Beneath the surface: Forbidden love
Chapter 5

Marisela

''Marisela....What are you?''

She knew.

Maria knew... she saw me.

How? how could I be so careless.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

''Marisela, what are you?'' She asks again, but I don't say anything, I was too afraid. I had to leave.

And that's what I began to do.

I went to pack my stuff, but Maria called my name again and I just ignored her.

I messed up,

I have to leave,

She knows.

Oh God! She knows.

''Marisela!'' she calls again, this time she grabs me by my shoulders forcing me to look at her. I can see the questions and the confusion swimming in her eyes, but... I don't see any sign of fear, just...curiosity?

"Please."

Why isn't she scared? Humans normally get scared about things they don't understand.

''What are you,'' she asks once more,

'' please.'' she actually sounds... genuine, but this only confuses me more.

why isn't she scared?

I look at her hands still on my shoulders and she notices this too. She quickly removes her hands,''sorry.'' she says embarrassed.

why is she acting like this? I look at her face for any inclination as to why she doesn't look scared, but I find nothing.

''Please Princess, tell me what you are.'' she asks again. I look at her once more before looking away and sigh. I walk over to the bed and sit on the edge of it. A few moments later, I feel the bed beside me dip. We are both quiet for about a minute before she speaks.

''I need to know.'' the urgency in her voice is what catches my off-guard, I look up to her only to find her staring outside the window with this longing on her face.

''why?'' I ask her, curious to know why she hasn't run for the hills yet. She was quiet for a few moments before she finally spoke, and what she said next only confused me further.

"Because...." She sighs, her eyes lost in thought.

''You're not the only one I've seen who is like you.'' she turns to me, the questions are still swimming in her eyes. Well now, I have questions of my own.

''who else?'' I ask carefully. she looks at me as if she is searching for the answers on my face, then she sighs and looks down at her hands as if contemplating something.

''Maria-''

''My mother.'' she whispers.

''What?'' I blink at her.

''My mother is the same as you, but she's the only one that I've ever seen, and then,'' her eyes look up to me. ''-you. How is this possible? What are you?''

''Did you ever ask your mom?'' I ask, and she nods.

''I tried but every time I did she would always tell me to keep it between the three of us.''

Three?

''Cory and I were both there that night. She made us swear not to say a word, we were only eight years old at the time. ever since that night, I never made sense of what we saw, she would always avoid my questions. I tried to talk to Cory about it, but it was like he didn't remember anything he saw that night. It was so weird." She shakes her head as if trying to understand what really happened. "Eventually I stopped asking questions. I guess over the years it just became a memory, like a dream. We never spoke about it since.'' I can see the tears start to fill in her hazel eyes, but she doesn't cry. She looks at me once more and asks again.

''What are you Marisela, please, I need to know.''

I close my eyes for a few seconds and take a deep breath. I can hear my mothers voice in the back of my head, demanding I keep my mouth shut.

To hell with that, I've kept this secret my whole life, what harm will it do if I told one person? Apparently I'm not the only one she has seen, and the only other person I know that is like me, is my mother.

None of this makes sense. After a few seconds of contemplating, I finally look at Maria. Her eyes filled with so many questions, but I see no signs of fear. That's a good thing, right?

With that, I finally speak.

"I can't tell you in detail, because I don't trust you." I begin truthfully. I watch as a flicker of hurt flashes in her eyes but is quickly diminished by understanding. "But, considering the fact that you have already seen who I really am, I can't really lie to you." I tell her. I take a deep breath.

"Most people call us mermaids,'' I begin, "but I find that term a bit unoriginal." I fail at my attempt of a joke. I sigh when I get no reaction from her.

"Im a siren Maria."

I watch as she inhales deeply, her eyes grow wide. ''Well. half Si, half Human. My mother too, is a Siren, my Father is human.'' I explain further.

''I don't understand, how is this even possible?'' she stands up, "a Siren?" she looks even more confused, ''How are you even real? for a long time I thought I was crazy, I started to believe that I was dream-''

''believe me, we are real.'' I gave a small smile, ''very real, just rare.'' I stand up and walk towards her.

''look,'' she sighs, ''I'm not gonna say a word to anyone, I promise you, but I- I just need to know more about my mom, please don't shut me out.'' she pleads. " I can't live like this anymore."

I watch her carefully and see the sincerity in her eyes. "My whole life I thought I was crazy, that what I saw wasn't true. And I started to believe that maybe my mom was right, that maybe it was all just a dream. But I see now that my whole life was a lie."

I can relate to that.

''Look," I say to her, "I can't tell you everything, but I can help you understand who you mother may be. I mean if you say she is exactly like me, then I can help you understand what she is. Although, I should tell you, I have never met anyone that is like me, I never knew that I wasn't alone. All my life, I thought it was just my mother and I that were different." I admit looking away from her. "Come back tomorrow, and we can talk."

''Thank you.'' she hugs me unexpectedly, ''I promise this will stay between us.'' She let's go of me, not sure what to do now, she awkwardly stands up, "uh sorry, I forgot you are a princess, my apologies Princess, I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay, Maria, don't worry about it." I reassure her with her a small smile. Maria gives me a genuine smile and I couldn't help but return the same. She suddenly snaps out of it and remembers where we were.

