Mark whirled around to face the merman swimming up behind him. Swatting his tail up, he smacked the merman up from the water. The merman yelped, retreating from him. Mark turned back to slash his claws out at the other merman, but the merman caught his wrist and sneered out as he electrocuted him. "Big mistake, Mark!" Mark winced, whining softly as his arm muscle straining against the electricity coursing through him. The merman's long eel tail swatted Mark in the torso so hard the air was knocked from his lungs. The merman then wrapped his tail around him to squeeze him tightly before he could catch his breath. Mark dug his claws into the tail, trying to tear the flesh but the merman wasn't releasing him. Wrapping his arms around his neck to hold him firmly against his chest, the merman sneered into his fin ear. "Not so strong now, are you?!" Mark grabbed his arm, digging his claws into his skin. The merman hissed in pain, prompting Mark to show him how strong he was. Through the shocks the merman gave him, Mark hissed loudly as he forced the merman's arm away from his neck.

Mark had removed his arm and twisted enough to try biting the merman, when the other one rushed in and yelped out. "Jetsam!" The merman's tail struck Mark in the face to stun him. Allowing Jetsam to tighten his arms around him better as he told the other one. "Flotsam, he's all yours!" Flotsam rose menacingly from the water, hissing out. "With pleasure." Mark thrashed in Jetsam's arms but was unable to keep up the fight as Flotsam started beating on him. Jetsam shocked him as Flotsam punched him. He was squeezed tighter until Mark was gasping for air and cough up blood. Just when Mark thought he was going to pass out, a feminine voice commanded sternly. "That's enough, boys. Bring him here." Jetsam uncoiled from him, dragging him through the water before slamming him face down against the sand. Jetsam held Mark's arms behind his back, his long tail pinning Mark's tail down. Weakly looking over his shoulder to look at Jetsam's face, he strained out. "What the fuck happened to you...?"

Jetsam chuckled, but it was a feminine voice that answered coolly. "Nothing. They were always supposed to look like... merfolk. But my father's punishment didn't just deform me... Frankly, he didn't know I was pregnant. Though I doubt he'd care if I had told him." Mark lifted his head up a little to see a beautiful slender woman standing on the beach. She had long wavy black hair and the most alluring soft purple eyes. Her lips were a deep red and her long purple dress flowed in the gentle breeze. She crouched down elegantly to be more at his level, giving him a warm smile as she told him lightly. "You have proven to be more of a problem then I thought you'd be." Mark blinked, glancing from Flotsam and Jetsam to the woman, before asking dryly. "Ursel?" Ursel nodded, flipping his hair off his shoulder as he told him casually. "In the flesh." Mark spit blood, growling out weakly. "You leave him alone!" Ursel reached out to brush Mark's wet bangs away from his eyes, while telling him unfazed. "Oh poor, Mark... You can have any merfolk you want with a tail like that. Yet, you limit yourself to just one in particular."

Ursel sighed, lowering his hand from Mark's face as he added. "You care about him so much... but his heart belongs to another. That must hurt. Why are you here? Why would you die for a man that leaves you behind in his quest for love?" Mark glared at Ursel, bitterly hissing out. "Would you have died for James?!" Ursel tensed, then answered without flinching. "Yes. The only reason I'm still here is because HE wouldn't let me. Because... of them." Ursel's eyes misted over as he pointed to Flotsam and Jetsam. Mark looked at Flotsam, who curled up on the beach with a sad look on his face. It was the first time that Mark saw him look so... vulnerable. As an eel, their faces were unreadable. As merfolk, their expressions were so clear. Swallowing, Mark told Ursel hopefully. "Look... I'm sorry that happened to you. But Nathan has done nothing to you. Please. He's so much like you..." Ursel sighed, before grimly telling him. "I know... but you are young. You don't understand. I'm tired of hiding... Of being ashamed of what I am. It's not a life I want for my sons... I won't let Triton hurt them... I don't care what it costs me. I'm protecting what's left of my family from THEM!"

