[sirens attacking Aeron's ship]
It all happened so fast.
Morgana had finally agreed to let Aeron take a trip on his ship, and the fae couldn't be happier. He even had a pirate suit adjusted just for Calypso, who came with him, and was at first dizzy because of the movements of the ship. But Yasmeen held her hand until she got a grip of it, and now she seemed fine. She was even chatting with her husband, who was in better mood now that he was holding the helm of his ship that he had been in months. Yasmeen knew he loved piracy since... well, since he was a boy always asking her for pirate stories. Malachai came along, and spent more time watching Calypso and Aeron than actually talking. Yasmeen was content just admiring the move of the waves as the ship glided along it, when it all exploded.
The brutal contact with the cold water made her react. She was deep in it, now. Something was holding her leg. She grabbed one of her knives. The water slowed down her movement and blurried her vision, but somehow she was able to make enough damage to her oponent of them to let go of her. It was only when she finally reached the surface that she took a grasp of what happened.
They had been in a narrow path of a shoreline between two rocky cliff. Aeron had not been worried for a second. He had navigated worst paths a million times. But this time, something threw the ship against the cliff, effectively breaking it. Two somethings, actually.
The threat in the water was a bit difficult for Yasmeen to see, but judging by the speed at which the water moved, she would bet on sirens. The threat in the air, however, she never saw it before. Big birds, she thought, before she realized they were only half birds, and half human.
Her blood ran cold, but she snapped out of it. She only had a few seconds to react. She couldn't see where Malachai was, which meant he probably was fighting under the water. Aeron was in the sky, his wings spread. He seldom used them so Yasmeen almost forgot how they looked like. Aeron aimed for the weird bird that currently had Calypso between its claws. It dropped the girl into the water to fight Aeron, and Yasmeen swam towards her protegee.
Her knives slowed her down, but she arrived just in time to fatally wound two sirens that attacked an already injured Calypso. Yasmeen's moves were more difficult in the water. Thankfully, Calypso had turned into a mermaid already. And when Yasmeen became too exhausted to stay afloat after her fourth kill, the princess took her by the waist and quickly made them join the rocky shore.
❝Are you okay?❞ They spoke at the same time, but something moved in the corner of Yasmeen's eye and she was already on her feet, throwing a knife on the head of the bird that was aiming towards them. A few others followed and got closer, using their claws as effective weapons. Yasmeen managed to fatally hurt them before they got to Calypso and, thankfully, Aeron took over and drawed them to him, giving Yasmeen the time to kneel to assess Calypso's wounds. She had a few scratches on her waist, but it was mostly her tail that was bleeding. It probably explained why she hadn't turn back yet.
❝You're hurt.❞
❝So are you.❞ Calypso sounded worried, but Yasmeen had no time to assess her own wounds.
❝It's my job to protect you princess, not the other way around. Now let me see.❞
Yasmeen was aware that they weren't safe. It wasn't an island shore, but the feet of a cliff, filled with pointy rocks that gave them something to sit on and made it harder for the sirens to get to them, but not impossible. Yasmeen trusted Malachai to deal with them, and she knew Aeron could fend against the sky threats. So she focused on Calypso.
Fortunately, the wound wasn't too big. Soon enough, the threats were all dead, and the boys came back to them. Yasmeen let out a breath there. Calypso had grabbed her hand at some point.
❝Are you guys okay?❞ The princess asked, visibly worried.
❝Yes. Are you? Did they hurt you?❞ Malachai answered and the girls shook their heads.
❝Aeron, are you okay?❞ Calypso asked, and Yasmeen thought she was too good for him.
Aeron didn't answer. He was barely standing on one of the rocks, his wings did all of the job. He looked gloomy, almost murderous. He didn't often wear this look. Not that he wasn't dangerous, but Yasmeen knew he was more of the care-free kind of dangerous. The "I'll laugh and smile one second before stabbing you" type. He wasn't the cold-angry type. But seeing this look on his face, she knew he tought of his ship. It was his only joy in the world, it seemed.
❝You'll make another ship.❞ She wanted to think that she said those words respectfully, but she clearly sounded pissed. How dare he care more the well-being of his ship than the fact that they almost lost their lives?
It made him look at her with that same kind of anger, and Calypso immediately changed the subject.
❝What were those things?!❞
❝Sirens.❞ Malachai answered and Calypso rolled her eyes impatiently.
❝I know that already, brother. I meant the weird birds.❞
❝Sirens too.❞ Calypso frowned and he explained. ❝They're very rare, but the siren transformation processus is not unique. When the humans are turned into sirens, their bodies are given two choices.❞
❝So, like... bird or fish?❞ Malachai nodded. ❝You're saying that our brother could've been a bird?!❞
Yasmeen almost laughed but held it back. She could see that Malachai struggled to stay serious too. ❝Pretty much. We do not usually concern ourselves with the bird ones, since they don't live in the sea.❞
❝It was an attack.❞ Malachai answered.
