Chapter 4 - Stories of the Past

--Ines POV--

"This is delicious, I've never eaten a dish like this before!" I exclaimed, taking another bite of the meal as he sat on the opposite side of the table as me, his own dish in front of him.

"It's called Paella, it's from my home country." He explained with a light chuckle.

"I thought this was your home?" I asked, cocking my head to the side, confused.

"It is. I work here so it's easier to live here, but I'm from Spain, it's where my family and all my other relatives are. If I wasn't as busy as I am then I'd be back in Spain right now."

"Spain?" I echoed.

"Yeah, my home country. Alicante, to be specific." He stated as I hummed, going to take another bite of my food which he had so nicely ordered for us to eat.

When I was doing my studying of humans, I learnt as much of everything as I could, and Geography was amongst them. When I was a free mermaid, I only remember everything about the Ocean's and how far I should stay away from the shore to avoid getting caught by humans, but the name of the land was unknown until recently.

"Do you... miss your home?" I cautiously asked.

"Of course, my family is there, and my childhood home."

"Then, why are you here?" I couldn't understand, were all humans so complicated? If he had a home that he loved and cherished, then why was he here?

"Because of work. We humans need to make money to live, right? Why? What about you?" He raised a confused brow as he picked his head up to look at me.

"Me?" The sudden attention on me was unnerving, other than the people who already knew my secret, I've never properly conversed with others so I didn't know what I could or couldn't reveal about myself without accidentally letting him find out about me.

"Yeah, you. I'm here for work but I visit family when I can, what about you? Are you not close enough to your family to visit them?" He curiously asked, and I thought over my next words very carefully, but it wasn't a hard question to answer.

"...No, it's not like that. I'm closer to them more than anyone else in the world, they're my family after all. And I love, and miss them all, more than you could know." A sadness enveloped my heart at the thought of all of them as I played around with the half-eaten food on my plate.

"I know." He whispered, and looking up at him, I caught a knowing look on his face.

"You do?" He nodded.

"I got into acting because of my mother... I had my first role when I was 15, I played her teenage son in a dystopian movie that sacrificed himself in the end; And that was the beginning. I didn't expect to get as famous as I did, but my career took off and I was told to take advantage of it, so I did. Not long after I grew famous, my mother retired, and once I became an adult, she and my father moved back home to Spain where they've been ever since."

"And you don't get to see them as much?" I guessed correctly as he nodded once more.

"I love my family as much as the next person, but I love acting too. And if I were to go home to Spain then I wouldn't be able to act as much as I can now, living in LA gives me a different freedom than being home with my big family."

I'd been ignorant this whole time; My freedom wasn't the embodiment of freedom, it was my version of freedom, but I realise now, thanks to this man, that freedom comes in all different forms for everyone. My freedom could be a cage for someone else just as someone else's freedom could be a cage for me, it was so simple yet I had just realised it now. This man had his own version of freedom that he was living right now, and I didn't let it show, but it made me jealous as I couldn't help but wonder if my freedom will ever be able to find me again. And that scared me. So much.

"You have a big family?" I asked, snapping myself out of my pessimistic thoughts.

"Yes... I'm privileged, my parents are rich, my dad being a successful businessman and my mother a renowned actress, but family is important to them so I grew up in a large house with extended family from my father's side. My aunties, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, although they passed away a while ago, when I was still young." He explained as I hummed.

"And you? Do you have a big family?" He asked, a warm smile on his face.

His questions caught me off-guard; Since coming to this land, no one has cared for my story without any ulterior motives, but he looks to be genuinely interested. And that made me happy. I couldn't help the grin that crawled onto my face as I spoke about them to him, somehow knowing that he was listening for his own sake without judging me.

"Yeah, compared to other humans, I do. I've got five sisters, and three older brothers, I'm the youngest in my family and my mother past away not long after I was born so I don't really remember her, but I still have my father who I'm quite close to; He's a big man that's always serious and grumpy, nothing like my sisters who can never sit still, not that I'm one to talk. Two of my big brothers are twins, they're always joking around and playing pranks on people, and my oldest brother is just like our father, he's so grumpy..." I slowed myself down as I spoke, the happiness in my chest slowly fading away as I came to a realisation.

I wonder, will I ever be able to see them again?

"What's wrong?" Alaric asked.

"Nothing, I might be speaking too much," I half-lied.

"You don't need to worry about that,"

"Why not?"

