The Mermaid and The Beast

Chapter 2- Prisoner…. Or guest?

"She's so beautiful… like her mother. She has no dorsal fin, no fangs; she even has hair! She's completely perfect, like a mermaid."

"In my professional opinion, she's the least shark-looking Sharkanian ever born. She takes more after her mother; I bet she would be confused with a normal, newborn mermaid."

"… She would, wouldn't she? Maybe I can do better for her after all…"

When Spark finally regained her senses, the first thing she attempted to do was move, but she soon realized her hands were tied with a rope. She felt unusually warm, as if he has being held by something… or rather someone. Her head was still sore about that hit, so she didn't remember much about what happened… all she could recall was opening the empty chest, being caught in the act and…

Crap.

The enemy had captured her. She had heard the stories; Sharkanians were not precisely known for being merciful. She heard they had quite a knack for torture, told to her by captured merfolk who were lucky enough to escape the Sharkanians' stronghold. IF mermen were given terrible tortures at the hands of these barbarians, what would be in store for a mermaid, the first allowed in the regiment.

While being unconscious, Spark had heard voices inside her head. She had never heard them before in her lifetime; not in the orphanarium, not in the royal guard quarters, from none of those she had known. One possibility was that one of those voices belonged to her… father. It could be a memory of when she was a baby, repressed in the corners of her mind. If only she had managed to see her father… perhaps she could have a clue to how he looked like.

But what did 'least shark-looking Sharkanian' mean? She was a mermaid, not a Sharkanian. Her parents were merfolk... were they? Spark had heard more than once about hybrids or merfolk and other creatures, but it couldn't be. She had no shark characteristics, which the Sharkanians had.

Finally regaining her senses completely, Spark realized she was in the arms of someone… a Sharkanian's arms. She didn't move a muscle, preferring that he kept thinking she was unconscious. However, she could tell they were riding one of the sharks she had cut loose, judging by the fact her captor was not swimming. The Sharkanian used one arm to hold his mermaid prisoner, and the other to lead the shark he was riding.

Spark discretely took a look at her captor; he looked like any other Sharkanian, armor and all, except his was raven black, and his hat was red. His eyes were of an unusual silver color, which gave her a sensation of calm, and she noticed two fangs stuck out from his mouth, pointing upwards. He had the muscular but slender body of his race, and the characteristic dorsal fin on his back. What called her attention to this particular Sharkanian was a large scar across his left eye, probably from a fight with another Sharkanian. She guessed he was in about his forties, maybe a bit younger. Spark immediately closed her eyes when the Sharkanian looked down at her, and felt his gaze rest upon her.

"Stop faking, girl. I know you're awake," he spoke in a voice that demanded respect

Spark sighed in defeat and opened her eyes, meeting his captor's. Surprisingly, she saw no aggression or hate in his eyes, but almost like… longing. And his voice was strangely familiar to her, as if she had met him before. But she couldn't remember.

"Excuse me, Mr. Sharkanian-" Spark tried to speak, but her captor interrupted her.

"You don't have to be formal with me, girl. Just call me Jake." He spoke, and gave her a questioning look, "Do you have a name, girl?"

"Yes," she trembled when she spoke, "I'm Spark."

"I guess the swordfish that led our mounts away is a friend of yours, isn't he?"

Spark almost jumped when he mentioned her best friend, but Jake quickly stopped the shark and caught her before she could fall, "Bluetail?! How is he?! What happened?!"

Jake sighed as he lightly smacked his tailfin against the shark's side, motioning him to continue.

"The swordfish got away, not before attempting to save you," he replied, leading the shark towards his homeland, "I'm glad you didn't get to see what happened, Spark."

"You didn't hurt him, did you?! If you did, I'm having your head!"

Jake suddenly snapped, "Watch your tongue, young lady!"

Spark was surprised by his reaction, and suppressed a giggle when Jake blushed deeply and turned his gaze back to the route.

"Anyway, you should take a nap, it's still a long way to go. I'll wake you up when we get there."

Spark was reluctant about falling asleep with him holding her, but since she had nothing else to do, eventually she complied and fell into slumber, inadvertently shifting in Jake's arms and resting her head against his chest.

The Sharkanian looked down at the mermaid when he felt her shifting in his left arm, and realized she had fallen asleep, like he suggested. Jake let out a sigh as he softly accommodated her in his arms.

