Blood Pearls

VII

He sat on the coral throne lost in deep thought, it had been a few days since he was last at the surface and he couldn't get the blonde male out of his head. "Penn, are you paying attention?" The ruler of the under water kingdom questioned her son. He shifted his gaze away from the open archway that over looked city and towards his mother instead.

"Sorry." he mumbled.

Samudra rolled her eyes as delicately as she could without him taking too much notice. "As I was saying... son, every action has a reaction and a consequence. Sometimes we've had it in the past where our neighboring kingdoms fell on hard times and wanted to borrow resources from us. What would you do?" She asked him, arms folded across her chest impatiently.

"Well personally, I would try to help them as much as we could. If we had extra food and supplies, then why not?" He stated, as he stared his birth-giver right in the eyes. "I mean, if we ever fell onto hard times, we would hope others would help us." The young male said casually leaning back on the throne.

"Penn, that is the hope. However, what must be done?" She began to pace back and forth. "You must take inventory… find out what you currently have in your kingdom before you agree to anything." She looked up at her son and continued her lesson. "You cannot give others resources that your own kingdom relies on. It would be like taking candy from one child to give it to another. One stopped crying, but the other started."

"Yes, mother." The male replied turning his attention back towards the archway. "So even though you badly want to help them, you gotta be strong and tell them no if it's not possible to help them?"

Samudra gave a stern nod. "Yes. You must know when to be generous and when you cannot afford to be. This not a game, you have hundreds of lives in your hands. A ruler..." she heaved a light sigh. "must not be selfish. They must put the happiness of those lives ahead of their own."

He pulled his attention away from the archway once more, he had been watching a few young merfolk play a game he and his sisters used to play. He sat there staring right at his mother. When he thought of someone of power, she had always come to mind. In his eyes she was the perfect ruler, she could be very strict yet there was a soft side. A side many didn't get to see because she was a female and needed to prove she could handle being a ruler and a mother. He began to wonder if he would ever measure up and be as good as her or would he be the sole reason this kingdom died.

"So, by doing inventory it helps eliminate the chances of getting taken advantage of as well? Because you would know what you could give or do to help out, without jeopardizing the safety of the kingdom." The young male questioned sitting up straight, knowing his mother caught him slouching.

She gave a weak nod. "Yes, dear." Samudra knew that this wasn't where Penn's heart belonged. He tried… oh boy did he try and she knew it was for her. He could do anything that his heart desired if he put his mind to it. He had to truly want to do it… this, she feared it wasn't his thing. "Penn… I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for trying. Trying to appease me. But… we aren't getting anywhere. Do you feel the same?"

He let out a small sigh, was it that noticeable he wasn't paying any attention whats-so-ever? "Mother... I know I can do this, you said it yourself before that I know this stuff. It's the fact my mind isn't in it, I know it should be – but I can't focus. I just want to make sure I see something before I become King." He replied as he looked at his mother. "I know it's selfish, I guess I am but... I just need to see the world, maybe find love. When you were my age, you were having your sixth child. Most of my sisters have at least one or two children, I can't even find a partner to settle down with. How can I be a King... if I can't find someone to spend my life with?" The young male informed his mother, trying to hide the fact he could feel the stinging sensation of tears in his eyes.

She could feel a smirk pulling the edge of her mouth. "You'd be an eligible bachelor whom also is royalty."

Penn shifted his attention back towards the window, "How did you know my father was the person for you?" He questioned her. "I mean, I overheard you and him talk... he isn't from this world. How did you know you would be happy bringing him here?"

Samudra sighed and brushed some hair back. "Oh Penn, your father was among some of the worst humans I had ever witnessed. If he didn't tell me that not all humans were bad… I'd have never believed him. I didn't know that I'd start a family with him… until ah, I was expecting your sister Anyssa… on accident. So, we had to make a split-second decision… your father had nothing to lose and I only had something to gain. I was very physically attracted to your father, of course I still am, but it wasn't until it became… more than just him and I… that we thought about a future together." She shook her head. "I'm not advising you to go out and get a woman pregnant, I'd rather you not make the same mistake your father and I did." Before he could register her words incorrectly, she figured it was best to explain herself right then and there. "None of you are a mistake… but your father and I are a rare percentage that made it through such a situation and love one another even more for it."

