Adrift

Once upon a time there lived a girl who was afraid of the ocean.

This wouldn't have been strange except for the fact that her family was an influential merchant family, related by blood to the royalty. They made their living upon the boats, shipping precious cargo from place to place. Her family's life source was the very thing she hated so much.

She had once loved the water, and going upon her Papa's boat, but she fell in by accident and very nearly drowned. The current saved her, she was told, and it somehow brought her to shore before she could die. Her parents told her she was the luckiest girl alive. But Annabel was doubtful of such a thing, because being lucky would have been being able to grab at something before she went under, instead of having to live with the memory of salt water burning as it filled up her lungs, and the crippling fear it might happen again.

And so begins the tale of the unluckiest lucky girl who ever lived and the curious creature she fell in love with…

"Can you not pretend to be pleased? You will get wrinkles if you continue to be so sour." Her sister Cora told her, running a comb through her hair. A hundred licks of the comb for hair as soft as silk, her old nursemaid once told her. "We're going to go see our cousins, not off to a funeral."

"You know how I feel about sailing." Annie replied, her scowl becoming worse as the boat rocked, knocking over a bottle of perfume. "And besides, this weather isn't doing any favor to my nerves."

"Don't worry Annie, Papa said that the storm would pass with little to do." Their younger brother Kai said with an infectious smile.

They were in the first class of the ship, in a room that had been furnished for them by their father. Three beds with silk and satin sheets, a bureau made of the most expensive mahogany wood, and walls painted a pretty royal blue with carpet of grey fox fur adorned the room, with a painting of their Great-grandparents on the side was the space allotted for the three children of house Cresta. Of course as Kai grew older he would get his own room, but for now, their lovable little brother shared a room with his elder sisters.

They were upon a massive boat, one heading for the neighboring continent to see their cousins, Aunt and Uncle who were the Duke and Duchess of that land. Upon the boat were many people making the pilgrimage, but of course as owners they got the best place to sleep.

"Well I would like nothing more then for this little trip to be over." Annie said with a sigh as Cora began to braid her hair.

"Cora, do you think you could tell me the story about the mermaid princess again?" Kai asked excitedly.

"The mermaid princess?" Annie asked confused and Cora smiled.

"You've never heard the tale about the mermaid who falls in love with a human prince, Annie? Certainly you have! It's the most wonderful tale." Cora said, tying her hair at the end.

"There's no such thing as mermaids." Annie said pulling her knees to her chest. "And if there were I doubt they'd be falling in love with humans. All the old wives tales say that mermaids eat humans."

"Mermaids eating humans?" Kai asked eyes wide and Annie smiled a bit wickedly.

"Oh yes! Old Man Sally told me about it yesterday. He said that mermaids would follow pirate ships and eat the corpses of the poor people they threw over board. Sometimes they would sing, so lovely the sound was that sailors would run their boats upon the rocks and the mermaids would gnaw at their bones." Annie said making her voice raspy like an old hag, "And the kind of humans they like best? Little, pudgy, boys!"

"No! Cora, don't let the mermaids eat me!" Kai cried and Cora gave Annie a hard look.

"Annie! Just because your miserable doesn't give you the right to terrorize our little brother." Cora scolded and Annie gave a softer smile and bent down.

"Don't worry though. Mama and Papa and Cora and I will all protect you from the mermaids." Annie said, "So there's no need to worry."

Kai smiled gratefully and gave her a hug, his warm cheek pressed against hers. He found his way snuggled between his two sisters upon the bed, listening as Cora told the tale of The Mermaid Princess. Annie found herself listening, instead of focusing on how the boat rocked and swayed.

Cora was one of the most beautiful maidens in the land, and with enough suitors to prove it. She was much more beautiful then Annie, and had their mother's auburn hair and bright blue eyes, and skin as pale and flawless as new fallen snow. Kai shared this look with Cora, his hair curled and with eyes that sparkled like pure pools of water. Annie had take mostly after their father, with dark hair and green eyes, but also with skin that freckled and always was rosy. But she couldn't hate either of her beautiful, wonderful siblings. They were far too gentle and sweet to ever consider hating.

