Song Recommendation: The Neighbourhood -Daddy Issues
two.
Marina.
"They... so haunted," I stated, seeing her expression change from light-hearted to stoic. Eryn backed up and stood, her eyes hardening and her expression clouded. I couldn't help but notice the dark bags she had under her eyes. She didn't seem like she got much sleep.
I must've struck a chord. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say that. It was insulting." I glanced down at the alcohol in front of me. It was probably getting to me faster than I thought. Back home, there was a plant that produced a liquid that had the same effects as alcohol. However, this was much stronger than I was used to. It wasn't like Daddy gave me drinks anyway.
Eryn ran a hand through her black hair and it made me want to do the same. Her hair looked so silky and every time she ran a hand through it, it would fall back into a messy arrangement that sent tingles throughout my body. I craved to trace the shaved parts of her undercut. Not many of my people had shaved hair, especially the women. Having long hair was a sign of beauty for my kind, so to cut it short was unconventional. I wondered if she would let me run my hands through it.
"It's fine. Shall we go back to your friends?" Eryn suggested, motioning towards where my friends were. She turned her head and I finally noticed the stretched ears. I saw gauges underwater often, adorned with seashells and whatever other stones and gems that were found. It was something that made me miss home a bit.
Since I was traversing out of my home, my friends wanted to give me the full human college girl experience, which was hanging out at bars. At first, I was hesitant, but I realized I loved to dance. It was troublesome to do on land with legs since I was still unsure about my footing, but I tried anyhow.
Eryn's piercing gaze made me want to shy away from her. She was so beautiful that it made me question why she was so interested in me. I didn't know humans could be so good-looking.
"Yeah sure," I slid off the stool, viewing the world around me spin. I seized Eryn's arm, trying not to fall.
With cat-like reflexes, she kept me up, her grip squeezing around my back. Her arm grazed my breast as she held me up and I quivered. Such a simple touch and it affected me so much.
Tantalizing.
"Had a little too much, Princess?" Eryn smirked, her grey eyes glittering with something I couldn't quite place. The ring on her brow twinkled in the light.
I bristled at the nickname she gave me. She couldn't know, could she? Maybe that's why she was giving me the time of day. Maybe she knew who I was. Or perhaps I was being a bit paranoid.
Eryn had her arm around my waist as we neared my friends. Ally and Sydney had their gazes locked on me, smiles going to their faces. They knew how I felt back at home. They knew I didn't want to be with Jasper. I know Dad only fancied to marry us off for the sake of the kingdom, but that wasn't what I wanted. They didn't care what I wanted down there. It's what made life on land so appealing. I could make my own rules.
Nerissa would've done what was right. She wouldn't have run away as I did. Then again, she would be alive if she didn't listen to me.
I wish I told her to stay, maybe then we'd be here together.
"You okay, Mari?" Sydney asked, her seafoam green eyes looking over me.
I half-smiled. "Yes, make some room for us."
Syd scooted in more and I took a seat, watching as Eryn slid in next to me. She grinned and made small talk with Ally. I wasn't paying attention to what they were talking about because Flynn was too busy glaring at me. I scowled.
"Is there a problem, mate?" Eryn's accent took on more of a grittier tone as she spoke to Flynn. She leaned forward and outstretched her hand towards Flynn before I could say anything.
Flynn glowered and shook Eryn's hand. "No, I was waiting for an introduction."
I blushed, realizing I brought her to our table without checking if everyone was okay with it. "Oh, I'm sorry. This is Eryn. Eryn these are my friends, Ally, Sydney, and Flynn."
Eryn beamed at everyone and locked gazes with me for a moment. She winked and turned her head towards the bartender across the room. She raised her hand up and he flipped her off. She snickered.
"Come here often?" Flynn asked, a furrow set on his brows.
Eryn chuckled as if there was an inside joke that no one here could understand. "Sometimes. You?"
"We wanted to show Mari around."
Eryn looked at me. "Oh yeah, you mentioned that. Where are you visiting from?"
A sharp feeling started to crawl its way up my throat. I couldn't expose myself to a human. What was I going to say? Oh yeah, the sea.
Sydney glared at Flynn for a moment before she turned to Eryn. "She's from an island south of here. We all are actually. Well, except for Ally."
"Yeah, I was born here," she responded, her head cast down.
Her mother was banished to land for falling in love with a human. I felt bad since it was my father that banned her mom from Aqueria. After discovering our blood was addictive to supernaturals, rules were set into place to keep us safe. The only freedom we had was when we came of age, we could study the human world for a year or so. It used to be for longer, but when my sister Nerissa didn't come home, we knew it wasn't safe on land for us anymore.
Our scent was strongest to vampires. They were our biggest threat on land. If they even had a taste of our blood, they become addicted, stopping at nothing until they had their fix. Neri was slaughtered by a vampire several years ago and it changed how my father raised the rest of his children.
It also changed me. I wasn't the heir to the throne yet, and here I was, taking everything she had.
