Beneath the surface: Forbidden love
Chapter 23

Marisela

As I approach the large doors that lead to the Foyer, I take one last deep breath before walking in through the open doors. My parents stood to the side, hand in hand looking at a painting that hung on the wall. They were both so engrossed in the painting that they didn't hear when I came in. I watch them silently.

Father wore a dark blue navy suit with a sash across his torso with the Greemalian symbols sewn on to it, and his crown that sits proudly on his head.

Mother wore a long Navy blue dress that reached below her ankles. The sleeves reaching just below her elbows. And like my father, she wore a smaller crown that sat upon her long curly hair.

Seeing them now, for the first time in a couple of weeks, I didn't realise just how much I missed them. At the same time, knowing what I know now, I wasn't entirely sure if I could trust them.

I watch at how they speak with one another. My mother laughs at something my father says. A knot forms in the pit of my stomach as I secretly watch their interaction with one another.

Is it all real? Was it ever real between them?

Am I thinking way too much into this?

Maybe no-

''Marisela?'' I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't realise when my father called my name.

''Marisela, darling!'' My mother came rushing towards me, pulling me into her embrace. My arms instantly wrap around her frame. Taking in her scent.

None of this made sense.

When we finally let go, I take a small step back and look at my father. He in turn, smiles in my direction which I offer one in return, only mine was forced.

''Hey.'' I smile at them. Mom raises her perfectly shaped eyebrow.

''We fly halfway across the world and all we get is a mere hey." She mocks, '''where are your manners?'' I inwardly roll my eyes and plaster a fake smile.

Moment ruined.

''Sorry mother, I meant, '' I look at father, ''Hello father.'' I turn to her, ''hello mother, so nice of you both to be here.''

''Of course, Marisela.'' Father says ''Sorry we didn't make it sooner, we had other duties in the kingdom to attend to before coming here.'' I nod my head at him in understanding.

''Of course." I say, "I'm still very glad that you could make it.'' I force a smile.

''As happy as we are to see you, I would love to meet my future son in-law too!'' My mother says a little too eager.

''Speak of the devil.'' I hear my father mumble under his breath as he looks at something behind me.

''Oh my,'' my mother gushes as she begins to move behind me, ''you must be Kael!'' I turn around and I am surprised to see Kael standing there looking devilishly handsome in his signature black slacks and white shirt. His eyes instantly find mine, but there was no warmth to them. His eyes leave mine and turn to my mother, as if remembering we had company.

''And you must be my beautiful mother in-law.'' he smiles. Ass kiss. "I've heard a lot about you." My mother instantly blushes making my father chuckle at her expense as he walks up beside her to greet Kael.

Kael instantly shakes my fathers hand with a firm handshake and turns to do the same to my mother, but she instantly pulls him in for a hug catching him off guard. I blush in embarrassment at my mothers tendencies.

"Good things, I hope." She laughs. When she finally lets go of him, he takes a small step back and looks to the both of them.

''It is very lovely to meet you both,'' he quickly glances to my father, ''officially.'' Then I remembered how they had known each other before, which got me thinking.

Did my father know about who-what Kael really is?

I watch as they interact with one another. When the topic about Kael's parents is brought up, I am instantly brought back to reality and remember exactly why my parents are here. I move to stand beside Kael, he instantly wraps his arm around my waist pulling me closer to him. When my hand rests on his chest, I could feel just how tense he was.

''Well, I see that you two are getting along great.'' I hear my mother speak with a knowing smile present on her face. Oh, you have no idea, I wanted to say.

I decided to test the waters.

''I mean, we are mates.'' I say, looking at my father, hoping to get a reaction out of him. Instead he laughs and turns to look at my mother.

''Of course, your mother did say you were soulmates.'' he smiles proudly then looks to me, ''Or mates, whatever you kids call it these days.'' My eyebrows raise in question. My mother notices my reaction and quickly changes the topic.

Either my father had no idea what I was talking about or he was a very good liar.

''Nikolai, dear, I think I may be a bit tired from the flight, maybe we should head up to our room?'' Mother says catching me by surprise. ''But first, I would love to have a word with Marisela, you don't mind, do you dear?'' she puckers her lips. My father only smiles at her with genuine love in his eyes.

''Of course dear,'' He says as he gives her a kiss on the cheek, ''I will see you all later.'' He gives me a small pat on the shoulder and a slight nod at Kael, ''It's good to finally meet you, Kael.'' He says before a servant directs him to their quarters.

''He doesn't know anything, Marisela'' My mother says with a straight face. ''Well he doesn't remember.''

''Remember?'' Kael whispers exactly what I was thinking. My mother looks down at her hands then takes a deep breath and looks at me.

''You have been here long enough to know who you are mated to, I am your mother after all." She briefly glances over at Kael then me. I could feel my anger begin to boil inside of me. Kael senses it too, he gives me a slight squeeze telling me to calm down.

"I take it you know about Kael's kind,'' I ask, "why didn't you tell me before I came here?"

''I've heard of his kind, yes.'' She briefly glances at him, ''but your father does not, and I would like to keep it that way.''

''So you compelled him to forget?'' My voice getting louder in anger.

''Do not speak to me in that tone young lady.'' she snaps.

Breathe Sela...

''Your father was starting to ask a lot of questions." She rolls her eyes as if she were irritated. I look at her incredulously.

''My father?'' I whisper, ''is he really my father?'' I spit, my anger slowly seeping out. My mother turns to me in shock.

''What is that supposed to mean?" she snaps, placing her perfectly manicured hand on her hip.

