Eric dumped water over his head after they had finally gotten the fire out. They'd saved the families homes, and had plans to start rebuilding the barn the next day. The mother had insisted on hugging him several times and the father had clapped him on the shoulders so hard he jerked forward. Everyone was trying to help the family get back on their feet.

From the back of the crowd everyone started looking down and mumbling. Eric looked over curiously as they parted and Brynn ran forward. "Eric!" She called, once her little eyes found him.

He was sitting and smiled at her tiredly, "Hello again."

She sprinted to him, tugging on his arm and saying, "Come on! You have to go now!"

Amused he let her tug him up wards a bit, "Go where?"

Her childish eyes were frightened and drawn when she looked back up, "The bad man took her!"

The Prince tense, looking down at her tiny wrist and seeing rope burns. Fear started blooming in his chest. Kneeling down he asked, "Where did these come from?" taking her tiny arm in his hand to examine the marks.

She sighed, "The bad man tied me up and made her go with him!"

He clenched his jaw, "What bad man?"

"Ariel called him James," there was a whimper in her voice; "He said he wanted to take her away from you. He said he was taking Ariel home."

Eric was already running before she had finished speaking.

Ariel wasn't nearly strong enough to take on James. She tried to roll him off but couldn't. When he stood up again he grabbed a handful of her hair and used the other to clamp down on her arm. She grunted against the pain but tried not to show him any sign that he was winning.

"You're going back."

She tried to jerk away from him but he held fast, "Let go! I'm not going anywhere with you!"

Ignoring her, he continued to push her toward the water. Sunrise would be very soon and he was running out of time. Ariel's constant attempts to struggle were making it a slow trip back. Eventually he gave up and threw her over his shoulder. She kicked and pounded on his back uselessly until finally she bit into his shoulder with all her might.

He screamed and threw her down. His hand was slick with blood when he pulled it away from the wound. Hauling back he kicked her in the face, adding blood from her nose to the traces around her mouth. It all dripped down onto the Princes shirt around the collar.

It hurt, horribly so, but Ariel worked hard to ignore the pain and get away. She scrambled on her stomach to stand up and run, but James dragged her by the foot. She could feel the concrete steps under her as he pulled her down to ocean level. Her hands had to protect her head to keep from smacking into each stair as they descended. By the time they reach the bottom light was just starting to come over the water, though the sun had not risen. Lifting her up James tossed Ariel into the water.

She coughed when her head broke the water, looking toward the horizon in fear. If the sun rose and she was in the ocean she'd change back. When James entered the water he grabbed both wrists and looked down at her harshly.

"Please," Ariel tried again, "Don't do this."

He smirked, "You don't get a say Princess."

Pushing off him she tried again to make it to the steps but she was easily caught. His mouth was right at her ear when he whispered, "Try that again and I'll break your leg."

She shuttered, "You can't make me do this. I won't marry you."

The day was growing brighter and she knew the sun would rise any moment. Her arms were locked behind her, and tears fell freely.

From the top of the steps she heard Eric's voice, "Ariel?"

"Eric!" Hope rose in her chest and she thrashed wildly, "Down here!" James tried to clamp her mouth shut but not quick enough.

The Prince sprinted down the steps toward them, furious when he saw the blood on her face. "Get off of her!"

They tackled one another with Ariel caught in the middle. Managing to slip away she knew she had to get out of the water. Crawling back onto the steps she looked over at the men who were wrestling and thrashing. She knew if she got in the middle either the sun would raise and it would all be lost or Eric would be distracted by her and wind up hurt.

When the dawn came James twisted in pain and stopped fighting. Ariel watched, knowing how painful it truly was, and grateful that she didn't feel any pain.

"Eric!" She called.

He looked back at her with a split lip and swam over. Climbing out next to her he drew Ariel to him. Glaring they both watched as James was returned to a merman.

Hi everyone! So this took me a little while, but I'm currently working on the last few chapters. I will have an original book on Kindle soon and working on it has taken up a large amount of my spare time. Sorry that I dropped off on everyone!