Splatter

3. The Guest 4397

Hannah and Novak were screeching at each other.

Dean never learnt Piscean, the Mer language sounded shrill and unearthly to his ears. It was a sort of tonal screaming that must have been designed to be heard under miles of ocean. It crawled under Dean's skin and made his flesh erupt into goosebumps. Novak's eyes were exaggeratedly wide when he vocalised, pink lips peeled back from his sharp white teeth. Dean thought that he preferred the dancing part of their language much better, but understood that verbalised Piscean was often used in cases of emergency.

"We have to go," Novak shot over his shoulder. His hand had grasped Dean's shirt sleeve as he sprinted towards the door.

"Why are they filming us?"

"They're looking for the royal heir," Novak answered without providing any further information on exactly who that is. "We have to split up, they don't know who they are looking for so they'll chase each group of us."

"Look I don't know why we're being harassed but I'm happy to run some paparazzi around the block," Benny said helpfully.

"There's a Mer here, a royal Mer?" Sam's eyes were feverish with delight. "Which one of you is it? Dean we have to protect them, the royal line is special, we have to do everything to ensure their protracted courting process is adhered to."

Dean raised his eyebrows. The way Sam was talking he already suspected his human photographer friend Jimmy Novak might be more than met the eye. Dean grinned, damn Sam was smart.

"We are not permitted to discuss the identity of the royal heir, nor their mate selection process," Hannah said, eyes darting to Novak and then back to Dean. "We have to go now, I have Gadreel on his way to assist us but he is still some distance away."

"Wait a second, what?" Dean scoffed at Novak. "No one said anything about playing Mer Bachelorette!"

Kevin looked like he had heard a scandalous lie. "No royal will come ashore for mate selection, that's unheard of."

"There's a precedent for it in their history, it was an extraordinary event, precursor to historical change in their society," Charlie gasped. "But I never thought another such choosing would arise in our life time and certainly not in the current political climate!"

Novak raised his eyes to the ceiling. "The best way to escape is of course to stand here and engage in endless exposition."

Dean followed Novak's eye line and suddenly an idea dawned on him. "That ice cream sign on top of the roof, it's got lights, lights they have to turn on and off and maybe swap now and then if a bulb breaks?"

"Oh," Hannah looked impressed.

"Not just a very pretty face," Novak smiled appraisingly.

Sam and Charlie pushed through the door and drew a crowd of photographers. Then Benny and Donna existed, walking quickly in the opposite direction. Jody and Garth went out the back door, judging by the sounds of scuffling, they drew away a bunch of people too. Hannah was met by Gadreel at the door, the remaining cameras instantly focusing on them as they walked out. There was visibly more interest from the reporters even though Hannah and Gadreel were in plain human clothes. Hannah had a bright face with mesmerisingly large blue eyes and Gadreel stood tall and broad like an advertisement for Mermen virility.

"They're getting too much attention, can't have Hannah getting all the spotlight," Novak said from where he and Dean were perched behind the sign bolted to the roof, which they had accessed through a ceiling hatch. "You ready to run with me?"