Chapter 81: The Queen

Loiza's POV

Sybil had come the next day as promised, I was alone to not startle her. She answered that her Queen would not leave the water and that she would come meet me with an entourage at the lagoon in three days. I told her that it wouldn't be a problem but that I would not be alone as well and that was non negotiable.

Hey, if she was coming with a posse so was I!

I told Bayoán about the meeting, he thought it was crazy, but I told him that I haven't ever heard of mermaids eating Supernaturals, it was only humans. So I was confidant that it would be fine, Phoebe agreed with me, she was interested by the fact that Sybil said I smelled like one of them underwater.

Ayiti was skeptical too but was very intrigued and Suania was excited to see mermaids. So he prepared those who would go with me to meet this mermaid Queen. Admiral Casimar asked to go, if there would be a treaty with sea creatures he wanted to be present, he still looks mad at me... I thought we agreed to move on! Braka chose the Warriors that would go and I invited Isla as Luna of the pack. In the end more people than I would have wanted to go went, but mostly I wanted Phoebe there to verify any falsehoods.

Ximena dressed me in a sapphire blue Imperio dress with wide shoulders, bare arms and a V neck line that showcased my growing cleavage, she added large white drop pearl earrings and white nácar bracelets and the gold Guanín. Isaura did my usual Queen's Braid adding white pearls this time and I decided to go barefoot to wait with my feet in the water to help ease tensions since Sybil said I smelled like them underwater.

I waited patiently in the shoreline with my feet in the water raising my dress a bit to avoid it from getting too wet in the bottom. And then we saw them jump over the water break stones and entering the lagoon... Their numbers were plentiful and there were of so many colors, it was quite a sight!

Sybil was the one who spoke first...

"My Queen, this is the Alpha Loiza, Cacique of Karaya." And not one, but two mermaids swam closer: One was as dark as midnight from her black hair, skin and fins, regular fish fins, with double irises like Sybil of pale blue and pale green, the other was identical except that she was as pale as the Moon. White hair, white skin and fins and her eyes were exactly the same as the other... Sybil introduced BOTH as one.

"Alpha this is our Queen, Pasha." So they BOTH were ONE? This will be interesting!

"Welcome to the shores of Karaya, Queen Pasha, you and your people are most welcomed here!" She looked around at her sisters and at those with me on the shore.

"You DO smell of us under the waters, Sybil says you don't know why yes?" They both spoke as one with the same exact voice. And I guess no pleasantries needed.

"True, I was hoping that you may have the answer to that, I guess I was wrong." I keep my eyes plastered on her-- them, I have no idea how to refer to this phenomenon so I keep it singular as presented.

"Wrong you were, I have no answer to give." This has to be one of the most bizarre things I have encountered. It's as if they think as one. Do they share brain waves?

"Well that's a shame, my counselor Phoebe here was interested in asking questions about it." I say as I sinal to Phoebe who comes to the shore line.

"So it's true. The Alpha of Karaya is taking even hybrids." Damn she's rude!

"It's true, I am a hybrid. And I am here not as a guest, this is my home and sit in the Alpha's Council as one of her advisors." Phoebe tells her firmly. And she looks at Phoebe curiously. Ok, I didn't get all dressed up for small talk!

"Sybil says your people wish to spend time on our shores without fear of harm, is this true or not?" He gaze returns to me.

"We can not go to shore, we are hunted and humans who see us want to capture our image with their machines." Evading huh?

"That's not an answer to my question. Do you wish to share OUR shores or not?" She gives me a glare with some venom... Oh fuck you too!

"You would grant this?" That's more like it!

"I would, yet there are conditions and consequences for breaking those conditions." I put my hand back waiting for the document that wes enchanted to be water proof and that the words be able to adapt to the language of the reader, compliments of Morgana! Bayoán places it in my hand, I was resolute not to break eye contact with them--her, ugh! This was confusing! I signal to Sybil to hand her the document. And she comes and takes it and hands it to her Queen, they take hold of the document and read the conditions.

She looks up at me and continues to read. "You want my people not to use magic while on shore?" Tricky mermaid!

