Here I am again! We see more of the mermaids and meet a new character!

Enjoy

They only got about seven yards before someone stopped them. A male merman suddenly blocked their path, his expression stern. He had the top half of a beaver, with a bottom half that was murky green. The merman carried a silver spear in one hand, tipped with a sharp shard of gold. Normally, Raz wouldn't be even remotely threatened by this person, but down here, fifty some feet below the surface, her weapons would probably serve useless. This wasn't her element. So, she froze instead, critically surveying their opponent.

"You three." He spoke to the three teenagers, nodding to them. "The Queen awaits your report. Have you uncovered any information?"

"Oh, tons!" giggled Callissa. "We got some real juicy details!"

"Yes… well then, to the palace." He held out an arm, and the three mermaids went in the indicated direction. Raz would have followed, but he held up his hand. "Ah, miss. He began, bowing to her. "I have special orders to escort you to the palace."

"No!" she surged back. "This's first time Ah've go' awy fr'm Zalim fern a long time! I ain't goin back just yet!"

"Ah, My Lady, to the Sea Palace. Queen Marissa wishes to see you."

"Oh. Well sure then."

…

The sea palace was quite impressive. Crafted of tons upon tons of colorful coral, it looked regal but arty at the same time. As they approached, thousands of anemones and undersea flowers were spread before the castle grounds. Great white sharks and narwhals patrolled the palace from afar. As they were swimming, a school of baby sea horses shot past her squealing, and she couldn't help but laugh. Cute.

As they entered the great palace gates, she found herself staring at a long, elegant hall, brightly lit with glowing pearls as big as she was, hanging down from the ceiling an gilded with gold as giant chandeliers. The floor beneath her when she landed to catch her was soft, the royal purple sea sponges that made up the carpets squishy and bouncy beneath her feet. Hopping once, she as surprised to find them surprisingly springing and in an instant found herself propelled nearly to the ceiling, not six inches from the giant pear lights. They were nearly blinding up close, and let herself sink closer down to the bottom again. "This way, dear Queen."

When they arrived in the throne room, Raz could help wondering where they got all the gold. Everywhere she looked, things were plated with gold. The thrones, the tables even the Queen's fin. That's right, even the queen, who also looked no older than thirteen, was covered in gold. She wore some kind of wrap around her chest, woven of hold silk with two straps, one off each shoulder. Her mermaid fin, long and a beautifully rich royal purple, was wrapped in a silk wrap with lacey designs, also seemingly spun of gold. Her tiara was also made of gold, shaped like a wave with tiny pearls lining ever crest. She had the top half of, another, otter, this time her eyes were startling electric purple.

"Ah, our guest." Her voice was smooth and forcibly formal, swimming forward and giving her a respectful bow. Raz, now a tad accustomed to these greetings, bowed back. This made her giggle, and the queen waved a hand. Oh no no, you don't bow to me, dear heart! All bow to you, rather!"

"Um, ok…"

"Oh, how silly of me!" she suddenly giggled, finally giving up acting proper. "Boys, get her a chair, somewhere to sit! And bring us some snacks! Do you like stuffed crab? Ooh, how bout lobster?! No wait, shrimp!" the teenage queen babbled on.

"How did Zalim ev'ah think you guys're silent?"

She giggled, her golden silk wrap swishing in the current, sitting down in a gold chair, holding out her paws expectantly. A servant hurriedly set a teacup in her awaiting hands, and she took a sip. Raz distantly wondered, was it possible to dink underwater? Well, the opposite queen seemingly had no problem with it. "Oh, we never talk to anyone on the surface! Only special guests ever get to hear us talk!"

"Alright. But-"

"O. M. G. I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Marissa." She struck an elegantly dramatic pose, one arm up and palm flat, holding an invisible vase, the other placed elegantly behind her, palm also up. "Queen Marissa. The Mermaiden Queen."

"Mermaiden… Ok, hold up."

He gave her a curious look. "Yeeeeeees?"

"AH've heard of mermaids, but wot in th' world is a mermaid'n?"

Marissa giggled again. "Oh, just a fancy word for an unmarried mermaid! I'm only thirteen!" she exclaimed. "I can't get married! And I never plan to!" she stuck out her tongue, screwing up her face in disgust. "Boys are gross!"

Raz couldn't help nod. "Most of em, yeah."

"They just do the grossest things!" squealed Marissa. "Lik, I'll be tryna brush by fur, and my stupid brothers come in and throw this disgusting slug slime all over me, right before a big speech or ceremony or something!"

Raz chuckled. "Older or younger?"

"Uh… what?"

"Yer broth'ahs- they younger than you?"

"Oooooh no!" she laughed. "Oldest one is twenty one! They're so immature!"

"Yer oldah brothers pick on ya?"

"All the time!" she wailed, exasperated. "I can't go two minutes without them taunting me or pranking me or something!"

"No kiddin?"

"No! ...Why?"

A sad smile adorned her face. "Well, ah… see, my big brothers were always super pr'tective, wuldn' let me do anything by myself without looking ovah mah shoulder, think I'd 'urt myself."

"And?"

And… well, sounds ta me, that if any a my brothers picked on me like yours do, they'd tear each othah' limb frm limb."

Marissa's eyes widened. "They're that protective?"

"Yeeee-up."

"Oh… lucky duck!"

Raz laughed, before another thought was suddenly brought to mind. "Marissa?"

She swallowed a bite of stuffed crab. "Yeah?"

"I heard ye called me down 'ere fer a reason…?"

"Oh! That's right!" she leapt out of her chair. "I'll be right back!"

When she arrived back, he presented Raz with a little box, pretty wrapped in purple sea silk. "Well? Go on! Open it, open it!" she bounced giddily excited. She did, carefully unwrapping the box. "Well?! Do you like it?! Do you?"

"it's… beautiful."

It was a beautiful silver necklace. The chain was delicately crafted, smooth and elegant. Add the end hung a single perfect pearl, thought it glowed purple and sparkled silver. Instantly she was minimally attracted to it, and though she didn't quite understand it, she knew why. Kangaroos had that odd quirk, of not being able to resist shiny, bright things. "I…"

"Do you love it or what?!"

"It's… pretty…

"Oh yay, she likes it!" cheered Marissa, back flipping joyfully. "Come on, you have to try it on! Lemme help!" she snatched the necklace and moved behind her, placing the chain around her neck, fiddling with the clasp. As soon as she hooked it, Raz gasped, only to get a mouthful of water, slamming two hands over her mouth. Her eyes widened sharply and she struggled to hold her breath. Usually she could hold her breath for a long time, when she had the opportunity to get a good gulp of air. But this time, she'd had no warning before her oxygen supply was suddenly cut off.

As her vision began to darken and she sunk to the floor, the last thing she saw was Marissa's smiling face.

Oh my! What's happened to Raz? Wanna know? Then review! Review's make me feel good, and when I feel good, I write better! ;) Make sure review!