So it wasn't as long as I thought, so I hope to be updating the next chapter either today or tomorrow.

Btw, I still got 60 free books I need to get rid of in the next three days! Look at the author's note at the end of the previous chapter for how to get it. If you could leave a review that would be even better! 'Erase Me' is a small novel that should only take you a few hours to read.

Chapter 28

Zen led her back to the sandy ocean body with care after prying the unblinking body from her numb hands. There he tucked her unfeeling, stunned body into the curve of his tail and gently rubbed away the black paint from her skin with sand. His fingers were as gentle as ever, and in the brief passing of their gazes Mai saw an agonizing, nigh crippling regret in his eyes that didn't make it onto his still, impassive face. It would have been too much for a mortal face to convey, and there was more going on within him than she was able to understand in her own state.

After cleaning her face, he brushed his lips upon her brow.

"I only meant to keep you safe, as I had promised…Mai…"

She couldn't look at him. Nor did he make her.

Only once she was clean did he set off to cleaning himself, as the black would be detrimental once the sun was out and they had to hide from those deeper than they.

"The way back through narrow chimney," he said as he worked. "I made sure to block—it in unused quarter—but best not to leave it too long just in case. Did not go in night because I worry it frighten you, though I can go back alone and you can go through window. You be in trouble, but not as much as with me."

"He'll be coming," her mouth said.

"What?"

She asked the same thing of herself. It took her a moment to find the trail that her mouth had been following back to her brain, where a throbbing sun had begun to burn and shine.

"Naru. He'll be coming for me." She looked up at Zen. "Will the guards react to humans like you did?"

He winced. "If humans draw to close, yes, but if he just pass over—"

"He won't. He probably has a way to track down that guy—he was only in a life boat, he would have…" Heat and feeling pulsed through her limbs. "We've got to stop him."

Zen blanched. "You do not know where he is!"

"But I know where he's coming from, I'll catch his attention before he gets here." Before he could catch her, she wiggle out from the intimate curl of his tail, but was caught by the last thing she expected.

Caught against the ridge of her tailfins was his one horn, twisted about by the end of his tail.

A whole new vibrating heat shocked through her.

He tugged her down with it, dark eyes set and mouth thin. Once he had his hands on her again, he quickly undid his tail about her and brought it behind him and as far from her as possible.

"Don't," he said. "They be looking for you by now. Once they see I gone too, I could die, and he die too once they find you—and they will find you. You are much a danger to him as merman. We go back."

"Fine, then you go back, but I have to find him. All I need you to do is point me in the direction of Bimini. If they find me before I find him, I'll at least know I tried."

"No!" he cried. "There are sharks and—and fast currents and humans and—"

"And I can't let you get in trouble for just helping me to see the surface."

His expression fell and darkened. "You should not care for my life. I killed your human."

She cocked her head at him. "I should be pissed at you for that, shouldn't I? I've never seen someone die before, let alone in my arms. And he was innocent."

Zen pushed back from her, releasing her to pull an arm over his chest and bow his head.

"But I'm not," she said, carefully. "Maybe it's still the shock, but I know why you did it and…but now I just want to see him more. And if he's alive—if he's alive…I have to go, Zen. I'll get over hating you later. It will be a big fight, we'll yell, I'll ignore you, maybe throw a few things at you, we'll go through hell, but we'll be friends again."

He glanced up at her through a passing drift of black hair, bewildered. "What?"

"We'll be friends again. But you need to get going. If you're worried about me lend me your dagger."

"No, wait, I…" his gills just about vanished into his ribs. "You…you will forgive me? But I—no, you have not…I?"

She did her best to smile at him. Her face didn't seem to want to remember. "I won't forgive you if you don't take care of yourself and head back to the palace without me."

Instant derailment—all prospect of hope vanished from his expression and his mouth once more tightened with grimness. "I rather you hate me then never come back at all. Do not make me make you, princess."

Mai did feel the full weight of his threat. She had seen him move with that dagger and felt his strength as he tugged her beneath the water. Along with the dark camouflage paint, a part of her knew he hadn't been kept completely out of the dark concerning the practices of his forgotten clan. And old tricks rarely worked twice, so her screech probably wouldn't work as well a second time.

Before this, she wilted.

"Zen…" her heart was pounding, not any faster, but harder, and it hurt. It was like her heart was trying to force its way through her chest. "Zen, please."

In answer, his tail swept out from beneath him and wrapped about hers like a whip. He gave a quick chop to the side of her neck, and her world went dark.

The last thing she heard was his apology.