"Sebastian?"called the young Earl impatiently as he entered he enclosure with Othello close behind. "Sebastian!" He shouted, coming to the beach. He looked out over the water, searching for his merman when he spotted him, floating belly up in the water. His body was still and cold, pale, glassy eyes staring blankly at his master. "S-Sebastian!" cried the boy in fear and anger.

"Oh! Oh, dear! Oh my!" exclaimed Druitt, coming in behind them. "Phoenix! Phoenix!" he called. "Oh please don't let my precious be hurt!"

"Your precious?!" shouted Ciel. "What about my mer?! He's dead! No doubt because your mer killed him!"

"Oh, dear, that is a problem," replied Druitt, placing a hand to his chin in thought, but not really caring.

"What do you plan to do about it?"

"Will one of Phoenix's pups suffice?" the viscount suggested.

"Sebastian was special, you ignorant fop! What makes you think I want anything further to do with that beast?! It can't...even…get...pregnant! I should have the authorities destroy it!" Ciel rampaged.

"Destroy my precious?" gasped the viscount.

"Ahem," Othello interrupted by clearing his throat. "Having read over the contract, including the fine print, I quote: Neither party shall be held responsible for any damages incurred by either mer."

Ciel Phantomhive glared at the man, gripping the cane in his hand tightly. "You will be hearing from my lawyers," he threatened and stormed out.

As soon as he was gone, Othello called for Ronald and the two pulled the dead mer out of the water. Ronald was chosen to go down and look for Grelle. He geared up and swam to the bottom of the tank.

Ronald found her in her nest and approached cautiously. Grell opened one sleepy eye and looked at him briefly before going back to sleep. He watched her a few moments. She didn't appear to be injured. It looked like she was just sleeping. Ronald didn't dare wake her for fear of ending up like Sebastian. So he returned to the surface.

Above, Druitt sighed sadly, "Where will I find a suitable mate for my darling now?" He wandered off to make some phone calls.

The Earl wasn't interested in Sebastian's corpse. 'What use did he have for a dead mer?' So Othello called the society to see what should be done with it. William promptly came over.

If it weren't for the two that followed him in, Othello would have sworn William was the only member. Although, they could simply be hired hands to help dispose of the corpse. "I'm not surprised, although this was somewhat expected," said William dryly while Othello filled out paperwork.

"Could it have been self defense?" asked Othello.

"It's possible," William replied. "Where is Grelle?"

"Sleeping, according to Ronald. He's the one who checked on her. He said she seemed alright. However, it seems she's been asleep for awhile. I've never known her to sleep this long and she doesn't answer when I call. I was thinking about going down myself when you showed up."

William stared at the water, deep in thought as he decided what to do. Eventually, he turned to Othello and said, "Do not tell anyone of what you are about to witness. I want your word."

"You have it," answered Othello curiously before watching William undress. Nude, William went into the water and the other man watched in surprise, his eyes growing wide at the sight of a merman's tail cresting out of the water as William swam down in the water. It shimmered grey with hues of purple and green.

William found Grell in her nest, just as Ronald had. As with Ronald, she opened an eye to see who was slinking about in her home, but this time, she woke fully. Seeing William, she opened her eyes wide, getting up from her nest. "Will!" she said excitedly and bewildered. William was mer. He was a mer!

William looked her over with his own astonishment, although he did not express it except for a small inquiry. "Your species is capable of that?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied with a smile. "What do you think?" Grelle asked, twirling about in the water.

"Did you have to kill the black one?" was his reply, not that William was sorry he was gone. Sebastian's kind was an abomination to William. Grelle swam closer, examining his tail.

"I've never seen your colors before. Are they common in your pod?"

"I left my pod a long time ago," he replied. There was no warmth in his voice, but there was perhaps a bit of loneliness. "Humans have always been a threat to us. Ever since the first mer was spotted, they've been hunting us. We've done our best to avoid them, but now they have found us and they capture us and put us to their uses."

"What can we do about their ships and their hooks? Though not all are bad." she said, thinking of Oto, Ronnie, and yes, even Druitt in a way. She couldn't call him good, per se, but harmless. Grell still didn't care for him, though.

