Another exiting chapter, I hope :D Enjoy!

The air got in and out of his lugs automatically, his heart beating wildly from everything he was going through: the sudden flame of hope that was rapidly extinguished by… it; his concept of what was real and what was not completely shattered!

A part of him wouldn't believe it. It kept telling him it was the pain and the anger which had created such an illusion. And that he was being extremely stupid, for falling in such lies.

However his reasonable part, as persuasive as it could be sometimes, didn't stop his heart from jumping in his chest, impelling him to go after whatever he though he saw.

And now, standing here in the narrow passage that led to the hidden bay, he stared at the devilish pink eyes before him, wide with realization: the creature was trapped.

But still, it was too much for him (too much for anyone really) to take in.

He didn't remember when did he stopped believing those legends, or if he ever did! Maybe his mind was only too ashamed to admit that the grown up boy continued to believe in children's stories.

Whatever the case was, the confirmation was right before him.

At first, he was stunned with her appearance. That was the easiest thing to evaluate in the moment! And it was nothing like he had expected.

He imagined them to look more… human-like. Perfect pale skin beauties with long enviable hair.

This… thing, on the contrary, couldn't be more alien! From its head rose some kind of fins, starting above her brow and growing towards the back of her skull, somewhat spiky at the end. It had strange translucent hears too, and its neck was cloven in four rows of gills, that fluttered madly, like the creature was suffocating. And its skin, was like, full of scales, no, they weren't scales, but he couldn't properly distinguish.

But then, what kept his attention was those huge eyes, wide open, in the middle of its face. The bright pink irises seem to drag him in, making him almost forget all his anger, all his pain.

Jack shook his head, his brain trying to figure out what did this all mean, his reasoning madly jumping into conclusions. He felt dizzy, pictures running before his eyes, memories of the nights when the fisherman told stories by the fire. He could still hear their words, in voices as hoarse as the wind itself.

"Cruel bests those are! Beautiful like angels, but with the most wicked hearts! They'll penetrate your mind so deeply, that you will willingly follow them to infernal depths of the sea…"

Suddenly, something inside him snapped, and his eyes got clear again.

If these creatures were real, then the stories he heard about them were real too. Legends about men who mysteriously disappeared in the se-

- WHERE DID YOU TAKE HER? – the boy barked, jumping towards the frightened creature who frantically tried to retreat. He didn't even care with the not so remote possibility that the mermaid could not understand him. But who can judge someone blinded by hate.

The "thing" kept trying to dodge his ireful advances, the strong tail not helping at all in these shallow waters. It looked like it was having problems breathing, and in the panic she got stuck in the sand, just enough water for her to breathe through her lower gills.

Her eyes snapped with horror towards him, wide in fear, lips apart, hands clenching the sand underneath her with visible despair.

The female creature was trapped.

The panting boy kept some distance, just making sure that the "thing" couldn't swim away. His blue eyes were full of hatred, towards that defenseless being before him.

Jack saw how it was getting problems with breathing, and an evil smirk began to twist his features, as he felt the water level substantially decrease. There was no escape.

- You took her! – he snarled, getting slightly closer, eyes bright with his tears of anger. – Now I can take your life just as well, monster!

She continued gazing him with those fearful eyes, deep and expressive. Jack gasped, but hastily looked away, shaking his head.

He let himself sit down, in the shallow waters, completely insensible to the sea temperature, only letting the cool liquid soak up his heavy clothes, chilling his muscles, his bones, and his soul.

Toothiana tried to keep her head clear and free from the consuming panic. All her organized self was of no use now. Nothing could ever prepare her for such situation.

It is all your fault…, she thought sorrowfully, If you had listened to what they said to you, to their warnings, you wouldn't have dove in this situation. And now look at you, dying at the mercy of a mere human.

But she had to admit it: what a cute human – DO YOU THINK IT'S TIME TO THINK ABOUT HIS CUTENESS RIGHT NOW?

Okay Tooth, relax; try to think of a way out, while you still have water to breathe…

She heard the water splash, and lifted her eyes, just to see his kneeling form, with the warm color clothing in his lap.

He looked so weak, so vulnerable. But still, it wasn't him who was slowly suffocating. Or so she though…

Her eyes wouldn't leave him, but suddenly, shiver crossed her body, when the silence was abruptly broken.

But his voice was much softer now, not at all like the terrifying roars from before that hurt her sensitive hearing. No, it was so… soothing. How could a creature with such a calmative voice be capable of doing any harm at all?

And believe me, the voice is something really important for mermaids! It was how they related to one another. And from what Toothiana could hear, the boy brought great sorrow within his own.

He just, continued speaking, not making eye contact with her, blue irises stuck to the clothing. His voice broke sometimes, but he simply carried on, not once concerned if she could understand what left his heart.

However, Tooth didn't stopped him (not that she could actually), but she felt that this was something he truly needed to let go. So she smiled, and kept staring at him, the panic slowly abandoning her being completely.

The time passed and the two remained there, like statues, lulled by Jack's peaceful tone and the sound of crashing waves, in the retreating tide. The clouds had parted slightly, shining kind beams of light here and there.

Toothiana wasn't gazing at the boy anymore. Instead, she kept her eyes drifting through the suspended clouds, wondering how it would be to fly freely up there, away from mermaids and away from men.

She absently registered the water abandoning her lower gills. The ones from her neck had closed long ago, to avoid them to dry out.

Curiously, she noticed, that didn't freaked her out!

It was to tiring, she guessed… Worrying costs too much oxygen.

So, she closed her eyes, one last tear escaping her long eyelashes, leaking down her face.

What a curious way to die…

With her gills giving a last painfully violent flutter, the grey mantle opened and the sun itself came down to kiss her cheek.

Cliffhanger, hun? Hope you stay tuned to the next chapter :D Please review!