Mermaids for Venus, by Boyce

Chapter 5 : Underwater Battle, Part1

/ Monster's Lair \

(The eel was swimming very fast, so fast that Mina had trouble breathing. She leaned forward on the back of the eel, to minimize the contact of the incoming water on her face. After some time, the eel slowed down and stopped in front of a mountain of rocks)

Mina : Is this the lair of the monster? (She turned back at the eel... it looked frightened) This is probably it, but... (Before she could think of anything, Mina heard a scream coming from the other side of the mountain) What was that?

(After a couple of seconds, she decided to go see what was going on. She swam carefully around the mountain, and when she got to the other side, she could see a big opening in the mountain... Like a big cavern. She was hearing voices coming from inside. After a big breath, she summoned all of her courage, and went to see what was going on inside)

Voice1: Come on, you slackers. You can do better than that! Whip Slashes Hahahahaha!

Voice2: Please... I can't go on! I'm so tired...

Voice1: Shut up, fish! (Another round of slashes were heard) No excuse! Dig!

(After hearing these words, Mina decided to swim inside the cavern to understand what was going on. She could see a faint orange light coming from the cavern and she swam toward it, with goosebumps running down her spine. When she was close enough, she could see that the light was coming from a big hole in the ground. She could hear the slashes more clearly now, and they were coming from that big opening. She took another big breath for courage, and started swimming down the hole. After a couple of strokes, she could see a very large room at the bottom of the hole. She stopped swimming, and let herself sink slowly so she could have a peek without getting attention)

Voice : Dig, you fools! Whip Slashes Dig harder!

(Mina could see mermaids, and a lot of them. After some observation, she concluded that they weren't mermaids, but really mermen. They were digging in the ground and in the walls with their fangs... Mina could clearly see some mermen were digging with their hard scale tails, since their claws were covered with blood and injuries from previous digs. In another corner of the room, there was a big cage, with at least another dozen of mermen in it, weaken by the harsh treatment they were receiving. And in the middle of it was the ruler of it all... A giant eight-legged squid.)

Mina : (Covering her mouth in disgust) How horrible... (Another round of slashes started. Mina realized that it wasn't a whip she heard, but the sound of the tentacles of the squid whipping the helpless mermen) That's just sick!

(Mina's eyes were closing tighter at each sound of slashing she heard)

Merman: I... can't go on like this.

Squid : What am I hearing?

Merman: You heard me, ugly monster...

Squid : Flattery will get you no where slave. Dig, or face the consequences! (The merman didn't move) That's how you want it, huh? Fine!

(The squid lifted two of it's tentacles... the merman just closed his eyes)

Mina : STOP RIGHT THERE!

(The words spoken by a feminine voice stunned everybody in the mine. Every mermen stopped digging, and were looking around to see who yould dare confront the monster. The mermen in the cages were now holding to the bars, scanning the area too. The squid turned slowly around, only to see every mermen looking around. The source of the voice couldn't be found)

Squid : (Angry) Who dares say that to me? Show yourself, you trespasser!

(The request of the monster was met with a complete silence, which made the squid angrier. And just when it was going to start slashing the mermen again, Mina showed herself)

Mina : I'm up here.

(Everyone in the room, the squid included, looked up. Mina's legs appeared through the big hole in the ceiling, then her body and finally her head. She was letting herself sink slowly through the hole, her golden flowing hair shining in the faint lighting of the room. The mermen were all deeply stunned at what they were seeing)

Mrman1: It's... it's our Great Goddess!

Mrman2: She came to save us!

Mrman3: God... Goddess Venus! She... She's real!

(Although all of the mermen were in awe, the squid wasn't surprised for the same reasons)

Squid : A human? How can a human survive in these depths of the ocean? It's impossible...

Mina : Don't you know? I'm the Goddess of Venus, and I'm here to free all of your slaves.

Squid : Goddess of Venus hmm? I guess you're no ordinary human if you can survive underwater, but a Goddess? I doubt it (Laughs)

Mina : Release your prisoners now, or face the consequences!

Squid : (Laughs) You'll have to be more convincing than that, human!

Mina : Great... what should I do? This squid is at least 10 times my size. What I wouldn't give for my Venus Powers right now You've asked for it!

Squid : No, you did! (Without wasting any second, the squid launched two of its tentacles toward Mina. Surprised, Mina did manage to swim out of the way and avoid the tentacles that went crashing in the ceiling behind Mina) Not bad. I didn't know a human could swim so fast. All the ones I caught and ate were slow swimmers.

Mina : You're... You're pure evil!

Squid : Why thank you! But flattery won't save you for trespassing on my domain.

(The squid launched another set of tentacles toward Mina, which she did manage to avoid again. The tentacles crashed again on the ceiling over the head of Mina. The impact made big boulders of rocks fall, and Mina was hit on her left arm. A small red cloud formed around her arm)

Mrman1: Why isn't she using her powers?

Mrman2: I don't know... At this rate, she'll end up in the monster's stomach. You have to fight Great Goddess!

Mina : (Holds her arm) Ouch! My arm. I wish I could fight... But what can I do without my powers, and underwater... Maybe... ... My... My arm, I think it's broken. I... I can't swim anymore (Floats near ceiling)

Squid : Laughs Is that all you can do, Oooooo Great Goddess Venus? That was too easy. Now you'll be... (The Squid launch itself toward Mina) MY DINNER!

Merman: LOOK OUT!

(Mina looked helpless at the monster coming toward her, like she had lost all hope. But at the last second, she kicked her powerful legs. and moved out of the way of the monster's path. The squid tried to catch Mina with its tentacles, but only managed to hit her instead of grabbing her)

Squid : You got lucky, humaBOOM

(Too concentrated on Mina, the squid wasn't looking in from of him, and went crashing at hi-speed in the ceiling. A loud growl was heard, and the monster fell on the corner of the cage with a dozen of giant boulders. It made a big hole in the cage, and the mermen in the cage left their prison with joy)

Mrman1: She did it!

Mrman2: Goddess Venus... Thank you!

(Mina was still dizzy after being hit by the tentacles of the giant squid. She was sinking slowly to the bottom of the room, where she was greated by the loud cheers of the happy mermen)

Mina : (Dizzy) What... what happened?

Merman: Goddess Venus! You vanquished the squid!

(The merman pointed at the pile of rubble. Mina could see a pair of tentacles coming out of the rocks, motionless)

Mina : (Amazed) I... I did that?

Merman: Yes! That was great, Oh Great Goddess Venus!

Mina : Not again... Please, you can call me Mina.

Merman: But Gr...

Mina : (Interrupts the merman) I know... You don't have to be so formal... Mina's my name!

Merman: If... if you say so... ... Mina (The merman covered his head, afraid of receiving a correction for calling the Goddess of Venus Mina, but after a few seconds, he looked at Mina, and she was smiling back at him) My name is...

Voice : Pyron!

End of Chapter 5