The wave passed.

The evening followed it

Then went the night.

By the evening the next day, Perry walked down the cliff steps and looked towards the ocean.

Kazimir sat at the shore, unmoved for hours, gazing out over the sea, the chill winter breeze brushing his hair.

Perry took a slow, deep breath, released it, then walked down the beach, sitting down on the cold sand beside him and looking out across the still ocean.

"The sea seems to have returned to normal," he commented.

"So it has," Kazimir muttered, not looking at him, barely even moving, "The king fixed the sea and everything is as it should be."

Perry looked at him.

Kazimir didn't say anymore and Perry eventually looked away.

"Dalton's still up at the castle, trying to fix things in the absence of his father. His mother has taken to her bed after almost screaming the palace down."

"And how are his siblings coping with the sudden loss of their father?"

"I don't rightly think they care," Perry admitted.

"I can't say I'm surprised."

"Cole's stuck up there with Dalton. I think Dalton is feeling a little overwhelmed so he's helping."

"I see."

Perry glanced at Kazimir, then looked away and ran out of idle chatter.

"So... Kazimir... what ha... I mean... uh..."

"The sea took her."

Perry looked at Kazimir but he didn't change, just continued to stare blankly out over the sea.

"When we die, one of two things happen. We die like mortals. Our bodies are nothing more than flesh and bone and we are put to rest in traditional fashion. That is common. Another thing that can happen is the sea takes us back. We become seafoam. Seems rather uninspiring when you think about it."

"So... she's..."

"She's gone."

Perry looked down at the sand, absently digging a small groove into the damp ground with his finger as he bit his lip.

"I'm sorry."

The words were startling and Perry looked at Kazimir in shock.

"I know you were fond of her, I'm sorry you had to lose her," Kazimir said.

"What? No, I mean... I... yes, but you lost something so much greater. I should be saying that to you."

Kazimir shrugged. "Mermaids die. It happens," he said, "We grow up knowing that. We are all susceptible to death and we exist in the world that could kill us at any moment."

"It doesn't make it easier," Perry said.

"No. It does not."

"What... will you do now?"

Kazimir was quiet for a moment, then blinked and looked at him. "Do?" he copied. "What else is there to do? She is gone. I am still alive. I can only do what anyone who loses someone does, keep going."

"...Of course."

They fell quiet again, watching the sunset on the horizon.

"Won't you come inside?"

"There's nothing I need in there," Kazimir said.

Perry looked down, then blinked and looked up again, towards the sea.

For a moment, nothing disturbed the surface of the sea.

And then a ripple formed and Perry watched as a figure rose from the depths, followed by a second.

Icadora swept up from the sea followed by the queen herself, both human, their hair and gowns flowing around them as if the water couldn't touch them.

Perry gaped, then scrambled to his feet at the sight of the queen, bowing.

She acknowledged him with a graceful bow of the head before turning her attention to Kazimir as they approached, who still sat on the ground, ignoring them.

She knelt beside him once they reached the shore then, when he didn't look at her, reached forwards and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tightly.

Kazimir froze at the touch, then narrowed his eyes at the threatening sting behind his eyes.

"I'm sorry, my dear," she said softly.

Kazimir started to cry.

He slid his arms around her and hugged her back, pressing his face into her shoulder.

"It's my fault. I'm the one who's sorry," he said.

The queen just shook her head. "No. You are not the one to blame. I am sorry you have to suffer such grief. I would take the intensity of these human emotions from you if I could."

She pulled back and settled a hand against Kazimir's cheek.

"I want you to know that you are still expected at home," she said softly, "Never feel that you are unwelcome in the palace without Aeralie. It is your home as much as it was my daughter's."

Kazimir looked away.

"How... is the king?" he muttered.

"He will recover, in his own way, in his own time," she said softly. "One cannot truly recover from losing a child but both he and I will do our best."

"And her siblings?"

"Much the same."

"... Why are you here on land? When you should be with our kingdom?"

