#leviathanxreader

"God Levi how can you stay in the water for so long ? it’s so cold in here ! my feet are freezing !" MC took her feet out of the water, bringing her knees to her chest in an attempt to warm herself up, going out at night wearing only a nightdress sure wasn’t a good idea. "You know MC, I was quite literally made to be in the water, not to stay on earth" Leviathan started swimming towards her "Why don’t you come inside ? The water won’t feel as cold as it does now once your whole body is submerged" She smiled and gently shook her head, letting go of her knees and putting her hand on her boyfriend’s wet cheek "No, I can look at you from here ! You look really happy and that’s adorable !" The demon sank his face halfway in the water in a failed attempt to hide his blushing face.

Watching him swimming away, MC noticed something, his tail and horns weren’t here. "Hey Levi ?" he hummed and turned around to face her "why aren’t you in your demon form ?" Leviathan didn’t really knew what to say. He was a bit self conscious of his demon form, for some reason he was afraid he might scare or disgust her, especially after what happened during the TSL tournament they had when they first met. "It would probably be more comfortable for you" She said with a soft smile to reassure him after noticing his lack of answer. "Yeah, you’re right" Her words made the demon feel a bit more at ease and so, his long snake tail and his horns appeared but the young girl knew that it wasn’t it. "Levi, I meant your true demon form"

Her boyfriend started to shook his head while saying "no no no no no no absolutely not ! you don’t wanna see this trust me… I don’t like this true demon form, I look disgusting and scary, I mean more then usual" MC put her hand in the water to pull on his tail and grab him towards her so their faces would only be inches away from each other. "Listen here you little otaku, I love you and no matter what you look like I will always love you. I never saw you as disgusting or scary, I know you have a degrading kink or something but you really need to stop calling you that !" Upon evoking his filthy little kink Leviathan started blushing because of shame "Why would you want to see me like that anyway ? It’s not like sea monsters are sexy…" "Because I love you ! And I wanna know each and every part of you" The demon sighed, reconsidering for a bit "You promise you won’t break up with me right..?" MC noted, smiling as always "I promise !"

Leviathan placed both of his hands on the border of the lake, on both sides of MC’s knees, trapping her. Closing his eyes, Levi started to grow much bigger, becoming stronger but also taller. Black and dark blue scales appeared on both of his arms, going up until his pecs and stopping right before his abs. His tail and both of his legs disappeared they were replaced by a long, really long, snake tail, making him look like a mermaid. His nails got longer like claws and she noticed the palms between his fingers. Leviathan kept his eyes closed, scared of seeing her reaction, scared of seeing her disgusted. Gently she placed her hand on his arm and he flinched under her touch, to reassure him she started lightly caressing his scales, trailing up to his face. "Leviathan ? Leviathan please look at me, I’m not running away" He shook his head. "What ? You’re not speaking now ?" He shook his head, again "Ooh come on now please don’t be a-" She stopped when she noticed the gills on his neck "Oh my god ! You can breathe under water !" "Yeah well of course I can you idiot I- !" Leviathan accidentally opened his eyes and he spoke, so he knew she saw them, she saw his shark like teeth, as sharp as knives, made to eat flesh, flesh like hers. He immediately put a hand on his mouth and he swam away from her "You saw them..I knew it was a bad idea to show you this… You’re probably scared of me now.." MC was hurt, does he really hate himself this much ? She felt a little pain in her heart upon thinking this. The human tried calling his name multiple times, but he wouldn’t answer, he wouldn’t even face her.

He loved her, he never loved someone as much as he loves her and loosing her would be the worst thing that could ever happen to him. It’s already a miracle she chose him among all of his brothers. Since it was no use calling his name, MC decided to jump in the cold water while wearing only her nightdress in order to get to him and hug her boyfriend to finally have his attention. She placed her arms on his broad shoulders, forcing Levi to jump out of his thoughts. "MC what are you doing ?? I thought the water was too cold for you !" "And it is !! But you wouldn’t answer so I just had to get your attention" Leviathan felt a bit bad, she did this just for him ? He doesn’t deserve her.. "Leviathan please listen and get that through your thick skull ! I love you !! No matter what you look like ! You will always be my one and only and I’m so proud of you for showing me your true form ! Thank you so much for this.." The demon felt his heart warm up. He gave his girlfriend the tightest hug ever and some small kisses on her cheek.

