Chapter Two: "A Tale of the Sirens"

Oritel couldn't help but pace around, highly worried, and yet he was very curious about the astonishing news they had received from Ellys and Edward—his former colleague from the university the man hadn't spoken with in about a decade, as Oritel was deeply unsettled with the couple being around Marion and his baby girl Daphne, despite the fact that they were pleasant people.

If they had somehow discovered what his wife and daughter were—surely they wouldn't have a problem about running some kind of diagnostic tests on Marion and Daphne.

And well, Oritel simply couldn't allow his family to be some kind of experimental projects for testing. It could physically harm Marion and Daphne in a painful manner. Or maybe worse, Marion and Daphne would be forever taken away from him—never would he lay his eyes on his darling girls again.

The brunet man had shuddered over such a horrifying thought that could be very well his own nightmare.

Oritel had always promised his wife that he would do everything at all costs to protect his family from harms way, but yet, he had failed spectacularly as his daughter had grown up without her mother.

The endless and painful days he had to endure during Daphne's critical years and not to mention that he had to talk to her about certain things that were most uncomfortable to be even discussing in the first place, well in terms of a father to daughter anyways.

Ellys and Edward had held high fascination about the inhabitants that lived in the depths of the oceans. The two always had unusual theories about what lived beneath the waters. What kind of secrets had laid at the bottom of the ocean?

Although Oritel had felt a spark of excitement surge through his blood as the man closed his eyes, releasing all his stress that had been built on his shoulders—allowing himself to breath the salty air of the ocean.

After all these long painful years, could it even possibly be his long-lost wife Marion?

And if it was truly her. . . then what?

Where had she disappeared off to for all these years?

No. That would be such a stupid question to even bring up.

From the very descriptions that Edward had given the group—it had defiantly fit the representation of what his beloved Marion's dainty features were.

It had even caught Oritel off guard when Edward was informing him about the blond male siren with a heated attitude of hostility towards Edward and his wife Ellys (Oritel couldn't blame the male siren for what he had felt towards the humans for holding them captive). Yup. Given from such a familiar 'attitude' of the male siren, Oritel could easily guess that it was his brother-in-law, Alec.

The man sighed heavily.

Why now of all days?

Why didn't his wife Marion come back to him after that tragic night? Why didn't she search for him? Why hadn't she come back for her daughter Daphne? Had Marion forgotten that she was a mother?

Why had she left him alone in the dark? Why?

Endless questions had filled the man's mind and yet he couldn't find the right answer as to why Marion never returned back to him and Daphne who had deeply yearned for her (if Marion had been truly alive for all these years)?

Tears had formed in Oritel's brown eyes out of pure joyous news—fantastic news in which the man hadn't heard in about sixteen years. He was utterly grateful that he returned back to the city with Daphne.

"Oritel you can't possibly believe that it's actually her or do you?" Erendor implied to his best-friend, as the two had known each other from their childhood years. He studied Oritel's features carefully that was somehow filled with determination and hope.

"I really do believe it's her Erendor with all of my heart. This couldn't be just a mere coincidence you know." Oritel stated with firm belief and for some reason he had a strong feeling in his soul that Marion had somehow managed a way to (magically) lure him back to the city.

The yacht was surprisingly fast as they had sped through the ocean.

"I can't believe we're doing this shit! Going to a secret hideout in the cave and seeing three sirens. It does sound something like what teenagers would do, and a possibility of a full make out sessions too," Radius chuckled amusedly.

Teredor was the one stirring the wheel of the yacht. "You know Oritel, it does remind me of the time when we first found out about you and Marion. Don't you remember?"

Oritel's mind had reeled back to the time when he and Marion had gone out for a romantic lunch and a nice swim in the cave. Marion had been six months pregnant with their darling daughter Daphne.

He could still remember her rosy scent and her red-hair was of sweet strawberries. Her dimples on her well rounded cheeks, as his wife smiled brightly at him, placing her hand protectively over her enlarged belly.

Oritel had helped his wife to undress as the pale yellow dress had slid down her body—revealing to her husband her red-polka dot two piece swim suit before walking in to the waters.

Unbeknown to Oritel and Marion who were swimming in the cave that their so called close friends had arrived.

