The Dragon Curse

Double trouble

Evelien and I were circling the forest looking for Mark and Amy when we heard a faint scream and shouting. I turned towards the sound and that was when I saw Mark fighting with soldiers. He was clearly outnumbered. I dove to get the one trying to attack Mark from behind then I turned back to fly above the trees. I looked at the man in my hand but he was already dead because I gripped him tight, my claws piercing through his flesh where he wasn't protected with armour. I took an easy turn and flew back to Mark to grab another soldier but when I was about to take off again I heard Amy screaming Mark's name. I turned again seeing Mark with a sword in his back when he fell on the ground.

"Quickly!" shouted Evelien and I flew towards the ground landing beside the dead soldiers.

Evelien jumped down from my back once I was close enough then wan up to Mark. She pulled the sword out and immediately kneeled beside him going through her bag, so I decided to check on Amy. I went up to her but I spotted three little kids behind her watching me with fear. I growled in defense because I didn't know them but Amy put her hands up to stop me from approaching them.

"Don't worry they helped us," she said so I stopped but kept looking at them.

"Amy..." whimpered the little girl complete fear in her eyes so I loosened my stern expression.

"He is a friend," Amy answered turning to them then looking back at me. "Are you okay?"

I nodded then Amy looked behind me so I turned around to see what was happening. Evelien finished another potion then poured the liquid into Mark's mouth. I went closer to check on him and I was relieved that he was still breathing but clearly he was getting closer to death.

"Is he going to be okay?" asked one of the boys all of us waiting for Evelien to answer.

"Hopefully," she said with a heavy sigh.

"Hopefully?" asked Amy and I could understand her scared tone because I was scared too.

Another friend dying because of me... no that can't happen. I laid down beside him putting my head at his side listening to his breathing and beating heart. You can't die... I can't lose another friend. Please stay strong... please. I was watching every move he would take when he groaned in pain. I looked at his face then at his wound that was still there but it was slowly healing.

"Jack?" I heard his voice and I was relieved that everything was fine that he will survive. "Hey there..."

I smiled and I couldn't tell if it was readable on my face but I tried to show him how happy I was that he was still alive. He tried to sit up but both Evelien and I pushed him back to stay and rest a bit.

"Where is Amy?" he asked worried looking around.

"I'm here," said Amy to reassure hum and she crawled beside Mark looking into his eyes in a loving way.

"Amy!" a voice said firmly and I couldn't recognize it.

All of us looked in the direction where the voice came from. There was a man in his middle ages his brows and lips in an angry scowl on his stone-cold face. His hair that matched the brown colour of his beard was covered with a golden crown and he has a golden trident in his hand. His torso was covered with silver armour while his waist was covered with a royal blue tunic. And he had legs. But the way this man was looking at Amy and the fact that he had a trident it was clear that this man was Amy's father... the king of the sea.

"Father..." Amy said in fear and I had this feeling that something bad was about to happen. "I..."

"Don't even try to explain yourself, we are returning to the sea now!" the man said firmly.

"Please father. Let me stay a bit more," Amy pleaded and I could see why because of the way she leaned closer to Mark. "I can't leave..."

"Enough!" shouted the man not even listening to Amy. "You not just disobeyed me, but you went against the law. You came here for a pathetic human, what were you thinking? You are a mermaid not to mention a princess. Now not just as a father, but as your king, I order you to return to the sea!"

"I love him!" shouted Amy without thinking.

Silence hung in the air and I could see the king tense up but freeze in disbelief. Then when he realized what was said anger swept through him and he firmly gripped his trident with both hands. His eyes focused on Amy then as Mark and he started walking up to them, the trident glowing. I knew what he wanted to do so I quickly jumped over Amy and Mark standing in front of them, facing the king. I felt another presence beside me but I couldn't dare to look awaí because I wanted to make sure that the king got the message. Nobody will hurt my friends as long as I am here... nobody.

"Whether you like it or not they will stay together," said Evelien from beside me putting a reassuring hand on my neck, telling me that she was on the same side as me.

"I'm her father..." started the king but Evelien didn't let him finish.

"You can try separating them but they will always find a way to get back together," I heard her say and she was like a voice for my thoughts because if I could speak I would've said the same thing. "But if you still want to try then you have to go through us first."

We stayed our ground and could feel others standing at my other side. We all looked at the king who was standing there anger still boiling inside him and he was debating whether he should try or not. I looked directly into his eyes and when he met my gaze I growled in frustration. I hoped that deep sound made it clear for the king that neither of us will let him go that easily.

"You are not my daughter anymore," he hissed. "If you dare to come back to the kingdom you'll be imprisoned."

"Mother would understand and I thought you would too," started Amy from behind us so we stepped away to let her talk. "When you truly love somebody you don't care what they are..."

"And look what happened your mother died!" shouted the king but his anger was replaced by pain and fear... fear of losing his daughter like he lost his wife. "I don't want them to kill you. I made that promise that I will protect you and your sister at all costs. From these monsters..."

"Mark is different," stated Amy and I kept watching the king if he decided to make a move. "He would never..."

"Amy," interrupted Mark and all of us looked at him.

He slowly stood up but kept a hand at his stomach because there was still a visible stab wound, even that Evelien's potion was slowly healing him. He winced in pain putting a hand on Amy's shoulder to steady himself.

"Sire," he started as he looked at the king and I turned my attention back to the merman. "I won't plea I won't try to prove myself all I can tell you is the truth and how I feel. It's your decision whether you believe me or not. I love your daughter... she saved me and I can't thank her enough. I owe her with my life and therefore I would never hurt her or let anybody."

I could hear him taking a deep breath and wincing in pain again but my attention was fixated on the king. He was calm... listening to every word Mark said and I wondered if he believed him or not. In this topic, Mark and I felt the same so I completely understood him. He would rather die for his lover than watch them suffer. And since we've been through so much together I felt something like this towards him. He was like a brother to me and we were in this together as a family. 

"As you can see all of us are in the same boat," said Mark. "All four of us... we are a family and I can safely talk in their name as well. We would never let anything happen to the others."

"I believe you," answered the king. "But if you choose to stay you can'T return to the kingdom and you know that. I love you but I have to protect my people as well."

"I understand," nodded Amy. "Please tell Avery that I love her too and I will never forget her."

"I will," said the king but then I saw the worry on his face again. " What about your tail?"

"That won't be a problem," said Evelien reassuringly with a little smile, and the plan for that was set.