Prince of Rocky Isle

By: Aubrie1234

Again I came back, like I promised. And he was there, waiting in the pool where he had saved me. To my surprise, he was playing a game of Solitaire with a pack of cards, all of them and box wet, but drying. He seemed to hear me enter, because he looked up. The sight of me made him brighten and push his torso up to its full height.

"You came!"

"Well, yeah, why wouldn't I?"

"I've saved people before, but they never came back." I frowned. The poor guy...

"Mind if I join you?" Frank nodded and I took a seat. All his attention was on me, as if he had forgotten his game in favor of spending time with me.

"So, that pool connects to the bay?"

"Yes, though it's more of a cove, and it's my home." he waved to the cards, "I pick up things that get tossed overboard and this is the one I've had the most fun with."

"I can see that." I decided to bring up what had been eating at me since I saw him, "You're really a merman?"

"Mershark, but yes." My eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Mershark? There's more than one type of merpeople?" Frank nodded.

"There are the three main types: mersharks, merfish, and merdolphins. We categorize ourselves by the fish or mammals that we're most similar to. There are other types, but they're rare."

"Could I take a look? I haven't seen your lower body."

"Only if you fill up my curiosity too." I grabbed the cards, putting them all back in the box and setting it aside. He hoisted himself onto the rocky floor, but didn't sit like I did; he had to sit sideways to compensate for his shark-like tail. It was thick and strong, looking like it could have the same sandpaper skin as a shark's, and if he could stand, it looked like he would be as tall as I was, if not taller. He was obviously strong in lower body, if not also in upper body. However, unlike a regular shark's tail, it had no markings. It was completely gray. But no matter where I looked, I saw no gills.

"Where are your-?" I was surprised when he took my hand and placed it on his neck. I could feel hollows under his skin, so his gills must have been closed and camouflaged so well that I couldn't see them.

"Amazing..." I breathed, then pulled my hand away. There was small resistance from Frank, but not enough for me to consider something wrong, "So, do you have a family?"

"No." he looked down, "I've been an orphan for as long as I can remember."

"Have you lived here all your life?"

"Yes." he nodded, tail swishing and touching the water, "It's been pretty lonely."

"Well, you've got me now." Frank looked up to meet my eyes.

"I hope so. The papers I've found have the people I've saved raving about me."

"I know. But I'm not going to do that."

"Could you tell me about yourself?"

"Sure." I began to count the things off on my fingers, "I'm an only child, I once had a girlfriend, I live with my parents and aunt, I have 5 best friends..." I gave a small pause, wondering if he would ask about them or my family. He didn't, to my surprise, so I continued, "I've also solved a few mysteries."

"Really?!" I was forced to lean back as he leaned forward in excitement, tail swishing even more, "I love mysteries! I've even got a few books, but it's hard to read them sometimes. What mysteries have you solved?"

"Er, lots. But they've nearly killed me several times." Again his eyes flashed with something I couldn't catch, but he leaned back, giving me some room.

"Would you like to see my collection?"

"Abrupt change of subject, but sure." He splashed back into the pool and disappeared under the water, quickly coming back up with a pair of goggles, which Frank handed to me. He grinned like a giddy kid and dove back under. Shaking my head at him, I shook the water off of the goggles, slipped them on, and took a deep breath before putting my head in the water. My eyes widened at what I saw.

It was like something out of The Little Mermaid. There were natural shelves in the walls and all sorts of collected things rested on them. Books, random items, I even spotted a mostly-complete chess set. There were mostly books, though. Frank was at the bottom, looking up and waving at me. From how far down he was and how easily he fit in the space, I guessed the cove had to be at least 15 ft. deep and maybe 10 ft. wide.

Feeling I couldn't hold my breath any longer, I pulled my head back up. Frank came back up as well as I caught my breath, allowing me to take off the goggles and give them back, along with the box of cards. He only sat them aside, looking up at my worriedly.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just trying to breathe. It's been a while since I've needed to hold my breath." He reached up to touch my neck, giving me strange chills.

"Don't hurt yourself." he said.

"Like I would hurt myself from coughing too much." I said, pulling out of his reach. The chill still lingered, though; it unnerved me. Slowly, his arm lowered, as if he wanted to keep touching my neck. Again, unnerving.

"It doesn't seem likely, but it's possible. Just like how merfolk can drown." Frank said, "Trust me, I know."

"Yeah..." I shook my head, trying to dispel the chill and also tossing water from my hair. I then stood, causing him to sit up.

"What are you doing?"

"I need to go home, otherwise my friends and family will worry."

"Can't you stay longer?"

"No, sorry. And since I have to go to school tomorrow, I won't be able to come by until later in the day." His frowning face didn't change.

"...You promise?"

"I promise." Nodding to me, I could feel his eyes on my back as I left. And as I got farther away from him, the chill eased. That was the real reason I left, really. Frank was spooking me and I just needed time to myself.

I watched as he left, them swam into the bay to continue watching. Joe had looked beautiful in the water, even if it was just his head. For so long I had been watching him, longer than he knew, and I was certain he would be mine. There would be others to eliminate, but he would be mine. I just needed to find a way to allow him to breathe underwater like me so he wouldn't drown so easily. Luckily I had some magical books I had found, so maybe there was something in them I could use.

HE WOULD BE MINE. Nothing was going to stand in the way of that.

STILL SO SHORT! *sigh* Sorry, I just don't like how short I'm making these chapters. And I forgot to mention, the reason I put Cerulean in the summary is because I got some of my idea from it. Anyway, now Joe is accidentally touching on Frank's obsessiveness. And the magic books are important, as they give a plot point later.

Anyway, read & review!