Luna had been the first person to startle the duo who'd been making out passionately, as Oritel had his arms wrapped around Marion's waist while the redhead woman had her arms wrapped around her husband's neck. Marion had gazed at Oritel with absolute love in her vividly green eyes that sparked all sorts of emotions.

Marion had finally revealed to her close friends about her fishy little secret that had been kept between her and Oritel for all those years since they had been young teens.

It had made the man smile a bit.

"Yes I do and remember how stunned you guys were when you first found out Marion's secret."

Radius punched Oritel in the arm in a playful manner. "Well what would you expect of us to be? Hearing our best-mate married the girl of his dreams who happens to be a siren of the sea. And of course the two of you had darling Daphne. How is she? Has she ever asked you about what happened to her mother?"

Oritel nodded. "All the time. It was a bit frustrating in trying to help her understand at first, but eventually as my daughter grew older, I told her the truth and well Daphne was distraught by the disappearance of her mother like any son or daughter would."

"I'm a bit curious now, was it hard to raise Daphne on your own since she's a girl? How did you get through it?" Erendor asked, glancing at Oritel.

"It was difficult, but I had my mother's help with raising Daphne." Oritel admitted truthfully. His mother Leilani had spent most of her time helping Oritel with Daphne when she had been a two-years-old-toddler.

Thankfully Daphne had been an easy child to take care off, as Oritel had witnessed fussy babies that weren't practically easy to deal with, but of course one must have a long patient while developing a deep bond with the child.

Although there were times where Oritel had felt utterly frustrated and helpless in dealing with Daphne's siren heritage from her dear mother.

Fortunately for Oritel, Marion had personally suppressed some of her daughter's siren abilities in order to keep her precious girl safe from unwanted attention of the public. His daughter hadn't managed to sprout a tail (to Oritel's utter relief) when coming into contact with water, although her deep shade of amber scales had popped up, scattering all over her skin with having webbed hands, pointy webbed ears, along with webbed toes.

Oritel had used (sea) salt water in order to keep his daughter's skin hydrated for the day—though he had to do this every single day (but only once a day) otherwise his daughter might suffer a withdrawal due to lacking salty water moisture on her skin that Daphne required to have.

Oritel felt his heart pounding heavily in his chest.

Another painful memory had resurfaced into his mind—a memory in which he had never told his friends about.

Marion had gazed at herself in front of her vanity mirror, as she applied the black mascara on her eyelashes. The redhead had soon finished the final touches before slipping her into her black dress that Oritel had bought for her a while back.

"Oritel can you help me with my dress?" Marion had winked at her husband mischievously.

Oritel was wore a navy suite that had brought out his tanned complexion, and his short brown hair was brushed neatly.

The brunet man's brown eyes had fallen on the black dress that he bought for his beloved wife. Simply staring at the dress from the back—it had looked magnificent on her—a coy smile appeared on the man's lips as he approached his beloved, placing his finger on the zipper, while Oritel had zipped her up.

Marion's curled red-hair had fallen down to her waist.

"I see you decided to wear the dress I bought for you on Valentine's Day," Oritel smirked, as he draped his arms over his wife's shoulders, tightening his grip on her. He spotted his wife's cheeks turning a bright shade of red as he leaned in closer to her, brushing his soft lips against Marion's exposed slender neck, as the woman let out a small moan.

"Oritel," Marion mumbled faintly, but it made Oritel press his lips against her neck more fiercely. Oritel's brown eyes had shinned with much love and adoration he held for his beloved wife.

The man was utterly grateful to have her as his own and not to mention that they both had a beautiful blond daughter Daphne. Daphne was their bundle of joy and the center of their world. Their darling Daphne was the golden apple in her parents' eyes.

Oritel's fingers had begun to wander off all over his wife's body.

(Marion knew that her husband was craving for more than a simple kiss on the neck).

"Ah as tempting as that is Oritel, we better get going otherwise we'll be back late." Marion told her devious husband who seemed to be pushing for more than a simple kiss from her.

Oritel had rolled his eyes at Marion's comment and he helped Marion put on her jacket.

The couple were going out to celebrate their three years wedding anniversary and not only that, but Marion couldn't help but rub her small belly where a tiny life was growing within her. A tiny baby. She couldn't wait to share the wonderful news with her husband.

