Gem of the Sea (Mertalia SpaMano AU)

21

Lovi was woken at an unknown hour by a movement close by his face, he let out a quiet yelp when he opened his eyes and found them met with pupil-less pearl coloured ones, Cerce's sister Sycorax smiled at him, his tail-fin held aside in one of her hands, a slender finger poking the end of his nose "you woke up, my prince!" she giggled, backing away a bit as he sat up "my sisters noticed your plight, I was sent to extend our aid" she held out a hand to him and he willingly took it, praying that they could get him back to the surface, back to his pirate.

she led him along quietly, seeing what he could not in the dark, back to their hidden cave where Cerce and the other, Calypso, he thought her name was, were waiting "Welcome my prince!" they chimed in unison, rising to greet him, pearl eyes shinning in the blue light of algae "we have been waiting!" Cerce cooed, swimming around him, trailing a delicate hand over his shoulder, Calypso followed her "we saw that you were unhappy, we want our pretty prince to smile!" Sycorax joined the ring swirling around him, shark-like tails stirring the water "we want to help, we could grant a wish..." she smiled "...or save a life..." "...or change your fate?" the had fallen in unison as they swirled around him.

Lovi, almost overwhelmed by the prospects of what they were offering him, paused suddenly "what do you mean save a life?" he narrowed his eyes, panic pitting itself in his stomach, had something happened that he didn't know about? no, surely if something had happened to Toni, Anuk would have come to tell him? right? the witches gave him no answer, so he tried a different question "what is the cost of this? this is two miracles now that you're granting me, what are you getting from it?"

"such a clever boy our prince is!" Sycorax purred, swimming so close her shoulders brushed against his and for a chilling moment their tails twisted together "The only thing we want is for you to remain as our pretty prince" Cerce grabbed his wrist gently, leading him further into the cave "let us show you what we are offering" Calypso swam ahead to pull back a kelp curtain and Sycorax's hand on his back was all that kept him from recoiling at what he saw beyond.