The Mermaid Spell

Bloody Chains

I wanted more than anything to go back, to find Adrian.  I knew he was in there, I could almost sense his presence, feel his dark irises watching my every move. I stopped swimming and Tristan looked up at me with puffy red eyes, swelled with pools of tears that reflected horrid memories.  I wanted to tell her we needed to go back, but she was too upset.

"We should find somewhere to sleep, or at least rest a bit and we'll try again tomorrow."  She reassured me.  

We swam back up the stairway and under the wall until we both rose to the surface and took a seat on a rock.  Both of us stayed completely silent as my tail transformed back into a pair of legs.  I wiggled my toes then turned to Tristan before saying, "I'm sorry about your father..."

Tristan lowered her head.  "He never deserved it, his love for my mom was undefinable.  I was a mistake though.  My mother had used a spell to become human for one night and found my father.  They went too far and my mother left him in bed for many months until she returned with me, in her mermaid form.  Both of my parents wanted nothing but safety for me.  She gave me to him, to protect me and he did.  I discovered I was a halfling though, and I ran away."

I knew she was tried to hold back sullen tears, and was choked up as she spoke of her mother. 

"Where is your mother Tristan?"  I asked her calmly.  She hesitated.

"Probably dead along with my father."  She said half-heatedly.  I didn't say a word, just leaned on my side and tried to get comfortable (Hard when you're on a rock), eventually falling into a dreamless sleep

_________

"Elly?"  Tristan nudged me lightly with her foot.  I groaned and groggily wiped my eyes.

"Yeah I'm up."

"Good.  I thought for a while after you fell asleep last night about my mother and all.  Well, I don't think she's dead."  She said.

"Oh really?  How do you know that?"  I asked quizically. Tristan hesitated before slipping her from arounnd her neck out.  It was a locket.  She opened the inside, where a small crystal sat.

"It's a promise crystal.  She promised she would never leave this world without me.  If she breaks the promise, it will turn to dust."  She said with a grin.  I stared at the crystal, it's spectrums reflecting vibrant rainbows.  It was the shape of a teardrop, and more beautiful than the diamond rings I saw in the Tiffany's display case.  "That's why I think we should go back, find her and your friends." 

I smirked and stood up on the rock.  The adrenaline inside me pumped continuesly as I dove into the water with Tristan behind me.

________

(Adrian's P.O.V)

The chains were lie bloody thorns piercing through my flesh and scales.  The cell was pitch black and had no water in it.  I could breath air but I felt dry and ill, it was almost too much to handle.

"Suppertime."  A guard slid a tray of bread throuh a slit that had opened in the wall, letting water pour out onto the floor but was quickly closed.  I grabbed a soggy piece of bread and studied it.

"You planning on eating that?"  Someone asked in the far corner.  I tried to see their figure but it was too dark.

"No, you can have it."  I slid him the tray and listened to him indulge in the bits of color, bread from the surface, and some type of mush.  He finished eating and slid the tray towards the tightly sealed door.  We sat there in silence, too awkward that I finally said something.

"What's your name?" 

"Depends, what's yours?"  The response made me grip my fists but I just answered him. 

"Adrian."

"Nice name.  Fits with the whole black tail thing..."

"What do you mean?"  I questioned.

"Adrian means 'dark one' doesn't it?  I read it during study hall.  He was  a Herculian Guard of the Roman Emperor Galerius Maximian."  I was confused on what he spoke about 'Study Hall' but I remember finding old docuements on the Roman Emperor.

"If he was a guard, why would it mean 'dark one'"  I challenged.

"Beats me.  It fits you though."  He said before laughing. 

"Erm, thanks, I think.  You're smart though."  I added.  He let out a louder laugh.

"Nah, I was studying about it with this girl...I could never forget."

"A girl?"  I thought of Elly when he said that. 

"Yeah, she was really quiet but I liked her, she was...unique."  He said.  I heard him shake his chains like something bothered him.

"You alright?"  I asked.

"Not really.  It's sort of complicated..."  He huffed.  Another hesitant pause and I finally got back to the main question.

"So what's your name again?"  I asked. 

"Ian."