Chapter One
Almost ten years later the mermaids had grown and were swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. The two siblings belonged to one of the 200 families of mermaids left. Many of the families believed that humans were to be avoided at all costs but these two depended on human interaction for hobbies included jumping past bored fishermen, cutting nets, and collecting trinkets from sunken ships.
When the sun was setting up above they returned to the family grotto. "Lovino, Feliciana, you're past curfew." they heard their father say.
"But, Papa, we were busy!" Feliciana whined.
"Busy tipping fishing boats?" he replied suspiciously.
"We're sorry, Papa. But we brought you back a compass." Lovino pulled a rusty compass out of his bag and handed it to his father.
Their father examined it joyfully and tucked it away. "Well that gets you off the hook with me but your mother was worried sick."
Later that night there was a terrible storm. The sky was pitch black and the ocean was cold. Lovino and Feliciana waited in their grotto while their parents kept an eye out for shipwrecks. It was a dangerous job but their parents believed human lives mattered too.
"They should have been back by now." Feliciana whispered as she leaned against her brother.
Lovi squeezed her shoulder. "I'm sure they're fine. Why don't you go to sleep."
"Something's wrong…" Feliciana darted toward the opening of the grotto. "I'm going to go find them."
"Ciana, wait! It's too dangerous and you're too young to go out in a storm like this!" Lovino darted in front of her but Feliciana was already outside. "Feliciana!"
"They never take this long, Lovi!" Feliciana swam to the surface and Lovino followed. "They-they should be around here!"
"Maybe Mama and Papa went further south. But we need to go back. The wind is too strong for you!" he argued.
Feliciana was already struggling to stay above water but she refused to stop. Looking to the South she noticed a large ship in the distance. "Lovi! You were right! I see a boat!" Feliciana swam over to it.
Following his sister, Lovino started to notice interesting features about the boat. There were huge cranes hanging over the sides and whale-sized nets were strewn from the masts. His stomach dropped when he realized they were swimming to a monstrous fishing boat.
"Chiana!" Panic arose in his voice. "That's not a-" But it was already too late.
Lightning flashed and Feliciana was caught in their net. Her screams were ear splitting as she trashed about.
Lovi raced to free her. He pulled on the net with all his might until something was lodged in his shoulder. He grimaced as he lost all feeling on his right side. Nevertheless he still fought against the netting. Lovino almost broke through until he was struck in the head. His consciousness faded out as he sank to the bottom of the ocean.
