The next morning couldn't come quickly enough. Time seemed to drag on as I writhed in the wooden tub, uncomfortable in the cramped position and totally unable to go back to sleep. Once I realized that the tiny cell was gradually getting lighter, it was easier to stay calm. It was almost like being back home, when Lovino and I would rise to the surface to watch the sun peek into the starry sky. A pang of longing and hurt ran through my chest as I thought of Lovino and how he must be doing. At the very least, he was still alive, judging by the fact that I wasn't in unbearable pain or even dead. That was always curious to me, how mates were bonded so simply yet they shared the pains of their hearts. Quite literally, as it turns out. I felt Lovino's loneliness aching deep within my core, which was slightly reassuring.

I was jerked out of my inner thoughts by someone poorly attempting to enter the room silently. Watching the stranger, there was enough light in the cramped room to be able to determine their features. It seemed to be a rather effeminate boy with hair the color of sea urchins tickling his shoulders and dangling into his eyes. He was not much taller than I would have been if I were standing, and he had a sturdy build and wide hips. I could have sworn I saw the outlines of breasts, but it could easily be the light playing tricks on my eyes.

He was the first to speak, albeit timidly, while signing to me. Finally, someone I could actually talk to. "My name is Ren," he said. "I'm the first mate here, but I'm the only one who speaks in signs. Captain Kirkland asked me to, uh, talk to you." He hesitated in telling me the reason for why he was in here. I suspected this boy was here to make sure I didn't try anything. "It's comforting to know he cares," I signed. I added an eye roll to make it clear I was being sarcastic. Obviously my point got across as Ren cracked a smile. "What is your name? It wouldn't be right to just call you Mermaid," he asked. I meticulously spelled out my name before giving him the same sign name that I had given Peter. It took him a moment to process what I spelled. "Natasha, right?" I nodded, glad that someone finally understood what I was saying.

"What were you doing all the way out here?" I looked at him, stunned by the question. It took me a moment to collect my thoughts and start signing them as clearly as I could. "My mate and I were waiting to see a ship pass by. We didn't realize it was a pirate ship until.." I stopped to wipe my eyes. Damn being above water, it was so easy for my body to betray me. A fresh pang of heartbreak hit me, slapping me in the face. "My mate was taken and I was stabbed. Then I woke up here." Forget trying to sign slowly, I just didn't want to say it more than once. I had failed my mate by not fighting back, not trying to get back to him as soon as I could. Emotions flooded my heart as I started to shriek, tears pouring down my face. The first mate covered his ears, wincing visibly at the high-pitched sound of pure despair. Eventually the shrieking subsided into full sobs. I couldn't even hide my face with the limited mobility. Ren was gone when I looked again to apologize. I never cried, but the guilt I felt for not trying harder to save Lovi was overwhelming.

When I finally stopped sobbing and resolved myself to wet hiccups, the sun started to go down. I had to think of something, some way to get myself out of here. Before I could start making a plan, I was interrupted by a rough voice. "Are you done yet? That crying was getting annoying." I looked to the open wall to see Kirkland glaring at me, a prominent frown on his face. I returned the glare, my eyes puffy and sore from the literal hours of tears. My skin felt clammy and cold where the tears had been flowing. "I'll take that as a yes. Ren told me why you were making that horrible sound and I have to say, losing a mate is hardly something worth crying like that." My despair was easily replaced with a burning rage and hatred for the man. How dare he mock my pain! He chuckled smugly and left as I glared a hole into his head. Mark my word, I would get revenge on that man as soon as I could.

-

Once more, I was woken up late at night. The small child, Peter, was back once more with his small candle, but this time with a wooden bowl. Carefully putting the bowl and candle down, he started to undo my gag. "I brought some food for you, but I had to smuggle it out while I was washing dishes. I can't untie the rope, so I'll have to feed you. Is that alright?" His small voice was surprisingly soothing, so I just nodded. Slowly, he spooned a tasteless soup into my mouth. There were chunks of something starchy as well as something that resembled meat, so it was at least filling to a point.

Once the soup was gone, we started on teaching me how to speak. It started easily enough with sounds that came naturally; aa, oo, ee, and things similar to that. I didn't understand why so many letters sounded similar, like O and U. I tried not to think about it too much as Peter left for the night.

The routine became normal over the next few days. During the day, I would talk to Ren and at night, Peter would teach me how to speak. I rarely saw Kirkland unless he was leering at me. Little did any of them know, I was making my own plans. I wasn't about to be sold like an object as an attraction. All I needed was the right opportunity.

My time came one morning when we stopped at a port. My wrists had been tied again so I couldn't scratch anyone as Kirkland paraded potential black market buyers through. Luckily, there was enough that he didn't know about me, or even Merpeople in general. I found that out when Ren found me sick one morning as algae had started growing in my tub.

