The Mermaid and the Beast

Chapter 13- Sickness

The race took place the next day.

Mandy had invited almost all of her friends to see Spark's humiliation, despite the race haven't even begun just yet. Still, they trembled upon seeing the giant white shark Spark would ride, and some even wondered how she had gotten to control it. Spark couldn't fully control him, actually, she'd just tell him which way to go.

"Seriously, Bluetail, how did she manage to ride him just like that?!" Jake asked the Swordfish for the fifth time.

"For the last time, Jake, they just made a truce!" Bluetail groaned. "They just want to put Mandy in place, then they'll go back to their I-hate-you routine."

"Does Shaga know she rode him?" Ariel inquired.

"You should have seen his face!" Artemisia laughed. "He couldn't actually believe it, but if there's something daddy wouldn't do is go back on his word."

Flounder muttered. "You really think so?"

Mandy and Spark were already on the line, on their respective mounts.

"Ready to eat my dust, shark-girl?" Mandy sneered.

"Excuse me, did you say something?" Spark retorted. "I only heard bla, bla, bla."

"Very funny, shark-girl. You're lucky that shark is not my daddy's property, otherwise I would have had him made into oil."

Spark flinched when the Albino growled menacingly at Mandy. "Don't mind her, let's just put her in place."

Unfortunately, Flounder had been asked to signal the racers to start. Nervously swimming forward a few steps ahead of both racers, Flounder gulped and lifted up an algae napkin in his fin.

"On your marks…"

Everyone went silent in anticipation. Shimmer and the Albino snorted.

"Set…"

Jake couldn't help it any longer and started biting on his nails. Great, a record of three months without touching them ruined. Bluetail followed soon after, biting on his fins.

Flounder closed his eyes shut. "GO!"

Before he had time to swim out of the way, both racers sped up at the speed of light, making Flounder twirl around for a few seconds before slowing down. He floated down with a dizzy look on his face.

"I just hope she'll be able to handle Albie." Artemisia gulped nervously as they watched them disappear.

"Albie?" Ariel and Bluetail asked simultaneously.

"That's how she calls him." Jake replied.

"I've called him like that since I was four." Artemisia explained. "I remember my father taking me for a ride, and I'd always call the Albino 'Albie' as a nickname. I've just kept calling him that ever since."

Jake, however, turned his attention back to the direction the pair of racers had gone. He didn't really care who won, he only wanted Spark to remain safe.

Back with Mandy and Spark, both mounts were equally fast, none able to outswim the other. It was only on tight turns or obstacles that Mandy's seahorse had the advantage, since the Albino was not used to going through obstacles. Not to mention he was getting old, and he couldn't swim so fast for a large amount of time.

"What's wrong, Shark-girl?" Mandy laughed. " I thought you said sharks were better!"

"Shut up!" Spark retorted, partially letting the Albino go on his own accord, only motioning which way to go with the reins. The white shark wanted to chunk that arrogant mermaid's head, but this was Atlantican territory.

When they were halfway through the course, the Albino spotted something. A red fish; immediately, his shark instincts took over. Spark grew alarmed when The Albino abandoned the route and chased after the fish, probably attracted by his red color.

"Albino, what are you doing?!" Spark cried out. "Forget about the fish!" She failed to notice Mandy stopping her horse and smirking triumphantly while waving her fingers at Spark mockingly.

The red fish swam through algae fields and rocks, the Albino behind him snapping his teeth. Spark pulled the reins to try and make him stop, but he was too stubborn for her. Finally, the Albino cornered the fish into a small cave, licking his chops.

"No, please!" the fish pleaded for his life. "Don't eat me! I was just following orders!"

This caught both the Albino and Spark's attention. "Orders? From who?" Spark asked.

"Mandy! I owed her money, and she said she'd clear the debt if I helped her make you lose!"

Spark growled. "That-! Wait until I get my hands on her!"

"Please, I have a wife and six children!" the red fish pleaded.

"Oh, no, boy!" Spark grabbed the fish by the fins. "You're coming with me, and you're going to tell everyone what you did once this is over! Now tell if there's a shortcut to the finish line!"

The red fish nodded quickly. "Yes, that way!"

The Albino needed no more explanations. He quickly swam towards the direction the fish had pointed to, furiously beating his fin against the water, almost knocking Spark and the fish from his back.

Meanwhile, Mandy had made the final turn and was heading to the finish line with a smirk. IT had been too easy, distracting the brainless shark from the race with that fish, like a piece of cake. She was already thinking of the things she would make Spark do when she won the race. However, a large white figure broke out of nowhere, knocking Shimmer side violently and making both rider and horse fall unto the ground violently, with Mandy falling unto a pool of black mud.

The Albino snickered and resumed the race, taking the advantage. Mandy had no time to shake the mud off and quickly climbed unto Shimmer's back, smacking his flank to make him speed up. The Albino was beating the water furiously, they were getting close to the finish line and that mermaid was gaining unto them.

On the finish line, Flounder was looking out for the two until he spotted them, swimming like demons to the finish line. "There they are!"

