It's My Life

Chapter 36 - Conversations Between Foes

"We all know the Princess is being held by Vance Ashton, and he would know we know." Andreas said. It was early afternoon, and Andreas, Cora, Shanthe, Leira and a few other diplomats were sitting in the conference room at the embassy. Heads nodded.
"Question is, do we wait for him to make demands or do we contact him?" Shanthe asked.
"As much as I want to hurry this along, we can't push him, or it could ruin any chances of getting her back. The men at the lab are helping us, they have placed a tracker on Mr. Ashton's car, and are watching where he goes. They should find his abode by the end of the day." Andreas said. Leira scowled.
"If it wasn't for them she wouldn't be in this position." Leira said.
"True, but also if they hadn't found her, we may never have known she existed." Cora said.
"Not necessarily. Your son has been in touch with her for a while, before she was taken. The minute they learned each other's true nature, and swam together, he would've realised and told someone. Namely you or Ambassador White." One of the diplomats said.
"Agreed, but as it's happened this way, we need to get her out. When Ca...the Princess first heard Vance Ashton's name she reacted badly. Dread, or fear. She is very intuitive." Andreas said.
"It holds no connotations, and yet she knew, or felt something. I feel nothing, a slight prickling on my neck." Leira said. Shanthe stood up.
"So we wait for any ransom demands, or any demands at all, and just aspire to bring her home. What if he doesn't request anything?" Shanthe asked, pacing.
"If we haven't heard anything by tomorrow afternoon, we make contact. His number is easy enough to find online, or we can try telepathy, though if he's blocking the Princess he may have found a way to block himself off as well." Andreas said. Shanthe bit his lip, but Leira nodded.
"That sounds ideal, thank you Ambassador. Shanthe and I will return to the Halway Centre and then on to Crystallia, inform our parents, and await further communication." Leira said. Everyone stood up as Leira did and bowed to her and Shanthe and they left, their guards following. Everyone sat back down and turned to face Andreas.
"Sadly there isn't anything else we can do until the doctors at Sugden tell us where Mr. Ashton goes, so I suggest we all go about our daily duties and stay in touch. Cora, honey, best you not go to Sugden in the next day or so. If Vance is in the area and feels you, he'll become extremely suspicious." Andreas said. Cora nodded.
"Of course. I'll head home. But let me know if you need me." She said and kissed him, then turned and left the room. Andreas watched her go, and then turned to the remaining people still seated, addressing other business.

