Status: Active

I Won't Give Up

01

“But I don’t want to leave you behind,” I said looking up at my father’s forlorn face. He sighed and motioned for me to sit next to him.

“Maris, this is for your own protection. Alacord is planning on trying to take the throne and he will destroy any merfolk that stands in his way. He isn’t beneath hurting you.”

I sighed in frustration. If it wasn’t humans trying to capture us, it was my father’s enemy trying to dethrone him. Always an ongoing battle. But lately things have been getting worse. The mermaid population is drastically decreasing and my dad needs as much help as possible. My whole life I was taught to be benevolent to the people. But how could I exercise that when I was being sent away?

“You will only be gone for a little while. Not until it is safe for you to return.”

“Alright, but please promise me you will be ok,” I said giving up, knowing I will not win this. He smiled and pulled me in to a warm hug. “I promise darling.”

“The guards will escort you to your new home. There is a house your mother and I bought many years ago that we would use on business trips. It’s located in a small town in Louisiana called Bon Temps. It is very hot there so you must stay hydrated. As for your powers, you must try to keep a low profile. Alacord has many associates on the land as he does in the sea.”

Now you all might be thinking, how is a mermaid going to survive on land if she has never been above the surface? Mom and dad had wanted me to adjust to both styles of living in case something bad should happen and we had to move on land. I am like every other human. I can eat human food, I can drive a car and I am more than capable of taking care of myself.
Behind us the guards came swimming toward us and stopped a couple of feet away.

“Your highness, the sun has gone down on the surface, we must depart now,” our head guard,
Lyran said.

I was not ready to leave my home. I looked up at the perfectly formed arches made of a water resistant stone and closed my eyes praying I would return soon.

“I am ready to depart. I am going to miss you dad,” I wrapped him in my arms and buried my face into his bare chest, taking in his scent and touch. It had always been my dad and I for many years after mom’s death. When she passed, the whole kingdom seemed lifeless. No one would sing or play music. Everybody had been affected in some way. Life just hasn’t been the same after that. I pulled away from my father and looked up into his blue eyes that I inherited. I could see his heart break a little as he knew it was time for me to go.

“Be careful and take care of yourself Maris. I love you so very much,” his voice trying to crack, but he remained poised. But his eyes gave him away.

“I love you too.”

I turned away and swam towards the guards. Lyran nodded to the others and they made a formation around me so I had a guard on every side of me. As we swam through the kingdom, I made note of every little detail. We passed my friend Laurel’s house. I remember when we would play at the reefs when we were little and our mothers would watch and laugh along with us in our childhood whimsy. As soon as we broke the surface of the water I was being lifted out into the cool night air and my tail and scales soon thereafter disappeared and legs took their place. Once my transformation was done, a towel was quickly wrapped around my naked body. Lyran put clothes into my arms and motioned for me to change behind a tree. I wobbled a little bit on my way behind the huge tree. Setting the clothes on the grass I unwrapped the towel and immediately put on the bra and panties in the set. I pulled on the jean shorts and purple plaid shirt leaving my wet brown hair down to dry. I poked my head out from behind the tree to see the guards fully clothed and guarding the tree. I had to admit they were extremely serious about their jobs.

“Let us continue boys,” I said with a slight smile as I walked from behind the huge oak tree. The guards reformed their shape around me and lead the way to a nearby road which had a black SUV waiting for us. Lyran got into the driver’s seat and I climbed into the back seat with two of the guards.

“You should rest Princess, it’s a five hour drive from New Orleans to Bon Temps,” Cadus, the second in command guard, said from the passenger’s seat.

“Thank you Cadus,” I mumbled as I looked between the two bulky guards, Mako and Sephren, sitting next to me. I laid my head on Sephren’s shoulder and closed my eyes letting the smooth drive lull me into a well needed slumber.

Needless to say, I didn’t dream at all. Because the next thing I knew, I was being shaken awake by Sephren.

