It was around 9 o'clock and I was getting ready to escape. I had to know where I was first. I cannot just jump into the sea. I could be in Siren territory. I would not say that they are our lesser cousins, but some of them are. You have Mermaids, Sirens, Nereids, Oceanids, Dryads, and Water Nymphs.
Dryads and Nereids are the lesser cousins. They have webbed hands and rotten scales. Their faces are covered in dry scales, and they have extremely sharp fangs and claws. The difference between the two is that one is a shapeshifter. Nereids will shape-shift into beautiful maidens to lure men and women into the sea. Nereids will seduce their victims with their beauty and then drown them.
Once they are fully submerged in water, they will turn back into their original forms, but by the time that happens, it will be too late.
Dryads live in the depths of the sea. Encountering one is not likely. The water pressure is ridiculously strong where they live. Only our kind and a few other organisms can handle the pressure.
It is hard to tell the difference between a dryad and a nereid when they are in their original forms. The only way you can tell is the color of their tail. Dryad tails are black whilst nereid tails are silver. It can be difficult to tell the difference because there is little to no light where they live. Dryads live deeper in the trenches, but some do live a bit higher above.
Sirens lure their prey with their beautiful voices. You can tell the difference between a mermaid and a siren. Mermaid's hair glow while a siren's does not. Other than those two differences, we are alike in looks. Behavior? No. Sirens are stuck up, reckless, overconfident, smug, arrogant, and so forth. We mermaids are much more elegant. Dryads and nereids are just downright rude and vicious. Not to mention, sirens cannot control water as we mermaids can. Only Oceanids and mermaids have that power.
Oceanids are the superior kind in the family. They are the queens of the ocean. Oceanids are only females. There has never been a male Oceanid. Not to say it is not possible, one just has yet to exist. While mermaids control water, Oceanids control the entire sea. There are seven Oceanids. One for each of the seven seas. They know what kind of magic happens in their sea. Another seven are born every hundred years. Each time another batch is born, it is the end of an era for us sea creatures.
Some are already born before then but do not become Oceanids right away. They must reach enlightenment before fulfilling their destiny as an Oceanid. When they succeed on the throne, it is the end of an era for that individual sea.
There is already speculation about my princess being an Oceanid. You can think of an Oceanid as an Archon. While they are said to be the Queens of the Seven Seas, we do have royal families. Each sea has a different royal family. My princess' name is Merian. Her mother, my queen's name is Irene. The queen's husband, my king, is named Rayland. Our archon's name is Syra.
Then you have Water Nymphs. Water Nymphs are miniature. They form bonds with mermaids, sirens, and Oceanids to enhance our power. Very few bond with dryads or nereids. Bonds with a Water Nymph are exceedingly rare and are something to treasure.
All of us creatures make up a family called Sakana. We are all highly territorial. Entering another species' territory is instant death if you do not have permission to be there. When you enter another species' territory without authorization, they can do anything to you.
With that being said, I make my way toward the captain of this ship. I head up the stairs from the kitchen. I see the captain at the front of the ship looking at the vast ocean.
I stop when I am right beside him. I stared out at the water with him for five minutes. He is the first to break the silence. "Is there something you need? If it is about where you are going to sleep, you are sleeping with Sia. I am sure you two can make out the arrangements." He looks at me when he is done.
I stared into his eyes. They look exceptional in the moonlight. His light brown eyes look like gemstones. "Are you going to keep staring?" he smirks. I shake my head to get my thoughts back on track.
"Where are we?"
"We are in the northern parts of the Serean Sea." It is great that I am still in mermaid territory, but I am cutting it close to siren territory. If I am going to leave it will have to be soon. "Since we're asking questions, what is your name?" the captain asks.
"How rude of me, I am Merillia." I smiled at him. "A pretty name for a pretty woman." I chuckle. "You are quite the flirt I see. What about you? What is your name?"
"My name is Ronk." I blink once. I blink twice. I blink thrice. Did his parents dislike him? "That is a... unique name. " I clear my throat and try to avoid all eye contact with him. He starts laughing. It takes him a while to calm down. I just stood in the same spot, really confuzzled.
"That is not my actual name," he says through a chuckle. Oh, thank God. "I just wanted to see your reaction. My actual name is Kai." Kai. It is better than Ronk.
"That name is much more preferable." I give an awkward chuckle. "Okay, Lea, where did you come from?"
"Lea?" he grins. "That is my nickname for you." I like it. "You do not get to nickname me. That is only for people who are close." But I would never tell him that. He walks closer to me. I step back. He comes closer. He takes a long stride in my direction and is disturbingly close to me. This time I do not move back, knowing it would be pointless since he would just come closer.
