Love Beyond Tides

Between the Cracks

Diana succumbed to the embrace of sleep soon after savouring the oceanic feast. The rhythmic sounds of the underwater world and the warmth of the grotto cradled her in a peaceful slumber. Thassasalin, still submerged in the water, rested his arms on the damp grotto floor, a silent sentinel watching over the sleeping human.

"Indeed, humans are curious beings," he whispered to himself, his voice a mere ripple in the underwater stillness.

Indeed, Diana remained an enigma in his eyes. The events of their encounter replayed in his mind – the determined gaze on the stormy sea, the unexpected prowess in manoeuvring through the calamity that befell her ship. Her ability to sense danger had not escaped his notice, a unique trait that set her apart from the ordinary humans he had observed.

Thassasalin had been keeping a vigilant eye on Diana since leaving her on the shore. From a distance, he witnessed her struggle and noted the relentless persistence that fueled her survival instincts.

"Humans," he mused, "driven by an indomitable spirit, perhaps that is why they venture fearlessly upon the seas."

At Diana's lowest point, Thassasalin revealed himself, an enigmatic figure offering her a lifeline in the depths of uncertainty. To his surprise, she didn't immediately jump at the offer but instead approached it with cautious consideration.

In his experience, most humans, desperate for an escape from their dire straits, would eagerly grasp at any offered solution, regardless of the potential repercussions. They often promised repayment in the future, and some dared to attempt to swindle the merfolk they entered deals with. But Diana, in a refreshing departure from the norm. Mindful of the cost it might entail, Diana exhibited a rare trait among humans, a thoughtful weighing of the consequences. Except when he offered to take her to the mer world, she didn't hesitate.

The thought made him chuckle.

This human displayed honesty and openness, even as she concealed certain aspects of her intentions. The layers of complexity in her response rendered her intriguing to Thassasalin, an enigma that piqued his interest.

"Pray, what captivating performance do you intend to unveil?" he asked her slumbering form.

His focus lingered on the girl, her breaths soft and steady. It struck him that he needed to procure a pearl for her, a key to breathing underwater. Such artefacts were usually reserved for darker purposes, but this time, his intentions were different. He had no need to carry such items as he rarely meddled with humans after luring them to a watery grave, but Diana had shifted the course of his usual dealings.

Thassasalin's keen eyes lingered on Diana's cut and bruised legs. With a subtle whistle and a charming tune, he orchestrated a simple spell, and the purpling skin transformed, leaving behind tanned and unblemished legs. A furrow formed on his brows, acknowledging that she was not fully healed. While he wasn't as talented as the healers, this should suffice, at the very least moving should be less painful.

"Hasten before she rises," he told himself. Thassasalin dived into the ocean to acquire a necessary trinket.

-

Diana's eyes snapped open to the underwater grotto. For a brief moment, she lay there, her gaze fixed on the rocky ceiling. As she turned her attention to the water, she discovered it to be empty, devoid of the enigmatic merman.

A sense of unease crept over her, and she rolled to her feet, calling out tentatively, "Thessa?"

Silence.

Her heart quickened its pace as a familiar unsettling feeling settled within her. Something was amiss. Diana swiftly retrieved her dried clothes from the rocks, dousing the firepit to conceal any evidence of their presence. Ears alert, she scanned the surroundings, and her gaze fell upon a barely noticeable cave in the grotto wall.

With a sense of urgency, she moved towards it. The opening appeared tight, but Diana, confident in her flexibility, knew she could navigate through such spaces. No one would expect a girl of her size to fit in such a squeeze anyway. To her surprise, the inside was more spacious than the entrance, having a more hollow back end.

Aye, Diana, ye've found a grand hidin' nook. Well done!

However, their momentary relief was shattered as they heard the sounds of water, prompting Diana to tense and hold her breath.

"Diana?"

The familiar voice reached her ears, and she wasted no time in calling back, "Thessa!" Waving him over, she slipped out of her hiding place and gestured for him to join her.

The merman, stunned by her manoeuvrability in such a tight space, followed her lead. As they settled in the crevice, Diana hushed Thassasalin with a finger on his lips, using the water's surface to monitor their surroundings. Impatience welled up within him, but her urgent shushing silenced any protest he might have voiced.

The tension escalated when they heard splashing. Making eye contact with Thassasalin, Diana directed their attention to a clear pool. Emerging from the water were the figures of shark merfolk, humanoid in the upper body with distinct aquatic features. Webbed fingers, gills for breathing underwater, and powerful shark tails characterised their lower bodies.

Diana sensed Thassasalin's unease and watched as he tensed. The stormy look in his eyes and the vein at attention in his neck rooted deep-seated discomfort in her. Such a terrifying expression caused her to refrain from probing, focusing instead on the unfolding scene.

Thassalin released a soft hiss, and Diana's eyes followed his gaze. The water level began to rise. Panic flitted across Diana's face as she realised the cave would soon fill, and her sheltered hiding spot became a potential danger. Thassasalin, having returned quickly to address this very issue, felt a twinge of regret.

Attempting to leave, Thassasalin was twice stopped by Diana, her silent insistence compelling him to stay put. Their eyes met, and she shook her head slowly. They both observed the shark merfolk with bated breath as the water level continued to rise, reaching Diana's neck.

Thassasalin's attention wavered, considering an escape, but Diana grabbed his shoulders, her gaze imploring him to remain still. The cave had become their refuge, but the encroaching water threatened to turn it into a watery trap. The confined space and rising water levels spurred a sense of urgency in Thassasalin, but Diana remained composed. She sucked in a breath, right before the water covered her head.

The merman's expression twisted, Diana had never seen such an expression on anyone. Glancing at his awkwardly positioned arm and then at his free hand, he contemplated an attempt to emerge from the cave. However, before he could make a move, Diana responded by pressing against him, her hand on the opposite wall, determined to thwart his emergence.

In an unexpected turn, Thassasalin touched her face, their faces mere inches apart. Sensing her discomfort, Diana tried to jerk back, only to realise that it was now Thassasalin holding her steady. A moment later, their lips touched in a firm press, catching her completely off guard. Her eyes blew wide in surprise.

Thassasalin's grip on her jaw tightened, forcing her mouth open. The intrusion of his tongue elicited a shudder throughout her body as she grappled with the foreign sensation. Before she could truly process the moment, he slipped a round object under her tongue and pulled away. The size of the object changed. Curious, Diana was about to fiddle with the mysterious object but halted abruptly as she saw Thassasalin's eyes darken.

Covertly, she touched her lips. The tingling sensation on her lips persisted, leaving her dazed. That was her first kiss...

Lost in her thoughts, Thassasalin's low voice, unexpectedly close to her ear, disrupted her reverie. "Have you perceived it, perchance?"

Diana flinched. "Perceived wha-?" she cut herself off. She was speaking underwater. A wave of confusion and excitement washed over her, and she turned to Thassa for an explanation.

"As long as you keep the pearl within your mouth, all should be well," he explained casually.

Comprehension dawned on her. Thassasalin watched her flurry of expressions with amusement on his features. Then he looked at the grotto again.

Diana stole a glance at him and touched her lips. Thassasalin covertly gave her a pearl that allowed her to breathe underwater. The revelation left her feeling both grateful and a bit foolish for thinking it was a kiss.