chapter2
"Merlin? Merlin, son. Come out so you can eat." The seaking walked into Merlins room. His brows narrowed. "Merlin." He growled.
XOXOXOXO
Merlin swam right behind the slimy creature, who was swimming too fast. Merlin lightly groaned. "Slow down."
Th slimmy creature stopped and turned to Merlin. "Just a little further." The ceature hissed as Merlin finally caught up. Melin inhaled deep as the creature continued.
Merlin followed the creature for a few more minutes, then stopped when the creature stood with a smile.
"Cenred waits inside." The creature said as he stood in front of a huge hole.
Merlin blinked, then squinted. He brought his hand to his treasure carrier that hung on his arm, and looked down at the book that suck out. Then he stared back up to see the back of the black and slimy creature, retreating into the hole.
Merlin inhaled deep and gulped. Then he slowly made his way inside.
XOXOXOXO
Merlin's eyes widen at the sight of the dark hole. It was dark inside, and Merlin gasped when every little seaweed, every plant touched any part of him.
"Oh, dear boy. Come in. The sooner you enter, the sooner you'll be out of there."
Merlin stared straight ahead and stared wide eyed at the merman with long dark hair and a black tail. This merman was as big as the seaking. Of course he was, they were brothers after all.
Merlin gulped as he made it to Cenred.
"Merlin. How have you been, nephew?"
Merlin gulped. "Fine." He voice cracked. He cleared his throat and answered once more. "Fine."
"And my brother?" Cenred asked. Merlin could tell that Cenred was trying to keep calm at the mention of Merlin's father.
Merlin gulped again. "He's ok."
Cenred nodded. He reached out and gently pat the slimy creature. "My friend tells me you have a question for me."
Merlin stared for a moment, before his eyes trailed to his treasure carrier. He reached in and pulled out his book. He glanced at Cenred, then opened the book to the page where it showed the handsome man with broken fins.
Merlin slowly handed the book over.
Cenred grabbed the book with a smile on his face.
Merlin cleared his throat again. "Can you tell me what they are?"
Cenred stared at the picture for a moment before his eyes trailed back to Merlin's. "You are.. how old? 16? And my brother still hasn't told you about the humans?"
Merlin blinked. "The what?"
Cenred smiled wide. "The humans. The ones who live on land."
Merlin's brows lightly narrowed. He shook his head.
Cenred let out a chuckle. "Thats just like him. He figures if he doesn't tell you, you won't find out and become curious." Cenred tilted his head. "But you are already curious. Aren't you, Merlin? You want to find one." Cenred gestered to the book with his head. "This one."
Merlin just stared.
Cenred swam up to Merlin, then swam around him. "This man calls to you. But yo're not just curious. No."
Merlin gulped again and his breathing picked up.
"You feel something for him. I see it in your eyes." Cenred grabbed onto Merlins tail, making him flinch and move his tail front.
The slimy creature chuckled darkly. "It's love."
Cenred cooed. "Love. Young love. What would you do for love, young Merlin? Hm?" Cenred swam in front of the young merman. "What would you give, if there was a way to meet your love?"
Merlin's mouth sllightly open. "Meet?"
Cenred nodded.
"But... you said he's on land." Merlin said.
Cenred nodded still. "I know." He smiled darkly.
Merlin licked his lips. "Are you telling me... theres a way-"
"Yes." Cenred answered. He smiled again. "Just imagine, the adventure. A whole new world to explore. On legs." He added, making Merlins head snap up.
"Legs?"
Cenred nodded. "Thats what they're called." Cenred said as he turned the book and pointed to the handsome mans legs.
"You can give me legs?" Merlin asked.
Cenred nodded. "I wouldn't say 'give'." Cenred said. "I don't give things away. I want something."
Merlin took a few breaths. "W-what do you want?"
Cenred smiled. "Lets say, I give you your legs, and you meet this... man." His face turned dark all of a sudden. "What would you give?"
Merlin shook his head. "Anything."
Cenred smiled. "Just as I hoped." Cenred turned and began looking around a pile of junk.
Merlin stretched his head to the side trying to get a better view.
"Ah. Here it is." Cenred turned back to Merlin, then walking up to him as he held out a small bottle. "One sip of this, and... you'll have your legs."