The moment Oritel and Marion had stepped out of their bedroom, their two years-old-daughter had spotted her parents who were dressed up to the nines, leaving Daphne with her grandmother Leilani.

"Mama! Dada!" Daphne chirped excitedly, running as much as her little chubby legs could carry her to her parents in her short purple nightdress.

Oritel had his arms wide open for his little girl, as Daphne crashed into her father's loving, warm, strong arms. The man had lifted his daughter up as his nose met Daphne's tiny nose, gently rubbing against her own.

"Dada, where you going?"

Oritel and Marion smiled brightly at their brilliant little girl.

"We'll be back soon sweetheart. I'm taking your mother out to dinner. And be a good girl to grandma, alright?" Oritel brushed his lips against his daughter's forehead. "I love you Dap."

Oritel frowned.

"What is it, love?" Marion asked her husband, upon seeing the concerned expression on his face.

"Her skin, it's a bit dry, right Marion?" Oritel implied.

Marion had placed her hand on her darling daughter's chubby cheeks, as the redheaded woman gave a nod to her husband in confirmation, as Daphne hadn't had a good thirty minutes of a salty bath earlier this day.

The redhead woman's green eyes had flickered with utter worry, as she gazed at her husband. But the moment she was going to tell her husband—

"Daphne? Love where are you?" An older female's voice spoke in search for her beloved granddaughter. "It's time for your bath, you silly girl!"

"Mum, Daphne's with us," Oritel called out to his mother.

Leilani stood on the doorway of the long hall with a soft expression on her.

The brown-haired woman had approached her son and daughter-in-law who were heading out to dinner, leaving their daughter Daphne with her for the night. Leilani was a radiant woman in Oritel's eyes, she still retained her youthfulness and had a few streaks of grays in her brown hair. Oritel had loved his mother to the ends of the world.

"I was just about to give her a thirty minute bath. Don't worry Marion, Daphne'll be fine with me," Leilani reassured her daughter-in-law who appeared to be a bit anxious.

Marion kissed her daughter on the cheeks lovingly.

"We'll be back my sweet Dap. Thank you for coming on such short notice Leilani I appreciate it a lot."

"It's not a problem Marion. After all, I love spending my time with my adorable granddaughter! You know, I wish you two could give me some more grandchildren. You and Marion should get a bit more busy on that," Leilani chuckled.

"MOTHER!" Oritel's face grew hot and a deep shade of scarlet, entirely mortified upon his mother's comment about having more children of their very own. Marion was as red as Oritel in the face.

The burnet man handed his daughter off to her grandmother before departing away. "Are you going to be fine? Me and Marion could wait a bit longer until Dad shows up. I wouldn't like to leave you alone in this house. . ."

Oritel's mother had shook her head as she very well knew her son's tendency that happened to be the same as her husband, Hyperion. They worry about her a lot more than they should be, as Leilani could very much take care of herself. Her boys were overprotective of Leilani.

"You're just like your father, so overprotective, but we'll be fine son. Your father will be here soon. Now why don't you kids go out and have fun for the night!"

The red-haired woman had clung her arm in her husband's as he slowly guided her out of the house, leaving Daphne behind with her grandmother. "We'll be back before you know it! Goodnight my little angel!"

"Bye Mama! Bye Dada!" Daphne waved her small hand at her parents.

The night was clear and beautiful as the full moon was lit in the dark night along with bright slivery stars that painted the night sky. The air was bitter cold as a slight breeze blew, but it hadn't bothered Oritel and Marion who were strolling the deck on such a night after such a lovely dinner.

Although there were other people walking the sandy beaches.

The young siren had never felt so in love with her husband as much as she did now. Oritel had somehow made her feel so crazily in love with him. Marion's world was completely beautiful with him as they took each step of their journey together. Her green eyes were positively lit with utter joy, while gazing into her husband's handsome face as if trying to read her very expression on her face.

"So what's this so called great news you wanted to share with me Marion?" Oritel pressed his lips together, as complete interest had sparked in his brown eyes while pulling Marion closer to him—throwing nasty glares at drunk men who were catcalling his wife.

