Chapter 20

Third Person POV

That night Prince Triton waited for High council Helena, a million thoughts rushing through his mind, thinking. Banishing his mother meant he was about to be crown king, and with a council as his mate, he didn't know if they will find the time for each, to know each other more, to court her the old school way, lowering their titles, spending time together as a merman and a mermaid, mates. This worried Triton, and he so far away, lost in his mind that he didn't see Helena approaching,

"And what is going on in that pretty little head of yours?"

"Helena," he stood, captivated by her beauty, whatever the moon baptism did to her was surely glorious in his eyes, for she was already beautiful, and somehow it was enhanced,

"Your hair—" he whispered, reeling her in, closer to him, "it's beautiful... You are beautiful,"

"Don't how if I would ever get used to this high pigmented hair but... I am still me," she chuckled lightly,

But it wasn't Helena's hair alone that change, even her cunning brown eyes, we're now blue, cool tones of the ocean,

"How was it?" Triton stroke her cheek,

"It was amazing," she smiled in a low chuckle, sitting down on the edge of the moon pool,

"It's like walking on clouds, and I wasn't even afraid, because I knew you were going to be waiting for me here. And that gave me enough courage to hurry through the baptism, you made me want to tread on to the other side," she looked across at him, smiling.

It was at that moment they both realized something, they both have strong feelings for each other, and now they both know why from the very day they met, they had a connection, it's because they were meant to be,

"Triton, I— I have something I want to ask you,"

"Sure... Go ahead,"

"It's about Nakida,"

"Helena..." Triton groaned in annoyance, they were having a moment and she went right ahead and ruin the moment by bringing up Nakida, which he is certain will be followed by his mother next,

"Just listen... She— she didn't do anything I wouldn't do, just look at it. She is in love with you with and the— Marina used it to manipulate her, control her, tell her what to do, reasonably... I think she is a victim,"

Triton kept quiet, he didn't say anything and it's not because he was upset, it's because he was thinking, Nakida participated yes, but she didn't tell Marina about Helena's mark, and Marina didn't question it because she deemed Helena so unworthy of being a powerful mermaid, she thought her human side rendered her from bearing a mark. Nakida could have told her master this, but she didn't, and if she did, at least Marina would be ten steps ahead at all times, but Nakida kept her word, why?

"What do you suggest Helena?"

"A lesser sentence and don’t excommunicated her, she deserves a second chance too,"

Thinking about it, Triton let out a sigh of anxiety, he knew Helena was right, and perhaps Nakida does deserve a second chance, she was once loyal to the kingdom and she lost sight of that by serving a cruel queen, who was only raising her like a guinea pig, to only betray her in the end, she is indeed a victim too,

"Okay, two hundred nights, a flogging and her stripes will be removed, she can no longer be a soldier,"

"Sounds perfect to me," Helena mumbled, she was happy with his decisions though, something else was on the young council's mind, and her mate was quick to pick up on this,

"What's wrong?" Triton asked,

"It's just that... I think we should stop forcing the Pixie mermaids to become maids,"

Triton smiled at this because he thought so too, for a long time,

"Yea, I agree, but what do you suggest?"

"Why are they seen as the vulnerable?"

"You mean... How we always been able to catch them?"

"Yes,"

"Well... They aren't as fortunate as us to have a home. They live in caves, they are loners too, rare if you see a tribe,"

"So that's it. We offer them a home, a steady income, as our maid, I don't care how we do it, but it should be their choice... Always,"

Hearing Helena speak like that, Triton's heart began to pound out of his chest with excitement, he was thinking, how did he get so lucky, Helena was an amazing mermaid, and he loves that about her, he loves her.

And she loves him just as much, never did she think someone other than Pete would captivate her heart, but that wasn't loved, nor did she like him, it was just pure infatuation.

"Helena... what are you going to do about your dad?"

"I don’t know yet," she stared down on her mother's wedding/moon ring,

"I want to go see him you know," she added, "Fulfil my mother’s last wish, but..." she stuttered, "But?"

"But... I don’t know if he should remember, any of it... I want to leave him at his peace with her being gone and me... its selfish I know, but what good will do him? He is just a man and yes the turnip will help him to breath under water. But at the end of the day, he will be lonely just the same,"

Triton understood what Helena meant. She was concerned for her father's happiness, and what her mother asked her to do was risky. Selena did it, yes, making a whole new life on the surface, but Helena might not share the same fate. Her father belongs on the land, she belongs the water and if something was to happen and they can’t see each other anymore, it will break his heart all over again. There was a lot of possible scenarios, him being a high council father can endanger his life, "Whatever you choose, Helena, I am here for you,"

"I know, my love... I know."