Cora finished her tale weaving with flourish as she always did, and Kai gave an appreciative clap and cheer.

"Come on now, we should get to bed." Cora said with a gentle smile. The boat suddenly lurched again, Annie's stomach dropped. No. No, there was something bad going on. And then suddenly there was shouting as a giant crack came from above them and the boat tipped back. Screams came from below as the door burst open.

"The ship is sinking! To the upper deck!" A sailor shouted at them. Annie reacted immediately, not even bothering with shoes as she grabbed Kai.

"Come on, we've got to go!" Annie cried as a stampede of people hurried past their door, tripping and trampling each other in a desperate bid to get to the upper level. Cora grabbed Annie's arm as they pushed out and pushed to the first level.

They had barely made it up when the ship suddenly went at a perpendicular degree. The wind howled, rain fell in sheets pelting Annie's face and nearly blinding her as she dragged them to one of the boats. The sailors pushed back the crowd to allow them on first.

"Mother and Father!" Cora screamed over the rain, "We need to find mother and father!"

"They'll be right behind us!" Annie shouted back stepping into the boat.

It was right then when it happened. Annie couldn't tell if a rope had just snapped or if one of the sailors had let it go, but suddenly the dinghy was in freefall towards the sea.

Her screams were lost in the roar of the waves and the thunder of the heavens as if giant fists were pounding out their anger as the sky split open and rain came down in sheets. She grabbed onto the side of her dinghy as it bowed and was flung about by the maelstroms fury. Everything was dark and cold and unforgiving, so far away from the gentle lick of the comb and her brothers warm cheek against hers. The unforgiving water crested over the dinghy at some points, completely engulfing her, and she waited for it to recede but it just kept coming at her, beating her senseless. The ability to reason vanished, as she just clung onto the dingy with every fiber of her being, and she screamed as the dingy finally capsized and she was tossed in the sea. Her lungs were too full, and she knew that she needed to exhale, but knew it could only draw in water. She forgot she had just been sharing a room with the two most important people in her world, she forgot she was a girl named Annie, and that she had eyes and hands and feet. She was nothing but darkness inside and out. The world was a flat black, and so were her thoughts and emotions. Numb and empty, she began to drift in a bottomless well of nothingness. She couldn't say it was a pleasant place to be. She couldn't say it was anything.

Finally, though she didn't really know it, she exhaled. Salt water filled her lungs, like so many years before, and she couldn't make it stop.

Her head broke surface. She coughed and gagged as she grappled with whatever she grabbed onto-the dinghy! It was upside-down, yes, but it was still in one piece! Struggling to swim with her legs caught up in her kirtle, she used the bit of wood-debris she had grabbed onto to help get herself over to the dinghy, and with all of the strength she had left in her body she flipped it and hoisted herself onto it. She fell heavily upon it, wriggling and kicking herself to be fully inside.

She lay there coughing and hacking helplessly until finally she couldn't be awake anymore. So she lay there among the wreckage and let herself float adrift among the stars and night sky and felt no more.

Annie sat up and nearly had a heart attack when she saw how white she was. Had she become a ghost? She supposed after such an event that would've been expected, but still, she didn't think she had too many Earthly regrets.

She ran her tongue over her cracked lips and scowled at her own foolishness. She hadn't become a ghost; she was only a foolish girl who had fallen asleep soaked in seawater until the sun had come up. She slowly brushed off the salt flakes, hissing as the grains of salt got into her various cuts and scrapes where they burned. She was fine with the pain though, it distracted her from her heartache.

All around her lay the spreading pool of wreckage that had once been the ship she and her family had been traveling on. Surveying the area around her, she saw tangles of rope and lumber, shattered crates, and floating piece of fabric. Bodies also drifted there, the silent reminder of the fate that her family might have shared. But who knew? Perhaps they had escaped on the next boat. Perhaps it was her that would soon share the fate of those bodies.

She swallowed heavily before taking a deep breath. She had to scavenge what she could before everything was ruined. There had to be a barrel of food or something that had survived and wasn't tainted. Meat of course, wasn't an option, but perhaps there was water or fruit or vegetables. She looked around for a piece of plank she could use as an oar, and fished one of out the water, and with all of her strength, attempted to reach the heart of wreckage.

