A disagreement

Noah sighed as he carried Elias inside, his legs still wobbly from the strange experience in the ocean. The little boy clung to him happily, unaware of the storm brewing behind them.

The merman followed.

His bare feet barely made a sound as he stepped into the house, but his presence was overwhelming—thick with tension and irritation. His blue eyes burned into Noah’s back, and his expression was unreadable.

The moment the door shut, Noah turned and met his glare.

He looked furious.

Noah sighed, adjusting Elias in his arms. “Listen, I know you hate children, but it’s just for a day.”

The merman didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

His jaw clenched, his sharp nails twitching at his sides.

Noah frowned. “What’s your problem? He’s a kid. He’s not doing anything to you.”

The merman scoffed. “That thing smells disgusting.”

Noah felt a flash of anger. “He’s not a thing! He’s my cousin! And he’s staying here, so deal with it.”

The merman’s gaze darkened. “Get rid of it.”

Noah’s blood boiled. “Are you even listening? I said—”

“Get. Rid. Of. It.”

The way the merman said it—so cold, so commanding—sent a chill down Noah’s spine.

His fingers tightened around Elias protectively.

He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. “You don’t care about anyone but yourself, do you?”

The merman’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“You don’t care, because you’re just a heartless demon.”

For a moment, silence.

Then—

A low growl rumbled from the merman’s throat.

The air around them grew heavy.

Noah suddenly felt like he had said something he shouldn’t have.

As the merman stood there, a storm of emotions roiling beneath his cold, impenetrable gaze, Noah felt a chill run down his spine. His heart pounded faster as he slowly, carefully, put down his cousin, Elias, watching the little boy’s eyes widen in confusion.

Noah stepped away, reaching for the book the old woman had given him. It was the same book that had found its way into his hands after that strange encounter by the market, and now, as he held it, he could sense the weight of its significance pressing against him. The pages almost seemed to hum with a strange energy as he flipped through them, his fingers trembling.

He found the passage he had been dreading, the one that haunted the back of his mind. His breath hitched as his eyes scanned the words on the page.

---

> "But when all seemed lost, the people fell to their knees. They wept. They begged. They pleaded for mercy."

The ink on the page seemed darker here, almost like it had been written in something other than ink, something far more sinister.

Noah’s brow furrowed as he read on, a sense of dread building in his chest.

> "And then—he rose."

"He raised his fist before he spoke:"

Noah’s fingers tightened around the edges of the book as he read the next line, his heart sinking with each word.

> “I am the righteous hand of God.”

“I am the devil you so forgot.”

“I told you one day I’d be back.”

“I guaranteed it.”

Noah froze, his stomach turning. The words felt like a cruel twist of fate, the story unfolding in front of him becoming more terrifyingly real. He could hear the sound of the merman’s footsteps, slow and deliberate, as if he were waiting for Noah’s reaction. His voice broke the silence.

“I know what I did,” the merman said softly, his tone far colder than before.

Noah’s blood ran cold as he slowly turned his head to face the merman. His heart skipped a beat. "Wait, what?" Noah’s voice came out hoarse, barely a whisper, as if the air around him had thickened.

The merman stood taller now, the expression on his face unreadable. His cold eyes locked onto Noah’s, and Noah saw something there that chilled him even further—a deep, ancient knowing. The merman didn’t need to say anything more; the weight of his words lingered in the air, suffocating.

Noah stumbled back, feeling the blood drain from his face. The pieces were starting to fall into place, but the truth was so much worse than anything he could have ever imagined.

The merman wasn't just a creature of the sea. He wasn’t just a dark, forbidden entity that Noah had been drawn to. No. He was far more than that. He was something far older. Something far more dangerous.

“You… you’re the one from the book, aren’t you?” Noah’s voice trembled as he looked at the merman, his hands shaking as he gripped the book tighter.

The merman didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he stepped forward, his eyes darkening with a flicker of something almost regretful, but it was quickly masked by his usual, cold demeanor.

Noah didn’t know what to believe anymore. He didn’t know if he was speaking to a merman, a demon, or something far worse. The words in the book echoed in his mind, the darkness of the prophecy sinking deep into his soul.

“Noah…” The merman’s voice was barely above a whisper now, and when he spoke, there was a haunting trace of sincerity. “You don’t know what you’re getting involved in.”

Noah’s heart raced as everything began to feel like a nightmare—one that he couldn’t escape from.

But it was too late.

