AN: I've been meaning to update this for a while. Like back for smutemeber. I just kept forgetting! Here's part two of Ummm...is that a Mermaid from a while back. Requested by mikanxnatsumi1228 who even worked on fleshing the story out with me! I hope you love it!!

I watched, enthralled, from the cabin as nets filled with ice dropped to the deck…and not a single fish amongst them. It had been nearly three months, and the crew was way past scared. It would have been written off as rotten luck if we were the only ones struggling. But as 0ship, after ship returned to town empty, the whole community was close to calling it the apocalypse. It was as if all the fish had run away—or were being kept from us.

"We're damned!" Luis (an old sea dog) raged in the town's pub. For years, we'd ignored him and his crazy rants. But now, people were surrounding him and listening. "We have offended Neptune and will suffer the consequences!"

"And what are those, old man?" A brave youngin challenged.

"Death."

Luis' answer rang out in silence. A few took him seriously. I wasn't one of them, slinging back my whiskey and slapping the empty cup down for a refill. Jeoff hit my shoulder with his as he sat at my side, belly up to the bar. His hands began shifting before him once he had my eyes.

"We're heading out again early tomorrow. Shouldn't you take it easy?" My answer was to ignore him, but he pulled me back to his hands with a rough yank to my shoulder. "We wanted her gone, remember?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I pretended, "I'm drinking like everyone else in this town. Haven't you heard? It's the end of the world!"

His mouth skewed in an awkward frown, telling me he wasn't falling for it. "She killed our parents, Darien!"

"Exactly, so why would I be thinking about her?"

I pushed away from Jeoff and the bar, slinging back my final glass of whiskey before stumbling towards the door. I didn't get far before Jeoff grabbed a shoulder, keeping me stable while I forced us to continue to exit. The once celebratory air the pub held had been missing for weeks now. It's why I came night after night…instead of going home.

My house was too close to the beach; damn waves crashed all night long and kept me up. They tortured me with the sounds and smells of the ocean. Neptune was pissed? Join the club, asshole! The only woman I ever loved killed my parents and then came back to taunt me with it. Taunt me with her body.

Oh fuck, I missed Serena's body. The curve of her hips, the curl of the hairs on the back of her neck, and the lower tuft. I missed the golden color of her hair and the deep, bright pools of her eyes. I wanted to hear the squish her pussy made and her moans when I was inside her. But I also wanted to be inside her, rubbing all of her with my shaft and tip. Coming in her without care . . . having babies together . . . a life together . . .

"Why did she have to kill them?"

Jeoff couldn't hear me, and I didn't let him see my lips. I'd been mumbling ever since we left the bar about Serena. I'd be embarrassed if it was anyone but my brother, but I also didn't want him to read my lips while I spoke about Serena's perfect breasts. They fit in my hands and my mouth.

But the same reason Jeoff couldn't hear me mumble was why I couldn't let myself feel this way. I had to let her go. I needed to, desperate to move on.

My first mate was before us, and I had no clue how long she'd been there. Hopefully, not long enough to hear me all about being in love with a murderer. "He's not doing so well, is he," Amy signed to my brother.

"I can understand you, you know?!" I raged incoherently.

They didn't care, continuing to talk as if I wasn't right there watching their hands.

"No, but neither is the whole town." Jeoff pointed out.

Amy got a look on her face I knew well. She was ready to fuss. "I know his problems, and the towns are the same. So don't try to tell me otherwise!"

"How the hell do you know a thing about my problems?!"

"You're not the only one with them, you know? We're all suffering!"

I didn't need the reminder, but I did. There was too much on my plate lately. I missed my minimal existence almost as much as Serena . . . who I didn't miss at all. Maybe if I slept with someone else?

"Don't even think about it!" Amy growled, eyeing me up.

Pushing off Jeoff, I stumbled closer, vaguely wondering if my brother had followed what I was about to do. Amy did, grimacing up at me as I loomed over her. "Now you know what I'm thinking? That's impressive, Amy. What else can you do?"

She slapped me, her handprint burning long after it left my cheek. "Grow a pair, Darien. And drink some water!!"

She stormed off, heading straight for the tiny pharmacy on the island. This late, and they were still open? It had to be special order from the mainland. And Amy made a lot of those.

The bright light of day only proved I'd forgotten the rest of the night, which was good as I wanted to forget every night since Serena swam off. Drinking didn't do a damn thing for my dreams, though, and they were playing on a loop.

Serena always looked so damn broken, but she still reached out to me. I turn away only to find my parents standing behind me, shaking their heads in shame. When I try to explain, Serena screams in pain, making me turn back. I don't know where it comes from, but she has blood on her hands. With agony all over her face, I know it's hers. I run to her and never get there; Serena gets dragged away by an unseen creature and disappears with them.

Every night it's the same, and I still wake up in a cold sweat.

I flopped back to my bed, considering day drinking, when pounding on my front door had my head pounding more. "Go away!!"

The fact that I was late for launch didn't bother me. The last thing I wanted was to be out on the ocean again. There wasn't a point to it now with no fish to catch. They used their key, meaning Jeoff was here, but he wasn't alone. "Get up, Darien. Now!"

My first mate was bossing me around again. It was becoming a thing, Amy pushing me and telling me what to do. And it was starting to piss me off. So I sunk deeper into my bed and hoped they got the gist. But it wasn't my month.

The sheets and warm comforter were ripped off me and tossed to the floor. Jeoff stood over me with a warning glare on his face. I shared it and passed it to Amy, who watched in the doorway. "What the hell, Amy? I want to be left in peace!"

"Too late. There's no peace for you after what you've done."

"And just what the hell did I do?!"

Amy rolled her eyes and paced away, waiting for me to get up and dressed. Jeoff helped, rushing me by shoving clothes into me. Then, the both of us stormed into the living room to find Amy -no longer pacing- leaning against the back of the couch. "We have to go. Maybe they'll listen to you, but I'm not sure anymore. Not with how you've been behaving as of late."

"Jesus, Amy, just come out with it already!"

She bucked off the couch to stand before me. "The town! They've all lost it. A few more than others, and those others are taking a ship out to challenge whatever has taken away the fish!"

"So? They won't find anything but ice and empty sea foam!"

Amy grimaced back at me, "you and I both know they will find more than that."

"Maybe they should?" Jeoff signed.

"A lot of people could get hurt or killed! And…others."

