Hey, everybody! Welcome to chapter 7 of Secrets of the Sea. I decided to shorten the story to 9 chapters now, so I could start some new stories. As of now, I have over 20 ideas I'm going to try to make into stories, which is quite a lot. So, as always, don't forget to review, favorite, and follow. So, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and here it is!
I stood on the edge of the deck, looking down at the sea I had missed so much. Although, I, like every mermaid, had been trained to do this my whole life, it was still scary to actually consider doing it. I was practically a human now, I had spent so much with these legs, and these emotions. Everyone had agreed that I must go in after the pearls, and now I was getting kind of scared. I shook myself. I shouldn't be scared, not at all. But I just had that bad feeling, like something was wrong.
But, I had to do it. I looked back at Philip, who was staring at me, worry in his features. I couldn't dwell though. I jumped.
As soon as I hit the water, my legs began to fade, my tail sprouting back. It felt like what I had been before was a mask, and I was now my true self. The real me. I was something that no one: not Philip, or Will could connect to. I was different from them, but that doesn't, and never will, keep me from being with them, or the other humans. I was more human than ever now.
I swam as fast as I could. I needed to hurry so I could get the pearls, and get back to shore, so everything could become normal with me and Philip again. I missed how it should be: not running somewhere all the time, or saving each other. Just being like any other normal couple. But, I knew it could never happen. I still hope though. That's one thing I could never lose.
It was a very long swim. It took a couple hours before I got to the bottom of the sea, and then a little while longer before I got to the cavern where the Pearls where supposed to be. I found the Pearls, they were right in plain sight, in an open clam on a rock. I knew it was going to be easy, but I didn't know that immortality just sat there, waiting. I knew the real hard part was finding a map, and then swimming to the bottom of the sea for two hours, or finding a mermaid who would willingly find it for you, but still. It was unsettling.
I grabbed the whole clam though, and I was swimming upward, ready to be with Philip, and for Will's Elizabeth to be well again. But then, I felt a sharp pain on my back, and I fell, just barely seeing a face over me as I did so.
0o0o0o00o0o0o0
I woke up, still in pain, and I realized I was bleeding. I think I actually had a stab wound in my back. Whoever did this to me must still be here, I thought, wildly looking around me. There was a mermaid behind me, who appeared to be brushing her hair.
"It's nice to see you're awake now," she said, eyeing her.
"Did you just stab me?!" I asked, looking at my back where a huge puncture wound was. At least she had the decency to take out the spear. I'm not sure I could have taken seeing that.
"Yes, I did, little mermaid. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm a mermaid, too, now aren't I? I am simply a different breed then you are. My job is simple: destroy anyone who comes by the Pearls, but make it look easy and lure them in, then once they are leaving, attack them. I simply expected to kill you though, yet I forgot that some mermaids heal faster after being on land for a while."
"Why are you telling me all of this?" I asked. It didn't make sense to reveal her secret plan to me.
"Because they want you to join us. This is how we get new members. If you survive, you may live with us. It's the mermaid's way of forming a rebellion against the others. Saving the Pearls. No human deserves to live forever, especially not one who is most likely a pirate," she said, with a groan at the mention of pirates.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, whoever you are, but I really need to be going, so if you would excuse me.." I got up slowly, I was still injured, and I began to swim out of the cave. But I was no match physically to the girl.
"Oh no you don't," she said. "Let's see if this will make you cooperate." She smiled, but it was not warm, it was terrifying. "I know why you were human for so long, I watched you. You are in love with that human, oh don't pretend you aren't. You plan on being with him, but you can't be with him if he dies, now can you?" she said, tying a cloth around my mouth, gagging me. "We will wait a couple hours, and once he realizes that something is wrong, he will come, and we shall go and meet him near the surface. Humans can only live off bubbles so long, right? Then, I will destroy your reason to ever be human. Him."
Ok, well that was the chapter, sorry it's so short. Don't forget to review, favorite, and follow. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed! Be sure to check back for the next chapter!
