!! Warning: This chapter may not be suitable for all readers as it contains violence and mentions of rape !!
Whylomie pulled out a small bag, glancing at her tops. She didn't have anything for legs since she usually had a fin. Maybe a sort of skirt would work alright on land? She wore them to parties to accent her fins. She shrugged unsure, adding them to her bag. She swam over to her dresser, taking the hairbrush Meredith had given her before she left. She couldn't remember Meredith's face anymore, or the shape of her eyes or color of her fins. But she could remember her hair. Long golden strands swirling in the water. Whylomie closed her eyes holding the brush to her chest as she remembered Meredith's sweet smile surrounded by hair.
"I want hair like that." Whylomie breathed softly. She opened her eyes to stare at her reflection. Her hair bounced around her face, curly and blonde. It enhanced her round face and pouting blue eyes. She sighed shrugging, putting the brush in her bag.
A knock came at the door, making her pause surprised. She hid the bag quickly under her dresser before swimming over. Asir wouldn't knock and would be too busy to visit her at this time making her wonder who could be at her door. She held her breath nervously as Waljan waited patiently on the other side. He smiled down at her warmly as she sat mostly hidden behind her door.
"The ceremony was just beginning. I thought you could use some company for a while. Care to join me for dinner?" Waljan asked as Whylomie frowned uncertain. Waljan had never spoken to her before now and for some reason she always felt that Asir and their father didn't get along.
"I have no reason to decline." Whylomie muttered wondering why she seemed so nervous. Waljan smiled sweetly at her, before offering her a small bundle.
"Wear this. We can stop by the ceremony on the way and see how your brother is handling all of the desperate women eager for his attention." Waljan told her in a friendly tone. She nodded her head, taking the bundle from him and closing the door. Whylomie took it over to her dresser, unwrapping it quickly. She didn't want to keep her father waiting.
She put the jewelry to the side, holding out the fabric. It was a light flowing dress, moving through the water easily. Whylomie slid the pink dress on quickly before applying the jewelry. She smiled softly at the vaguely familiar choker as it fell into place.
It was done in silver metal with a variety of blue stones making up the waves. She felt like she had seen it somewhere before, but quickly shrugged it off as she hurried over to the door. Tonight, after dinner, she was leaving the colony. For good this time.
She opened the door slowly swimming out of her room. Waljan stopped to look at her, making Whylomie shiver from fear. His dark eyes contradicted his charming smile as he held out a webbed hand. She took it carefully as he pulled her along.
He didn't speak and simply moved his hand from hers to the small of her back. Whylomie hadn't noticed before, but her dress was made from multiple layers, making it hard to swim very fast as it got tangled up. She had never worn something quite so long before and wondered where Waljan had gotten it.
Noise up a head drew her out of her thoughts about the dress as females squealed in delight. Waljan paused by an open door letting Whylomie glimpse at the feast she wasn't invited to. Females swam about excitedly as they tried to wait their turn to dine with the prince.
Whylomie cast her eyes about until she found her brother sitting like a king on a pile of cushions while young woman tried to seduce him. She knew it shouldn't bother her to see such sights, but somehow it hurt, watching him kiss other girls. She pulled her eyes away pausing when she noticed someone watching her. Marielle blushed when they locked eyes, turning away quickly. Whylomie pulled away from the door swimming down the hall.
"Is something wrong?" Waljan asked as Whylomie flinched away from his touch.
"I wasn't invited. I have no right to be here. May I please go home?" Whylomie told him softly as Waljan wrapped an arm around her dragging her away.
"I'm sorry, that was rude of me, wasn't it? I offered you dinner and made you wait. You must be starving." Waljan told her as she stayed beside him if only because she didn't know how to get away without offending him.
He led her down halls through passageways she was unfamiliar with. The castle being mostly under water, had no need for floors, though most rooms offered the comfort of floors or balconies, the hallways stretched down into the depths.
She quietly watched the limited aquatic life swim below them before he dragged her up. Rooms were built at random heights along the walls, though this room sat near the celling.
"I have never been over here." Whylomie muttered trying to quell her rising panic. She had never been alone with anyone other than Asir for any length of time. Waljan chuckled as he held the door open for her. She entered the room slowly, glancing around at the dim lights and pillow covered floor. The pillows were made specifically for underwater, creating a comforting atmosphere.
