Chapter 5: Chapter Four: Dangerous Waters

I enjoyed writing this chapter :) It's entirely in the prince's POV. Charlie will come back in the next chapter. I hope you enjoy and feel free to crique my work!

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Swimming down the corridor I look for Aurora so I can ask her to find Radiance for me. Since I have gotten my father’s approval a few days ago, I have spent most of the days preparing myself to tell her I want her as my mate. While reading, I had discovered mermaids can only have one mate for their lives. They can only conceive once in their lives as well. Most of the mermaids only have one child and it is rare to have two. Only mermaids with Royal blood can breed more than once. There’s more to this royal stuff than I had thought. I also discovered that towards the birthing of a new mermaid/ merman, the mother slowly loses her scales and grows legs. A painful process. Once all the scales are gone the new child is born.

The process sounds so painful that I don’t want to put my mate through that. Put Radiance through that. I wonder if she would want children... I look down at the golden swirls on the side of my waist and they are a shocking contrast against my  silvery-blue scales. Although, the gold confuses me and I wonder why it is not the lovely red like Radiance’s tail. I shrug internally and continue to swim along filling my thoughts with Radiance’s stunning face.

I stop a passing servant and ask where my younger sister is this morning. “I am not sure my Prince. I will keep an eye out for her if you would like.” his tone is nervous and he seems anxious to swim away. Raising my eyebrow I give him my thanks and send him back on his way. That was odd. I shake my head and continue on. Our castle is massive and has many twists and turns. A mermaid can easily get around lost here.

Seaweed and algae grow along the castle walls, covering the expertly sculptured marble walls. Beds of coral grow off the tops of the walls and many underwater plant life grow on these massive beds. The brightly colored coral beds also act as our ceilings and roof so we are perfectly hidden from the petty human world.  Many vibrant colored schools of fish and crab live within the castle walls since it’s the safest place from fishermen. We are all friends with the fish and we do not eat them... anymore. We mainly eat seaweed, certain types of crab, and clam that grow close to the shorelines of the mainlands, which is dangerous sometimes. Fortunately we had found a cove that is hidden from humans; except for that one day that a pirate ship had gotten through.

Several schools of fish swim up next to me and politely saying hello and swim playfully around me. I laugh and swim up close to the ceilings. Swimming on my back and creating a current with my tail to push me down the hall. Lightly floating down the hallway, making small talk with the fish. None of them knew where my sister was sadly, but I was enjoying my time with them none the less. They also congratulate me as I have found my mate. They swam all around me and my vision became blocked with their colored tails and bodies. I laughed as I swam away and they chased after me.

As we all traveled down the long corridor the fish started to dash away. Each of them in their high pitched voices saying goodbye and speed away. Odd. I didn’t have a chance to ask the fish why they are leaving because I was alone in a matter of seconds. How strange. I continue swimming and hear a memorizing voice singing. A melody so beautiful that it grabs ahold of my attention like a poison. The melody wraps around me and warmth fills my heart. A eerie calmness takes over me and a smile grows on my face. A mermaid’s voice is like magic and can control anybody if practiced.

Listening closely I realize I know this song. This is a forbidden song; a song that many do not know. Someone is singing the Death Call, the song we use to lure humans down and drown them. Panic sets in and I sprint as fast as I can towards the music. As I approach closer I start to hear the words of the song.

“Oh little pirates hear my call,

come out and play with me,

my brave pirates I’ll show you the way,

Come follow me and swim in the sea,

a land of wonder you’ll see,

full of great riches and secrets,

my little pirates come join me,

hush my brave pirates, it is the way,

Come explore the secrets of the sea...”

“Who is singing!” I roar. I hear a gasp through a closed door on my right and the singing abruptly comes to a stop. I try to open the door but it’s locked. I pound on the door in a red rage and demand the door to be opened, for I am the prince! Anyone caught singing the song will be severely punished. Slowly the door cracks open and I see Opal with her head held up proudly. My shoulders shake in anger to discover that my own sister was singing.

I shove open the door all the way and I look at her with a bewildered expression. Opal’s short hair is uncombed and she crosses her arms across her breasts.  She has dark circles under her grey eyes and her scales are not shiny, but dull and bland. Her tanned skin is gone now and is replaced with sickly looking paleness. Her eyes are holding a wicked look of pure pleasure and at the same time, a darkness.

