Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 199: Her abilities

He shook his head, ’’For years, no,’’ he sighed, ’’It was a lie that you lived in the sea all this while. You used to live on the land, Es. I saw you again when my elder brother Marcus got hold of a piece of information that one of our kind is living out there on the land. He is responsible for bringing creatures like us who have somehow strayed to the land, back to the sea.’’

Esme closed her eyes, ’’And? How did you know it was me?" she hugged her knees, bringing them closer to his chest.

’’During all these years, every time he caught a mermaid from the land and brought them back to the sea, I asked him about their physical attributes. I could not help but hope it was you everytime I heard he was bringing someone. Red hair, grey eyes, recognizing you from his description was not hard, Es. You are one of a kind,’’ Jeremiah looked at her in adoration, ’’You stand out in a crowd full of people. Be it on the land, or in the sea.’’

Esme smiled wryly, ’’Standing out... is not a good thing, Jer,’’ she glanced at the waves of the sea crashing against the boulder, ’’You see, how naively am I living my life, wanting to know more about myself even though I am scared to know more. And every time I overcome my fear and take a step forward, I realize that there is no way that I can know who I am, who I was, or who I should be. Standing out... came with its own price for me, didn’t it?"

Jeremiah sighed, ’’Since Marcus brought you here, he must have known something about your past but he has tight lips. Things that he won’t speak about will go to his grave. Still, if you want, I can ask him about you...’’

’’No,’’ Esme interrupted him, ’’I know the rules that come with being an heir to this kingdom. Your elder brother has a high position in the sea court. If you go against him because of me, it won’t be hard for him to shake your position.’’

Jeremiah said, "The King has the last say so it doesn’t matter.’’

’’The King. How certain are you that he will stand up for you?’’ Esme sighed, ’’You won’t be useful to me if you lose the power that comes with the throne.’’

’’Ah...’’ Jeremiah pressed his palm on his chest, ’’That hurt. You are brutally honest, aren’t you?"

Esme chuckled, ’’How did I lose my memories then?" she asked suddenly.

Jeremiah sighed, ’’You are a half mer and half human. That means either your father or your mother must be a human. Hence, when one of your kind transforms to their real form for the first time in the sea, in a full moon night, you lose all your memories as a human.’’

Esme pressed her chin on her knees, looking ahead, ’’Everyone lied to me, didn’t they?"

’’That’s because nobody wanted you to force yourself to regain your memories. There are chances that you’d lose your life. Nobody like you has ever recalled their life as a human. A few who did, lost their lives soon after,’’ Jeremiah grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers, ’’I don’t want you to die, Es.’’

Esme glanced at their hands, her fingers going stiff at the sudden touch, ’’Nor do I want to die. I am fine,’’ she smiled at him, hiding her discomfort as she pulled his hand back.

He gulped, ’’So, are you angry?"

She glanced at him quietly for a few moments before answering, ’’A bit.’’

He lowered his head, ’’I know I lied that you loved me but that’s because I really want to be loved by you.’’

’’You don’t lie for love. Love is not based on deceit,’’ Esme whispered.

’’I know... I... didn’t want to lose you, Es. It doesn’t matter whether you love me or not,’’ he looked at her with determination, ’’...My love is enough for both of us.’’

Esme glanced at his face intently for a moment before she asked, ’’You told me everything. What if I regain my memories one day and by some miracle, I don’t die?"

’’I would be happy for you,’’ he smiled genuinely.

She smiled, ’’What if I left you?"

’’You won’t.’’

’’You sound confident,’’ Esme pushed herself to her feet as she walked down the boulder.

’’Going inside the castle?"

’’Yes,’’ Esme turned around and walked towards the crystal castle which sparkled under the moonlight.

Once she reached the gates, she turned around to look at the man who was standing far away near the boulder.

Jeremiah smiled at her. The moonlight reflecting on his face made him look more handsome than he already was.

She turned around to step inside the castle but her footsteps paused when she heard him whisper.

"I believe that you would stay with me even if you regain your memories one day because, you know that regardless of whether you love me or not, my love is enough for both of us and if that’s not enough....’’ His voice was quieter this time.

She turned around to look at Jeremiah, the man was still smiling kindly by the time he finished speaking.

Jeremiah was unaware of her powers. He did not know she had a keen hearing ability. Even standing at such a huge distance, she could hear each word he uttered.

Nobody knew what she could do and what she couldn’t and she had noticed it since the moment she woke up. People who did not know about her powers, about her likes and dislikes despite claiming that they knew her for years, how could she not find their words suspicious?

She knew. She always knew that something was amiss but hearing Jeremiah confess the truth to her proved her suspicions regardless of how much she wanted to be proved wrong.

And just now, the words he uttered....