Despite the fact that I was still in pain, it was nice to be able to relax while everyone else went to perform.

I munched on the bread I had leftover from when Irving had brought me booze, swishing my fins lazily through the water. The muted sound from the big top tent filtered through the evening air. Even so, it was still peaceful.

A voice made me jump as it said, “Fancy meeting you here.”

Pushing myself up, I looked down. It was Arden. “Oh.” I blinked. “You’re not watching the show? It’s a pretty good show, even though I’m not in it.” I flashed him what I hoped was my most attractive smile. Despite what he’d said, he could have hardly expected me to be anywhere else, given I was injured and literally couldn't walk.

He shrugged, “I’ll wait until you’re performing again before I watch.” The young man’s serious hazel eyes had a very sweet, gentle expression to them as he looked up at me.

My face heated a little, which I hope he didn’t notice in the quickly darkening tent.

“I brought you something.” he told me, holding up a large paper bag.

“Oh?” I frowned.

“Can you reach down from there? I can try and lift it up.”

I jerked my thumb over my shoulder, “There are stairs hidden in the back rocks on this thing. Why don’t you just come up? No one will come in right now, they’re all too busy with the show.”

“Sure.” Arden shrugged, then walked swiftly around the tank.

Soon he joined me on the platform. The good-looking human man paused, surveying the tent. “Quite a view you have up here.”

“Yep. I like it. Makes me feel a little free, somehow. Even though I’m not.” I shifted, sitting up and leaning against the fake rock, making sure to only put pressure on a portion of my back that wasn’t whipped. Patting a spot beside me, I told him, “Have a seat, if you like.” It was nice to have someone new to be friendly with, and even nicer that he was a human.

I’d not had much of a chance to be friendly with humans before. Most humans I was around were either guests, and never lingered long, or the employees, who stayed well away from us, like Bellows and Meeks preferred.

“Thank you.” Arden settled down beside me, stretching his long legs out and leaning against the fake rock as well. He put the paper bag down between us, and motioned at it. “Given they didn’t send any food for you with everyone else, I thought you might like to share dinner.”

I blinked, looking up at him, startled. “You’re going to share with me?”

“They don’t question how much food we take.” he shrugged. “I thought a hot meal would do you good.”

“You…get hot meals?” I asked softly, reaching out to touch the brown paper. It was indeed warm against my fingers. My stomach rumbled loudly at the thought.

“Yeah. I mean, what they feed you all will keep you alive, but it’s not a hot meal.”

“I haven’t had a hot meal in…” I frowned, “I…I don’t know how many years.” Normally we were given bread, some kind of cheese, dried meat or nuts for protein, and then fruit or some kind of vegetable like carrots or celery or chopped cucumbers. There was water to drink, of course, and occasionally we got milk.

“I’m sorry.” he murmured, frowning. Reaching into the bag, he pulled out the contents. Everything was packed into neat little waxed paper containers.

“They packed it up so nicely for you, too!” I shook my head amusedly.

“You’d be surprised what you can get from the meal ladies if you know how to flirt.” He smiled slightly. “Luckily, this isn’t a bad face for flirting.”

I blinked, then giggled. “No, not at all. If I thought I could flirt my way into a hot meal, heaven help the man on the receiving end of it! Irving would definitely get jealous.”

“Oh?” he arched an eyebrow at me.

“Cause I’d be willing to do a lot for that.” I snorted. “Don’t tell him I said that though, it’ll give him ideas. And don’t you go getting ideas.”

“I have no ideas whatsoever.” He told me flatly, then blinked and frowned, “I mean…not the kind you're thinking. I promise my brain works.” Much to my amusement, a slight flush crept up his face. It was really very cute.

I snorted, “You sure? Sounds like it short-circuited for a minute there.” Sometimes the magical lights we used to light the tents short-circuited, and Bellows had to fix them, much to his own irritation.

“Eh, sometimes it happens.” he paused, looking down, apparently still embarrassed. “I get flustered. I’m not great at talking.”

I blinked. He could flirt with the meal ladies to get what he wanted, but got flustered when he talked with me? Well damn. This boy was precious. Definitely worth keeping around.

Hopefully he’d stay with the circus for a while.

“That’s not true. You’re easy to talk to.” I shook my head.

“Sometimes what I say isn’t what I mean.” he muttered, starting to open the containers of food.

The smells wafted to my nose, and I inhaled deeply. “Gods, that smells amazing…But don’t worry about that. Sometimes words just don’t come out right for everyone.” I shrugged. “And don’t be embarrassed. I’m mean to Meeks, but you’re nice. I won’t pick on you.”

“I’m sure you’re not the only one who likes to pick on Meeks. Understandably so.” he paused, “Who was doing the mooing today? I couldn't figure out where it was coming from.”

I let myself grin at him. “Oh no, that was all me.”

Arden looked up, startled. “How?”