"Don't worry mother, I'm not ready to make you a grandma yet. I'm still trying to figure things out. I want to find my partner before I even think about kids, not a moment sooner." He stated, swimming over to her and wrapping his mother in a hug.

She smiled and tightened her grip around him. He would always be her little boy. "Thank goodness, I'm not ready for children from you yet. You're still a handful on your own."

Her car was parked outside the nail salon, Cloe was seated in her car lazily scrolling through the photos on her phone. "Come on, Yas." Cleo spoke out loud to no one, waiting was driving her crazy. After more scrolling she found a new photo she had taken earlier that day and sent it off via text message captioned: Missing You xoxo

She was brought out of thought with a light tapping to her car window, the blonde was surprised to see Yasmin standing there. Cloe knew she was supposed to meet her dear friend, but was also shocked since the brunette canceled their last girl time for some reason. "Hey Pretty Princess, it's great to see you." The blonde said climbing out of the car and hitting the lock button on the key ring.

"Great to see you as well Angel, sorry for being late. Mom wanted to start shopping for my college stuff." Yasmin spoke giving her friend a warm hug.

"Already? We just got finished with high school." flipping her blonde locks over her shoulder, the two girls headed towards the salon for their appointments.

"Yeah, she wants to get as much done as soon as possible. That way we aren't rushing around when time gets closer." Yasmin stated holding the door open.

"Oh ladies, you are always looking so fabulous! Ready to get your nails done today?" one of their regular nail technicians questioned.

"Always!" Cloe stated walking over to one of the empty chairs where they started the pedicure.

"Are you getting the usual or did you want to try something different?" Cloe instructed the technician as she had done many times before.

Yasmin on the other hand, quietly followed her friend, she sat in the other empty chair as the technician began their work. "So Angel, how are things?" she questioned, sipping on her cucumber water.

"Alright, Cameron still hasn't bothered reply to me. I bet he knows he was in the wrong and can't face me." The blonde informed the other as if she hadn't been there to witness his meltdown herself.

"Well Angel, you did upset him the other day." Yasmin pointed out. It was her attempt at trying to get her friend to see that what she was doing, was wrong.

"But Yas, we're prefect together. Everyone knows it. I don't understand why he can't see it, he's too stubborn I guess."

"Angel, you really need to get your head out of the clouds. Can't you see you're losing him as a friend by acting this way?" The brunette inquired. "I don't want to be rude but..."

"Then shut up Yasmin, since you clearly don't know what you're talking about. Cameron does have feelings for me, he's just scared to go public." Cloe snapped at her friend.

Yasmin sat there in shock, not knowing how to react. If she could at this moment she would storm off and not even bother with the blonde. She was too angry at Cloe's snappy response to notice the blonde was dialing someone's number on her cellphone. Only being brought away from her thoughts when the other gave an irritated sigh. "What's your problem, now?"

"Nothing that I'm talking to you about." Cloe retaliated and waited a few more minutes before dialing once again.

From the corner of her eye, Yasmin recognized Cameron's phone number but his contact name was 'My Babe'? This had gone way too far. She scrolled through her own phone to match Cameron's number… it was a perfect match. What the hell was going on with Cloe? "I… I think you're obsessed and you might need help, Angel."

Cloe glared over at Yasmin. "Excuse me? I think you need to mind your own business. If you want to call me obsessed because I actually give a shit about someone other than myself? So be it."

"What are you saying?!" Yasmin jumped up and spilled the warm water her feet soaked in briefly. The nail technician backed up to avoid being splashed as she rushed to grab a 'wet floor' sign and mop. Yasmin hadn't meant to cause an inconvenience.

