Many years ago...

I sat quivering behind a small boulder as humans attacked on us mermaids. Us luring them in with good looks and hypnotic voices, and them slaughtering us with guns and swords. I was so caught up in watching them I didn't notice one of my sisters come up to me. I jumped when she spoke. "Come, Crystal." She said in a hushed tone. We swam over and met up with my three other sisters. I was the youngest of us all and I was glad to have them all after our mother died.

Our mother was executed for breaking mermaid laws and we were lucky to live. I'm 118 right now but I look like I'm eight. Us mermaids don't age quickly. We're monsters. We drag humans to their watery grave. We believe this is our ocean to rule not theirs. My mother taught us in ways that were forbidden. She said the ocean should be shared by humans and mermaids together. That we were all equal. She got the idea when she was souled with a human. It is said that mers are supposedly born with no souls, but when we touch the person we are supposed to be with one day it's like a wave of energy goes through us and we are supposed to get a vision of a future with them in it. My mother was souled with a human so he had died when I was still in my moms stomach.

Me and my sisters were swimming away, trying to escape when a loud shot pierced through the air nearby. I looked over and saw my sister, Kit, was shot. Blood seeped out of her and into the water, flowing freely around us. "Kit!" I cried. I swam over to her, clinging to her, begging her not to go. "You'll be okay, we'll fix you!" I said as tears fell down my face. I tried convincing myself she would be fine, but I knew she probably wouldn't. "It's okay. I'm going to a better place now. Just get to safety. I will always love you, Crystal. I will watch over you." She whispered, her voice hoarse.

It's said that when Mers die, they watch over loved ones. Sometimes they could even speak to you, but that did not happen often. I nodded hoping she was right. "I love you, Kit." I said crying silently. The arms around her back and neck felt her body go limp. I sobbed clinging to her still. "We have to go, Crystal." Finny, the oldest of us, whispered in my ear. I nodded reluctantly. We being swimming before getting caught in nets. "Ah!" I yelled as I squirmed around, trying to get free. Finny pulled out a razor sharp shell and cut out a hole, only big enough for me. "Go, Crystal, go. Be safe." I quickly swam out, seeing the last of my sisters be pulled up into the boat, leaving me to be alone.