I didn't know how Amy knew. Or what she knew, but she wasn't exactly coming out with it. Instead, barely hiding her knowledge, Amy gave us enough to be curious about the woman we'd known for years.

"I know you think…bad things about them.."

Jeoff interrupted Amy with his fingers. "We know they did terrible things, and we don't need you to defend them. And we won't defend then either."

Jeoff was Talking about the ship full of people heading towards the unknown. But if I really thought they could find anything, I'd be worried. As it stood, the most they would catch was a cold.

"Jeoff is right, and it doesn't matter. They won't find anything."

"Then the most we do is save them time and struggle." Amy signed, tossing Jeoff and then me our coats.

There was no getting out of it, and as we entered the docks, I wished this was a dream instead. Families crowded, saying goodbye while good men waved back from the deck. Amy was screaming at both groups even when it was clear—there was no stopping this.

The madness that began from Luis' warnings had now turned to complete panic. A fourth of the town's anglers were on a boat loaded with guns and dynamite. They were going to war with their only experience in fish.

I found myself on the boat, and Jeoff was behind me. Amy barely got on before take-off and looked about as ready for this as Jeoff and I were. None of me believed they would find what they sought…that they would find Serena. If I thought it was possible…I would have looked weeks ago. But no, whatever Serena was had been around since I was a child, and no one but Jeoff and I knew about them. If they were that easy to find, the fishers of the town would never shut up about them.

That didn't mean that the things they said didn't bother me.

"We're going to blow up anything that moves in the waters."

"Only way to end a curse is to kill whatever cursed ya!"

"I hope to hook one, stuff it, and put it above my mantle."

My stomach turned, and it had nothing to do with my hangover. Jeoff was as against Serena as possible but looked a little green with their words. Amy looked miffed; it was the closest to pissed I'd ever seen her.

We pushed through the crowded top deck and made for the front. I needed quiet and fresh air. The other two just followed me out of habit.

Amy leaned heavily against the rail and faced Jeoff and me, her hands already up in her box. "What do we do now, Captain?"

"I'm not your Captain. This isn't my ship or my mission. So you'll have to take it up with whoever's in charge."

"I tried that already."

Jeoff lifted his hands for our attention. "Seriously, we should do something." Oh, now he wanted to stop this? "These things kill people!"

I rolled my eyes but said nothing, returning to the icy waters that turned before us. Amy continued to sign to Jeoff, the two arguing with their hands until Amy got fed up and shouted, "you don't even know the whole story!"

I turned just enough to see Jeoff throw a frustrated hand through his sandy mess of hair and then turn away. Amy left in a huff, and soon, it was just the two Shields brothers again.

Jeoff leaned heavily with me, staring off into nothing. We had more than enough reasons never to go out on the water again, me more than Jeoff, yet, here we were.

When Amy was gone for over an hour, I got curious, signing to Jeoff, "where did she go?"

"To try and talk the others out of this."

As we got deeper and the sky darkened, it was safe to say Amy failed. And I had mixed feelings about it.

"I honestly can't say that I want them to fail…." I signed Jeoff silently with my hands, "I…want to find…them."

"You want to find her?" I slowly shrugged my shoulders with nothing more to say on the subject. "I can't stop thinking about how they deserve this. All of them, especially her."

I understood his anger at the others but not his pointed rage towards Serena. "Why her?"

"Because! She comes back into your life and screws you over?! You've been a worthless piece of shit for months, thanks to her!!"

My anger began to swell at Jeoff and Serena. But, for different reasons, they were also the same. "One of these days, Jeoff, you're not going to be able to blame something on the past. I hope it's not too late, and you're nothing but miserably alone."

Like I was, burning from the inside out for Serena. Because of Serena. I had to get away, away from my brother. And the churning waters that reminded me of so much—too much. I turned so I could no longer see his hands or any of him. It was why Jeoff called out to me with his voice, "Where are you going?!"

I held one hand back towards him, unable to look at him any longer, and signed, "Amy". It had been way too long for her to still be at it with the Captain of this ragtag team. Amy would have returned, or the boat would have. But, since we were still barreling off into the dark waters, I had to assume something else was wrong.

To my dismay, Jeoff followed me. He didn't want to be left alone while I wished for solitude. This was the life of an older brother, though. I was constantly catering to my baby brother, who had no one else in this world but me. It was why I let him get away with so much, like how he spoke of Serena daily to my face. Not that I had anything to say in her defense but having her spoken of wasn't helping me forget. But nothing did, able to still feel her skin against my palm if I concentrated.

Men moved around the ship, nodding at the two of us we passed. They were all the same people we'd worked with time and time again. But they felt like strangers now, with dark looks to their eyes and shadows across their faces; it had an eerie feeling creeping up my spine. Jeoff grabbed my shoulder just as we reached the cabin. Inside were people we'd grown up with, worked with, and drank with. It was where I spent my time when on the sea. But the look Jeoff gave me told me he felt the same—something was off.

Both of us were still surprised to find Amy bound and gagged on the cabin floor. "What the hell?!"

She threw her head to the Captain standing a few inches away. Frank Webb was older than me and had known our parents. He was a good man and Captain. His first mate, Zak Kerry, was an asshole but good at his job. Neither one of those men was in the Captain's cabin with us. Their faces were hollow, staring back at Jeoff and me.

"She tried to stop us," Captain Webb responded flatly.

The pair slowly panned back to their destination, and Jeoff followed their stare with me. The dark sea and black skies were interrupted by large grey stones that jutted out of the depths. Their jagged appearance was impossible to ignore, so I assumed that Webb had no intention of missing them.

Jeoff grabbed at the helm while I went for Amy. I got her to her feet as Jeoff fell back off of his. The bewildered look on his face fit the situation, but for some reason, I felt calm. Not calm, more like ready. This entire day had led to this, and deep down, I had known the whole time.

The three of us got away from the possessed pair, and Jeoff helped me untie Amy. Not a plan between us, the ship hit the first of the rocks, tossing us to the side. Amy's ribs hit the railing hard while Jeoff caught himself on his hands. I slammed into it with my back, knocking the breath out of my lungs.

"What the hell?!!" It was one of the few times Jeoff used his voice, which cracked with his fear.

I centered myself and grabbed his arm, spinning him towards the back of the boat again. "We have to abandon ship."

"Here? We'll freeze then drown!" Jeoff signed wildly.

"Darien's right," Amy signed back, "this ship is going down, so either way, it's a long, cold swim."

