EDITING■The Ocean's Voice- A Mermaid Story

27 Andrew Leonard Vice

"My name is Andrew Leonard Vice," the stranger began, "I was captain of the Siren, a ship that was crashed because of the mer people, after the Marine War. I was one of 3 survivors out of the 49 we had on board...My wife and child died that day."

"I'm sorry for your loss." replied an elder, "If there is anything we can do-"

"You see that's the thing mermaid. I don't want your apology or your treasure." He said as he approached the mer people.

They backed away, cautiously. But not Kai.

"Then what do you wish for? Ask and you will receive. We want peace between us." Aquila said.

"I want you to feel my pain. I've suffered for years in agony. Now I will have my revenge and you will feel my misery!"

Men that followed Vice came out from behind him. They had weapons. "For justice!" Vice raised his fist and his men fired arrows.

Kai and the mermaid warriors immediately reacted. Her people raised their shields and we're protected. Using the blades at her sides, Kai flipped them into the air and threw them at the men besides vice. They dropped to the ground. When the arrows flew for them, Kai knocked them out of the air with unatural speed, with just her hands. The rest flew past her and clanked against the shields of the mermaids.

"A life for a life!" Vice growled.

With that he shot two arrows at random. One for his wife the other for his child. Both were going toward Kai and her mother. Kai immediately took action and caught the one coming toward her mother but wasn't quick enough to catch the second. She was distracted by Edmond, as he lept up out of his seat in shock. Never before had she made a mistake in battle. Not ever.

The arrow landed and right between Kai's injured shoulder and her heart. She could feel it entangling her flesh. It was covered in something else. Pioson.

Chaos erupted on both sides. The mer people screamed in horror going to aid Kai and her frightened mother.

Flashes of the war went through Kai's mind again. The screams. The vibrations of her surroundings. The dust and ash suffocating her. Kai breathed heavily as the smell of her own stale blood filled her nostrils. The pain and the chemicals weakened her. Her gills couldn't take in enough air. The pain.

Kai's body seized up in agony and she collapsed on her side... onto the other arrow that she had stopped.

"Seize him!" Caesar shouted to the soldiers around Andrew, the captain. "Do not let him escape!" After a struggle with both soldiers and mermaid warriors, Vice was arrested and taken away. Kai was gasping for air as Edmond jumped ship and scrambled toward her. Some mermaids helped him to her.

"Help." Kai whispered faintly. She couldn't feel her tail, or anything else. She felt cold.

Kai's mother began panicking. "My baby! Help my daughter please!"

"Kai!" Edmond said when he finally came to her. "Kai look at me. Stay with me. You're alright. I'm going to help you." Edmond said desperately, as he scooped her up in his arms. He ran his fingers across her cheeks. The firey sparks they usually felt at each other's touch was gone. It was replaced by a cold and clamy feeling of despair.

"Here sing with me." Edmond pleaded.

(Edmond singing)

"You are my

Lucky Star

I will be with you now and forever

I won't leave you