The Bad Boy And The Mermaid

Hunter

Fred and Hannah helped me choose a wedding ring for Blue. It was a round solitaire diamond stud in a platinum ring, a little out of my budget but looked really beautiful. My bank account was almost empty, but it was worth it. Blue deserved this and so much more. I kind of wished I had enough money to move into a bigger house where there was a lawn, a fence, a room for when Blue and I decided to have kids.

I dreamed of it, about having my own little family.

I’d never thought this was possible in my wildest dreams, that I’d find a woman who’d love me enough to want to marry me.

The phone in my pocket began buzzing. It was from an unknown number. I pressed answer.

“Hello Mr. Brantley, this is Gracie. I’m a wedding planner. Your mother told me you wanted to discuss a few things.”

“Hi Gracie, please call me Hunter.” I spoke on the phone while walking out of the jewelry store towards the parking lot across the street, “I’m looking for simple wedding decorations, I’d like to discuss about this. Are you free around three p.m? We could talk it over lunch and—”

A loud blare of the honking stopped me dead in my tracks and I turned to look. I wanted to run but my legs weren’t moving. I was glued to the place.

A car was moving towards me in high-speed and there was absolutely nothing I could do.

I saw it that time.

Death was coming for me.

Blue

Adrian had tried convincing me that marrying Hunter was a bad idea. And then he’d given me another alternative that I knew would make Hunter really furious. Adrian suggested that I could marry him instead and visit the Land often to meet Hunter.

In other words, he didn’t mind me having an affair with Hunter on land as long as I married Adrian in our world. I’d told Adrian that he could stop talking and that I wasn’t going to have an affair with Hunter because I intended to marry him.

I’d been napping with Leslie when I got one of those bad premonitions that something was going to happen. Since then I couldn’t sleep and paced around the apartment. I tried calling Hunter’s number but he didn’t answer it and that gave me even more anxiety.

Adrian was reading a magazine upside down, a magazine he’d found discarded in a box within the depths of the storage room. The magazine had a naked woman on it. I didn’t know how I felt about Hunter going through this one. Adrian was merely leafing through the pages, his face masked with interest.

I tried texting Hunter.

Me: Why aren’t you answering my call?

I called him several times but each time it hit voicemail. Thirty minutes and forty texts later, I decided to call Hannah. When she answered the call she was sobbing and that was a clear warning that something was wrong.

“Hannah, I’ve been trying to call Hunter but he’s not answering my phone. Is he with you?”

“Blue...well, Hunter got into an accident. A car almost ran over him.”

My heart almost stopped beating, “What?!” It took me an entire minute to collect myself. “Is he alright?”

“He’s in the hospital.”

“I want to see him.” I said urgently.

Hannah told me that she was sending a car and a chauffeur to take me to the hospital. When I hung up the call, Adrian’s expressions clearly said ‘I told you so.’

“You still have time to stop the wedding.” Adrian suggested.

I gave him a sharp look, “I can’t ask Hunter to do that. We both love each other.”

“Is that love any use of if either of you end up being dead?”

I hated that he had a point.

What if something happened to Hunter before or during the wedding ceremony? We still had a week ahead of us before we got married.

Greek. I felt helpless and angry at my situation, like there was nothing else I could do

promises about lifelong

I think I understand now.” I said, keeping the venom out

understand?” He asked, still looking through that vile

jealous of

looked at me, “And what

world to marry Hunter, if my situation doesn’t allow me, then I won’t marry you either or anyone else for that matter.” I completed. “So there’s absolutely no reason for you to be

and elders arranged our marriage to be fulfilled when we were old enough...” Adrian said, “Mermaids marry

I will take Hunter as my husband and no one

for

to go with you because

healthy life, it won’t be enough, Blue. You will watch him, your children, your grandchildren, and everyone else you care about grow old and die while you stay the same.” He said vehemently. “Do you want

hurt if I left and watched

expression of resignation on his face, it looked like he was

casual t-shirt, jeans and sneakers and waited until Hannah

apartment building. Throughout the entire twenty minute car ride, I recalled each and

I loved Hunter, I valued his life above everything

coming to a hospital, and the atmosphere around made me ill. A stretcher occupied by a boy was wheeled away, a mother crying as she followed it. Another accident.

place was giving me a very sad feeling. I couldn’t ignore the

The scent of death.

walked towards them and found Elaine standing outside a room and

are on their way. You go see him now.” She said sweetly, “I’m sure he wants to see his fiancé

The lies about everything, about who I was, where I came from and what I

hospital bed, and when he saw me, he flashed me a huge

smiling that a sob escaped my lips

sitting shirtless. A patch

hurt?” I asked touching his

did hurt when it happened and all I remember later is waking

with my hand and cried, “I’m so sorry, Hunter.

He stopped talking

this was no

firmly. “Adrian’s

his features, “What do you mean this is a

I said. “I can’t

your home, and you’re

could live peacefully here with you, and look

words slowly, “I’m going to marry you, Blue, and no one’s going to stop me. I won’t let

much conviction, I believed him. His eyes, they told me he’d

I can’t bear the thought of losing

love you more than you could ever imagine. I’ve loved

argue with him, this brave man. He was ready to sacrifice his life in order to marry

think. Take your time.”

up my

your arm.” I touched his arm

lost practice but I needed to try. I wrapped my fingers around his elbow, holding his arm in place and closed my eyes. I began chanting softly in whispers, and seconds later I felt the burning sensation in my body, the

′what’s happening?

giving me a weird look, he was grinning. “What

Do you still feel

was clear on his features, but he did what

gave me a surprised

the same thing. When it was done, I slowly peeled off the

in awe, “how

giggled, “Powers, but shhh...don’t tell this to

to his in a long lingering kiss. It felt so good to have his plump lips on mine. I moaned literally and forgot that I was kissing him openly in a