"Did you know this would happen?" I snapped at Amy.

"No more than you did," she clapped back, "I had hoped to stop it."

We started moving with that, men passing us without the proper look on their faces. I grabbed one; he was trying to lite a tarp on fire to set the whole ship ablaze. I stole his lighter and tried to talk him into jumping with us, but it was like my words didn't reach him. After failing with the third (Susan, who frequented my crew), Amy yanked me away. "It's pointless. They can't hear you over the song."

"Song?"

I had no clue, listening as hard as I could over the mayhem. The boat listed left and right, crashing and scraping rocks, but with no screams from the crew, it was all I heard with the bubbling of the ink below. It all reminded me too much of my parent's death.

Understanding came to me suddenly and hard, stopping and grabbing Amy's arm roughly. "The song . . . it is them, isn't it?"

She didn't need to answer me, so she didn't. I released her to list to the side, looking over the railing. It was like my heart expected to see Serena below—smiling up at me. Ripped back, Jeoff glared at me and my stupidity. "We've got to go!"

I was a little too eager to jump, reaching the back of the ship and looking over at our chances. The dark water looked welcoming now. A few rocks to avoid—it was a roll of the dice. And a long way down, even with the perfect aim, a sharp breeze could take us off course. And once in the freezing waters from which we had to somehow stave off hyperthermia, the choppy waves could shove us harshly into the sharp edges.

Truth be told, it didn't look good for us.

Pushing the pair, I stepped up to go first, signing over my shoulder. "If I make it, follow behind."

Jeoff tried to protest, but I leaped before his flying fingers or rapid grip could reach me. Wind captured my hearing, sounding like screaming in my ears. I knew it wasn't the crew, happily heading for their deaths. I couldn't shake how human it sounded—how it sounded like a woman screaming in fear over me.

I crashed through the icy waves, and it hurt. Ice cut into my skin instantly, making the thick winter cords and artic windbreaker I had on feel like my birthday suit. Neither was meant to save me from the cold water.

The chill made it hard to move. I had to force my legs to kick while my lungs wanted to pop. It felt like death, but I made it to the surface. Amy and Jeoff watched from above and prepared to jump as I surfaced. The sight of them dropping was taken from me as I was forcefully turned around.

It was a man, and he wasn't crew. I would have remembered the green hair. "Why did you jump?!"

Slapping his hand off me, I studied the water below. It was dark, but something flashed under us like fish close to the surface. "You're one of them."

He was a mermaid. Or merman. And he was pissed off by his confusion. "Why are you lucid?! How did you escape our control?!"

How did I escape it? Jeoff was deaf. If they controlled people like the fairy tales, they sang a death song. But my hearing was fine . . . as was Amy's.

He didn't wait for an answer; jumping up and grabbing my shoulders, the merman pushed me down under the water. Getting his hand off me before was easy—this was different. He was drowning me.

Clawing and kicking like anyone would, I didn't give up when I probably should. There was a flash like lightning that was so fast, I wasn't sure it wasn't a trick of the light. But the murderous merman let go. I was sputtering for air, bobbing on the surface, unsure how I got free.

"Darien!" Amy called.

I gave up my search for answers and looked at them instead. Amy and Jeoff had survived the fall. "Swim! Swim like hell, and don't look back!!"

The pair bent over and began to stroke the waters. I watched for a second more before turning to do the same. We were in the middle of the ocean. Our choices were jagged rocks or freezing ice. Either one would kill us slowly, but if we stayed in the water, we would die fast at the hands of these monsters.

A screech came behind me, and I only stopped because I knew it was Amy. The other screams I forced myself to ignore as the ship we once sailed crashed into death and sank to the bottom of the depths.

The same asshole who tried to kill me now had his grip on Jeoff. Amy had the merman by the hair, tugging with all her strength. I swam with all my might to get to them but knew I'd never make it.

Amy's angry words bounced off the water but only every other one. "Let . . . stop this . . . it's never been right. . . . . just as . . . . as the day . . . . . left!! None . . . . . deserve her!!!"

There was far more to Amy's story than she'd ever let on. Hints here and there, but now she was shouting it out loud. And it wasn't making a dent in the green-haired bastard's plans, shoving Jeoff and trying to make him sink. He must be more buoyant than me since the merman struggled to get Jeoff's shoulders underwater.

Another flash, just like before, and my sights of the fight were mostly blocked. It came from below just like it had for me, but this time, I was given a clear view, and that wasn't what they wanted. Because once in my good sight, I knew exactly what it was. Seeing Serena for the first time in so long . . . my burning lungs didn't matter—I somehow swam faster. The green-haired merman released Jeoff and snarled at Serena. I got to Serena's side just in time to thrust my fist into the attempted murder's face and pull her back as he sank. But I couldn't look at her, not in the face. If I saw her big blue eyes right now . . .

"Jeoff, are you okay?" I mouthed carefully.

He nodded, panting from the struggle and from constantly pumping his legs. As I looked down, I couldn't see Jeoff's legs, but I could see Serena's fin. It was a silvery gold, similar to her hair when it was dry. And another tail, blue with green, shimmered as it twisted. It was connected to Amy.

It explained why Jeoff shoved Amy as much as he could in the current circumstance. She tried to grab him and give his body a break so Jeoff didn't drown. Feather light touches came to my ribs, and I found Serena tentatively doing the same to me, gripping my coat soon when I didn't push or pull away. I did my best to ignore her, or at least seem like I was, turning back to Jeoff. I waved my hands roughly to get his attention. "Cut it out! Let Amy help you!"

He grimaced darkly at all of us. Amy reached out for him again, and he wrenched away, only to place his hands on her shoulders as the only spot he was willing to touch. I felt dizzy; too much going on to process all at once. Serena was clutching me tightly and keeping me above the water, the boat we were on slipped fully below the surface, other merpeople were attacking anyone still above water, and Amy was a fucking mermaid!

"We need to get out of here," Amy yelled over all the noise. Death and the ocean could be very loud.

Jeoff lifted a hand off Amy, "and where are we supposed to go? We're in the middle of the ocean with your friends?!"

Amy rolled her eyes while Serena's grip tightened. "Amy . . ."

