Splatter

24. The Collector 2641

There was a whole lot of screaming, Dean clasped his hands to his ears but the shrieks pierced through, stabbing at his head. The Mer were shouting at each other in song but occasionally a word or two would slip in. Dean would have attempted to understand it except he was too busy trying not to drown. Their assailants had pushed Dean and Castiel into the huge aboveground pool that took up all the space inside the tent. Clawed hands shredded and pulled at their clothing. Castiel was fighting back, his movements quick and savage but he was out numbered. Still he fought, blade slicing furiously, inching towards Dean. More Mer closed in on Castiel. Castiel grunted and bowed his head as he dashed forward, blade pointed. Even more Mer swam up in between them, their tails and talons a riot of colours as they clambered over each other to get at their target until Castiel was blocked entirely from view.

Dean's attackers were more intent on dunking him in the water than knocking him out. Strangely whenever Dean's head submerged beneath the waterline the unbearable high pitched wails became more muted and melodic, he could feel his body responding to the sounds. Right now the song was passionate, triumphant with anger, rhythmic with energy, a few tones of confusion. Dean would have liked to listen more but the burning lack of oxygen in his lungs was excruciating. When he resurfaced, gasping for air, he heard shouting.

"Kill the human consort!"

"He is no king!"

"He's not gilling out. He can't even breathe, let alone swim."

"False prophecy, Uriel warned us!"

"Let him up! You will all let him up! We are not murderers!"

Someone was pushing on his stomach, he was leaning against a firm chest, strong arms wrapped around his middle. Dean coughed out a mouthful of pool water. He looked up, expecting to see Castiel but it was a familiar stranger staring back at him. He was a young Mer, with a sincere face, sandy brown hair and appealing blue eyes. Dean remembered him from the mating trials. He was one of the first Mer to be injured and flown off the island.

"I am Samandriel, Uriel's heir, you're under my protection," the Mer said and then shouted to the others. "Dean Winchester is under my protection!"

That seemed to intimidate the others, though Dean had no idea why. Samandriel was small and wiry compared to the older angrier crowd of Mer. They were all tailed out, their upper bodies bare, showing rag tag fins and marked flesh. Dean could see the loose skin hanging off Zachariah's thick middle, there were scars all over him and his tail looked twisted and bald. There was no finnage on him and he could barely steer himself in the makeshift pool. No wonder he was out of shape, he could barely swim.

"It's Dean Winchester's fault Uriel is dead," Zachariah panted, tail thumping against the linoleum side barrier of the pool. "The hybrid admitted Uriel's death."

Dean looked over to Castiel, pinned down in the water by three sizable Mer, largest of the murderous school gathered around them. Castiel's neck showed crimson lines where his gills flickered as his chest heaved. There had been a struggle and Castiel was certainly trapped but Dean could see that the Mer holding him down were looking more bruised and dishevelled than their captive, though Castiel was almost half their size.

"I didn't kill Uriel, how is it my fault?" Dean asked.

"If you didn't then your consort did," Zachariah stated with certainty. "No one else would want Uriel dead. He was a true follower of our lore, he preached peace and self-sufficiency. He came to this camp to convince the mer who had converged to disassemble. Nature should be worshipped, not controlled. The end of the world is coming and good riddance to the human rubbish I say."

"That is enough Zachariah, you have no evidence that Castiel or Dean is in anyway responsible," Samandriel said, loosening his hold on Dean. "I wish to speak to them in private, to assist them with their investigation."