Eryn tapped my knee with her fingers. "Everything okay?" Her piercing grey eyes held mine for a moment and I blushed, glancing away. I couldn't maintain eye contact with her. Eryn's gaze was too intense. I'd felt like I'd fall into her gaze if I stared too long.
"Yeah sorry, just got lost in thought."
"Washington is a pretty boring place to relocate to," Eryn replied, driving me out of my thoughts.
Sydney agreed. "Yeah, but there's so much to see here!"
"How long have you guys been here?" Eryn asked, turning her head towards a hostess who was walking towards us with more drinks.
She set our drinks down, and it was like something I had never seen before.
"Is that blood?" Ally asked, staring at the martini glass that had a cherry impaled with a toothpick on the bottom.
Eryn chuckled. "No. It's called the Washington Apple but with a little twist. Typically, it's an apple cocktail, but this one has more cranberry juice in it to give it that bloody look. Some other drinks are mixed into it to give it a sweet and sour taste. It's really tasty. Give it a try."
I stared at the drink in front of me. It seemed pretty enough, especially with salt rimming the glass. I was already feeling buzzed and I knew this would completely butcher me. I wasn't good at holding down my alcohol, but I couldn't just say no.
Sydney and Ally downed it within seconds, perhaps having a contest that I wasn't paying attention to. Eryn glanced at me for a moment before pulling the drink away from me. "If you don't want to, you don't have to."
I shook my head, yanking the martini closer to me. I didn't want to be a buzzkill in front of everyone. Especially Eryn. With all the tattoos that were on her arms, I could only assume she was a fun and daring person. I didn't want to be a drag in front of her. I wanted to impress her. On land, I wasn't this dainty little princess, I was whatever I wanted to be.
"Mari, I don't think you should," Flynn responded, pushing the drink away from him. He went over to reach for mine as well, but Eryn's hand shot out. Her reflexes were fast.
"Let her make her choice," Eryn frowned.
I peered down at the glass and concluded that I aspired to have fun tonight. I pressed the martini to my lips and tipped my head back, gradually waiting until all the contents were gone.
"Whoa," Eryn stared at me with her eyes wide, "Daring tonight, are we?"
I nodded, feeling a bit light-headed after that. The room grew brighter and the music dulled a bit, taking on a background sound instead.
"Hell yes, Mari!" Ally cheered, "C'mon Sydney let's go dance. Flynn, you too."
I raised a brow at Ally wondering what she was up to. Part of me knew what she was doing, but it was hard to understand since the liquor was already making its way to my head. As the seats became empty, Eryn sat across from me.
"Tell me more about yourself," she demanded softly, finishing her drink and popping the cherry in her mouth.
I watched her eat the cherry. She pulled out the stem, a perfect knot in the middle of it. I knew the whole idea behind a cherry knot and I could feel my cheeks growing hot with the thought of what else she could do with her mouth.
"Well, there's not much to me, I'm a pretty boring person," I returned, getting sidetracked with her playing with the toothpick, "W-what about you?"
"Well, I own this nightclub. That's pretty much what I do for work," Eryn answered, chortling as she saw my face twist into shock. She adjusted the toothpick to the side of her mouth. Oh, how I so desperately wanted to take out the toothpick and kiss her.
Dirty girl, get out of your thoughts.
She looked so young to be owning an entire nightclub. "How old are you?" I asked trying to take my mind off the naughty things that I wanted her to do to me.
Eryn stiffened at the question and I felt like I overstepped. Age wasn't something to overstep, was it? I suddenly felt bad for asking. "Sorry, I didn't mean—"
"No, it's not you. It's not something that is asked usually. I'm twenty-five. You?"
I felt my chances of Eryn being interested in me slip down to zero. I didn't think she would be interested in someone younger than her. "Twenty-four," I lied, cringing at the hesitation in my voice.
The corners of Eryn's mouth tipped up and she leaned closer to me. enough that I could feel her lips graze against my ear. "Lying about your age isn't cool, Princess."
I closed my eyes and took a sharp intake of breath. "I'm sorry, I didn't think you would be interested in me if you found out my real age."
"Which is?"
"I'm twenty-two," I flushed, looking down at the leather booth. I played with a loose string in it, hoping this conversation would change. I was so flustered around her, I barely even knew her.
Eryn's hand went under my chin and she brought my face to eye level. "Why'd you lie? Age isn't something to be ashamed of."
I didn't think I could get any redder, but the thought of me being inexperienced crossed my mind. "What if you don't have any experience?"
Eryn's smile grew wider, a slightly impish look in her gaze. "Then that's even more enticing."
I gulped, questioning what type of lover she was. I didn't think she was the relationship type and I wasn't looking for that anyway. I couldn't since I had to be back in the ocean in several months. I could have fun with her.
I could have my first real lesbian experience, that's for sure.
There was nothing wrong with trying new things. "What would you show me?"
Eryn leaned in, pressing her soft lips against mine. It was a chaste kiss, but it left me wanting so much more. "Everything."
My mouth formed a small 'o'. I didn't know how to reply to that.
"Spend the night with me, Marina."425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2nTTQY3iV
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