Then there came a day when your small slice of the heavens had another, a stranger to you, set foot on the sands of Leviathan’s beach.  

“Who are you?” You called as you stood up straight, a basket of seaweed on your hip, and hair trailing over your shoulders.

The woman stood on the beach with two dogs, her eyes closed and a small, soft smile on her face. She was dressed richly in blacks and golds. Her hair long and straight. The dogs at her side, an unfamiliar sight, were opposites. One with a white coat, and dark markings around her eyes, and the other with a black coat with white around his eyes.

How you knew what they were, you didn’t understand.

“The girl has been chosen yet doesn’t know her calling.” The woman suddenly spoke and opened her eyes. The most brilliant green stare pinned you in place, and all at once you knew who she was.

“Forgive me.” You quickly knelt on one knee in the tide, bowing your head, “I didn’t recognize who you were, Lady Messenger. Leviathan is in her home, if you wish to speak with her.”

You didn’t even feel the woman come near you until her hands came to rest on your face and guided you into looking up at her. They were cold, not like Leviathan’s sea cooled skin, but called to mind frozen lakes, snow, and wind. You had to suppress a shiver as you met her gaze.

“The Tide Mother is not what beckons me here.” She said, studying your face. “You are the one I needed to see.”

You couldn’t help the surprise that flashed across your face, “Me? What could you need of me Lady Messenger?”

The Messenger guided you to your feet and took your hands to hold in her own. But when she opened her mouth to speak, a wrath filled yell echoed through the air, and all at once you were torn from the messenger’s hold.

“Trespasser! Sneak!” Leviathan hissed, in her mortal form, now standing with you wrapped in her arms. “I forbid all others from my realm!”

“You would hide the girl from her calling.” The woman replied, her eyes flashing a pale blue for a single moment. And seeing it made your heart leap into your throat. There was danger in those eyes, something you weren’t sure that even Leviathan could hold her own against.

The hold on you tightened, and you felt Leviathan pressed her face into your hair. But what you couldn’t see was that her eyes remained uncovered and peered over your hair at the messengers. And even further behind you both, serpents made of water had risen from the tides, fangs bared and twisting through the air.

“You knew the cost of taking in a mortal, mother of the tides,” She continued, taking a step forward. An almost inaudible hiss left Leviathan, only heard by you due to how she was pressed against you. “Daughter of the deep. The time has come for her to join us.”

A gasp left you when the messenger stepped onto the water and it froze under her feet. Solid blocks of ice that touched the sea floor that were unmoving.

“W-what is she talking about?” You asked quietly, a slight tremble beginning to run through you. The water around all of you was nearly ice, something that you had become unfamiliar with since Leviathan brought you here. You were cold for the first time in a long time.

A few moments of silence passed, with you and Leviathan simply standing in the tide together. Then she finally started to answer, “Mortals are not meant for long lives. Nor are the creatures of Eos.”

You glanced up at the messenger and frowned. Her eyes were closed again, but this felt like it should have been a private conversation for the two of you. So, with one of the gifts that Leviathan had given you, you waved your hand and a small curtain of water cut you off from the messenger. Only then did you turn around in Leviathan’s arms, or rather you tried. When she felt you move she tightened her hold on you, as if worried you would try to get away.

“Dearest, please.” You whisper.

Reluctantly she began to loosen her hold but didn’t let you go. Not entirely. As if she was scared you would willingly leave her arms. So, you got to see the slightest hint of surprise on her face when you only turned around. But then it was gone, and you could feel her arms relax. In turn, you wrapped your arms around her waist and laid your head on her shoulder.

When both of you settled, Leviathan calmed by your heartbeat, she began to speak again, “A deal, made long ago, was struck among the gods. This deal was to find up to four we each found worthy, and name them to a group that would never exceed 24.”

Something like discomfort began to settle into your stomach as she continued, “The 24 would guide the bloodline of healers, until the last of the line disappears from this world. These 24 were named messengers. The Infernian selected two creatures of Eos, but no more, refusing to choose any among men for fear of further betrayal. The Glacian selected only one, finding one among the mortals serving the founder king of Lucis as the first shield, a woman of grace and strength named Gentiana.”

