The Merman and the Prince

Chapter 2

Screaming roused me from my sleep and I sat up wide eyed and panicking. I stumbled out of bed and rushed over to the window. The gate to our property was burning and I could see a group of shadowy figures making their way up to the house. My door slammed open and I spun, my heart in my throat but it was only Kagami and I sagged with relief. He moved into the room, yanking open the door to my cupboard and grabbing a bag that sat packed in the bottom corner and then a pair of boots and a hooded jumper. My heart lurched at the sight of the bag. Years ago he and my uncle had packed it for me in case my secret was discovered and I had to flee. It contained clothes, money and some bottled water and canned food.

"I don't want to go."

Kagami ignored my words, tossing the jacket over me and kneeling down to jam my feet into the boots. I allowed him to help me, too frozen with shock to acknowledge what was going on. I heard hammering on the door and a voice echoed through the house.

"Open up, we know the boy is a merman! Give him over peacefully and nobody else will get hurt!"

I stared wide eyed at Kagami who clicked his tongued before grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the room. We ran to the other end of the house and darted into a small office just as I heard the main door crash in. Kagami locked the door and pushed a cabinet against it to buy more time as I did up my jacket with trembling hands. He handed me the backpack and moved over a section of the wall, feeling around for something. As he did he explained that a group of men had come to the island on a boat in the middle of the night. They went to the tavern were they threatened the people there for information on a blue haired youth. The tavern keeper sent a runner to warn us, followed closely by the thugs who had been told about me from one of the visiting traders. A soft click echoed around the room and a panel in the wall swung inwards. It was a secret exit that we had kept. Kagami turned to me, putting the bag on my back and looking into my eyes for a moment. Sorrow was written on his face as he pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Please, I can't do this."

We had always planned for this event but I had never thought that it would actually happen. I was careful and our island was small. This was all because I had to go out that night and the ocean caught me in its power. I felt tears in my eyes as Kagami stepped back, pulling out his sword as he could hear foot falls on the other side of the door.

"You can. You're smart and stronger than you know. I will come for you."

"Hey this door is locked!"

The shouting and banging on the door caused me to jump, a small whimper forcing itself out of my lips. Kagami bent down and kissed my head.

"Go."

Biting my lip I crawled into the passageway which Kagami shut behind me. Now in complete darkness I moved as quickly and quietly as I could, feeling my way with a hand along the wall. Behind me I could heard the shouting and screaming of everyone in the house and the banging as they tried to break down the door where Kagami was waiting. The tunnel curved down and slowly back up. After what seemed like an hour I came up in the green house at the front of the property. I drew the shadows around me again, hiding myself from sight, and darted out of the smouldering gate and down towards the town. No shouts marked my passage and I didn't dare turn back to look at the house I had grown up in, now under siege because of me. I sent off a small prayer to protect everyone and headed towards the docks. I found a ship getting ready to set sail and staggered on board. Two men were loading some barrels of spices and fruit into the hold and I slipped around them, jamming myself between a barrel and the wall, out of sight.

"Is that the last of it?"

A voice called from nearby.

"Yes, tying them down now!"