"I am here with Icadora to speak to your brother."

Kazimir glanced up. "With Dalton?"

"There is a lot he must learn about himself but it must be taken slowly. I am going to help."

Kazimir was quiet for a moment, then looked up at his mother.

She reached down automatically when he did, stroking his head.

"I'll come with you," he said, pushing to his feet.

The queen rose with him and swept away to step into line with Icadora, the two women glided up the beach, Kazimir following.

He was half way up the stairs when he realised Perry had not followed.

As his mother and aunt carried on up, he turned to look down at the beach and frowned.

Perry was still down at the shore but he did not see to be alone.

Though it was no human who stood with him.

It was a ball of soft, hazy light. Gentle, spinning breezes tossed at the sand beneath them and some sort of small red objects seemed to detaching themselves from the light before fading away.

Perry was speaking to it, his hands out like he was imploring.

Kazimir almost turned to go back down to him but his mother called for him and, after a moment, he turned and hurried after them, glancing up as a soft, warm breeze passed him by.

He frowned, looking up, watching small red items flew passed and up into the air, out of his eyes in mere seconds.

Odd, they had looked like rose petals, though it was the completely wrong time of year for them.

~~~~

Dalton looked tired and distressed but not unhappy.

There was no sign of grief in his features as he listened and conversed with his real mother and aunt.

The conversations stretched long into the night, Dalton listening and asking questions; learning until it all became too much to remember in one sitting and the evening finally drew to an end.

"There is one last question I would put to you," the queen said as everyone made to rise from their seats in the private chamber they'd sat in for the last few hours.

Everyone sat again and looked at her.

"Will you come back with us?" she asked, crossing her long, elegant legs under her gown. "I would say your place is with us, but the land holds equal claim to you. I feel you should come with us. Leave this country with its tainted past and start anew, but what shall you do?"

Dalton considered her for a moment, then nodded.

"I could," he said slowly, "I could do that, but I won't. Though half my blood is that of an impossible creature and I would have loved to start a new life if I could, I have been born and raised to this kingdom and, as of yesterday, I sit as king in the place of my late father. My mother— or, the woman who raised me, is not fit to rule. Her heart broke with the death of my father and I fear her mind when break soon as well. I shall not push the responsibilities of a kingdom onto the shoulders of my child-siblings. I must stay, so I shall not take to the sea with you."

The queen was quiet for a moment, then let out a soft breath and nodded, standing up.

"Rule wisely and fairly, Young King," she said, "You have allies and family in the sea who will aid you in this cruel world but you must take care of the path you choose when you decide how you shall rule and what king you shall become."

Dalton nodded, then bowed and the queen smiled.

"A King does not bow," she said, "You must always keep your head up or your crown will fall off."

And with that, she swept out of the room, leaving behind her the scent of sea-mist.

Dalton stared after her, then looked at his mother.

Icadora smiled gently. "She is correct," she said, "It is one thing you should take from Dago's rule. He bowed to no one."

"May I ask you something about him?"

"Of course," Icadora said, her tone wary.

"You said, when you fought him, that his brother might really have been mine and Kazimir's father... is that true? Is it really possible that Dago is not our father?"

There was no denying that subtle sheen of hope in his eyes and Kazimir looked at their mother, ignoring the tiny squeeze of hope in his heart.

Their mother looked between them, then gave them both a small but sorrowful smile.

"No," she said gently. "No, I'm afraid it's not possible. It was something I said merely in hopes of riling him up. It worked but it was a lie. Dago and only Dago could be your father."

Dalton hid his disappointment well as he looked down then nodded before looking at Kazimir.

Kazimir just shrugged, before nodding to him and simply walking out.

