The moonlight shimmered on the water's surface as I swam upwards, following Kalena at a distance. She didn't notice me trailing her; she was too focused on her secret rendezvous. My pulse quickened, my chest tight with apprehension. What was she up to?
Rage boiled up inside me. How dare she betray me like this! Me - her betrothed! I wanted to surge upwards and tear them apart, but I held back, teeth gritted, my fists clenched so tightly my nails dug into my palms.
"Kaimana," Kalena said, her voice soft. She swam closer and took his hands in hers. "I'm so happy you came. There's something I need to tell you..."
Kalena broke through the waves first as I lingered below, watching her silhouette in the moon's glow. A moment later, another shape joined her…a male… but not just any male… it was an air breather...
I couldn't take it anymore. I shot upwards, breaching the surface right next to them.
"Keanu!" Kalena gasped, letting go of the surface-dweller's hands quickly. "What are you doing here?"
My lip curled in a sneer as I glared at the air breather. "I should be asking you the same thing," I snarled at Kalena. "Cavorting with this...creature. Have you no shame?"
Kalena lifted her chin defiantly. "I love him, Keanu. And nothing you say will change that."
Love? I wanted to laugh. Or scream. She knew nothing of love. I would show her. I would show them both. This air breather thought he could steal what was mine. He was gravely mistaken.
I bared my teeth at the surface-dweller with a cold smile. "Enjoy her while you can," I told him. "It won't last."
I swam through the dark depths, my fury propelling me faster than I had ever gone before. That pathetic air breather thought he could take Kalena from me? I would tear his limbs off before I let that happen. I would not let some landwalker steal my prize.
I darted between jagged rocks and swaying kelp, barely noticing the stinging pain as my fins scraped against the stone. Kalena's startled face flashed in my mind, her defiant words echoing. She claimed to love this surface dweller... Absurd. No mermaid could love an air breather...
But could an air breather love a mermaid? The thought made me recoil. I had seen how that boy looked at Kalena like she was the most radiant treasure in the ocean. It disgusted me. He did not deserve to gaze upon her beauty.
I swam faster, envisioning my hands around the air breather's throat, squeezing the life from his body. My lips twisted in a cruel smile. This surface-dweller's infatuation with Kalena would be his demise. I would use his feelings against him, lure him into my trap.
I knew these waters well, every cave and crevice. Places I could hide his body where none would ever find it. Kalena would believe her precious air breather abandoned her. She would have no choice but to return to me.
My plotting was interrupted by a flash of pink in my periphery. I halted, spotting a small octopus peering at me from a rocky overhang. Its color shifted from pink to purple as we stared at one another: a cunning hunter and master of camouflage, much like myself. I bared my teeth at the little octopus in a twisted grin. Yes, I would blend into the shadows, then strike when the air breathes. I least expected it. His blood would stain the water before he could utter a scream.
Kalena would mourn, but she would recover. In time, she would understand this was all for the best. For the good of our tribes. For the glory of my reign. She would thank me one day.
I flicked my tail and shot forward, leaving the octopus behind. It did not matter if Kalena loved this air breather; he would not live long enough for it to make a difference. I would personally see to that.
My gaze fell on two mermen in the distance - Kekoa and Alika. They were part of my personal guard, loyal to me above all others. More importantly, they harbored no love for outsiders.
I signaled them over with a flick of my tail. They approached quickly, fists crossed over their chests in salute.
"Kekoa. Alika. I have a task for you of the utmost discretion," I said.
Their eyes glinted with anticipation. As I detailed my concerns about surface-dwellers, they nodded along grimly.
"This air breather is a threat to our people," I finished. "Will you help me eliminate him?"
Kekoa bared his teeth. "It would be our honor."
"We will shred him to bits," Alika growled.
I smiled. With their brute strength on my side, this surface-dweller didn't stand a chance.
"Come with me," I told Kekoa and Alika. "We must prepare."
I led them to a secluded cave where I kept my armory - an array of shark tooth swords, poisoned darts, spiked shields, and other deadly instruments.
I selected an ornate dagger, testing its edge with my thumb. The blade sliced my skin quickly. Yes, this would do.
For Kekoa and Alika, I chose vicious-looking sawfish rostrums, long blades attached to their snouts. They hefted them eagerly.
"When do we strike?" Kekoa asked.
"Soon," I said. "We will catch the surface-dweller alone and vulnerable. I want no trace left behind."
They smirked and slammed their rostrums together in a savage clash. My heart pounded, blood roaring in my ears. I longed to bury my dagger in the surface-dweller's heart, to watch the life drain from his eyes.
"Patience, my friends," I said softly. "Our time will come."
We melted back into the shadows, deadly intent etched on our faces. The hunt was on.
Back in my private chambers, I paced restlessly, dagger still in hand. Eliminating the surface-dweller was necessary, I told myself. He was a threat to my power, my destiny. Kalena belonged to me and me alone.
I thought of Kalena's face when she looked at the surface-dweller, full of light and joy. She had never shown me such tenderness. Jealousy seared my heart.
This surface-dweller had to disappear... I could not let her slip away.
With new resolve, I sheathed the dagger. My path was set. For Kalena, I would pay any price, even sacrifice my soul… But first, I need to confront King Ailani about his daughter's secret rendezvous with the air breather.
With a smirk, I swim into the grand chamber, my navy tail propelling me forward. King Ailani sits on his coral throne, his silver hair flowing around his broad shoulders.
"My King," I say with a bow. "I must speak with you about a grave matter."
Ailani's brow furrows. "What is it, Keanu?"
I hesitate. How to break this news? "It's about the princess; she's secretly meeting with a surface-dweller."
"What? Preposterous!" Ailani slams his fist down. "Kalena would never betray her people like that."
"I wish it weren't true," I say. "But I saw Kalena myself, swimming to the surface late at night when she thought no one would notice."
"That foolish girl!" he thunders. "Consorting with surface-dwellers, putting all of Lalo'Kai at risk!"
He crushes the bracelet in his fist. I know his legendary temper is rising like the tides during a storm.
Ailani's anger churns the water around us into a swirling vortex. He paces back and forth, his voice rising.
"I should have kept a closer eye on her! But no, I allowed her too much freedom, and now look where it's gotten us."
He slams his fist into a pillar. The resounding crack echoes through the chamber.
"I'll get to the bottom of this. That surface-dweller will regret the day he ever laid eyes on my daughter!"
Ailani's rage summons a storm above us. Through the skylight, I see lightning web across the sky. The surface-dwellers won't be able to ignore this tempest.
Before I can speak, Ailani propels himself upward. I hurried to follow as he stormed directly to Kalena's private chambers. He throws open the engraved coral doors.