Prologue

There is a fairytale about a little mermaid. You may have heard it, a tale about a young mermaid who fell in love with a man. Enraptured by infatuation, this young mermaid ignored all warnings and traded her life to be a human in order to be with that man. There was a cost to this, if the man did not love her in return, she would die and that's what happened to her. Her lover fell in love with someone else. Her soul, not only taken by the deal she made with the sea witch was also taken by her lover.

This fairytale was not a tale told to soothe merchildren. This tale was a cautionary tale to those who yearned and ached to venture in the surface world and live amongst humans. And this tale worked. For centuries, since beginning of time there was no mermaid or merman foolish to leave the sea.

Until now.

The world is changing.

By primitive instincts, they were brought together. Out of the seven seas, out of millions of miles and millions of mermaids, he found her. It was innate in the mermen, imbedded in their codes to know their soulmate and find them when the time came. The average merman is consumed with this desire from the ages of seventeen to twenty one. Kylo wasn't like the other mermen for he was searching for her at the age twenty eight. Before reaching this age, he figured he had no soulmate since he never experienced such emotions.

Now those feelings were here and they were consuming him - driving him mad with the desire to find her.

He does not know her - does not know her name. He doesn't even know how she looked like but his body knows where to find her. It's something within him that's beyond him. He had been swimming for weeks nonstop. He doesn't know where he's going or where she is but his body knows the way. This situation was quite common. Fifty percent of the times, the soulmates would grow up together from birth and realize they were meant to be when they came of age. The other percentage, the mermen would be struck with a random feeling of wanting and will follow their instincts until it was gone. To ignore your instincts was painful because the feeling takes over and changes your whole chemical balance and drives you mad with lust.

His hormones were never this severe, even when he came of age.

Kylo doesn't know sector or sea he was in - everything's starting to blend and look the same. He hadn't even eaten or slept in days. He doesn't even realize this for his body doesn't cry out for it. For his lover, she was finally there.

She was here somewhere amongst the oceans and sectors.

For many years he, along with his parents were worried that he didn't have a soulmate. There was a fine percentage of merpeople that died alone. His parents didn't want his son to have the fate and took him to the best healers of the sea to attempt to heal him.

His lover was finally here.

When he does find her, it's several days later and in an old sunken ship.

He stared at the ship for a long time before entering. He does this to settle his nerves for he does not want to alarm her and also he wanted to let himself think after weeks of being controlled by his programming. It's a giant old ship that looks like more of a cave than anything. It's all decayed, covered in algae and pollution. Kylo blinked several times. No, his lover couldn't be there, he thought. Maybe she's somewhere further - but the feeling had stopped.

She's here.

No - she couldn't be. Who would be sane enough to be in an abandoned ship?

Kylo tried to swim farther but something pulled him back.

His body.

His heart pulled at him.

She's here. She's here.

He touches the gills on his neck to feel the vibrations. She's here.

Before he does anything, he takes off his bag and hides it underneath the thick seaweed. He exhaled and follows the feeling once more. He goes in slowly into the ship and to his surprise she's there. She's alone, rummaging through for items. She doesn't sense his presence for she was focused on searching. His eyes flickered. His lover, she was finally here. A small smile developed on his face for he couldn't help but be in awe.

She was a pretty thing, slender and thin with a dewy complexion. She had big hazel brown eyes and full pastel coral lips. She had long flowing brown hair that hit at her waist. Her breasts were covered and concealed by a taupe covered band and over that was a light sand colored sash. Her tail was beautiful - top part was darker shade of taupe that gradually ombred to gold. At her fin was the darker shade of gold - almost bronze. Scattered about her tail, palms, cheeks, and shoulders were shimmery gold and rose technicolor scales. Beautiful. She was simply beautiful.

She notices him then. She turns defensively, her hands hugging her bag of items close to her chest. "Can I help you?" she asks then. Her eyebrows furrowed. She wondered how long he was there and how long he had been staring. She sees the smile on his face, she feels scared but she doesn't show it. Instead she shows anger.

"Don't be afraid," the merman murmured. Slowly he moved closer to her, shortening the distance from one another.

Her skin tightened. His voice is deep. "I'm listening," she raised her voice to make herself seem bigger. She's not scared. She's just being safe.

"I'm not trying to rob you if that's what you're thinking," he said gently.