“Look at me.” I demand. She does not look at me and swims towards an open coral window and dazes out the window. “I said... Look at me Opal!” at the sudden raise in my voice Opal flinches and meets my eyes. “How dare you sing?”

“We’re not allowed to sing anymore?” she says dripping with sarcasm, squinting her eyes at me.

“How dare you mock me?” I am outraged at her behavior. My shoulders shake with rage and the feeling of anger pulses through my veins. I struggle to control the urge to slap her.

“Oh dear little brother. I was only doing what father’s asked me to do. Our kingdom is weaker and we need to start sinking ships again. The reason why we exist is to sink ships!” she snaps.

“You lying wench!” I snarl. I refuse to believe that our father would order this. Singing does indeed help our strength but it also fills our hearts with evil. The Dark Pearls may be gone but they can easily come back! It is our mermaid’s guilty pleasure.

A throat clears from behind us and Opal breaks out in a cruel smile. She swims past me to our father who has a scowl on his face. “Why are you two arguing?” he asks tiredly.

“Oh daddy. He’s telling me that I’m not allowed to singg.” Opal whines in a voice like silk.

Before I could even open my mouth to defend myself, my father speaks, “Have you forgotten that I am the King of this clan and ofthe sea?”

“No but I-”

My father interrupts me again, “And since when do you have more say than I do?”

“If you let me speak for once father!” Opal giggles at my outburst. Singing to sink ships can also drive a weak mermaid mad if they cannot control their song. It will consume them and eventually destroy them. I fear that for Opal. My father gestures irritably for me to go on. “Why was I not informed of this?” I calmly breathe air bubbles out through my nose.

“I’ve decided to not include you on this decision,” Holding his head up high he continues, “I knew you would be against it.” Again, Opal lets out another giggle and my father gives her a pointed look and she flings her frail hand to her mouth. “We need to regain our strength as a mermaid clan. It will be controlled.”

Quietly I add, “And Opal, you think, is the best for this?”

“Yes! I am!” Opal hisses. “I need my revenge! Revenge on these humans for stealing away my love!” Tears well up in her eyes but she angrily blinks them away while the water makes them disappear. “They threw his body back into the sea after they chopped off his tail-” she chokes.

“I think that is exactly the reason you shouldn’t hunt!” I retort back. I feel a deep sympathy for my sister. Any mermaid who loses their mate must feel the pain of a million swords plunge into their heart. Mates have a special connection between them that allows them communicate far distances and feel what the other is feeling. Opal felt her mate’s death surge through her.

“Enough of this.” she growls, “Daddy, tell him. Tell him why I’m the best for this.”

My father holds up his hand for silence and I study my father’s face. His already dark brown eyes have grown dark circles around them making them appear black. Like Opal, his own dark scales are bland looking and dull. I notice he is not wearing his crown and his hair is disheveled. “She will continue to practice. As other mermaids are already starting to practice as well.”

Slowly and reluctantly I nod. I will fight them another day against this. I will get mother and Aurora on my side. Opal flicks her pearly white tail and comes close to me with her pale lips curled into a wild smile, and her eyes wide open with a flicker of evil.

“Then it’s time for you to leave, and for me to practice!” Stiffly, I leave the room and feel my father follow me out. I say nothing more as I run away in a more desperate search for Aurora. Radiance will just have to wait.

I arrive at Aurora’s bedroom door and find it already open. I hear light laughter echoing from her bedroom and lively chatter about tail jewels and rings. “Aurora, can I come in?” I ask in front of her bedroom door.

“Yes!” she sings. I smile at her voice, she truly does have the best voice in all the sea.

I enter her room and I see Radiance sitting at the edge of Aurora’s coral and seaweed bed. My heart leaps at the sight of her. My hands start to tremble with nervousness and my heart quickens. She turns to look at me and and it seems like it was in slow motion. Her eyes meet mine and she breaks out in a smile, then bows her head respectively. I couldn’t bear her submitting to my higher class status. She belongs to me. I swim over to her in a blink of an eye and catch her chin in my hand. I lift her head and kiss her hand in one swift movement. She gasps in shock at my sudden movement and my sister bites back a squeal of excitement.

“Oh my. Prince I-” Radiance stutters, her eyes widening. Her cheeks a bright red.

“Say no more. You are the one I want to be with. My mate.” I whisper. Her beautiful eyes light up and flicker down to my tail but then frowns at my mark. “The gold matches your hair in the light my love. It grew when I saw you. It must be you.” Her eyebrows go up in shock.