I looked at Serena, cursing myself for it internally. Her eyes were wide with fear; looking beyond Amy, I switched my view gladly to find flashes of red and yellow. It was two tails, and they were heading our way fast. And more were behind them. Amy looked too, then turned back to Serena. Without a word spoken, the pair pulled Jeoff and me under. The fool in me didn't fight it, Serena taking me under to kill me for all I knew. I couldn't think of a better death; Serena killing me would be mercy at this point. The water filled my ears and nose while Serena's eyes filled mine. I had no fear when I should. This woman helped kill my parents, and her murderous friends were speeding toward us. Disgust, hatred, and agony were all things I should feel, things I had thought over the last more towards Serena and myself. None of those were what I felt as Serena looked me deep in my eyes.

With careful movements, fearful of what I would do, Serena cupped my face and pulled me to her. Her lips grazed mine, and I instantly latched on. Being underwater had advantages; I was too busy keeping myself from sinking to grab Serena tight like I craved. So I did it with the only part of me I could; I did it with my mouth. I sucked her in deeply, and Serena curled closer to me. She had my bottom lip, and I wanted hers, pulling away just so I could snatch hers and suck it hard.

Serena twisted her head to the side, and I felt my lungs expand. It was like taking a breath, only I wasn't the one doing it. And it didn't feel right like there was more to it. Serena slowly pulled away from me, using her hold on my face to force me back. As she did, a bubble formed between us. It was more than a bubble of gum, and when Serena released her side, it stayed on my face, covering my chin to my nose.

She released me completely after that, looking remorseful and thankful at once. I tested the bubble, not touching it but breathing. I could breathe fine underwater with it, so I looked to Jeoff, who was kicking and pushing against Amy. It didn't stop her; their faces planted together as Amy gave Jeoff the means to breathe underwater. That was all that kiss was, and it explained Serena's guilty face. She left me, using me for whatever sick game she was playing and didn't want me back.

As much as I wanted to rage, fuss, and fight, there were much more important things to figure out. Even with our air bubbles, Jeoff and I couldn't stay underwater forever, and those merpeople were gunning for us. Again, Serena and Amy looked at one another and took off without a word after a second. Serena pulled me, and Amy pulled Jeoff.

They were fast, their tails flicking and speeding them along. The base of a large rock split us apart, hiding Jeoff and Amy from my sight for a long time. When we got around it, another mermaid chased closely behind them. I glanced behind me and found no one—no one was chasing us.

Serena's head whipped to the side, a long golden tail flipping into my face. Serena was speeding along without Jeoff and Amy when I got my vision clear. I tugged on her hard, trying to get her to stop. She pared me a glance and a shake of her head. Did she expect me to leave my brother behind to die? I had been compliant the entire time until now, struggling against Serena's pull. It was easy to get free, ripping her hand off my wrist and floating on my own. The difference in speed was comical, floundering like an idiot back towards my family. The murky water made it hard to see, but it looked like Amy knocked the oncoming threat back with an underwater wave she created with a single hand. I watched the danger flip back several times as if they would never stop before Serena grabbed me again, twisting me from the scene to look at her and her hands.

"Amy can handle herself and your brother. They'll draw the others away and meet us later."

I used my aching legs to sign back, "I refuse to leave my family behind. It's two against many!"

Serena shook her head, "Amy is powerful. And even if they did get captured . . . it won't be nearly as bad if they caught you."

I didn't pretend to understand, and Serena didn't try to explain it. Instead, she grabbed me again and took off. My eyes burned as I tried to look back and watch. All I could tell for sure was that Amy and Jeoff escaped but were swimming in a different direction than we were.

The water darkened as the little bit of light above was cut off. I had closed my eyes when the burning salt water became too much for them. The change in water temperature had me flinging them open again. It was colder if that was possible. My fingers and toes were numb, and it was spreading, but I could still feel the change in my chest. Seconds later, Serena dragged me upwards and placed my hand on the edge of a rock. As soon as my head broke the surface, the air bubble popped. I felt it in my lungs, coughing as the oxygen changed from that made of magic to reality. Pulling myself from the ice, I didn't think twice about anything other than getting dry and warm. I hoped Jeoff was somewhere doing the same now, the thought turning me around to see if I could make out Amy's tail. My vision was blocked by rock inside a cave that swallowed and sheltered me from the frigid outside. But not the freezing water, dripping from head to toe and feeling it would turn to ice any second.

However, it was only my drips that made any sound.

Looking back at the water, I found Serena. She held onto the edge of the rocky cave's floor I stood on, looking up and watching me. Her eyes flicked all around me but never settled as she hid her nose down behind the cliff. It wasn't long before she held up a hand to me to talk. "You'll be safe here." She stopped to point, and I looked. There was an odd shack wedged in the rocks far from the water. It looked close to dissolving, but it might help keep me and the others alive for a while. "Amy will bring Jeoff when it's safe . . ."

"Why won't you speak to me?!" I roared, turning back to her.

Serena cringed, her eyes dropping to the side and her hand balling into a fist. She turned her face to the side too to hide all the more from me, but I watched her intently. "You . . . don't want to . . . I couldn't let you die. I'm sorry it was me. You made your . . . feelings clear before . . ."

Serena was pulling away, trying to escape from me again. "You ran away from me. I haven't seen or heard from you in a month. You have no clue what my feelings are!"

Her tears stood out on her wet face as a sob ripped from her throat. "I wanted to see you again . . . I never meant to hurt you or your family. I'm so sorry, Darien."

I couldn't explain it, but after a month without, I needed to hear her voice. I craved it almost as much as the woman before me shaking. "Then use your voice! Let me hear you!"

Serena slowly shook her head and I got it. She wasn't speaking because she couldn't. Serena was crying too hard to talk. "I'll do everything I can to . . . keep my world from yours. I don't want . . . to hurt anyone . . . especially not you . . ."

She was slowly slipping below the waters, leaving me yet again. I was angry. Anger was pressing on my chest and making it hard to breathe. The rage came with loss; I knew it well from losing my parents. But Serena was alive and right before my eyes. She wanted to leave me as much as I wanted her to, yet she was still slipping away from me.

It was pissed and annoyed, anguish that had me running and sliding along the rocky ledge until my torso was submerged. Serena was just below me, and I grabbed her head to pull her back up. Her eyes were wide in shocked confusion, and I released one hand from her to speak. "You don't want to hurt me? Then stay!"

Her mouth popped open in shock, and little bubbles floated past my face as a result. I wrenched her up the short distance until I had her roughly pressed to my face. I was harder on her lips, sucking them in with all my strength. Her hands wrapped around my wrists, holding on to me while I ravaged her mouth. I released all my feelings on her, not caring how she felt in return.