"I'm saying you can leave. Bye." She crossed her arms over her chest and even shifted so her back was slightly towards the other girl. Someone she thought she could call her best friend…

"That won't be a problem, my pleasure Cloe!" Yasmin stepped into her flip-flops, both her feet soaking wet and making 'squishy' sounds as she made her angry exit… past Jade and Sasha whom were coming in to join them… or so they thought. Yikes!

The guys were playing a two-player game on the PS4 console in the basement rec-room. It was built more like a man-cave for Dylan, his dad and Cameron. Ever since the boat accident and Cameron's parents deaths… he stayed with them as Dylan's parents, were also named Cameron's godparents. The phone vibrated and the blond's face immediately read annoyance.

"Cloe... again?" This was the fourth time in a row that her call kept coming through in the last hour. Even Dylan was starting to get annoyed.

Cameron heaved a sigh. "Of course it is. Like, isn't this shit harassment?"

Dylan thought about it. He wasn't sure if it truly was harassment by definition but it certainly was getting exhausting. "It's similar… shit, is changing your number an option?"

Cameron furrowed his brows. "I'd rather not, then I gotta change it at work and everyone else except Cloe would have to have it… it sounds like a lot of work for bullshit. I don't know how to make it any clearer than what I said at the diner." He knew he was wrong to call her out in front of all their mutual friends. He was sort of hoping that the embarrassment alone would be a lesson learned but apparently she didn't get it.

"Yeah that was… real clear I thought!" Dylan decided now was as good a time as any to talk about it. "In fact, you were a real ass man."

Cameron nodded. "I know, I know and I feel like shit now… but I don't regret it. I feel bad, but she was bound to know I was gonna blow up at some point." His phone dinged with a notification.

Cloe

Picture attachment

Cameron slid his phone along the coffee table to Dylan, who looked at the incoming message and cringed. "Shit, she doesn't give up, does she?"

"Right? For fuck's sake, what am I gonna do?" He set the console controller on the vacant sofa cushion beside him while he rubbed his temples.

Dylan stared at the message. "Do you mind if I-"

"Fill both your fucking boots, man."

Dylan took Cameron's phone and unlocked it with a single swipe to the right. He kept no lock-codes on his phone. He had nothing to hide. The picture was taken from a higher angle, but there was Cloe in all her blonde glory, cupping her left breast and her lips were pouted. Her toned stomach was bare and she was wearing a cute set of lingerie. It was captioned: Missing you xoxo

"God damn, Cloe."

"Don't tell me you find her shit attractive," Cameron started, clearly offended by his best bud's words.

Dylan shook his head. "No, no… I'm just shocked that she thinks this is… cool? Like, Yarra and I have done some pretty nasty things, we've even tried different shit but like, she doesn't send me pictures, I don't send her pics. I mean, I don't think that sending anyone a picture of my dick is really gonna make them jump in the sack with me. It would make them think I'm an easy lay or desperate I think."

Cameron couldn't agree more. "Exactly, that's what I'm saying. Cloe needs to stop."

Dylan handed Cameron his phone in disgust. "Good luck with that."

Cameron typed and sent a message. "Will this get through to her?"

It simply read:

STOP!

Dylan shook his head, "Man I hope so, she's a mess… not even a hot one."

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock-knock.

Dylan wasn't expecting anyone over and his parents were out for their 'date night' so to have someone knocking at the side-door was strange.

He set down his controller on the coffee table and approached the first set of stairs to the landing of the side door. He opened it and nearly got tackled by his brown-haired, green-eyed beauty. "Yarra, hi baby!" He was truly glad it was her… but who was with her?

She kissed his cheek. "Yes, yes I missed you more." She nuzzled her nose into his cheek and backed up. "May we come in?"

"S-sure, of course." He let them both in and lead them further downstairs.

Cameron's jaw dropped and he swore his heart palpitated. He wasn't the boy from Iden's party the other night... was he?