Chapter 3

Again, Bella was in the trident force field being lead through the ocean. A guard commented that she should be lucky the Prince did not vaporise her on the spot. It was a weird sensation to be talked to underwater – once they left the enchanted kingdom, the mers communicated via 'mindspeak.' You talked straight into the other mers' minds. The guards taught about it, engaging in idle talk as they swum slowly back to the Gold Coast. She truly had swum a long way. It turned out mindspeak could only be used on other mers, and didn't have to just be underwater. Bella couldn't believe her luck- they obviously didn't think that she had other mer friends.

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"I'm sure she's fine." Rikki said trying to encourage Will for the thousandth time. She wasn't doing a stellar job – her own voice was wrought with worry. Will just put his head in his hands. "Who am I kidding," Rikki muttered.

"Maybe she'll meet us at the funeral?" Cleo said hopefully. They were all going to support the family. They had all known Cameron Hartley and were just as shocked by his death.

A few hours later, all the residents on the island, minus Bella, made their way to the mainland and then drove to the funeral.

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On a secluded beach near to where the funeral was being held, the guards watched from the water as Bella dried herself off and walked away from them. They had a magical seeing glass that would be showing them everything to happen.

'Remember, no funny business.' One of the guards spoke into her mind. Bella gave him a withering look. The two guards were actually in awe. They had never seen a morphe-maid transform before.

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Will gasped in relief when he saw his wife approaching them. Before he could say anything, she kissed him fiercely and then hugged him tightly. A tear escaped her eye as she looked up at him. He wiped it away lovingly.

"Where've you been, baby?" Will asked her, stroking her cheek. Another tear escaped Bella's eye. She tapped her throat and shook her head. She made a writing action and paper was brought. However, as she tried to write an explanation, a force like a magnet was keeping her pen from the paper. Bella shook her head in frustration. She remembered she couldn't communicate a message to her family or any humans. She was thankful that her sisters were given testimony to her father's life – she wouldn't be able to say anything.

Jacob noticed his mother had arrived. Beaming, he ran to hug her. She lifted him up and kissed his cheek. As the funeral started, she took her place next to her mother and sisters. She squeezed her mother's hand for support.

"Why is it so sad here, Daddy?"

"Grandpa has gone away, remember?" Will replied. Jacob did not understand what was happening.

Bella stood with her mother, Ellie and Georgia as Ellie gave a speech on behalf of them, celebrating the late Cameron's life. There were plenty of tears as the ceremony continued. As the hearse drove away, Bella knew she didn't have much time left. Rikki was closest.

'I don't have much time.' Bella communicated using mindspeak. She hoped this was the loophole. Rikki looked startled. She turned around and locked eyes with Bella.

"Did you say something." She asked.

'Yes. Don't say anything more about loud. Look away. I'm being watched.'

She sent her a questioning look before dipping her head and looking away. How was she hearing things without Bella's mouth moving?

Bella answered her question; 'This is called mindspeak – mermaids can use it to communicate via mind. It's especially useful while swimming. Reply by focusing on what you want to say into my mind.'

A few seconds passed. 'Can you hear me?'

'Yes!' Bella exclaimed her first smile since her reunion with Will and Jake lit up her face.

'What's going on?'

'I know everyone's wondering what happened to me. I got kidnapped by a merman.'

Bella could hear Rikki's laughter at how ridiculous that sounded.

'No truly, I was grieving, as you know, and I just swam and swam. After I went up for air some random mermen with tridents kidnapped me taking me to an invisible underwater kingdom called Arkaan.'

'Sounds like something out of a bad fantasy novel,' Rikki commented.

'The kingdom has a curse of infertility and only a mermaid from outside of the kingdom can breed, and they don't get many visitors.'

'Probably because their kingdom is invisible!' Rikki interrupted.

'The Prince needs an heir and apparently I'm the one in a prophecy…'

'I don't like where this is going…'

'The Prince has demanded I marry him and give him an heir…'

'Oh God! But you're already married? Did you run away and that's why you're here?'

Rikki felt Bella's sadness flood her mind, 'I wish.'

'What happened?'

'I told him I'm married but apparently marrying a human doesn't count! I had to agree to save you guys from certain doom – he's not a very nice prince. He has tonnes of magic and can track anyone genetically related to me. I don't know what to do. He has his guards spying on me right now by magic. I'm not allowed to communicate with any human or family member – or anyone verbally. I found a loophole, thank God. Apparently, we are 'morphe-maids' and there are different types of mermaid. I had never thought about it before. Anyway, I don't have much time – he has only let me go for the funeral and I'll be called back soon – he cast some spells on me and we destroy those I love if I don't return.'

"Rikki? Are you alright?" Zane asked her. She had been staring into space for a few minutes now.

"Oh yes, I'm fine." She replied, "Just thinking about some important things."

'Sorry Bella,' Rikki said.

'It's fine. Back at the island, make sure to tell the others, especially Will. You can't talk to him around Jake though. Jake is being monitored and I can't compromise the situation. Call work for me and make up some excuse.'

'Do you know how long you'll be gone?'

'Unless you can figure out a way to break the curse, I'll be married to Prince Azure and I have to stay there for years until a son I have is a year old.'

'Years?' Rikki asked.

'Well, at least it's not forever.' Bella replied.

'But marriage?'

'Apparently the bond is permanent.'

'Postpone it for as long as possible. I'll try figure out something.'

'I wish you the best of luck but I honestly doubt it.' Bella replied. She felt Rikki's determination. 'Say something as if I haven't been talking to you. I'll miss you all.'

Rikki did this and then the two friends embraced. Bella found all of her friends and hugged them. They didn't know why but welcomed it anyway. She hugged her mother and sisters and then found Will and Jake. She hugged Jake tightly and peppered him with kisses. He giggled. She then kissed her husband passionately before embracing him, holding on for dear life. She didn't know when she'd be able to again.

After giving him another kiss, she began to walk away. She knew her time was up. Her family, friends and beloved watched her walking into the distance with confused expressions on the faces. Rikki was the only one who knew.

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The guards escorted her back to Arkaan complimenting her on dealing with the situation so well. They hadn't noticed her mind conversation with Rikki.

As they swam into the depths, Bella longed for there to be hope in this situation. Her life had been turned in an instant and she couldn't find anything to do about it.

A/N: Here is Chapter 3! Did you enjoy it? I hope so. You wouldn't believe how long it took me to write it! I think it didn't help that I was singing along to Ariana Grande while writing :P

Thanks so much for all the positive reviews! They mean a lot.

Thanks to luci-lucy, mermaid from mako island, CrazyHayniac, mermaidsforever, and Trackjunkie88 for reviewing the last chapter!