Chapter 13:
Prince of Deceit

"Are you sure?" He repeated his question.

"Yes, definitely." I grinned, why would anyone doubt me?  "It was her, the missing, lost princess." Too bad, Izzi.  It is time for cleaning up loose strings. 

"In the outskirts of the kingdom.  She will most likely try to escape.  That is why you must pretend to be a stray mermaid than lure her in and do what you do with criminals."

"Alright.  We are in.  Thank you, Your Highness....Prince Mivozene of Pacific."

I shook my head, of course.

It is what I do, make myself look good.

~~~

How to be a cruel person twice in a day.  First Isa then Izzi.  I did not mean to do that to Isa... I was not paying attention and then there she was in front of me.  Before I knew it, I was leaning in and.... That is when I realized I could not do that. 

Not then, not there.  Well even if I wanted to...  No, I prefer not to think about that.  I told myself I will not even fall and become desired.  I hope I did not hurt her too much, I saw how she looked at me afterwards.  Rejected.  

I wonder...

But no...She cannot

As for Izzi, I had to.  She was a loose string.  She knew I was going to eventually do it.  We both had something against the other.  And now I took a chance.

Suddenly the mermaid council's emergency announcement was heard. 

 "All royal crowned mermaids report to the southern kimoshei base to discuss the courting and capture of the runaway princess, Izidra."

Ah yes, mermaid royalty.  All of them must be present.  I had not been to one in years.  I will show the council how cruel, I can be.  After all His and Her Majesties want me to show myself as someone cruel.

Let the games begin.

I pulled my hair up and pinned it in place with two combs.  I placed my royal set on and had my golden bands on my wrists.  They represented Kimoshei, meris, and power. 

I then choose a light aqua corset for my sister.  She was going to shine, like the angel she is.  The one who means the most to me.  They can shun me and do whatever to me I would not care, but hurt her and they can die and suffer for all eternity.

"Mina.." She popped her head into my room at once.  I smiled for once, like I do only with her.

"Mivo?" She titled her head smiling.

"Mina...I have something for you.  We are also going to be going somewhere and this time it also requires your presence." I placed the corset in front of her and her eyes gleamed.

She clasped her hands together, "Really?  Out of Kimoshei's walls?  Oh wow."  I placed a necklace on her to guarantee her protection.  I could not have the events of her 9-000 meris happen again. 

I took one of my combs out and placed the comb of royal in her hair, instead of mine.  She looked perfect.

"Mina...  Stay with me when we go.  I do not want you wondering off." I really did not want her to be outside the walls, or outside the royal Kimoshei towers that we reside in.

"Of course, brother!" She chirped quite happily.  She seemed excited for this, too excited.  I turned to her and hand to hand we set off to leave.  And to ensure her safety better yet, I had Zuri come.

...

We were all sitting around waiting for it to start.  As soon as I entered with my parents everyone stopped and stared.  Ah of course, I am the oldest without a desired to be.  It is stupid, really.  They would stare way too obvious and then when they see my sister they would whisper. 

Much muttered how she was way more important to me than anyone else, but it is true.  She was and still is.  I tucked my arm close around her and made sure she was no farther than few fins away.

I scanned all the others and spotted unrecognizable ones from the arctic kingdom.  I even spotted Isa looking nervous.  But I paid no attention.  I gazed with boredom, occasionally giving Mina a few glances here and there.

"Attention, royal crowned mermaids!" Finally, a voice spoke.  "Princess Izidra of the Levantia has be found and captured....And it is all thanks to the Kimoshei crowned, prince Mivozene himself." I grinned smugly as anger filled Izidra's face.  Did she not know, it was me?

"What!  How could you...you traitor!  And here....I thought we are friends.... After everything I-"

"Silence!  Speak no more, council has the sand floor." She glared and held her hands in fist.

"Of Kimoshei, was her words correct.  It is a little odd she is near your kingdom."

"Know her?  Yes.  Friends?" I laughed dryly.  The only suitable laugh for a mermaid. 
       "What lies.  I knew of her whereabouts for awhile.  I been trying to lure her in and think of the best possible way to turn her in and do I say myself, it worked quite well.  Did I misjudge?" A mutter of cries were heard as soon as  spoke these words.