"Why did you stop moving back?" his eyes stare into mine. "You would just keep coming closer would you not?" Our faces are only inches apart. "I thought you said nicknames are only for people who are close." Smartass. He smirks at me. I am starting to tire of that smug face. "You know that was not what I meant." I frown.
"Did I?" before I could produce any remark, a strong wave came from behind the ship and crashed into it. It knocked me off the railing. Yes! This is perfect. Before the sea could take me, Kai grabs my waist and pulls me up. No!
I internally groan. "Are you okay?!" just dandy. I noticed that some water has gotten on my skin. Shoot! If there is one thing that mermaids, sirens, and other shape-shifting sea creatures have in common is our inability to prevent our true form from appearing when water touches us.
I cannot take the water off with my magic because of Kai. If I could, I would be able to get the water off me before it triggered the transformation.
I ignored Kai's question and ran to a secluded room.
I ran into the only room I know in this place, Sia's. I rush in and slam the door behind me. The moment the door shuts, I shift. I landed with a big thump. "You have got to be kidding me." I silently whimper.
"Lea?" I hear Kai ask from the other side of the door. No no no no no no no! This is not good at all. "I am fine! I just got spooked. I was just frightened." I hope this makes him go away. "Can I come in?" he asks. "NO! I mean...no." I awkwardly chuckled. "I am sorry I just want to be alone for now."
There is a pause and I just hope that means he is going to leave. "Okay." I feel relieved.
Now, I need to deal with this situation. If I do not get out of here fast, I will be too deep into siren territory. I look at my light blue, light pink, light purple tail, and the silver patterns on it for a moment. I look in the mirror and see my hair shining brightly. My bra glimmers along with my tail. The crown-like design that has been with me on my forehead since birth shines brighter than ever. I remember my home and realize how much I miss it.
It has only been a couple of hours, but the thought of not being able to go back brings tears to my eyes. The only way I can get there is if I escape. I use my magic to take all the water off my body.
Okay. Now that, that problem is solved. Time to escape. I look at the circular window in Sia's room. I picked up the knife that was in her room. The same one she used to cut the ropes around my hand. I walk up to the window and bang the knife on it. Nothing happens. I try to be as quiet as possible, but that is extremely hard to do when I am banging iron on glass.
I repeat this process five more times until I hear footsteps rushing toward the room. There is no damage to the window except a few scratches. I slide the knife under the bed just in time as Sia comes rushing in.
"What is going on in here?!" I freeze. I stand up and turn around to look at her. "Haha hey. You look so good today." I sound so awkward. "She is fine!" Sia screams. People come rushing in after her words. Including Kai.
"What the hell were you trying to do?!" He speeds towards me until he is directly in my face. "Nothing I was just... banging on the... walls." I just made up a random excuse. If I said I was trying to escape I would be restrained for sure.
It is useless since it does not take him long to figure out what I was trying to do after a quick glance at the window.
He instantly frowns. He grips my hands. He looks at the front and back of them. He sets them down.
"Where is it?" His voice is deadly. "Where is what?"
"The object you used to scratch the window. Your hands are not bruised, so it is clear you did not use them. So where is the object you used to scratch my window?" he crosses his arms in front of his chest.
I put my head down in shame and pointed toward the bed. He moves his head to tell Sia to search under the bed. She bends down and pulls the knife from underneath the bed.
He gives me a look of disappointment and sadness. I do not know why. That look quickly disappears and turns into anger. I feel like a child about to get scolded for their wrongdoings.
"These windows are reinforced because of the many storms we encounter daily. You were not going to break it with a knife. What were you planning to do after you broke the window? Jump into the sea? Let the waves drag you under?!" he started raising his voice. He was getting mad. I am confused. Is he mad I tried to escape or worried about my safety?
"I am sorry. I panicked." It is becoming increasingly difficult to look him in the eye. Almost frightening. "I obviously cannot trust you by yourself. Now you are going to have someone watching you 24/7. That person will be Brandon."
A tall guy with shaggy brown hair comes out from the crowd. His red eyes shone with mischief. You must be pulling my fin. It was the blubber fish that brought me here in the first place.
"Wait, I am sorry. I will not damage your property again I swear just do not put me with HIM." just the thought makes me cringe.
"It is great that you are already learning because from now on you will be working to pay off the money you just cost me to repair that window. Tomorrow at 6 am on deck. Be there."
Oh, fish sticks.