"That's not what the contract says. It states that while on shore your people are not allowed to use any magic which poses a threat to my people, such as siren song to lure them without their know-how, glamour to confuse someone, seduction magic, and so on. As long as my people's minds are not touched you may use magic, the point is that my people shall not be manipulated or harmed in anyway, shape or form, physically, emotionally or mentally, understood?." She nods and returns to read.

"It's says there is a fine for the first infraction and and confinement for not being able to pay such fine." You're damn right!

"Correct!" You want to lay in the sun, then you better behave.

"How do you intend to enforce these... Infractions?" I was expecting this question.

I manipulate the stones of the water break to grow like a wall trapping them inside the lagoon, and the others in her entourage gasp and I see the fear on their faces. I have been practicing more with Yaya lately and am very close to acquiring my High Priestess title.

"We have our ways." And I make everything as it was to calm them. I made my point.

The Queen hisses at me and I raise the water pressure around her and have sand raise to trap her fins.

"Don't you DARE hiss or threaten me your highness! I have been cordial to you and I will not tolerate anymore rudeness from you! If you want to share OUR shore, you and yours will show respect for me and mine or find somewhere else for your fun!" And I release her. She's clearly shocked now. By the Goddess, she displays the same arrogance as Moira and it makes me wonder if her authority has ever been challenged.

Her sisters go to her to see if she was harmed but she raises her hands to make them stop. And she looks at me for a few minutes and I stare back matching her glare. I take myself out of the water and signal the others that we are done and we are leaving.

"We have not come to an agreement." She says and my rouge pays of making me smile, it reminded me of being in the field. And I wink at Bayoán and he is trying not to smile. I turn around to face her again.

"The best agreements are those where there's mutual respect. Clearly you have none for me, so why should I come to one with you?" I ain't fucking around here.

She looks at the document again. "How are we to pay such fines?" Ok, we are negotiating again.

"I suggest that you talk with your people to make sure they don't HAVE to pay any, wouldn't that be simpler? However if your people insist on earning one, this is The Caribbean! I am sure there's much treasure to be found in sunken ships." Phoebe links me telling me that they have loads. "Or you can pay from your own coffers, it's your choice. But again I hope it doesn't come to that."

"And my people shan't be hurt?" She asks.

"It's all there in the contract. I have no problem whatsoever of your people being curious and wanting to know more about us or having conversations with my people on the shore. I can guarantee that they will be curious of you and would want to say hello. All I want is respect and mutual safety and enjoyment for both our people and maybe someday even a partnership were we know and trust each other enough were contracts and treaties are not necessary. I wish for harmony and balance with the Mere folk, no more, no less. For now we have that document which will be sealed in blood before the Goddesses Selene and Gaia for they too want harmony among their people." It's a Blood Oath or nothing!

Both entities come closer to the shore and I go back to step in the water. I see her face softens.

"I agree to your terms wolf sister, I will command my people to obey these terms, can I have a copy?" And I give her a smile.

I link Phoebe to make sure they're no tricks and she answers that Pasha is in genuine agreement.

"I thought you would never ask!" And I reach back for a copy. I extend my canines, cut my thumb and stamp it on the document I'm holding and she does the same with thumbs of both entities and we trade and repeat the print. I ask her to trade again since the one I am holding is the waterproof one and we trade. I hand the document to Phoebe who hands it to Bayoán as I cut both my hands to shake her hands, she looks at them curious and Sybil goes to her ear to explain. Pasha's both entities cut their hands and shake mine.

"The Blood Oath is complete. Blessed Be! I shall give the order that no citizen of Karaya is to harm any of your people at once, I hope you do the same. Welcome to Karaya Island to all of you!" And finally she smiles. Well she DOES have smiling muscles!

"Blessed Be! I look forward to more conversations with you Alpha." She says and I am surprised by this but decide not to show it.

"And I with you Queen Pasha and maybe you can help me answer the riddle of why I smell of your people under the waters of the sea." She hands the document to a green haired mermaid with double irises if blue and red with pale pink fins. They swim away, and I exhale.