Chapter Five- Nighttime Sink

"That is a problem," Yugi said the next day when Joey showed up as scheduled.

Joey's tail slapped the water in frustration. "Maybe I should have said the ring was just a gift instead of an engagement ring. I am such an idiot."

"No, you're not. You're in love and if you had kept it a secret, your mother would be hurt and upset that you didn't tell her before she found out by accident."

Joey sighed. "You're right, Yugi. But, that doesn't solve the problem of introducing Seto to Mother. As of right now, it's impossible. There's also the matter of ruling. I'll eventually be king of the sea and Seto will be king of his kingdom."

"How will that work? I mean, both of you ruling two separate kingdoms?"

"I don't know. But then, Seto doesn't know I'm a merman. Once he does, he may break off the engagement."

"Yeah, that is possible, but would you be all right with that?"

Joey sighed sadly. "No. I would be heartbroken. But, I would probably deserve it for not telling Seto when I realized he was interested in me."

"I would offer to bring Seto here, but he's already left."

"It's all right, Yug. Perhaps there's a book in my library to provide guidance to my problem."

"Go ahead and check. Good luck, Joey."

"Thanks." Joey rolled and crawled back into the water before swimming home. Once in the palace, Joey buried himself in the books. He located an old and dusty history book, sat at the table, and started to read. He sat there for hours, finding the book fascinating. Wow, he thought, turning another page. So, marriage between a human and a merperson isn't forbidden, just unusual. However, it does require one of them to permanently change forms. So, either I find a way to permanently become human or Seto become a permanent merman. Joey continued to read and found that only the queen or the king of the sea could grant permanent humanity or merperson status just like that story in the book on merpeople abilities. Damn. Mother will never do that. She hates humans. She'd probably kill me for loving a human or disown me and turn me human permanently as a form of banishment, which technically doesn't sound so bad. Seto and I would still get married- if he'll have me after I tell the truth.

"Joey!" Serenity yelled, pounding on the library doors the day after meeting Yugi. The mermaid princess sounded harsh instead of sweet; a sign that she had turned siren again.

He sighed. "Coming, sis." He swam to the doors and opened them to reveal Serenity floating there, hands on her hips. "Okay, let's go," he said.

A sadistic grin lit up his sister's face. "Great! This will be my first nighttime singing and I can hardly wait!"

"It's night, already?"

"Sure is and I hope to sink a big boat tonight." They swam out of the palace and toward the surface.

The surface was dark and clouds crossed across a moonless sky. Serenity couldn't have picked a better night to turn siren. She turned around to find a target while Joey enjoyed the peaceful scene. "No ship yet," she said. "Come on, big brother." She ducked down to swim faster and Joey followed suite.

Both siblings surfaced for the fifth time in an hour. Serenity said, "Yes! There's one!" She pointed to a large sailing ship nearby. "And there's some jagged underwater coral nearby that'll really damage the hull." Joey listened to Serenity's gleeful tone and once again felt helpless to stop her. He had tried to talk her out of being a siren when the urge first surfaced. Marina had overheard his attempt and told him not to interfere with Serenity's genetic urge. Mermaids briefly become sirens, end of story.

Serenity cleared her throat and began to sing. Her clear sweet voice floated through the air to reach the humans on the ship. Joey watched as the ship slowly turned and headed for the hidden coral, but he turned around and closed his eyes to avoid watching the destruction. It didn't stop him from hearing the crash of wood or Serenity's laugh of delight.

"Oh, that was fun and so worth the search for it. Let's go home." She ducked under the water, missing the tear that slid down Joey's cheek. He hated what his sister and every mermaid became, however brief it was. And I will eventually rule over them. I wish I could stop them…and maybe I could! After all, if a past king could have mermen resist the urge to be human, I may be able to have mermaids stop being sirens. Smiling, Joey nodded. It would take time, but eventually merpeople would live under the sea peacefully and humans wouldn't drown by their hands.

The ship behind him continued to sink and he heard a frantic voice call out, "Your Highness! Where are you? Prince Seto, answer me!" Joey whirled around, face pale. Seto? This is Seto's ship? Horrified, Joey ducked down and swam toward the wrecked ship that was already underwater. He darted through the torn hull and started searching for any humans trapped in the vessel. He emerged thought the top deck that had just sank under the surface and found no humans. Okay. Maybe he got off safely. He looked up and gasped in horror. There was a body floating down through the water!

He swam toward the human, seized the waist, and carried it to the surface. He broke the surface and started to swim toward the only shore he knew: The one in Yugi's kingdom. He looked at his passenger and his heart skipped a beat: It was Seto! His head was dipped, clearly unconscious. Hold on, Seto. I'll get you to safety. Joey grunted and his tail flipped harder as he hauled his fiancée across the surface of the water and toward dry land. He prayed that he wasn't carrying a dead body. He wouldn't be able to bear it if Seto was dead.

Joey reached the shore with sunrise still about an hour away. He pulled the prince onto the dry sand while keeping his tail in the water. He frantically took Seto's wrist and felt for a pulse: Yes! There was a strong steady beat beneath his fingers. He looked at Seto's chest and saw it rise and fall in an even manner. Oh, thank goodness! He's alive! Joey's heart swelled with relief as he took Seto's hand and began to sing a song he loved and remembered his mother singing to him when he was a child. He continued to sing even as he felt Seto staring to stir.