Serena pushed but kept our lips attached. She was the one thinking rationally because she soon had our heads above water. I was raging so much; things like breathing hadn't crossed my mind as they had hers. But now that the air hit my lungs, I was thinking a little more clearly, continuing to lift us from the water. I stood, and Serena hung by my hands before me, still sucking hard on her bottom lip. Her hands left my wrists only to wrap around my neck. With her hold laced around me, my hands rubbed heavily down her neck and back with their own mind. At first, when my palms found her ass, it was tight and hard with scales. But it changed under my skin, turning into soft flesh and plump muscles. All it took was taking Serena out of the water and time for her to change back into the woman I first met.

There were questions . . . so many questions. However, mine and Serena's shivering broke our lips apart. She pulled back to look me in my eyes and I could see doubt and confusion. Nothing was said, so I turned on my heel and made for the aforementioned shack.

I was gentle with the door. The last thing we needed was a broken shelter. It was dim inside, but so was the entire cave. It had a bed of ancient metal and musty blankets. There was an ash pile near the foot of the bed where someone used to build fires and an odd-looking chest of drawers that leaned to one side. Someone used to live here.

Even with the possibility of bugs, crabs, and dust mites, the bed was the best place for us to warm up. So I dropped Serena there and stripped off my wet clothes. I had to get them off to fight off hypothermia, but with Serena naked on a bed before me, it instantly became more than that. My original plan was to lay beside her and use body heat. Then her eyes looked everywhere but my face, hooded and lust-filled. The confusion and doubt were still there but not as prominent, making it easier to ignore. So instead of laying beside . . . I lay on top. We would be warmer this way, and with a month apart, thinking mostly of Serena under me, it was unavoidable.

Serena had similar feelings, spreading her legs for me to lay between. Every inch of her skin was the same temperature as mine, freezing. Save for the honey pot between her thighs that pressed against my shaft. I needed to dip in my comb and get her sweet nectar all over me. I held myself over her just enough to watch her face as I did. I wanted to watch her face and judge how me inside her felt for her. As I pushed my tip in, her mouth popped open. Serena twisted her hips for more, but as I gave it to her, I felt the familiar stretch of her walls around my size. I saw stars as her body squeezed me; resisting the urge to come immediately was a struggle. A small whimper came from her lips, telling me she had either waited for me or had nothing but tiny dicks since me. Either was possible, but the latter had my anger flaring. It was why I didn't let her adjust, ramming into her without mercy.

As ecstasy pumped into my veins with every thrust into Serena, it was hard to think, but I could still focus on her bouncing body beneath mine. Her perfect breasts jiggled and heaved as her skin turned white to pink. And her lips turned from blue to pale red, plumping before my eyes.

That was when I decided to stop because Serena's eyes had rolled into the back of her head in pleasure, but she had yet to make a sound. She was holding back just like our first time. Her eyes rolled back to me as I waited, panting in her face as she did mine. "You want to come? Say something to me."

Serena hesitated again, then shook her head slowly.

Twisted my hips, rubbing every inch of her insides with my straining cock. This was as much punishment to me as it was to her. "You have to . . . speak to me, Serena. Say . . . something . . ."

Serena's mouth fell open, gasping as I tortured her. We both were, heavy breaths flying out of our lips in between the silence heated our faces and ears even more.

"Darien . . ." Serena whispered so softly, I almost missed it, "kiss me."

Her melodic voice was impossible to ignore as was the begging. I swooped down without a thought, pressing my starving mouth to hers. As promised, I began pumping my tip into her dam in rhythm with my tongue thrusting into her mouth. I made sure to pull away as she came, going down her cheek to her neck as she cried in my ear. More of her honey leaked out from my pounds, her screams slowly becoming moans. I only stopped to fill her with my orgasm, certain it was a lot since I'd been holding out for a long time. More punishment for leaving me for a month; she would have to slosh around with her pot full of salt now.

I shouldn't since we were trying to stay warm, but I rolled off her. The sex was as good as I remembered, better even, but it left me with lingering feelings of anguish and loneliness. I had to remind myself this was temporary. At any moment, Serena would leave me again, and I had to let her go. Because . . . she killed my parents and was never meant to be mine.

Throwing an arm over my eyes did little to help the rolling of emotions and thoughts in my head. Neither did listening to the softening of Serena's breathing as she calmed back down without me. But then she rolled into my side, pressing her lithe body against me like a deadly weapon. Her little hands rubbed over my arm, then chest, slowly reaching her way to pull the arm off my face. I wanted to keep my eyes closed, but they opened against my wishes, finding bright blues that gave my brain error messages.

Serena leaned over and kissed me sweetly, gently pressing to my lips. It was as if I hadn't just roughly had her or Serena missed the message. Her lips trailed down my body, caressing me in a manner that made me tremble. I didn't know if she was trying to make things up to me, to us, or wanting a turn in control, but Serena was changing the atmosphere between us. She used the trail of her lips to twist her body over mine. It wasn't long before she was on top of me.

She trembled over me, so I rubbed up her back, encouraging her. Serena had only been on top of me one time during our short romance and it was interrupted. There was no guarantee that wouldn't happen again but I didn't want her to stop. And neither did she, leaning into my touch and rolling her hips against mine. Her hot pot rubbed my shaft again as I grabbed her breasts, squeezing them and feeling their shape. Serena moaned and sat back further on me, lifting up to sit back down on my cock. She swallowed me again, my mind going blank as her pussy consumed me up to my hilt.

As she rocked, my head and my eyes rolled back. That was the thing with Serena; every time felt like the first. Or at least the first in a while. Nothing about the coiling in my stomach, thighs, and tip felt old or boring. And it definitely didn't feel like we'd done this seconds ago. It was the same as it had been a month apart or years apart.

I forced my eyes back to the front because Serena was starting to bounce. Her skin was pink again, from her cheeks to her chest jumped up and down on my disco stick. Her plump rump slapped my thighs, and I had to grit my teeth, so I didn't come. Grabbing Serena's thighs to slow her down did nothing and it all spiraled out of me in a rush of euphoria. It was as if I hadn't just come as my tip danced endlessly inside Serena. Her slowing to a grind didn't help; it made me feel like I would never stop. But I did, just in time to watch Serena's orgasm on top of me. Her entire body tensed and shook as she made her hips continue through her pleasure. I did nothing but watch the show. Her flush traveled down to her navel, and my eyes traveled lower, spying the glistening of juices on her golden tuff.