"Mivozene you traitor!  The only reason you came was because you needed me.  How dare you...  I will tell everyone about you! 
         You sly son of the Pacifician Merlin of Zyangez Seas!" She cursed at him as she shouting slanders.  Mermaids gasped at her as they tried to cover any merlings' ears.

"Traitor?" I raised my eyebrows.  "You are the one who left everything and ran from all the importance of your being.
      And after being to be desired too.... I would say you just quite nervous for it.  I mean many would be the same and thus shall not blame you."

"No I do not wish for such desired to such merphan that does that to ever merphan he sees!  And let me tell all of you merphans, you think he is so perfect... You think his kingdom and the royal family of Kimoshei is.  Well you are wrong.
          He despises desires much more than I!  He has the most undying distress for those who blessed him ever.  And do not forget how it was I who helped him get through everything because of his weak arm from his living standards. 
         His living standards that caused him gr-" I turned pale for a second before I thought of a perfect way of saying that.

"What?" I interrupted her before she could say anymore.  "What are you awfully talking of?  Kimoshei and the liveliness is quite perfect.  And I can inform you, my arm never been weak. 
        If any it was only slight injured when some Sly humphead wrasses of the Zyandividerez Rivers threw themselves at my sister..." I muttered bitterly.  "How insulting..." I shook my head.
        "To say something like that..." The crowd murmured in distraught.  They shouted slanders and profanities.

"One strike to Izidra of Southern Seas!" The announcer shouted angrily.

Just then the Arctic kingdom of Fentalia muttered sniffled cries to each other.  Then a voice who I assumed was her supposedly one to be desired spoke.  I was not sure which one was he, there were several masculines at the front of the Arctic mermaid section. 

           But I noticed the one thing all them had in common, was ashed or paled up hair with their darkened skin.   "Everything she done...I cannot even speak, it wounds me too much..." His voice broke.  He sounded so sincere, unless he was a really good actor.  "so much....That I must see all her crimes never go undone without being punished. 
          It hurts me greatly... Unless, she immediately becomes desires with me.  And only then if she does only that will be the only way I must make herself redeem her in my mind." 

"Aww...."
"Poor young merphan."
"How could she do that to him..."
"Yeah and after he gave her his everything."
"Stupid runaway merphan."
"I hate her"
"I gladly be with the young merphan instead!" I heard echoes of voices that seemed deeply saddened by this. 

But the voices jumped to conclusions making her a lot worse than what she did or what I intended for to happen.  I hope the outcome is really worth it. Nah she be fine, besides she can just heal herself.  There is no reason to question this.

"Brother..." I felt little Mina nudge me, "Why?  Why is she being surrounded?  She helped you and me, yet she in the center of the council being judged.  Why?" I could not answer her.  She would not understand.
       "What she done that deserved this?  Why...  She should not be punished.  Why did you say those things about her?  She should not of deserve this..." She pulled on my arm once more.  "Mother!  Father!" She turned to them as I tried to hush her cries.  "Why?  I do not understand....Someone stop..  Please.  Stop.  Stop!  Stooooooop!" Deadly tears started falling from her eyes that could lead to you know what.  Just as the council realized what was going on, I lifted up.

"Excuse us, of Kimoshei.  Honor in the council name." They nodded allowing us to be excused.  I went with my sister ways until nobody would be able to hear us or her.

"Mivo...?  Why did you bring me away?  I could of stopped them.  I bet I could besides if I have you on my side I am unstoppable!"

"Mina..." I sighed.  "I.. I do not want you to think just because I am your brother, you can do whatever you want.  You are not unstoppable.  We are not immortal.  I have weaknesses too.  And as for what is going on, she left her duties and is being punished.  That is something that cannot be stopped. 
           And if you did, you too would surely be punished.  And I do not want to see that because if they did that to you I become an enemy to them all.  I would go against them and ruin my legacy, my kingdom...  You realize I do anything for you, but if you can try please do not get into trouble.  Besides..." I say grinning, "I am all the trouble you need!"

"Trouble?" Her eyes gleamed mischievously turning a magenta that I so try to prohibit them from becoming.

"Mina...Mina...Mina.  What did I say?  Your tail, your scales, your eyes...Magenta." I shook my head.  I hope nobody comes or I have to do the worse to protect my sister.  "And what did I say about that?