The brunet man couldn't help but feel as if he were the luckiest man in the entire universe to have Marion as his wife and being the mother of his child. Being with Marion just felt just right and completely perfect. It's as if the world had carved out a path for the two of them to have the split chance of encountering each other when Marion had saved Oritel from drowning into the depths of the ocean?

Was it Destiny?

Or was it Fate?

It didn't matter to Oritel which one was it. All it mattered now is that Marion was with him and he cherished her deeply—with all of his heart and soul.

He could simply bleed out his undying love he held for her. Coming across Marion was the best thing that had ever happened in his life. No. There was something even more better than simply encountering Marion, was the birth of their daughter Daphne who was the perfect blend of both her parents.

Marion couldn't resist the utter temptation of withholding such delightful news that could simply rock Oritel's world up to the moon and back. The woman had tightened her grip on Oritel's hand.

Oritel was simply amazed by how beautiful his wife was especially the way the woman was gazing at him with a large smile plastered on her face, as she sucked in a deep breath before letting it out.

"I'm pregnant Oritel!"

Excitement had rose in Oritel's blood, as those words had flooded into his ears.

Though he had froze solid for a good minute before allowing the news to sink into his mind—before managing to surprise his wife by holding her from her thighs, as the man lifted her into the air, gently twirling her around like some sort of ice-skater, delightedly.

Marion had blushed intensely upon seeing her husband's reaction who screamed the words out about his wife's pregnancy, in which had caused quite a bit of commotion. Other people's heads turned in their very direction having small smiles on their faces as if congratulating the couple.

The redhead siren was completely stunned to see tears of joy in her husband's brown eyes, as the man gently settled her back down on her feet before pulling her into a tight embrace. Oritel's hands were in his wife's vibrant curled red-hair, as the man had kissed her passionately.

Serenity had lingered in the air, surrounding the man and woman.

The redhead woman had sensed hot tears glistened down her pale face—feeling a rush of a variety emotions explode within her chest, as Oritel's lips met hers. Slowly the duo had broke apart from each other, as they breathed in air into their lungs, but their eyes never torn away from one another.

Oritel's brown eyes had traveled down to Marion's flat stomach in which a tiny life (their small baby) was slowly growing within her. They were going to have another child into their lives—a beautiful child in which they'll protect, to love, to dote on just like what they did with Daphne.

"I can't believe we're going to have another baby! I love you so much Marion!"

"I know!" Marion's tiny voice squeaked in happiness. "I'm so happy Oritel!"

Marion placed her hand ontop of her husband's who was gently stroking her belly.

Oritel glanced at his wristwatch—it was getting awfully late.

"I'm pretty sure Daphne's going to excited about being a big sister." Marion mused, as the couple had walked their way back to the car. "Don't you think, love?"

Oritel's teeth gleamed as the man smiled.

"She's defiantly going to be happy about having a new sibling, Marion. Here love." Oritel opened the door of the car as his wife sat inside fastening her seat belt. A warm but tingling feeling had sparked inside her very soul.

It'd been such a romantic night and Marion couldn't have it any other way.

Oritel ignited the engine of the car and they drove off. Marion was softly humming to the music that was playing on the radio as they drove pass the small mountain hills as the woman glanced at the wide open ocean.

The ocean's surface had reflected the moonlight that shinned down upon the water and land, and at that moment, Marion thought of her parents and brother who lived in the vast oceans that were several miles away from where Marion had lived with her husband and daughter.

"What are you think about my love?"

Marion had perked up at her husband's voice. "My parents and brother of course. I was thinking that we should meet them tomorrow and tell them the fantastic news. Oh they'll be so delighted Oritel!"

"I'm sure they would be—"

Oritel had glared into the rear view mirror to see the person purposely flashing their high beams at him for no apparent reason but simply for the heck of it. This person had even refused to switch to the left lane that was empty from other vehicles.

"Oritel is everything alright?"

The brunet man hadn't wanted to allow his wife to get highly distressed of the situation that could not be anything, but just an annoying driver who wanted her or his way on the road. "It's nothing to worry about, love."

The redhead siren hadn't appeared to be convinced by her husband's words. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Oritel had turned on the left blinker in order to switch lanes, but to his annoyance the driver behind him had deliberately switched his lane when Oritel had, following them to whatever location they were going to be at.

