Chapter 47 Mermaid’s Grasp
Instead of answering Astrid, I just kept staring as Soren and Astrid’s shadows slowly faded as they walked away from me.
I found myself thinking about their situation. The worlds of their two races clash head-on. Will they also struggle like Kaizer and I do now?
I lost sight of Soren and Astrid the moment I felt the cold water on my skin. The rivers in the mountains back then were this cold too, I couldn’t help feeling homesick for the world I came from. Sure, this world has more beautiful sights, it’s clean and far from the thick smog that plagues my world… but nothing beats being in the place where you were born and raised.
I shook my head hard. I shouldn’t be thinking about these things right now. I need to hurry up, the man destined for me wasn’t blessed with much patience.
I plunged myself back into the deep river to get completely wet, but my eyes suddenly widened and I shot back up, unable to believe what I saw. What the hell is that?
Am I hallucinating?
I tried diving again to make sure. And I was even more amazed when I saw it clearly. I hurried to the surface and calmed myself down.
Am I really still surprised by things I see?
I’ve already been bitten by a handsome vampire, gone in and out of a mirror, traveled back in time, and can heal people with just a drop of my blood. Why am I so shocked now? I’m in a world full of wonders and mysteries, something this amazing shouldn’t feel out of place here.
Everything is possible in this world.
There’s a beautiful mermaid under the water. She’s been trying to get my attention this whole time.
When I looked at her closely underwater, it seemed like she needed my help.
Damn it, why do I keep attracting people who need help?
I’m just a bitten vampire who can heal sickness with my blood. There’s not much else I can do.
I don’t even have vampire speed or strength! So why am I always around when someone needs help?
Is she trapped or something? I wasn’t sure. I’m in a rush, I need to get back to the palace. Astrid’s expecting me to hurry, I can’t get caught because things at the palace are already bad with the Ice Prince in charge.
If I stay any longer, there might not be a palace left to go back to, just thick layers of ice and snow.
Surely someone else will notice her, right? I tried climbing out of the deep river when I heard a woman’s voice crying out from underwater. I cursed under my breath several times. Fuck! I can’t ignore this.
She needs me. Why did I have to end up in a river with a mermaid, of all things? Damn it. I had no choice but to dive back in and swim down to where the mermaid was, her tail was stuck under a huge rock. Fuck! Why did she get stuck here?
Doesn’t she have anyone with her?
“Thank you.”
Her voice was so gentle. Since I can’t talk underwater, I just ignored her and started pushing the big rock that was pinning her tail down so she could swim free.
I tried pushing it but didn’t have enough strength. Damn! I hate being weak so much!
I was running out of air. I pushed the rock again but it didn’t move at all. I swam up to get more air, and once my chest felt light again, I dove back down to try pushing it once more.
I almost let out all my air when I felt it starting to move. So I can do something after all. When I ran out of breath again, I shot back up to the surface.
I want to run to the palace and stop whatever the prince I angered might do but here I am playing hero again… something Kaizer hates so much. I dove back down to push the rock again, and this time I finally freed the mermaid’s tail. I quickly swam up so I could leave and get to the palace fast.
“Thank you so much, miss.”
I forced a smile as I climbed onto land.
I really need to hurry now.
“You’re welcome.”
I tried to hold back my heavy breathing so I could run faster.
“May I know your name, miss?” the mermaid asked again, watching every move I made.
“Saera Yvaine Merriley.”
I was about to run off when I felt something wrap around my legs, and I fell back into the water. What the hell?!
Soon enough, my whole body was covered in river plants.
I stared in confusion at the beautiful mermaid.
“I helped you,” I said, confused. What is she doing to me?
“Let me repay you for your kindness.”
Repay me? Can’t she just let me leave? I don’t ask for anything in return when I help someone.
“I need to get back to the palace,” I insisted. The longer I stay here, the more likely people will die.
“I can help you get there faster.”
How?
“I really have to hurry. If I don’t leave now, there won’t be anything left of the palace when I arrive. Kaizer will kill every vampire he sees,” I said shakily and the mermaid looked shocked.
“You mean the chaos at the palace is because of Wisteria’s Second Prince? What is he doing here?” she asked.
“I don’t have time to talk. Kaizer needs me, I don’t want to come back to nothing but ice. The vampires will hate my prince even more if I’m not careful.”
I bit my lip thinking about what might happen.
Did I make a mistake helping her again? Why can’t I do anything right in this world?
“You’re in too much of a rush, chosen one.”
My eyes widened at what she said.
How did she know? This place isn’t under the Igor’s rule, how could she know about this? I tried to move when I saw her reaching for my chest.
“What are you doing? I helped you! Let me go!”