"I am a marine mermaid!  I am a marine mermaid!  My eyes are marine blue, not magenta.  I know you hate when I am like that, but it just happened.  Besides nothing going to happen."

"You might get taken away from me...You are different.  Different from everyone else." Not different way too special to show everyone, I thought.  It was predicted one like my sister would come to be after about a hundred years.  Then thee would possess the ultimate strength and power.

  The power to control oceans and it lead it assistance with her anywhere she be.  They would be able to create or destroy merphans of everything.  And any bad influence would cause the doom, any good will cause the pure peaceful days. 

But I know the mermaid council would hurt her to contain these peaceful days.  But my sister had no idea what she could do or was thought to do, and I was going to keep it that way.

"Different?  How?"

"Well you have...emotions and so many feelings.  It seems more than anyone.  And you do seem to have excess amounts that you steal from everyone around you."

I was told I used to have a little part of me filled with emotion, I never believed it....But if I did, I gave it all to Mina.  Besides emotions and feelings would just make me weak and I cannot have that, nor would father want that.

"Oh!  Yeah, I am glad!  I feel more joy and happy this way and it is absolutely...wonderful!" She spins, doing water flips.  I could not help, but smile.  That one thing about her.  She supplied me emotions like a smile or a laugh.  Sometimes.

I put my arms around her, bringing her into a hug and breathed in, "I am glad you are safe.  And if anything like what happened earlier is about to happen and I am not there.  Please, just excuse yourself and go to another room.  I want to make sure my little sister is-"

"Whoaaaaa!" Mina interrupted with an outburst of amazement.  I turned my head to seem a strange, but oh familiar figure behind me.  How much did this beztiva of the siveren river see?

"Ugh, what are you doing here?" I muttered annoyed with his presence.  Why did Miza have to follow me?

"You left." I shrugged.  "What are you up to?  And I just had to get a chance to see your sweet lil' sister you always speak of."

"Sweet?  You said it perfectly.  Do you study with Mivo?" My sister gleamed her eyes glowing in passion.  Of course she takes a liking to the one merphan who irks me.

"He from Atlantic, you know Rivalkai that kingdom I sometimes I have to go for reasons you do not even understand nor will it be anytime soon that you come close to understanding." I wonder what Miza all knows of the truth behind my visits. 

In a way I hate it, and in another sense I do not mind.  But never in a million years I would ever even think about accepting the agreement my parents had for me.

"Oh that place?" She frowned and her expression of that country did not have to remind me any more.  She disliked it.  I do not know the exact reasons, but it has to do with me having to spend my time there a lot and Mina being all alone. 

Another reason is I complained about Isa to her after my first visit.  I kinda hope she forgot, but deep down I know she has not and will not like her unless I say something otherwise.  But I do not want her or anyone else thinking, I am into her either.  I cannot.

"Why is she making that face...?" She was glaring giving him the evil look.  "What is with that evil look she is giving me?

"I hate Rivalkai.  They always taking brother from me and lessening our time together." I grinned at Miza.

"Maybe sometime you could go-" I closed my eyes in annoyance.  She was not leaving without me being around constantly.

"No." I would not allow that, "it is too dangerous, you cannot trust merphans, especially masculines.  Well except me." I laughed dryly.

"Prince Mivozene...Why did you do that to the princess of Levantia?" Miza suddenly asked.

Why was he asking me this?  "What do you mean?" I played innocently.

"I seen before...Princess of Rivalkai seen as well.  You were both around the other."

"She was forgetting her place.  She was running away from it all.  She was a loose string that needed to be cut.  And she had something against me, just as I had things against her.  I could not wait for her betrayal first." Everyone is filled with that trait.  Betrayal.

  No one can be trusted.  Only keep people that would be of use to you.  Most merphans will do that.  They makes these set curriculum to have us follow and breaking it would be such a dishonor.  Then in front of every kingdom's crowned family they would be judged. 

Then there was those desires that everyone was expected to do.  Once desired, never can go back on it.  Then after the process it somehow changes them.  You could be abused, hurt, or in a toxic relationship and you would not care.  You become obsessed with the others... 

Then Father always want me to make my kingdom and themselves look proper and loyal following and doing everything correctly.  But they just care about them looking correctly.  They do not care about me at all, nor Mina.  But I could never tell her the truth, it would surely dishearten her.  It seems they do not care what she does as long it nothing to break anything.

