Deep in the Blue

Chapter One

She painted with grace and beauty despite the ferocity of the ship's rocking; a storm was brewing. She created a masterpiece with something so small and simple. A paintbrush and paints do wonders for her. Peggy paused and glanced back at me, and I caught her red cherry-lipped smile. I returned it. She turned away and gazed at the soft, orange sunset. Another sailor approached.

"Sailor! You have been requested in the bridge by Captain Patrillian immediately."

I licked my lips and saluted my peer. As I made my way to the bridge, a monstrous wave crashed over the deck, sweeping away the cargo on the surface. I whipped my head around over my shoulder. Peggy was being dragged away by some other sailors. They began to bind her wrists and feet with rope.

"What are you doing?!" I yell across the deck.

"It's bad luck to have a woman on board," Damion spoke with hard r's, and he sounded like a pirate with his gruff voice. "And just look at this storm!"

"Well you can't very well throw her off!"

"Watch me!" Damion growls, swinging Peggy's feet as another's swings her from her underarms.

"No!" I gasp as I lunge toward them in an ill fated attempt to save my dear Peggy. She falls down, down into oblivion.

Without thinking I dive after Peggy, desperate to save her.

The ocean water is freezing, chilling me to the bone as I swim around on my search for her. There- sinking rapidly with a cannonball from The Maiden's Perch chained to her waist.

I can feel my throat constricting, and a cry arises in my throat threatening to let out my last breath of air. I have to reach her. I can feel it. My last breath. My love. My last breath. My love.

Barely moving though the water, I swim. 20 yards, 10 yards, 5. Only I am out of breath. Only the closer I get to Peggy, the more she changes. I try to convince myself it's because of the lack of oxygen, but I should already be dead. But I'm breathing. Not really breathing, but I am not dying. I'm underwater but very much alive.

When I look at Peggy, my eyes betray me. Her legs and feet, no longer bound by rope are as one, fused together in a thick, powerful tail. Her features are more defined, more beautiful and enticing than ever. Her head snaps forward, from its loose position, and she glances around. When she sees me a look of disillusionment crosses her features. Then I look down. I have forgone the same transformation. It feels strange, not having legs.

I try to swim to Peggy, but I push too hard and end up spiraling past her. She latches onto my hand and catches me. I gaze into her eyes as she helps me around. A kind of overwhelmed, frightful look passes into her beautiful brown eyes. She is looking behind me.

But I can only turn around so fast before the world goes dark.