"I wasn't thinking that. I was thinking of something more vile," she snapped. "Besides I can handle a robber. What do you want if you're not trying to rob me?" She tries not stare but she does. She had been around mermen before but she couldn't help but to be transfixed on him. He was pale, with a fair complexion and dark brown eyes. His features were long and sharp all about from his chin to nose. He had dark ebony hair that framed his face, making his face look even longer. The only thing that softened the sharpness was his mustache and goatee. His chest was bare like most mermen but she couldn't help but drawn to his flesh. He was muscular, everything was defined and prominent from his jawline to his collarbone. He was much taller than her and wider - at least two of her waist size combined. There were deep scars embedded in his torso and tail. Bits of his fin was missing. She wondered how he got them. At the hips his tail was a dusty light charcoal grey that ombred down to a blue grey and then to charcoal. Different shades of blue were scattered on his shoulder blades, palms, and sides of his waist. His scales all about were jagged and dull, less fine than hers. He's older than her, more experienced. He's lived longer, seen things that she's never seen.

He remained calm for he was in front of his lover. "Don't be afraid with what I'm about to tell you," he said in a soft tone, trying to make himself as small as possible. There's fear in her eyes. She's young, he notes. Younger than him but not that much young. He's older than her by no more than ten or eleven years. "My name is Kylo and I'm here because you're my soulmate. I've swam hundreds of miles to find you." He went closer to her until there was nothing but her bag that was clung to her chest as the distance between them.

Rey's heart skipped a beat as she watched his dark brown eyes darken. Kylo...Kylo, the name didn't settle well with her at all. She backed herself to the wall of the ship. She knows damn well of that look - seen it on many mermen as they looked upon their mates before claiming them. "I'm not going anywhere with you!" she shouted. "I'm not your soulmate! I'm not your anything!"

Black eyes locked on to her, onto his prey. It was common for mermaids to be reluctant, almost ritual. He can feel her heart racing, her breathing becoming uneven. She's afraid, angry. Her eyes were flickering. She was attempting to look away but she can't, her body is refusing to do so. "It's okay," he whispered, moving his hand to her. "I feel it too."

She tries to swat his hand away but his hand is already on her cheek. "Get your hands off of me," she said through gritted teeth.

He doesn't. His hand on her felt right. "I know that you're terrified and confused but it's okay. I won't hurt you at all. I promise. Just -

"Just what?! Be with you?" she rolled her eyes and sneered. "I don't want to be with you." She shakes his hand off of her cheek. He places her hand on hers out of spite. "I swear to Water God if you don't get your hands off of me I'll hurt you." It isn't a threat, it's the truth. Fire was building inside of her. He's not listening and she's not interested.

His eyes lowered and focused onto her bag. There was nothing but scraps and items of the human world. She was poor, he put two and two together. She searching for items for survival. "I can take care of you," he pleads. A good percentage of mermen (not all) would force themselves until their soulmate agreed to bond but he's not going to be one of them. As much as his body was aching to, he doesn't care because he wants her to be with him willingly. "I promise I won't hurt you - that I won't do anything that you don't want." He moves his hand away from her then. He gives her a small smile.

"Then get away from me and never come back."

Kylo bit his lip. Stubborn thing. He doesn't understand why she doesn't try to understand. "What is your name?" he asks then, ignoring her comment.

"That's none of your business."

He bit his lip harder from screaming. Why did his lover have to be so stubborn and quick tempered? "I'm Kylo -

"I know you said that earlier and I'm not going to tell you," she stuck out her tongue then.

"I swam for weeks looking for you -

"Did I ask you to do so?"

"And I didn't ask my lover to be so spiteful either so I guess we're both unhappy," he spat out.

"Then choose another lover."

"You know that's not how it works."

She rolled her eyes at him.

He exhaled and sank his nails into his palms. "Just give chance, please."

Silence.

He took a deep breath. "Please just let me know your name."

Rey leaned her back closer to the ship and shook her head defiantly.

"Fine!" he shouted. "I'm going to stay here and not going to let you leave until you give me your name."

"Fine it's Kat."

He could see right through her lie - can feel it. His body wasn't responding well to the name and so he knows that it isn't. "That's not your name."

"How would you know? You don't know me?"

"Because I can feel you. We're connected. I mean it, I'm not leaving until you give out your true name."

Rey's eyebrows furrowed. She tried to push him but he was strong. She pushed him again but he didn't budge. Instead he placed his hands to the wall of the ship, creating a barrier. "Fine! My name is Liz! Julie! Abbie! Cameron! Taylor! Avery!" she spat out names out of spite and cheekiness.

Kylo snickered. "You have to try harder."

She reached for a loose piece of wood from the ship and quietly broke it off. He doesn't notice at all, he's too enwrapped in her. She sighed and swallowed hard. She leans in closer to him, graciously bats her eyelashes to cause a commotion within him. "Okay my name is "- she swung the beam and struck him. Right in the face. No mercy. No hesitation.

