Chapter Four

Chloe’s POV

I drove up to the beach in the purple jeep that I share with Isabel and looked around. I jiggled the door latch and pushed on the rusted exit. It finally gave in and I stepped out.

The sand poured onto my feet and bathed my sandals in sand. I looked around the empty shoreline and didn’t find a soul. Inching towards the water in search of him, I heard someone run up behind me and two hands covered my eyes.

“Guess who?” His recognisable cologne surrounded me and I took it all in with a grin. I turned around to find myself only millimetres from is plump lips. He leaned closer and I stepped back. “Did I do something?” I shook my head. “No, it’s just you have to…uh…meet someone before I’m technically ‘allowed’ to kiss you.” He crossed his arms and nodded. “Lemme guess….your father?”

“Not exactly…” I looked down. “There is a certain person who is above all creatures in the world. Please don’t think I’m lying, but it’s Zeus. He must approve of you before we can do anything.” His reaction was not at all what I expected. “…..and if he doesn’t like me?”

“He will make sure that you don’t know what the hell a mermaid is anymore.” I could feel his nerves running hyper drive through his body.

“Don’t worry. If he does that, I will expose myself to you again.” His intense cerulean eyes told me that he didn’t want to go. “Come with me.” I put my arm around his waist and walked towards the water.

I held him close to my stomach as I swam miles off shore. There was a small glow directly below us. I pulled him up to the surface and told him that we were right above Zeus’ kingdom. “Wait. I can’t hold my breath that long and my ears will explode if I go that deep down.” I shushed him. I set my hand on his heart and took a deep breathe.

“δώσει σε αυτό το αγόρι τους πνεύμονες του μια γοργόνα” (give this boy the lungs of a mermaid).  The water around us lit up. “What just happened?”

“I gave you the strength to hold your breath as long as I can; three hours, Once you take a breath of fresh air agin, your power is gone.”

“Cool.”

I kissed his cheek and pulled him down with me. Zeus’ kingdom is about two miles underwater. I swam as quickly as possible; to make sure I didn’t waste any of Ashton’s time.

The water shined a bright golden yellow as we approached the gold gates of the kingdom. A large ‘Z’ was imprinted on the bullion walkway that lead up to the main doors of the kingdom. I looked over at Ashton and he nodded. I opened the gate and we were greeted by Zeus himself.

His long soft, almost plush looking hair drifted with current above us and his eyes told a lifelong story. All he wore was a white cloth to show his intense muscles and a pair of unusually large sandals to fit his huge feet. To help him swim at this old age he contained, he carried his lightning staff that shined brighter than the sun, itself. 

“Come my love birds. I’ve been expecting your company.” He led us inside to a whole new world. The walls sparkled a glimmering white, there were pictures of all the Greek gods and goddesses lining the endless halls. And there seemed to be a guard at every door.

He directed us to the royal meeting room and showed us our seats. “So, Mr Irwin. I see you have taken an interest in my Chloe, correct?” Ashton nodded with a smile. “There is only one way for me to trust this human not to tell a sole” Zeus’ emerald green eyes met with mine for the longest time.

I watched his staff strike the sepia tile floor and the wall in front of him burst into a million pieces.

There were thousands of sharks lingering the unusually darkened water “On the other side of this sharp reef, is my beloved wedding band. I dropped it there while swimming one morning. Fetch that in under a minute’s time, and I will then, let you date my creation.” Ashton gasped and shook his head at me. Zeus grew furious. “May I have a quick word with him?” I pulled Ashton out of the room and begged him. “the trick is, to go under them, Swim straight to the bottom and they won’t notice you.” I kissed his hand and brought him back to Zeus.

I was about to speak, but Ashton spoke for me “King Zeus, it would be my pleasure to obtain your wedding band.” Zeus smiled as Ashton dove straight to the bottom. The look on Zeus’ face told me that he was almost sure that he’d never be able to do it.

With ten seconds left, my heart began to beat out of my chest.

9…..8…..7…..6…..5…..4…..3…..2…..

I saw a hand shoot up from the floor entrance to the reef. Ashton sawn put o Zeus and royally presented him with the wedding band. “Marvellous!” he exclaimed as he admired the lost treasure.

“By the power invested in me, I give you, Ashton Fletcher Irwin, permission to date my little fish, Chloe Fleur Nightingale”.

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