest of the trip. You can say you tried and spend each day and night on this ship."

I watched the indecision flicker over his features. I knew the way his gut was twisting, telling him that it wasn't safe while his mind was telling him to take the risk.

"Let's go, together," he finally agreed.

We descended the plank side by side. It wasn't a graceful return like I sometimes imagined. But it also wasn't surfacing from the sea, dragging soaked clothing with me either. Girls and women stood in two groups, leaving a gap in the middle where the queen stood, her pearl and shell crown glimmering upon her head. Had it always been so damaged? Had there always been cracked shells? Had her dress always been that tattered with fraying seams?

"Prince Leo, welcome," my queen greeted, nodding her head in acknowledgement. "I have heard so much about you from the letters your parents sent. Unfortunately, your pigeon is getting rather old and can't deliver letters as often as they would like so I still have much to learn about you and your kingdom."

I had always known that my marriage had been arranged somehow, without my queen ever leaving the island and without any visitors coming to us. But knowing that my future had been decided through letters caused my spine to straighten and my lips to press together. A little pigeon and some paper were the reason that I was in this situation. A few scribbles words carried over the sea had determined my future, without my say.