She was almost there, having already scavenger up some fabric from what must've been a curtain, and a bit of rope, when she noticed something move, something large and swift. She stopped when suddenly one of the corpses disappeared underneath the surf. She was frozen still. What could it have been? A shark would've snapped it up noticeably, and there had been no dorsal fin.

Whatever it is doesn't matter. All that matter is that it's a meat eater. A part of her brain snapped at her. She clutched at her plank, even though it was a poor weapon, it was a weapon nonetheless.

It was at this moment the water surged and she was sent away from the wreckage. She cried out effectively dropping her plank and was spinning away.

"No!" She sobbed, "No!"

But it was too late. She was too far away, and with no way back except to try to swim. But certainly she would drown instead.

"I doubt drowning would be too bad." She lied to herself, curling up. "I mean it's faster then dying of thirst and of hunger. And besides, I'll go crazy. If anyone rescues me, by the time that happens I'll be raving mad."

She gave another sigh, running her very dry, swollen tongue, over her aching lips.

"I couldn't even row over there for fear of dying. I'm going to die anyways, for the God's sake. But no, all I am is just a girl, worse yet, a noble girl whose like that wretched maid Linda said, 'Good f'r naught but to be waited on and married'. Good-for-naught, that's me." She said, biting her lips to keep her precious tears from falling. She needed the water for a better purpose now.

"Well, I do believe you're good for something." A distinctly male voice laughed. Annie jumped out of her skin, and scrambled to the side opposite where the voice had come from, before covering her ears with her hands and squeezing her eyes closed.

"Oh Gods help me, the madness has already started! I haven't been out here for more then a few hours and I'm already mad! How pathetic am I?" She cried before the laughter started again.

"Oh you are anything but mad." The voice came from her side now, she clutched onto the side of the boat as suddenly she saw a boy floating by her. No, not a boy, a male around her age of eighteen…no probably a bit older. His head and chest floated easily above the water, his hands trailing just beneath the surface, while his torso and legs were invisible in the inky depths. She was suddenly caught with the strangeness of this man swimming so far out at sea. Perhaps there was an inhabited island nearby. But there was something gnawing in her gut, the unmistakable feeling of terror that instinctually alerted a human to danger.

Before she could answer the man he disappeared into the waves. She was about to release a sigh of relief when the dinghy rocked and dipped. She cried out as suddenly the man appeared on the other side. Annie scowled at him.

"Don't do that!" She snapped.

"You look like you could use some help there." The man taunted, almost standing up in the water. That's when she saw it upon his neck, the rippling grooves of gills, and in the sharpness of his teeth. The more she looked, at him the less human he seemed until she finally accepted the truth of the matter.

"Well? Do you want my help or not?" He asked.

She swallowed and exhaled.

"Your help?" She said, trying to keep her fear from her voice, "I don't need any of the help your kind could possibly offer me. I'd rather not be drowned and eaten today, thank you."

The merman looked at Annie before a slow smile spread across his face. It tugged his lips far beyond the limits a human could manage, nearly splitting his face in two, as it revealed his rows of dagger sharp teeth.

"So you're not an idiot. Today is certainly my lucky day." The merman chuckled, "It's been a long time since I've fed so well, and here you are. Dessert for later."

"I'm barely a snack. I don't have any meat on my bones and I live on a diet of purely meat. I probably have scurvy by now." She lied and the merman laughed again.

"Oh yes. You are quite the surprise." He said, "But do not be alarmed, I can smell, and you do smell quite healthy."

She pressed her lips into a hard line, the heat of the sun, lack of drink, and panic making her extremely dizzy. She dug her nails into her palms willing herself to be calm, before suddenly the dinghy dipped to the side a little, and there the merman was, resting his head and arms upon the wood. No matter how dangerous and terrifying he was he certainly was beautiful she admitted to herself. His hair was colored bronze, red, and gold by the sun, and his wide sea-green eyes glittered in the same way as the water around him, his jaw was strong, and his skin was golden-tan, but then there were his strange finned and scaled arms.

