The Merfolk of the Sulani Seas

Chapter 4: A Change in the Tides

After Alex left the sea witch's lair, Damion swam back to his grotto. When he returned home, Caleb was in the living grotto getting ready to prepare dinner. Damion tackled Caleb, wrapping his arms around his husband. Caleb caught Damion and was greeted with a kiss.

Spinning through the water, Caleb steadied himself and Damion. He returned his husband's kiss. Damion's arms rested on Caleb's shoulders as Caleb pulled him closer. The sudden burst of affection caught Caleb by surprise, but it was a nice surprise.

When Damion was about to pull away, Caleb caught him by the waist and pulled the merman back to him. With his other hand, Caleb lifted Damion's chin and stared deep into his luminous pink eyes.

"To what do I owe such affection," Caleb inquired.

Damion looked back into Caleb's sea green eyes. "Do I need a reason to show my husband affection?"

"No, you don't," Caleb replied. "I just haven't seen you like this in a while."

Caleb released Damion from his embrace.

"I do have some excellent news," Damion said. "I have a new addition to my collection. A merboy's lovely voice."

"I see." Caleb tilted his head. "You were doing that while you were away."

"Don't say it like that. The deal was fair. The merboy wanted to walk on land, and it was the only way I could grant his wish."

"And he came to you for help," Caleb asked.

"Of course," Damion answered. "I never seek out such poor and unfortunate souls."

"You're a bad liar." Caleb frowned.

"Okay, okay, I sent Ukupanipo to find him. But, I didn't twist his fins. He chose to sign the contract on his own. He knew what he was getting himself into."

"Damion, I love you, but you can't keep doing this to other merfolk."

"I just want to complete my collection. You know how much I care about that. I needed a Merman's Voice."

"I know, but you've already got a mermaid and merman's love."

"A human soul too."

Caleb shook his head. "I know this collection is important to you, but I wish it didn't require hurting others."

"That merboy won't miss his precious voice. Besides, it turns out that his voice was a Guardian's voice. The merboy was too eager to give something like that up. The Seven Seas are safer this way."

"You sure? What if he needs his voice?" Caleb asked.

"I promise, it's for the best. There's a shadow encroaching on the sea. If he needs his voice, I can lend it back to him, temporarily," Damion explained. "Besides, the moment I return his voice, the spell I cast on him will be undone." 

"But, he'll never be able to say another word, sing another song."

"That merboy wanted something that was impossible. For that, there is a steep price to pay. You know this. For now, he gets to enjoy the human world and return to the sea as he pleases. He's getting everything he wanted."

Caleb looked deep into his husband's eyes and smiled. This time he knew that he was telling the truth.

"If you're going to keep collecting from others, promise me that you will do it for the greater good. I don't like it, but I trust you."

"I promise, I won't collect with malevolent intentions. Caleb, there's something dark beyond the sea... it worries me." Damion's voice started to shake a bit.

Hearing the fear in his husband's voice, Caleb grew a little concerned.

"Besides, I acquired something else. I have him taking care of something right now," Damion added.

"Acquired something, or someone?" Caleb inquired.

"Well, he belongs to me. His life is now bound to mine. While I do own him, I also promised his father that we would look after him."

"What did you do? What are you talking about?"

"Well, you know how we were planning on growing our pod. I acquired a son for us," Damion answered.

"Acquired a son? That's not exactly what I had in mind."

"Whatever is lurking in the shadows had a part to play in his fate. He was a human that perished on land. From the human souls, I could sense the cause of death. That's what has me the most worried."

"I don't understand? Vampires among many other dark forces of the magic realm target humans?"

"A Guardian's Voice was used to take a life. The six guardians couldn't take a life on land because they are all Reef Mermen. None of us are capable of going on land without the help of magic."

"Wait, are you telling me that you're also one of these Guardians?" Caleb chuckled.

Caleb knew his husband cared about the oceans. However, the idea of him being a guardian or protector of the seas was not something he expected. It didn't seem like Damion's nature. Damion had powerful magic, sure, but Caleb thought that was all it was. 

"Yes. I'm a Guardian of the Sea," Damion explained. "And whoever took the life of the merboy and his father, he did something to one of the other Guardians."

Damion's tone was serious, and Caleb never saw him concerned like this.

"I don't know what to say." Caleb turned to begin preparing dinner. "How bad is it?"