All present merfolk turned to the direction Flounder was pointing to. Shimmer had caught up to the Albino, and the two were struggling to get ahead of the other.

"I have the feeling it's going to end in a tie." Bluetail commented.

"I doubt it, the Albino is very old." Jake replied. "I hate to say this, but it won't be long until he gets tired."

Strangely, Artemisia grinned. "That's not quite right, Jake."

The Sharkanian glanced her in confusion. "Princess?"

She had an ace under her sleeve, it seemed. She knew the Albino would get tired soon, and she had brought his favorite food for an emergency. When she was certain the Albino was losing it, she swam to the finishing line and held out a large chunk of meat.

Seagull liver.

The Albino's nostrils caught the scent of fresh meat, and his eyes darted forwards in search of it, spotting his master's daughter holding seagull liver… wait, seagull liver? Immediately, the white shark licked his chops and instinctively dashed forwards to get the liver, outswimming the sea horse. Mandy desperately smacked her horse's rear to make him go faster, but the horse was getting tired too, and he could not compete against a shark in feeding frenzy.

Artemisia quickly swum aside just in time as the Albino crossed the finish line, braking short, almost making Spark fall from his back, and swimming towards Artemisia to get his treat. Shimmer crossed the line ten seconds later.

"NO, NO, NO!" Mandy screamed in anger.

Spark climbed off the Albino's back dizzily, and was swarmed by her excited friends.

"Ha! I knew you could do it, Sparky!" Bluetail laughed.

Artemisia patted the Albino's head when he took the seagull liver from her, "Really? Because you were freaking out a few minutes ago that she would get eaten." She grinned.

"Are you alright, Spark?" Jake started looking for any minor injuries. "Didn't the albino hurt you?"

"I'm fine, Jake." Spark states, rolling her eyes. "Why do you have to act like that?"

Before Jake could say anything, Mandy dismounted from her horse, still dripping with mud, and approached Spark with a murderous glare. "You!"

"Now what, Mandy?" Spark inquired, crossing her arms at her. "Don't tell me you're going to throw a tantrum just because you lost."

"It doesn't count! It was all filled with cheats!" she snapped.

"Yeah. Yours!" Spark pushed the red fish from before forward. "Your fishy friend here spilled the beans!"

"What are you talking about?" Ariel stated.

"I'm sorry!" the poor fish cried out. "I owed her money, and I don't have any! She said she'd clear the bet if I distracted her from the race!"

"There's the surprise!" Bluetail stated with dripping sarcasm.

Spark so wanted to kill Mandy, but her head was starting to ache, and she had a knot in her stomach. Artemisia seemed to notice, because she took charge for her and approached Mandy with an intimidating grin, inherited from her father (unfortunately for some).

"Stay away!" Mandy swam back in fright and lifted up her arms defensively.

"I should tell Albie to swallow you whole, but I'm better than that. I do believe, however, you and Spark made a bet. You lost."

Mandy knew where she was going. "Oh, no! No way I'm sleeping with those beasts for a night!"

"Not so brave not, huh, Mandy?" Bluetail taunted her. "We're not going to force you to comply with what you promised you would do if you lost. In the end, it's your problem if you end up looking like a liar in front of all of the crowd here."

Mandy looked around at the expecting crowd. There was no way out of this. If she left, everyone would see her as nothing more than a liar, and these things never remained secret. If her daddy found out about this…

"Fine! I'll do it!" with these last words, Mandy parted the crowd, followed by her silent friends and Shimmer. The seahorse sped up his pace when The Albino snapped at his tail teasingly.

"That was something!" Flounder swam around in excitement. "It was like swoosh! Like those black balls from the human vessels!"

Jake thought for a moment at the word. "You mean… cannon balls?"

"How long do you think she will last with the sharks, Sparky?" Bluetail inquired with a chuckle.

Spark didn't reply. She couldn't, though she wanted to. Her voice was muffled by something, her head was pounding, her mind was clouded, and her stomach was knotting up. Her vision started to darken with forming holes, until all faded to black.

Everyone in the crowd gasped when the mermaid that had ridden the white shark fainted out of nowhere, and was caught by the male Sharkanian.

"SPARK!" Jake tried to shake her awake, but she was as limp as a doll.

"What's wrong with her?!"

"Sparky, wake up!"

Even the Albino grew worried for the mermaid and approached the group, watching as everyone tried to get her to react. Had he been so rough? Yet, she was not the kind to faint so easily. He had a feeling something… or someone, was behind this.

Nurse Sheldon had been working at the palace for a long time. She knew each of the princesses since they were born (having delivered them herself), and the royal family in turn was very attached to her. Her gray hair was tied up in a bun, her long-fallen breasts were concealed by dark gray seashell tops, and her tailfin was colored a pasty unattractive white. But as the humans say, 'beauty is in the eyes of the watcher.' Nurse Sheldon was a kind soul who helped those who needed it, Atlantican or not.

Naturally, when the group took Spark to the medical room as soon as she lost consciousness, Nurse Sheldon was surprised to having been brought the same mermaid twice.