The brunet man had noticed that the drive was accelerating—getting inconsiderably closer to his and Marion's vehicle. The male driver was getting on Oritel's nerves, as Oritel had decided to step on the gas, giving a bit more speed. It hadn't lessen Marion's anxiety at all.

"Oritel? This isn't like you to speed like this," Marion placed her hand on her belly as if trying to sooth her worries by protecting her unborn baby.

He couldn't help but wince upon taking a quick glimpse of his wife who seemed to be fearful of the situation.

"Someone's been following us for a while."

Marion had flinched, as her face grew into a panic frenzy. "What? Why? Oritel, what if someone knows about me? It could be the very reason why they're following us?"

"Shit!" Oritel cursed under his breath angrily, as the man's car had pulled up to the right lane and sped up drastically that—

"ORITEL! WATCH OUT!" Marion's green eyes had widened in absolute terror to the point that she had her entire life flash before her eyes. Her hands were shielding her stomach protectively (in a motherly instinct).

SCREECH!

The small-sized silver car had slammed right into their car's front bumper—sending their car askew across the narrow roads down the hazardous hills of the mountain.

"MARION!" Oritel had tried to reach out for his wife, before being welcomed by absolute darkness as their car had crashed into the tallest oak trees. The glass had instantly shattered entirely once it had smashed into the huge tree. Dark blood had splattered everywhere.

Out of Oritel's peripheral vision, he'd seen his beloved wife flying out of the windshield before the man lost his consciousness after being heavily impacted by the pressure of the airbags.

Oritel had awoken up a month later after being in a coma as of the result of the terrible car crash that could've been his near death. The doctors had been highly stunned to know that he hung onto his life (no, more likely had surivied the crash that was suppose to be utterly fatal in his condition).

His parents had been heavily distraught upon knowing what had happened to their only son.

Oritel had a hunch that Marion had somehow managed to brush her fingers tips on him, as her healing abilities (somehow sept through his thin skin) were quite remarkable after demonstrating it to him for the very first time.

The brunet man had relaxed his breathing.

"You know I never told any of you this from before, but on the night of the car accident Marion told me that she was pregnant with my second child. Three months to be precise," Oritel reminisced on his tragic memories.

He could've been a wonderful father to his second child just what he had been with his golden child Daphne, but Marion had simply vanished into thin air and that child was gone along with her.

"She was pregnant? Really? I don't know what to tell you Oritel, but I'm sorry for your loss." Teredor said.

"On second thought, perhaps we shouldn't have given you a beer," Radius said regretfully—feeling guilty for allowing his friend to take a drink while recalling his broken memories.

"After all these years, I don't think you had changed much Oritel. You're still a hung up on Marion so much, frankly you're starting to be a little obsessed with her." Erendor remarked.

"Me? Obsessed with Marion? No. Never." Oritel tossed that thought from his mind.

He couldn't believe what his friends were telling him. Oritel had a perfectly well healthy relationship with his wife. There was nothing wrong with him with loving his woman so dearly to him. Or maybe he was truly being obsessed with his dead wife to the point it was becoming unhealthy?

He loathed the fact that his friends maybe be right about and that he was well wrong. Oritel couldn't admit that to his friends, after all they were trying to help him to get better after such a tragedy.

"Come on mate, we all know that Marion's a siren—and well sirens a have a tendency for luring anyone to them, falling madly in love with them. And you said so yourself, 'it's like I still feel her magical presence pulling me to her' what does that imply?" Teredor tried to rationalize with Oritel so lightly without trying to offend the shattered man.

"Before you say anything else, you could also be on to something too. And if it was truly Marion, then you have to ask her why hadn't she returned back to you in all these years?" Radius patted his friend on the back as they gazed at the crystal blue ocean.

Oritel had immersed into his own thoughts—having a small firey hope that it was Marion.

Bloom had stirred from her deep slumber as her visions became clear to see that they were in a darkened cave, with water dripping down from the stoney ceiling. A small little lamp light was lit in the darkness as the couple were setting up a few things before their friends would arrive.

The young redhead siren turned to see her mother and uncle were wide awake—still appearing as livid as they'd been earlier. Their expressions hadn't changed at all, not in the slightest.

Bloom sensed their firm hands on her shoulders as the young girl was sandwiched between Marion and Alec.

