ERIC POV.
Ariel. Her name was Ariel. My every thought revolved around her and only her. My little mermaid was beautiful. That hair, the vibrant red that fell around her ivory skin like an open flame. Her big blue eyes that matched the color of the sea. Even her tail was a glistening emerald green. I only knew her for a matter of minutes but I could feel my heart swelling with love for her at just a thought.
The way her big eyes widened even more, if possible, as I kissed her brought a smile to my face. She was so utterly shocked but got over it and kissed me back. When she had to leave I made her promise me to come back and now I could only hope that she would return.
The very thought of her returning made me chuckle lightly to myself. I distracted myself so much on my walk back to the castle that I almost tripped up the stairs. Grim and Max were standing at the doors waiting. I smiled at Grimm saying "Hey what can I do?"
He looked up to the sky and said "What am I going to do with you Eric? You nearly drown last night and you show up with a...mermaid. Now no doubt you have fallen in love with her. I can see it in that love sick look of yours."
He sighed heavily and helped me into the castle ignoring my laughter. I would see her again soon enough...and I couldn't help but love the thought.
ARIEL POV
Hurry! Hurry up! I thought to myself as I swam as fast as I could to Atlantica. Father surely knew I was gone by now and I had absolutely no idea what to tell him. My mind and body faced as I pushed myself farther through the water. Flounder and Sebastian caught up to me not long after.
"Ariel! Please slow down. We have to talk." Flounder pleaded with me.
I couldn't slow down, I doubt I ever could. I kissed a human...and I loved it. I loved him. I knew the moment he saved Max from the exploding ship. I had to see him again, I had to be near him. Being away was agony, but I couldn't go back without getting caught. My thoughts raced around in circles trying to find a way to see my Eric again.
With me distracted I ran smack into Daddy. I sucked in a breath as he studied me warily.
"Ariel? What are you doing up so early? What happened to your tail?" He asked suddenly worried.
I looked down confused and saw the long red gash going from the side down. It looked...burned? Then it clicked...the falling debris from the ship, they were on fire. Being in a constant state of adrenaline and shock masked the pain to a minimal but now that it all wore off I could feel the full force and trust me it hurt.
I gasped and sat on the ocean floor trying not to cry. My tail was blackened on the edges of the gash and blood red in the center.
"Ariel?! What happened? Who did this to you?" My father exclaimed. He seemed honestly worried and angry as he scooped me up into his arms. I hadn't been carried like this since I was a little girl, but I had to admit it was rather comforting. I shook my head and tried to brush it off.
"No one did this to me daddy. I was taking a swim near the geysers and one of them exploded before I could get out of there. I didn't notice until you mentioned it, I guess I was so shocked I didn't feel it."
He stared at me suspiciously and I knew he didn't buy it. He would find out sooner or later, but I decided later. He didn't say anything but "Ariel you have to learn to be a bit more careful."
I nodded and he carried me to my room. My sister's were whispering amongst themselves and their eyes widened at the sight of daddy carrying me in. Katrina, my oldest sister swam up and took me from my father.
"What happened?" She nearly yelled. Attina had always stood in as a mother figure for me after our own died when we were young.
I shrugged and played it off just like with dad. I told them my cover story and they stared at me knowingly. They could see through my facade as easily as my father did. I smiled slightly hoping it would reassure them but it didn't.
"Okay...Thank you father for finding her and bringing her back. We will help her." Attina said. He nodded and replied something about a healer and left the room.
My sister's dragged me to my bed and started to pester me.
Adella swam quickly to the vanity in search of a burn cream and bandages. Attina cleaned the wound with some sea sponge and an ointment that stung like a jellyfish. I grasped the sides of my shell bed and took deep breaths. They applied the burn cream and wrapped my tail in seaweed bandages.
Once clean and wrapped my sisters busted like an open clamm with questions.
"What really happened?"
"Did someone do this"
"Where were you last night?"
"Why did you sneak out?"
I took a deep breath and shushed them. I had to tell them...I had to tell someone.
"I...met someone last night. He was dying and I saved him. I just got the burn in the process." I explained vaguely. I didn't know how they would react to the human part.
They stared uncomprehensively, obviously needing more details.
"I ran into Daddy on my way back...from the surface."
Their eyes widened dramatically. Adella was the first to speak "Ariel...you don't mean? You didn't do what we think you did? Ariel you didn't save a human? Tell me it's not true. Daddy is going to cause a hurricane if he finds out."
I looked down at my hands and tail, I couldn't meet their disapproving eyes.
"I love him." I whispered. "And he loves me back."
In unison my sisters let go the breath they were holding. I saw the bubbles as they chased each other up through the water. They looked at each other then back at their baby sister, one nod was all it took for them to agree on helping their love sick sibling.
"Okay Ariel, we can see you love him. We will help you be with him don't worry it can be our secret."
I smiled lovingly at my sister's and embraced them. My family was going to help me find my love.