"Because family is important, we who've been blessed with a good family should cherish them. But being away from them makes us lonely, and at these times, speaking about them will help to cheer you up. So, tell me about them as much as you want. I'll listen."

I almost teared up at his words, but I played it off with a smile. How did he know to say exactly what I didn't know I needed to hear? He's speaking with words in a way I've never heard anyone do so before, not even my family whom I've been with since birth. Once again, a new realisation dawned on me about how certain things can be shared with words, something I never even thought of before.

"Can I, really?" He looked at me, not needing to say anything as his eyes answered the question, narrowing, almost glowing, as he smiled.

And so, I wasn't aware of how long we sat there on his island with me simply speaking about my family. From every sibling to every story, he listened, laughing and giving his comments; We conversed in a way that I didn't think was possible. And I had thought I'd mastered the art of speaking; How wrong I'd been... But it was fun, and before I knew it, my eyes started drooping as sleep whispered in my ears.

"Come on, it's getting late, we should go to sleep before the sun comes up. I've got work later too..." He stood up, walking around the island as he helped me off my seat, grabbing my hand as he led me through the house, walking up the steps and down another corridor before entering a room, nothing too grand, but not simple either.

"You can sleep here; I'll give you some of my clothes to change into so you can sleep comfortably. But while I get them, you should wash up," He pointed out to the bathroom.

"But, shouldn't I leave? Won't I be a burden?"

"I thought we already had this conversation?" He looked down at me, a hand on his waist as my face lit up with an embarrassed blush which I quickly fanned away,

"Because you said you had work."

"I've only got a photoshoot for a magazine in the morning, but then I'm free for the rest of the day to go over my scripts, so you don't have to worry about being lonely for too long."

"But I'm a stranger..."

"Even after all the family stories we've shared. I will have you know that I'm not a man that tells just anyone about his beloved family." He crossed his arms, seeming to be offended.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, but... What I mean is..." He chuckled, raising a hand as he ruffled my hair, telling me that the offence I thought I'd just seen on his face was nothing more than an act.

"We're not strangers, Ines."

"No?"

"I'll be hurt if you think we're strangers." He jokingly glared.

"Not strangers. But then, what are we?" I curiously asked, cocking my head to the side as he took a moment to think about it along with me.

"Friends?" He suggested, a word that was foreign in my dictionary. "You don't want to be my friend?" He added on.

"No, no. I'm just... Happy." I smiled, relaxing as I looked at him. Surprise flashed across his face before quickly being replaced by that same smile that made my heart flutter in warmth as he nodded his head in agreement.

"Me too... Now, go wash up."

And another half an hour later, I was tucked into the large bed in his guest room, the darkness of the room leaving my heart beating in an unsettled rhythm, and despite how tired I was, the nightmares that I knew were waiting for me kept me awake.

Usually, I slept in a room brighter than this, but the darkness that came every night was the same. I'd often look out the window at the Moon, which was the only thing that remained the same, but this room didn't have a window. And with every tick of the clock that signified another second passing by, I grew increasingly agitated.

Until eventually, I gave up.

Crawling out of the bed, I left the room, the cold, smooth ground hitting against my feet as I quietly strolled along the corridor, down the steps and into the open space of the living area, heading over to the floor-to-ceiling windows where I sat on the ground, picking my legs up against my chest as I simply stared at all the skyscrapers, finally being able to calm down.

Malachi lived in a grand mansion, and while it was nice, the view there had nothing on this. Even in the middle of the night, the world was wide awake, which comforted me in knowing I wasn't alone with my insomnia.

I wonder what that man must be doing right now. He's sure to be angry when I next see him, but I couldn't seem to bring myself to care, I just wanted to cherish these moments of peace that I've been graced with.

I breathed in the sweet scent of Alaric's clothes which embraced me, snuggling into the large material of his hoodie, a small smile on my face as I looked up at the Moon.

"You, at the very least, can't leave me, my dear Moon... If papa is looking at you just as I am right now, then tell him that I'm all right; I've found my smile again today. And a friend to go with it." I spoke to the Moon as I did every night, showing him my smile as proof.

"What are you doing?" A tired voice called from behind me, causing me to jump as I turned to see Alaric approaching me in nothing but his sweatpants, hands rubbing at his tired eyes.

"Did I wake you?" I asked, guilty.

"Yes, but it's alright." Yawning, he slouched down on the ground beside me, leaning back on his hands as he too looked up at the moon which I'd been talking to a moment ago.

