BELOW US

(Note: Merman/mermaid conversations will be placed in italic fonts)

THIRD PERSON POV

"Say it again?!" The fellow merman said as the other merman with a sparkling blue tail swam to him, and he nodded frantically.

"You heard it! Beomgyu saw it! The cages are empty hyung!" He replied and the man sighed as bubbles formed underwater.

This man was Namjoon's hyung. Older than him and is his best friend. Beomgyu caught up next to both of them and  sighed as he swam next to Namjoon.

The pink-haired man swatted the back of his head before Beomgyu whined, saying it wasn't his fault.

"Great! Now what are we gonna do now? He's gonna go out there to the human world where we're restricted! No one has ever been to the surface!" The pink-haired man with the pink-tail responded and Namjoon sighed before looking at the man.

"We need to report this to Chief Lee, or we'll be the ones in trouble. It's our duty to look after the cells after all," he said and Beomgyu nodded in agreement.

"Fine, fine. I was getting tired of swimming around the village afterall. But if something happens and we'll probably go finless, I'm blaming you when I turn into seafoam," he grumbled before swimming with the two guys.

"Seokjin hyung, no one is gonna make you finless. You're the most handsome merman in the sea afterall," Beomgyu says and Seokjin smiles before ruffling the boy's orange hair.

"Why thank you, Beomgyu," he cooes and Namjoon rolls his eyes before swimming to a small and enclosed cave where the chief was at.

"Most handsome my tail. I hope he chokes on a starfish," he mumbles and Seokjin shoots back, saying he was just jealous.

Those three are one of the highest ranking mermen in the sea. Each were born with special and gifted talents. Seokjin was born with beauty and grace, known for charming mers with his pink and silky hair, and his glittery tail.

Namjoon was born with the brains and sharp instincts that makes him aware and alert of everything around him. He's also the most mature around them.

And Beomgyu was gifted with a very fit body, which makes him faster in physical activities like swimming and capturing fish.

As they reached the cave, they swam inside the entrance, ringing the rusted bell to indicate that they have arrived. And they swam towards the man who was arranging human stuff on the rocky textures.

Yes, human stuff. Mers tend to collect human stuff, so they could study them and use them for their own good.

"Chief Lee! You've gotta listen to this!" Seokjin said as he swam towards the older man named Lee Dong Wook.

"Seokjin, calm you seahorses! Did you even think of the consequences we're gonna face?!" Namjoon replied as Chief Lee sent them a quetionable look.

"What is it, boys?" Chief Lee replied as he looked at the three young men he treated as his sons.

Mers also tend to talk to each other silently, sharing a telepathic connection with one another, also having the ability to choose who can hear their conversation.

"I don't care Namjoon. I'm still blaming you, and it's better to tell than to hold it longer," Seokjin responds before looking at the man.

"Namjoon here says that the kelpie is gone. Now I wonder what he is doing," Seokjin said casually, and Chief Lee's eyes widened as he slowly turned to the latter.

"What?"

"Uhm, he's gone. Kelpie is gone, gone-gone like poof!"

"SAY THAT AGAIN?!"

"KELPIE IS FREAKING GONE OKAY?!"

"AND WHO WAS IN CHARGE?!"

"KIM FREAKING CRAPJOON"

"HEY! Beomgyu was with me too!"

"Oh, and Beomgyu too!"

"THE KELPIE?! AS IN THE HORSE?!"

"NO! THE EEL CALLED KELPIE!"

"SEOKJIN I WILL KILL YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS!"

"Alright Dong Wook, calm down. Calm your seahorses," the chief exhaled before turning to the three men.

"So you're saying that monstrous horse is out there, escaped the cage and is now wandering on human land?!" He clarified.

"Most probably. I'm still not sure and we can't locate him. Kelpies are known to always appear near humans so it isn't surprising to see them on land," Namjoon replied and Dong Wook nodded.

"I see, I now see this situation. It's going to be really tough since that monster hasn't been let out for over 300 years now. He's most likely to have attracted a lot of people by now," he said.

"Kelpies can shapeshift. It's either a horse with a tail, a horse, or a very attractive human depending on the gender. It can also live without freshwater or saltwater for atleast 24 hours," Namjoon explains and Dong Wook groans before patting the back of his neck.

"This is gonna be hard. We haven't seen him in his human form yet, how could we know who he is?" Beomgyu pipes in, and Dong Wook's eyes widened before turning to them.

"I have an idea. But it's risky. Plus, I need permission from the higher ups, but I doubt they would be able to accept this," Dong Wook responds before pointing at the trio.

"You'll have to go into the human world."

"What?! What do you mean?!" Namjoon exclaims, like he was about to have a fit right then and there.

"That's right. You, Seokjin, and Beomgyu should go to the human world. You can probably know how to act like them since three of you are smart," Dong Wook explains.

"We can't let that monster free and letting him attack human like that. It was our responsibility to keep him, and also our responsibility to get him back," Dong Wook continues and Seokjin's eye twitched.

"ME?! Why also me?! I didn't do anything! I'm staying here!" He argues and Dong Wook rolls his eyes.

"Don't worry. I'll send a mer with you guys. He's close with Beomgyu's age and he might help you a lot with locating the kelpie. Kelpies have a sea-like smell with them. The scent of the water from the sea is exactly the scent lingering around.  This guy might be close enough to help you kids," Dong Wook said.

"Oh, and one more thing. No mer has ever been able to have an ability to transform to a human as it was taken away from them. But don't worry, I have a solution for that," Dong Wook says before taking something from below the rocks.

"Open your hands, I have something to give you guys. But you must never tell anyone, especially the higher ups," Dong Wook said before placing something on their palm.

"This is a Mer's Pearl. This pearl is not from clams, but it's from mermaids and mermen themselves. Mer's Pearls can only be taken from them when a new mer is born, taking their ability to become human. It was taken from them before they could turn ten, which is where abilities to become humans bloom. I'm just giving this to you in secret, you can swallow it when you're ready for the mission," Dong Wook said as he looked at them, the shiny, black-like orb that was bigger than a usual pearl placed on their palms.

"But Chief Lee, doesn't this give us the ability to become human abilities... like... forever?" Namjoon asks.

"This is why I trust you guys enough to use your human-changing abilities for this mission only. Never use them for your selfish desires, or there will ne consequences," he replies.

"First of all, you will turn into seafoam if you ever betray your roots as a merman. It is the condition and pact of the mers and the sea herself. You should know your limits and temptations and know when to return to the sea, and that is as soon as your retrieve the kelpie," Dong Wook explains and they nodded.

"Got it. We won't let you down, Chief Lee. We'll make sure to come back alive... for you and for the sea," Seokjin smiled sweetly and Dong Wook nodded before patting their heads.

"Never tell me higher-ups, you hear me? If this reaches them, they'll blow up. And worse, we'll be killed and probably get kicked out from our home which is the sea. Remember that mers can never live without the sea," Dong Wook states and Namjoon nods.

"You don't have to worry about us, Chief Lee. We'll do our job and retrieve the kelpie. And also, we'll take care of Beomgyu and the other mer for you," Namjoon says.

"Yeah! Namjoon and Seokjin hyung will take care of me! You don't have to worry about me, Chief Lee!" Beomgyu nods and Dong Wook gives his usual dad smile.

"Namjoon, Seokjin. Mission starts tonight when everyone is asleep. Don't fail on me, you're like my sons. I will trust Beomgyu and his friend with you, because they also have a dream on being just like you guys," Dong Wook beams.

"We promise, Chief Lee."

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(UNEDITED)

A/N:

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I have updated! Lolol I finally updated all my books this year I'm so happy! :]