Chapter 14: Shocking News

Poison was all Shen had to hear. She was at Nami's side, knowing she was the only one who could save Riptide's life. The white hybrid was in bad shape as he struggled to breathe. The wound was already starting to show signs of infection. 'Damn,' Shen thought. 'I know this poison but how is it so much stronger?'

The shortfin mako, Longtooth was trying to keep the crowd of onlookers back while Marcus and Leviathan stared each other down. It was pure madness. "Keep that crowd back!" he ordered.

"RIPTIDE," Nami was screaming. "RIPTIDE, STAY WITH ME!"

"Let me see."

Nami looked up as a sawtooth with a metal nose knelt by her. He took one look and his expression became grave. "This is not good," he repeated over and over. "The lad needs immediate attention."

"You know where there is an antidote for this poison?" Shen asked.

"That I do," the sawtooth said. "I'll take ye there." He started to scoop up Riptide when Nami grabbed his arm. Honey-colored stared into brown eyes that were a mixture of fear and the fierce protective fire of a mother. "Ye need to trust me. I know ye are afraid of losing ye son, but the longer we wait..."

Nami understood. "We're going with you," she said.

"Ye will get no argument from me," he said. "Ye may call me Blade."

Blade had scooped Riptide up, "Stay with us, lad. Ye have to hang on."

He started to move when the longfin mako called out to him. "Blade, where-,"

"Marcus, the lad is in need of serious help," Blade said before he turned to attention to Nami, Shen, Destiny, and Long. "Ye stay with me, do ye understand?"

They all nodded.

The mako known as Marcus turned to Blade. "Blade, where are you taking my son?"

Blade was not in the mood for Marcus' craziness. "Marcus, ye listen to me! He is not yer son! He's not Arlong!"

Marcus was not willing to accept what he was hearing. "You have to be wrong," he said. "That is-,"

'Damn this stupid fool,' Blade thought. He snarled as he shoved Marcus aside. "Take a damn look and ye will see he isn't ye son!"

Marcus heard her and the mako was struggling to defend his son or get him help. He was trying to figure out what to do when Blade came to the woman who was screaming. The saw tooth suddenly had a grave expression and he was quick to scoop the injured sawtooth up. "Blade, where-,"

"Marcus, the lad is in need of serious help," Blade said. He turned his head to Nami, Shen, Destiny, and Long. "Ye stay with me, do ye understand?"

Leviathan was forgotten as Marcus turned his attention to what was unfolding behind him. "Blade, where are you taking my son?" he said.

"Marcus, ye listen to me," Blade snapped at him. "He is not ye son! He's not Arlong!"

The mako couldn't believe what he heard. Blade had to be wrong, he had to be. How could this not be Arlong? "You have to be wrong," he said. "That is-,"

"Damn it, ye crazy fool," Blade snarled as he shoved the mako aside. "Take a damn good look and ye will see he isn't ye son!" The metal nose Fishman with Riptide in his arms lead Nami, Destiny, Shen, and Long hurried through the crowd. "Let us through," he snapped at anyone who got in his path.

"Where are we going?" Destiny asked.

"To one of the Elders," Blade replied, as Marcus followed them. "If Masta is still here, yer brother will live."

The Protector lead the group up a set of stone carved steps that led to a brick and stone yurt type building. "Masta! Ye in there?!"

Stepping out into the sunlight was an ancient crab Fish-man. "Wha- who's yelling?"

"Masta, he's been poisoned," Blade brushed past the Elder. "Can ye help him?"

The crab man muttered under his breath. "Damn young ones, have no respect nowadays," He snorted and grumbled. "What's wrong with him?"

"I said, HE'S BEEN POISONED!" Blade yelled, nearly in his ear. "Ye damn deaf crab."

That got his attention. "Poisoned," he gestured a bedroom off to Blade's left. "Put him in there. How did he get poisoned?"

"Some whale shark named Leviathan," Shen said heading for the standing self that was full of various bottles and containers.

The crab Fish-man looked alarmed. "Not good, not good," he said repeatedly as he too began searched among the selves of varies containers of herbs. "Where is it?"

"Destiny and Long help them look," Nami said. She looked at Marcus then to Blade. "May I speak to both of you?"

Blade gave a small nod before he motioned Nami to follow him. He paused for a second to look at Marcus, "You outside."

"I'm taking a good guess that ye are wanting an explanation," Blade said the moment he, Nami and Marcus.

"I do," Nami said. She looked at Marcus. "Starting with you."

"Me? What about me?" Marcus said.

Nami looked at him. "You're Arlong and Shyarly father aren't you?"

"You know my children," Marcus said. "How?"

"Because Arlong is the father of my children!"

"Arlong is what?!" Marcus looked at Nami in disbelief.

Well, talk about shocking news. I was hoping to have this posted yesterday on my birthday, but that didn't happen. So as always read and review.