"If what I suspect is true, it's worse than anyone can imagine. I think... I think a Guardian has fallen, and someone out there is using the power of his voice." 

"Will he come for you too?"

"I don't know. As close as I am to the Abyssal Seal, I can't foresee what this darkness is plotting, but the more immediate problem is the absence of a guardian. It takes all six of us to maintain the seal."

"I'm not unfamiliar with forces of evil. I was a vampire remember. The Covenant manipulating humans had their own agenda."

"The Oceans are older than the Vampires. The evil sealed in the darkness of the deep is far worse than that Dark Covenant can conceive. Out of the Six, I am the closest to it. And, while I'm often the first of us to see the darkness, my sight is clouded."

"And this darkness, it's the immediate problem? How?"

"Without one of the Guardians, there is a crack in the seal. It won't happen immediately. It might take ages or far less, but over time, the seal will grow weaker. Once the seal breaks, the darkness of the deep will be unleashed on the world."

"Then we have time?"

"Yes, and I think I'll have my hands full keeping things under control. The other guardians, they might've forgotten, or they passed on their powers to new guardians that don't know."

"Damion, I had no idea." 

Caleb wanted to know more, but he also wanted to change the topic. He didn't understand everything about the ocean and merfolk, but he knew that he didn't like seeing his husband so worried.

"You said we have a merboy to look after? Where is he?"

"Oh, I almost forgot," Damion said. "I'll summon him." 

With a flourish of his wrist, a merboy appeared before the mermen.

"This is Alexander."

Damion swam up to Caleb. "I promised his human father that we would look after his son. Like you, he's been reborn as a mer, he will never be able to return to his life on land. Without us, he's got no one."

"Damion, of course he can join our pod," Caleb said. "I am a bit surprised though. I thought you hated humans."

"I do. I still can't forgive what the humans did to you, but he's no longer a human. He's a merboy. He knows nothing about the ocean. He's just like you when I brought you back."

"I remember."

Caleb reflected on his first days of being a merman. When he was first brought back to life, he tried to pull himself on land. He remembered stories about merfolk that only had a tail in water or after getting wet. He dragged himself on land, thinking that he would regain his legs.

He learned the hard way that, merfolk like him and Damion, only had one form. Their tails simply didn't change if they got dry enough or far enough on land. After nearly getting himself stuck on the beach, he almost dried out. It was a harsh truth to accept, but eventually, he learned.

"Just like me, his life on land is over now," Caleb muttered.

"I did everything I could. I can't bring back the life that was. I can only grant a new life," Damion said.

"I understand. Couldn't you, you know, grant him a human form. Let him say goodbye to his family on land... like you did for me."

"You know it's not that simple. I can't just give him a human form. You know that."

"You gave me three days with my sister. Why not do the same for him?"

"You know why. If I give him three days on land, he won't be able to return to the sea until the spell runs its course. He could get stuck on land and dry out. Getting stranded on land, it's not just bad for merfolk like us, it can be fatal."

"Then you could give him the ability permanently. It doesn't come with the same dangers, right?"

"If I grant him the ability permanently, it's much safer, but he would either lose the love he has for his family, be turned so old that they wouldn't recognize him, or be unable to say goodbye. The spell to make it permanent has no exceptions."

"Why not change me so I can go with him? I can look after him, make sure he returns to the sea on time."

"Caleb, you and Lilith. You both were part of the Realm of Magic. He was originally born a human. I brought him back as a merboy, but for a former human, letting him go back could be worse than letting his human family accept his death."

"We should try to do something?" Caleb insisted. "For better or for worse, he deserves a chance to have closure."

"Caleb, humans aren't like the Denizens of the Magic Realm. Their kind almost drove merfolk to extinction. Letting him say goodbye to his family could expose the existence of all merfolk to humans again. Besides, his family is mortal. Alexander is a merboy now. He will never die from old age."

"Then, we should let him see his family before he misses his chance."

"Maybe one day. I sent him to get one last look at his family, but I ordered him to not make contact with them. As he is, he can't disobey me. My biggest concern right now is keeping everyone safe."

"Shouldn't you let me worry about the safety of our pod? Remember, I'm the Patriarch."

"I know." Damion rolled his eyes. "I still don't know why in the seven seas you became the patriarch after our union. It's usually the oldest in a pod."