"Are you thirsty?" He asked, "I know you humans must drink fresh water."

"Shut up." Annie sobbed dryly, "Just go awa-"

And that was when the creature pushed up suddenly and pressed its lips to hers.

She squawked in surprise at the strange ice-cold lips that were suddenly upon hers, and taking advantage of that he forced his strange cold tongue inside of her mouth and pried it open and she nearly choked as something began to pour into her mouth.

Water! Clean, pure, water!

She sat there trembling, taking gulps of the precious liquid he offered her, like a father bird feeding his young. It must have been five or six gulps later that the creature separated his lips from hers. Her throat was no longer dry, and her dizziness had receded, but certainly she ached for more.

"Good girl." The merman cooed. "You know, I love it when humans accept my gift so willingly."

"Water…how did you get-" Annie started to ask before she realized the ugly truth of the matter. Her father had once told her that fish filter the salt out of water. So that meant-

"Your bile! You just gave me your bile!" Annie screamed half-hysterical, half ready to throw up. "Gods, oh Gods that's so disgusting."

"Smart girl. You know, remind me who it was who desperately needed the drink of water to stay alive again?" He reminded her, and she bit her lip.

"Why? Aren't you just going to eat me?" Annie demanded, and the merman smiled.

"Not yet."

And then he disappeared into the water and didn't resurface.

The next day, she had found that using the fabric she had fished out, she not only had a blanket to protect herself from the chill of night, but also a way to protect herself from the sun that beat down mercilessly. By midday the sun was the least of her worries as her stomach was cramping with hunger, and by evening she had very nearly passed out from thirst and hunger combined.

Just when she was about to succumb to despair, he appeared along the side of the boat. He smiled at her as if downright pleased with himself, and she resisted the urge to punch him.

"What is it that you want?" She croaked.

"I'm here to give you another drink." He cooed, "And I'll give you that and more if you please me. Now offer up your lips, love. And let me steal another kiss."

The thought of drink banished almost all of her embarrassment. Almost. But she leaned over and let him kiss her yet again. She opened her mouth and drank greedily from his mouth, feeling his strange, rough, cold hands cup her face, as she shivered against his cold touch. He pulled away with a hum, licking his lips.

"Your taste is divine. I have to say, my judgment is superior. In a few days when I'm not so stuffed you will certainly make a wonderful meal. I wish to really savor your flesh, and hunger is the best garnish." He sighed happily, "And in speaking of hunger, I know you certainly must be starving. Entertain me, and we'll see about what I can do for you."

"Entertain you?" Annie asked, confused. The merman gave a clicking sound as if annoyed.

"You see, my pod tells me that I should just eat. But I'm sure you can imagine how boring it is to spend every day at sea. You being alive alleviates my boredom for now. But perhaps not for long if you are truly nothing but, 'a noble girl who is good-for-naught but to be waited on and married'." He taunted, his voice in a high-pitched mockery of hers. She flushed red with anger before taking a calming breath.

"Fine. Would you like me to tell a story?" Annie asked him and he blinked.

"A story?"

"Yes. A story. I shall tell you the tale of The Girl Who Slept Among Cinders." She said before beginning her tale. The tale was one of her favorites from childhood, told to her by a loving nursemaid. She was not the story teller that Cora was, but she certainly had enough skill The merman listened, enchanted, as she spun the tale for him of evil stepsisters, of a girl held as prisoner in her own house, of a fairy godmother and a ball. She described anything she could, every bit of food upon the table, the taste of wine, the feeling of the Prince's hand. He only stopped her to ask questions, such as what were pumpkins, and allowed her to explain, before looking on at her enraptured. She ended the tale saying with flourish, "And then they lived happily ever after."

The merman was quiet for a moment, before he suddenly disappeared underwater. She cried and ran over to the edge, ready to yell and scream and say that she kept her promise, when he reappeared with something in his hands. A small chest.

"Wh-What?" She was shocked to see that it was a survival box. One from the ship! They were placed all over the ship just in case of an event like what had happened. She opened the hatch only to see it full of parcels of bread and apples and oranges and carrots, bottles full of water sealed with corks. She looked up at the merman who looked at her, pouting petulantly.