Merlin stared from Cenred to the bottle. He reached out. Just as he finger touched the bottle, it disapeared. His eyes trailed to Cenred.
"I told you, I want something in return."
"What?"
Cenred shook the bottle. "This potion lasts only three days. If you don't meet your prince by then-"
"Prince? He's a prince?" Merlin interupted.
Cenred smiled. "Did I not tell you?"
Merlin shook his head.
"Well, now you know." Cenred sighed. "As I was saying. Three days. If you don't meet and have the prince fall in love with you, you'll turn back in a merman."
Merlin nodded.
"Thats not all, dear Merlin. You'll turn back to a merman, but... you can't go home."
Merlin shook his head confused. "Where will I go?"
Cenred smiled dark again. "You'll stay here. With me. As my servant."
"I'll be trapped. Again." Merlin said.
"Ask yourself one question, though." Cenred turned the book back to Merlin. "Is he worth it?"
Merlin stared at the picture. A prince? It seemed too good to be true. He could meet a prince, have an adventure and fall in love. Merlin grabbed the book. He ran his finger across the mans face.
He smiled then gulped. He turned back to Cenred. "How will I find him?"
Cenred shook his head. "I can't know everything. You have three days. Make them count."
Merlin stared back at the book.
"I asume that is a yes?" Cenred said.
Merlin looked back up. He took a deep breath, then nodded.
Cenred smiled. "Great. But... first, you must sign."
"Sign?"
Cenred turned to a book that lay next to him on a golden stand. "I can't have anyone going back on their word. So you must sign the book. It is a legal contract." He watched as Merlin walked up to the book and read the contract.
Merlins brows narrowed. "Why does this say, that there are two conditions?" He turned back to Cenred.
"Because, dear Merlin. I want something in exchange for that potion."
"But... I thought we covered that?"
"No. We covered the cost, should you fail. I want something... else for the potion."
"What do you want?"
Cenred smirked. "I'll take... your necklace."
Merlin stared down at his chest, where a golden shell rested. He brought his hand to it and stared back up at Cenred. "This?" Cenred nodded.
"But... it proves who I am."
Cenred nodded. "You won't be needing it. You won't even be in the ocean anymore."
Merlin gulped. he held on tight to the necklace for a moment. It was true. Merlin wouldn't be in the ocean. But his necklace was the only thing that would remind him of home when he was human.
Human... where he could meet his prince.
Merlin pulled he necklace off. He very slowly handed it to Cenred, who held out his hand. Merlin held the necklace over Cenreds hand. He shut his eyes and gulped deep.
Then opened his hand, letting the necklace fall into Cenreds hand.
Cenred held the necklace up to his face and smirked. Then he pulled out his other hand to Merlin.
"Take one sip. Thats all."
Merlin put his book back in his treasure carrier, then grabbed the bottle. He stared at Cenred for a moment, before he pulled the cork off. Merlin very slowly began bringing the potion to his lips.
Cenreds dark eyes stared with happiness as the potion bottle reached Merlins lips. Merlin tilted his head and took one sip. Cenred quickly pulled away the bottle.
Merlin gulped the last of the potion in his mouth.
Cenred turned to the creature. "Take him to the surface." He ordered.
The creature quickly swam to Merlin, just as the young merman doubled over and his fins began to split.
XOXOXOXO
It became harder and harder to breathe. Merlin felt like his chest was filling up. He tried to inhale but there was no where for air to come from.
Just then he opened his mouth and cold air filled his lungs. He coughed, spitting out water and trying to get more air.
On the sand, a man saw the boy flop out of the water. Out of no where. The mans eyes widen as he watched and figured the boy couldn't swim. He quickly ran into the water.
But just as he got in the water, the boy stopped thrashing and was sitting. The boy shook his head.
The man watched as the boy used a rock to lifted himself up, which made the man cover his eyes when he realized the boy was completely naked.
"Honey? What are you looking at?" A womans voice came.
He gesterd with his head.
The woman looked to the naked boy. "Oh my."
"OH!" Merlin fell backwards, back into the water. Legs were harder to use than he thought. But he had to admit. Falling was fun.
Poor Merlin, has no clue. He's tooooooo cute.
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