Dalton opened his mouth but Icadora held up a hand and Kazimir left the pair to truly meet each other.

Kazimir made his way back through the moonlit corridors, heading back for the beach.

Perry was long gone by the time he reached the shore but it didn't take long for him to hear the soft cush of someone taking down the sand towards him.

Cole stopped beside him, hands in his pockets, looking up at the moon that hung over head.

"Do you know what it's like to lose someone?" Kazimir asked.

"Someone I love? Sure," Cole said, titling his head to the side, "You lose people in this job. Sometimes they're people you'd rather not. I lost one of my oldest friends to rogue gunfire early on in my career. Bad as losing a brother."

"Did you recover?"

"Depends on what you mean by recover. I miss him still. I'll think of something one day and think, 'I must tell Addy...' then remember I can't and I notice the empty hole in my chest he used to fill. Do I still feel like my world is going to fall to pieces every day and I'll never stop feeling so broken? No, not anymore. You learn to live with it. I haven't moved on, mind you, you don't move on from something like that... you just live with it and each day it will get a little easier to get through the day."

"You sound very sure of yourself."

"Yeah, well, I've met with Grief a time or two."

"It wasn't worth it."

"What?"

"Coming up here. Finding Dalton. Meeting you. Meeting Perry. It wasn't worth it. What was the point? I gained a brother... and a lost my sister."

Cole glanced at him then looked out over the sea again and pushed any pain out of his voice. "Yeah, I see your point," he muttered. "So... what now?"

"I'm going home."

"What?" Cole said, looking at him quickly.

"I'm going home. I'm done with the land. I want to go home and learn to live with it."

Cole opened his mouth and Kazimir pointed to the sea.

"But before I go, I have a gift for you."

Cole's brow furrowed and he looked around.

Just in time to see the tip of a mast rising from the sea.

He gaped, taking a step backwards and staring up as his ship, The Santiago, rose like a ghost back from the dead, towering up above them, sails rolling free and ship perfectly in tack.

Cole stared at Kazimir.

"I wasn't wrecked, merely knocked over. The sea agreed to give it back in return for the help you gave to protect the sea when Dago stole my power," Kazimir said simply.

"You... she... Kazimir," he started and Kazimir walked forwards, into the water. "Kazimir!"

"Wait!"

Kazimir stopped and looked back to see Perry running down the beach, Dalton wasn't far behind him, the pair racing to meet them.

"You're leaving? Just like that?" Dalton said, staring at him.

"I don't want to be here anymore," Kazimir said simply.

"Wait," Perry said, "Please, before you go,. I need to ask you something about Aeralie."

The other two internally winced and Kazimir tensed, looking at his, his expression cold and stony.

"Yes?"

"Do you have the fragment of her Heart?"

Kazimir narrowed his eyes then reached into his pocket and pulled it out, handing it over.

Perry took it like it could shatter as a tap, looking down at it.

"I... I can't bring her back," he said quietly. "I tried."

He looked at them.

"Truly, I tried. But I do not have such power and my mother lays no claim to Aeralie. She won't bring her back."

"What's your point? Aeralie's dead," Kazimir snapped, rounding on him. "When you're dead, you're dead. Sto—"

"I can let her touch the sky."

Kazimir froze, staring at him.

Perry slowly looked up and Kazimir and Dalton stared.

His eyes had changed.

The irises were changing colour, like Kazimir would, but not in quite the same way. The colours ebbed and flowed.

The changes reminded Kazimir of something... something he'd only seen when he ad Aeralie had travelled into much colder waters.

He blinked and everyone looked up as light bloomed out of the sky.

Dozens upon dozens of colours painted the night above, rippling and whirling and changing above them, glittering with stars and pouring colours down on them.

"The Northern Lights," Dalton said, stunned. He looked down at Perry.

"Perry," Cole snapped, looking between the lights and the crew member. "Stop, what are you thinking?"

"You wanted to know what I am," Perry said slowly, looking up at the sky, "I am not mortal. I am the son of the Northern and Southern Winds. My real name – in mortal lounge – is Peregrine Lore."

He pointed upwards as the sky danced above.

"And I am what is known as The Northern Lights."