"There. I kept my end of the bargain." He said with a sigh.

"I…thank you." She said, hugging the box to her chest.

"Eat up then. I like my girls with a little meat on their bones." He said before disappearing back under. She didn't even let his taunt get to her as she swallowed a bite of nutty, sweet bread, chewed on the tart apple, and crunched off a bite of sweet carrot. Her stomach grumbled at her, begging for more, but she refused to give it any. Who knew if the merman would come back? And if he did, who said he would have food again?

Rationing this meant she could survive for at least a week or two. She supposed she just had to keep the merman occupied for now.

She and the merman fell into a pattern. She would walk up in the morning, and drape the fabric over her to protect herself from the sun. She would eat something here and there, and pass the day thinking of as many tales as she could possibly remember before the evening. The merman would pop up without a doubt; offer his lips that she took (why waste the water source?), before she would spin the tale of the night. Then, without fail, he would offer her a survivor box that she would take and eat from. After that, every night she would dream a deep, dark, dreamless sleep.

And then repeat.

Some days he would give her things, little things like seashells, pearls, and sea glass. Some days he would tell her of his life under the sea. He especially delighted in complaining about his boring family, and how no one wanted to carry on a proper conversation with him. She got the impression that he was actually quite lonely. Annie knew she wasn't speaking to some primal killer of the deep. She speaking to another being, which was intelligent, could portray emotions, and was clearly able to think critically. Though of course he was a deadly being, but he was curious and calculating and just…perhaps looking for a bit of empathy.

But even so, the days began to wear on. Two days turned into a week, a week into two weeks. How long would she be drifting until she reached shore? If there even was a shore where she was floating too. Would it be worth it? Certainly if her family survived, granted they did, they would've believed her long dead by now. It's not like she had much to look forward too anyways. She was simply a woman to be auctioned off to the best suitor. She had never really wanted a life of basically indentured servitude.

He didn't come in the evening, that day. That was the first sign of something that would change. But then she realized it with much less panic then she should have. They had both been dancing around this for two weeks now.

Tonight was the night it would end.

He came as the moon illuminated the still ocean. Yes, she doubted she had ever seen the ocean so quiet. There was nothing but a dark ocean, black, velvet sky and twinkling stars, and the largest, brightest moon she had ever seen. He rose from the water, resting his head on the side of the dinghy as he usually did and seemingly admired her. Neither of them spoke for a few minutes, Annie desperately trying to relish in what was probably her last few moments of being alive when she finally asked,

"Are you going to eat me?" She asked, being unable to help the tremble in her voice. He smiled that dagger-tooth smile at her, eyes filled with almost a twisted version of adoration.

"Yes. But I think I want to drag it out a bit. As you can probably tell, I don't get to play with my food very often…well, that's because by the time I get to the food, it's dead or mostly dead. Though, beggars can't be choosers, and dead meat is better then no meat, but young, tender, warm, living flesh like yours should be savored." He explained as if one might speak about the weather. Her stomach turned, and she tried not to be physically affected, nor try not to think about those cruel fangs into Kai.

"Go ahead. I won't be any fun to play with. I'm awfully boring." She told him with an annoyed snapped. The merman threw back his head and laughed, a sound that sounded more like the calls of a dolphin then a human. He looked back at her once he had composed himself, a wicked gleam to his eyes.

"Boring is something you're not. In fact, you are the loveliest surprise I've come across in a long time." He said, before resting his cheek upon the side of the boat and looking at her dreamily. "And lovely you are indeed."

"I'm far from lovely." Annie said, unable to help her flush, no matter how ill conceived it was. He wasn't complimenting her. Just her flesh! She attempted to reason with herself.

"Not true at all. I believe you to be the loveliest creature I've ever set my eyes upon." He said with a sigh and a flutter of his eyelashes, "It's almost a shame that I'm going to eat you."

Annie sighed and brought her knees to her chest, before looking up. The moon was so large and luminous that it nearly hurt her eyes to look at. The moonlight was gentle against her skin, unlike the harsh light of day. She almost felt the urge to cry.