❝We used to. When we lived in the sky. My uncle told me about them.❞ It was Aeron's first words. He looked a little bit more like himself already, but still a bit too serious compared to the usual. ❝My mother said they disappeared, but I already encoutered a few during my travels. Not this many in one pack, though.❞
A look of understanding passed between the two princes. A look that testified that, despite their differences, they were both trained soldiers who represented their respective people, and they knew what they had to do next. They nodded to each other.
❝Calypso, can you swim?❞ Malachai asked.
❝I think I can.❞
❝She can't.❞ Yasmeen chipped in. ❝She needs medical care first.❞ Calypso wanted to argue, but everyone could see that her tail was pretty hurt.
❝Then you'll hold on to me as we go back to court.❞
She nodded, as Aeron turned around to hold out his hand to Yasmeen. The two princes had decided of a way to bring the girls back to the fae court, but Yasmeen couldn't take this hand. She looked at the cliff above her.
❝I can climb.❞ She decided, and she knew she could. ❝I'll just walk.❞
❝Don't be ridiculous.❞ Aeron said. ❝It'll take you days. And you know I can't let you do that.❞
He couldn't. The risk of escape was too high. But she held her ground. ❝I'm not flying with you.❞
Yasmeen knew she was making it difficult, but she would always remember the time she flew with him to that wretched island she'll never forget. Malachai and Calypso were probably completely lost, but Yasmeen could feel Calypso squeezing her hand a little stronger, as a sign of support.
Aeron rolled his eyes. ❝You don't have the choice, wraith.❞
❝Yes she does.❞ Calypso answered, using her authoritarian princess voice. ❝If she wants to walk, then we'll walk.❞
Yasmeen almost smiled, her heart a little lighter to see that, even if Calypso didn't understand the problem, she had seen enough of Yasmeen's discomfort to take her side. People usually didn't do that.
❝Or she could swim with me.❞ All eyes turned to Malachai, who looked at Aeron. ❝You take my sister back, I'll take Yasmeen.❞
They looked at each other again, and Yasmeen could see the beginning of a trust blooming. Or at least the mutual knowledge that they were both constantly trying to avoid their immature parents to start a war. They could at least count on that. They agreed, and the girls did too. Aeron was about to take Calypso in his arms.
❝Wait.❞ The princess turned, and without a word, kissed Yasmeen on the lips. ❝That way, you'll be able to breathe underwater for at least an hour. It should be enough time for both of you to get back.❞
❝Hum... Thank you?❞ Calypso laughed at this reaction. Malachai did not.
❝Okay, time to go Sunshine.❞
He took her in, actually paying attention to her wounds, and they went into the sky together. It's when they were finally alone that Yasmeen noticed Malachai's stretched silence.
❝Are you... okay with that decision?❞
❝Of course I am.❞ He lightened up, or at least forced himself too. Yasmeen didn't understand, but blamed it on the recent fight. ❝But, just out of curiosity, why didn't you want to fly with Aeron?❞
Yasmeen wanted to be honest, but she wasn't ready for that conversation yet. ❝I don't particulary trust him. Does that surprise you?❞
❝If it was just that, you wouldn't have let Calypso go with him.❞
❝He can't hurt her without risking a war.❞ He knew it was only half the truth, but he didn't push. ❝Besides... I lost almost all of my knives.❞ She looked almost sad now. ❝I'd rather be with someone I trust completely if I don't have them with me.❞
He swam away without saying a word and, as puzzled as Yasmeen was, she couldn't help herself but realizing that it was the first time she saw his tail. Red, just like his eyes. She didn't have any time to dwell on her feelings that he already came back, holding said knives in his hand. Her eyes widened.
❝You mean those?❞
She jumped out of her rocks and came closer to him - thankfully, she still had a foothold, since they were near the shore. ❝How did you-❞
❝They all landed on the water when you threw them. I just caught them.❞
❝While fighting a hord of sirens?❞
❝I know how you love those knives.❞ Yasmeen didn't even try to hide her smile. ❝Besides, some of them helped. One of them landed right next to me at the exact moment I needed a weapon. I almost tought you threw it on purpose.❞
She put back each one of her knife in their sheath, trying but failing to find a way to thank Malachai for it, so she just stayed silent. Until the moment he touched one of the cut on her cheek, and she winced. ❝I was truly worried for you.❞ He admitted.
❝Were you?❞ She smiled. ❝Well I, on the other hand, trusted you completely, so I'm a little offended. Have I not proven myself to you?❞ She joked, and was satisfied to make him laugh a little.
