✔THE STING (onc-19)

11. 'A stolen kiss'

"Tada!" Sheila put several of those peach coloured pearls into a glass jar and closed it's lid; then started shaking it vigorously, sticking her tongue up at the corner of her mouth.

The pearls lost their lustre, they started to look like a bunch of marbles. "I still don't get it. But I'm waiting." Zaren crossed his arms with an impatient eye roll.

"These are pills." Sheila undid the lid and picked one to examine between her thumb and index, it had the squishy feeling of a jelly bean.

"For what?" Kai extended his fingers to touch it. Instead of him, Sheila went over to her brother to explain about it in detail.

"Zar. We can turn back to humans with these pills. Merfolk have been using these pills from ages to transform back into human form to trade with humans. But it has its limitations, one should get back into the water before an hour of consuming one pill. And I could afford to steal barely five of them," informing that she carefully placed the pill back into the jar, and watched it settle to the bottom longingly.

"Why would you do that? It's a suicide mission." Zaren pursed his lips, as his brows pressed into each other, under the worrisome wrinkles of his forehead.

"Because I want to meet father, Zar. For one last time."

"Come on, accept it. Your life is now bound to the ocean. you'll not sacrifice your second chance at life, would you? I mean, you didn't even remember him once when we were stranded up there." Zar sifted his fingers through his thick brown hair.

"I didn't remember him because, I believed in you, Zar. I thought you'd take me to him eventually, no matter what."

"Are you blaming me for all of this?" Zaren swam closer to her, towering himself a whole head taller than her. Kai tried to keep up with the heated conversation with a pair of watchful eyes.

"I am not blaming anybody. I want to say a proper goodbye to him. We couldn't do that to mom, remember?" Sheila took one of the pill and raised her shoulders, sucking in a long breath. "Now, will you take the pill or not?"

"No. Why should I?"

"Fine I'll do it myself." She placed the jar on the table and created a huge bubble by blowing into a small ring made of a very light metal.

"What's that for?" Kai proceeded towards her, his face full of curious question marks.

"If this experiment is successful, I need something to breathe into, in my human form." She played with the enlarged bubble and held it carefully in her hands.

"Sheila, I...I'll do it. Give it to me." Kai stretched his hand out to receive the pill, only to trigger Zaren again.

"It's none of your business, Kai. Stay out of it." Zaren pulled him around, his eyes bloodshot and face red hot.

"If Sheila is my business, then everything about her is my business." Kai was already pinned to the wall behind, Zaren's strong forearm was choking his throat.

"Captain, I haven't used my claws yet, beware of them."

"You think you can scare me with that. Huh?" Zaren dragged him to the ground and punched him in the jaw. Kai's teeth caught the flesh of his lips, and an iron taste of oozing blood spoiled the aftertaste that was lingering on his tongue from the ceremonial delicacies.

"Zaren. Stop it. I am giving you the last warning." Kai released himself from the ground to stand stronger, his claws moved forward, as his face muscles tightened in rage.

"Guys, please." Sheila tapped her fingers on Zaren's back. But, for the rebel he always was, he rose up and stood levelling head to head with Kai. He simultaneously pounced at him to attack again.