They were still being held captive in the fishing net, as if the two human couple hadn't wanted to take any risk in allowing them out of the net despite the fact it would be difficult for them to reach the shores of the cave.

"Mum!" Bloom's bright blue eyes had widened over hearing her beloved mother curse under her breath at the human couple.

Marion's gaze had shifted onto her daughter who was fully awake. Her green eyes were filled with utter solace and a promise of pure determination in planning to escape their grasp.

Marion spotted the fear twinkling in her daughter's eyes.

"Oh Bloom. It's going to be alright as long as I'm here and your uncle, we're going to be fine."

"But Mum didn't you say if we're dry enough that we would have legs?" the redhead girl asked confusedly—glancing down at her vibrant blue shimmering tail and back at her mother and uncle.

Uncle Alec had let out a sigh in defeat. "Well sweetheart, it seems to me these humans have already known quite a few interesting things about us and our abilities. They damn well made sure we're soaking wet and not to mention this embarrassment of a kiddy pool to keep us wet!"

Alec had observed Ellys and Edward who had stacks of important documents that were spiraled across the table with pictures of sirens taken in all different angles. Even stacks of papers with well written evidence within the articles all about their kind, and their special magical abilities they possessed.

A guilty look crossed the girl's face. "I'm sorry uncle, this is all my fault. If I only listened to Mum earlier and hadn't swam off to the north, we wouldn't be in this mess."

"Bloom listen to you me, you hadn't known this would happen. We'll find a way out of this together," he kissed his niece on her forehead, trying to ease Bloom's worry about the situation. Alec could tell that Bloom was terrified and the young siren tried to not show it.

A loud creaking sound was heard off from the distance, as a small white yacht had trespass into the dimmed rocky like cave making it ways to the docked boat that belonged to Ellys and Edward.

Radius had waved out to Ellys and Edward who spotted their friends walking the shores of the beach.

"Hey Ellys!"

"Hey Edward!"

"Hey guys! You wouldn't believe the discovery Ellys and I'd made today! This will certainly be marked down in history for all times!" Edward jittered in utter excitement.

"Jeez someone can't contain their enthusiasm," the red-haired man joked.

"How could I not? Me and Ellys made a huge discovery of what thought to be in folktale story, but this is the real deal my friend." Edward's bright grey were lit gleefully.

"My love you should be a little more quiet. You don't want to frighten the female sirens," Ellys added in, trying to pipe down her husband's huge ego he had at the moment. "Anyways we'd been tracking those three sirens for a few weeks and well obviously we finally caught them."

Oritel glanced at Erendor with an all knowing look before turning his attention onto Ellys. "For a few weeks?"

"Yes. And they weren't even easy to catch in the first place and the male siren is aggressive so you may want to keep your distance away from him, but the female sirens, they're afraid of us."

The brunet man felt his heart pounding heavily in his chest—as worry had consumed his very being. The man was trembling with nervousness as a single sweat had rolled down his face. It'd been sixteen years. Sixteen long painful years without having his sweet Marion in his life.

And if was truly his wife. . . what was he going to say to her? How was he going to react? Why did she disappear on him and Daphne? Why? Oritel had several questions that needed to be answered.

Oritel and his friends had followed Ellys and Edward who walked further into the cave as if for precautious reasons—not wanting anyone else to secretly follow them and discover their greatest secret.

Teredor gazed at Oritel who was observing every inch of the cave carefully.

"Everything will be fine. You'll get your answers soon enough Oritel." Teredor muttered.

Alec's emerald eyes had fallen on a particular brown-haired man dressed in a red-flower pattern white swim shorts with a yellow tank top, revealing his toned muscle and his tanned complexion. His hair was unruly. Was it even possible? Oritel Sparks had returned back to the city since when?

Oritel's brown eyes had fallen on the two familiar sirens: a woman and a man. Oritel had felt his blood surge through his body like a powerful electrical force that simply struck him like a force of nature unexpectedly for all these long years.

His beloved wife, Marion, was alive and breathing.

Here she was caught in the fish net along with her brother Alec, his brother-in-law and a young redhead siren with a stunning glimmering (sapphire) blue tail.

In that very moment Oritel had bolted towards the sirens leaving a stunned expression on Edward and Ellys' faces, who were completely clueless as to why Oritel had sprinted off in all of a sudden.

