Vanessa's childhood and her years in Vesuvia before the plague

Chapter two

Once Julian arrived, he looked at Vanessa in silent shock before he looked at her sympathetically as he could see how scared she was due to her crying and shaking in fear. He shook his head as he had only heard stories about how bad mer was treated by pirates and other sailors. Julian never thought he would actually see how bad mermaids are treated.

He slowly made his way over to the box and said "hey it's ok I'm not going to hurt you I'm just going to untie the ropes ok"

The fearful Vanessa quickly shifted to the furthest corner of the box and tilted her head out of confusion as she couldn't understand him.

'Where am I? And who are you?' she trembled in mer which was quite similar to the language spoken in Nevivon.

'I'm Julian, a doctor. I got called here to take a look at your injuries and you're in Vesuvia at the palace in the gardens' Julian said softly as he didn't want to spook Vanessa yet the mermaid was still extremely cautious of him. Slowly, Julian reached his hand out to untie her ropes that were entwined around her hands and tail.

'Don't even try! I don't even know you!' Vanessa screamed while slapping the doctor's hand away.

'Ow, you sure have the strength. That hurt!' Julian whined as his hand had turned red, 'I'm not going to hurt you. I was just going to untie the ropes, if that's ok with you' Julian explained, still in a soft voice.

'Okay' Vanessa trembled,' but if you try anything, I will beat your ass' Vanessa said very seriously.

'I don't think you will be able to, you are tied up and injured-you can't do shit to me' Julian laughed but quickly stopped as the mermaid was giving him the evil eyes .

'Are you underestimating how much power I have? I killed a guy with a seashell, I have killed someone just with the sand on the sea bed- don't test me' Vanessa said,trying to sound badass and not to be messed with but failing to.

'Ok I won't try anything I promise' Julian sniggered as he tried to contain his laughter at how Vanessa was trying to sound invincible. Julian reaches out and unties Vanessa. 'I'm going to pick you up now and move you somewhere else is that ok?' Julian asked.

'No!' Vanessa cried in apprehension, 'You're going to take me to the dungeons and leave me to rot! Let me go, I want to leave!'

Julian soothed the mermaid's panicked moans while whispering, 'I promise I won't take you anywhere like that. I'm on your side here. I'll take you to a bathtub with water in it so you can relax and I can properly take care of the bruises the pirates caused you. Don't fret, nobody will hurt you here."

With reluctance, Vanessa nodded and held her arms out to him. Julian picked her up and started to take her to the palace baths. Nearby was Lucio who was observing Julian escorting Vanessa away.

"Julian, why are you picking her up? Why are you carrying her away from here? Where are you taking her? Why are you ignoring me?" Lucio asked frantically, sounding a bit worried.

"To the palace baths so I can take care of her wounds" Julian said as he continued to take her to the baths.

Once there, he placed her in the bath and looked over her tail and found a few cuts. Julian got a cloth, a bottle of disinfectant and water proof bandages. 'Two things. One- what is your name and two- can you put your tail up on here please' Julian said, patting the edge of the bath.

'It's... Vanessa' she unwillingly replied, putting her shivering tail where Julian said.

'That's a nice name. I'm going to clean the cuts on your tail. It's going to sting a bit' Julian said pouring some of the disinfectant on the cloth. He then carefully dabbed at the cuts,making sure that they were clean so they didn't get infected. Once they were clean, Julian inspected the cuts further- making sure none of them needed stitches before bandaging her tail up.

'Vanessa, what happened to your head' he asked as Vanessa moved her tail off of the edge of the bath. 

'I got hit in the head with a rock by one of those wretched pirates of yours and my head started to bleed' Vanessa explained while touching the gashing cut on her head.

'Oh right, I'm just going to have a look at it' Julian said as he unwrapped the bandages around her head. He tilted her head so she was looking away from him- taking a look at her head. He cleaned the blood from the side of her head and some of her hair that had blood in it.

'There I'm done, are you in any pain at all?' Julian asked as he put the things he just had to clean and cover Vanessa's wounds into the bag he had with him.

'No I'm not' Vanessa said curling up and leaning against the side of the bath.

'Ok, will you be alright on your own for now because I can't stay with you? I have to get back to my clinic but I will come back every day so I can make sure you are healing alright' Julian asked.

'I'm fine on my own, you can leave' Vanessa snapped warily, putting her arms on the side of the bath and her head on her arms.

'Ok if you're sure' Julian said getting up and leaving. On his way out of the bathroom he saw Lucio walking towards the bathroom.

"Hey Lucio, are you going to see the mermaid?" He asked.

"Yeah I am, why do you ask?"

"Oh only because she can't speak English so she won't be able to understand you. Also, her name is Vanessa" Julian explained.

"Oh right, thanks for letting me know," Lucio said.