“We have arrived to your new home. Welcome to Bon Temps Maris,” Mako said while helping me out of the car. I looked up at my new home. It was a decent sized two-story house with a huge wrap around porch. It was an elegant white house that reminded me of a mini plantation house from way back when. In the driveway sat a brand new 2008 black Hyundai Genesis Coupe with orange interior. I silently thanked my dad, for he knew that I have always wanted this car.

“From now on you will be known as Marissa Austin. You moved to Bon Temps from Atlanta, Georgia. Your father stocked the house with food and clothes. Also there is a safe in the house that has money for you. In order for you to fit in like a normal human it is advised that you find a job. This is a small town so some jobs are scarce. But since you are twenty-one you can apply for a job at a local bar, Merlotte’s. On the kitchen table you will find a cell phone, car keys, the safe key, and the name and number of a friend of your father’s, Bill Compton. You can trust him. And lastly here is the house key,” Lyran pulled out a set of keys from his jean pocket and handed it to me.

“Be careful up here Maris, humans and some vampires will try to utilize your abilities for their own gain. They will not hesitate to kill you. Your father would not like me telling you this, but should you find yourself in some trouble, use you electricity. As long as you keep the secret of our tears safe, you should be safe. You will find that some vampires and humans have abilities of their own,” Lyran wrapped me in his arms and gave me a warm brotherly-like hug. I looked up into his gray eyes and saw the compassion in them.

“Our secret is safe with me. But you all should head home. By the time you reach Lake Pontchartrain it will be dawn,” I whispered to him and he nodded in agreement.

“Alright men, our job here is done. Say goodbye to Maris.”

Cadus, Mako and Sephren lined up to give me some advice and to say their goodbyes. I held a stiff upper lip so as to not cry in front of them. A princess should always remain phlegmatic in times of sadness. That’s what mom used to tell me. After sharing our sorrowful goodbyes, the men filed back into the SUV and drove off into the night.

I let out a long sigh and walked up the dirt path to my new home. Once I opened the door, I immediately noticed the well decorated rooms. A living room to my left, the kitchen to my right and a beautifully crafted stair case in front of me. I entered the kitchen and there on the table were the objects that Lyran told me would be there. I picked up the cell phone and car keys and put them in my pocket. Next to the keys sat a card with a name and phone number on it.

“Hmm Bill Compton…how do you know my father?” I asked no one in particular. It really wasn’t until now that I realized I am on my own and I have no idea when I will be able to return home. Besides this Bill guy, I don’t know anybody. In the morning, I suppose I will check out Merlotte’s. I walked over to the wall and turned the lights off, then went back to the foyer and turned off the main lights. I made my way up the stairs to find my room, not before stopping on the tenth step to look at the pictures on the wall. One caught my eye almost instantly. It was mom and dad with me as a little baby. Mom looked so happy and healthy. Her piercing green eyes always caught the attention of everybody who looked at her. I inherited her shiny brown hair and cheek dimples. I looked at another photo of my mom and myself when I was four years old. We had swam to the shore of Ft. Lauderdale, FL for a family vacation and this picture was taken at a park not too far from the beach.

Times were so much simpler back then. We didn’t have to worry about being threatened from
outside sources. Just live in our own happy kingdom and rule our people. I reached the top of the stairs and started opening every door I could find. There were some closets and a bathroom and a guest room. At the end of the hall I assumed was my room. I pushed open the door and just saw a normal master bedroom. There was a walk in closet and a master bathroom. Like Lyran said, there were clothes and shoes for me. A vanity sat in the corner of the room with different perfumes and makeup. Yup my dad knew the way to my heart. I kicked off my sandals pulled my shirt off and unbuttoned my jeans (not before taking the phone and keys out of my pants), sliding them down my legs and tossing them into a basket. I turned to the armoire and opened a drawer pulling out a simple silk nightgown. Once dressed, I climbed into the king sized bed and buried myself in the thin sheets drifting off into another dreamless slumber.
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Alright everyone, the first chapter took me a few days to write so I hope it's worth it. Let me know what y'all think. I love hearing comments and that fuels my lazy butt to write. I know it's early in the fanfic but I would still like to know everyone's thoughts. Have a good night! :)