"Why did you have to be captured precisely by my troop, Spark?" he thought somberly as he looked forward, watching as the familiar light from the lava pits came into view.

The Sharkanian stables were located just outside the outskirts of the capital city, Sharkosia. However, they were only open for members of the royal family and the soldiers, unless there were families lucky enough to have a shark. Those sharks were already used to the presence of the Sharkanians and were docile towards them, but had been trained to instantly tear non-Sharkanians apart as a method of defense.

Unlike what merfolk thought, Sharkanians were not cruel towards the animals. In fact, a shark will only bond with one particular Sharkanian in its lifetime, and the pair developed a unique relationship, but no one really knew if the shark or its rider could find another partner should the previous one die.

Bonding with a shark was a dangerous but required rite of passage for Sharkanian warriors, who after taming their mount became officially part of the army. When a young Sharkanian turned sixteen, he was taken by soldiers to the ruins of a sunken ship located south of Sharkania, where the largest Great Whites and best for taming resided. A Sharkanian has only one chance to tame a shark: the struggle between the rider and mount culminated in the shark's submission, after which the two shared a lifelong bond. This bond has to be sealed immediately by the Sharkanian guiding his mount in their first ride together.

Jake stopped his shark when they arrived at the doors of the stables, waiting for another soldier to take his stubborn mount inside. Jake gently shook Spark's shoulder.

"Spark, we're here." He whispered

Flicking her tailfin lightly, Spark let out a yawn and opened her eyes, but because of her ties, she was unable to rub them. She looked up at her Sharkanian captor with still sleepy eyes.

"Can't you carry me? I was having a good dream."

Jake rolled his eyes, but grinned lightly when Spark looked around, and helped the young mermaid dismount before dismounting himself. Taking his shark's reins, he motioned Spark to wait for him in the door and swam into the stables, which Spark noticed was built with the remnants of the sunken ships, abundant in Sharkanian territory.

She would have run away, but she knew she was being watched; she could feel the guards' gaze upon her, but unlike Jake's, their gaze was actually filled with hate. If would be best if she didn't provoke them.

"I wonder what Sharkanian stables are like inside…" Spark thought, but knew it would not be wise to enter a place without permission. After all, she was a prisoner. She tried to suppress her urge to take a look, but curiosity was a very strong emotion, and in the end Spark silently crossed the gates and looked around.

Sharks were kept inside iron cages, but despite the darkness, she could faintly see an algae bed on the bottom of the cages, and the sharks didn't appear to be sad or upset of being encaged. In fact, apparently they were used to it, at least they didn't struggle to find food.

Spark noticed one cage at the end of the corridor, but it was apparently unoccupied, she saw no signs of movement inside; failing to suppress her curiosity again, Spark swam closer to the cage, her tied hands trembling in fear. As she swam closer to the bars, she thought she could hear breathing coming from the inside…

"GET AWAY FROM THERE!"

Spark had no time to react as Jake swam unto her and pushed her away from the cage just as a giant shark rattled against the bars, angry about the mermaid having disturbed his sleep. It was the largest shark Spark had ever seen, even rivaling the size of a giant seahorse; it had blood red eyes, and sharp teeth. The shark was also full of scars, present on its back and face. But what made the shark even more frightening than the rest was it's white color… not just any white, but a pale, cold white like a corpse's. The albino shark tackled against its cage, going as far as to try and tear one of the bars.

Jake lifted the mermaid and took her by the shoulders, glaring into her blue eyes, "What were you thinking?! I thought I told you to stay outside!"

"I'm sorry, I just had curiosity!" Spark defended herself, making the Sharkanian smack his forehead with his hand.

"Just… let's get out, shall we?"

Spark didn't protest as Jake took her by the arm and softly but firmly dragged her out of the stables, feeling nervous about the amused glances the guards were giving them. When she was certain they were out of earshot, Spark inquired, "Who was that shark, anyway?"

Jake sighed as he glanced back at her, "It's Emperor Shaga's mount, and believe me when I tell you; he's hard to control and hard to love. Only the Emperor is able to get close to him, no one else. You are lucky, most unwary Sharkanians loose their tailfins when they approach the albino's cage"

"Does it have a name?"

"We simply call it The Albino."

