Alone at Sea

by allie.ven

mermaid/half nyo au (basically nyo!feli and lovi are mermaids and i switched half of the genders) Feliciana gets taken by fishermen and Lovino is injured and rescued by Isabel (nyospain) and Gilbert. Lovino then has to find his sister and avoid a strange man who holds an interest in him. And obviously the story has more effort than this summary. I'm just bad at summarizing

10. Chapter Nine

Lovino had swam almost 5 miles. He had already swam under the strait, it was only a matter of time before he was home.

After what seemed like three hours of swimming, he finally arrived at the grotto. It didn't look like someone had been home since the night of the storm. He swam through the entire cavern but no one was there. He was… alone.

His heart sank. He should have believed Feliciana when she said something was wrong. Lovi's parents had never come back that night. Which meant they were most likely dead. And so was Feliciana.

Kneeling down on the floor, he fiddled with the necklace Gilbert had given him. Gilbert said it would send a distress signal or something. Lovi had zoned out while he was explaining the details. But if he pressed it, he would get help. Lovino contemplated going back. But what if he was too much of a burden? They had been so kind to him and all he did was spew insults.

Nevertheless, Lovino gathered up some belongings and followed the compass out. Even though he had just come from the lab he followed the directions just to play on the safe side. Although he did swim to the surface before he left. Lovino at least wanted to say goodbye to the region he grew up in. He had so many memories growing up here but they no longer meant anything. All they did was remind him that he had nothing.

Lovino submerged again and began his swim back to the lab. He was so focused on directions, he almost ran into someone when he passed under the strait.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I'm in a hurry!" the mermaid said as she swam around.

Lovino didn't even bother to look at her face as she passed. "It's fine, he said dejectedly.

He kept swimming until he was talked from behind.

"Lovino!"

Lovino could hardly believe he was hearing her voice. "Ch-Chiana?" He turned around to see his little sister clinging to his waist. Immediately his spirits rose.

Lovi pulled her into a tight hug. "You idiot! I thought you were dead! You had me so worried!" He pulled her away and began checking for injuries. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

"No. no. I'm fine, Lovi. I'm fine." Feliciana replied. "I had YOU worried!? You were attacked by those men and sank to the bottom of the sea! You have a scar on your shoulder! I-" By now she was getting worked up and choking back tears. Chiana buried herself in Lovi's chest, fighting back tears.

Lovino smiled sympathetically. "Heh. I guess I'm the one at fault here… I'm sorry." He soothed.