My sister, laughing, swims over to Radiance and places her hand on her shoulder. Radiance looks up at my sister and Aurora gives her a warm smile.

“Really?” Radiance whispers so softly I barely could hear her lovely voice.

Aurora lets out a laugh and nods her head. I pull Radiance into my arms and she timidly hugs me back. When she pulls away I see her eyes float down to my markings. Probably wondering why they are gold, but shrugged them away. Smiling she gives me the softest of kisses on my lips that I could have imagined it. She clears her throat and looks away embarrassed by her bold move.

“Any who-” Aurora breaks the silence, dragging out her ‘o’. “Why did you need to see me? You seemed urgent.”

Straightening my back I prepare to give her the grim news. “Dear Radiance, would you mind giving us a moment in private?”

“Of course. I will meet you at Crystal Cave later, right Aurora? Would you like to join us?” she looks at me expectantly.

Before I answer Aurora pipes up, “Of course! He’s your potential mate isn’t he?”

She hold up a hand to her mouth covering her smile and laugh, “Of course. See you later!” She stops at the door and waves before turning and closing the door. We wait a few moments to make sure she is completely gone.

Sighing, I begin the news, “Father has ordered to start sinking ships again.” After a pause, Aurora bursts into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. My mouth hangs open as I am stunned by her reaction.

“That’s funny. Alright, what’s the real news.” A bubble of awkward silence grows between us and her joyful smile diminishes into a scowl. I see anger grow on her face. “It’s a joke right? Tell me now it’s a joke and I won’t be angry at you.” I say nothing as she starts to cry. “Why? Why! Do we want someone else murdered! Not to mention Opal’s own mate was killed!” She whines.

“I don’t know. We must tell mother. Opal is the one who is leading the hunt. We have to stop this! I know mother’s at the infirmary again today healing some sick mermaids and mermen. We can ask for a moment of her time.” I reassure my sister. Aurora is very emotional and the family always tries to keep her happy.  When she’s happy, we are all happy. The very last hunt was lead by our former queen, my father’s mother. We had lost two mermaids and a merman. Opal’s mate and Aurora’s best friend. Memories of that tragic day crash into my mind and Aurora sobs into my chest. I rock back and forth with her in my arms as I hold back my own tears.

Father pleaded against the hunt for that day. We had already sunk many ships and the humans were growing suspicious as to why the ships were sinking so much. The queen insisted on one last hunt. Family members only. I remember my mother’s words when she told us they were leaving.

“We are leaving for our last hunt for the year. Please don’t cry my sweet.” our mother comforted us. “Opal’s mate, Tyron, is coming along. He is our best healer! We will be safe. Opal will watch over you-” Aurora lurched forward in her arms, sobbing hysterically. Our father was cold and quiet. Fuming over his mother’s demand. I stayed quiet too. A sickening feeling caused my stomach to churn so I kept my mouth closed in fear I would puke. I looked at Opal and her tears immediately washed away into the water.

Tyron had a scowl while tightly holding hands with Opal. Lyra, Aurora’s friend, was with us at the time as well. Tyron was her older brother and she was holding onto his tail. Begging for him not to go.Tyron whispered a few words into Opal’s ears then bent down to kiss Lyra on her forehead. Reassuring he will return safe and sound.

“Come come now. No tears. This will be the greatest hunt yet!” The queen threw her arms up with a fierce glare in her eyes. I remember wanting to beg for them not go to. It was too much and unnecessary murder. “It is time! Come! Come!”

I remember I had to pry off Aurora from mother’s arms and hold her back until they were long gone. Aurora’s best friend was always fascinated with hunts. She had great talent and was meant to be a lead hunter in the future. Although Aurora and Lyra were too young to go on the hunt, Lyra secretly followed the group. We hadn’t noticed Lyra snuck away until they returned with her body and Tyron’s body the following evening. A hunting spear from the ship hit Lyra in her tail and she slowly died by floating down to the bottom of the sea. She was unable to swim away and a second spear with a line tied to it stabbed her into the shoulder. Tyron heard her screams and pulled the line out of her shoulder.

He died trying to get to Lyra to heal her and was captured by a net. He was pulled onto the ship’s deck and had his tail cut off. Then, threw his head and torso back into the sea. Another mermaid was also captured but we do not know what happened to her. Probably put to auction and then killed for her scales.

“Let’s go get mom okay?” she finally says through her sobs. I nod and take her by the hand and both swim towards the infirmary.