Chapter five

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Pearl

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It wasn't the first time I had been corned by a great white. They tended to lurk near ship wrecks, and as that was where I spent the majority of my time, I saw them often. They weren't even near the most dangerous creature in the ocean, but it was extremely hard to kill one. Occasionally some of my Father's prize guards came back with one, but that was rare. The Whites were usually solitary hunters. But I didn't have time to ponder why the two had decided to form a pack.

As they circled closer, panic overwhelmed me at last. I would have to dive down as deep as I could; that was my only hope. I whirled around to Eric who looked like he was in shock.

" Swim! Swim! I'll distract them," I screamed, and immediately dove down, falling into the dark abyss beneath me. It was a pointless cause. The sharks raced after me, their large, powerful tails letting them glide easily through the water. My heart skipped a beat as I realized I wouldn't be able to out swim them. I threw myself against the bottom of the ocean floor, and covered my face with my hands. I didn't want the white's gaping, razor sharp jaws to be the last thing I saw. I braced myself for the impact.

It didn't come.

I opened my eyes in surprise, and blood clouded the water. Erik's hand grabbed my wrist, and pulled me past one slashed shark, that was beginning to float to the surface. It had been slashed at the throat instead of the tail, as my father's men usually did. I shook loose the two tailed man's grip.

" I told you to swim! What in the sea's name were you thinking? There's another one! Humans!," I said angrily, saying the word human as an insult, like most merfolk did. Erik looked surprised as I spoke, and I was too busy looking around nervously for the other one.

" I'm not leaving you! You saved my life, now I save--,"

" Go! Just go-," I screamed, and pushed him out of the way as the other white came at last. One I might be able to outwit. I met the cool, dark blue eyes once more.

" Go," I said one last time, with an soft urgency in my voice. He stared at me for the slightest moment. Then, as if he had not heard a word I said, he dropped a small object in my hand, with a sharp end on it.

A dagger.

Merwomen were not allowed to use the tools of mermen. I would be drastically punished if I were caught using something like the tool Eric had just given me, especially as it was a human tool.

The shark, seeing it's dead companion, lunged at me, it's jaws snapping. Eric went for it's gills, but the shark's powerful tail whipped him away. I was mesmerized by the blade, so amazed that I didn't realize as the shark's jaw closed tight on my tail.

The pain was excruciating, so horrible that I couldn't even cry out. The blood began to seep out, and the pressure on my tail increased so drastically, that I finally realized what was about to happen. I was going to be snapped in half.

And so I did the only logical thing left to do. I took the dagger and drove it down into the shark's head.

The shark thrashed wildly for a moment, losing it's grip on me. I wiggled free of the jaws, and Erik grabbed my wrist and pulled me away. I glanced at the dagger a second time, and pulled it out of the dying sharks' head. Taking the blade, I let myself sink down to the bottom of the sea. I laid my head down for a moment, taking slow, deep breaths. My tail hurt like a thousand sword fish had hacked at it. I closed my eyes, wishing that it would go away.

" Pearl," the deep voice asked me, sounding concerned. " Pearl, are you alright?"

I nodded, gritted my teeth, and pushed myself up. I had found him, now I needed to get him back to the shore. It would be much harder now, because the magic of my kiss would wear off any moment.

Erik's face changed at that moment, and I realized that it was already in effect. We swam to the surface, and Erik burst up, gasping for air. He clung to the rock, lifting himself up on it. My face fell.

" The magic's worn off. I won't be able to do it again, at least not for awhile," I told him, slightly disappointed and annoyed. He nodded, not seeming the least bit fazed by my tone. I noticed how muscular his chest was, and realized that he was stronger then I had perceived. He was studying the horizon, in the opposite direction of land. He suddenly spoke.

" That's a man out there! By god, that's a man," Erik exclaimed, as if he thought he were the last man in the ocean. I followed his gaze, and sure enough, I saw a distant figure clinging to driftwood. I turned to Erik.

" You swim toward the shore. There's another storm coming up, and you may be able to beat it if you swim fast enough. I'll go after him and bring him to the shore," I told him, more stating the fact then asking him to do it. I'll be the first to admit that being raised as a princess has made me tend give out frequent orders. Erik studied me for a moment.

" Are you a dream? Or did I hit my head? I keep on waiting to wake up."

I rolled my eyes. " Yes, you hit your head and are now hallucinating. I'm actually just a talking whale.

Erik stared at me for another moment, then laughed. I liked his laugh. It was deep and reassuring. He turned to look at the shore line off in the distance, and I slid into the murky waters below, without making a sound.

" You know, Pearl, am I--," Erik began saying as he turned around. He abruptly stopped when he saw that I wasn't there anymore. I watched him for a moment, knowing he couldn't see me. His dark blue eyes peered down into the water, watching for me. After a few moments, Erik shook his head, and looked back to the shore line, examining it.