She paused then, and for the first time since you’d come here, you could hear the slightest waver in her voice, “A fourth chosen, gifted long life and the strength of the sea by the Hydraean.”

You pulled your head off her shoulder and looked into her eyes, shock playing across your face.

“Found worthy through the devotion and compassion, earning a place among the 24.”

You were speechless, stunned by the revelation. So much so that you didn’t notice that she waved a hand at the water wall you’d called, and it fell back into the sea. It was only when you felt icy hands on your arms that you realized you were back on the beach, moved there by Leviathan’s strange magic. But also, when you turned your head to look, you saw that Gentiana was the one who was holding onto you now as well.

“She must complete her calling.” She intoned, “Then the girl will be able to return with her reward.”

“I don’t want a reward.” You said turning away from the woman, Gentiana you reminded yourself, and looking up at Leviathan. “I want to stay with you.”

Leviathan looked like she was about to say something, but then shut her mouth and shook her head, her braids falling over her shoulders. “You must go, all the same. No god magic could keep you from going.”

“B-but…” You were scared. You didn’t want to leave her side, and yet she relaxed her hold on you and willingly pushed you away. The messenger’s hands squeezed for the briefest of seconds, as if meant to be comforting, and then let go. But one did hold your hand and begin guiding you toward where the dogs sat.

You realized then that you were going. Right at that moment. Before you could get much farther, you turned your head and met Leviathan’s eyes, which were watching you walk away.

“I’ll come back.” You found yourself saying. “When this is done, and I complete whatever it is, I’ll return to you.”

She pressed her lips together, as if trying her best to keep her face neutral. You hated when she did that. Because behind her, the water was churning, as if there was a storm in the air. Proof that she didn’t want you to go either.

“The girl lives up to her title.” Gentiana said while still gently pulling you along, “The devoted. You’ll find your reward more than enough.”

It was only then, that you turned to look at your fellow messenger, hissing. “Tell me what it is, and I’ll decide for myself if it’s enough for awaking the ire of a Goddess.”

“It is true, the sea has been kinder since you were named one of us.” She said, and then stopped when you were standing by the two dogs. “It’ll be crueler while you’re away we imagine. But the reward has always been to spend eternity among the gods if we so choose. Once our duty is complete, we keep our eternity.”

That made your heart clench. Leviathan wanted eternity with you as well, which you knew, but to KNOW was something else. “Then I’ll do it. I don’t have a choice, but it feels like I do now. We complete our task, and I return to Leviathan’s side.”

Gentiana opened her eyes again, this time smiling, and simply nodding her head. With a sigh, you steeled yourself for whatever the future held for you, and allowed the other messengers to whisk you away.

~

Leviathan watched from the beach as she left, and already this place, crafted for you, felt a lot less welcoming to her. The water was churning behind her, years of pent up energy inside the waves. It had been restless, missing the days when Leviathan hadn’t been tempered by your presence. She turned away from the beach and began to walk across the sands, meaning to walk into the water and return to her truer form. But then something caught her eye, and she turned to look.

In the waves, having washed up onto the sands, was the basket of seaweed you’d been collecting. It caused her to pause again, and inside her chest she could feel something grip what was her heart in this body, and squeeze. She swallowed hard and then turned back to the water, looking into it.

She didn’t know how to deal with missing someone. She hadn’t been able to deal with it before, and she couldn’t deal with it now. Especially since messengers could die before fulfilling their calling. Cupita, her messenger, could die, just as Hibiscus the mortal did. And the older god Titan wouldn’t be able to turn her into a flower for Leviathan to remember her this time. He was under that accursed rock. She could lose all traces of her. Forever. She could feel her breathing quicken, and her chest began to rise and fall rapidly. It was too much.

She fell to her knees and let out a scream.

The sea became violent in a way that hadn’t been seen for thousands of years, tossing and turn with waves higher than the cliffs that surrounded their home. Leviathan poured out her energy into the waves, and they reveled in the chaos. It made her feel better, at least until Leviathan actually looked out into the sea. She saw the chaos and destruction and wondered if Cupita would have approved. And when she found the answer lacking she forced it all to stop. Her hands shook as she got to her feet, scared, for the first time, of the destruction she could cause on a whim.

She didn’t want that.

