All's fair in love and fishtails!

CHAPTER THREE - DANGEROUS SAVIOR

CHAPTER THREE – DANGEROUS SAVIOR

I got out of there as fast as I could.  My head was buzzing and I wanted nothing more than to go. Just go, fast.  I blew past the guard at the gate.  They called out and made a futile attempt to catch me.

I had no direction; I just wanted free unobstructed space. 

Hours later, I finally stopped.  I was far out.

I let myself drift to the smooth sandy bottom.  Even as deep as I was, I could still see the small amount of light coming from the surface.

It must be wonderful up there. The sun, I heard, was warm and bright.  And the human, oh the humans must be amazing.  I am curious to how similar or different they are from me. 

I pushed my self up.  Maybe I could take just a peek. I wasn’t anywhere near land but still, I look was more than I had.

I paused.  Danger! Danger was near. I could feel it.  Then  I smelled it. Acidic and a little bit bloody.  

I had put myself in this situation by leaving alone. I had attracted a shark.

I looked around quickly for a weapon. A rock, a bone, anything, but there was only sand.  Normally, I would be able to out swim them, but I had over exhausted myself and was too tired.

I saw the shadow and watched as I grew closer.  I looked around frantically and spotted something to my right.

A human weapon. A Knife. Thank goodness! It was mall and rusted, and I would have to be close to use it.  But it was better than nothing. 

The shark was circling me now, still a bit away.  It was sizing me up, and I did the same.  At least twelve feet.  I could see darker stripes along its body. A tiger shark, known for its aggressiveness.

Sharks normally wouldn’t attack a mermaid. But I was small, and I was white all over, paleness attracted them.

The tiger shark started toward me.  I prepared myself. It suddenly jerked to the side and swan away, it was fleeing.  And it was not because it feared me.

I turned and there he was, armed with a long spear carved out of bone.  I was shocked by his appearance. His tail was dark black and looked sleek and shiny. His hair and eyes were also jet black, which didn’t creep me out as much as I thought it should.  His well muscled torso was tan, not pale.  As if he had regular contact with the sun.  His full lips were set off by his straight nose and his hark eyes bore into mine.  He was the most handsome creature I had ever seen.  I was staring at him in appreciation, and he noticed.

“h-h-hi”  Great.  My unoriginal response couldn’t even come out right.  I sounded stupid. 

He smiled. “Hi. That was a close one.”

“oh, that. Yeah thanks.”

“You should be out this far alone without some kind of protection.  There plenty at the base you should have grabbed one before you left.”

“Base?” What base?

“The – “ he stopped suddenly and started appraising me. His smile dropped. “who are you?”

“Me? I’m Aurania” his eyes grew hard. Chills creped from the back of my neck.

“From Aldunae?”

“Yes”

His lips pulled back over his teeth in a snarl and he gripped his spear tighter.

“You’re a long ways from home” his voice was no longer warm and friendly, but threatening. “Why are you all the way out here, princess?” he sneered at me.

No subject of the Atlantic would ever speak to me like this if they knew my position.  No other peoples would either…. Except for-

I gasped. “Your Kertaun!”

 “Pretty bright for a palace brat.”

I had to leave. I didn’t know what he would do.

“I have people on their way. Guards. The will be here in few short moments. So don’t think about doing anything”

His face softened the tiniest bit. Barely noticeable. “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything.  But I do think you should go now. Go home!”

I took his advice speeding away. Stopping for the barest of moments to see him still there, staring at me.