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Two Worlds, One Love

Chapter 4 – First taste of terror

Horo peaked outside his bedroom window and saw shadows appearing around the kingdom. Perfect, night was coming. He would soon be able to see his two tailed beauty. Swimming over the balcony he was unprepared for something to collide with his stomach. He was pushed upwards a bit before looking down to see Pearl out of breath.

"Seriously, find a better way to get my attention"

"But Horo, Pilika, she's gone"

"What do you mean 'gone'?"

"She's not in her room and Crusty and I have been searching everywhere for her but there's no trace of her"

Panicking the Prince made his way down the palace wall and into his sister's room through the window. Pearl was right, she wasn't there. Going to her bed he found a bloody bandage in amongst her bed sheets. Picking it up he found it was still warm.

"She hasn't been gone for long"

"How do you…?"

"Come on. I think I know where she might be" He quickly left her room and headed down into the town, Pearl trying her best to keep up. He headed straight for the one place she might have gone in her condition.

Reaching the house he knocked on the door. Yoh answered it to a distraught looking male. "Is my sister here?"

"Yeah, see" He opened the door letting Horo enter to find the mermaid sitting on a chair, a fresh bandage over her arm. He went over and took her hands in his.

"Sis you can't disappear like that. Pearl and I were worried something happened"

"Sorry, but my arm began to hurt again and I needed a new bandage so I came to see Yoh"

He sighed in relief. "Just tell someone next time before we all have a panic attack"

Pilika laughed. "OK"

"Its times like this I'm glad I don't have a little sister" laughed the chocolate tailed merman. The other two laughed as well. Suddenly Pearl let out a frightened squeek.

"Oh my gosh! I left Crusty waiting in the dining hall; I told him I wouldn't be too long. He's gonna kill me!"

She sped out of the window and back to the waiting crab. It was then Horo remembered what he was really supposed to be doing. "Uh, Yoh could you take Pilika home. I need to be somewhere right now"

"Sure, where you going?"

"Um, to see a friend. I've gotta go and, Pil, no disappearing"

He opened the door and sped away, hoping he wasn't too late.

"I'm just a love machine, feeding my fantasy, give me a kiss or three..."

"Feathers!" The seagull cried out in fright and fell into the water, flapping his wings about"

"I'm dying! I'm dying! I see the light!" Horo picked him up and put him back on the rock, laughing at the birds dripping wet feathers.

"That's what you get for dancing about and not paying attention to your surroundings"

"You could have given me a warning as to when you were coming!" He shook his body to get rid of the unwanted water, making Horo turn his head away for a second as feathers and water flew everywhere.

"Have you seen it then?" he asked hopefully.

"Seen what? Oh, the boat. It'll be here any time soon, I heard them talking and they said it wasn't going to be long"

"I can't wait. This is so exciting!" He pulled himself up to sit on the rock, leaving his fins in the water.

"I'm sure it is but you still need to be extra careful young Prince"

"Don't worry, I won't let them see me" They watched out in the direction of the harbour, waiting for the boat and completely unaware of the storm that was heading their way.

Yoh entered his house and carefully sat down, wincing as pain went through his tender scar. Giving it a few rubs he relaxed into the sponge chair only to be pulled out of it and slammed against the wall.

"Twice, Yoh. Twice you have let him get away and after a warning. I'm not afraid to hurt you little one" hissed the octoman.

"I'm…I'm sorry, I forgot, I…" His mouth was covered.

"Don't give me excuses. He trusts you so it's a lot easier if you got rid of him. I know you have it in you, you're just acting like a wimp" He pressed down on the scar with full force making his twin scream into the hand over his mouth. Tears fell down his soft cheeks.

Letting him go he watched as he slid slowly down the wall. "Pathetic"

Swimming over to the window he looked out and smiled. It was almost completely dark now and all the mer-people had retired to their homes.

"If someone finds you, you'll be dead before you know it" came a weak voice from behind.

"Oh, I don't think so little brother. No one can catch me, and if I was found…" He turned to see his other half giving him evil looks. "…you would be in trouble as well just for being in the same room as me"

Knowing it was true Yoh just looked at the ground. Going over to him he used a black arm to make his brother look at him. "This is your last warning, your very last"

"Here it comes!"

Horo was right; a large boat was heading in their direction. Because it was quite dark now lights had been lit making it look like a floating light bulb. Feathers flew into the sky to watch from above while Pearl and Horo dove into the ocean. Following the boat they found it was going quite far out to sea, further than last time.

When it finally dropped anchor they were about eight miles out. The light from the boat lit up the surrounding water so the two hiding below weren't in total darkness. Unfortunately they weren't prepared for the appearance of a certain crab.

"Prince Horo get away from there at once!"

