Oh my gosh I think I hate myself. Okay okay okay, let's do this.
So last chapter was written four freaking years ago, but hey I think my story was originally pretty good. So let's do a little bit of workshopping before the chapter starts. Starting with Pai, who can be on Earth with the others and the mews are a bit reluctant to talk to him because of the whole not betraying the obviously evil deep blue. Xander as a character is gone, and the thing I said about Kish's backstory is retracted. What else? I guess nothing else. Let's get it started I guess.
These next few chapters are going to be rustier than a sunken ship.
Lettuce's room was filled with pictures of her friends. She loved taking the pictures like she loved the memories they held. Currently she was asleep on top of several of these pictures, which she had cut up and was about to turn into a scrapbook.
The keeper's voice whispered through her dreams, soothing and laced with something dark. "Well, will you become my queen sweet mermaid?"
Lettuce saw him in her mind's eye. To her he was too beautiful for words. He was too beautiful, she thought, to be talking to someone as plain as her. She hesitated before every word, star struck and nervous. "I want-I want to be like the others. Confident and strong and independent," she said, "are you sure you can do that?"
"All that and more, my queen," he said, "When I'm done with you you'll be beautiful and smart and confident and strong and worthy." As he spoke he walked around her.
"Worthy of what?" Lettuce asked.
"Of everything, of course! Jewels, wealth, servitude, admiration, love, and of course a man worthy of you. A man who will love you," He said. He brought Lettuce's hand to his mouth, brushing his lips against her knuckles.
"Oh."
"You understand, then, Lettuce. I offer you everything in the universe including myself," he said, "I offer you my love."
Lettuce looked into his eyes. Her perspective wavered again. She saw something this time under the beauty, but it disappeared as soon as it arrived. "Yes."
The keeper smiled deeply, and pulled Lettuce into a kiss. She felt her consciousness slip far away as he whispered into her ear. "Remember my name, my dear" he said.
"Your name?" Lettuce asked quietly. Her eyes were almost closed, her breath becoming deep and even.
"Victor"
"Victor…"