Hi guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter :)

I love Emmash and Zikki, but I also ship Zane and Ash and Emma and Rikki. I was thinking of writing an alternate universe of this story with different story-lines with these pairings or that they could get together in the future. I would love to hear your thoughts about this :)

Lewis jumped in fright when a bright circle of light appeared out of nowhere and two unfamiliar people walked through hand in hand. Lewis, Cleo and Rikki stared in shock. Zane had told Rikki about what Magnus and Alec were, but it was one thing hearing about it and another to see it.

Magnus and Alec immediately hugged Zane. It had been a long time since they had last seen each other. Alec smiled to himself when he remembered Zane complaining about a girl called Rikki, both he and Magnus had shared knowing grins and teased Zane about having feelings for her. They had been close friends for a long time, Zane found out about the Shadow world when he accidently saw Magnus using magic, Magnus didn't want to risk another memory spell after everything that had happened with Clary and so they had trusted Zane with the secret. It turned out they weren't the only ones with secrets now. Zane had called them in a panic and told them everything about him and his friends being mermen and that Ash had been kidnapped by a marine biologist who wanted to experiment on him.

Alec and Magnus were shocked they had thought merpeople were extinct, they were also afraid for Ash. Alec and Magnus had instantly agreed to help. They would have brought Jace, Izzy and Clary, but they didn't want anyone finding out that merpeople existed. Alec was brought out of his thoughts by a young man with blonde hair who he assumed was Lewis from Zane's description of him.

"How did you do that?" Lewis spluttered.

Zane gave Lewis an incredulous look, "After everything we have been though you're suprised by this?"

Lewis was about to retort but Magnus spoke before he could, "What can we do to help Ash?" Magnus asked in concern.

"We need to get Ash out of that place, can you portal us there and get him out", Zane asked.

"I can only portal to places I have been before, but I can do a tracking spell to find him. Can you give me something very important of his?"

Zane instantly got the photo of Ash, Zane and Lewis in human form in the moon pool. Ash had given it as a present for all three of them and it meant so much to each of them. Zane handed Magnus the photo while Lewis left to get Emma. It took a couple of tries but Magnus managed to find Ash. Zane wanted to leave straight away but Alec said that they needed to come up with a plan first so Zane reluctantly agreed. When Lewis and Emma came back Zane introduced everyone and they sat down to discuss a plan.

Ash was curled in on himself alone in the white room. Ash could still feel the searing pain of the terrible torture Denman had put him through and he was dreading seeing Lara. Linda had said that she would be allowed some time with him and he was terrified of seeing her again. Ash jumped in fright when Lara came in and smirked at him. Ash tried to back away but Lara grabbed him and kissed him.

Lara pressed Ash tightly against her and whispered in his ear, "I know you're scared but you'll learn to love me again".

"Lara I'm in love with someone else please just move on". Ash realised too late that was the wrong thing to say. Lara threw Ash to the floor and repeatedly kicked and hit him. Ash tried to protect his body but his chains restricted him and Lara stopped him too. "WHO DO YOU LOVE!"

"I'm never telling you", Ash knew that if she found out it was Emma, Lara wouldn't hesitate to hurt her and he couldn't bear the thought of that happening.

"Is it Byron? I saw you staring at him a while after we broke up".

There was a time when Ash had feelings for Byron but he had thought Byron had liked Miriam and was too afraid to tell him how he felt. Ash had been heartbroken for a long time, but then he met Emma at the café and he tried to stop himself falling for her after Lara and his heartbreak over Byron but he had been unable to stop himself. Ash couldn't let her think it was Byron she would hurt him too.

"No it's not him".

"Then who?" Lara continued to hurt him but Ash refused to give in. In the end Lara gave up and stormed out of the room in anger.

Ash squeezed his eyes shut, his whole body was in pain after Denman's torture and Lara's beating, he felt as though he couldn't move. The door opened again and Denman came in. Ash jumped and tried to will his body to move away from her when she crouched to his level but he couldn't.

"Please no more experiments", Ash said brokenly.

"Oh Ash, we have only just started. But I suppose I can give you a break I don't want you dying on me".

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"I wish I didn't have to, you're such a beautiful creature but...", Denman shook her head, "You really have no idea how much you can change lives do you? I thought Lewis would have explained that to you".

Ash tensed. For a horrible moment he thought Denman knew that Lewis was a merman but then he remembered she knew him personally as she was his aunt. Ash also realised Denman knew that Lewis knew his secret, had she been spying on him? Ash jerked violently when Denman suddenly brought his face close to hers and kissed his forehead. Denman grinned at him the same way she had as she had tortured him and it scared him.

"I wonder what would happen if a merman and a human had a baby together".

Ash's eyes widened in horror, "Don't-"

"Lara loves you so much I'm sure she would be happy to be the mother".

"Don't make me please", Ash begged, Denman just grinned wider and left the room. Ash shouted after her but she just ignored him leaving Ash alone sobbing uncontrollably. Ash didn't know how long he had been crying his heart out for but he jumped when the door opened. The terrifying thought that he would be here for so long that he would no longer jump when the door opened crossed his mind and he tried his best to shut it out. Denman came in followed by Lewis! Ash gaped at Lewis what was he doing here? Ash wanted to tell him to run but before he could Lewis suddenly kicked him in the stomach causing his already badly hurt body even more pain. But the pain of betrayal was far, far worse. "Lewis?" Ash said in shock his voice breaking. This had to be some kind of trick to fool Denman but Lewis kicked him repeatedly for so long that, that hope was snuffed out.

Lewis grabbed Ash roughly and pulled him to his feet , "Can I bring it to the lab now?" Lewis asked excitedly.

Denman chuckled, "Of course, hang on a second", Denman took her phone out of her pocket and rang someone.

"Lewis I don't understand-"

Lewis laughed cruelly an action so unlike Lewis that it made his eyes sting with unshed tears, he couldn't believe Lewis was betraying him. Lewis shared the same secret, they had been through so much together how could he do this? "Did you really think that I was your friend? I was so sick of pretending I'm glad I don't have to anymore", Lewis said making Ash's heart hurt even more. Lewis then whispered in his ear "If you tell Denman what I am I'll tell her that Zane's a merman too".

That made Ash freeze in fear for Zane, despite the betrayal Ash would never have told Denman what Lewis was. But this made Ash fear that he would just tell Denman about Zane anyway. This couldn't be happening, this couldn't be happening. Denman finished speaking on the phone and turned to them, "Lewis, take it to the lab I'll be there in a few minutes". Lewis nodded happily and dragged Ash along with him and Denman as they left the room.