"Oh dear, I almost forgot, you have to meet the alpha in a few minutes!" She panics.

"Alpha?" I repeat and she looks at me with a knowing smile.

"About that," she blushes avoiding eye contact, "how about when you get back, tomorrow we can both share secrets." She phrases that as more of a question. I look at her confused but agree nonetheless.

What secret could she possibly have to share with me?

''Well, we better get you dressed, the King has something planned for you,'' she reminds me.

Damn, I almost forgot!

''Do you know what it is?'' I ask her, hopefully she knows something, but she shakes her head.

''Can you help me find something to wear?" she smiles and nods her head, ''of course, its kind of my job to assist you.'' I laugh at that, Maria walks into my closet and picks an outfit, she walks back out and places the dress neatly on my bed.

''I think this is perfect.'' she points to the dress, and I nod in agreement. it was a short-flowy- sky-blue summer dress, that reached above my knee and had a bare back. Maria paired the dress with a pair of silver sandals and silver jewellery. I went into the bathroom and put on the outfit. I looked in the mirror and was pleased with her choice. I walked back out into the bedroom where Maria was placing some of the clothes I had begun to pack, back into the closet.

''Perfect." She beams, "shall I do your hair as well?'' she offers and I accept.

''thank you'' I smile as I take a seat in-front of the vanity where Maria began to do my hair. When Maria is done, I am satisfied with the way I look.

''I guess we will talk when you get back?'' she asks reassuringly with a hopeful look, and I smile in return, ''Of course.'' With that being said, Maria waves goodbye and leaves, leaving me alone in my thoughts.

This going to be a long day.

With one last look in the mirror, I grab my purse and make my way to the Foyer where I find Victor waiting patiently for me.

''Hello, Victor.'' I smile, surprised to see him instead of Cory. Then I remembered what Cory told me, Victor will fill in for Cory if he wasn't available.

''Princess.'' he nods.

''Please, call me Sela.'' I tell him, but he doesn't respond.

Just then, Kael walks in. Strangely enough, I smelt him before I saw him. Sandalwood and fresh rain with a mix of cologne.

He is wearing a white shirt with the first few buttons undone, and a pair of black dress pants and fancy black shoes. His hair looks slightly damp as if he had just gotten out of the shower but he still looks devilishly handsome.

''Marisela.'' he greets standing close to me causing my cheeks to redden.''Sorry I was unable to join you for breakfast this morning, I had some business to attend to, but that's been sorted.'' Something flickers in his eyes.

Anger?

''That's alright,'' I smile. I notice how tense he looks. Something was definitely bothering him.

Am I allowed to ask him?

Screw it, I'm going to marry him some day, might as well see what I'm dealing with here.

''Are you alright, Kael?'' I ask. Surprised by my question he shakes his head and forces a smile.

''Just the stress that comes with being King.'' he says as he cups my cheek with his palm, making me inwardly gasp in surprise. I automatically feel sparks on my cheek at his sudden contact. "Nothing you should worry yourself about."

''Today, I would like to take you somewhere,'' he says dropping his hand by his side. ''We are going to visit one of the orphanages.'' I raise my eyebrows in shock.

Don't get me wrong, I love children, I would visit the orphanage near our kingdom back home. I was just surprised that Kael would take me there.

Then again, I suppose I don't really know him.

''As a Queen, it is your duty to get to know your people, and for them to know you as well.'' Rosa cuts in, making her presence known. Only then did I realise how close Kael and I were to each other. Our conversation from this morning comes to my mind. I took a step back causing him to frown. I felt a rush of guilt run through me. And even though we stood a meter apart, I wanted to be closer to him.

Are the affects of last nights wine still in my system?

"I wanted you to see the city first but Kael felt that it would be too overwhelming for you, so he wanted to take you somewhere a little less hectic and somewhere more special," she looks to him with a proud smile, " seeing as you did only just get here." My heart flutters at her words. That was so thoughtful of him.

''Rosa.'' I greet shyly, she smiles in return.

''Are you ready to leave?'' she asks with a glint in her eyes. Too embarrassed to speak, I nod my head instead.

''Good.'' she turns to Kael ''shall we?'' she motions for me to follow. I quickly glance at Kael who looks to be deep in thought.

We make our way outside the castle doors. I spot Victor standing with the door open for me. I nod a thank you as I jump in. He closes the door immediately behind me. I wait for Kael, thinking he would be joining me in this car, but as I watch him through the window, he seemed to be debating with himself. With one last look at my car, he sighs and jumps in the car with his mother. A small part of me was disappointed, but I guess I was grateful for that, I wouldn't be able to think straight being in a car with him.

As I sit in the car with Victor, I remember my conversation with Maria earlier.

Could I really trust her? She seemed like a genuine person, with a kind heart. But then again, my judge of character hasn't always been the best especially when it comes to humans.

What secrets could she possibly have to share?

We drive in silence through the city. I look out the window at the beautiful scenery in-front of me, looking forward to the day ahead of me.

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