Tears Of Pearl

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Sunlight poured through the salty water into my room. It was so bright, even my seaweed curtains couldn’t keep it out. I rolled away from it, trying to block the sunlight with my blanket. It was no use, and I had to get up. I yawned and little bubbles of air escaped my lips. I glided over to my vanity mirror and brushed my long, black hair until it felt less knotted. Under the water, mermaid hair didn’t stay neat very long. Just like humans, it floats and moves around us as we swim. That’s why we always brush our hair.

I glanced at the clock. 8:57. Shit! I had to meet Nami at the seaweed patch in 3 minutes! I grabbed my bag and swam quickly towards the seaweed patch which was at least ten minutes away. I’ve won every race I’ve ever entered, though, so that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. I quickly pass my father who had a plate of freshly made lobster. He almost dropped it but was able to recover quickly.

I finally reached the patch within five minutes and find an annoyed Nami waiting for me. Her auburn hair was resting neatly on her slim shoulders and her tail was twitching slightly.

“Happy Birthday!!” I shout! I flung my hair, which is usually in a braid, out of my eyes. I tried to grin but it looked more like a questionable smile.

“You’re late! Again!” She frowned at me. “You were late for my birthday last year, too!”

“I’m really sorry! I slept in and… I’m really sorry!” I opened my bag and handed her a small locket. “Here, look what I found. It’s for you!” Immediately, her face light up and she swam forward. She took it and examined it closely.

“It’s human.” she said simply which made her smile even bigger. Nami believed that one day humans and Merfolk can live in peace and even breed and what not. That is the one thing we don’t agree on. But when I found that locket, fluttering down from above the seas as if a gift from humans, I had to give it to Nami.

“Yeah, I found it last week.” Nami pulled me into a tight hug and then went back to examining it. She opened it but found nothing inside.

“I heard a boat came in our territory a half hour ago.” She said suddenly. “I want to go.”

“That’s for the hunters. We aren’t old enough yet.”

“Actually we are. You’re father just won’t let you and I don’t want to harm humans.” She frowned slightly at the thought of even scratching one.

“True, but still. It’s dangerous. We aren’t trained enough.”

“I’m not but you are.” She countered. It was true. My father taught me the techniques needed to fight and understand the ways of humans but still he wouldn’t let me go.

“Fine. Let’s go, they will be leaving soon.” Nami clapped her hands with joy and followed me as we made our way to the courtyard.

We departed secretly with the hunters as they swam up towards the surface. I shivered in anticipation because I knew this would end badly. I glanced over at Nami, who had a large smile on her face. I couldn’t help but smile at her eagerness. We all swam quickly and could see the small boat within minutes. We surfaced soon after and Nami smiled wide with glee. I couldn’t help but frown, these humans looked disgusting. They had rotten teeth and long, uncombed hair. I was disgusted in having to look attracted to them.

Yena, who was a few years older than me, sang to one sailor who got a little to close to her. Her voice was absolutely beautiful and each sailor turned in her direction,

Come little sailor,

Down with me,

There is so much to show you,

At the bottom of the sea.

We Merfolk are waiting,

To have our feast,

Our kingdom is starving,

At the bottom of the sea.

Nami moved in closer. I was so curious but yet I hated them so much I didn’t want to get closer. It was funny how our song, that was so simple, compelled these men to jump in. I glance back over at Nami who was still getting closer to these men. She actually was singing to one of them. But I noticed something suspicious, the ones who weren’t being sung to were getting nets ready.

So Come little sailor,

Down with me,

Just one little kiss,

At the bottom of the sea.

A cannon boomed in the darkness and it splashed in near us. I panicked and was about to retreat when I saw men trying to catch Nami in a net. I swam quickly and jumped out of the water, causing the man who had to net to fall. I noticed that mermaids were still pulling men into the water, trying to get their feast. The men were alert now, they wouldn’t listen to the song that my people were singing.

I also noticed that Nami was gone, she retreated back into our murky depths.

I should have retreated back with her, but something had taken over me. It gnawed at my stomach, itching me to just attack. I felt my teeth turn sharper and I lunged for another sailor. He fell without much effort. I pulled him under, taking a small bite out of his shoulder so he would start to bleed out. Others took him away from me so I could continue to hunt. He was close to drowning anyways. I resurface and find a different boat had entered our territory as well. They were also trying to fight us off. I moved in, anxious to make another kill.

I get so close behind them, they don’t even notice me. I silently tap one on his shoulder and smile innocently as he stared at me. Then slowly I lean closer, eager to catch hold on his collar. I reach up and brush his cheek. He shudders and lowers himself a little. But a man pulls him back just before I am able to pull the other under. The human throws a net on me when I try to dive into the cold water.

Panic fills my insides and I scream. I could tell it was high-pitched because men covered their ears. I was pulled closer to the boat, so close to their grasp. I screamed louder, waiting for someone to help me. When another mermaid tried to get closer they would get shot at. They pull me into the boat and free me from the netting. Before I can jump out, I’m greeted by the blunt end of the pistol and it knocks me out cold.

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A/N- so how is it so far? I thought this up after watching the Pirates of the Carribean; On stranger tides and decided i'd write it. It isn't much like the movie it just started me writing on it :) okay thats about it. vote? comment? pretty please? thank you <3 OH! by the way the picture on the side with the girl with reddish hair is Nami. The main character's( Elani's) picture will be in the next chapter :)