The Merman and the Prince

Chapter 31

When we arrived at our destination I was blindfolded and carried between two men on shore. I heard murmurs as they carried me through what must have been the town.

"A merman."

"A live one, why wasn't it harvested?"

"Must be the captains' new pet."

"Poor thing, it would have been kinder to kill him."

The words did little to sooth the fear raging inside of me. The thought that I would be better off killed and harvested for my parts then being Nash's 'pet' scared me witless. What could be worse than death?

A hand touched my cheek and I flinched away. I heard Nash's deep chested laugh as he moved to grab my hand and rub his thumb in circles of my palm. I wanted to pull away but his grip was too strong so I simply grit my teeth and pretended he wasn't there.

"Do you hear them, pet? Just change back for me. This can be less painful for you if you only cooperate."

I bit my lip but didn't reply. I winced as the hold on my wrist tightened and I could almost feel his silent rage. I heard him click his tongue and then move away. I continued to listen as I was carried into a building and I smelt salt water. I cried out as I was dropped and landed in a small pool of water. My wrists were roughly grabbed and I felt shackles clamp closed on them. The sound of retreating footsteps and then nothing. I sat in the water for a while, not moving to even take my blind fold off. I heard movement and flinched when a pair of hands rested on my shoulder.

"Easy, I am just taking the blindfold off."

The voice was female and I relaxed and she slid it off me. I blinked at the bright light and took in my surroundings. I was on a raised platform in a four meter by four meter tub set in the ground filled with water that would have only reached up to my knees. My shackled arms were attached to chains on the side of the tub. I turned to the woman next and was shocked to see a young pink haired woman smiling kindly down at me. She didn't look to be older than me and around her neck was a gold painted slave collar. Seeing my look she fingered it, disgust on her face.

"It shows that I belong to Nash Gold, master of this place. My name is Momoi, you?"

"Kuroko Tetsuya."

"Hm, Tetsu-kun huh? I haven't seen a live merman in years. I'm from the island of Teiko."

"Sei-kun's Island?"

She looked at me in shock and I clamped my mouth shut. I didn't know why I was so talkative with someone I just met but I felt like I could trust her.

"You know prince Akashi?"

I nodded and she hugged her knees tightly to her chest.

"Oh I am jealous! I wished and hoped for him to swoop in here and rescue us but then part of me wished he would stay far, far away so he wouldn't get hurt."

"I know the feeling."

She heard the distress in my voice and cocked her head, a smile on her face.

"What's your relationship with the prince?"

My cheeks reddened and she laughed, "oh ho, lovers are you?"

She laughed again at my deepening blush but then she abruptly stopped. I looked up to see her smile was gone and her eyes looked sad. She sat down her legs dangling in the water and I could see she wore no shoes and there was a bruise on her arm she tried to hide with her long sleeves.

"You should forget about him. There is no way the prince, even with all his strengths will be able to reach you here and Nash has already spread the word that you are his. There is no escape once he takes a liking to you."