Instead of letting out all her emotions and pushing them into the waves, she walked into the water and allowed it to take her to a long-forgotten altar, built by mortal hands after the god’s war had ended to long ago. There, she was lucky. A few humans were doing a rite, trying to appease her. It had been days of storms for them apparently, yet only felt like moments to her. She turned into her serpent form and did as their story of her suggested.

"Are you sure, you haven't been coming to dinner lately," I could hear his pout on the other side of the door.

"Don't worry, I'll eat l-l-later," I stuttered feeling bad that he sounded worried.

"If you need anything just know my room is down the hall," Asmo spoke out. "Just know my door is always open," With the suggestive tone I couldn't help but cringe. I heard him walk away and I unpaused the anime.

After a few episodes I noticed it was already 11 pm so I got up once again pausing Haikyuu. I made my way to the kitchen as quietly as I could. Looking through the cupboards and grabbed a box of mac and cheese. The kept some human food for me so I felt a bit more comfortable which warmed my heart. It probably took some work to do that. Grabbing a pot I filled it with water and waited for it to boil. So I went on my D.D.D. and watched some DevilTube. I missed YouTube but I found some cool people on DevilTube.

I jumped  when I heard Levi talk to me.

"What're you doing normie?" He asked as I turn around. I turned off my phone and nervously smile.

"Uh, I'm making mac and cheese," I replied softly.

"Talk louder, I can barely hear you," I heard him scoff.

"Uhm, I can't eat it all by myself," I started, talking a bit louder. "Would you like some?"

"Fine, but only cause I came here to eat some food anyways," Levi spoke covering his face with the back of his hand. The water started to slightly boil, so after putting some salt in I poured the noodles in.

"It's gonna take a bit to cook," I responded as I grabbed a stool and sat by the stove. He sat on another stool by the counter, pulled out his Nimtendo and started playing a game. I kinda felt disheartened and let out a silent sigh, I was hoping to become friends with Levi. I mean he was sorta harsh on me but I could tell he just didn't know how to interact with me...I mean I'm the same way. I just felt like we were similar and that could make a strong bond between us.

Yet I felt to scared to try and start a conversation, he probably wanted to be left alone and play his game. So I turned my attention back to Serpentine this one commentary DevilTuber. I stirred the noodles every so often and I noticed that the noodles looked soft.

"Uh, hey Levi..." I started trying to think on how to form my sentence and not seem pushy and rude. He glanced at me looking right back at his device, I'm guessing he's listening? "D-do you think you could get some butter and milk, I need to strain the noodles." I was already moving to the cabinets looking for a strainer.

Slightly whining he replied with a "Fine." The noodles were back in the pot and Levi handed me milk and butter. I put in half a stick of butter then the cheese packet, finally pouring in the milk. After I mixed it all together I grabbed two bowls and split the pot. I handed one bowl to Levi and kept one for myself.

We both sat next to each other eating in silence. I don't know if its just me, but it felt nice. His expression showed enjoyment which made some pride swell in my heart.

"How is it?" I asked wanting confirmation.

"I-It's okay," He blushed, his gaze not meeting mine. A smile made it way onto my face, I could tell he loved it no matter how much he denied it. I started to feel sleepy when I finished and I groaned out loud because I didn't want to wash my dishes. I put my head on the counter and closed my eyes trying to gain some energy, but it was the wrong decision as I felt even more tired. With a sigh I opened my eyes and stood up grabbing my bowl.

"I...I can wash that for you," Levi spoke up which surprised me. I didn't really expect that.

"N-no its fine," I stuttered rubbing my eyes. Before I could take a step towards the sink Levi grabbed the bowl from my hands.

"Just go to sleep," Levi huffed giving me a lighthearted scowl. I felt a bit flustered at how sweet he was being and I looked away from him.

"T-thank you Leviathan," I mumbled. With my mind still groggy I stood on my tip toes and gave his cheek a small peck. With that I walked to my room with a dopey grin.

ওওও

The next morning I went down for breakfast. When I got there I was greeted by the brothers. Levi never showed up which slightly concerned me, I mean he may be a shut in but he never missed breakfast. Maybe I should bring him his plate before Beel eats it. Lucifer smirked at me, he seemed to notice my stare was lingering at Levi's spot. I just felt too shy to do anything.