"Sit anywhere you find comfortable. I am going to fetch us something to drink while we wait on food." Waljan told her in a friendly tone as he swam off. Whylomie settled in next to a glowing lantern, though she would have preferred just to run. She didn't know why she felt so uneasy. Perhaps it was because she didn't spend that much time with her father. Waljan came back handing her a glass before he settled in across from her.
"You're nervous. I understand. We haven't spent that much time together. Duty to our people after all." Waljan told her as he poured her a glass of wine. A bit of mermaid magic as the liquid passed through the water as if it were air.
"Perhaps just a bit. I did understand your distance from me. I am not very special after all." Whylomie muttered as she took a sip. It was sweet, making her drink a little more.
"I don't think you understand at all. Not really. After all, you actually mean it when you call me father. When I am not related to you in the slightest." Waljan told her with a smile. Whylomie froze glancing up at him as he laughed happily. The sound causing knots to form in her gut.
"Then you aren't our father?" Whylomie asked surprised as Waljan smiled. The lantern light flickered across his face, making Whylomie's heart rate pick up at the predatory gaze. Waljan poured her some more drink as she continued to sip nervously.
"No, I am not. Your father died shortly after you were conceived. Asir knew about this since forever. I am surprised he kept it from you." Waljan said setting down his glass. Whylomie frowned at the full cup before his words caught up to her.
"Asir knew? But he still called you father." Whylomie mumbled surprised. Suddenly she wondered if she knew Asir at all. What else had he been hiding from her? That they were all hiding from her. "I want to go home." Whylomie stated trying to get up. Her fin felt like lead as she struggled to force herself to move.
"But don't you understand? Surely you know why I called you here now. Not being my daughter, finally come of age, just like your brother." Waljan purred as he grabbed her arm pulling her back towards him. Her brain felt foggy as she tried to think. She didn't understand what he was saying.
"How did my father die?" Whylomie blurted as Waljan's caressed her breast. Waljan sighed shoving her down onto the cushions smiling when she squeaked. He used his hips to hold her down as he began to strip her top off.
"The same way Asir will die. I killed him." Waljan chuckled into her ear. Her fear made him smiled as he bit her neck and shoulder. She whined and struggled as he laughed holding her in place.
"I don't understand! Why would you kill them? Why are you doing this to me?!" Whylomie cried as she struggled. He grabbed her breast painfully in his large hands as he considered it.
"Power mostly. If I am the only male, I will have power. I will be king. It took me a while to kill off all the others. I finally thought I was the last one, but then your mother had to go and ruin everything. She lied about your birth. Presenting you as her only child. For years she used you to hide Asir from me. Until you were ten and moved into the castle. I know you were quite fond of princess Meredith, so I gave you her old room. And even now you are wearing her clothes and jewelry that got left behind when she abandoned us. I know you have been turning into a two legged. Your hair gives it away. Did you think I wouldn't notice?" Waljan growled angrily as he bit her shoulder hard enough to draw blood. She let out a small scream as she sobbed.
"I didn't think anyone would care. Nobody would miss me if I were gone." She told him in a whisper as Waljan sighed, petting her head as she trembled.
"You're right. Nobody will care if you cease to exist. Well except maybe Asir. That's why I am going to kill you first. I want to see the rage in his eyes right before I kill him too. Twins should always be together after all." Waljan grinned as he turned his attention back to her body. Whylomie gasped angrily as she struggled to make him stop touching her.
He grabbed her arm twisting it painfully as it cleared the rest of the fogginess out of her brain. She growled realizing that she couldn't push him off in this form as her fin tangled in the fabric of the dress. He hissed trying to force her back down as she slipped effortlessly into her other form.
Unlike her fin before, her legs gave her the leverage she needed to throw him off her. He growled grabbing her ankle as she fell back down. She grabbed the bottle near the glasses, spinning around, she used the bottle as a weapon, smashing it against his skull.
He howled in both rage and pain as she got to her feet, running shakily to the door. Her legs dragging through the water creating resistance when there hadn't been any before.
"Whylomie!" He roared as she threw the door open. Blood and wine dripped down his face as he pulled himself together and came after her. Someone grabbed her wrist, pulling her out of the room and slamming the door shut on Waljan's rage filled screams.
Whylomie stumbled forward before falling off the small balcony. Someone grunted as they caught her dragging her away before someone else grabbed her other arm, dragging them both faster. Whylomie struggled to keep up before someone shoved her into another side room. It was a small study rarely used making Whylomie pant as she struggled to catch her breath. Marielle leaned against the closed door listening as Waljan shouted at screamed at panicking mermaids.