"Maybe it's because I'm supposed to keep you from going too far with your dark magic."

"Don't remind me. I'm very aware that Patriarch's and Matriarch's have absolute authority over their pods."

"And in our case, that's a good thing. I know you don't like it when someone has power over you, but we agreed that I wouldn't impose my will unless I felt there was a need to draw a line in the seabed."

"And there won't be a need for you to do that," Damion said. 

"I don't know." Caleb looked into his husband's eyes. "I worry. Your collection requires you to use dark magic. Merfolk, all living beings, need the love in their hearts. And now you've taken a merboy's voice. I understand your reasons, but still..."

"My collection is the result of me fulfilling the wishes and desires of those who have no one else to turn to. Everyone that comes to me are poor unfortunate souls I help. While they might be without something for the rest of their very long lives, I never twisted their fins. I never forced them into a deal."

"That look in your eyes. The expression in your smile. That is why your obsession with your collection worries me."

"Caleb, other evil sea witches might consume what they take from others. Use it for nefarious and evil purposes. I protect everything in my collection, preserve it."

"But you never return what you take."

"Never. My deals are always final. What I get from the deals are mine."

Caleb frowned. "And that's why other merfolk call you a Demon, an Evil Witch."

"I'm just misunderstood. Some of the things I've taken... I can't just return them anyways. As I said, it would undo the spell they asked me for."

Damion continued.

"Caleb, I promise, once my collection is complete, I'll stop. And I'm one tide closer to completing my collection. The voice of a merman, any merfolk, is one of the hardest things for me to get my hands on. This is something to celebrate."

"I understand your enthusiasm. I'm just as materialistic. But, at some level, this feels wrong. You are taking a piece of another."

"This collection. It's important to me. I'm collecting things of real value and granting others what they ask of me."

"But you send Ukupanipo out to bring them to you, that merman has a silver tongue."

"If I went to them, they would all swim away. Ukupanipo knows when to go to them. He knows how to get them to come to me."

"And that's why I'm imposing my will with a law I should have given our pod long ago. You, and anyone else in our pod, are forbidden from using Ukupanipo to lure more merfolk into contracts."

"But..." Damion could feel Caleb's influence.

"Damion, this is for the best. I promise."

"Okay, I won't use Ukupanipo to lure more merfolk to me, but how am I supposed to finish my collection without merfolk swimming to my cauldron?"

"I guess you'll have to figure that out. You can continue to collect whatever you want, but I will not change my mind."

"You know as well as I do that I can't disobey your will."

"Exactly, and that's the point. No matter how powerful you are as a sea sorcerer, or guardian, my laws for our pod are absolute."

"And I can't persuade you to change your mind?"

"You can try, but it won't work. Ukupanipo will not be used to lure merfolk into more deals."

"Because of the deals you made, there are now three mers that lost something important for a chance to do something they would otherwise be incapable of doing."

"But, Halflings and Kelpies go on land all the time."

"You explained this to me when I tried to go on land. The Kelpies and Halflings didn’t come to be naturally. They are the product of magic."

"So, I'm not the only sea witch in the sea. If I don't make the deals, someone else will."

"Yes, but have you ever stopped to think that maybe the reason merfolk were nearly driven to extinction by humans was because the merfolk going on land exposed them to ancient humans?"

"That's definitely a possibility. But, merfolk around Sulani were known by ancient humans. We met along the shore often."

"And? Vampire covenants do interact with humans too. Most humans don't know they exist, but the humans that did learned to fear vampires, hunt us. Eventually, humans can act on their fears and superstitions."

"The Reef Merfolk aren't malevolent creatures. None of us did anything to the humans that turned on us."

"Well then, tell me, are you going to be a Guardian of the Sea or an Evil Sea Witch? As far as I can tell, one is malevolent, and the other is benevolent."

"I'm not a deep-sea merman," Damion defended. "And, I don't want anything to do with humans. Trust me, I won't be the one that creates problems between merfolk and humans."

"But the merfolk you grant a human form could."

"I doubt it. The merfolk I deal with are all Reef Merfolk with tails like us. Most of them are too nice to cause problems."

"Then who created the problems for merfolk in the past."

"Caleb, I've seen and heard the stories. Humans often see merfolk as unpredictable forces of good and evil. The truth is, the merfolk that hurt humans are always the deep-sea merfolk. Dead men tell no tales, and the Deep-Sea Merfolk take that very seriously."