"(Y/n), could you bring Levi his food?" Lucifer asked, but it was clearly an order. I nodded my head grabbing his plate and going to Levi's room. Knocking on his door I anxiously shifted on my feet hoping I wasn't being bothersome.

"What's the password?" I heard him shout through the door. Shit I don't know how to respond. So with one hand I texted him asking what the password was hoping I didn't look like a weirdo. I got no response but the door cracked open showing Levi peaking from the small opening. I noticed he was slightly blushing and giggling at something.

"Y-you weren't there for breakfast so I brought you your portion," I mumbled showing him the plate.

"Whaaa-" Levi gasped once again covering his face with his hand. "D-d-don't think that this makes me happy," Levi mumbled defensively looking away. I knew he didn't mean it cause his expression gave him away yet I still felt kinda hurt.

"O-oh," I whispered looking down.

"W-WAIT NO!" Levi shouted shocking me. "I don't mind it." He opened the door wider motioning for me to enter. He took the plate from me, our hands slightly touching making us both fluster.

Maybe that’s why you saw her.

Playing in the water had caused you to lose track of time. The sun was almost all the way down, and moon just beginning to rise. A rare twilight, where both moonlight and sunlight met on the beach. What pulled you out of your revelry was the sight of a woman in the water as you were. Only she wasn’t dancing. She stood still and looked to the horizon.

She was gorgeous, in a way you couldn’t quite name. Her skin was dark, the color of sharp rocks near the cliff, darkened by the water that was constantly sharpening their points. A rich black that could only come from the combination of earth and sea. Across her body were bright blue tattoos. So reflective was the ink, it was as if the waves depicted on her were taken right from the sea in the middle of a bright sunny day. Her face was warm and strong, and her eyes were hard. But not cold. Rather, they were deep. Dark and soothing. There was no other way to describe them. And her dress blended seamlessly with the sea foam at her ankles, flowing around her legs as if there was a gentle breeze.

And while she was so gorgeous, you were a child. So the only thing you fixated on was the bright red flower tucked behind her ear, held in place by her many braids. It didn’t take long for you to walk up to her, and while normally, the sight of another person to play with would have brought you running, something inside you told you to walk. To be on your best behavior. And upon reaching her, she turned to look at you, a subtle look of surprise on her face. With her eyebrows slightly raised, she knelt in the water to be on your level.

“Hi.” You said softly, shyly, which was out of character for you. “Why do you have that flower in your hair?”

She tilted her head slightly, and seemed to regard you with rarely used curiosity. When she spoke, it was the same song of the tides that met your ears.

“It was made for me, and so it is my favorite.”

And with that, she rose back to her feet, seemingly having sated her curiosity.

“Child, run back the way you came.” Without touching your shoulders, she guided you to turn around. “Go, and do not look back.”

With words so grave, you felt compelled to listen, and did as she wished. It wasn’t until you were back on the grass further up from the beach, your family’s home in sight, that you felt safe enough to turn around. You watched as she stepped out of the water, and walked along the beach. But then, while you were watching, she slowly faded out of sight. Where her hand had hovered above your shoulder, a mark of two lines appeared. Like her own tattoos, they depicted waves. Only, it looked like a birthmark rather than the blue of her own, and for years to come would be unnoticed by you.

That night, your mother told you to story of Leviathan, a feared beast, the anger of the ocean. Mother of the tides and spirit of the deep. Your mother also told you of how people used to worship her, pray to her, and she never listened. Taking loved ones and drowning them. The vicious waves and currents that could steal someone from the beach if they dared turn their back on her. Cruelly ending lives before they’d begun. People vanishing on the water never to be seen again. She was to be feared, reviled, but respected.

But that day, the woman had given you a gift. Now, when you looked at the tides, the song that was once silence had turned into symphonies of creation and destruction in equal measure.

~

When you were a teenager, you’d gone back to the beach many times, nearly daily, hoping to get a glimpse of the woman again. The threat of daemons rising from the sands nearby, and the long trek home in the dark, did not daunt you. You’d learned from the hunters how to evade, and were aided by the sand refusing to give under your feet when you ran. Of course danger was ever present, but there was no where you felt safer than the beach.

