🏁 Tetrology Of The Sea - Book 1: From The Sea 🪼🔨💻 💞 🔮

Thirty-One

Travis opened his eyes and immediately hissed in pain. His whole body ached and he was still on the table with the knife in his side. He yelled in agony, wanting to just go home. He didn't deserve any of this torture and he was worried that Craig would go after Esper. He hoped Aylin would take care of her... If he died he hoped Aylin would take her or Shana would come back and take her as her own. He knew she'd gladly do so since she had wanted her since Esper was a baby and taking a maternity test would definitely show the law that she belonged to her...
The door opened and Travis looked over sluggishly, the shadow coming in. He closed his eyes and opened them again, finding Craig over him.
"Ah, you're awake. I'm glad to see that..." Travis said nothing as he glared at the man above him. "I hope my knife wasn't too uncomfortable in the night."
Craig reached over and wiggled it a little and Travis yelled out in pain.
"You're looking a little pale, Travis. Then again, having that knife probably has made you lose a lot of blood... But you'll have to hold onto it for a little while longer."
Travis watched as he began to leave when he turned back around and leaned on the table.
"That reminds me, where is my goldfish?"
Travis looked at him like he was crazy. "What?"
"I set Jennifer out on the stand last night and when I came back, she was gone."
"Penelope."
"What?"
"The fish' name was Penelope." Travis croaked.
Craig smiled. "Ah... So you did talk to the fish?" Travis' eyes widened at his mistake. "I had a feeling you spoke to her. But wherever she is, she can't testify to you being here. In fact, no one knows you're here. They don't even really care."
Craig walked over to a bucket and picked it up, climbing up a ladder to the huge tank that was there. He scooped up a bucket of water and threw it onto Travis. The salt water and the coldness of it hit Travis like a shotgun and he yelled out as Craig cackled.
"God I love to hear you scream. And when I figure out where your little fish kid went, I'm going to make sure she gets to see her daddy sacrifice himself before I work on her."
Travis shook his head. "No!"
"Yes! I am going to get a hold of her and do the same thing to her as I am doing to you. The sound of little children screaming is the most haunting and yet invigorating sounds to hear, you know?"
"You sick bastard!" Travis yelled as tears started to fall. "Don't touch my daughter!!!"
Craig jumped from the ladder and walked over, smiling at the tears in Travis' eyes.
"Oh, this is what I wanted to see. I wanted to see you cry like a bitch."
"Please! Craig, don't hurt her! You can chop me up in little pieces for all I care but don't my daughter!" he yelled, crying hysterically even though it hurt to shake his body like that. "Dear God, please!"
"Begging won't do anything for you." Craig snapped, slapping Travis across the face. "Shut the hell up."
He left the building and Travis began to bawl, worried for Esper more than anything.

BELOW TRAVIS IN THE WATER

Where Travis was stabbed, the blood was running off of the table and into the ocean under him. Three sharks were swimming under him, taking in the smell of the blood infested water.
"I love the smell of blood in the water. This is a different type of smell though." One of the sharks said.
"Maybe that sodden wood will crumble and whoever is bleeding up there will fall through?" the second said.
"That would be too lucky." The third said.
They reveled in the scented water when a dolphin swam up to them.
"What are you three doing?"
"Swimming." The third one answered.
"This is the scent of a merperson. You know sharks aren't allowed to eat the merfolk."
"We never said we wanted to eat it." The first one said.
The dolphin glared at them. "King Crowt ordered all of his subjects to him as well as Queen Dorsella. You must report this to them so that they will know where to find the boy."
"Why don't we just revel in the scent and you go tell them?"
The dolphin swam and bumped one of them in the side.
"Come on!" she screamed and looked down.
Something kind of golden caught her eye and she spotted a orangey colored fish. She had never really seen anything like it and swam to it. She picked it up in her mouth and swam off.

SO ENDS THE HUNGRY SHARKS

Queen Dorsella watched the waves lap upon the shore as she waited for her servant to come to her. She didn't like being in this human state but she knew that in order to save the son of a friend, she would have to sacrifice comfort. The sound of a dolphin squeaking caught her attention and she waded into the water as the dolphin swam to her.
"Do you have news?" she asked, petting the dolphin swimming around her.
There were three sharks swimming under a shady spot where they said they smelled some merfolk blood. They were entranced at the moment to leave their frenzy spot. I don't know exactly where they are on the surface but I can lead you by sea if you like?
"That would be fantastic."
I also found this. I believe this is the poor goldfish that risked her life to save Travis
The dolphin set the object in Dorsella's hands and she pulled it up to her. Indeed it was a goldfish.
"Poor dear. I will ask Medusa if she has something for this. Thank you and yes, we will take your lead in the search. I will tell the others and you wait here."
Yes, my queen.
Dorsella walked back onto the shore and into the house.
"I have news!" she yelled, walking to Medusa.
"News?" Aquarius asked, turning to her.
"Yes but before that, I need to ask if Medusa would try to help this poor creature."
"What is it?" Ruth asked, walking closer.
"I believe that this is the brave goldfish that helped save the boy. Medusa, is there anything we can do for her? She didn't need to die this way."
Medusa grabbed Penelope and looked at her for a moment.
"I can try. I cannot bring merpeople back to life but I don't think it has any bearing on actual fish."
Medusa concentrated on Penelope and she was suddenly glowing. Water flowed out of Penelope onto the floor and Medusa blew a strange red powder onto her. Penelope opened her eyes and her mouth began to gulp.
"Water, quick!" Medusa yelled.
Josh ran and got a pitcher and filled it up. Medusa dropped Penelope into the pitcher and Penelope looked around. Upon seeing Medusa and Dorsella behind her and she sighed underwater.
You are of sea royalty...
"That's right... You did a brave thing, Penelope. And for your bravery, we give you a second chance at life. Because of your brave and arduous journey to the sea, we asked that you be brought back. You have saved Travis and you did not deserve a death such as that. Welcome back."
Penelope was happy and made a little flip in the bowl.