"And Reef Merfolk don't cause problems for humans?"

"Of course not, we just want to be left alone these days. We are the merfolk humans see. We are the ones that live in the shallow sea. The merfolk they blame because they have no one else to blame."

Caleb finished preparing dinner. The Patriarch escorted Damion over to the merboy. It didn't escape Caleb's notice that his husband cursed him.

"So, you're telling me it's okay to curse a merboy in our pod? He's not a human you want to avoid anymore. But as a mer, you're content with cursing him after you brought him back to life?"

"I mean, his father signed the contract. I'm free to do what I want with him."

"That's another problem. Did he fail to uphold his end of the bargain? What did he do wrong to violate the terms of your deal? You might own his soul, but what did he do wrong?"

Damion didn't want to lie to Caleb. He couldn't let himself do that.

"He didn't do anything wrong and never violated the terms of our deal. In fact, in some ways, he shares my bloodline now. I didn't use his entire human soul to bring him back."

"So, you essentially did this to your son?"

"I guess you could say that. In a way, my blood runs in his veins. He wasn’t reborn exactly like you were."

"Damion, you already had a human soul in your collection, and you did all that just to keep another human soul?"

"Well, you never know when you might need an extra human soul."

Caleb rubbed his forehead and turned to Alexander.

"Alexander, I'm so incredibly sorry for my husband's irresponsible and greedy behavior. He will make this right, and I promise that he won't do anything like this again."

"Again?" Damion gasped. He knew that Caleb was upset by this, but he didn't think he would be upset enough to impose his will on the pod again.

"Damion, this is wrong, and you know it," Caleb said. "It might not be safe to go on land for now. I can accept that, even if it contradicts giving another merboy the power. I will choose to believe that you have good reasons for it."

Damion was about to defend himself, but Caleb stopped him.

"However, cursing this merboy without a good reason. I can't ignore this. For Poseidon’s sake, he's innocent of wrongdoing. And, because of your own magic, he shares your bloodline now. If we are adopting him into our pod, you need to fix this."

"I'm sorry." Once Caleb laid things out plain, Damion realized his mistake. He went too far.

"Damion, you leave me with no choice. Along with not using Ukupanipo to lure merfolk to your lair, you are forbidden from cursing merfolk without just cause. No one, and I mean no one in this pod will continue to lure merfolk into deals or curse the innocent."

Once again, Damion felt the force behind Caleb's words.

“I didn’t want to do this. I wanted you to choose the right path on your own. But, I can’t allow this to keep going. Not like this. Not when I can put a stop to it. It’s wrong.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m not the one you need to apologize to.”

"I know." Damion looked down, ashamed of what he did. "But, the curse I put on him is what allowed him to get one last look at his family without them recognizing him."

"Even so, there were other ways. You didn't need to put this curse on him."

"Alexander, I'm sorry. It wasn't my intent to use the curse as a punishment."

Alexander looked up at Caleb. "I was listening to everything. I think I understand that this isn't some fairytale. I'm a merboy now. I won't see the family I knew again. This is my new reality."

"We can look after you if you'll let us." Caleb offered.

"I think... I think my dad would want me to stay. This family, it's not perfect, but I'll have a home."

"Alexander, your dad might not exist, but I made sure that he could live on in your memories." Damion added.

Alexander turned to Damion. "I appreciate that."

"I don't completely understand everything that is happening right now, but I know that you brought me back. Damion, you gave me a second chance at life. Because of you, I know that my mom and siblings are okay. I forgive you."

"Alexander..."

The merboy stopped Damion.

"Call me Xander. I always liked that nickname."

"Okay then, Xander. What we discussed is true. You are as much my son as if you were born into the sea from my song. Normally, the spell to bring a soul back doesn't have anything left over. Your human soul remains because a piece of me took its place."

"So, what does that make me?"

"For all intents and purposes, you are a reef merboy like any other reef merboy born in the sea, with some exceptions."

"And those exceptions are?"

"Xander, you are a Purple Tail Guardian Heir. You have the potential for a lot more power than you know. Carrying my bloodline might be the product of magic, but you are still my son by blood. It's possible that you might develop a talent for sea magic."

"So, I'm a little bit more than just a merman."

