CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47

Meanwhile, at the island, Rhea lay motionless. Zeenare paced around her, while Ravira stood by her unconscious side, checking her core.

"What is wrong with her?" Zeenare paced around, his unease etched on his face.

"Your Majexric, she’s fine. She’s simply sleeping," she reported, stepping away from Rhea.

"Sleeping? It’s been seven days already!" He stretched his hand toward Rhea, gesturing at her predicament.

This isn’t the curse acting up. She’s too peaceful for that, he thought.

"Master, I think you should give her more time. Like you said, it happened after she touched the picture," Ravira stated, adjusting her glasses.

"Time to never wake up, you mean?" Zeenare flashed her a sharp gaze.

Then he continued, "Prepare the pool."

"Yes." Ravira dashed out.

Zeenare stalked toward Rhea, took her limp hand bringing her hand to his forehead, his eyes tightly closed. "I don’t know what you’re going through right now, but I hope you are not suffering."

Zeenare scooped her up and carried her to the pool. The moment he arrived, he sent everyone out.

The room was as quiet as space, the water glowing. He stepped into the bone-chilling water with her and placed her gently on his lap, her weight light within it. He slowly peeled off the lingering fabric that clung to her.

His hands wrapped around her nakedness, pressing her against his chest. A red light emitted from him, his eyes closed, as it veined out of his body into Rhea’s.

Othimise flinched, the moment he felt Zeenare’s energy sweep across the mansion. "What is the master doing?" Othimise questioned when he sensed Zeenare’s essence.

He turned swiftly toward the door, sprinting for it.

"No, no, no. He can’t do that. This is madness. If this is the step he’s choosing, I’d rather remove her from his side."

Before he reached the door, it was too late.

Their brows furrowed slightly. Zeenare’s grip tightened around her. Tiny trails of blood streamed from the corners of his lips. As the red light increased in size, its light became brighter, erupting throughout the room.

Zeenare’s chest heaved, the trails of blood on his lips increasing as he bit hard on them. His face curved into a deep frown as he coughed up a heavy stream of blood.

At that same moment, Rhea’s consciousness drifted deeper into the trance, the cave around her solidifying as though it were the only reality.

She was still seated in the cave, finding Zeenare and Eclaire’s conversation fascinating.

After reading her question, he let out another amused scoff, finding her lack of fear toward him both intriguing and amusing.

"You have a point there, little mute. I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving me. And no, I won’t hurt you. I don’t make a habit of harming those who do me favors."

"Okay. I have a question," she wrote.

He tilted his head slightly and gestured for her to continue, giving her his full attention. "Speak, little mute. Ask whatever you wish."

"Which part of the sea are you from—is it the North or South? I’m asking because of your white hair."

Rhea watched quietly, looking from Zeenare to Eclaire, sitting next to her.

Finding her curiosity somewhat endearing, he shifted slightly to get more comfortable as he spoke in that calm, arrogant voice of his.

"Do we Sirens all look the same to you humans?"

Eclaire shook her head and picked up her pen. "The ones in winter are different from the ones in summer. And the winter ones seem more inclined to humans than the summer ones."

"You’re quite observant, darling. You’re correct, my hair color is a product of my origin. I hail from the northern depths of the sea, where the waters are coldest and darkest."

He gazed intently at her as he studied her silently for a moment, watching as her lips formed a little "hmm" sound. He found her reaction somewhat cute, although he would never admit it out loud. He let out a soft scoff and leaned forward slightly.

"You’re full of questions, aren’t you, little mute?"

She vigorously nodded her head.

"Then go on with it, for I will not indulge you next time." He trailed his hand over his wrapped wound.

"I heard mermaids could change their tails to legs too."

"Is there a difference between a Siren and a mermaid?" Rhea’s words came out like a breeze.

He chuckled at her little misconception, finding it adorable how she thought mermen also had that ability. He shook his head, a small smirk still playing on his lips as he corrected her.