He backed out and screamed in pain.

She doesn't waste any time and immediately she flees away.

Kylo punched a hole in the ship then. His blood was boiling as a scar on his face was forming.

And so the courtship begins.

He decides to find her the next day. He does this so he's able to settle down and relax and eat while letting her cool down. Small as she may be, she did a number on him. The scar was stretched across his face and it stung like a stingray. He runs his fingers through his hair and wonders how he'll be able to woo the reluctant girl. He's not worried that he won't it's just that he's frustrated because he knows it's going to take a while.

There was no use for her to run away for he knows where she is. The bond he has with her is powerful, he can sense where she is at every second. The only thing is that he has to get her willingly first in order for them bond. Once they do, things will be much easier. Their bodies will be in sync and she'll want to be with him then.

Until then, he has to strategize. He has to charm her.

He's in an inn, working away with the items he had bought and the ones he had brought from home. He doesn't care how long it takes, he will make her his. This was the fun part, the sport of courtship.

When morning comes, Rey finds a small package in front of her home. (If you can call it a home. She lived in an abandoned builder's home). She's tempted to investigate it but first she looks around. There is no one. Her eyebrows knitted in confusion. Was this package for...her? Or maybe it was a trap from that merman she had encountered yesterday - but it looked harmless. It was a small package wrapped in white cloth and blue tulle. She dipped herself and picked the package up. It has some weight to it - this caught her interest.

Whenever she wasn't building things, she would search for scraps for extra money and materials for building. This was a part of her, to always be curious with things.

She decided to take it in with her inside. She proceeded with caution, unraveling the ribbon inch by inch. Slowly she unrolled the fabric - she paused and stared in awe at the items before her. For what was lying on the fabric were pastel colored shells, precious crystals, and intricate ornaments for her hair. One by one she picked each item and studied them, the shells and crystals were all individually scrubbed clean she could tell for they had a sheen that was not natural. She had never seen so much beautiful things before in her life.

Tempted as she may be, Rey knew she couldn't accept them.

These were courtship gifts.

If she accepted them, he will get the wrong idea and continue to pursue her.

Rey sighed and wrapped the items back to the way she had found it. She had to return to the gift. She gets ready first and then grabbed her bag. She placed the package into her bag and heads off to search for the merman. Much to her dismay, she's starting to sense him. Every time she was near close to him he would go further away. It would be one thing if she saw him in the flesh before he swam away but she didn't. She was chasing after someone she couldn't see. Every time she was getting close, he distanced himself.

He was either trying to make her keep the items or he was doing this as payback for yesterday. Or perhaps he was toying with her -

The very idea frustrated her and so by night time she decides to trade in the items for food and money.

"How much do you want to trade?" the trader asked. The trader was an elderly merman with long white flowing hair and a beard. His tail was deep maroon and he wore a neutral tunic.

"All of it," she says without a second thought.

"All of this? Are you sure miss?"

Rey nodded. "Yes. I don't have much use for them."

The trader gave her a cheeky look for a second before expecting the items. He held one of the hair ornaments up to get a better look. "Funny I swore I sold this yesterday to a merman."

Her cheeks suddenly went hot. "Must be a coincidence," she said casually. She shifted her weight slightly and focused on the waves bending above her.

"He didn't say why he was buying this but it was obvious that he's getting them as courtship gifts. She must be a special mermaid."

Rey shrugged.

"Child why are you giving away these items?" the trader asked then.

"I don't want to be pursued," she frowned. The idea scared her to death that someone could take over her and take her away.

"You say it as if it's a bad thing. It's a part of life. It's only natural. Not everyone gets to have someone in their lives."

"I just want the items gone."

That was the least of her problems. Because the next morning she found another package. She knew she should have just stormed off and have them traded but her curiosity got the best of her again. This time he had given her jeweled combs, a pearl necklace, and a book about castles all around the seven seas. She lets herself marvel at the items and look through the book page by page before searching for him. But just like yesterday, he refused to be found.

This cycle continued on for the next two weeks.

It became routine for her. She could care less except a part of her does. She doesn't understand why he keeps doing this - leaving items by her door and refusing her to find him. It became to a point she had enough money to last her months without working. Rey couldn't help but to wonder his status. She wondered if he was wealthy or just a fool wasting about for her affections. All the traders and merchants in her area began to recognize her and referred to her as the reluctant mermaid being pursued.