"Oh great, I might have two sea witches to worry about." Caleb muttered before smiling.

"Pieces of your human soul weren't used to bring you back, but the memories from your human life were restored with you. The soul in that shell is a blank slate without its own identity."

"How would that affect me?"

"Well, it has the power of a human soul, but the most important parts of you were taken from it to bring you back with your old identity and memories. That shell can only be used for the power and form it has in it."

"Because I'm the product of magic."

"Correct, it's hard to say what I can and can't do. If I cure your curse, there is a chance that you will not go on land again. Are you okay with that?"

"I didn't ask to be cursed. My family would run in terror if they saw me like this. Even if I might never go on land again, I don't want to live like this. I don't want to look like a monster."

"Then, I want you to have this. Xander, welcome to our pod. Consider it a welcome home gift."

Xander reached his hands out to grab the gift. Caleb watched his husband with pride. The merman had renewed hope that he would see the Damion he knew again.

"Thank you. Everything that has happened over the past few days. I died, came back as a merman, was cursed, and found a new home with two dads."

"Xander, you will be safe with us," Caleb said. "I won't let anything happen to this pod."

"I've got my own tricks to keep us safe from the dangers on land," Damion added.

"You know, I've always been drawn to the sea. I remember getting lost in books about ocean myths and legends. If I spend the rest of my life as a merman, I don't think this will be too bad."

"Well, once you get used to swimming with a tail..." Caleb said.

"Don't listen to him, it's in your blood. Life as a mer will come naturally." Damion interrupted. 

"Thank you, this gift is amazing!"

"Well, there's no turning back now." Xander lifted the potion and began to drink it. 

Caleb turned to his husband. "I'm so proud of you Damion." 

"I know that what I did was misguided, and I'm guilty of many things..." Damion began to say.

Caleb stopped Damion. "You never had to explain it to me. I love you no matter what and never stopped seeing the good in you."

"Thank you, I don't know what I would do without you." Damion leaned toward Caleb. "I love you so much."

After Drinking the Water of Cleansing, Xander was lifted by a soothing light. Caleb turned to Damion and reached for his hands. 

"Damion, please," Caleb said. "Stay with me for now. Don't go back to your cauldron. Take a break from the spells, contracts, and potions."

Damion smiled at Caleb. "For you, I can do that."

The Light wrapped around Xander as he felt the curse begin to lift.

"Damion, I promise. I will keep all of us safe. You won't have to turn to your magic. I will protect this pod."

Damion smiled and looked into Caleb's sea green eyes. "You know, I'm more than capable of protecting us too."

"I know. You're one of the strongest mer I know. Still, let me do this for you and Xander."

In a flash, Xander changed back to the form he had when Damion brought him back. Xander's green skin turned back to its former tan. The barnacles vanished in the sea foam. His opaque eyes, green hair, fishy ears, and serrated teeth took a more human form. His eyes shared the same sea green as all other Reef Merfolk. His green spiny tail changed back into a tail that matched Damion's.

"What if there was one more?" Damion asked.

"One more?" Celeb inquired.

"One more to protect."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Caleb looked into Damion's eyes. He didn't see it at first, even after all the time they were looking into each other's eyes. Damion didn't just look different. Caleb felt like something was different, something changed in his husband.

The white sea foam turned to a green mist as Xander sank. The green mist washed away in the currents, and the merboy was free from the curse.

At first, Caleb thought he was only seeing the soft smile he knew before, but the luminous pink of Damion's eyes. They went dim. His eyes had a hint of pink, but it was reduced to a remnant of what it was. Caleb felt the dark influence that gripped Damion fading.

Xander swam off to explore the grotto he would call home. He felt better than he had in ages. Without the curse, a massive weight was lifted off the merboy. It felt like the potion did more than just break the curse. It washed away Damion's dark influence. No one saw it, but somehow Xander knew. He wasn't just free of the curse. Damion set him free from his human father's contract.

Caleb released Damion. Caleb looked over his husband, admiring the merman in front of him.

"What's with that look?" Damion asked.

"Just checking my husband out," Caleb answered. "You're different now."

"I don't know what you mean."

"I think you do." Caleb was lost in Damion's eyes. The Patriarch knew that there was a change in the tides, a good change.

Caleb rushed up to Damion grabbed him by the waist. The sudden movement caught Damion by surprise, but he relaxed in Caleb's arms.

