Into The Unknown

Chapter 5

I don't know how much longer I could stay like this. Swimming around in my own filth. I screeched and banged against the glass, but nothing worked.

Only one person ever came down to throw dead fish in the tank once a day. They would stick around observing me. I wouldn't give this human any information of my kind, so I just hissed and waited for him to leave the room.

I needed new water. After being stuck in this dreadful tank for five days, if I didn't get fresh water soon I’d parish.

I had to think of a way out of this mess. My mind trails to the memories of how I got here. I hoped Rysah wasn't in a cage somewhere also. I keep thinking about the people in the middle of the whirlpool; how they had two legs.

Could that have been Ale and Emirs? But they had legs. Not a tail.

I look at my tail and swish it around in the water a few times. There were stories. Of how we could trade a tail for legs. I never knew why one would do that, but could now see the appeal.

We as merfolk get our powers from the oceans. Everyone has their own set specialties as powers but merfolk as a whole have their own set magic system of oceanic runes. It’s old ancient magic that no one bothered to use anymore since specialty magic has modernized the way we do most things. The oceanic runes are what got me into trouble all those centuries ago, so I hadn't thought about them in some time.

I look around the murky tank water. There hadn't been much room. My tail touched the glass whenever I stretched out I had to bend at an awkward angle.

Blowing a few bubbles out in frustration I pound against the glass. As I try to re-call the specific runes from all my years of study.

I hadn't practiced the ancient art in centuries and I wondered if I could remember the specific symbols for the runes. Again I blow out a few bubbles. I promised myself that this would be in the past and I’d make my own way without the use of any magic.

However, I had to try. I had to get out of here.

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Like clockwork the two legged beast came down holding a platter.

Stopping what I was doing I looked over to him. A few of my pink scales floated in the water and it was now a deep blue luminescent color from my blood. I hadn't tried to etch the ruin into my tail yet, but I had started to remove a few scales so the attempt would be easier.

The beast doesn't immediately dump the dead fish and whatever else he brought in the tank like usual. It stands back observing. I try not to gulp wondering what he was thinking; but as he observed me I observed him.

His long dark locks are half hidden under a hat made out of some kind of black animal hide. The front of the hat is highcocked with an emblem of an octopus spreading its tentacles out on the front in dark contrast. Its tentacles spread out four on each side.

It was a peculiar thing, and I had seen nothing like it.

I had never seen anything like him in my life. A jagged, silvery trail maps across his upper cheeks and over the bridge of his nose. Right under a pair of haunting sharp cut emerald eyes.

To say I was curious was an overstatement; I just had a few questions and wonders. Like I wondered how he got his scare or why he wore so many layers of clothes, and to examine the shiny rings around his fingers. Squashing down my curiosities I remind myself he is my captor.

After a few moments he unlocks the lock and pops the latch to the tank and swirls his hand inside. I learned better than to try and lurch out the first time. Instead I cower in the corner.

"By the powers, the reek of this place is pure bilge." he mutters. While thumbing some of my broken off scales between his awfully short claws.

I blow a few bubbles at him as he swirls his hand around the water again scooping up more scales. I resist the urge to attack the hairy creature. The repercussions are more than I’m willing to deal with right now.

After pocketing a few of the scales he dumps the platter into the tank and backs away to observe as usual. And as usual I stare back at him. Or attempt to, the murky water made it hard to see through. After a few more moments he leaves.

My anger was slowly bubbling to the surface. This was ridiculous. I was pathetically captured and now I have to break my resolve.

If I ever got back to my home. I’m not sure I’d be the same person.