P R I N C E. N I K O L A F R A N C O
xx
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
xNikola barely heard his friends’ warning, and against his better nature, ignored her and the lingering worry in the back of his mind that he shouldn’t be here, that he shouldn’t have searched for the siren in the first place.
Nikola was intrigued by this siren, that he’d known for days now. But finding him on land with a girl by his side just raised more questions for him. He was sure a lot of the things he’d been taught about sirens were false, but the few bits of information he was sure of told him that sirens were much less powerful on land, especially the farther they removed themselves from the water. Still, it seemed as if Kal wanted to be on the land amongst the humans. There was so much about him that went against everything he knew about sirens, and Nikola only wanted to learn more.
Plus, something about Kal drew Nikola to him. It wasn’t just the fact that he wanted to know why Kal saved him, but it was more of a feeling that made Nikola want to see him more. He didn’t feel like the prince he failed to be, but just another person. Of course, the siren probably had no clue that he was talking to the warlock prince, and Nikola would be careful to keep it that way for as long as he possibly could. He didn’t understand why he felt this way around a boy who barely knew him, it was just a feeling in his chest finding him again.
He was distracted from his thoughts when Kal answered him, and the reason why he saved him was not as noble or in depth as Nikola thought it would be. Nikola shouldn’t have expected more, but at the same time, the answer suited the siren walking beside him. From the little he knew, he seemed to be the type to act on instinct rather than purpose. And whatever the reason, he saved Nikola from an unfulfilled life ended by death, and the warlock prince was grateful for that.
Before Nikola could ask any further questions, the siren had his own for Nikola. Why were you looking for me? It was an answer he wasn’t sure he had. ”I don’t know,” were the first words that slipped from his mouth, giving him enough time to think over why he was so hellbound on searching and finding Kal. He’d thought so much about where to look and the things he might say, but the reason why was something that never crossed his mind.
”I couldn’t stop thinking about you since the day you saved me,” Nikola continues after thinking over his next words, ”You’re nothing like what I was taught about sirens, and I wanted to know more. And I know you saw the tattoo on my arm, so I didn’t understand why you would save me- I’m grateful, of course, but… I don’t know,” Nikola sighs, running a hand through his hair and turning his eyes to the scenery around them instead of the siren as he admits with a growing blush, ”Part of me just wanted to see you again. You’re quite beautiful, you know..”
I R I A. C O N S T A N C E
xx
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
xSirens only created more sirens out of necessity. They weren’t immortal beings, and those who cared about their family name made sure that at least it would live on forever if they couldn’t. Some sirens made bonds with their offspring, treated them as family, but Iria had never known that kind of bond.
Her parents did as any siren would do, created their own offspring. As a female siren, they craved to obtain the power of nobility through a marriage of their only child. Iria was written off to be someone else’s responsibility when a marriage was arranged to an old siren Duke. He’d only wanted her for her beauty, standing out amongst most sirens, but she wanted more for herself. She wanted to be strong and powerful on her own, and one day while visiting the palace as the Duke’s future wife, she protected the youngest prince from what could have been a nasty accident and got herself a position as a trusted bodyguard for Prince Kal. Not only was she away from the man she didn’t want to marry, but Kal became more than her prince, he was her best friend.
Watching him walk away with a warlock, alone, it made her angry and scared. It didn’t matter how nice the warlock boy was, that was her siren prince and the two species had always been sworn enemies. She had half a mind to run after them, but decided against raising suspicion among the humans and turned to the girl, Sorn. She was quite lovely, which did stem some of the anger she felt as it was mainly directed towards Nikola rather than his friend. ”I know Nikola is a warlock, Kal told me. Are you one as well?” Iria asks low enough that the humans wouldn’t be able to hear them.
She moves back to lean against Kal’s motorcycle, wanting to be out of the way of any wandering ears or eyes that would interrupt her conversation with the girl. Iria didn’t think that Sorn was a warlock, given the energies between her and the warlock boy were different, but she wasn’t exactly human either and that made Iria suspicious. Why were these two looking for the prince?
”Why is he looking for Kal anyway? Considering the near death experience he had, I wouldn’t have thought he could even be near an ocean again. Not like he should be anyway,” Iria continues to interrogate the warlock’s companion, determined to get as much information from her as to figure out how much of a threat the two would be to herself and Kal. She knew on land they were at a disadvantage, though she would protect Kal with her life if she had to.