Now that you were older, you were sure that the woman you had seen that day had been the goddess of the sea herself. Only, you’d never seen her again after that night. But you held faith in your heart, and had nothing but kind thoughts for the goddess. In the water, before the sunset and after the moon rose, you would leave flowers on the edge of the waves. Red ones. Always red. The next morning when you’d come back, some of them would be returned to you, sitting on the sand as if the water had rejected them.

But the red hibiscus flowers were always gone.

Eventually, you’d stopped bringing all others, and even made a ritual out of talking to the waves about your day when you’d sent them. As long as you knew that someone was there, listening silently, it helped you when you were hurt, and made you happy when you weren’t. Occasionally, on certain days, you’d whisper old prayers that you’d learned from an old woman in town. Ones that still remembered the goddess before her rage, and offered her the respect and reverence that had been stripped from her when all that man spoke of was her anger.

They spoke of protection, and of a long-forgotten title.

Sometimes, you’d read from your journal that you kept of writing and drawings. Poems you’d written for her, made from the memory of a child who didn’t know she was supposed to be feared. And as you aged, you spoke of her beauty, never mentioning the danger she was known for. You wrote of the sea as a person, capable of anger and love. Some of them were ever written to the melody of the waves, becoming instead songs of the sea. Drawings of the memory of her tattoos, colored to match their brilliance. But you’d never been able to capture their exact color. Portraits of her eyes. The hem of her dress as it had blended into the foam. There were also drawings of ships and sailors preparing to leave the shores. Or the hibiscus flowers you grew and would pick just for the ocean.

And for the first time that day, you’d finished a journal.

As you thumbed through its contents while sitting on the sand, you realized you didn’t know what to do with it. Poems no one else had read, drawings never seen by anyone but you.

It felt right, when you cast it into the waves with the flower.

“It’s for you.” Was all you said that day, and then you turned and left to go back home.

~

As an adult, people were beginning to whisper about you. You’d grown unparalleled in beauty, unrivaled in kindness, and known for having a strange connection to the sea. There were many suitors that you’d rejected in your small seaside town, and all would meet unlucky fates at the hands of the waves. As if the sea itself was warning them away from trying again. And for the few that insisted on trying to force you into a relationship you didn’t want, it was rare they came back from their next trip on the sea.

Some began calling you Leviathan’s kindness. Her priestess. The woman who was given gifts from the waves. Whereas people knew that the goddess was anything but kind and would only hurt those who dared to try crossing her waters, you could heal with what she would use to hurt.

Women would come to you for multiple reasons. Some for love spells, to give a man’s heart a nudge, or to grant him the courage needed take the next step. Those spells were easy, but would take time. Others to escape. For a way out of their situation. To heal their bruises and their souls. Those were longer, but took effect almost instantly.

“Take this seashell, and when you see him next, crush it over your heart. And then you shall be free from the love you feel for him.” You told one woman, who’s eye you had helped heal with sea water when it had been swollen shut. You ensured that she wouldn’t be blind in that eye, and the rest of her bruises, after being massaged with a paste of hibiscus petals and sea foam, were gone by the next day.

You placed the seashell in a sachet of linen, easily hidden in the front pocket of the woman’s shirt, and handed it to her. “Then you must take a boat away from here, but have no destination in mind. Cast away your oars and lay down in the boat and sleep. She will take care of you if you trust her. When you arrive at safety, throw a bottle with words you feel are right back into the water.”

“Thank you,” The woman said, “Thank you so much.”

Others began to call you a sea witch.

“Where is she?!” The man raged, days after the woman’s visit, throwing the things in your home into disarray. Papers strew about in rage, books thrown carelessly on the floor, bottles of water upended, and seashells, the gifts the sea left for you, smashed to pieces. Outside, you could feel a storm building in your bones.

With the sea behind you outside the window, with its song ever present, you were brave.

“Gone. You’ll never hurt her again.”

Your eyes were as cold as the sea in winter, and he continued raging. The man wanted to get his way. He threw a piece of broken bottle at you, it’s jagged end catching your cheek. You allowed the blood to drip down your face and fall to the floor, where it mixed with the sea water he’d spilled. The cut was deep, but you didn’t care.

But she did.

The sound of a bellowing scream came from the sea, and the man paled.

“Witch!” He spat, before fleeing your home to run back to the town.

