Black Hearted

Part 90

Sean raised an eyebrow, asking them curiously. "What do you mean? What's the rush?" Nate glanced over his shoulder to make sure that most of the crew were far enough away. Then moving closer, Nate discreetly whispered to him. "Triton is here for the treasure. If he lays claim to it... He'll be the next Pirate King." Sean looked to Mark, smirking out devilishly. "Well... We can't have that. So, what do we do?" Mark grinned brightly, nudging Nate to continue. Nate bit his lip, softly whispering. "I might have bartered a small deal with Kai... and tipped him off to Triton's plan." Mark took Sean's wrist, pulling him closer as he whispered into his ear. "Triton is the richest of the Pirate Lords... He'll win Pirate King without a fight if we don't pull this off." Sean looked over Mark's shoulder to see Triton talking just as discreetly to two Pirate Lords with fishing gear. Patting Mark and Nate's chests, Sean told them. "Time to go. Triton's making deals." Nate glanced back briefly, before dashing after Sean. Mark stripped himself down to his black pants, yelling out to Bob. "Lower the fishnets."

Sean and Nate dived off the ship in almost perfect unison before Mark leapt off after them. In the water, Sean's body changed, and he twisted back up to the surface. His fin ears sprang out to shake water off as he looked for Mark. Mark breached the surface still a human, spitting water as he told Sean with a grin. "Let's do this." Sean flicked his tail over the surface, asking him curiously. "Aren't you going to change?" Mark shook his head, mumbling out. "No. I'm too tired... but I'm going to let you two go alone." Sean shrugged, chuckling out. "Ok. Here." Sean reached out to take his hand and dived. Mark swam beside him, meeting up with Nate who was saying something to a group of Mersharks and pointing to the fishnet that was being lowered into the water. Sean only caught pieces of their conversation but got enough to know there was something in it for them. The group of Mersharks nodded to Nate, rushing to the fishnet to lay it out across the seafloor. Nate waved them over to a crack in the seafloor, pointing to a tunnel that was almost hidden in the jagged rocks.

Sean pulled Mark close to kiss him to transfer some air to him, then held his hand tighter as he pulled him through the water. At the tunnel, Ursula crept out, her black tentacles slithering over the tunnel entrance. To his surprise, she gave Nate the thumbs up and then grabbed Nate's arm tightly with one of her tentacles as she told him firmly. "Remember our deal. I help you. You help me." Nate nodded, telling her as his body began to glow. "I know. I'll get it." Ursula released Nate, moving out of their way. Sean wanted to know what kind of deals he was making with these people. When Mark tugged on his arm and pointed to the abyss beneath them. Sean looked down to see the dark abyss was moving. His eyes widened, when he saw an eye open and massive tentacles creep up along the sides. A Kraken was nestled in this crack. Ursula pet a massive tentacle as it moved up the rocky wall behind her. Her love of the creature fascinated him. She was so fearless. A dark beauty among the more colorful merfolk he had known.

Following Nate into the tunnel, his own bioluminescence started to light up the dark cave. Checking on Mark, Sean asked Nate bluntly. "What did you promise them?" Nate continued to lead the way, answering honestly over his shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Ursula hates Triton. So, she was more than willing to knock him down from any throne he pursues. The Mersharks support Ursula for the throne. Which makes them helpful to our cause." Sean narrowed his eyes on Nate with concern, but figured he'd talk to him later about it. Mark hit his side and gestured for air. Sean stopped to give him some, only to end up with a blushing grin. Mark's hands cupped his neck lovingly, savoring the contact between them. He wondered if Mark chose to stay human on purpose. Just to coax these moments from him. Mark brushed his thumb across the tiny scales glinting across Sean's cheekbones, giving him a warm smile before swimming on. Swimming over Mark, Sean held Mark's sides push him through the water.

Outside the tunnel, they found themselves in a secret entrance into the lower part of Atlantis's temple castle. Parts were collapsed from the cave in, but where one wall was broken... was the entrance to the vault. The vault door was busted open, revealing the now flooded inner chamber. Kai floated in the water by the door as mersharks were quickly stuffing clear treasure chests with gold and jewels. As they approached, Kai pointed to a few chests set aside, saying coolly. "Twenty- five chests of gold. As promised." Nate kissed Kai's cheek, then pulled him closer to whisper something to him. Kai pulled from Nate, extending a hand out as he said calmly. "That will cost you. That item isn't a toy." Mark squinted at Nate as Nate discreetly handed Kai a small leather pouch. Kai opened the pouch to pull out a black pearl. Looking it over closely, Kai grinned and set it back with the others. Winking at Nate, he gestured him in. Sean swam in after Nate with Mark tailing close behind him.