"Maybe not all, but many are. Though mostly they are simply ignorant and arrogant creatures. However, I wanted to do what I could. To protect those who have been captured as best I can."

"You took their form and founded the society," Grelle concluded.

William nodded. "A few mers have joined me since to protect what secrets we have left for as long as possible, but none from my pod."

"It sounds lonely," said Grelle pitifully. She knew all too well what it was like to be lonely. "Your mate didn't join you?" she asked tentatively.

"No," he replied. "I've never taken a mate."

"Really~?" A lustful gleam came into her eye as she looked him over again. She swam down and retrieved her brassiere, adjusted it, and put it on.

"Are you intending on trying to become my mate?" William asked with a frown, watching her start to flit about. "And after you mated with that vermin?"

Grelle bared her teeth. "He didn't get that far. Oh, he tried after being commanded to by that pup of his, but he was mean and he was coarse and unrefined. I never did care for him much. Sure he was pretty to look at, but-"

"Do you realize the amount of paperwork your actions will have caused me?" asked William. He saw the oblivious look on her face and it was obvious she had not a clue as she continued to swim about flirtatiously. He sighed and adjusted his glasses. "Do you flirt with every mer you find attractive?"

"Only the ones I like. And I like you," she grinned, swimming close. It was a risky venture, but she allowed her tail to brush against his. "Oh it's been terribly, Will, for a mermaid like me. I can't be too choosy about a mate. So I let Bassy court me, if you can call it that. But I feared what he might do after we mated. I am sorry if I've been a bother." She touched her tail to his again. It may have been her imagination, but she could swear he pressed back ever so slightly in that moment. Delighted, she swam about happily.

William frowned in annoyance. "Must you be so flighty?"

"I can't help it, darling. I'm just so happy right now." Seeing his annoyed look, she stopped swimming about and came back to him. "Oh, darling, please say you'll be my mate." She gazed at him intently. "Aren't you lonely, Will?" she asked, pressing her tail to his a third time. Grelle held out her hands. The two gazed at each other for some time, until, finally, William placed his hands in hers.

William moved Grelle down to her nest, never breaking eye contact. His shaft slid out from the slit in his tail as he pressed his body more firmly against hers. He entered her and began thrusting, firmly but gently, very different from Sebastian.

Grelle's head tilted back, exposing her neck as she chittered with pleasure. William lowered his head, opening his mouth. He bit down on her shoulder gently, causing her to cry out in ecstasy not because it hurt. He was careful not to break the skin. Her hands began to wander, feeling every scale she could reach. Her fingers brushed along his dorsal fin, causing him to shudder.

"Will!" she cried as he released his seed deep inside her.

"Come," he said after a moment, pulling out of her. "Othello is looking for you."

Grelle followed William to the beach where Othello was waiting anxiously. He sighed in relief when Grelle surfaced.

"Oto, sorry," she apologized, swimming to shore.

"As long as you're…" he began, but stopped, his eyes widening as he saw the change in Grelle. Where once the brassiere rested flat against her chest, it now shaped around the two small mounds that had formed. "Boobs," he uttered in shock. "Of course!" he said, coming to himself. "fascinating. Certain species of fish can, so therefore it's only reasonable certain species of merfolk."

"Oto!" Grelle called happily. "Grelle mate!" She held up her hand which held William's.

"Really?" Othello replied, even more astonished. "Him? And so fast."

"Remember, not a…" began William when the Viscount came back in.

"Oh, it's hopeless! I can't find anyone who wants to...hello, where did you come from?" he questioned, seeing William.

"Oh, uh, the society had a mer in need of a home. I thought he would be suited here. He's perfect for Gr-Phoenix. She really seems to like him."

"Fantastic! How kind of the society. Soon the tank will be swimming with merbabies!" Druitt said happily.

Grelle looked happily at William, while he in turn looked at Druitt unhappily. He really didn't like that man. Grelle turned his face towards hers, smiling at him. He smiled softly back. Maybe life wouldn't be so lonely anymore for either of them.