Two mermaids glided through the crystal-blue ocean, weaving between coral arches as laughter bubbled from their lips. They twirled around each other with the weightless ease, their shimmering tails flicking in playful bursts of speed. Sunlight filtered through the surface above them, scattering golden ripples across their skin. When they finally grew tired, they sank onto a soft bed of floating ocean-flowers, their fins brushing gently against one another as the blossoms swayed with the tide.
"Sister," the younger mermaid began, turning her head slightly. Her hazel-green eyes shone like polished emeralds beneath the water, filled with innocent wonder. "What… what does the land look like?"
The older mermaid lifted her gaze, surprised. The two sisters were nearly identical—long flowing hair, delicate features except for their eyes. While the younger carried the colors of the forest, the older one possessed eyes as deep and endless as the ocean itself.
"Why do you suddenly ask this?" the older mermaid replied gently, brushing a strand of hair behind her sister's ear.
The younger shrugged, swimming in a small circle as if her curiosity was too big to keep still. "I just… I want to know about the creatures who live above. I want to know what they look like, how they act. Are they anything like us?"
Her sister laughed softly, the sound echoing like a delicate chime between the reefs. "There are many kinds of creatures on land, humans, vampires, dragons. But no matter who they are, a mermaid like us must never mix with them."
"Why not?" the younger asked, though her voice had already shrunk with worry.
"Because humans are greedy," the older explained, her tone darkening. "They pretend to be your friend, then turn against you the moment it benefits them. Vampires… vampires are cunning. They want us for our blood. And dragons? Dragons are wild and barbaric. On land, a mermaid has no place. Do you understand?"
The young mermaid nodded, but the fear in her eyes lasted only a moment. Curiosity, like a spark she could not extinguish, returned even stronger.
Years passed, and with each year her desire to see the world above grew. Her sister warned her again and again, but curiosity had woven itself too deeply into her heart.
One morning she could bear it no longer.
Before the sun had fully risen, the young mermaid swam swiftly toward the surface, ignoring her sister's startled cry behind her.
"Pearl!" her older sister yelled, chasing her. "Pearl, come back! It's dangerous!"
But Pearl was already too fast. She broke through the water's surface with a gasp, her eyes widening as the world exploded into color and light. The warm breeze brushed her cheeks, the sun kissed her skin, and the sky—such a beautiful sky spread above her like a painting.
"Oh… wow," she whispered.
Her sister surfaced beside her moments later, panting. "Pearl, you've seen enough. We must return before Mother and Father notice we're gone."
Pearl turned to her, smiling so brightly it almost hurt. "Sister… isn't it beautiful? Just a few more minutes. Don't you ever wish to explore?"
But as she swam closer to the shore, the world shattered.
A heavy net flew from above, dropping over her like a shadow. It slammed onto her with crushing force, trapping her limbs.
"Pearl!" her sister screamed. She lunged forward, but another net shot out, tangling around her as well.
Both sisters were dragged violently from the water, their tails glistening helplessly under the sun as they were hauled onto land.
"Let us go!" Pearl cried, fear trembling in every word.
A tall man approached, sharp-eyed and cold. Several rough-looking men followed him.
"Save your breath," he said lazily. "These nets were made to capture creatures of the sea."
"This is wrong!" Pearl snapped, her voice surprisingly firm for how frightened she felt.
The man only chuckled and turned away. "Take them."
The sisters were thrown over shoulders and carried into a large stone fortress. Doors slammed behind them, the sound echoing like the closing of a tomb.
Inside, they were dropped before a man sitting upon a throne. His presence was suffocating. His black eyes were like empty voids, unblinking and hungry. A dark aura wrapped around him like a second shadow.
"The two mermaids you requested, Your Majesty," the hunter said, bowing.
The man's lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. "Good work. Remove the nets. I want to see them clearly."
The hunter obeyed. As the nets fell away, both girls gasped when their shimmering tails faded into pale, trembling legs. Their bodies shivered as they tried to stand.
The older sister stepped protectively in front of Pearl. "Who are you? What do you want from us?"
The man rose from his throne, walking toward them with an unhurried stride. Each step seemed to carry the weight of death itself.
"I," he said, voice deep and chilling, "am no one. But you entered my territory… and anything that enters becomes mine."
He crouched in front of Pearl, reaching to touch her hair.
She jerked away. "Don't touch me!"
Her sister snarled. "Don't lay a finger on her or I swear I'll kill you."
He laughed, dark, amused, mocking.
"You'll kill me?"
His hand shot forward, gripping Pearl's hair so tightly she screamed.
The older sister sliced through the ropes around her hands using her sharp nails. She lunged toward him, but the hunter moved faster. His kick slammed into her chest, sending her crashing into the wall with a sickening thud.
"Sister!" Pearl cried.
The man lifted Pearl fully, dragging her onto his lap as he sat back on the throne. She thrashed wildly, but his arm circled her waist, locking her in place.
"You're bold," he murmured, "I like that. Let's see if your courage can save her."
The older sister fought through the guards, slicing with her nails like a cornered animal. Fury fueled her—every swing, every strike aimed at reaching Pearl. But the hunter intercepted her again, his movements too quick, too precise.
The battle was brutal.
She managed to scratch his cheek, and the moment blood appeared, The hunter's face twisted with rage. He grabbed her by the hair, slamming her against the wall twice before dropping her to the ground. Her body crumpled, trembling, barely able to breathe.
He wrapped his hand around her throat, squeezing.
Pearl sobbed. "Please! Let her go! Please, I'll do anything!"
The mans smile widened. "Anything?"
"Sister, don't!" her sister rasped, coughing blood. "He's a vampire—don't agree!"
But the hunter yanked her hair again, silencing her.
Pearl broke.
"I'll do anything," she whispered through tears. "Just… please… please don't hurt her anymore."
The man caressed her cheek, satisfied. "Good. You belong to me now."
Her sister's eyes widened in horror.
The man leaned back. "Now watch as your sister and your entire clan dies. I only need you. The rest are useless."
"No—!" Pearl screamed, but he forced her face forward, holding her jaw painfully in place.
The hunter dug his claws into her sister's shoulder. The older mermaid screamed, her voice echoing off the stone walls. Pearl clawed at his grip, her soul tearing apart with every sound.
Then… silence.
Pearl opened her eyes to see her sister's lifeless body crumpled on the floor.
"No… no…" Pearl crawled toward her as the king released her. She gathered her sister into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Sister, please wake up… I'm sorry… this is all my fault…"
But the man only laughed, a sound colder than the deepest ocean trench.
The hunter grabbed the body and dragged it away. Pearl screamed for him to stop, but no one listened.
That night, they forced her to watch as they poured poison into the sea—the home she once loved, killing every creature who lived there. Everthing happened on a dark rainy night filled with wild lightening and thunder.
Later, they threw her desd sister into the poisoned water. It seeped into her wounds, burning her as she sank into darkness.
The waves eventually carried her limp body to an unfamiliar shore, where a group of children found her and rushed her to a small hut.
"Master, look what we found!" a boy exclaimed.
The elderly man examined her. His face fell.
"She's dead…"