  I mean they do just claim she still young and it is up to me to make sure she does everything right.  But I am not going to.  That is why she is always in the kingdom's walls, except for events like these.....

"Mivo?" My sister broke my thoughts.  "About earlier, I...I should of listened.  I forgot my place and the rules..."

"What are you saying?  They have stupid rules and things anyways.  The world is cruel and within the world is wicked merphans that will always try to hurt us.  They want everyone to be pressured into doing right things, so we ourselves can make our kingdom look at best.  That is how the world is." Mina blinks and shakes her head.  She did not understand, but that is okay.

"Uh....You do not surely think that, do you?" I stared at him.  "T-that is not completely true."

"Sure it is.  Some of it.  More than you could ever imagine.  Have you seen merphans act?  To win and succeed you have to do the best of your ability to find the right merphans to help make you look good. 
          Cut strings off before they betray you first.  It is up against the finest, may the best mermaid win.  Have you not heard of it?  Did your parents never said a thing about this?  It is most obvious and-"

"My parents did not raise me really.  I grew up as a servant in the crowned ones mansion in Rivalkai." I blinked.  Wait...Why?  I was confused.

"Why?" My sister looked at him.  "Not with your parents...If Mother and Father left I would be sad."

"Well Mina," Miza starts, and I just glared at him.  "I send them messages frequently...I just could not be with because of certain circumstances.."

"DO NOT CALL ME MINA!" My sister hissed at once.  I looked at her, I raised my eyebrows and started laughing.  Her flippers were scrunched up, she was pouting, and was making this adorable mad face.

"W...oahhh...Jeez, your as bad as your brother."  I hit him.  He deserved that.  "Oww." He groaned and Mina just laughed.  The laugh that sounds like a lullaby from a shell.

"Wait.  You are like full mermaid, right?  Does that mean you are desired?  Mivo never talks about it, but it seems so exciting and interesting.  Tell me about it..."

"A-actually, I am not, but that is because......of circumstances." He sure has a lot of fishy circumstances.  I never cared about peering in, but now I am a bit curious. 

"But...I sure do know a lot.  I am under the most beautiful desires in merphan history." He spread his arms out in exaggeration.

"Woaaaah." Mina's eyes lit up in amazement.  "Tell me more!" She always like this.  Forgetting the previous thing and gets distracted by exciting things.  Except when it has to do with me.  I have a feeling, she will forget him soon.

"Well..." Miza looked at me.  I simply nodded and shrugged.  I did not care if he told her about it.  "...They do anything for the other merphan.  Living in a dream, that is what it is like.  So much it is hard to see reality.  You forget every bad thing and respect them. 
         It is perfect and idealistic way to be.  Protection and wanting to be with the other ever second.  Never, there's a moment you don't think about them and if two aren't desired yet...
         But is known if two that are not desired, but suppress those qualities then they will occasionally become ill feeling waves of warmness and head injuries."  Occasionally?  More like every week. I bit my lip, why was he telling her that?  It was as if....He knows.  How annoying.

"Wow!  How amazing."

"Oh yes, it seems wonderful, doesn't it.  So pacific princess, does your brother ever talk about that?  He is almost that age right?"

"What?!  My brother might.....B-b-but then he will leave me alone...A-a-and I will never see him and he would like whoever they are better than me!"

She cared for my presence will her a lot, and I enjoyed that.  I would always have my sister.  Not matter what happens, she will always be on my side.  

"Egh!" He made a shocking gasp sound.

"You care too?" I muttered, "Geez what is it with merphans wanting to know.  Just because I am the next crowned of Kimoshei?  It is stupid.  When will they give it a break?  Or maybe why does every merphan have to even be desired? 
        It causes them to be  drowned in a pit of lies, if you ask me.  But alas, you say a thing and I trust what you said about circumstances....You would not want the elders or the mermaid council knowing." Mina, just stood there between us looking confused.  "Ah...Mina, we should head back."

We left as urgently as we could.  I did not want to be away any longer.  Thankfully when I peeked in, the people were not close together.  We sneaked back in without anyone paying attention. 

Izzi was nowhere in sight, and the judging and punishment must of been over with.  Now all the merphans were having refreshments and talking among themselves.

Anything could happen now...

//AN: I appreciate Miza and writing him is fun.