"Um. . . what just happened?" Edward asked curiously.

"Oritel is being you know Oritel!" Radius let out a chuckle.

"Marion! Alec!" Oritel blurted out happily, as tears had fill his eyes.

Needless to say, the brunet man wasn't exactly thrilled to see the three sirens caught in a fishing net being seated on a small sized kiddy pool—a way for them to retain their bright colourful shimmering tails—because if they were dry enough, the sirens would lose their tails and have legs instead. They would appear to be like any other average human.

The young redheaded siren was sandwiched between Alec and Marion.

Oritel noted how beautiful the young siren girl was, she appeared to be a spitting image of Marion in all of her form with an exception of her eyes being the bright shade of blue. He had noticed that there was a large scar around the young siren's waist that went up to her belly, but she had a gorgeous (sapphire) blue tail. Oritel's heart had stung upon seeing the siren's scar wrapped around her.

"I suppose it's nice to see you again, Oritel, after all these long years," the blond-haired siren spoke, raising a blond brow at the man who stood before them.

Bloom was startled by uncle as her blue eyes had shifted onto the brown-haired man who was named Oritel Sparks. The name that was engraved into the necklace that had once belonged to her mother who couldn't recall her former memories of the man. The girl simply had to ask the man a few questions about the amulet.

"Wait? Your Oritel Sparks?" Bloom asked curiously.

Oritel's eyes had landed on the girl who appeared to be young and a bit naïve, but very curious as her eyes shinned vividly with many emotions reflecting in her blue eyes.

"Yes. May I ask why?" Oritel told the girl who was digging through her yellow satchel as the girl had revealed a familiar necklace that left Oritel completely speechless.

The girl smiled at the human man named Oritel. "I believe this has your name on it along with my mother's."

"Your mother? Wait? Marion is your Mum?" Oritel couldn't help but feel utterly stupid for asking the girl such a dumb question as he took the amulet for the girl, admiring it with his eyes.

The man hadn't seen this necklace in so many years—it was his personal gift for his wife on their wedding day. Somehow it must've fallen into the ocean and the young girl had stumbled across the diamond necklace.

Though he had easily seen the frown deepened on Marion's lips as she glanced Bloom, but it had appeared to Oritel that Marion was about to reprimand her daughter. "How many times do I have to tell you not to speak with strange men. Men only bring trouble to us and not mention they use us for their own selfish needs."

Oritel had a puzzled expression written all over his face by Marion's words who was trying to protect her young daughter from men's foolish games.

"But—"

"Bloom, darling there is a reason why I distrust men and you know why too." Marion pointed to her daughter's scar as a reminder of the terrible incident that happened to her when she'd been a five-years-old siren due to a false lie of siren man who claimed to Bloom's father.

He had somehow charmed her and Marion into believe the merman's tale. Marion had loathed that siren man for the wicked hell he'd put her five-years-old daughter through and it had been most unforgivable.

Oritel had furrowed his eyebrows.

He glanced at Alec helplessly for an answer.

"Don't you recognize me Marion?" Oritel had approached Marion who gazed at him. Her green eyes blinked a few times, but the woman had shook her head in response.

"I'm so sorry I don't believe I know you, Oritel," Marion responded sadly, though she could see the heartbreak in the man's eyes as his smile had turned into deepened frown.

"You're my wife Marion."

"And you're Bloom's father as well. Congratulations! I've been trying to reach out to you for many years on land, but of course you left a bloody note behind saying: goodbye. Need I say more? You even took Daphne with you without even bothering the chance that she has other family too you know," Alec narrowed his green eyes—though he appeared to be irritated with his brother-in-law who had just left without saying goodbye or trying to find out what had happened with his wife or his unborn child (Bloom).

The young siren girl was surprised to see her uncle's anger towards the man who apparently was her birth father, Oritel Sparks. Wait? Who was Daphne that Alec had mentioned?

The brunet man wasn't even sure what to make out of this—this was defiantly an overwhelming welcoming surprise after sixteen years of Marion being absent from his and Daphne's life.

