Stolen By Black [manxman]

Chapter One

Everyone on land thought merfolk had ultimate freedom: a life in the sea, exploring the depths, adventure galore.

If only they were aware of how wrong they were.

"I have told you enough by now, Vesper. You know better than to go to the Hallowed Circles, of all places!" It was a lecture Vesper's father, King Reiss, had given him almost daily since Vesper was old enough to swim out on his own. "You shouldn't even be leaving the palace! After everything I have taught you, how can you be so blatantly disobedient and disgraceful to this family?"

Vesper's blood boiled. "It's not like I'm going into other merfolk territories. I'm not going to get myself killed, Dad." He was too bright to risk venturing beyond their boundaries. As the eldest son of the Raptured Waters' royal family, Vesper was a target for any creature beyond the Raptured Waters. There had been one too many coups and genocides to allow royal travel between territories.

Even so, King Reiss had taught him from an early age how to manipulate pirates, land creatures, and humans alike. Even if they were dangerous, no amount of his father's preaching would make him feel intimidated by a human.

"There's more to it than that, Vesper. Pirates swarm these waters. They are just as capable of capturing you, killing you, or selling you on the black market."

Vesper rolled his eyes. "All merfolk have handled pirates at one point or another. Isn't it you who taught me how to rob pirates to build up our resources?"

"They are dangerous, and I do not want you going back to the Hallowed Circle. Pirates are always over there, and it's only a matter of time until—"

"They're human. How dangerous can they be?" Vesper swam toward the door. "Merfolk haven't been captured by pirates at the Hallowed Circle in years. You're being overdramatic."

"Most humans aren't dangerous. The majority of them are nothing more than supernatural prey, but these human pirates are smarter than the rest of their species." King Reiss folded his arms over his chest as his nostrils flared. "Go swim around the territory all you like, but if I hear of you going to the Hallowed Circle one more time—"

"You'll what?" Vesper asked with a smirk. "Give me another lecture?" With a snort, he shook his head and pulled open the palace doors. "I'm going out."

"You will be home by nightfall, or I swear to the gods I'll send every soldier I have out looking for you. Do you understand me, Vesper?"

"Whatever." Vesper swam out of the palace as quickly as he could, wanting to escape from his father, from the Raptured Waters, and from the confines he'd been living in since he was born. He was already a century old, and King Reiss still tried to keep a leash on him.

It was maddening, but he couldn't escape it regardless of how hard he tried. The most escape he was allowed to have was swimming to the outer edges of the territory or going up to the Hallowed Circle. Sure, Vesper had thought of ways to get out and explore on his own, but none of them were great. In every scenario he considered, he ended up killed by rival merfolk or captured by pirates. On the other hand, if he opted to life out his life on land by shifting into human form, the concern of him being sold on the black market remained.

If Vesper were to leave the Raptured Waters, he would need help. There wasn't anyone he trusted enough for that, though. No one needed anything he could offer like he needed their guidance to a life of freedom and exploration. Sure he had treasure and jewels, but he'd have to leave most of it behind since it weighed so much. The few pieces he'd manage to smuggle out on his person would be gone in an instant while he bartered for essentials like clothing or food.