You’d never heard that sound from the sea before, and went outside to see what could have made it. But also, to show that you were unharmed. And the only thing you saw was the crashing of the waves on the sand.

~

That night, the song changed. Creation had never sounded so soft, nor destruction so soothing. Barefooted, you left your home and walked down to the beach, and then into the water to stand where you were when you were a child. This time it was fully night, but the moon was already setting. Yet, even with the difference, you could feel her there. You took a few steps further out into the sea, and waited. And when you felt that it was time, you turned around.

There she stood, ankle deep in the ocean, looking exactly as she did all those years ago. It was as if she had never left that spot. But this time she beckoned to you. The movement was like a siren’s call, and you couldn’t do anything else but follow.

Slow measured steps, following her at a respectable distance. You never took your eyes off her, a feeling warning you away from doing so. Not that you wanted to. The woman, goddess, you’d been talking to and offering prayers for years was in front of you. The same deity that granted you gifts and your connection to the sea. Why would you look away?

Upon stepping on the sand, it felt different, but you didn’t dare look down. It was as soft as powder, yet you knew if she willed it, it could shred your feet in seconds. It was the feeling of the sand, cool yet warm under your feet, that let you know this wasn’t the beach you had just been on. No, this was a place between the water and the sea sand of your home. A place only she could come.

And she’d brought you.

You followed her on this endless beach, the water behaving strangely to the right of you. Your connection to the water, to her, allowed you the knowledge of knowing not to touch the water again now that you’d left it. The song was wrong.

When the sun started rising, you could see a small cottage. The wood was weathered, like it had seen many sea storms and was rubbed smooth by the sand around it. She entered first, and given that she hadn’t told you to stop following, you went inside too.

Your eyes, even though you just came in from outside, didn’t need to adjust to the change in lighting. A strange sort of ease settled over you the moment you came through the door. It was like coming home. And all around the cottage, you could see the flowers you’d sent her. Eternally kept alive, some gathered in bushels, some strung up on the walls. But the best ones had their stems held in the pages of the journals she had collected over the years.

When you went to walk further into the cottage, strong arms wrapped around you from behind. Her skin was cool and thrummed with energy unending. You wanted nothing more than to turn around to see her face. But you held still. One of her hands drifted up to your face, turning your injured side toward her. You closed your eyes the moment she pressed a kiss to the cut, and suppressed a hiss of pain as it healed. The healing she did always felt like rubbing salt in the wound until it was finished.

After she finished, it was then that she reached down and held your hands in hers, trapping you in her embraces and your own. You leaned back, pressing your head against her shoulder, and finally allowed yourself to look up at her. She met your stare with her own, and you found something like love there. You knew that gods could not love like mortals do, but what was in her eyes rant as deep as the deepest part of her domain.

It was then that she interrupted your thoughts. Her hand resting against your cheek again, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to the corner of your mouth, teasing. But then she pressed her lips to your and let you turn around in her arms. Her hand then slid back to fist in your hair, pulling your head back to kiss at your neck, lingering on your pulse. It felt like the tide had swept you away and soon you lost yourself to her.

~

It was after, when you lay in a tangle of blankets at her side, with her eyes watching your every move, that you spoke.

“Why me?” You asked, your voice as small as the day you met. You were human, insignificant compared to the eternity of her life. And while you loved her, you knew it was not returned. A god couldn’t feel love as a human does after all.

She was silent for a moment, appearing to gather her thoughts while tracing your collar bones with feather light touches. But then her hand trailed over to your shoulder and slowly, she began to hold you so tightly, her nails began to leave indents in your skin.

“I think you were made for me, and so you are my favorite.” Was her answer, and a part of you felt uneasy at the thought of being a belonging of the goddess. But another part of you recalled her fondness of the Hibiscus flower, and how it has spanned centuries. Since the first moment, according to the story, that Titan created it and gifted it to her, in memory of a woman she had failed to protect, coloring the petals with the woman’s blood.

And so you smiled, and leaned forward to press another, this time chaste, kiss to her mouth which she gladly returned.

~

All the town’s people found on the beach, the night after you went missing, was your footsteps going into the tide. Some side that Leviathan had finally killed the last of her compassion, and now only her anger was left. But the women whispered of Leviathan calling you home. Of you having gone to her side as your reward for being so faithful to the sea.