Angel of the Sea

Chapter XVIII

After my night with Pan, we decided it was time to get back to camp. I was getting tired, and Pan had some island business to tend to. Being king of an island isn't all that easy even though there might've been under 20 people populating it.

I walked along the path that was visible by the fainting light illuminating from the moon that shined through the holes between the leaves above me. I looked up, and it wasn't a sight that bad. As I looked ahead, I could see a faint light that I guessed was a fire torch from the camp. As I got closer to the camp site, I heard the sound of scraping, and a person's sigh. I looked to where the noise was coming from, and walked towards it. When I got there, I saw a cage made off bamboo, which hung from the trees. I circled the cage, and noticed that it was completely similar to the cage Pan had put me in the other day. The cage wasn't hanging too high, just a little above my face level.

"Hello?" I whispered.

"What do you want?" asked a male's voice in a not-so-friendly tone.

I recognized it as Nibs' voice.

"Nibs... I-I..." I trailed off not knowing exactly what to say.

Why did I come here in the first place? Ugh, me and my curious self.

"Save it," Nibs spat. "I don't want to hear anything coming out of you."

"What do you hate so much about me anyway?" I asked. "You don't even know me."

I heard what sounded like Nibs sitting up, and I saw his face appear in between the bamboo bars. His face showed in the moon light, and I had a chance to admire his blue eyes. It was the first time I actually noticed his handsome features. You just had to ignore his usual glare, and actually appreciate the rest of him.

"What do you mean 'I don't know anything about you?' I know enough about you. You're a killer, and you can't be trusted," Nibs sat back down, his back facing me.

I looked down. This guy was right. I was a killer, and I don't think there was a way to sugar coat it. Nope, none I could think of.

"I know," I admitted.

"I'm a killer, and I'm not proud of it...", I trailed off, "but I'm not against it either. It's just a way of us mermaids surviving."

I caught a small glimpse of the side of Nibs' face, as the rest of him hid in the shadows. I assumed he was considering the idea of listening to me.

"Same way how... what are they called? Lions? Yes, same way how lions eat other animals, yet people still find them adorable," I said.

I heard a faint chuckle from Nibs, and I knew I was getting close to his good side.

Score! Angel - 1, world - 58.

I saw a small light glisten in the moon's light, and knew it was a weapon.

"What is that?" I asked gesturing to the weapon in his hand.

"It's a dagger," Nibs answered. "It cuts through things, like bones and flesh."

"Oh, yes. That's supposed to scare me," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Basically," Nibs said, playing with his dagger.

"Well, why don't you use it to get out of that cage?" I suggested. " I can tell you're not really having the time of your life in there."

"And make Pan more disappointed in him? Sure, that's a great idea."

I turned around to look at whoever answered me, and found a boy come out of the forest. He held a wooden bo over his shoulder, and wore a hooded cape over his messy attire. He stepped closer to me.