Despite my injured tail, I could still swim fast. It took longer then usual to reach the human, as my tail made it harder to battle the currents and the waves. The storm clouds that had thrown Erik overboard the day before had caught up to him. The man was lucky I had spotted him.

He was clinging to a piece of driftwood, and his eyes were closed. I cautiously approached him, something new for me as I lack common sense. I studied the man carefully. His pale blonde hair was tangled with seaweed, and his skin was the color of a fishes belly. Jewels covered his fingers.

He was someone important, I gathered that much. Enough jewels to rival Kalius, if not more. Miracle he hadn't sank. I looked more closely at him, and realized that he had a royal insignia of some sort. A prince. My male, human counterpart.

Filled with curiosity, I poked his nose. He didn't move. Was it dead?

I was too busy looking at the different rings on his fingers that I didn't notice his eye lids flutter open. I glanced up at the dark brown eyes, and let out a scream, startled. Then I immediately wanted to slap myself. I had killed a great white, but when a human opened his eyes I was screaming like the destruction of the sea was coming. But of course, that would happen when my father found me.

The prince stared at me for a moment, then let out a few words.

" Thank you.........," he said, then shut them. He had better not of died on me.

The prince didn't move again. Glancing at the angry, brooding clouds, I at last grabbed the prince and made way for the shore.

It took even longer getting back, and I had to double the distance. Once the prince kicked me, and I dropped him by accident. After that, I had to keep a tighter grip on him, which was hard for me, especially with my tail.

Merfolk heal fast, because of the magic in us. If I had been resting, I would already be half way healed. But as I've said before, I lack common sense.

The shore approached me after awhile. It had been a long way to go for a human. Eric was laying on the shore, in a deep sleep, probably from exhaustion. He had looked feverish earlier, and I supposed it was because of the water. I was a bit chilly, so the humans had to be freezing.

I saw no one on the shore, other then Eric. I slid up on the sandy beach, and placed the prince by Eric gently. I sprinkled them with sand and seaweed. That would guard them, for now.

" Good luck, Eric," I told him softly, gazing at him. I brushed back a lock of his raven black hair. Suddenly, I heard voices. Human voices.

Terror seized me. How could I have been so foolish? Even as headstrong and foolhardy as I was, even I knew better then to be caught on shore when humans were about. I turned around and pushed myself back into the water, and disappeared beneath the waves, just as the first rays of

sunlight were peaking over the horizon.

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Catherine

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" My lady, in all due respect, you cannot continue this insane quest to cover every area of the beach! All of Denmark mourns for those who perished, but there is nothing you can do about it! If the prince didn't survive, no one survived! And lurking around on the beach at sunrise isn't going to change it," my maid Mary exclaimed angrily, finally losing her patience with me.

I scowled at her, and continued to gaze out at the sea. I knew Mary meant no harm, but her presence was annoying anyway. Along with the rest of my servants, who were obligated to follow me. They had no idea what I was going through.

" Do not speak to me like that," I said angrily, and slapped her across the face. Mary instantly fell silent, being reminded of her place. I continued to walk along the beach, occasionally picking up shells that I liked.

Erik loved walking along the beach. I had never really liked getting my feet sandy, and I usually preferred to stay indoors. But ever since....ever since the news had come, I found myself doing things that he had usually begged me to do. Like long walks at sunrise.

Tears sprang to my eyes, but I didn't wipe them. I didn't want any of servants to feel pity for me. Why Erik? Erik had been so good, so wonderful! What had I done to have him taken away from me?

A glimmer of purple coming from the ocean caught my eye, and I turned abruptly to see what it was. The ocean was calm and smooth, and there was no purple. I walked on miserably.

" Milady, we need to be turning back," one of the servants said nervously. I nodded slightly.

" Just a bit further."

Mary, who had fallen silent since I reprimanded her, spoke up again.

" Your father said that he was having guests over, milady Catherine. You'd best get back so we can change your dress and jewels." The other three servants nodded, shooting thankful looks at Mary. I felt guilty that I had slapped her. The servants didn't know any better.

" I suppose.......," I said, turning around. And then I stopped.

Two men were lying on the beach, fifty feet away.

" Milady, Stop!," Mary said, sounding hysterical as I kicked off my slippers and began running down the beach. Could it be? Was it possible?

I collapsed on the beach in a heap in front of Erik and another man.

" Erik? Are you alive? Oh please god, Erik!," I shouted, clutching my golden cross. His eyelids fluttered.

" Pearl......," he said weakly. I felt his forehead. He was consumed with fever. The man next to him didn't look much better, but I would tend to him in a minute.

" Pearls? There are no pearls, it's your Catherine, Cat. There is no pearl. Erik, can you hear me?"

Something in Erik's eyes changed abruptly, and he seemed to see me for the first time.

" I thought I would never see you again.........," he told me. Tears sprung in my eyes, but this time they were in happiness. I leaned down, and in front of my maid servants, kissed him on the lips. I wasn't aware of the purple eyes watching me from behind the rocks in the wild sea.