The Merman and the Prince

Chapter 33

Kuroko's Pov

Thunder ripped through my dreams and when I opened my eyes I could still hear it. Sitting up I glared at Nash who was banging on my glass prison. He knelt down and cocked his head as he looked me over.

"Very nice. I knew I could entrust Silver to make me the target of everyone's envy when they see my pet."

"I am not yours."

I crossed my arms as I floated in the water, glaring down at him. Instead of getting angry he simply pulled out his dagger and cleaned underneath his fingernails with it.

"Oh, I see."

My eyes were drawn to the knife and I swallowed a lump of fear in my throat. I had gotten off easy so far with Nash but if he really wanted he could hurt me, or even kill me. Kagami had told me what these monsters had done to him, I could be treated a lot worse. It was like he read my mind as he stood up, tapping the knife on the glass.

"If you don't want to cooperate with me I can take your scales, one by one. I know it is quite painful, like pulling fingernails."

I shivered as he scraped the knife on the glass as he walked around the tank. I winced at the sound it made, echoing around the tank, heightened by the water. I clapped my hands to my ears as I watched him, wide eyed and frightened. He stopped before me and I lowered my hands at the flick of his hand.

"You will sit here, the perfect picture of obedience and let us all admire you as I entertain my guests. If you don't, any sign of disobedience and you will suffer. I will personally take every single scale off you and crush your tail."

Fear trickled down my back as I met his emotionless gaze. These were not empty threats, he would go through with them without hesitation. He tapped on the glass with his knife to get my attention.

"Understood?"

I couldn't make a sound, my throat had gone dry so I simply nodded.

Before too long the guests began to trickle into the room with Nash and Silver greeting them. They would speak for a moment before then moving over to my tank to stare at me. Mindful of the punishment that would await me I simply avoided their eyes and kept my gaze glued to the ground.

"Magnificent. I will give you two reels of gold for him."

I was sitting on the ground, hugging my tail to my chest when I heard someone make an offer. I closed my eyes, so it had already begun.

"I am afraid he isn't for sale Haizaki."

I looked up to see Nash standing next to a rough looking man with ash grey hair styled in braids. I did not like the way his eyes caressed me. Nash lent against the glass, looking down at me.

"I have taken a liking to this one. He's mine, aren't you Kuroko?"

Adverting my eyes I nodded my head, biting my lip to stop any angry words from escaping.

"Good boy," he whispered before moving away.

I curled up at the bottom of the tank and furled my tail tightly around myself as I hugged my chest. I was disgusted with myself, I was a coward. I didn't want to be tortured, I didn't want to be in pain so I was doing what he wanted. I allowed my tears to fall as I thought about Akashi and wished he was here to save me.

The night wore on and I heard the voices of the group of ruffians getting louder as they got drunker. Some of them mentioned the things they wanted to do to me if I was human and I was glad I was in this form. Dimly I was aware that somebody had come for Nash and Silver but I didn't pay it any mind as I was pretty tired.