Emerald

Chapter 14

Ren watched the merman pace back and forth, her eyes trained in his golden hair. It looked like the gold silk Rumpelstiltskin wove from straw. A blue tail blending well with his tan skin while his eyes where bright blue that were frozen like ice and sent shivers down her spine.

"You're a human," he stated, crossing his arms over his broad chest, "And your name us not Lady Belle. So who are you?"

Ren swallowed, looking at her pale fins that contrasted the ones of the merman before her. She was no longer tied but now sitting daintily on a chair, "My name is Ren Monroe," she murmured softly.

"Does the Emerald King know you're a human?" the merman.

Ren shook her head, "He knows not."

"And I assume Morgan was the one that turned you into a mermaid?"

Her own eyes widened, "How-"

"He's the only one who does magic," he said, deadpanned.

Blush creep up her cheeks, a twist if pain clenching her heart, she felt ashamed. Who was she kidding? She wasn't a mermaid, she was a human who was running away from her past.

"How did you get this far out into the ocean?" the merman said, circling her like a shark did to it's prey. Ren's heart clenched at the thought of why she was here. Her parents were buried somewhere in the ocean, along with several passengers. Tears sprung to her eyes, "The plane," she began to say before her body shook with sobs, "My parents died in the crash... I-I'm the only survivor." She expected him to look at her coldly but not what came next. Warm arms wrapped around her slender body, a gentle kiss touching her forehead, "I know what it's like to be alone," Destan murmured.

"You do?" Ren questioned, her grey eyes wide.

"Aye, my mother left me with my father just so she could join the sea gypsies," he said mournfully, "My father had a hard hand in my upbringing. I never did play with other merchildren, nor had any fun."

Ren looked at the merman who now floated just above her. He was handsome, muscles well defined that "v" was prominent below his belly button.

She finally understood Destan's cold demeanor. Yet, inside he was kind and understanding. She wondered what type of man his father was to make him act that way. However, at the same time she couldn't help but compare him to her Kai, a kind and handsome king.
****
The Emerald King clenched the hilt of his sword, his green eyes staring with vengeance at the guards.

He will get Lady Belle back.

"Brother," Atlantis murmured beside him, his face painted with blood red warrior paint while his chest was covered by armor, "There is something I must tell you."

"What?" he growled, his eyes trailing the guards who were laughing boisterously.

"Lady Belle isn't who you think she is," his red haired brother said, a slight tremble in his voice, "Lady Belle is Ren."

Shock coursed through his veins, "Impossible," he said, "Ren is a human."

Atlantis blushed, "Well you know how Morgan has a way with magic?"

Kai's eyes widened, "Oh. And I suppose you and Morgan plotted to have us two in matrimony?"

Atlantis looked down, nibbling his lip, "Aye brother. We only wanted you happy."

Kai gripped his shoulder, "Thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have realized how much Ren meant to me."

He saw if brother relax before tensing up again, "And now she's gone."

Kai clenched his jaw, "Aye, but we'll get her back." He swore to make the King and his heir suffer if they didn't give Ren up.

****
Morgan nibbled on the cuticle of his thumb as he paced back and forth in his cave. He only had a few hours before the war began and Ren was still within the walls. Cassio had claimed that the Prince was a kind merman with a slightly cold attitude because of his father.

Hmm, he thought to himself before a revelation passed through his mind, "Of course!" he took a small piece of a shell and carved words with his blade.

Meet me at Blue's Coral
-Morgan

He whistled softly for his messenger, a loyal servant of his. A small octopus revealed itself from the bottom of the cave and crawled towards him.

Yes master?

"Take this to Cassio the light fairy, tell him to give it to his master," Morgan murmured softly.

The octopus's skin flashed blue in confirmation before swimming away.