"Alec, can you please stop filling my daughter's head with utter lies and nonsense about her father! I don't even remember who had fathered her and yet here you are claiming this man to be Bloom's father!" Marion had snapped irritably at her brother, despite the fact that she had genuinely loved him from the bottom depths of her heart for all of eternity, but the redheaded woman hadn't wanted any type of man to be playing with hers and Bloom's feelings.

"Mum! Please," Bloom pleaded with tears filling her eyes. All she ever wanted to know was who her father was and have the chance to develop a bond with him (and getting to know him).

"I'd assumed that your sister had died that night of the accident! I looked for her everywhere and I no choice but to leave everything behind. You think it hadn't hurt me. Hadn't shattered my heart or Daphne's for that matter? Do you know how difficult it was for me to tell Daphne what happened to her mother? Or how she grew up without one?" Oritel glowered back at his brother-in-law, as his hands turned into fist balls out of frustration.

"Marion had lost all of her memories the night of the accident Oritel," Alec uttered in a clam voice as he didn't want to inflict any more pain on his baby sister and niece Bloom. "It's why she never returned to you and she was terrified once she came to me, as she sobbed into my arms not knowing what happened to her."

"What? She lost her memories?" Oritel felt a deep pang at his heart, a tear had escaped his eye—realizing what kind of fate his beloved wife had suffered for all these years. Oritel's eyes had fallen on Bloom who was beautiful as her mother, though he could see the sadness on the young siren's face.

"Bloom's my daughter?" Oritel implied, gazing at the girl from head to tail with such a surprised expression since the man had assumed that he'd lost his unborn child to a cruel fate along with her mother. But she was alive alongside Marion, appearing very curious about him.

"I assure you Oritel that Bloom is yours believe me. Marion hadn't lost her child—yes I know, she was three months and a half pregnant during the time of the accident. Sirens have powerful healing abilities you know that. But I just wished Marion hadn't suffered her memory loss." Alec spoke sadly, as he squeezed his sister's hand for comfort.

Teredor, Radius, and Erendor had met up with Oritel and were completely astounded by the appearance of Marion and Alec. "Marion? You're alive?"

"Wait, what's wrong Oritel?" Radius asked, feeling a disturbing presence as if something had happened from Oritel's expression. The redhead man had even noticed that Marion had given the group of men an unusual look as if the woman hadn't recognized them at all.

"Marion had lost all of her memories about ever meeting me or having Daphne," Oritel uttered faintly as his blood had run cold. All the wonderful, memorable things he and Marion shared together was completely erased from his wife's mind was simply heartbreaking.

No one had spoken a single word—all were absorbing the new information that was sinking into their minds.

Author's Note

I hadn't expected much of a response for this story, lol, but thank you so much! It means so much and yes this storyline is pretty much gonna involve lots of MarionxOritel moment since they are the main focus of this story with side of BloomxValtor but that isn't going to happen until a bit later! :)

Bellchocolate: Yes Alec and Bloom are closely bonded and Bloom had looked up to her uncle for her whole life since she hadn't grown up with a father. She adores her uncle so much! :D

Guest: Wow! You have lots of questions that helped me establish some plotlines and for that I'm utterly grateful for it, but I'll answer one of your questions as the rest would be sorta of a spoiler for the upcoming chapters!

As far as for a pregnancy of a mermaid/siren - they have a different way of getting pregnant and what I mean by that is: a male siren has to pluck off three scales from him and the female has to pluck off three of her own scales and the couple has to insert into the belly button (since they cannot have regular sex like humans) and so it plants into the woman's womb and the baby grows.

As for birth, when the female is about ready to give birth, she loose bunch of scales and has to head up to land (since she would have legs just during the birthing process) and after that she regains her tail immediatly. The reason why females don't give birth underwater is due to the fact they bleed a lot and that might be dangerous for mother and child since it can attract a shark and well you can imagine how the story would end.

(That's my idea on how merfolks could have babies, lol). So what do you think? :)

Amai Momoyana: Thanks for your review, I just assumed it was a weird story to begin but I like it anyways! :)

Guest: Thank you! :D

Buttercup and Chocolate: Oritel and Marion are my favourite pairing on the show besides Bloom and Valtor! :D

I hope you had enjoyed this chapter!

Like always please leave your reviews and comments down below! I really do appreciate it and love to hear your thoughts about it!

Until Next Time!