"You know nothing of Spirits. I'm not surprised Jax would be awkward about it, leaving it to me." My mouth fell open, the muscles in my face going numb. "Alexander waited three hundred years before he met me. I didn't understand at first, but he explained who he was. What he was. As I said, it was a hard decision to make."

I sat down on the plush chair, sinking in as I wrapped my mind around what I'd just been told. I could imagine Helena catching the eye of a man who had seen thousands. Her beautiful face and kind disposition radiated light. I was happy for her, but I didn't understand how Alexander could endure watching her age and die.

"You said three-hundred years? That can't be possible. He's barely thirty." I look to my hands, the same smooth skin over longer fingers and sharper nails. "How did you know I was like Jax? What are we?"

"No one had to tell me who you were," Helena laughed. "You have a gleam in your eye that I don't often see. If that wasn't enough, we don't get many visitors who arrive without a vessel."

"So you'll live with him? Sailing the ocean and meeting people? What happens when you grow old without him? Do you think it'll be worth it?" Her face fell, her brow sprouted wrinkles at my question. The previously calm air became tense.

I realized my mistake and bit my lip. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. My mouth spoke ahead of my mind." I curled into myself, regretting my hurried question.

"It's fine." I looked up to the woman sitting down across from me, sipping her tea with a tight smile. "We understand that I will eventually die, but Alexander promised to stand by me until then."

Her story was bittersweet and I didn't know if I should pity or envy her. I had only met a few married couples, but none of them cared for each other the way Helena and Alexander did.

"You must love each other." I was desperate to regain the cheerful women from before. I missed the warmth and positivity.

"Yes, we do. It's easier for us than other Spirit couples. Alexander reflects on himself." I didn't understand what she had said, but I smiled and nodded anyway. "The Ocean was merciful when he turned."

I didn't want to ask, but the curiosity got the better of me. I expected a long story that would give me the details slowly, but everything Helena said made me more confused. I didn't want to push her, she knew her story better than me.

The woman poured herself more tea. I followed her movements and found her staring at me with the same knowing smile.

"You want to know what I mean. It's okay, dear. If you want to know something, you have to ask." I was shocked that a girl so close to my age acting so motherly, it was charming.

Helena waited for me to nod before starting her story. She held her tea up to her lips, taking a long sip before beginning. "When Alexander was born, he was an outcast from his family and village for wanting to sail. Eventually, some men from his village dragged him out on a ship and drowned him. The ocean gave him the ability to change himself and let him sail."

I still didn't understand why the men would kill him for wanting to sail. I wasn't going to ask, but I remembered what Helena had told me about my questions. The woman was staring at me, waiting for my question. The smile appeared on her lips and grew as she watched me.

"What do you mean?" My voice was quieter than earlier. I no longer trust my instincts around this spontaneous woman. "Why did they kill him?"

Helena nodded, appeased by my question, her smile split to its limits. "You listened, good. You should feel comfortable asking me questions. Well, Maurea, my husband was born Alexandra."

As soon as Helena finished speaking, a small piece of the puzzle clicked into place. I finally understood the reason Alexander would have been killed. I didn't know what to do with this information. I had never heard of a man being born a woman, but if Helena was understanding, then I should follow her example.

"I'm very happy for the both of you." I hesitated, "So Alexander can change his gender? How?"

Helena nodded, "Yes. He can change his body as long as it's still him. His gender, age, and appearance are as fluid as the tide. I already mentioned it's easier for us." The light in her eyes was back, burning with an inner passion. I might not understand her situation, but I was happy for her. "He will age with me."

The woman in front of me was filled with so much life, it flowed through the room. I wanted to know more about it and continued pressing her.

"As for how, no one knows. Sometimes when someone dies in the water, usually in a more violent manner, The Ocean chooses to save them. It gives them another life, immortality, and always leaves them with a gift."

"So The Ocean chose me, why?" I tapped my fingers on the teacup, staring at the reflection in the teacup. I couldn't see any glow in my eyes.

"I cannot answer that for you. No one knows for certain." Helena adjusted her skirt, curling her legs next to her on the couch. "The one thing I can tell you is you're no longer human. When you drowned, The Ocean had to change you to keep you alive."

"That's why my clothes no longer fit and I can breathe and speak below the water."

"What was it like, turning, I mean. Alexander never talks about it."

"It was cold," I admitted. "There are a lot of things in my life. When I was thrown over, I was almost glad. It didn't last long and I wanted to survive. I don't know when I died, but I remember it felt like I was burning. Then everything went silent and all I could feel was power and energy."

"Maurea," her voice was tender, coaxing, "why were you glad to be thrown over?"

"I wasn't glad," I admitted. "I would rather have been there than used by the captain. I promised myself I would never be used again." I realized I might have gone too far. There was no taking back what I said and I knew Helena would never let it go. "I didn't want to die, just not live that way."

"I won't say anything to the others, but The Ocean tends to choose damaged people. Look at Jax and my husband, they used their gift to rebuild themselves. In time, you will too."

"Thank you, Helena." The room was filled with emptiness from my story. Maybe that was why Alexander never told her, there was no way to explain without deviling into what brought us to that place.

"So where did you live? You said you moved from Central Europe?" I was interested to know where a woman with such a vibrant personality originated and desperate to move the conversation again.

"I grew up on a small farm in France," Helena seemed to know where my mind was and happily accepted my wish. "My father had a lease from one of the Lords. I loved it. My mother would take me to town to try to attract suitors and, when I sabotaged that, she sent me with my father to the seaside villages to trade crops. That's where I met Alexander."

She reminded me of a nymph now. Beautiful, bright, and alluring. Her eyes were I could imagine her in a painting, running through the woods, gathering a following of like-minded people.

"I like to joke about how smitten he was, always trying to win my heart. I now know that he couldn't follow me deep inland, but he wrote me hundreds of letters over the next two years. When I was old enough, I would visit the sea and Alexander. Eventually, he told me the truth and proposed. I'd never been one to turn down an adventure, so I joined him."

"And you, where did you grow up?" She leaned forward, eyes widening at the idea of another story.

"Someplace less," I paused, searching for the right words, "unrestrained."

I took a long sip of tea, the water going cold.

"I grew up on a large estate, the daughter of a noble. It wasn't the best life, but I was satisfied The need to uphold my father's strict rules didn't allow for independence of any choice. A long strand of choices and indiscretions led to me sinking in the ocean. After that, Atoya found me and brought me to you and Alexander."

"Is that all you want to talk about?" Helena questioned, sitting up. "That story has many missing details."

I smiled, the grin not reaching my eyes. "That's all I care to talk about at this moment. I need to reassess my situation before looking back on the past."

"Alright, dear." Helena reached across the low sitting table and covered my hands, pushing my teacup down. "If you want a friendly ear or just a friend, I will be here."

"Thank you, Helena. I appreciate that."

She smiled and bit down on a biscuit, the crumbs spilling on her dress.

"Well, with that sad note aside, let's discuss more alluring topics," she said, the glow in her eyes reappearing as she began filling the quiet void between us.

As she began to talk about her adventures with Alexander, I relaxed into peaceful bliss. There was no need to talk with Helena controlling the conversation, but it was relaxing to only listen to the stories and not need to reply or introject with my opinion.

I'd only known this woman for an hour or two but it already felt like I'd known her my entire life. Her personality and experience with Alexander gave me hope. They were able to walk the line between Spirits and humans, so I had a chance. That was something I hadn't had before and its small influence burned in my heart.