"Why doesn't she have a fin?" Marielle hissed softly as Whylomie tried to think of an answer staring down at her toes as she sat dangling in water. The top of her dress was in shambles as she tried to pull it back in place panicking.
"She is probably in shock. We need to get her out of the castle without getting caught." A deep voice answered Marielle as Whylomie shot a look up at her brother. What was Asir doing here?
"I know a way. Follow me." Marielle told him as she swam to the window. Asir followed her, lifting his sister into his arms as they slipped down into the depths. Asir frowned as he followed the mermaid in front of him. She had been Whylomie's friend for years before it turned out she was just using Whylomie to get to him.
He hadn't forgiven her from breaking Whylomie's heart. When Marielle approached him at the banquet tonight, he had no intention of listening to a word she said. Except she only spoke of Whylomie.
Asir glanced down at his sister as he carried her in his arms. She was still trembling and something about the way her eyes were dilated made him growl softly. What had Waljan done to her? Marielle led them under the castle and through the mostly empty village. She paused unsure as Asir continued forward.
She followed behind them slowly as Asir broke through the surface of the water. He helped Whylomie climb up onto the rocky ledge before he climbed up after her. Marielle waited at the edge unsure, blushing when Asir changed forms becoming completely naked.
"Whylomie are you okay?" Asir asked looking her over in the dim light. She flinched away from his touch trying to cover herself with her dress.
"You knew he wasn't our father. Why didn't you say anything?" Whylomie asked the cold rocks under her hands as Asir hesitated. She felt... Betrayed.
"Mother said it was the only way to keep you safe. I realize now that not telling you was a mistake." Asir told her softly as Whylomie sniffled. Water washed up onto the rock as Marielle tried to pull herself up. She reached out grabbing Whylomie's hand and holding it tightly. Whylomie leaned forward hugging her as she sobbed into her shoulder. Marielle sighed as she hugged her.
"I'm sorry things turned out like they did. It is no longer safe here for you. Waljan will do everything in his power to kill you." Marielle mumbled worriedly as Asir nodded.
"That's why we are leaving. We are going to find Meredith. Will you come with us?" Asir asked as Whylomie sat up nodding her head. Marielle blushed turning away.
"The idea sounds wonderful, but it will take me far too long to learn how to change like you do. You must go without me. If you find yourself coming back this way, I will be here. Practicing so that I can leave with you." Marielle told them as she stared out over the water.
"We will come back for you. Just wait for us. We will be back, that is a promise." Whylomie told her as she nodded through a small smile. Marielle sighed before leaning over and kissing Whylomie quickly.
"Don't forget me." Marielle muttered as she slipped beneath the waves. Whylomie sat shocked as she touched her lips gingerly. Asir helped Whylomie to stand as he slowly led her away from the dark waters.
"How did you know where to find me?" Whylomie asked him curiously trying to think of something else. Asir paused holding her close.
"Marielle approached me at the feast. She told me she saw you with Waljan and that she was worried. I didn't trust her and swam back to your room to see if you were there. You were gone and you had this bag packed hidden under the dresser which meant you had been planning to run away but didn't quite get there. I ran into Marielle in the halls on my way to you. When we saw the door open, and heard Waljan roar, I panicked. The rest you know." Asir told her softly as Whylomie sighed, hugging him close.
"Thank you for coming for me. All those girls are going to be pretty upset their prince is gone." Whylomie told him as Asir scoffed making her giggle. "Are we really coming back?" Whylomie asked as Asir glanced down at her.
"Waljan killed our father and tried to hurt you. It's only fair we return the favor. Once I figure out how to kill the king." Asir sighed making Whylomie lean against him.
"Do you think we might find Meredith?" Whylomie asked as Asir paused for a second.
"Actually, I think finding her should be our main priority. Surely, she knows the outside world well. Maybe she can help us overthrow Waljan." Asir told her as he considered it. Whylomie nodded slowly before she smiled happily.
"Then we find Meredith!" Whylomie giggled, eager to forget the recent past.
"You know Meredith?" A voice called out from the dark. Asir and Whylomie jumped turning to face the intruder. They couldn't see them through the darkness making Asir growl nervously. At least this trip wasn't going to be boring, he decided as he stood ready to protect his sister.
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