Deeper Than Blue

One

As a merperson swims, scales are shedded similar to that of a sharks teeth. The regulars look out for each other, pointing out when they see a scale fall so the owner could collect it.

The poor don't have that. They can only catch it themselves or the other mers would scower the ground in search of lost scales, collecting them in bags before selling them for a shitty profit.

Or they're hired by royals.

Royals have they're hired mers follow them at a 5 foot distance, collecting any scales they don't see.

Why are scales important?

Because it's a mers purpose to collect their scales and change them. Turning them into jewelry. A mer does this for as long as they could remember, collecting scales and turning them into jewelry or vases or jars or anything they can ad them to to make them more appealing.

On the 15th birthday if a mer, they are destined to meet their mate. Their one true love. Thats the only thing they can know though. No signs are given on who the mate is. Just that on that one day, they will meet a mer that is supposed to be theirs.

When they meet them, they give everything that they made from their scales to them. It symbolizes how long they waited and how loyal they were, not stopping or getting themselves tangled up with other mers.

But that's not always the case. It's not always on your birthday that you meet your mate. Take it from me.

My name is Prince Levi Ackerman. I'm an 18 year old merman. On my birthday three years ago, I swam around the kingdom in search of a mer that I would take a fancy to. None. I found. None.

My father thought I was being stingy as he followed me throughout the day. So towards the end, he pulled me into a carriage and I then met my "beautiful fiance", Petra Ral.

My father said that she was the perfect mermaid for me and that she would make an excellent queen. I objected, saying that she wasn't what I was looking for.

He ignored me and Petra and I were now engaged, supposed to be married when I turn 19. I'm 18 and her 17.

10 days laid between 18 and 19. 10 days for me to somehow get out of this betrothment.

Even if we were engaged, I had refused her at all costs. Ive ignored her when she called me some icky nickname, I pulled away when she tried to touch me, abd I refused, STRAIGHT UP OBJECTED TO GIVING HER MY SCALES!

But no, she just had to show everyone that I "belonged" to her. And my father agreed. He allowed her access to the vault where she would put her grimy hands all over my scales, putting them on her filthy body. Once I saw this, I snapped.

I would never hit a lady, it is against the rules of being a prince.

But Petra was NOT a lady. She was a bitch.

I took the scales back from her and disinfected them hurriedly, returning them to my box before I ordered a guard, a mer named Farlan who was a childhood friend of mine, to take them and hide them in our old hiding place.

I didn't want her near them. To make things clear,this was two years ago, when I was 16, a year after I was forced into this.

I went to the throne room and saw complete hell. Petra was at the tail of my mother's throne, her head in her lap as she cried. My mother comforted her, petting her head gently.

My father was completely enraged.

"Petra," He said softly. "how many times has my son rejected you? Rejected your sweet words and kind gestures?" He asked.

Petra lifted her head, my eyes catching sight of the bruised and red mark on her cheek. Serves you right.

"Dozens of times.." she said softly, her voice shaky as she sniffled.

"How many dozens of times?" He asked, tilting his head. "I've tried multiple times a day since we first got engaged.. about 5 times a day I believe.." she whispered,clearing her throat.

"Five times a day,365 days a year. Why, he rejected you 1,825 times. Plus this outrageous act of violence towards his own mate! This is the only punishment I see fit for you boy, fit for a monster! You will be sentenced to lashings. One lash for each time you rejected your mate!"

So this is where I am now. I just finished up with my last set for the year. I would've been done sooner but I continued to reject her. I wouldn't take to one who wasn't mine. I laid on my bed, staring into the soft sponge below me.

The kingdoms scientist tended to me, a mateless being who stood also genderless and not to mention brainless.

Out of all the mers in the kingdom, I trusted only a few. About four at most. Farlan and Erwin, both guards and the first was an old friend. Isabel, Farlan mate and also my scale collector, then hanji,the doctor who was currently stitching up my back.

I turned my head to look up at them, watching their face which currently held no emotion besides a hardened face and concentration. Maybe a bit if anger but it was hard to tell.

I didn't speak and neither did they. I laid still as they worked, letting them do whatever. Once they were done however, I sat up slowly, my back numb. I pulled on a shirt, smoothing out the soft black material. I felt tired and drained, like I could sleep for eternity.

"Are you alright Levi? Do you think you can make it to the carriage?" They questioned. I nodded slowly, staring at the floor. "Yeah.. tell Farlan to bring some food and Amber sacs for me." I murmured, getting up and slowly swimming to the door, my movements rigid so I didn't break my stitches.

We were traveling to the mother city, a kingdom where my uncle and sister resided. My uncle had remarried and adopted his new wife's son and we were to meet him as tradition to accept him into the family.

Hanji nodded and left me with Isabel who was sitting on the couch. She swam to the bed after I got up, picking up two of my midnight black and blue scales. She placed them in an empty pouch at her hip before following me out the door.

She swam next to me, her red tail shimmering green as she helped me along. "what do you think about our 50/50 cousin, big brother?" She asked as she stared up at me.

I shrugged softly. "I could care less.." I murmured, a voice deep in my gut telling me that was a lie.

Word count: 1165