If she was going to die, she thought that this would be a wonderful last thing to see. She didn't want to die of hunger or thirst under the burning light of day. She couldn't even think of jumping overboard and trying to drown, she was far too much of a coward. She'd rather have a quick death, and at least with that, the creature looking at her so intently would be given a fresh meal.

"Do you have a name?" She asked quietly. He blinked in surprise.

"Yes. Finnick. It means hunter of the holy fish." He said with a bit of a frown. She had never seen him from before, but just figured it was from confusion at her random question.

"I'm Annie. Well…Annie is short for Annabel, which means Grace and Beauty." Annie explained and he gave a softer laugh.

"What a very fitting name."

"Well…go on then. Eat me, Finnick." She said, laying down and turning upon her side. "I'd rather just get it over with."

"What a curious thing you are." Finnick said with a tinkling laugh, "But I do believe I said I wanted to play with you first."

He hoisted himself upon the dinghy. She had grown used to his finned and scaled arms, his gorgeous face, his neck lined with gills. But she became suddenly aware of how distinctly male he was as he pushed himself further up. His chest and abdomen were chiseled with well-defined muscle, and she became suddenly terrified to see lower, only to find he was scaled, almost sexless, but most definitely covered. But his legs were definitely the strangest things she had ever seen as one came over the edge of the dinghy after the other. They were long and almost spindly, with knees that seemingly bent both ways that would most likely facilitate swimming. His legs reminded her vaguely like a frog's, with calf that tapered directly into finned foot without heel or ankle.

He balanced upon his hands and feet in front of her, and the instinctual fear that had tormented her all those days ago came flooding back as she naturally scooted back, only to have him grasp her by her ankle and drag her back forward.

"There's no getting away from me, Annie. There no where to go to." He purred, "So just relax…there we are." His fingers, as rough and cold as she remembered, slowly slid up her calf, and then thigh, giving them both a squeeze. "Human legs have such good meat upon them, don't you think?"

"I wouldn't know." She hissed before she gasped in surprise as he pressed a kiss to the back of her knee, the strange tingle racing through every fiber of her being.

"Well, it helps that you're so well-fed. That's why I love those merchant boats. Though a lot of times the humans can be too fatty or too rangy, I get a much better chance at healthy meal if they're merchants." He cooed, his hand sliding further and further, "And a very healthy, responsive girl you are."

"I…I…" She was struggling with what to say as he straddled her, forcing her underneath him.

"Don't worry. Just let yourself feel. I'll be gentle. It won't even hurt you know. It'll be good until the very end." He laughed, his breath tickling her neck.

"Stop! Wait!" She said harshly, "I have one more tale!"

He stopped and blinked.

"Tale?"

"One more story. My brother's favorite one. Since your going to eat me, you'll be very bored. Won't you let me tell you one last story?" She asked, knowing quite well that she was being ridiculous. She was too much of a coward, and would try to avoid the inevitable as much as possible.

"What could one more hurt?" He said, as if knowing she was just stalling for time.

"It's called…The Mermaid Princess." Annie said quietly. Finnick frowned at the title, but let her continue.

"Once upon a time, there was a mermaid who was princess of the underwater land of Atlantis. She was one of many Princesses of the Sea King, but there was something special about her. She was very interested in the world above; she would swim to the surface and watch humans and wonder what it might be like to be among them.

One day she came up to the surface of the Sea during a storm, and that's when she saw a ship, that had been caught upon the storm. She swam forward only to see the most beautiful man fall from the ship and begin to drown. So enchanted by this man, she dove under and returned him upon the shore. What she didn't know was that the man was the Prince of the kingdom, all she knew was that she was in love with him.

There was only one way to be with her beloved, and that was to become a human. She went to the deepest and darkest cave where the Sea Witch lived and begged her to become a human. The Sea Witch, well known for her cruel deals said that she could turn the Mermaid Princess human, but only if she gave the Sea Witch her lovely voice. Very desperate, The Mermaid Princess took the Sea Witch's offer and was given legs, but her voice was gone.