I threw my voice so that it spoke behind him, barely moving my mouth as I told him, “I learned how to throw my voice.”

He blinked, “Without moving your mouth?”

My voice now came from the pool of water below us. “Yep!” I smiled, then spoke normally. “Meeks might suspect, but there’s no way he can prove it. It’s been good fun.”

Arden flashed an amused grin at me, “I’m sure!” he poured some soup into a bowl, put a spoon in it, then handed it to me. “I hope you like tomato soup.”

“I’ve had tomatoes before, but never in soup form. I do like tomatoes.” I studied the spoon, suddenly realizing I’d never used one before.

Arden picked up his own bowl of soup, and started to eat. I watched him for a few moments so I could see how he used the spoon. Frowning, I picked up the utensil and did my best to eat with it. It felt awkward in my hand.

Apparently having noticed my struggles, he told me, “You can just drink it if it’d be easier.”

“No, I should learn how to use utensils. Maybe someday I’ll be free.” I muttered.

“Someday you will be.” His voice was firm.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

I turned to look at him, blinking in surprise at the confident declaration. I smiled. “Yeah. No maybe. Someday I’ll be free.”

He nodded at the spoon in my hand. “Did you not use them before you got captured?”

I frowned. “We ate food mostly with our hands. But I was very young when I was taken, so maybe I just don’t remember using them.”

“Ah.” he nodded. “Well, help yourself.” he motioned at the rest of the food. “There’s plenty here.”

“Thank you.” I studied the food.

Aside from the tomato soup, there were fresh greens with bacon pieces and seeds and fruits sprinkled on it, a pile of lumpy white…something, and a kind of pink meat that I’d not run into before.

“Bellows might not always treat the employees well too, but at least the food looks good. That said, I, uh…don’t know what most of it is. Although I do know what a salad is, at least.” I motioned at the leafy greens.

“Oh, sorry. That’s mashed potatoes and that’s ham. And you’re right. I’d have expected the food to not be as good. But I suspect it’s the meal ladies themselves who we have to thank for this. It’s likely that they’re good at making their budget for food stretch. They’re all older, and seemed very kind. They probably take pride in being able to feed so many people so well.”

That was the most he’d said in one go to me yet. I smiled, “I wish they would feed us this stuff.” I put some of the mashed potatoes, ham, and salad onto one of the plates he’d brought, and took a bite of the potatoes. “It’s all delicious.”

“It’s…probably not their choice.” Arden said quietly. “They’re the kind of ladies who would feed anyone, no questions asked, but aren’t allowed to send anything other than what they do send to you already. And I suspect they vary it more than they’re supposed to.”

“What makes you think that?”

“When I was picking up your meals, one of them told me that, since I wasn’t Meeks, they didn’t mind telling me that they’d managed to swap the apples for peaches without anyone noticing. She said they thought you all probably got sick of apples.”

“We do.” I snorted. “But it’s better than nothing.” I paused, “Would you…tell them thank you for swapping it out? Everyone really enjoyed the peaches. Sometimes they send berries, and it’s always a different cheese each day.”

“Oh, here.” he pulled two peaches out of the bag, and handed one to me. “I’d forgotten. I have dessert too.”

“The peaches aren’t dessert?” I blinked, staring at the parcel.

“Nope. They are really good though.”

“I can’t remember the last time I had something sweet other than fruit.” I cast my mind back. “I…I’m sure I did when I was a kid, and still free, but…” I shook my head, “I don’t remember. And I know I haven’t had any here.”

“I suspected as much.”

“Not that sometimes Irving isn’t able to sneak some sweet treats in here. There’s just never enough for anyone, and it’s better to let the little ones that are here have it. Brings them a little joy, you know?

“Hearing that, Irving seems like an alright guy. So does Rowan. Although Irving doesn't seem to like me very much.”

“Rowan is wonderful. He’s been like a father to me ever since he came here.” I smiled, then took a bite of the delicious ham. Immediately, I scarfed it all down. “Goodness!”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Me too!” I smiled, then ate some mashed potatoes, which were also very good. “As to Irving, he’s just jealous. He’s the only high fey man other than Rowan among us captured fey, and Rowan isn’t trying to flirt with any of us high fey women. He has a wife and family he misses, and is properly married to his wife. Like magically, I mean.”

Arden blinked, “Oh, wow. That’s pretty uncommon, right?”

“I guess.” I shrugged.

“Makes it all the worse for him, I’m sure.” my human companion muttered.

“Yes. But it’s how he knows his wife is still alive. The marriage mark is still on his skin. So I guess that’s kind of nice.”

“I guess.” Arden echoed quietly.

“But you just ignore Irving. He probably thinks you’re trying to move in on what he sees as his domain, when neither me nor Serha belong to anyone.” I said, then paused, “Well, other than Bellows.”

“No one can own another person. Slavery is captivity, not ownership. You can own a cat, that’s an animal. You can’t own a person.”