"To what do I owe this affection," Damion said.

Caleb lifted Damion's hand and kissed it, pulling his husband closer. "Do I need a reason to show my husband affection?"

"No, never." Damion smiled.

Caleb wrapped both hands around Damion's waste and pulled the purple tail merman as close as he could against his chest. Damion wrapped his arms around Caleb's neck as they kissed. A pure expression of pure love. 

When they released each other, Damion started with singing a melody from his heart. The notes of his song were carried in the currents. A song born from the love Damion shared with Caleb.

Caleb listened to his husband's song and responded with his own. The currents carried the notes, and the song resonated around the mermen.

From the seafoam, song, and love swirling in the currents, a merling was born. Damion caught the little merboy as he drifted down.

"Lucian, welcome to the sea," Damion said, as if sensing his son's name.

"Hello dad," Lucian said. "Hello father."

Lucian had Damion's blonde hair and shared Caleb's Tail. Caleb swam to the side and danced to the rhythm of a song on the mermadic stereo.

'My husband and sons, I will protect them,' Caleb thought. 'If it's the last thing I do, they will be safe from whatever threatens them.'

Damion pulled Lucian close and spun through the water. Lucian smiled and laughed. Caleb watched with pride.

"You look so much like me, and you have your father's tail!" Damion was lost in joy.

"I am your son!" Lucian smiled. "What did you expect?"

"I know. You're everything I expected," Damion said. 

"Careful, he's just a merling," Caleb said.

"Yeah dad, you're crushing me," Lucian protested with a smile.

"I just don't want to let you go," Damion replied. 

"Well, if I'll be staying here for a while." Damion held Lucian in front of him at eye level. "How about you're first swimming lesson?"

"Yes, let's go!" Lucian enthused.

"Hold on, don't start anything without me," Caleb said. "We should probably introduce Xander to his little brother too."

"Lucian, it's a big ocean, and I'm glad you are here."

Lucian flicked his fluke, ready for his first swim. "I'm glad to be here too."

While Alex was taking his first steps on land and the Vatore Pod celebrated the birth of a new merling, Camilo's minions hung out on a small island. Their scaley skin steamed in the moonlight.

"We've been searching these reefs for ages," Ronen said. "There's no sign of the other guardians."

"Camilo was very clear," Anika advised. "We aren't supposed to disturb him or return until we locate another Guardian. We know the Green Tail Guardian was with the Orange Tail Guardian. He couldn't have gotten very far from the islands."

"Are you okay with this?" Ronen asked. "Once we get our claws on the Green Tail Guardian, we might be eradicating an entire pod, if the rumors are true..."

"It doesn't matter. That Matriarch can just swim off and found another pod. Camilo was very clear. He wants the other five guardians."

"This just doesn't feel right to me."

"It's not for us to decide the morality. Besides, I have no problem ruining the lives of merfolk."

"We will find that green tail minnow, but don't forget about the other four. Do you remember their tail colors?"

"I think."

"We have the Orange Tail Guardian, the other guardians are the Green Tail Guardian, Blue Tail Guardian, Purple Tail Guardian, Red Tail Guardian, and the Yellow Tail Guardian."

"Could you repeat that?"

"I swear. Let's go over this again."

Ronen frowned. "Okay, we have orange, and we need green, blue, purple, red, and yellow."

"I guess that's a simple way to look at it."

"But remember, the tail is very important. We don't want a halfling or pester other deep-sea merfolk. The Guardians are all Reef Mermen."

"So, we are looking for five more mermen. What kind of tails should I look for?"

"Well, you should know what deep-sea mermen look like. If you don't there is no hope for you. Halflings have side fins, leafy and spikey, no dorsal fins. The Reef Mermen can only be found in the sea, and they have wavy dorsal fins."

"Come again?"

"Ronen, this isn't that hard. The mermen we are looking for have the same tail as the merman we already have, just different colors."

"Okay, I'm not sure if I can remember any of this."

"Just follow my instructions, okay. I'll do the thinking. Just do what I tell you to do."

"Will Camilo take their voices too?"

"Well duh, of course he's going to take their voices."

"Can't we just ask them to help us?" Ronen asked. "Instead of capturing them and taking their voices?"

Anika was lost for words. "Do you... honestly believe... that any of these guardians will help our master?"