"You were talking to the Moon?" He asked, his presence bringing a newfound comfort to me.

"Yes, I'm scared of the darkness, or rather, scared of being alone in the dark, but ever since papa told me about Selene, the Moon Goddess, I started telling her of my worries, and it makes me feel better..." With Alaric, I didn't notice until it was too late, but I found myself speaking the truth to him, and he took my answers with a smile which brought me comfort.

"So, that's who Selene is..." He mumbled.

"Pardon?" I spoke, confused with ruffled brows.

"Before, when you were describing my eyes, you said Selene. I had no idea who she was, but I didn't say anything until now. She's the Moon Goddess, it makes sense." He nodded, the smile unmoving from his lips as I hummed, trying to think back on exactly what it was that I even said about his eyes, but I couldn't seem to remember. I spoke without thinking, something I don't usually do, and now I don't even remember what it was that I said.

"When did you start speaking to the Moon?" He asked.

"When I was a child. So long ago that I don't clearly remember, but it's a habit that I can't change, and I don't think I want to."

"You shouldn't. It's nice to have someone to listen to your worries; Maybe I should start speaking to the Moon too? I doubt Selene would hear me though." He said it as a joke, laughing dryly as he did, but there was a hint of a truth in his words, ones I didn't know how to reply to.

"No matter where we are on the Earth, the Moon remains the same, and every night, papa and I would look at its beauty together, so even though we can't see each other right now, I can speak to him through the Moon... It doesn't matter if Selene can hear me or not, but she's there, and her presence is enough for both of us." Looking away from the Moon, I smiled at him as he stared at me, an unknown look on his face.

"You're an odd woman, Ines." He chuckled.

"... I'm sorry," I whispered in a deflated tone.

"Don't be sorry, I didn't mean it in a rude way... It's nice, I've never met a woman like you before. You're pretty, and gentle, but there's a strength to you as well, it makes me respect you." Blushing at the sudden compliments, I placed my hands on my cheeks, trying to cool myself from the sudden onslaught of compliments.

"I was raised to be strong, it's just the way I am. My papa's an intimidating and powerful man, he doesn't smile much, in fact, he's always got a frown on his face, but he's a kind man, and everyone loves and respects him, me included. Even though he was always so gruff, when with family, I caught splinters of smiles on his face; He was always working, but he relaxed around his family, and I loved that..."

"He sounds like an interesting man." Alaric hummed.

"Yeah, I guess he is. He's always treated me with a gentle kindness, in the ways that he acted towards me and how he even called my name. He called me his gift, saying that I'm the last and most precious gift that mama left for him before she died." I smiled at the memories, happy that I was able to share them with someone.

"You must miss him, I understand... I miss my family too, and with how busy I am, even calling them is difficult to do," He explained.

"I'm sorry if I'm causing you any trouble... You've been so kind to me but I can't seem to do anything to help you in the way that you're helping me," I sighed, slouching forward until he surprised me, shuffling closer as he grabbed my head, gently placing it on his shoulder, the action catching me by surprise as I gulped, unknowingly holding my breath.

"What are you-"

"-You look tired." He explained

"Yes, but so are you. And, you've given me a bed to sleep on so why would I use your shoulder?"

"Apparently, the last thing you think of as you drift off to sleep is what you end up dreaming of. So, don't worry about the dark or the nightmares that made sleeping so scary for you. Just tell me about your father, and the family you love until you forget that you're even speaking and realise that it's a dream." He spoke casually, one arm perched up on the ground as he held himself up, and the other wrapped around my shoulder to keep me from falling back.

But after hearing his words, the nightmares didn't seem so scary anymore. If anything, I found myself looking forward to falling asleep in hopes of dreaming of my family who I missed so much.

And that's just what I did. Forgetting about the time, we simply sat on the floor in front of the windows as I told him about my family, my dreams, and everything there was to know about me as a person, and he listened to everything I said without a single complaint. And before I knew it, I had fallen asleep, and for the first time in years, it felt as though sleep was embracing me rather than strangling me.

I dreamt of my freedom that night, of my life before the curse; I saw everything that I wanted, and everything that I lived for. I swam through the oceans with my tail that I loved, surrounded myself with all sorts of sea creatures, laughed with my sisters as we decorated each other's hair with pearls, and played pranks on my brothers, a grin on our face. And I sat beside my father as we looked up at the moon together.

I had almost forgotten what I'd been living for, but my dreams reminded me. And it was all thanks to Alaric.

...