''I don't think here is the right place to have this conversation.'' Kael buts in. My mother and I both silently glare at each other angrily. Kael gently pulls on my arm.

''Come on princess, maybe we should go to my office.'' he says to me. With one last glance at my mother, I turn to Kael and nod.

''Lets go.''

-----------------------------

"I told you to stay away from the water!" My mothers yells. "You have no idea what you have done."

''You lied to me!'' I shout.

''I did not lie, Marisela.'' My mother snaps, ''it was for your own good!''

''Look-''

''My own good?" I repeat in anger , taking a step towards her. "For years I thought that we were the only sirens on this planet, in fact I thought you and I were the only ones that were different."

"Well you were naive to believe such a thing." She rolls her eyes. I stop and look at her in complete and utter shock.

Who is this woman?

My mother takes a step towards me, Kael growls at her in warning, thus catching her off guard.

With this new found anger inside of me, I take a deep breath to calm myself. 1 2 3 4 5, I count in my head before exhaling. I do this two more times.

''Have you compelled him before?'' I ask her instead. She looks at me and sighs.

After a few seconds of waiting, she finally nods her head giving me her answer. She doesn't even look guilty!

"Why?" I ask, trying my best to be calm. She sighs once more before speaking.

"I had to keep us safe Marisela." She says, "I only ever did this to protect you, to protect us."

"Protect me from my own father?" I ask. My mother stops, her eyes grow wide for a second, as if she had said something she was not suppose to say.

''There's still so much you don't understand, Marisela.'' she says quietly. This only angers me further, but I give her no reaction. I got my answer.

''I met another Siren,'' I tell her. Her ears perk up at this. Her charade falters for a bit before she quickly composes herself.

"You can never go back into the ocean again," she warns. "I forbid you from ever going back there, do I make myself clear child." I look at her in disbelief. Her eyes were cold and boarded. She's hiding something from me. I knew I wasn't going to get any answers from her, she was already lying to me.

"Crystal." I say. She gives me one long stern look, before turning to Kael, who has been quietly standing in the room.

"I do apologize son," she puts on a fake smile. "I must leave, it's been a long flight and clearly," she looks to me,"my daughter and I have a lot of catching up to do." Her eyes go back to Kael, "I must say goodnight, perhaps we could start over again in the morning." Kael nods at her in agreement, and I all but look at the both of them in bewilderment. My mothers gives me one last glance before taking her leave. Once the door is closed, I let out a breath I did not know I was holding. Kael carefully walks up to me.

"Are you okay?" He asks. I couldn't bring myself to answer him, so much was going on in my head. After the conversation with my mother, I had hoped that maybe I was wrong, that maybe just maybe I was a little delusional.

But that was far from it.

"Its true.'' I whisper. The realisation finally dawning on me. The man I grew up believing to be my father is not my real father.

''Marisela.'' I hear the concern in Kael's voice as he rushes to my side. My mouth failing to work as I am left drowning in my realisation. The blood pounding in my ears. My heart thuds loudly in my chest. My hands begin to shake. My feet tingle. My vision disfigured, as if I were looking through a fish-eye lens.

''Princess , please calm down.'' Kael says, trying his best to calm me. He places my head on his chest. Hearing his steady heart beat, strangely enough, calms me down a bit so I am able to speak.

''Get me out of here.'' Is all I am able to say.

Kael picks me up bridal style and in no time we are out of his office, and in the hallway. I close my eyes as I feel the tears start to well up in my eyes.

My whole life was a lie.

A burst of pain fills through out my entire body, a surging heat that I couldn't describe. I let out a scream and held tighter to Kael.

''fuck.'' I hear him whisper to himself, before he starts to walk faster. In no time he carries me into his bedroom and lays me down on the bed. The pain only getting worse. I let out a gasp from the pain.

"Princess.'' Kael pulls me on to his lap, ''Breathe.'' He sounds distraught. The pain slightly dimming but it was still hurting.

''Kael, what's happening to me.'' I pant. Kael hisses, but doesn't say a word. When I look up at him, he seems to be concentrating on something. A moment later there is a knock at the door.

''Enter.'' Kael yells. The person immediately walks in.

''Son.'' Rosa? What is she doing here?

''Mother, what are you doing here-''

''Your father told me what's going on,'' she cut him off then turns to look at me, a look of concern evident on her face. Ronaldo is standing beside her with the same expression watching me.

He had mind-linked his father.

''Have you told her?'' He asks Kael.

Told me what? I wanted to ask but I couldn't bring myself to speak as another wave of pain rolled through me. I screamed.

Kael shakes he's head "no" and I hear Rosa sigh in annoyance.

''What..'' I try to speak, ''What's happening to me.'' Kael looks down at me, his face scrunched in concern.

''I'm sorry princess, '' He whispers sounding in pain, ''I didn't know it was going to come this soon.''

''What are you talking about?'' I ask, sounding out of breath. Another wave came and I scream. ''What is happening to me?'' I scream out in pain.

''Oh, sweetheart.'' Rosa coos, standing beside me. Her cold frail hand touches my own. The contact cools my hand a little bit. ''She's burning up." A look of sympathy overcomes her face, ''The mating process needs to be completed, son.'' she gives a stern look to Kael.

''Mating?'' I start to sit up but Kael refuses as another wave comes.

''Son, you need to tell her now, otherwise it will only get worse for her.'' Ronaldo speaks up behind Rosa .

''Worse!?" I shout again, hating how they all seem to be ignoring my question, ''What are you all talking about?''

''Your heat, Marisela.'' Kael bwinces, ''Your heat is coming.''

My what?

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