Mark struggled against Jetsam's grip, telling Ursel seriously. "Ursel, you don't have to do this! Nathan would NEVER hurt you or them! When he's king-" Ursel cut him off to blurt out. "He'll never be king of Atlantica. He wants to live on land with a human. Which means that I've got to take what rightfully belongs to me. And I'll kill anyone that gets in my way. You'd do the same for Nathan. Which is why I have to get rid of you. It's nothing personal." Ursel stood back up to his full height, adding numbly. "However, I'm reasonable. So, before I kill you. I'll offer him a bargain. Your life... Or that of his prince. Which do you think will mean more to him?" Mark's heart sank. He had no doubt in his mind that Nate would pick Sean. Ursel waved him away and Jetsam started to drag him back into the water, until Mark blurted out. "Wait! What if I told you that James is still alive?" Ursel exhaled in disgust, grumbling out. "James is dead. I saw him die. My father killed him. But nice try."

Jetsam tugged him into the water, but Mark fought through his pain to blurt out. "I'm not lying! James is alive! Nathan saw him in the port town!" Ursel whirled around, snapping out. "Lies! I saw the ship explode myself!" Mark tugged against Jetsam's strong grip, snapping back defensively. "The Jolly Roger? I've seen it! It's sitting in the port town!" Ursel slapped Mark so hard that Mark saw spots in his vision. Ursel's voice was broken and defensive as he sneered out. "Shut up. Or I'll remove your tongue! Your lies will not distract me! I KNOW what I saw." Mark was pulled back into the water, but Mark thrashed as he rushed out in a panic. "I can't believe you are not going to look! Ursel! Go see for yourself! I'm not lying!" Ursel stood completely still and closed off as he growled out. "I came here for a reason. And I'm going to do it. I'm not falling for your bullshit to buy Nathan more time. I'm here to end this and that is what I'm going to do. Take him away. I've got a merman's heart to break."

Mark struggled against Jetsam as he pulled him out of the shallows toward deeper water. All he could do was watch helplessly as Ursel reached out for Flotsam's hand. Flotsam took it and as Ursel pulled him up, he put an earring in his ear and Flotsam's tail split into legs. Flotsam leaned against Ursel, his skin changing from its dark sparkly color with glowing tribal designs to... human. Mark gasped, overhearing Ursel tell Flotsam with a warm smile. "There you go. See? Not so bad. Now, let's find you some clothes. And then we'll find the prince." Mark didn't get to see much else, because Jetsam dived into the water and dragged him with him. While on the beach, Flotsam nervously asked his mother. "Are you sure this will work? I've never... I mean..." Ursel cupped Flotsam's face lovingly. In his human form, Flotsam looked so much like James. Kissing his forehead, Ursel whispered to him. "You'll be fine. Your brother won't let anything happen to you. Just bring me the prince... and I'll handle the rest. Try me. You're a merman now. You are stronger than you think. You have nothing to fear from them."

The sound of a door opening and voices moving out across the dock drew their attention. Grinning, Ursel turned Flotsam to face the dock, chuckling out giddily. "You're on, kid. Don't be scared." The guards thundered across the dock with their weapons drawn, stating aloud. "I heard voices out here. Could be the pirates. Stay alert!" One of the guards noticed Flotsam and Ursel on the beach, asking aloud. "Who goes there?! State your business!" Flotsam stepped forward into the lantern light, causing the guards to blush and cringe at his naked appearance but they stood their ground. Flotsam raised his hands in surrender, replying in a timid but sweet tone of voice. "My name is Flotsam Floyd Jones." One of the guards called out to him. "What is your business here?" Flotsam glanced over his shoulder to his mother, who nodded to him subtly. Looking back at the guards, Flotsam opened his mouth and began to sing in a beautiful light voice that hummed with a soft echo.