"Maybe, if we ask them nicely?"

"You are so dense, why am I wasting my time with you? Why is he still involving you?"

"Maybe Camilo just likes having me around?"

"I'm sure he doesn't care for a clown fish."

"Ronen, the Guardians will not help us. If anything, they will try to stop what we are doing? They are not our friends. Camilo needs both them and their voices to access the power he needs."

"And once he gets all six?"

"Well, then he will rule over the seven seas..."

"Anika?"

"And set his eyes on taking over the land...."

"Anika."

"Again, it's not our job to question the morality of what he's doing."

"Anika!"

"What?!"

"I think I saw one of them?"

"Well, it seems you have your usefulness after all. I still don't understand why he keeps you around?"

Kemps surfaced and scanned around the gentle ripple of waves. He last saw Alex leaving Zalia Grotto in the morning. Now, the merboy hasn't been seen for almost an entire day.

'Alex, where are you?' Kemps thought. 'You should have been home by now.'

Unaware of Alex's presence on land, Kemps found himself wandering the shallows. The merman knew that being near the surface like this was dangerous, but he couldn't imagine finding his nephew anywhere else. If it wasn't for Alex not returning home, he probably wouldn't be here.

While Kemps was distracted looking for Alex, Ronen and Anika ambushed him from behind.

It didn't take long for the kelpies to sneak up on Kemps and catch him off guard. By the time Kemps noticed them, it was too late. Anika discharged a small shock and knocked the wind out of the merman. From there, the rest was easy.

Ronen didn't want to have any part of this and did his best to contribute as little as he could afford to do. Once he helped Anika pull the merman out of the ocean. He left the rest to his accomplice. Kemps regained his strength when it was too late. On land, he couldn't get away.

Kemps grabbed a rock behind him and braced himself with another rock. He flailed his tail as Anika continued to pull.

"Stop making this difficult." Anika hissed when the merman kicked his tail.

"Why should I make this easy for you?" Kemps knew his chances of getting away were slim, but he wouldn't go down without fighting.

Anika's claws dug into Kemps's tail to tighten her grip. Kemps endured, flailing his tail as much as he could. If he could squirm free, he could at least try to drag himself back into the ocean.

Camilo sensed his minions' catch and appeared in a swirl of water. Tired of the merman's struggle. Anika made a strong tug and flung him onto the beach. Kemps hit the sand with a thud. Once again, the wind was knocked out of him. Ronen wanted to help, but he couldn't disobey Camilo. He was a servant of the sea witch whether he wanted to be or not.

"Excellent work," Camilo said. "As a reward, I guess both of you can come back to the grotto for a little rest."

Anika scoffed. She knew they wouldn't get much of a rest before Camilo sent them to look for another. Camilo lifted his hand and stole Kemps's Voice on the spot. Ronen hated every moment of this.

The Sea Witch cast a sleeping curse on the merman, and Kemps fell unconscious on the beach.

"Two down, four more to go. Ronen, carry my catch to his new home."

Unable to disobey the Sea Witch, Ronen lifted Kemps up. The merman slumped over in his arms. Ronen looked down at Kemps.

'I'm so sorry,' Ronen thought.

"Be careful with that one," Anika said as she walked past Ronen. "And try not to mess this up."

Camilo walked from behind. He was thrilled with this catch. Camilo knew Ronen was dense, but he couldn't deny that he was very good at tracking down the guardians. Whether it was luck or something else, it didn't matter. It produced results.

Anika ran ahead. If she was going to take a short break, she wanted to make the most of it. 

Camilo walked up to the side of Ronen and whispered. "Don't think I didn't notice the regret and remorse you feel. When I'm done, I'll make sure you get a nice long rest in Davy Jones's Locker. That much I can promise."

After Anika and Camilo were gone, Ronen was still lost in his guilt.

'There has to be a way out of this,' Ronen thought. 'I don't want to keep doing this. Had I known, I would have never signed that contract.'

For Ronen, he could feel a change in the tides. A sense of dread washed over him, and he knew things could only get worse from here.

Unaware of what happened to his uncle, Alex continued to enjoy his time at the nearby Karaoke Bar. Being this close to the music he heard over the waves was amazing. The only thing that would make it better would be talking to the girl that caught his eye. She was so close, yet so far. She was lost in the music doing movements the merboy didn't understand. Alex didn't know how he would get her attention without his voice.