"Miss, we need help, now!" Jake didn't let the old woman even speak in his hysterical state.

"What happened now?" Nurse Sheldon asked in alarm at her state.

"She fainted out of nowhere!" Bluetail retorted.

"Just like that?" Nurse Sheldon touched Spark's forehead, but found no fever.

"Yeah! One second she's alright, the next she falls, just like this!" Flounder let himself float down backwards.

"Did she eat properly?

"Yes."

"She doesn't seem to have fainted out of hunger nor exhaustion."

"Then what's wrong with her?" Artemisia inquired.

"For now, I'm afraid all we can do is wait until she awakens so I can properly check up on any symptoms I might have missed."

Jake wanted to protest, but as much as he hated to admit it, she was right. Nurse Sheldon motioned him to place Spark on one of the beds, and he did so with no complaint; now was not the moment.

"How much time do you think it'll take for her to wake up?" Artemisia asked.

"In her case, I guess in a few hours." Nurse Sheldon replied. "If a 500 pound shark couldn't take her down, I doubt a simple spell will."

"If Albie heard that…" Artemisia tried to get a little humor into the atmosphere, but it didn't seem to work.

"By the way, now that I recall, did any of you drink algae juice?"

"I drank one yesterday, why do you ask?" the Sharkanian princess replied.

"Well, when I took the glass to the kitchen, I noticed something odd at the bottom."

Ariel and Artemisia glanced at each other. "Odd?" Ariel repeated.

"There was some kind of black powder at the bottom of the glass. I managed to notice it before it was washed." Nurse Sheldon turned to Artemisia. "Have you gotten any stomachaches since yesterday? I've got the feeling that algae juice was overdue."

"No. Not yet."

"How about we go out?" Flounder lifted his fin timidly. "I mean, we should let Spark rest, don't you guys think?"

"I can't believe what I'm going to say, but I agree." Bluetail groaned, glancing back at his friend. "We should let her rest."

"Sorry if I disagree, but I think we should stay here and wait for Spark to wake up." Jake retorted, crossing his arms.

"Come on, Jake. It was just a dizzy spell, she'll be fine."

"You should listen to them, mister." Nurse Sheldon insisted, and started pushing the Sharkanian out of the medical room. "I'll send one of the guards to tell you when she has regained consciousness."

With these last words, the nurse closed the doors, leaving the group outside. When he was certain the nurse couldn't hear him, Jake let out a cry of frustration.

"I just can't believe it! First she gets captured by my troop, then she nearly breaks her skull with the Albino, and now this?! What's next?"

"Calm down, Jake!" Artemisia snapped. "You're not the only one who's worried, you know! But it was only a dizzy spell! It's nothing to worry about!"

"How can we know that?!"

"What are you talking about, Jake?" Bluetail tried to calm him down. "Do you know something that we don't?"

"I've got a bad feeling about this…" Jake replied. "Nurse Sheldon said there was something on the glass from which Princess Artemisia drank."

"She said the juice was probably overdue." Ariel pointed out.

"Maybe, but…." The Sharkanian hesitated to continue. "That's not the only thing that can leave black powder on the bottom of a glass."

Artemisia's eyes widened slightly in realization. "Do you mean…?"

"Care to explain what's going on?" Bluetail inquired with a shrug of his fins. "What do you two know?"

"Shark's tears."

Ariel, Bluetail and Flounder obviously had no idea what those words meant for Sharkanians. But judging by the looks on their faces, it seemed to be a very bad thing.

"Hello?"

Spark called out, but her voice only echoed. She was surrounded by complete darkness, with only the sound of her tailfin beating against the water. She didn't know how she got here, all she knew was that she was all alone. Or at least, she thought she was alone. She would hear the sound of someone swimming behind her, but when she turned around, there was no one there. The first times she thought it was nothing more than her imagination, but now she was certain someone was following her.

"Come out here, you coward!" Spark snapped for about the tenth time, only this time, apparently whoever was toying with her decided to show itself.

The next time Spark glanced around at the sound of another tailfin, she let out a cry of fright and swam back a few steps, her heart throbbing in her chest.

She was staring at herself.

Or she thought it was herself. But this Spark had light metallic blue skin, and pale white chest and mouth. Her hair was of the same color, but even longer and with strands of blue. Her tailfin was that of a shark, like those of the Sharkanians, but slender and gracefully curved, like Artemisia's tailfin. Instead of seashells, she used a bright green brassiere to hide her breasts from view. Her eyes were also blue, not with pupils; it was a blue sclera with a black dot as a pupil, like Sharkanian's eyes. The Other Spark gave Spark a toothy grin, showing rows of sharp teeth.

"Why, so finally you've decided to come and pay me a little visit." The Other Spark pouted. "I've been so lonely here, you know."

"W-Who in the seven seas are you?!" Spark couldn't help but glance at her Sharkanian counterpart with dread.

"Isn't that obvious, dearie?" The Other Spark licked her chops, and gave Spark a hungry grin. "I'm you."