Noah’s mind was in a whirlwind, his thoughts scrambled as he stared at the merman—no, the devil—standing before him. He couldn't process everything at once. The book, the words, the horrifying realization that the merman before him might be more than just a sea creature, more than just a creature of myth. The air felt thick with tension, as if the weight of his discovery was pressing down on his chest, suffocating him.

“Forget it,” Noah muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. His hands still trembled, but he couldn’t stay in this room any longer, not with the weight of the merman's confession hanging over him like a dark cloud. He quickly scooped up his little cousin Elias, his three-year-old baby cousin who had been watching the exchange in wide-eyed confusion, oblivious to the gravity of the conversation.

Elias cooed happily, unaware of the tension surrounding them, and Noah walked to the bed with him. Gently, he laid his cousin down, making sure he was comfortable beneath the blanket. Elias let out a tiny giggle, his baby face lighting up with innocence as he reached up for Noah’s hand.

Noah lay down beside him, closing his eyes for a moment to clear his mind. But even as he tried to relax, Elias’s small voice broke through the silence.

“Uncle Noah... who’s that man? Is he a friend?”

Noah swallowed, forcing a smile to his lips despite the turmoil inside him. “He’s... just a visitor,” he said softly, his voice shaking. He wasn’t sure how to explain any of this to a three-year-old, so he simply decided not to. Instead, he pulled the covers closer and held Elias in his arms, trying to comfort him.

But the merman’s presence lingered in his mind, and his thoughts kept returning to the chilling words in the book. How was he supposed to process any of this? His heart beat unevenly, and before he could drift into any semblance of sleep, the merman’s voice sliced through the air.

“I’m sorry,” the merman said, his voice quieter now, much more vulnerable than Noah had ever heard. “Please... forgive me.”

Noah stiffened, not sure if he was supposed to respond. But before he could speak, the merman continued, each word dripping with sincerity.

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen, Noah.” The merman hesitated, as if unsure whether he should speak further. His voice grew softer, more intimate. “You don’t know this... but I’ve been watching you for some time now. I didn’t know how to reach out, how to tell you.”

Noah’s heart skipped a beat. He felt a chill run through him at the merman's confession, the weight of those words sinking deep into him.

The merman seemed to hesitate before he spoke again, his voice now quieter, almost defeated. "My name... my name is Thalassius."

Noah’s brows furrowed, and he stared at him, confused. "Thalassius?"

“Yes,” Thalassius replied, his gaze never leaving Noah’s. “It means... the sea, the deep waters. It is who I am.”

Noah stayed silent for a moment, trying to make sense of what the merman was telling him. His heart pounded, and all he wanted was to get some rest, to escape from this strange situation. But the merman’s eyes held something raw, something genuine. His emotions weren’t hidden behind the cold mask anymore.

“I’ve never been in a relationship,” Thalassius continued, his voice low and almost regretful. “But I’ve always known... I’ve always known I’d find someone. I just... I didn’t think it would be you.”

Noah’s breath hitched, and he felt a blush creep up his neck as he looked down at Elias, who was blissfully unaware of the intense conversation unfolding around him. The weight of Thalassius’s words lingered, but Noah didn’t know how to respond. He couldn’t. Not right now.

“Thalassius, you’re... you’re a demon,” Noah finally managed to say, his voice weak. “You’re not... real. You don’t even... care.”

Thalassius’s eyes darkened at Noah’s words. “I am... not a demon. I’m not,” he said with a sense of urgency. “I was wrong to treat you the way I did, Noah. I’m sorry. Please... forgive me.”

Noah closed his eyes, struggling to comprehend everything Thalassius was confessing. He didn’t know if he could forgive him yet, but something in his chest tightened. He knew, deep down, that Thalassius wasn’t just a monster. There was something else—something Noah wasn’t sure he understood.

Before Noah could respond, Elias stirred in his sleep, murmuring as he moved closer to Noah, snuggling against his side. The innocence of the child, with his chubby cheeks and soft breath, made everything feel more real, more grounded.

Noah smiled softly, brushing Elias’s hair away from his forehead, grateful for the small comfort the child brought him. For a moment, Noah forgot about the merman, forgot about the dark things that had been weighing on his mind.

But even as Noah closed his eyes, trying to relax, he couldn’t shake the feeling that things were far from over. And as the merman’s voice echoed in his mind, Noah knew he couldn’t keep running from whatever destiny had planned for him.

To Be Continued...

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