SIREN’S MISTAKE PART 11

“I do not know what the feces of bovines has to do with anything.”

My mind stuttered to a stop. “That’s not what I meant.”

A small smile formed on his lips. “I know this, Sha. I jest.”

“You’re a jerk. You know that?” I couldn’t help but smile as well.

His dark eyes twinkled. Clearly making me smile brightened his mood. “I have watched your kind for a very long time. The slang words are difficult to understand sometimes but I can usually figure them out.”

“You see, when you say things like that, I get confused. Are you human?” There was the question I needed to ask. I couldn’t believe I even asked it. I still couldn’t wrap my head around him thinking I was a siren. That’s just impossible. Now here I am asking him if he is human? What the hell is wrong with me? What happened at his apartment still swam in my head, but my mind was already trying to find ways to rationalize it.  I instinctively touched the wound on my arm.

His now serious eyes followed my hand. “I am not, Sha.”

Ok, this is nuts. Did he just say what I thought he did? Maybe I should play along and see where this goes. “Fine. You aren’t human. What are you then.”

“That is complicated. I have been around since the beginning of humankind.” He looked down at his lap as if he was ashamed.

For some reason, I wanted to go to him, comfort him. Instead of focusing on what he told me, I could only see his sadness. “What is wrong with what you just said? You seem upset by it.”

“Are you not? I am surprised with the ease you are accepting all of this.”

A brief laugh escaped my mouth before I could stop it.  “Accepting? No way in hell. You need serious psychiatric help. But for some reason, I want to hear you out and help where I can.”

“Your heart is what attracted me to you. All the men who tried to win that heart of yours but always fell short do not know what they have lost.”

“I don’t know about that. So, tell me where you come from and why you think you have seen all human history. And what the hell is up with your apartment?” I tried to sit up straighter, but my arm protested. So, I slumped down into the couch and prepared for a wild story.”

He looked into my eyes. Knowing what he apparently did about me, he did not hesitate or flinch when he did this. He held my gaze. The world didn’t silence or fall away for me. Meeting his gaze felt like a warm hug. It felt right.

Finally, he continued. “There are many species and races of eternal beings humans do not know about. My kind is one of them. Just as what you call angels have watchers of time, so do we. We witness your wars, your acts of kindness, all of it. I have been delegated as one of the watchers since the beginning.” Again, sadness reflected on his face. “My apartment lets me travel to my realm and back. When you went in, you went to where my kind lives along with other, less sophisticated beings. The ones who hurt you were like wild animals you have here.”

“Sounds boring. Why are you sad, though.” The need to touch him almost overcame me but I held back.

“It is a very lonely existence. To be a watcher is to be alone. I am not allowed to find a mate within my species. I only interact with the one I report my findings to. That is all. Instead, I watch your race fall in love and live out your lives. I even envy your heartbreaks.”

A tear did not fall from his face but mine. “That’s terrible. How could you live that long seeing others being happy, but you don’t get to be?”

“Because at the end of my service, I am allowed to find my soul mate.”

Something in his eyes was trying to tell me more than his words were. “When is this supposed to happen? I’d think you have worked long enough already. Especially if what you said was true about watching since the beginning.”

He smiled again at me. “My service ended when I met you.”

An audible click sounded in my mind. “Oh….OH! Wait. You don’t mean…”

“Yes, Andy. I feel you are the one I have been waiting for all of my existence.”

That was the first time he said my name. It sent chills all over my skin in the most pleasant way. It only lasted a minute before my intrusive mind ruined the moment. The curse. “You might want to shop around some more. I’m not what you think. That supposed siren crap you laid on me? That is what’s doing this. You aren’t really interested in me. The curse makes you think you are.”

He slowly shook his head. “No, Sha. Your siren abilities do not work on my kind. I have watched you for a long time. I have seen your good deeds and how you treat others. Even the ones who fall prey to your ‘curse’ as you call it. You still try to be kind to them.”

“Stalker much?” I laughed when I said this. It was actually endearing that he saw that in me. My mind continued to find flaws so he would walk away from me.  “You said you lived all this time. That means you can’t die. That also means you won’t age and yet I will. I would be eighty and you would still look like this.” I waved my hand towards him.

This time, he nodded but not in agreement. It was more like he understood my train of thought. “When my race chooses a partner for life, we blend our life span with who we choose. Humans are relatively short lived while we are not. However, you are not entirely human. You are also siren. So, you would normally live roughly ten times the length of a normal human. I would adjust to your life span. I will age as you do and die when you do. That is, if you accept me.”

“That’s cruel! How could I condemn you to die when I do? You would live forever if you just walk away now. Don’t do this. You should choose to live!” I couldn’t sit there anymore. I threw the covers off and stood.

Zagan stood as well. He took the step needed to grasp both of my hands. His eyes searched mind for a moment. “Would you rather condemn me to an eternal life of loneliness? My choice would be to live a shorter, happier life with you here on earth. Will you accept me?”

I searched for the negative thoughts in my mind that would convince me to reject Zagan but they were silent. I tried my own rational thoughts. I barely knew this ‘man’ and he wanted me to make a commitment for all time. I wanted so badly to shake my head and tell him to leave but my soul cried out to be one with his.

“I accept.”