We floated upward through the darkness. Their hands held my arms tenaciously. As we finally left the trench, we were halted by the roaring command of one merman. One of the mermen guarding the cage stack. "Keep your fins inside the cages, you lot! Or neither of you shall be fed tonight! And not another word between you and the prisoner above, below, or beside you. The first scum I hear will get a taste of the seamount's heat."

 "What about the second?!"

 The entire stack shook with the laughter of the inmates.

 "Keep giving me lip, and you’ll find out."

 I caught sight of the stately officer as he hovered by. My captors pulled me down. One of them kept their hand over my mouth. As if I need it.

 The officer was, though much older than me, quite young. His eyes were shielded below the visor of his gold helmet. He had a short, golden mustache drawn above his lips. His tail was thick and strong, the way a well-worked tail would be, same for his arms. In his hand was a spear. The best swordfish, at his side.

 I hoped he’d see me. I hoped he'd float down and see the two holding me. Again, I bit the hand that covered my mouth.

 "Ah! Stop doing that."

 His brother shushed him. "Can't you see she's trying to get a sound out of you?"

 The officer floated over to the trench. My captors pinned me against the craggy wall of the drop off.

 "Sir, is there something wrong?" one of the guards called above us.

 "Did you here something?" the officer answered.

 "In the trench, sir?"

 "Just, did you hear anything at all?"

 "No, sir."

 "Hm, I must be exhausted. You keep watch tonight."

 "Yes, sir."

 The officer's tail flipped out of sight. After a few seconds, we were sure he was gone. I felt instant dread. My captors took the chance and swam upward, taking me with them. They speedily swam forward.

 We came upon the reef, coasting over the coral. I felt tired, not very sure what all just happened to me. They drew me up to the surface of the pool, and I looked around and realized we made it back to the cove.

 I turned around and saw their one-eyed faces, feeling trapped in by their presence. I shrugged to say, What now?

 "Now, you sleep. Tomorrow, you will see your precious father."

 Moving up, they sat themselves on the sand. They gestured for me to do the same. Every movement I made in beholdeness to them felt like pain. But this was my fate. I lifted myself up, sitting with my heavy tail far from them. The old cauldron, behind me. Looking forward, I could see the starry sky outside. The moon reflected on the dark waves. It glowed so softly like a dream.

 "Do what must be done," one of them said in a whisper that carried to my side of the cave.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

 "There is no other way," said the other.

 I looked at them, suddenly having a question in mind. What exactly are they doing here? Why do they work for the witch? Is it by will or force?

 They kept a watchful gaze on me, waiting for me to fall asleep. But how could they expect me to now?

 I closed my eyes. The sound of the waves no longer calmed me. It acted as a kind of mark of anticipation. The repetition of the going in and moving out kept me restless.

 While I lie on my side, back facing the mermen. I rubbed the ring on my other finger, then tried to pull it off, but the snake remained wrapped around it. I spent an hour staring at that ring, thinking of what Arne and Clara might be doing now. Had they looked for me? Were they distraught? And most importantly, was Clara still alive?

 I had to believe she was. But for right now, I wanted for them to sleep just fine without me. I wanted them to continue with their lives as though I was never a disruption. It's better this way.

 When I felt a tap on my foot, I sat up.

 The back-lit face raised a finger to his lips. He wore the breastplate of a merman in my Father's army. But why would a soldier of the King have swum to the surface? Then I notice the mustache, and the familiar helmet. He must have been the officer we saw at Prisoner Passing. Had he followed us here?

 "Come. I am getting you out of here. You'll be safe."

 I am not sure what to do. I glimpsed over at Flotsam and Jetsam (I was not told whom was whom) both in deep sleep. I hoped it will last, almost considering leaving. I looked again into the officer's kind eyes. He had a spear in his left hand ready for defense, but could I take this chance? Could I actually swim away with him? I was not certain if I could even trust this officer. There was a possibility Father told him my features. I would not be surprised if he knows exactly who I am.

 As the thought became more plausible, I shook my head and shooed him away. He would lock me up, I knew it. Not that I'd be opposed to it, but this what what she wanted. Ursula. I couldn't go with him. I couldn't.

 "What is it? Don't you want to go?"

 I whipped my arm in his direction, grunting.

 "I don't understand. Why won’t you say anything?"

 "She's saying," the single voice echoed from the other side of the cave. Then the sound of two alert brothers, "Back away." They scooted forward, dropping their heavy tails in the pool. They fell in, coming for the officer.

 The officer chuckled. "Have a good rest, fellows?"

 They continued to lurk threateningly.

 "So that's how it's going to be?" With a readying clench of his spear and teeth, he dove in, sinking out of sight. Flotsam and Jetsam looked around the dark pool. I held my breath.

 After a long ten seconds I concluded he left me. Flotsam (probably) looked at me and laughed. His voice grew loud until it came to a halt with the strong arm that broke from the water, wrapping around his throat. The merman flipped back, causing sharp ripples in the pool. But the Officer kept a good hold of him, drawing up the rod and holding it diagnol to constrict the merman at his chest.

 He kept him still as he roared at the other brother. "Come closer, and he gets it!" The officer confirmed his point by sliding the weapon down until the spearhead is grazing the side of the merman's face. "I crave the thrill of spilling blood."

 The free, distraught brother's eyes flickered as he juggled the only choices laid before him. The officer would not wait for long, pressing the point further into his brother neck just under the jaw, making his victim wince. The point broke the skin, drawing out a slow ooze of blood. "Make a decision." He drove the blade further in.

 "Flotsam!" The free brother, Jetsam called.

 "Broth... e..."

 "Make a decision," the officer repeated sternly.

 Jetsam made his way over to me. He climbed up on the sand, flapping his tail in a scoot towards me. He grabbed onto my arm and yanked me down into the water. I felt my face smack the surface, body going down until he pulled me up again. "Here! Take the mermaid! Just let him go." He threw me forward.

 The officer turned up a half-sided smile. "I thought you were reasonable." He peeled his fingers off of Flotsam's shoulder then came and took me by the arm.

 Jetsam swam to his brother’s aid. "Flotsam, brother!"

 "Brother." Flotsam's response was less enthusiastic. In fact it sounded a trifle like anger. He stared at his brother as his neck bleeds. Stared him scornfully in the eye before smacking his face. And what a jarring sound it produced. "Idiot!"

 The officer still held my arm, slowly backing away. We turned around. Not wasting a second, we shot through the water. Everything is dark so we could not see where we are going. But he hled my hand tight through our swim. Like a poor habit, I had to trust in this— this chance of freedom. Whatever is happening, I couldn't help but feel the slightest bit relieved.