This is the last chapter without any *spice*, from now on each chapter will have some, just needed some time for the background. Constructive feedback is helpful and appreciated! Thanks to @kenjisato for editing!
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Enchanted Emporium was closed for the next two days. This free time allowed Marigold to catch up on chores, binge-watch reality TV, and plan the next quarter for Enchanted Emporium. As she was loading clothes into the washer, she felt her phone vibrating in her back pocket. She looked at the screen and smiled.
"Hey Cove, haven't heard from you in a while."
"Goldie, the sea has kept me away from you for far too long. I have returned and will be at your home in two hours."
"Well, you sure don't give a girl time to get prepared!"
"You don't need to prepare for me, you know that. See you soon." Cove disconnected the call before she could make any objections.
Cove was a long-time friend and merman, who she met before she turned. He was one of the few from her clan that kept in contact with her when he was on land. Cove periodically came to land because he worked as a nurse at the local hospital. His abilities included healing physical ailments, which made his career a breeze for him. He would work for a few weeks, get tired of land and humans, and then return to the sea for a few months. Cove was there for her when everything had happened, and had never treated her differently. She appreciated his friendship and kindness when she had no one.
'Well that gives me two hours to clean and get the spare room ready,' she thought, as she headed upstairs.
'Judas, our friend Cove will be coming today.' Judas awoke from his slumber to slowly blink at her before closing his eyes again.
"So sorry to interrupt your sleep, Your Majesty," Marigold whispered to herself as she began cleaning.
--
Callisto grunted as his weights dropped to the ground. He walked up to the mirror to stare at his reflection. While he considered himself to be in shape, his muscles weren't overly pronounced. His bare chest shimmered with sweat, which allowed his tattoos to appear to be glossy on his skin. His wavy, dark hair was slicked back into a ponytail, allowing a few wet pieces to cling to his forehead.
Callisto believed himself to be average-looking, but his past girlfriends would always say he was being humble. He, however, knew how to use his charisma and charm to get who he wanted. And he wanted Marigold.
He grabbed a towel from a nearby bench to wipe away the sweat that had accumulated on his brow. He then heard his doorbell ring. He racked his brain to figure out if he had forgotten about any upcoming visits, and was left confused.
He threw on a shirt and headed upstairs towards the front door. He propped open the door to see who was visiting unannounced.
"Brother, it could only be your favorite sister," he heard a small, smoky voice from the other side of the door. He rolled his eyes and released a deep, loud sigh before opening the door fully.
Through the door came a woman who seemed to glide across the floor.
"Sister, is your phone not working? I don't think an in-person visit was necessary," Callisto mocked, through gritted teeth.
Before him, stood his sister, Noir. Noir was breathtaking and often used her beauty to her advantage. She was a dainty, five-foot-eight, raven-haired, brown-eyed vampire who turned on her heels after hearing Callisto's question.
"Brother, you are acting like you aren't excited to see your favorite sister?" Noir's head cocked to the side as a grin began to form across her thin red lips.
"You're my only sister and my favorite pain in the ass," Callisto chimed, as he came towards her with outstretched arms for a hug.
Callisto and Noir were biological siblings who were turned ten years apart. They were the closest out of the remaining three siblings and the only two to keep in touch. He gave Noir a tour of his new home, and suggested that they go to dinner since she was only in town for the evening.
--
Cove arrived exactly two hours after their phone call. Marigold was able to clean up the spare room and move Judas' belongings.
"Goldie, my one and only, how are you?" he asked in a cheery voice, as he embraced her.
"Good, happy to see you," Marigold returned, as she leaned into the embrace. It had been almost one year since she last saw Cove. After his last assignment at the hospital, he went back to the deep sea to migrate to cooler waters with the rest of their clan. Cove stood five foot nine, was dark-skinned, with an athletic build; he wore his black hair in a low fade with his goatee and mustache always perfectly manicured.
They both headed inside her cozy house. Cove headed upstairs to the spare bedroom to put his luggage away and change clothes before coming down to join Marigold and Judas.
"Hello Judas, still a handsome boy I see." Cove began petting Judas' head and chin, while Judas began to purr.
Marigold was sitting on the couch, scrolling on her phone while Cove got settled. He came to sit down on the other end of the couch and leaned his head back while releasing a heavy sigh.
"I'm getting too old to keep turning all the time. It takes so much out of me now."
"Yeah, I'm not sure how you have been doing it all these years," Marigold acknowledged, while taking in her friend as he closed his eyes and yawned.
"I didn't have a chance to cook. I imagine you are hungry. Wanna go for sushi?" She grinned, knowing that Cove wouldn't resist and it was guaranteed to improve his mood.
Cove opened one of his eyes to glance over at Marigold while a smile started to form across his lips. "I will drag myself off this couch for sushi."
--
Since Penola Cape was a coastal town, the seafood was always fresh, which was one of the main appeals for Marigold. Merpeople were omnivores in the sea, however, on land they were considered pescatarian only. There was a local place that had the freshest sushi she had found on land. When Cove was visiting, they would go as often as once a week.
They walked to Sushi Galore, one of two sushi restaurants in the small town. Marigold knew the owner, who also happened to be a merman, but from the shore clan. He had turned fifty years ago, established a family, and a business, and never looked back. She was grateful to meet another merperson who had permanently turned and often confided in him about missing her old life.
They walked inside the restaurant and sat in a booth near the back of the restaurant, across from the stage. Sushi Galore had live entertainment every weekend, but this weekend was karaoke. Cove and Marigold loved going to a karaoke night and won every time they participated. Merpeople were musically inclined, all of them could sing, and play any instrument with very little instruction.
Marigold and Cove always ordered the same thing on his first night in town. Two sushi boats with two sake floats. They were laughing and talking when Marigold looked towards the door, with a shocked expression. Cove looked behind him and saw two beautiful people enter the restaurant. A very tall white male with dark shoulder-length hair and a slightly less tall white woman with dark hair.
"You okay, Goldie?"