His voice was timid and uneasy at first, but as the guards lowered their weapons, he grew more confident that it was working. Inching closer to the dock, he smiled at them as he sung on. They smiled back at him and reached out to help him up onto the dock. Flotsam touched their cheeks to keep their eyes on him as he sang the shanty his mom told him about. He wanted to see how much control he really had, and it made him happy to have a beautiful voice that was admired. No one had ever admired him before. In the middle of the song, a woman rushed out the door and asked over his singing. "What is going on? I thought you guys said..." She stopped talking as Flotsam turned his eyes on her, his song never stopping. Turning his full attention on her, he approached her slowly. She stared into his eyes, and he could see his yellow eye glowing in her eyes. When he stopped singing, he asked her in a nice voice. "What's your name?" The woman grabbed the sides of her nightgown and curtsied to him as she answered with a bright smile. "Verlaine. Princess Verlaine. And you are?"

Flotsam took her hand when she offered it, kissing the back of it as he told her with a genuine smile. "Flotsam. But... You can call me, Floyd, if you want." Verlaine blushed, asking him hopefully. "Do you want to come inside out of the cold? I was just going to get some late night tea before going back to my room." Flotsam blushed a little himself, before shrugging out. "Sure. What have you got there?" Verlaine followed his eyes to the book in her hand, perking her up more to answer cheerily. "It's a book of poems that I read whenever I feel..." Judging by the way her face fell a little, he finished off for her. "Lonely?" She tensed a bit but nodded honestly. Giving her a smile, he shrugged and asked hopefully. "Would you mind reading me some?" Verlaine giggled, coaxing him inside. The guards trailed behind them, leaving their weapons on the dock as they rushed out over each other. "I know one! Let me tell you one! How about we all take turns reading you one?!"

Ursel crossed his arms under his female body's breasts, huffing out as he watched his son go inside. "Ooh... crap." Turning his attention to Jetsam as he crawled out of the water, he removed the last earring to put it in Jetsam's ear to make him human. Helping him up, he told Jetsam seriously. "Keep an eye on your brother. Don't let him forget why we are here." Jetsam nodded, then staggered off to where Ursel pointed in order to follow his twin brother inside. Within the castle, Nathan slept soundlessly. The bed was so comfortable. It was so fluffy that he was able to snuggle deep into the blankets and get the best sleep he'd ever had. When the sun came in from between the curtains, he stretched slowly. The second his mind reminded him that this was day two, he jerked upright. He couldn't waste any time. Slipping from the bed, he dressed himself and headed for the door. Yanking the door open, he thundered down the hall toward Sean's room. Just before he knocked though, his eyes fell on a man that was leaning on the wall farther down.

The man had his arms crossed and was staring right at him. Nate didn't know who he was, but there were too many similarities in this guy for it to be normal. He had one green eye and one yellow like Ursel's eels. Yet, his overall facial features reminded him of a young Captain Hook. The man's hair was short and brown with streaks of silver that glinted in the light. The man's skin was flawless with a lean muscular build. The man was dressed in a snug white button up tunic with rolled up sleeves and sleek grey pants with black boots. From the man's left ear hung a dangling earring made of glimmering blue fish scales. The man grinned at him, pushing off the wall to make his way toward him. Getting within earshot, the man told him in a smooth calm tone of voice. "Hello, Nathan. You look confused. Let me help. I'm Jetsam. And my mother has a message for you." Nate started to back up from him, but Jetsam grabbed his arm and slammed him up against Sean's bedroom door.

Bracing his hands over Nate's shoulders, Jetsam stared into his eyes as he told him in a serious whisper. "You've got a choice to make. You can stay here and try to win the heart of your prince... Or you can save your friend." Nate's blood turned to ice as he stared at Jetsam in distress. Jetsam smirked wickedly, practically purring out. "That's right. We've got your friend. And if you don't go save him in the next few minutes... He's going to end up like your snitch of a mother. Dead." To Be Continued...