Lunch had been served, a supermarket salad bowl, and I ate slowly, not knowing how long it would be until dinner. The guard had asked me if I had any book requests as he would go to the library, Vance's orders. I was surprised, but requested books I wanted, both fiction and non-fiction, and within an hour he had returned with my requests.
"You are studying marine biology? Very cool." The guard said as he handed the books over.
"Oh yes. To work with animals in the ocean is my dream and I heard, to protect them, nothing would make me happier. Well, that and my freedom." I said, the last bit in a mixture of sadness and bitterness. The guard put the books on the bed.
"I'm sorry, Princess. I wish I could help you, but I can't." He said. I stood up.
"Look, whatever he has on you, if you help me, I'll tell them to pardon you. Please, help me." I begged. He looked conflicted, but shook his head.
"I can't. Not yet. He is strong, much stronger than you know. It's true, what he said, that he knows what you're capable of, even though you don't." He said.
"What's your name?" I asked. He looked at me.
"Tyron, milady." He said.
"It's nice to meet you, Tyron." I said. He nodded and headed out, shutting the door behind him. I watched him go, and then pulled one of the books to me and started reading, listening to the radio. The time passed quickly, and I heard the outside door open. I put the book down and stood up, knowing that Vance was about to pay me a visit. I didn't know how I knew, but sure enough the bedroom door opened and Vance entered.
"Good evening." He said, almost conversationally. I looked at him stonily.
"Hi." I said. His eyes darkened.
"Is that any way to greet your host?" Vance asked, almost coldly.
"Oh, I am sorry. Should I grovel and pretend to be nice? Let me go and I might." I said. He stepped back as though I'd hit him.
"When you serve your purpose." He said.
"And what, exactly, is my purpose? What can you possibly achieve by holding me hostage? What were you..."
"That is none of your business. All you need to know is that I am not letting you leave this level for the next four days. You will be monitored once you get too weak, unless your parents agree to my terms." He interrupted me. I nearly flinched, but managed to stand still.
"What terms?" I asked. He pondered a moment, and then smiled.
"You'll find out when they get in touch. On another note, I spoke with Dr. Warden this afternoon. She had something of great interest to tell me. Do you want to know?" He asked, and I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Do I have a choice?" I countered, though my voice was weak, and his eyes crinkled as he smiled. I knew he was close to fifty, maybe sixty, it was very hard to tell.
"Not really. I just love seeing you squirm. She told me that on your last night there she helped you bathe and witnessed you transform." He said.
"Only partially. I didn't grow..." I started, but he put his hand up.
"Doesn't matter. You let a human see you change. Big no-no." He said. I crossed my arms.
"I've never seen that written anywhere." I said.
"Unwritten rule." He shrugged. 
"Obviously humans have seen us before, or we wouldn't have stories about sirens, or movies like The Little Mermaid, or Splash. A Mer must have known Hans Christian Andersen." I said. Vance watched me.
"I bet they were your favourite movies." He sneered.
"Actually no. I always felt sorry for Madison, especially when she was caught by the bad man." I said. His eyes continued to watch me.
"I see. Very sweet of you." He said. I frowned.
"Sarcasm is a very unbecoming colour on you, Mr. Ashton. Either be nice or not, don't sweet talk to me." I said coolly. He looked as though I'd slapped him.
"About as becoming as sassiness on you, young lady. Weren't you taught by the humans to respect your elders?" He spat at me. I smiled, knowing I'd hit a nerve.
"Of course they did, but they taught it slightly differently. Respect all until given a reason not to, and then I will respect those that respect me. You are showing me no respect, so suffice to say I owe you no respect." I said. He glared at me.
"Wise words, truly, but I think we can change it to respect your captors, for they hold all the cards to your comforts and needs." He said. I glared at him.
"So that's what it comes down to, huh? Threats and idiocy? You would threaten someone you have locked away, just for pride and ego?" I said, my voice getting louder.
"Do not push me, girl, or you will regret it." Vance growled. I looked at Tyron, who was watching me, an expression on his face that switched from shock to regret, and I looked away from him before Vance looked at him as well, and I lowered my gaze, stepping back until I sat on the bed. Vance seemed to like that.
"Wise move. We will talk tomorrow. I have many questions about your childhood, of which you will answer all truthfully, or I'll connect you to a lie detector, and don't think for one second that I won't." He said. I wanted to glare at him, scream at him, but instead I built a wall around my mind, pretending to do a sloppy job so he would think he was intimidating me, and lowered my head dejectedly. I wondered if a shiver would be needed, but I felt his satisfaction.
"That's better. Soon you'll learn that I am not one to mess with, and that I will win." Vance said. I could feel his eyes on me, and a flash of anger filled me. I heard him chuckle, and looked up at him.
"You can build walls all you like, but emotions are impossible for newborns and untrained Mer to hide. You can't hide everything from me." He said. I stood up, my hands clenched at my sides. I had had enough of this man, and I was close to losing my temper. He was smiling.
"I honestly don't care right now what you threaten. You are enjoying this too much, so either leave or I'll not be able to control my actions. Is your guard faster than me, I wonder?" I asked, meeting his gaze, and his smile widened.
"As much as I would love to see you try, I have places to be. Have a good sleep, Princess. I will talk to you tomorrow." Vance said. He turned and moved to the door, Tyron placing himself between Vance and myself, and as Vance opened the door Tyron saluted me and lowered his head.
"Rest well, my Princess." I heard, though Tyron's lips never moved, and I felt tears well up. Vance made no indication he'd heard anything, but I couldn't respond. Tyron smiled, and then followed Vance out. This time I didn't try to follow, but sat on the bed, feeling dry. I wish I had swam longer, but I hadn't wanted them to see me in my Mer form. I felt a shiver go through me. If Vance knew that water would make me voluntarily transform after three days, I wondered if he'd try to drench me on the fourth day.  I felt sick to the stomach and hurried into the bathroom, falling beside the toilet as my stomach heaved, throwing up into the toilet. I was grateful there were no cameras, and no one had seen me. After flushing the toilet I walked slowly to the bed and lay down, trying to settle my stomach. I fell asleep with the lights still on, lying on top of the covers.