Serena flopped over me with that, catching her breath while I held her tight. This was vastly different than how I had treated her moments ago. My lovemaking was part vengeance, while hers was all caring. Just as it had been when she first returned to me. How she always was towards me.

With one hand on my neck, Serena curled into the crook of my shoulder. Her nose pressed desperately against me. It matched how I smashed the rest of her to me with my arms around her middle. She sighed, her breath shaking as she did, leaving her lips open and pressed to my skin. "I . . . missed you. So much, Darien."

Serena was crying, a sob rocking out with her admission. Never once did I think of how Serena felt. Not like this. My thoughts were selfish and cruel while this truly pure and kind creature cried in my arms.

I rolled us, putting us on our sides, and only released Serena to push her back enough to wipe her tears. It caused another sob to choke out, closing her lids as more liquid gushed out. It was admitting weakness, but I was everything but strong regarding Serena. I pressed my forehead to hers and closed my eyes, feeling the tears I had restrained for a month knock over the dam inside me as I spoke the horrible truth to myself and Serena. "I missed you too."

We spent the better part of an hour (probably) crying in each other's arms. I had never felt so powerless in my life, unable to live without Serena but with no other choice than to do so. I could forgive her involvement with my parents' deaths. Jeoff wouldn't, but I couldn't. That didn't change the fact that she was a mermaid. We weren't the same species, which never worked out well in the end.

Serena was kissing my tears away while I brushed hers. At some point, she stopped and kissed my lips instead. In turn, we made love again. Three times in a row was definitely a record for me. Which we broke when we did it again, making it four times. I had never been this vulnerable with anyone, not even Jeoff. Serena was the only person that could break the walls down to this side of me. It left me feeling raw and tired, rolling into Serena, again and again, to lazily kiss or make love to her.

A haze had fallen over us as we rested, Serena in my arms as I faced her. My eyes were closed in exhaustion, but somehow Serena still had the energy to caress my face with her fingers and lips. I had no clue how long we'd been at it or how long we laid like that, but the cold was the last thing we worried about. Especially for Serena as she sat up abruptly, waking me from my stupor. "They should be here by now."

Serena had the ability to open me up and make me forget the world around us. And she had done it again as I had spaced completely on our situation. We were waiting for my brother, my only living family, to return safely. He hadn't, and I had no clue how long it had been since I'd seen him last. Was he still alive at this point? If not killed by those monsters, then by hypothermia.

I wasn't gentle as I pushed Serena to the side and rushed out of bed. The warmth it held left me instantly, naked and stressed as I tried in vain to figure out how the hell I was going to save my brother. I couldn't fight a mermaid. It was their battlefield, and I couldn't even survive that much!

Much gentler than me, Serena pressed me to the side and walked over to the small dresser that could barely stand. She opened a drawer and began pulling out clothes. I picked up the corded sweater she set on the bed and smelled it. It was mildewed with salt but thick and warm. But it would do nothing in the water for me.

I looked around again for answers, and when I came up empty, I decided to ask. "What is this place?"

Serena kept her eyes on the pile before she dug through. "It's mine. Given to me by my father."

"Father?" I asked skeptically, "What would a merman need a place like this for??"

She turned, a pair of thick sweat pants in her grasp. "My father wasn't a merman. He was a human like you, Darien." My shock and confusion were evident as Serena smiled softly and told me the short version. "My mom was a mermaid who fell in love with a human. They would meet here sometimes and others in your town. When my father died, this place became mine. Since I'm half human, I can choose between legs and fin for certain periods. Sometimes years and others only months depends on the Halfling."

"Amy . . . she's half too?"

Serena nodded. "More human than mermaid. But she still has to return to the sea for periods of time. Or else, we go crazy."

She remained naked, her long gold strands hiding most of her from view. It had long ago fallen from the strange style it was before, and now, Serena tried to scoop it back into shape. I had to focus on my thoughts instead of her breasts as she uncovered and stretched before me. "These clothes won't do shit for me in the water."

Serena's arms and eyes dropped, "Darien . . ."

I stepped up, blocking Serena from any movements or thoughts. "You're not going to do this without me."

"I don't have a choice! You can't survive underwater . . ."

"Give me that air bubble thing again!"

Serena shook her head, "that'll help you breathe but it won't protect you from the cold, current, or others lurking in the water. You'll die . . ."

"I can't leave my flesh and blood behind . . ."

I stopped because Serena had my face in a death hold. "You'll die. And I'll die."

I grabbed her wrists and carefully pulled off her hold. "What about you? They'll kill you . . ."

Serena shook her head as I spoke, "no, they won't. Not me. But you? That's why I have to go, and you have to stay."

No part of me liked dressing in the clothes Serena pulled out for me and walking her to the water's edge to let her go again. But she was right, it wasn't my world, and that alone was enough to kill me. I wasn't sure I believed her when Serena said they wouldn't hurt her. It was why I grabbed her just before she slipped completely into the deep waters. Her eyes were wide as if she was surprised I stopped her. Her silver fin flipped and shimmered below, and I took the appearance fully for the first time. She was beautiful in either form, and I wondered how strategic and effective her long gold tails over her breasts were in the water.

Jealously threatened to flare, and that was far from important. So I wrenched Serena up high enough to get her lips, kissing her just as hard as I had before we made love a handful of times. Her wet palms caressed my face as she sweetly kneaded my mouth in response. Serena and I were slow to release one another, and I didn't let her get far, speaking harshly against her lips while her eyes were still closed. "If they hurt you, I hurt them back. I promise."

Serena's eyes were big again, crystal blues that stole my breath away. She gave me a nod, and I slowly released her, watching her sink out of view. I was left with nothing but to wait. It was the same as before, only I didn't have Serena to occupy my time and thoughts. Now, they raged over all that could be happening. Was Jeoff still alive? I was a terrible brother, getting lost in a woman while he suffered. It would be my fault if he was dead, and I would never forgive myself. Or Serena. Our relationship was already doomed. Losing the last of my family to Serena's would be the final nail in the coffin.

That said, I wasn't sure I could live without her.

Jeoff would never forgive me if I was with her, but he would also be pissed if I killed myself. There were ways to live without being alive, which was my fate. My punishment for all the wrongs I had done. Starting with loving Serena.

