Page 32 of Lost in the Dark

“Fuck,” I sighed, the human word coming to mind again.

I liked that word. It was versatile.

I watched as the three guards argued for a moment and then swam off, taking their spears with them.

I had friends that I could hide Matt with if needed. The sea was vast and not everyone was as close-minded.

I knew there were other merfolk who had fallen for humans. And surely, some of them found their happiness…

Boom.

The barriers around our home trembled, the magic shivering. I let out a curse.

Boom.

The sound of Matt’s cry echoed through our home and I took off, darting down the hall and into our room.

I entered the room just in time to see my human being stolen through the windows by one of the guards.

“How dare you?!” I screeched, my blood immediately burning hot.

My tail thrashed through the water and I lunged forward, grabbing on to Matt. He kicked at the guard, who was holding on to him like a shark held on to its prey.

“Give us the human!” he snarled.

One of the others moved for me, trying to tear me back. I spun, feeling my fingertips burn with magic. My veins burned with neon light, casting an eerie glow on their hungry and scared faces.

They were simply obeying orders, but those orders would be the end of them.

I raked my claws across one of their chests, smacking him away with my heavy tail. My lungs heaved with ragged breaths as we fought, rolling through the water.

“Delphin!” Matt called.

I turned, letting out another growl as he was pulled from my home— out into the open sea. They were moving him fast, the two guards dragging him towards the deep trenches.

The guard fighting me tried to shove me off, but I hit him hard. His body went limp as he lost consciousness, floating as if he were lifeless.

A trickle of blood spread like ink from his lips, twirling through the water.

“Traitor,” I growled at him.

They had betrayed me by taking my mate.

“Delphin!”

I turned to see Aeageon come through the doorway, his eyes wild.

“They took him,” I snarled. “I’m surprised to see you.”

“Fuck,” he growled. “We will save him before anything happens. Most of the Elders had no problem with it, but there was one…He fought me, despite the fact that I outrank him.”

“They went towards the trenches,” I said.

“Let’s go,” Aegaeon said.

The two of us were already swimming now, moving out into the sea. I could feel the direction they had taken him, the mating bond winding up tightly like some of the plastic nettings I had seen capture fish. It constricted me, drawing me in the direction.

The currents moved, the temperature of the ocean growing colder as we dove deeper. I fought the feelings of dread that were turning my insides to lead.

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