Goodness, sometimes the things he said…well, they were awful nice. It would be a sore parting whenever Arden took his leave of the circus. Although to be fair, he could just be hiding a dirty mind behind sweet words, but at the moment, I wasn’t sure I cared.

“I guess.” I murmured. “I wish I could have a cat. They’re cute.”

“They are.” he agreed.

“Sometimes they wander in here. We catch them when we can and love on them if they’ll let us before they go back to wherever they came from.”

“That must be something of a comfort.”

“It is. Although Irving knows I like cats, and will change into one when I’m upset with him sometimes. It’s a nuisance. It’s hard to stay angry with him when he’s a cat.” I pouted.

Arden laughed quietly. “I’m sure.”

We ate quietly for a few moments.

“How’s that cut on your side?”

“Not totally healed, but fine. Better than those burns, I expect.”

“Fair.” I shrugged, then grimaced.

“I’ve noticed you grimace every time you shrug…” his voice trailed off, but his tone was curious.

I sighed, “Bellows made his displeasure with me messing up a performance in a way that means I couldn't perform for a while known with some licks of the whip he keeps on his belt at all times. It’s his best friend.” It had probably been closer to forty or fifty, but I couldn't be sure, given I’d passed out, and something in me wanted to downplay it. Arden already felt sorry for me, I didn’t want him to think I was having a pity party or trying to get more of his attention, or anything.

Arden frowned, “Even though you were already burned?”

“Yep. No rest for the wicked.” I looked down and tugged on the bandages on my tail.

“Then I’d never sleep.” he commented, shooting me a sideways glance.

I got the impression it was supposed to be somewhat flirtatious, but his expression was so serious that I burst into giggles. “Oh! You’re too precious to be allowed!”

Arden’s face flushed red again, and he looked down, swearing mildly. “Gods, see? I’m not good at this.”

“No, I’m sorry!” I fanned my face, trying to stop laughing, “I shouldn’t have laughed!”

“I’m not…good at talking to girls,” he muttered, sounding annoyed with himself.

Something in my cold, dead heart melted. “Maybe not, but it seems to me that you’re pretty good at talking to mermaids, at least .” I smiled at him, then took a bite of the salad, which was also delicious. “Then again, I think I’d be pretty partial to anyone who brings me food.”

Being a captive meant that my chances of falling love and being happy were next to zero. Until I was free, like he said. So right now, I could be as fond of him as I pleased, but there was absolutely no chance anything more could, or should, come of this. So it was just harmless flirting, even if it turned out he wanted the same kind of things Irving did, because in the end, I wouldn't go that far.

Besides, I was too broken and bitter for anyone to really want. Who’d want an enslaved fey woman as a significant other? Maybe when I was free, but even then I’d still be damaged goods.

Arden gave a snort of laughter. “That’s fair though. I guess I should be happy to sit among the ranks of those who get to flirt with you for bringing you food.”

“That’s a lonely achievement.”

“So I’m the only one?”

“Basically. The only one I particularly wanted to flirt with, too.” I grinned at him.

“Then I’m flattered, honored, and saddened.” I guess because there hadn’t been more people to bring me food for me to flirt with.

I giggled, “Not good at this flirting thing my fins!”

“I am, actually. You’re just easy to talk to.” he grimaced slightly.

“We can agree to disagree on that. And I’m not usually talkative with humans. But normally I don’t want to talk to them, and vice versa, so it works out.” I continued, amused with the topic, and not putting much thought into my words. “The last human men who bothered me, well…I wasn’t particularly nice to them.”

“What’d you say?”

“It’s less of what I said and more of what I sang.” I told him, “It was an overreaction, and I shouldn’t have done it, but still…it was nice to sort of…take out my anger on them. Even if they didn’t really deserve it.”

“What’d you do?”

I was quiet for a few moments. Maybe I shouldn’t have told him about messing with the men, but there was nothing for it now, despite the shame I felt for having taken out my anger on some men who really hadn’t done anything to deserve it. “I trapped them in their minds with their worst fears.”

Arden blinked, then swore, and laughed, shaking his head. “What’d they do?!”

Surprised that he’d found it funny instead of off-putting, I smiled a little, “Well, they demanded I sing for them just because I’d decided to be nice and sing for a cute little girl who had come by before them. Then they called me a stupid fish.”

“Ahh…I see.” he nodded knowingly.

“I guess that’s not much different than when I moo at Meeks, though.” I frowned.

“It’s totally different because he deserves it for being a jerk.” Arden shot an unexpected grin at me.

I couldn't help but giggle, “He does and he is!” I sighed, then shook my head, setting my now-empty dishes aside. “I just get tired of being treated like an animal instead of a person.”

“Most people treat their animals better than you’re treated.” Arden said quietly, shaking his head a little.

“Must be nice.” I muttered.