"Ah, you’re slightly mistaken, little mute. They are simply fishes with less-than-fish brains. They are the bottom feeders, workers, mere currents, and the highest they can go in the hierarchy is song keepers. Only Sirens have that ability."

"So there’s a difference?" Rhea confirmed, swirling in the room. "Wait, I can fly? This is new!" She moved with a grin on her face, swirling around them.

"Is that so? Then why do Sirens change to humans? Don’t they like the ocean?" Eclaire asked.

He nodded in affirmation, confirming her question. "Yes, little one. It’s true. All Sirens have the ability to transform their tails into human legs. It’s a skill that we use to occasionally spend time on land, although we generally prefer the ocean, of course."

She remained quiet for a while.

"What kingdom are you from?"

"I hail from the kingdom of the northern depths. It’s an underwater realm, hidden far beneath the surface of the sea, in the coldest and darkest depths you can imagine."

"No name?"

He hummed softly as she pointed out the lack of a name for his kingdom, amused by her observation. He let out a small scoff and spoke, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "It’s Ockonayia, the home to the strongest Tide in the ocean."

"Are you tired?" she suddenly wrote.

Zeenare was taken aback by her sudden question, that she had noticed his fatigue so easily. He let out a soft sigh and ran a hand through his white hair, feeling a small pang of exhaustion settling in his body.

"I suppose you could say that. Fighting off those pesky mortals and talking to you for this long is something I’ve never done."

Ockonayia, Rhea repeated. How come the Sirens and humans understand each other? How come a commoner can write? I thought since he’s not human, he’d be rude. But he’s surprisingly easy to talk to.

Rhea walked to Zeenare, stood before him, and bent to his level. "And different." She brushed her fingers through his hair, touched his skin, and felt his muscles.

What is his real name? Is it actually Zeenare? Rhea asked herself.

She was not paying attention to her surroundings.

As she turned, everything was still. The noises had stopped. The temperature was dropping.

Eclaire was the first. Her body began changing into particles, like dust scattering into the air. Then Zeenare’s, then the surroundings.

"Her chest tightened as she reached out, but her fingers closed on nothing. One by one, they vanished, until only silence remained then went black.

Rhea let out a a deep long drowning gasp as she woke up, her body stretching in Zeenare’s firm grips.

Her chest heaved, and she gasped continuously, Zeenare held her in an embrace, his own breath shallow.

"Pumpkin?" He brushed her hair off her face. "Look at me." His breath shaky, her breath uneven. "Look at me my love."

Rhea eyes slowly moved to his, his face pale, "W-what is wrong with you?" She asked weakly. Her hands slowly trailied to his face, her palm cold on his skin, cupping his face.

Blood?!!!

Concern etched on her face. "Are you hurt somewhere? She continued, pulling closer to him in the pool, her eyes searching his face, Zeenare’s arms at each side of her waist.

He leaned towards her his eyes, soft, a faint smile on his lips, "I’m glad you are okay," then he pressed his lips on her.

The kiss was light but passionate.

Rhea held him as his body gave out almost limp, savouring his taste.

Then his body gave out on her shoulder. A fear crawled into Rhea, when she saw him like that for the first time.

Her heart cracked, the world became still, her hands slightly trembling. Chills ran down her spine, at his lifeless body.

"Z-z-zeenare?!" She called weakly, her throat right. "Zeenare! ZEENARE!!!!" she screamed shaking his body.

"IS EVERYONE THERE?" she shouted, "PLEASE SOMEONE...HELP!"

The door flew open, Othimise, Ravira and Aluna rushed in, horror on their faces. Aluna stopped in his track, his feet heavy, in a daze of the situation before.

Rhea looked up at the people rushing towards them, tear on her face, fear evident in her being, her sight settlingly on Aluna.

Her world sunk. His gaze was intense, oozing hatred and death. Othimise gaze that was always casual was now cold.

And the woman she has never seen before, had a stained frown on her face.