After Kirkland had tied my wrists and left, he neglected to put a guard outside of my cell. I figured that I had an hour or so before buyers started gawping at me, so I had to hurry with my plan. Putting my wrists outside the rim of the tub, I lifted myself out, earning myself splinters all along my arms. I flopped onto the wooden floor and waited. After less than fifteen minutes later, I felt my tail start to pull apart and I bit my gag to keep from screaming from the pain. Fifteen more minutes later, I had legs. They were sore and starkly naked, but it was enough to make me look human. I hit them repeatedly with my fists, easily making bruises on my soft, fleshy legs. They were just appearing as I heard thumps coming closer. I conjured tears and rubbed my eyes to make them look puffy. Luckily, I was dirty enough after pulling myself out and rolling on the floor in pain.

A fat man in rich clothing walked right past me, looking confusedly into each cell. He was followed by two other expensively dressed men and the group was headed off by Kirkland. The fat man was furious. "You promised a mermaid, Pirate. Where is she?" Kirkland didn't answer, staring in disbelief at me. I put on the act with wide eyes and fear as if I had been a village girl from another land. Kirkland's disbelief turned to rage as he flung open the door to my cell, storming over to me. He grabbed my neck harshly and lifted up up to his eye level. The tears quickly turned real as I thrashed about in his grip. "What have you done, Mermaid?!" He shouted in my face as he started to squeeze my neck. I coughed through the gag as the two silent men rushed in and started pulling him off of me. The fat man undid my gag, letting me speak freely. "Please help me, he took me from my home," I pleaded. My speech was broken and uneven, but I hoped that none of the men would question it. Kirkland quickly pulled the fat man away and had the three strangers escorted off of his ship by two burly men that were easily taller than him.

I tried not to grin in victory as Kirkland lifted me up again by my neck, a dark look engulfing his face. "You've cost me quite a bit, Mermaid. How do you think you're going to pay me back for all that gold?" He held a gun in his free hand, pointing it point blank at my chest. I didn't even feel fear as I looked directly into his green, green eyes. I heard a familiar voice from the doorway. "Captain, please," pleaded Ren, "Maybe we should actually talk to her instead of just having a prisoner. Her reason for doing this is sound, please." Kirkland growled before throwing me down. "Fine. Explain yourself quickly, Mermaid, before I sell you for other reasons." Taking a breath, I started talking with difficulty. "I need your help. My mate was taken by a man with red hair and your eyes and I want to save him." His eyes bored into my own as he tried to determine if I was lying or not. Ren carefully tapped his shoulder. "Sir," he whispered,"I think she's telling the truth. She's been saying that since she woke up." Thinking it over in his head, Kirkland never gave a clear answer. Instead he stated in a reluctant tone towards Ren, "Get her some proper clothes. She has to stay in here, so make sure to get her an extra cot. I'll go around town and find information on Allistair."

After he and Ren left, I felt ecstatic. Finally, some progress on saving Lovi before it was too late. I jumped around the short room, spinning on my toes and grinning like a fool. If I were in water, I'd be doing somersaults and joyful trills to Lovino. My joy was short lived, however, as my flimsy human feet snagged on the air and I tumbled into the tub. Unable to break my fall with my bound wrists, I thumped my head on the side and was fast unconscious.

-

When I woke up, it was to furious screaming nearby. I felt exhausted as I attempted to turn, the water underneath me sloshing as I curled up in my bed. Then my tail hit the side of the tub. I bolted up, cursing myself for being so clumsy. It was dark outside, so I had easily been submerged long enough for those flimsy legs to turn back into a gorgeous fin. I looked around to find the source of the incoherent yelling only to find Kirkland screaming at Ren. I didn't even try to translate as I once more pulled myself out of the tub. My body thumping on the floor was loud enough to catch their attention as Kirkland switched his attention to me. "What the bloody hell, Mermaid? What the fuck happened to your legs?" He screamed. I put on a mask of disinterest before I answered, "Just wait a little while." He redirected his attention just as I spotted a cloth on the floor in front of him. I reached over and sped up the process of changing my tail to legs by drying it with the cloth. Ren stopped listening, watching my actions. Once I felt the ache of flesh tearing apart, I stopped using the cloth. I arched my back in pain as the ripping became audible, biting on the cloth to keep from screaming too loud. The sound caught Kirkland's attention, easily ending his tirade about keeping me supervised. My screams grew in volume as the flesh snapped the last few fibers, successfully giving me legs. It took another minute for the wounds on the insides to close, but by then the pain had subsided. Once my legs were whole, I stood up and acted like what just happened was an everyday occurrence.

It was silent in my cell until Kirkland finally broke the tense silence.

"You have some fucking explaining to do, Mermaid."