She decides to be smart this time. She stays up waiting for him. She catches him leaving another package in the middle of the night. "Why do keep doing this?" she asks. Her eyes wandered off to the scar slashed across his face. She made that scar - guilt bubbled within her. She pushes the feeling aside and crossed her arms defensively.

"You already know," he said without an expression. He placed the item on the sand and lifted himself to be at her level. His fins were following amongst the current, he's pleased. He's pleased to see her, to be in her presence.

Rey bit her lip. "If you want me, then why don't you want to see me when I look for you?"

"I'm here now aren't I?" he said in a condescending tone.

She rolled her eyes. "This doesn't count. You didn't want to be caught."

"Or do I?" he combatted. There is a smirk developing on his face as his eyes were darkening to pitch black. He wants her, she knows. He wants her so much it was darkening his soul. " I told you that I won't hurt you."

Rey flinched. She couldn't help but to find that stupid smirk of his endearing. "I want to be left alone," she stated again but her voice was uneven. His stare was overpowering, burning at her.

He nodded. "Alright," he said calmly, mockingly bowing to her. "Sleep well, my lover."

She waits for morning to come before looking for him to return the package. This time she's going to find him.

She goes through the market area, allowing her body to lead her.

From a distance she sees him buying food. He's in a relaxed state, handing the coins for kelp wraps and sea vegetables.

Rey feels like calling his name but she doesn't. Instead she swims to him, dodging and moving against the crowd of merpeople.

He senses her getting closer to him. He gave her a smirk and swims away. She huffed but she follows. He swims faster and so does she. He's making her chase him! The nerve of that merman! "You son of a - " she held her tongue. "I just want to give you your items back!" she shouted. They were in open area now, away from civilization.

"You have to catch me first," he yelled back, passing a school of colorful fish.

"I don't want to chase after you!" she screamed.

He laughs. "Then think of it as race then."

And a race it was.

They swam past the jellyfish - past the schools of tropical fish - past where the sunlight hits the waters - past uncharted territories.

He spots a cave in front of him and just like that, a wicked thought came to his mind. He swims inside the cave and so does she. What a foolish move for her to do for he pulls her by the waist and pulls her deeper into the empty cave.

It's dark, leaving her defenseless. She can't see - can't gather an idea like this. He feels her twisting about, her fists hitting and banging his chest for release. She screams, flails. "Your lover, he is clever," he whispers in the darkness. This was part of bonding - to describe each other to one another as they physically familiarize with another.

"I don't want to bond with you!" she flails her arms harder.

"You know fighting this is useless." By instinct they were brought together, by programming they were embedded. It pained him to stay away from her for the past weeks but he knew it was the only way for her to warm up to him.

He pulls her closer, grips her by her waist and searches for her mouth. She shakes her head but with each shake, it became slower until she stopped. His facial hair poked at her, tickled her almost. His mouth was scorching against her skin and yet soft. He kisses her all over haste until he finds her mouth. He locked his lips with hers and swallows every breath of hers. He can hear bubbles escaping from the small crevices between their lips. She tries to stay motionless to his advances but gradually her body gave in and kissed him back bit by bit. He senses her body becoming at ease - he lets go of one arm and stroked her cheek, calming her. Her lips parted open, allowing him to let his tongue roam as much as he pleased. He can tell that this was the first time she had let anyone touch her - the revelation causes his soul to darken. With his free hand he explores her, running along every curve. He finds her breasts and cups one of them. He massages her breast, kneading the developing heat to become pleasurable. He can feel her nipple harden from the touch of his calloused skin. He dipped his head and searches for her throat. He creates a suction trail on her flesh, helping him find his way in the dark. He finds her throat and sucks on it until a bruise was fully developed onto her skin. He parts from the section and onto another area of her throat and creates another bruise as his hand ran along her covered breasts. Her breasts are small and he's bigger than her that he's able to massage them with just one hand.

Moans escape from her. She tries to stay quiet but he's becoming rougher with her, teasing her. She's so sensitive, withering beneath his touch. "Your lover, he is cunning," he murmured as sucked onto the sensitive part of her shoulders. Slender fingers latch on to his hair. Kylo let out a growl from the small sign of affection. He buries himself in between her breasts, letting the scales on his cheeks scratch onto her.

"Your lover...she is curious," her voice was faint, flushed and timid.

He embraces her and kisses her breasts tenderly. "My lover she is shy and timid," he murmured. He can feel her shake her head to the statement. A smile crept along his face. He moves to lick her cheeks - they are flaming hot. "My lover, she is guarded. She is strong." He placed his head against the curve of her shoulder. "My lover is stubborn. My lover, she is fire amongst the serenity. My lover, she is mine."

And by fondness, they bonded.