❝You always have a comeback, don't you?❞
❝I'm afraid so.❞ In the silence that followed, she noticed how close they were but didn't step back. What was it about Malachai that made him feel safe to be close to? She didn't know. He was a prince, and he had shown signs of interests, she should have avoided him like the plague. But she didn't want to. ❝I like your tail.❞ She said instead, and when he looked embarassed, she immediately regretted it. ❝Sorry, is this a weird thing to say? I'm not familiar with-❞
❝It's not weird. Not at all. Just..❞
She knew he wanted to thank her, just like she did earlier. It appeared they had a lost of issues in showing their feelings, so she changed the subject.
❝It was uncomfortable, I'll admit. Fighting in the water. I couldn't move properly, and my vision was blurry.❞
❝I saw you. You did great, but yes we should totally work on that.❞
❝I can't breathe under water.❞
❝As my sister said, we can easily fix that.❞
❝I'm not sure the princess agreed to kiss me before every training session.❞
❝Well then we'll just have to find someone who's willing to do it.❞
Was this flirting? Yasmeen didn't want to answer this question. Lately, they toyed the line a lot, but always came back into safe territory just after. Maybe it was for the best.
❝Something is bugging me, though.❞ She loved the way he immediately listened. ❝I don't really know what happened. One minute we were on the ship. The next I was in the water. But there's a gap...❞
❝The sirens sang. It's hypnotizing for humans. Even I was a little disoriented by the birds' songs. I never heard it before. But... our ears are more fit to it. It's why we had time to react with Aeron. They stopped singing when we fought back.❞
She hated being reminded how humans were so vulnerable. ❝Is there a way to get used to it? For a human, I mean.❞
❝I admit I don't know...❞
❝I'll ask Nate when we get back. I'd like to try.❞ Malachai nodded. Their smiles dropped when they realized they truly had to go now.
❝Just hold on to my shoulders and I'll do the rest. Tell me if I go too fast, I know humans don't always like that. And if you can't breathe anymore at some point, you know what to do.❞
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[ a drunk Malachai, beating the shit out of Rhys after he said many innapropriate things about Yasmeen from the times he forced himself on her, only stopping because Aeron drags him out of the room ]
Aeron could swear he felt the scratches in his face as he dragged Malachai out. The mermale did not go without a fight, nor multiple insult directed against faes - was it for him or his brother? Aeron didn't know. But fortunately he was way less drunk that Kai right now, which played in his advantage.
He barely closed the door of the library he managed to get Malachai in that the mermale was already storming to it, forcing Aeron to use his body as a barrier between the door and Kai.
"Let me out." The mermale rasped, his eyes somehow gaining a shade of red.
"Not until you calm down. I'm almost jealous you know? I thought you liked my face the most. And here you are beating up my brother instead of me? Men have feelings too, you know?" Aeron joked, referencing the many times Kai punched his face. The mermale didn't seem amused.
"I'm not in the mood for jokes."
"Neither am I! You're forcing me to be the responsible one here. My role is exclusively limited to being devishly handsome and making terrible but fun life decisions. You're the responsible one in this equation-"
"Aeron..."
"-So try to sober up before you go start a war over.... what exactly?"
Malachai went silent. The drinks slowed him down for sure, but even in this state surely he was able to realize that killing Rhys would be a terrible political move. And that's what he was about to do.
That's why Aeron intervened. He wouldn't have cared about a fight. Especially since Malachai was winning - his brother deserved a beating once in a while. But the beating went on and on until Rhys was bloody on the floor, barely conscious, and Malachai did not stop. Even Aeron knew that killing one of Triton or Morgana's children would mean a war. Kai couldn't make that kind of decision when he was so highly drunk.
"Can you step back now? Don't get me wrong I love the proximity, but you're bleeding all over my shirt. You should do something about that nasty scar on your arcade." Aeron half teased.
"Don't you ever shut up?" Kai finally took a step back, reason getting back to him.
"No that's where you say: You should see the other guy! Come on, I can't remember all your lines for you." Aeron dramatically rolled his eyes before his face got back in a more neutral, serious tone. "He is in a pretty rough shape actually. What was all that about?"
"Your brother is a phenomenal dick, that's what."
"Old news. But I told you I'll keep him away from Calypso already. So what happened?"
Malachai looked at him but stayed silent during multiple minutes. Clearly he didn't drink enough to spill all his truth.
"Your mother is looking for you." an uninvited voice spoke.
It was most indignified, surely, how brutally the two boys startled. Maybe later they'd make a pact not to say it to anyone. Right now, they just looked at Yasmeen, who looked back at them, tilting her head.
"The fuck? Since when are you there?!"
"Not long. I did not want to step on your moment, but your mother is demanding to see you you. Right now."
Aeron sighed. He knew what Morgana wanted. He looked at Malachai, ready to throw a 'You owe me one' but clearly the mermale was in a terrible enough state already. So he just left, readying himself to face his mother and her fake smile.
The silence stretched for a small eternity in the library. Even when Yasmeen moved and put the stitching kit she brought along with her on the table next to Kai, not a single sound was made. Not until she spoke again.
"Thank you. Don't do something that stupid again, but... thank you."
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