Chapter 2

Caterina POV

"The Heart of the Sea,

Trapped in time,

I'll sing you back to me,

Love of mine..."

I see you, Sailor. Your endless search for me. That is perhaps the cruellest part of her curse. She allows me to watch you... want you. So close, yet just beyond reach. Our tether pulls me wherever you go but her curse holds me under. Never allowed to breach the surface.

You've become more determined these last three months. I wonder, have the visions started for you too? Our time together was so brief. Three days was all we had, yet that was enough for our souls to be bound for life. I remember the look of curiosity and wonder on your face as I explained our connection. You believed every word, you had no choice, you could feel it.

"So, you're saying I've been wandering around my whole life, missing half of my soul?"

"What I'm saying, Sailor is that everyone's soul is but half of what it would be when it becomes tethered to another. Have you never felt a pull? Toward something that might fill an inner emptiness?"

"Call me Finn... And yes, now that you mention it. That is exactly how it feels, well, felt. I don't feel that anymore..." I wouldn't call you Finn. It was a boyish name. You were my Sailor, so that is what I called you. Without another word, the glance we shared showed that we both knew what we were to each other.

The way my power surged in your presence told me very quickly that you were not human. Or rather, a mortal life was not your destiny. I never had the chance to tell you of your potential. Now you sail the sea, forever the Captain of the lost ship on the horizon, because of me.

She could feel my power growing in that short time. She knew that once we had fully come together, she would no longer be able to contain me. My power would be too vast and I would finally be ready to claim the throne. The heart would become the head. I would bear the weight of the crown with my soulmate by my side. Your destiny too, being realised with the union of our souls.

"Below the surface,

Lie the answers you seek,

Turn your stare to the water,

Call on your soul to see..."

I watch in agony as you look toward the distant sunrise. The soft morning light gently caressing your handsome, weathered features. The breeze pushes your unkempt, ebony curls from your face and I see the hope flash in your ocean eyes. I lie in wait, willing with all my might that you will look down, that you might see...

The sun peeks its head over the horizon and I see the pain and disappointment cross over your face. Our brief window has closed for yet another day. Where to now, Sailor? If only you knew the place did not matter. That I am here for every dawn, you just need to know where to look.

"Still following your human to the ends of the Earth, Caterina?"

"You know as well as I, Mother, he is no human." The sound of her voice was enough to send me spiralling into a rage.

"He will return to me, and when he does, I hope you know how far to run..."

"Ha. Foolish Girl. He will not return to you. Are you truly that naive to believe your tether is enough? It's been 7 years, and he's not once thought to look below the surface..."

"You cannot keep us apart forever, you are not that powerful..."

"I don't have to keep you apart forever. Just long enough for his mortality to claim him."

I couldn't help it, I sent a surge of power toward her. My rage fuelling me. It was a risky move, I kept my powers suppressed to keep you safe. When the heart of the Sea was angry, the Sea herself was angry. But my mother was right. I could follow you forever but until we are truly one, your life is as mortal as any other human. It was a truth too painful to consider.

"Care-ful...Cat-er-ina... his ship... won't... with-stand... much... more..." She managed to choke out under my crushing grip. I reigned in my power before my anger forced the waves above to claim the ship you used so tirelessly to search for me.

What had I done? I could've killed you. It would have killed me too... She knew it, she just didn't anticipate her death might prelude both, so she had to stop me. She had underestimated my strength, I realised. My powers were still growing... I hadn't considered that I might continue to become more powerful merely being near you. Neither, evidently, did she.

I turned to face her but she was already gone. I doubted she would be back. She was smart, that I would give her. She won't play with fire like that again. If I kill her, we will both be free.

Now, Sailor, I find myself at a crossroads. Do I abandon you in pursuit of vengeance? Or do I remain, faithfully waiting, hoping, you might look below the surface? What if you should look, only for me to have gone? No, Sailor. I will wait. When we are finally together, she will pay for what she has done...

"The Heart of the Sea,

Trapped in time,

I'll sing you back to me,

Love of mine...

Below the surface,

Lie the answers you seek,

Turn your stare to the water,

Call on your soul to see..."