EDITING■The Ocean's Voice- A Mermaid Story

7 On Gaurd...

The mermaid was singing the dolphins to sleep again. They were tired and so was she, but she sang to please them any way. It calmed her too.

"Sleep little fish
Close your eyes
Make a wish
And fall asleep
To my Lunar Lullaby "

And as she finished her song was there... another vioce... Singing with her?

Kai listened but heard nothing.

After she was finished she enjoyed the silence. The waves crashing against the rocks, then rolling over the sand, and then floating back out to sea; it was soothing.

Until she heard footsteps.

Kai turned around and there knelt the prince. Edmond was wearing his usual royal attire; a white collared long sleeve shirt, the collar and sleeves were navy blue, with black pants and a strange leather covered his feet. Edmond only wore his crown for special occasions at the palace but he did wear 3 gold medals under the royal crest on his shirt. This represented his royalty, along with his gold sash and matching belt.

Human possesion and materialism was strange to Kai. They seemed to always be dressed so fancy and have elaborate... everything. Very different from the mermaid world. Becuase mermaids were so advanced with the help of the moon, they learned simple was best.

Edmond smiled and said "Hello Kai."

"Greetings." Kai muttered unsure what to do. "Why have you returned?"

"Your voice draws me here. Haven't you missed me?"

"You are not welcomed here, prince."

"I am royalty so I can come and go whenever I please." He barked.

"Prince Edmond, please, remain quiet, the dolphins are asleep."

"You can't tell me what to do." The prince smirked.

"Arrogant human."

"Stubborn siren."

"Must you always infuriat me?" She fumed.

She was suprised to see him so soon. Well he had been back after that... incident. 

"Only if you insult first...You have a beautiful voice my lady. How do you sing so?"

The prince had been coming to the island early, in secret, to hear her voice.

"Human you must leave! Your life depends on it. I'm forbidden to even speak to you. "

This is how their conversations usually began.

"Forbidden?" The prince said slyly "A forbidden love? A sin?"

"You flatter me your majesty." she replied sarcastically.

The Prince Edmond grinned saying, "Your voice? How?"

"All mer people can sing. Some better than others."

"Well you are an enchanting singer Lady Kai..."

Kai almost thanked him for his blandishment, but then remembered what she was taught about men. About how they're all flattering and say anything to get you to like them. Then they use you and toss you aside. "Men are the cause of all chaos." she heard her mother's voice say...

"Edmond?" Kai said softly, twisting her hair.

"Yes Kai?" He said, sitting down and inching closer to her.

"Tell me...how many other girls do you do this to?" Kai asked, sharply

"Excuse me?" Edmond said, surprised. This is not where he thought the moment would go.

I have to get rid of him. I can not just kill him, he's a prince! I would start a war...

"I've heard about you, the prince of Empire Felicity; you, Prince Edmond, the pompous son of the Emperor. One who stole heart after heart and left scars . Chasing all fine women, from chambermaids to dutchess...taking from the poor to throw yourself a ball? Capturing a fine animal for sport? Skinning whales to make your meat more tender? Isn't that what you do all day on your high throne?"

The spoiled prince, for the first time in his life was speechless. No one had ever addressed him so, especially a woman. Kai's behavior confused him how she could be quiet one moment and bold the next. But he liked it.

He smirked and said " You call drowning sailors to their death honorable? You've killed hundreds of us!"

"And you have killed thousands of us, not even including the great beasts of the sea! What I do IS honorable because it is my assigned duty to protect the ocean and it's inhabitants! Even if it means death. What's your excuse? You, my dear prince, have none because you do everything for your own self-absorbed, perverted pleasure."

The prince once again was shocked by Kai's fire.

"Excuse? You my lady, are very prideful and, bitterly honest..."

"I just speak the truth..."

"So," Prince Edmond replied, changing the subject, "You are forbidden to speak to me? Then I will speak to you."

Kai shook her head. Humans are very stubborn and very foolish.

"Human what part of forbidden do you not understand? Leave, now."

"As you wish." Edmond sighed

The prince sat up and walked away.

"Farewell my mermaid!" he shouted dramatically, still walking.

Kai was annoyed now. Their discussions usually ended in an argument.

His mermaid... ugh. Why can't I just kill him? It would be so much easier. I have to check with council. We've been discovered and the humans must be planning something. I can't just continue to play pretend. Hopefully the Elders have something in mind.

For the next month Kai had attended the Elders meetings. They continued to give the same orders. Stand down and be on guard. We will only strike if they strike first.