Spark sighed sadly as she looked towards the distant entrance into the Sharkanian territory.

She wondered what Bluetail was doing at the moment…

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO?!" Bluetail yelled at the top of his lungs, infuriated at his superior.

He had barely escaped from the Sharkanians, failing to save his beloved friend, and returned to Atlantica. He had gone to Commander Narcissus' office and explained the situation to him, but what did he say?

"There's nothing I can do!" Narcissus replied firmly, banging his fists on the table and setting his green eyes on the swordfish, "She has probably been taken to Sharkanian territory now, and we can't risk starting a war by sending a rescue team just for one soldier!"

"That soldier is my friend!" Bluetail snapped, failing to contain his anger, "And if I had to give my life for her, I would!"

"That's enough, private!" Now it was Narcissus time to yell, "Spark was a good soldier, despite being a mermaid she showed she determination and strength of a true royal guard, but not eve she will be able to resist the Sharkanians' methods! And we don't even know what they can do to her, taking into account she is a mermaid-"

"That's my point! We can't just stay here with our fins crossed! We must at least try to save her!"

"At what cost?! Invading the Sharkanians' territory not would only cost us the lives of many, but our peace agreement with them! Emperor Shaga's condition on accepting the treaty was that we do not send soldiers into his territory without his permission!"

"But-!"

"This conversation is over!" Narcissus turned his muscular back on Bluetail, his long black hair waving in the water, "You are dismissed."

Bluetail gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes, but knew his place, "Yes, sir."

The swordfish contained tears as he swam out of Narcissus' office, not wanting to accept the fact that his friend, his sister, could be dead by then. And apparently, Narcissus didn't mind sacrificing Spark for the sake of all of Atlantica.

If he would not help him… he would have to do this on his own.

Spark trembled as Jake took her to the prison; she was secretly thanking that Emperor Shaga was not in the mood to deal with a captured mermaid, and ordered her captor to take her to prison. She trembled at the idea of the ruler of the most violent race in the seven seas dealing personally with her, and hoped Shaga would remain in his bad mood as long as she was kept there.

But she was surprised when Jake insisted on 'taking care' of her, despite the other Sharkanians' protest that they wanted to 'play' with the 'lady', which she felt was not a good thing. Luckily for her, Shaga was in such a horrible mood that he agreed to Jake's request and out the mermaid under his care, just wishing to be left alone. But Spark would never forget when the Emperor first set his eyes on her, they were so cold, so cruel… she had wanted to dig herself under the sand and die.

Jake led the mermaid through the corridors of the Sharkanian palace (a group of Sunken ships connected by bridges) and, after arriving at a ship which was located deeper into the canyons, motioned Spark to swim down into one hole on the ship's deck, leading her into a corridor filled with iron cells.

He opened the door, used his spear to cut Spark's ties, and softly pushed her into the cell, closing it shut. However, the mermaid gave her a confused look.

"Aren't you going to chain me up? I heard that's what you do with prisoners."

Jake shook his head and gave her a small smile, "I don't need to. I think you're smart enough to figure you can't escape from here, anyway."

Having said this, he swam upwards, into the hole above deck. Spark watched him go, her head pondering with questions. Why was that Sharkanian do… nice to her? Why hadn't he tortured or attacked her? When he was bringing her to Sharkania, he had been considerate enough to put her in a comfortable position, and in the stables, he had saved her from losing her tailfin to The Albino.

"All this wondering is not going to help me figure a way to escape…" Spark whispered as she looked around, spotting an algae bed on the corner of the cell, "Wow. I wonder if Jake put that bed in here too… Maybe he did.

Spark swam towards the algae bed and gently floated down, shifting and attempting to accommodate herself. After about twenty minutes of moving around in the algae bed, Spark finally managed to close her eyes and fall asleep.

When Jake returned, holding a blanket, and peeked into the cell, he realized Spark had already fallen asleep, having nothing else to do. The Sharkanian opened the door as silently as he could, trying not to awake the mermaid, and unfolded the blanket as he swam closer to her. When he was by Spark's side, he set the blanket upon her, and smiled as she shifted around, twitching her tailfin lightly. Knowing she was fast asleep, Jake couldn't resist and caressed her wavy hair, before swimming out of the cell and closing the door as silently as he had opened it.