When the Mermaid Princess got to shore, the staff of the castle took her in. The Princess had quickly discovered that every time she took a step it felt as if a thousand needles plunged into her feet, and struggled to adapt to the world above. But that wasn't the only tragedy. When the Prince had been found upon the shore, he had awoken to find another fair maiden there. Convinced she had been the one that had saved him, he declared to all the land his intent to marry the fair maiden.

The poor Mermaid Princess was taken along with the staff to the boat where the Prince deemed they were to wed. Deep in sadness at everything she had given up, she sobbed a soundless sob upon the deck until her sisters appeared beneath her, offering a dagger. They had traded their father's trident for the dagger and told the Mermaid Princess to plunge the dagger into the heart of the sleeping prince and to let the blood drip upon her feet. Only then would her tail return and she would be able to rejoin them in the ocean.

The Mermaid Princess snuck into the Prince's cabin, ready to plunge the dagger into his beating heart, when she found she couldn't do that to the man she loved. Instead ran to throw herself off the boat and to drown. But the Prince awoke and pursued her, only to find the fair maiden there before him. The fair maiden confessed that it was not she who had saved the prince, but the Mermaid Princess. Overjoyed, the Prince swept the Mermaid Princess into his arms, and kissed her, breaking the evil spell that had taken away her voice…as true love's first kiss can break any evil spell.

The Mermaid Princess and the Prince married and ruled the kingdom that flourished under their command. And so they lived…" Annie's voice faltered, at some point she had begun to cry, tears pouring down her face as she desperately began to wipe away her tears, because this was really the end.

She took a deep breath and with shaking voice she finished with,

"And so they lived happily ever after. The end."

They sat in silence for a moment before Finnick became enraged.

"Humans and merfolk falling in love? You believe that can happen? What a terrible joke!" He said as if infuriated and terrified, "Besides, what is love anyways? Love is weakness! Love causes all things of pain to happen."

"How dare you! Love is…love is something special! Love can make the sky brighter or the breeze warmer. Love fills you up, and makes everything become lighter! Without love, there is nothing, but with it, you can even move mountains!" Annie snapped, "Love is the single most important thing on Earth."

At her outburst Finnick seemed shocked. She hadn't really been angry or hysterical. To be fair she had kept a very good handle on her emotions during this whole ordeal. She almost laughed at her foolishness. Of course this was what would push her over the edge. Love.

"Then you believe one of my kind could love yours and then ending could be happy? Do you really believe that?" He asked quietly, insistently and she gaped at him before flushing.

"Well I don't see where it is your place to judge! How coul-"

And that was when Finnick leaned forward, catching her mouth. She clawed at his chest, trying to push him off, but he was persistent. His lips didn't quite fit hers, nor did they taste like anything other then salt water and rot, but they were almost achingly gentle. She eventually moved her mouth against his, her tongue meeting his, her hands fisted in his soft hair.

He pulled away, sea-eyes glittering the moonlight, before smiling sadly at her.

"Good bye, Annie" He said, before he was suddenly gone. He had dove off the edge of the boat and disappeared into the dark swirling waters of the ocean.

Annie didn't stop crying until she had fallen into darkness...

"Ahoy! Ahoy lass, are you alive!" A voice jolted her from sleep. The sun was garishly bright and she sat up only to find a merchant boat- one of her families!

"Yes! Yes, help me!" She cried, and sobbed as she waved with one hand, the other on the side of her dinghy. If she fell in then, she would be far too weak to swim.

After an eternity she heard the splash of an oar, and a longboat came up along side her. Her sobs came harder as she saw her father upon it, crying tears of his own as he pulled her out the dinghy.

"Oh my love, oh Annie. The Gods have blessed me with the luckiest child upon Earth!" Her father proclaimed to the heavens rocking her back and forth. She felt so safe in those thick, burly arms, breathing in the scent of the father she loved so dearly.

"I thought I would never see you again." She whispered.

"I, too. We had just begun the mourning rites. Oh Gods." He said, his lips pressing again and again to her face, warm and entirely human.

Exhausted and overcome with emotion, she clutched onto her father as they rowed her back upon the ship.