My thighs and arches ached, but I couldn't remove myself from my vigil, pacing along the rocks by the water. The cave had begun to lighten, and I had to assume the sun was rising. Not that it got much light either way, but there was a subtle difference. That was when I heard the splash of a body hitting the surface. Coughing filled the cave as I raced to the spot, spying blonde and blue hair at the edge of the rocks. I slid on my belly up to them, grabbing Jeoff first. His lips were blue, and he was unconscious even though he was coughing. Amy was pulling him up to get him above the water. She was exhausted, carrying Jeoff the entire way here.

I pulled Jeoff out first, then Amy, letting her dry and get her legs while carrying Jeoff inside the shack. I glanced behind many times, looking and waiting for the last of our group to show up. When I reached the shack's door, and Serena still wasn't there, my heart clenched in a vice.

Some dry driftwood was piled up in a corner by someone years ago. It was almost dust, but I hoped it would burn for at least a bit. Digging the lighter I stole off the boat took a moment as did getting it to work while waterlogged. A short time later, I had a small but warm fire going and placed Jeoff in front of it. I was stripping him down as Amy sat across, wrapping a blanket from the bed around herself. "What happened?!"

Amy stared at the fire, "we were caught. Taken hostage."

"Hostage? Then why are you free now?"

She shivered, "they got what they wanted."

Everything inside my chest and belly twisted with fear. "What did they want?!"

Amy finally looked up at me, and I saw the tears rolling down her cheeks. "Serena. They wanted Serena."

I didn't understand. Serena was just another mermaid. Less than that, she was half human. What did they want her for? "Are they going to hurt her? Kill her??"

Amy shook her head, "they wouldn't dare hurt her physically. But emotionally? Mentally?"

"Why the hell do they want her?! You're half human too; why didn't they keep you?"

She sighed and drew her knees into her chest. "Serena may be a Halfling, but she'd still be the princess."

I had to stop myself from swallowing my tongue. "What?"

"Princess Serenity is her full title. And she is the only living royal that remains, half or not."

Without thought, I was pacing again. My eyes danced all around the small space as I tried to wrap my mind around it. "If Serena is royalty, what the hell was she doing with me?"

"She was loving you, you asshat!" Amy screamed, causing me to stop all motions and thoughts, "we halflings have humanity while the others don't. It makes us even more different from the others. We have feelings. The others only care about their kind, other mermaids. So when Serena saw what they were doing to your family," Amy stopped, grappling with the reality or being the one to tell me this story, "as a royal, she is the fastest swimmer and has the strongest voice. She can cancel out others. But Serena was young, and there were too many. The most she managed was to save you and your brother from their control and then the water. And you have no idea how hard it was for her to even do that much. They locked her up for a month!"

"What are you talking about? Serena pulled us out of the water after she and her people put us in it." I screamed.

Amy frowned heavily at me, "Serena would probably never tell you this for whatever her reasons, but that's not what happened. Your family came close to their home, which is breech to the mermaids. So they made your parents crash, sure. But Serena used her voice to free you and Jeoff from their control. Otherwise, you would have died with your parents and never even noticed." I shook my head at her, but Amy continued, "then, she used her voice on other mermaids to get away and to you. She broke every law we have for you. If Neptune wasn't so enamored by Serena . . ."

"Neptune?!"

Amy nodded, "Neptune is the Queen by default. Since Serenity can never be Queen with her actions . . ."

"So she saved a couple of humans when she was a kid! That shouldn't keep her from . . ."

"I'm talking about her recent actions, aka YOU!" I was speechless and completely confounded, needing more information. "Everyone forgave and forgot her actions as a child. They were like you, chalking it up to her age. And her parents, her wayward mother and human father. Neptune was training Serenity to take over the thrown. But then, she ran away to be with you."

"She came back, though . . ." I whispered.

Amy shook her head, "The . . . damage had already been done."

"What the hell does that mean? So what if she snuck away for a weekend? Serena is an adult." How Amy pursed her lips told me she knew I was being stupid. Thinking Serena was like any other woman when she was far from it was dumb. "She came back; there was no damage done."

A growl came from Amy, and her eyes flicked down to my crotch and back. "You know exactly what you did to her, and I'm not going to explain that to you." I ran a hand nervously through my hair, and Amy rolled her eyes. "All I'll say is that male anatomy between humans and mermaids is slightly different. Mermen are designed to procreate while Men are designed to pleasure. And mermaids can't go back once they've been with a human."

I was pacing again, thinking over Amy's words. "If Mermen only procreate, how would they know a Mermaid had been with a human? If pleasure wasn't expected?"

Amy's face was red from either anger, embarrassment, or both. "It's not my place to explain. You should have asked Serena while you still could instead of . . . anyway, you wasted that chance. You'll never see her again. And neither will I."

"What the hell, Amy tell me what they've done with Serena?! She told me they wouldn't hurt her!!"

"Serena never planned to return after she came to you." I froze, staring wildly at Amy. "It was always the plan for her to run away to you. She helped me escape to my father and asked that I watch over you. I didn't know when she would come for you, only that she would. Serena wanted to stay by your side forever, Darien. If you two idiots had treated her the way she deserved . . . dammit, no one is good enough for Serena. No one."

I had to agree. But that got us nowhere. A glance at Jeoff showed me he was asleep, no longer blue and shivering. "Take me to her." Amy blinked at me. "Take me to where they have Serenity."

Clothing would do me no good, but it was better than being naked. Amy opted for nudity, but she had good reasons. The only thing I looked less forward to than the water was Amy giving me an air bubble. The freezing waters at least left me numb while she did what was necessary. It was strange magic, forcing us to kiss so I could save Serena.

I didn't know how long I could live in these temperatures, but Amy was faster than a speed boat as I held onto her for dear life. When she slowed, I knew we were close. And if that wasn't a clue, the large building before us was. The murky waters slowly revealed a castle made of sand and stone. It reminded me so much of the Little Mermaid that I would have laughed in another situation.

My muscles and bones were stiff, but I pushed them anyway, following behind Amy and her slower pace. Large towers loomed, and I wondered to myself which one held Serena. Would they put her in a tower or in a dungeon? Either one, I wouldn't rest until I had her free of these monsters.

Amy turned to me with her hand up, "Our only choice is to be straightforward. We can't sneak in, and we can't battle them. Follow my lead and keep your head down!"