As the party died down, humans left. Alex watched the human girl. He didn't know how she moved the way she did. He was so out of his element. Another young man noticed the merboy and approached him.

"What brings a little dude like you here?" The young man asked the merboy.

Alex rolled his shoulders back and smiled. The young man noticed his silence.

"So that was what you paid to be here. I don't think I'll learn your name then. The name is Stevie."

Alex smiled and nodded.

"You like the little lady don't you. That's why you paid that price."

Alex's silent smile confirmed Stevie's suspicion.

"You know that life on land is hard without a voice," Stevie tried to explain. "This isn't the best place for forbidden love."

Alex nodded.

"You understand and still..."

Stevie looked into Alex's eyes. He almost saw a tear. The merman couldn't imagine wanting to say so much. He spent enough time as a bartender to know when someone wanted to talk.

"I want to help, but I don't know what will."

Stevie appreciated living without love in his profession. It made it easier to listen other people's sorrows without heartbreak.

"I got it! If you came on land to find love! I'll help you talk to the little lady!"

Alex almost stumbled back from the excitement.

"After all, you gave the guy your voice so you could hold onto love. I never thought another mer would do such a thing!"

'Another mer?' Alex thought. 

The merboy recalled his conversation with him. This must've been one of the mer the Sea Witch gave a human form too. The merboy didn't expect to find a merman on land, and he didn't expect this either. The merman looked like another human. 

"I promise, I'll help you start a conversation. My little dude, I'm super impressed by what you were willing to give up to be here."

'Little dude?' Alex thought. 

"Bro, this is definitely going to be hard, but I'll be your fin-merman all the way."

'Bro? Fin-Merman?' Alex wasn't ready to make the girl his partner yet. She wasn't even his girlfriend. 'I guess I could have worse help.'

"I want to see what you can do my dude. Go on, try to approach her. I'll step in to help."

'My dude?' Again, Alex wasn't sure what to make of this merman. His words were strange.

Stevie stepped out of sight and watched Alex approach the girl. The girl looked up and noticed Alex. Alex opened his mouth to speak, and nothing. Exactly what happened before. Exactly what he expected. He reached his hand up to his neck and frowned.

'This won't work.'

The girl took note of the merboy's appearance. Islander's had similar outfits during certain festivals, but his outfit wasn't the normal island attire for places like this. She had some ideas about what he was, but she assumed it wasn't possible.

Alex turned away in defeat.

'It's useless,' the merboy thought.

Stevie approached them right when Alex was ready to give up. "Little dude, that was a great effort. Super proud of you."

The girl looked at Stevie and smiled. 

'Tonight is full of surprises,' she thought.

"Little lady, mind giving this little dude a chance. I think he really wants to get to know you."

"I don't know," the girl said.

"He won't have much to say. A matter of fact, I wouldn't expect the little dude to say a word or make a sound, but I think he'd be a good friend, you know."

"I'll give him a chance then," she said. 

Alex turned and smiled. With Stevie's help, he might have a chance to get to know her.

Stevie turned back to Alex. "Look at the time, I'll leave you two to get know each other. I'm gonna go crash after catching some waves."

After Stevie left, Alex breathed a sigh to lessen his nerves. 

"Well, you have an interesting friend," the girl said. "My name is Ember. I'd ask your name, but I have a feeling you can't tell me."

'Ember,' Alex thought, returning a soft smile. 'An unusual name for a human.'

"That party was so awesome! We had a really good DJ perform for us," Ember enthused.

Ember closed the gap between them. "Can I tell you something?"

Alex smiled and nodded.

"Most of the islanders don't wear outfits like that outside island festivals. Are you from the mainland?"

Alex nodded and smiled.

"I guess you can't answer that. I hope you have other outfits if you are visiting."

Alex smiled and nodded. It was all he could do. His thoughts were different.

'Outfits? Mermen and merboys don't have outfits.'

Alex recalled the appearance of the merman. He didn't understand what was strange about him. He thought the other merman was strange.

"Anyways, I'm a bit tired from dancing, let's go have a seat and talk."

Alex grinned and swayed to the side. He couldn't say it, but he felt a little discomfort on his new human feet. His legs were sore, and his feet ached. But then again, this was his first night standing.

"I'll take that as a yes."