The Tide

Chapter 21: Swimming in Distress

Marius

There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.

― Sarah Dessen,

 

I stood there still grasping the coin Sage had given to me to make my wish.

“1”

“2”

“3”

Sage inhales deeply. The single coin she threw clanks against the bottom of the fountain. I didn’t need to make a wish because all my wishes have finally came true. I have Sage. A girl I still don’t know everything about but am hopelessly and incandescently in love with. So I keep the small copper coin in my hand and wait for Sage to make her wish.

“I wish I could be Marius’s mate.” She whispers.

At first I think my mind is playing tricks on me. But when I open my eyes, and I’m left alone, my side which previously occupied Sage is empty. As the patter of Sage’s bare feet and the swirl of her green dress disappear into a darkened core way I know I heard her right. 

“Sage come back here amor” I yell and chase after her. The mall starts to become increasingly confusing with every turn I make. I’m not even sure if I’m on the right track. I stopped hearing Sage’s feet and soft breathe a while ago.  While part of me is bouncing off the walls at the fact she wants to be my mate the other part is scared to death because I can’t find her.

“Deliciae, it’s alright. We really need to talk love.” I yell into the darkness.

Wandering around in the dark mall has proven useless. Sage is hiding somewhere good and no matter the searching I do. I doubt I’ll find her during the night. I retrace my steps and end up at the fountain. My darling girl is sitting with her feet swinging over the edge of the fountain. She is humming softly to herself.

“Sage” I say softly into her ear.

“I’m sorry Marius.” She says not looking up to me. I sit next to her.

“Why are you sorry? You didn’t do anything wrong?” I ask amused slightly. Trying my hardest not to break down and kiss her.

“Because it was a stupid thing to sa—I mean wish. I shouldn’t have said it aloud. I’ve been humoring the idea we could be together after this whole thing was said and done with. But I promise I understand that you’re meant to be with someone else. Probably someone who understands you more like a duchess or whatever you call a high ranking mermaid. Can we forget I said it?” She asks still refusing to look at me.

“But what if I don’t want to forget about it my darling.” I ask and move her face in-between my palms forcing her to look up at me. Her eyes a glazed over and her cheeks are tinged pink.

“Wh…why would you want that?” She asks.

“It’s hard to just forget the woman you fell in love with the moment you saw her Sage. And it’s even harder to just forget about a person like you darling. From the moment I met you and saw how hard you’ve been fighting all I wanted to do was take all that pain away. When I had to sew your face up and you made it through, your fierce passion for your family that drove you to the brink of madness just to know they were safe. You’ve put me in my place multiple times. And since the second you moved your lips and began to speak I’ve been entranced ever since. But it is impossible to forget my beautiful mate.” I say and both of us are smiling. Her mouth is quirked in a questioning way.