The Little Merman

Chapter Seven: "A Siren's Song"

Nate swam out a safe distance from the shore, then rose back up to the surface to hide behind one of the rocks protecting the cove water. Peeking around the rock but staying close to the water, Nate stroked the rock with his fingers as he watched Prince Sean with a deep longing. A woman in flowing colored material, leaned over him to cup his face. Her voice full of concern as she asked him. "Prince Sean? Are you ok? Can you hear me?" Sean put a hand to her wrist weakly, staring blankly up at her as he groggily asked. "Who are you?" The woman giggled a little, before answering. "I'm Princess Verlaine. Remember?" Sean coughed, sitting up as he put a hand to his forehead like his head hurt. Lowering his hand, Sean uttered out confused. "What...? How?" She grinned, telling him in a sweet voice. "I... I took a crew and followed you. We saw the lightning strike your ship. My men rescued your crew and I... I came to rescue you." Sean looked at her with distant eyes, asking perplexed. "You saved me?" She nodded, pulling him close to her chest in a comforting hug.

Nate dug his claws into the side of the rock, growling out. "What? That liar! I saved him!" Nate released the rock as anger flooded his veins, surging toward the shore. He wanted to drown her! He didn't get far though, because Mark used the wave to tackle him down into the water from behind. Shoving him down to the sand beneath the waves, Mark hissed over his shoulder. "Nathan! Stop! We must go! You promised!" Nate pushed himself up off his chest, growling back darkly. "But she's lying!" Mark rolled off him to sit in the sand as he grabbed Nate's biceps. Staring into his eyes, Mark panted out through his pain. "It doesn't matter. We've got to get back before anyone realizes that we are missing... Nathan, please?" Nate saw the blood drifting through the water around Mark's body. They were both hurt. Nate's ear fins fell back with defeat, upon mumbling out. "Ok... Just one last look." Mark rolled his eyes but gestured back up to the surface. Rushing back up to the surface, Nate leaned back against the rock.

The Princess had helped Sean up now and was escorting him toward a group of more humans in a small vessel that was farther down the shore. Nate leaned his head on the rock feeling heartbroken. It wasn't fair. Nate started to feel tears brim his eyes, until Sean suddenly stopped. The Princess called out to her people for help, while Sean slowly turned to look back at where he'd come from. Nate's ear fins perked up as he watched Sean's eyes scan the land for something. Sean then looked out to the water and Nate froze up. He wanted him to see him. His heart leapt at the idea of Sean seeing him and knowing the truth deep down. The Princess pulled away from Sean to beckon her men over. Letting Sean walk slowly toward the water. Nate sank a little in the water, blowing little nervous bubbles in it. Could he see him? Sean stared out at the horizon with a troubled look. Nate stayed still, watching him with wide eyes and battling the urge to swim up to him. Then Nate tilted his head as a soft sound drifted out across the water. The song pulled at Nate's heartstrings and made him want to cry from pure bliss. Sean was humming his song!

The Princess's men broke the moment by running over to wrap their arms around him. Taking the Prince safely back to the small vessel. Nate hugged the rock as he watched them take Sean away. He felt like he really could swim in the moon now. His heart was pounding stronger than ever and he felt like splashing around like a little kid. Smiling so brightly, Nate couldn't stop himself from giggling. Sean had liked his song enough to sing it back. There was just something so magical about that. He felt like nothing could upset him now. Pushing away from the rock, Nate sank backward into the water. Getting back out into the open water, Nate took Mark's wrist and dreamily took him home. The whole way back, Nate kept singing the song to himself over and over. He barely noticed obstacles around him because all he saw was Sean singing his song, causing Mark to yelp and snap out. "Nate! Watch what you are doing! Swim straight, damn it!" Nate only chuckled, looping and twirling around the water whenever he got the urge.