Kazimir stared up at the lights above. "I... I thought they were human spirits. Isn't that wasn't believed."

"In some legends," Perry agreed, "It's not quite how it works. But I can offer a safe passage and bring those of this world into my world, if I wish. I... fear my request is selfish, I do not wish to lose Aeralie for good. I don't want to lose her before I really knew her. And we shared wishes and dreams that should be impossible. But I want to let her touch the sky. To this extent, I can bring her back. But I wish to ask you permission before I do so. Please."

"It's... it's not my place to allow it," Kazimir said, staring up at the sky, "I held no power over her."

"No but I still want to know that you approve of it."

Kazimir was quiet for a time and Cole rounded on Perry.

"Are you mad?" he hissed, "You can't offer something like this. You're interfering with mortals! If you do this, you can't come back. You're gone. If you return, it won't be in this lifetime."

Perry looked at him. "I know," he muttered.

"What about this life you've built for yourself?" Cole said, "What about all the things you wanted to see? We haven't ventured into the tropics? We haven't seen the tundra. You wanted to visit the Land of The Rising Sun. What about everything you dreamed of?"

"They're just small dreams," Perry said, "There are bigger ones for me to find. I know it's not what I planned but... well, it's alright."

"Will it really bring her back? In some respect?" Kazimir asked.

"In a way, yes," Perry said.

"Then you have my permission. If you are willing to give up this human life, you may do as you wish."

Perry smiled slightly and looked at Cole whose face was pained and struggling to remain silent. He held out a hand.

"Thanks, Captain," he said, "You'll always have my support and protection."

Cole stared at the hand for a moment, then grimaced and took it, letting out a sigh and pulling him into a tight hug.

"What am I going to tell the others?" he muttered.

"They'll understand," Perry said, squeezing back before Cole let go and stepped back.

Perry cupped the fragment of Heart before his hands then, closing his eyes for a moment, before opening his palms.

Lights of every bright, warm, brilliant colour rippled up from his hands and Kazimir stared.

Aeralie, formed of The Northern Lights, hovered above them, her hair rolling around her, her eyes closed, her tail glittering with the stars.

And then she opened her eyes and looked at Kazimir.

They stared at each other for a moment, then Aeralie grinned at him.

Kazimir couldn't tell if he let out a laugh or a sob but he smiled back and nodded to her.

"I'll see you again one day," he said.

Aeralie raised a spectral hand, holding it to her ear, indicating for him to listen, then she winked and him and she was gone.

Just like that.

She winked out like a candle.

And when they all looked down, Perry had vanished as well.

Kazimir looked up at the sky, watching the lights ever continue to ebb and flow.

And he noted that empty hole in his heart where Aeralie had been didn't feel quite as empty as before.

Without a word, he turned and walked into the sea, pulling off his shoulder and trousers when he was waist deep and transforming.

"Wait!" Cole shouted.

Kazimir paused, seeming to think for a moment, before finally turning around to look at the pair left on the sands.

"Will you come back? Will we see you again?" Cole called.

Kazimir tilted his head slightly, the wind catching his hair, her lights above illuminating his kaleidoscope eyes and making his white skin shine.

"Perhaps," he said, before ducking below the water.

And as fast as Aeralie and as sudden as Perry, he was gone, leaving Dalton and Cole alone on the beach, The Northern Lights starting to fade above them, leaving them in the cold moonlight and the gentle rush of the surf.

For a long while they were quiet, just watching the sudden normality of the world around them then Cole slipped his hands into his pockets.

"Well..." he muttered, "Time for us to head inside I suppose."

Dalton glanced at him, then nodded. "I suppose," he agreed and the pair turned and walked back to the cliff and up the stairs, leaving the tide to wash away their footsteps. 

~~~~

Next up: Tomorrow

Art By: Pinterest image

As you probably noticed, this chapter isn't edited. I'm too tired, lol, I'll do it tomorrow

Epilogue tomorrow! Last chance to place your bets on what the next book with be.