I didn't mind following Amy and her words. We were outnumbered and matched. I expected us to be rushed and ambushed as soon as we revealed ourselves but guard after guard, we passed only watched our approach. Soon, the two of us stood before an actual thrown, with a menacing-looking woman sitting in it. Her blonde hair was much shorter than Serena's and a little darker, but the two could have been related. Another mermaid floated at the ruler's side, teal hair that billowed all around and matched her tail. It went well with the dark blue of the Queen's. I was thankful for the situation since neither woman did a thing to hide their breasts from view. No one did not like Serena with her hair or Amy with her arms. A crowd started to gather, surrounding but not getting too close. Mermen were mixed in, and they glared or stared at me in confusion.

I looked at Amy and then back at the Queen. It was just like before, there was a conversation going on, but I couldn't hear it. Or see it. Finally, Amy put up her hands for me and started to interpret. The right was her, and the left was the Queen.

Her left hand signed, "You know I want to forgive Serenity more than anything, but this goes beyond the forgivable."

Then Amy's right, "She is useless to you anymore. You are only being cruel now!"

"Useless?!" The Queen raged before my eyes. "Serenity was to be the greatest of us all, and now," the Queen looked at me for the first time, "now she's his whore."

Whatever good it did me, I tried to get at the Queen. But in water, ice-cold water, my movements were sluggish at best. No one moved save to laugh at me. A few guards lazily swam before the Queen, but she waved them off. Then she said something, and the guards disappeared. I turned to Amy for answers. She signed, "they're bringing Serena."

My heart danced as much as possible with the freezing sludge it pumped. At least I would see Serena one last time before freezing to death. Any movement caught my attention as I didn't know where she would come from. When I caught sight of gold, my heart leapt into my throat. Serena was gently led out when her eyes locked on mine. At first, she was happy, a small smile twisting on her plump red lips. But that changed quickly; a frown showed instead as she began to fight against her guards to get to me. It was all I could do not to try and get to her, but Amy held me back with a grip on my arm, and I was already weak from the cold. So I focused on Serena, taking in her mermaid form as her tail shimmered even with no light. How her hair lifted in the water and danced. And mostly, how she wore seaweed on her breasts now for some reason. She was beautiful as always, and the sight of her calmed me. It made me accept my fate a little easier.

The argument was silent but had movement as the Queen, Serena, Amy, and a few near the thrown wore it on their faces and bodies. And it didn't seem to go anywhere until the Queen's fiery focus centered on me. Amy turned me towards her and her hand. "The Queen wants a word with you . . ."

The look on Amy's face told me this wouldn't be good. I didn't fear Neptune; I was dead already. I feared what would happen to Serena after I was gone. So I waited for Amy's translation to begin.

"What can you offer Serenity that we cannot?"

I glared at Amy, then the Queen, with such a stupid question before I answered. "A good life."

"Are you saying she doesn't have a good life here?!"

"You keep her locked up for being who she is. Serena can't help that she has a heart while you are all soulless."

Amy hesitated to translate, and I glared at her to ensure she did. The Queen jumped from her seat as proof my words had been received. "I kept her safe! Serenity has broken our most sacred laws!"

"Saving lives break your laws? Doesn't that tell you something?!"

The Queen chuckled darkly, and Amy grew pale. So did Serena, and I watched her before looking at Amy again. "That's not the law that is the most disconcerting. Did Serenity tell you she has a mate here? A merman that she was to marry?"

My eyes flashed to Serena just in time to see a tear sparkle down her cheek. I didn't look back at Amy as I signed, "if that were true if she really wanted to be with this mate, then she wouldn't have come to me."

Amy had to shake me to get my attention back to the words said to me, "You defiled her and made her unsuitable for any merman!"

"I gave her what she needed! What Serena asked for and what I wanted!"

Neptune's face turned red, and Amy shook as she signed. "Are you telling me that Serenity used her voice on you?"

I shook my head hard, "no, there was no force. I made her speak to me, but she never commanded me with it. Sorry to disappoint, but everything I did to Serena was of my free will."

My smirk didn't help my case, but I didn't care. Looking at Serena, I caught the flush on her cheeks from my words, but she didn't drop my stare. Amy was flushed too when I looked back, and I stared at her hand for a reason. "But was it of Serenity's? Am I to believe she left on her night to mate, went to you, gave you her purity, and allowed you to impregnate her all of her choice? She would never . . ."

The Queen had more to say but I wasn't listening, looking at Serena with my confused shock. Now she refused to look at me or anyone, staring at the sea floor. Her hands twisted at her belly, right where the child would be blooming inside her. My eyes dashed from there to her face and back, feeling utterly useless. Amy was tugging on me hard to get my attention back, and I stared blankly at her. She was saying something, mouthing it with her lips and signing with her hands. I finally took note, and my sluggish brain caught on. "Take claim!"

I didn't understand but pretended to, pointing one hand at Serena and the other to Amy. "Serena is mine."

Neptune and the entire crowd were soon aghast. Amy's hand moved furiously. "Excuse me?! Who are you to claim Serenity . . ."

"I'm her mate, that's who! You said it yourself, Queen Neptune. Serena came to me! Mated with me! And carries the proof of that mating inside her. None of you can deny it or me; Serenity now belongs to me, and you will give her over now!"

Neptune shook her head hard, and I thought for sure I'd lost. But Amy stepped up, saying something that had the entire crowd gasping and staring at the Queen. I watched Neptune go from red to purple. I didn't care until she cast her glare onto Serena. Amy didn't stop me this time when I went to Serena's side, getting there without knowing how and pulling her into my protection. Whatever good it did either of us. My arms were lead, and my legs had no feeling in them at all. Any thoughts of my death rushed away when Serena put her hands on my chest. She shook in my arms, so I held as tight as possible, given my current circumstance. My death could mean something other than causing Serena's in return. The guards backed up, but I knew that had nothing to do with me.

Serena's face changed as she looked up at me, and I knew the Queen was saying things to her. When Serena tried to drop her face again, I grabbed it and forced her to look me in the eyes. Hers glimmered with tears, and I couldn't look away. Neither could Serena, the trial going on around us while I was clueless. My vision was tunneling anyway, and I wanted it to focus on Serena. She was all I could see as the rest of the world slowly went dark. I managed to get my thumb to brush Serena's trembling lips as its final move. The look on Serena's face began to change, and I felt hands on me. I wanted to fight them off, but I was weak. And dead, the world leaving my sight as I left existence.