Chapter 7
Triton POV
"You must marry Nakida," The queen wailed at me, Nakida must have told her that I have rejected her, but I could no longer pretend that I cared for her more than I did,
"I can't, my Queen," I remained humbled, unbothered by her uproar,
"Why— because of that human girl?"
Shifting my gaze to the ground, my shoulders loosened, it's like my confidence left the room when she referred to Helena as 'that human girl', I have been hanging out with her so much, I have grown to like her company. She even told me a few things about herself, like the boy she liked and that she liked to read.
"Answer me Triton!" She barked, "Answer me at once!"
Taking a deep breath, I slowly raised my head, staring into her in gleaming red eyes, a woman I barely knew, a woman that chose to be the Queen before she is my mother,
"She isn't some human girl," I spoke, "She is... I think I know her... Maybe she is my mate,"
"Mate? You're still going with that story? You know Triton..." She ambled towards me, rubbing my shoulders that became tense when touched me,
"All of this is my fault. I allowed that witch to poison your mind with false hope... She is a servant to sea, do you really think she was telling you the truth, and that human isn't your mate my dear. Let's say she is... What about Nakida?"
"What about Nakida?"
"She was there for you... Still is. And this how you are going to repay her? By being ungrateful?"
"That's... Ungrateful? Queen Marina, I— never asked Nakida to do anything for me, you did that..."
It happened so fast, I didn't even realize what she had done, it took the soreness from my cheeks to bring back to reality, she smacked me. The way it tingled after a few minutes I knew will leave a mark only the ocean can heal.
"I am not marrying Nakida, even if Helena isn't the one... I will wait,"
Raising her arm to slap me again I gripped her wrist, stopping her from doing so,
"Let go of me," she yanked her arm, "You are just like your father... Worthless and weak,"
"Thanks," I pulled her hand down,
"Comparing to you and your morality... Those are star qualities,"
"Queen Marina..." Nakida barged in, eyeing us, her eyes locked with mine, before looking away,
"I am sorry— I— I didn't know..."
"It's okay, Nakida... Prince Triton was just leaving,"
Saying nothing, I swallowed hard, walking from them. I did care for Nakida, I just couldn't care for her how my mother wanted me to, and if I hurt her... I am sorry, I am... But the heart wants what it wants and that's Helena.
Walking out in the halls, The Queen chamber doors slammed shut behind me, that was her burning fiery and I didn't flinch, because she wants fiery... I will happily oblige. Scrolling through the castle, I forced a smile across my lips when each maid passes by. Nakida was a nice girl, a noble warrior with vast skills, but I— I ruined her. We weren't destined to be anymore but friends, I liked her, the simplest things like the way she laughed or bloomed a flower in the palms, her green scales that glisten in the water with the aid of the sunlight, but that was just it, there was nothing more to it but friendship, one that was quickly ruined as fast as it built... If not faster. I destroyed a great warrior, but not that, I also broke a woman... by giving her a one-on-one introduction with the Queen.
It was supposed to be lunch... Lunch with the queen, and a good friend, but Queen Marina she doesn't leave things alone. It was unbelievable how one awkward conversation can ruin a lifetime of trust, and I blamed myself every day for even entertaining it in the first place.
Flashback "What do you think about Nakida," Queen Marina broke the silence, lowering the tiny teacup from her face,
"Well," I chuckled, "She is an interesting girl I can tell you that," I looked around, we were having tea in the garden, our safe place.
"I know... But what do you think of her... Like... Besides being your friend,"
"That's the only way I think about her, my Queen,"
"I see." She mumbled, playing the bands around her finger nervously, looking out in the open, "Is something wrong?" I narrowed my eyes into thin slits, studying her,
"No," she mumbled, hoisting her teacup again, "I mean Yes... Look Triton, my son... With your father gone, you— we have to find you a wife, so you can continue his journey by walking the path he set out for you, you shall carry on the footsteps of your father's legacy,"
"What?" I swallowed hard, glaring at her, I still have a few more years,
"Why can't you stay queen until I am ready to take the throne,"
"I see my beauty has had you fool too, thank the maids for that great seaweed paste... Honey," she paused, "I am aging, faster than before now that I don't my mate anymore but you... Soon you will be king,"
"I— I—" my voice cracked,
"Why are you talking about stepping down so soon, you are the Queen, and with Dad dead... You can rule the kingdom,"
"Don't be a foolish boy... You know Meritopia welcomes male leaders with open arms than a female... That's how it is,"
"Most members of the council are females... They are higher than even the King and Queen themselves... Then why do you stress over such silly things,"
"I don't know Triton... The past Queens of Meritopia are strong, brave..."
"And you aren't these things?"
"No, I am not... High council Selene... She— thinks differently..."
"Elder Selene is tough on everyone... Don't beat yourself up,"
"That's the thing Triton... If she thinks I am unfit, the rest of the council will think so too,"
"Nonsense,"
"That's why you must marry," she took my hand into hers, "And Nakida... She's perfect,"
"I guess she is... She would make a could wife but, I am sorry my Queen... I believe in destiny and true love, I cannot do what you ask of me,"
"I see. I guess time will tell," she mumbled.
Present Day I didn't know what she meant then, 'time will tell' but know I know, she is just a selfish queen and unfortunately, Nakida was becoming her intern. I didn't hate her though, Nakida... She is trying to fit, ambitious to go down in history books, a female warrior, that had risen to the Queen's right-hand man... Or should I say woman, but who can blame her. I have her stories, I have wiped her tears, she has wiped mine, over me we became inseparable and though I rejected the queen's suggestion many times, I guess she had nothing to do with our growing feeling for each other. Yes, I know she loves me, and I love her, but I could never feel the same way she feels about me. To me, we are just friends... She seeks much more.
Walking outside I took a deep breath, enjoy the freshness of Meritopia, my home. I loved it here, though I always think about being elsewhere... Like the surface. I always have been curious about what it's like, the scenery seemed great, but it's the human I fear. For far too long, they treated the ocean like a dumpster, and I hated them for it. I was angry and wanted to hurt them because they were destroying our home. But after a time, I... I don't know, I remember returning from a swim, what greeted me as I climbed out of the moon pool was talks of elder Selene's return. It was circulating all over the kingdom... I remember attending the grand meeting. The council members interrogated her, and she stood there and vouched that she was doing fine, and she just got carried away on land. We all believed it, the fools we were. It's now it made sense, she disappeared because she was pregnant with Helena, a whole other life up there, but I didn't know that, so I started to think, there if a high council can fall in love with the surface... maybe humans aren't so bad... Now, I am certain they aren't the terrible creatures I was taught to hate. I hope they aren't like what Meritopia history teaches... They can't be the monsters our off springs read about, because my — my heart it beats for a certain human.
"Prince Triton," I heard her whisper, was my mind playing trying on me or was this real, what was she doing outside, "Prince Triton is that you,"
It is her indeed,
Turning around, I blinked a few times, I was so deep in my thoughts that wandered this far, I was standing in the middle of the garden surrounded by gorgeous flowers, yet still, even if they were to be combined she would remain undefeated in the genre where true beauty resides, "Are you okay?" She mumbled, "You seem to be having an out-of-body experience, or am I disturbing you? I can if you—"
"No... No, please stay, Helena."