Fingers stroked through his hair, in soft waves. He breathes heavily onto her - she rests her cheek on the top of his head. "Your lover, she is loyal."

"What is your name?" he asks, almost pleads.

"Rey. My name is Rey." She strokes her jaw.

He blinked and smiled but she could not see. "I've been asking around for your name but no one is willing to tell me."

Rey let out a tiny laugh. "That's because no one knows my name."

"No one?" he raised his eyebrow.

"No," she whispered so sweetly it melted onto his skin. She rather be a no one than to ever get hurt like that again. "I make it that way - the only people that know my name are the ones that left me."

"Who left you?" there's possessiveness in him. But she was growing fond of it.

"My parents," she says quietly. "Years ago. I was only a child."

And that was why she was adamant with giving her name to him. For the only people that knew were the ones that abandoned her. "I'm sorry." He comforts her strokes her long flowing hair. He kisses her forehead and then her mouth once more. This time he paces himself. This time he is slow. "My lover, she is my light. My sun. My lover, I am forever yours."

"My lover, he is strong," she says through an open kiss. She breathes into him, bubbles escaping as they bonded. Their bodies were becoming in sync, becoming comfortable and fond of another. "My lover, I am yours."

"Mine?" he asks for confirmation.

"Yes," she doesn't hesitate.

"I want to complete our bonding - can we?"

Her heart skipped a beat. "Yes," she squeezes her hand.

"I be more than gentle," he kisses her cheek. "Would you want it to be done here or in the light?"

"Here," she says without a second thought. She was still shy and wasn't ready to be consumed by his gaze.

He parts his hand from her and she hears him rummaging through his bag. Rey leaned her body close to the walls of the cave. She's nervous, she knows little to the process since she was shielded from it. In the area she lived, mermaids were repressed and only taught portions of health and mating customs. Rey did whatever possible to keep herself informed but she hadn't gone to this far.

She feels him wrapping something around her waist - she begins to panic.

"Don't be afraid," he murmurs warmly into her ear.

"What's this for?" she asks. She tries to squint and see but it's pitch black.

"These are just fabrics. And I tie the fabric to bring us together. This is just for ritual purposes to symbolize that we will always be linked. It won't hurt you - I won't hurt you. Just trust me."

Rey exhaled and became silent. She feels him tie the fabric to their waists, ties it in a tight knot.

"Try moving," he whispers the words to her mouth.

She does so. She can barely move. She's tied to him.

"Good." He uses his strength to move them around the cave.

Dancing. They were dancing. That's what it was. They were dancing.

"Have you ever danced before?" he asks.

"No."

"There's so much I have to teach you," he chuckles.

"Kylo," she mouths slowly. The name leaves a bitter taste on her tongue.

"Yes?" he interlocked their hands together while his other hand was on her waist.

"Kylo," she repeated.

"Yes?" he asked again, not comprehending.

The name still didn't settle well with her. She didn't understand. Whenever he said her name, he was pleased while she was left numb. "Is that really your name?" she asks then, remembering their first encounter when he asked for her name. She remembered spewing out names, all didn't settle well with him.

He didn't respond.

Rey's heart beat started to race.

He senses distress within her and presses a kiss on her temple. "I think the name you seek is my given name."

"Your birth name?"

"Yes," his tone changed. "The name given to me is Ben."

"Ben," she repeated. The name settled within her smoothly. Ben. His name was Ben. He stopped dancing and grasped her hand. "Why do you dislike your name?" she asks. She can feel that he was in pain. She searches for his face and traced the scar she had given to him.

"I'm from the second kingdom." Sector Two.

Rey raised her eyebrow. "Why would" - she froze. "You're him," she breathed. He was the prince who left his kingdom years ago to live in the human world. "You're the merman who strayed."

He nodded slowly. His mouth was still closed, bubbles slowly escaped his mouth and into the water. "Yes, I am," he finally answered with no remorse in his tone.

"You enjoy being a man." They were out of the cave and were in her home. "You...enjoy...being a...man," she repeated again, attempting to digest the crucial information about her lover.

"And you enjoy being a mermaid," he responded calmly. His fingers lightly pressed along the gills on her neck, comforting her.

"This union will not work," her voice was firm. Strict. If she had known she would have swam away for good.

His face remained unchanged.

She knew now that this was the reason she was uneasy about him. "I love the ocean - the ocean is my home - I can't -"

She stopped herself and discovered they were still embracing each other as if they were still tied to each other. Their fins were wrapping around one another.

They were permanently bonded.

A/n: go to my tumblr: hernamewasalicewriter for the aesthetics pics