"Crusty, what are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that question. Get home this instant!"

"No way crab, I'm not letting him get away again" He went towards the boat.

"Who? Hey, get your tail back here!" But the young merman wasn't about to listen. Slowly entering the air a little he jumped as colourful bangs lot up the blackened sky. Humans were cheering on the boat and laughing. Pearl and Crusty popped up next to him and were also captivated by the beauty of the sky colours.

"What are they?" Pearl felt like she was in a dream.

"I'm not sure, they're loud though" answered the merman.

"I suggest we leave right now before we're found" The wind was picking up and the waves were getting bigger.

But Horo just laughed and dove in and out of the water like a dolphin and headed to the boat. He ignored the shouting of the crab as the waves separated them. Knowing what to look for he searched for the ladder so he could see them.

"There you are" he whispered.

Grabbing onto the metal railings he pulled himself out of the water, straining as he dragged his tail up. As he reached the top he noticed several smaller boats attached to the sides so he took a seat on the edge of the nearest one. Still able to hide he peered into the deck and saw that there were fewer humans on the boat than before.

Searching for his one human his heart sank when he was no where to be found. Was he on the wrong boat? No, he couldn't be, he recognised it and he'd defiantly seen the humans before as well. He jumped when one fell right near where he was and he ducked down out of view, listening.

"Lyserg, I think you've had a bit too much to drink" said a female voice.

"I have not!" came a slurred reply.

There were a few more footsteps before it went quite so Horo cautiously peered back upwards. A tall woman had a smaller boy in her arms as she sat him down on a bench. He looked like he'd been dragged through a seaweed hedge; his hair was a mess and his eyes blood shot. How can you look like that after having lots of drinks? Horo thought.

A door opening nearby caught his attention and his heart leapt at who he saw come through it. The golden eyed beauty shut the door behind him and made his way towards the tall woman.

"Out already is he?"

He talked…he actually talked, and his voice was that of an angel's. Please let him say something else.

"Unfortunately yes. He almost fell off the side" replied the female.

"It's his party, he's meant to wait for us to be knocked out and then he can have his turn"

It was absolute bliss hearing his voice. Suddenly a large wave rocked the boat forcing Horo to grab the ladder. He let out a frightened cry but mistake.

"What was that?"

"I don't know, I'll go see"

Horo looked up to find the human walking over to where he was currently hiding. Panicking about being found he went to let go but found his arm was caught in the ropes that held up the boat he was sitting on. The footsteps got louder and the merman's heart started to beat faster. His arm was good and stuck in the ropes.

"Everyone's going inside now, it's getting cold. You coming brother?" spoke the woman.

"In a minute" His footsteps stopped and for a moment he though he was safe but as the rest died down the one's that were heading for him started up again. He tugged and tugged but his arm just wouldn't budge. Hearing several shuffles he shut his eyes and waited for the cry of shock as he was discovered. But it never came.

Looking up he heard squawking and annoyed cries coming from his human. "Bloody bird!"

It started to rain and the boat rocked back and forth due to the increasing force of the waves. There was a small thud and a crash before a white thing flew into view.

"Feathers!"

"Horo get off the boat now!"

"I can't, my arm is caught!" The rain got harder and thunder rumbled in the air.

Feathers flew down and pecked at the rope with his beak but it wasn't doing much. The storm was getting worse by the second. "Please hurry" pleaded the Prince.

"I can't go any faster!"

Feathers was trying his best to free Horo but it was proving very difficult. A huge wave hit the side of the boat, spilling onto the deck and sending the seagull flying into the ocean.

"FEATHERS!"

The bird had disappeared completely and the merman had slipped off his seat and was dangling by his trapped arm. Pain shot through it so he reached up and grabbed the ladder with his other arm and pulled himself up. He looked over the deck to find the boy lying on his stomach, soaking wet.

For a second Horo thought he was hurt but as the male lifted himself up with his hands he felt relived. Then the scariest but most joyful thing happened.

The locked gazes.

Blue eyes met golden eyes.

At first neither one did anything, it was a shock to them both. But before either one could do or say anything lighting struck the boat right next to Horo. He cried out as pain shot through his chest, right down to his stomach. He felt himself falling and opened his eyes to find he was back underwater.

Wincing he looked down and saw a huge scar right down his chest and down his stomach. It was bleeding but he didn't care, he just wanted to make sure his human was alright. Swimming back up he saw a horrible sight; the whole boat was shining a yellowy-orange colour and the heat coming from it was intense.

Wait a sec, he'd seen pictures of this type of thing from sunken ships…it was fire. What did Feathers say about fire?

"…it's very dangerous. Never go near it"

But that meant his human was in trouble or worse…dead.