Annie nearly had a heart attack when she saw herself in the mirror. She was certainly wasn't that much thinner, but she was burned and freckled beyond belief, her skin dry and crackling, her hair was a mess, and she looked down right sickly.

Cora and her girl cousins Rae and Ariel were determined to nurse her back to health. Along with the maids and nurses and healers that came to visit her, she was dunk into baths of herb water, lathered with the most expensive soaps and shampoos to replenish her dry, cracking skin, before being rubbed with lotions concocted to calm her flaming skin.

The Duke and Duchess, though kind in their intent, attempted to feed her extravagant meals. But she found she could only stomach so much before she became sick. And the bed she had been given, made of goose-feathers, silk and satin sheets, and plush fur throws was far too soft, and she found she had to rest upon the floor to get even the tiniest bit of rest.

"Time and moderation." She was told by a healer who rolled her eyes, "That's what you need. Excuse my frankness, but these nobles never seem to understand that."

That healer was easily her favorite one.

But the days eventually fell into routine. Routine, as Annie knew it, was safe. Even when she out at sea, even when he was with her…there had been routine. She would wake up in the morning, eat, go out into the courtyard with her cousins, start her lessons, have lunch, finish her lessons, get free time which she'd normally spend reading in the library, get her daily visit with the healer, have dinner, go to bed.

She hadn't breathed a word of her experience. In the beginning no one had expected her to. But eventually Cora began to ask about it. She sat with Annie in the courtyard, combing her hair, and asked her again and again,

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Annie always told her there was nothing really to talk about. She told Cora the same story she told her parents. That she had clung onto the dinghy for dear life, she had grabbed as many survival boxes that she could, and just drifted until she was found. Of course she couldn't tell her well-meaning sister the strange tale of the merman who had fed her water from his mouth, and delighted himself in stories. She couldn't tell Cora of his deliciously vicious touches, nor his laughter that caused his dagger teeth to glint in the moonlight.

She eventually began to believe her own false tale. Finnick must have been simply a delusion of her own starved mind, a product of the deepest part of her psyche that had longed for companionship, no matter how cruel. Besides, had he been real, he wouldn't have let her go. He would have eaten her surely. What would have prompted him to let her go? Her father's ship, maybe. Perhaps it had sailed too close for comfort, and like a thoughtful, ruthless killer, a single stringy girl wasn't worth his death.

But then there was the kiss.

She woke up soaked to the bone, feeling his lips and body press against hers again and again. It was as if he had awoken something primal inside of her that begged for more. Maybe he had really been a demon of the deep, who had sunken his fangs into her heart, corrupting her.

Eventually she couldn't handle it anymore. She needed someone to talk to, to tell her story to.

She went to the only place she could think of, the Temple.

The Temple was just about the size of the palace, rows of columns, sculptures, and tapestries filled it, candles hung from walls released fruity incense. The future priestesses hurried along, smiling happily, as people went in and out of the small rooms dedicated to each of the individual Gods and Goddesses of their pantheon. Unsure of which God's priestess she should go and overwhelmed by the terror of admitting her story, she sat upon the edge of the fountain and began to weep.

It was only a few moments before a warm, weathered hand was placed upon her shoulder. She looked up to see an elderly woman; with grey hair so long it nearly swept the floor and was braided with flowers. She smiled almost-toothlessly, at her before wiping at her face.

"Little one, why do you cry? This is a place of happiness." She asked gently and at the sound of her gentleness her sobbing only became worse.

"I am lost." She admitted.

"But there is still hope. Come here, little bird. Let us talk." She said before directing her to one of the largest chapels in the Temple.

The Goddess of the Sea's sculpture eyed her, almost in judgment, causing her nearly to fall back. But the old woman's grip became tighter.

"Do not worry, little bird. Let old Mags comfort you." The old woman said, and Annie gaped at her. This wasn't just any priestess. She was the High Priestess of the Sea. What on Earth was happening?

Mags quickly shooed away all of the apprentice priestesses, before getting down and bowing before her Goddess, inviting Annie to do the same. After she had done so, she walked over to the offerings table, one specifically from the priestesses to partake in and came back with a bowl full of fruit and a wineskin. Annie looked up in surprise, but a mischievous glint in the old woman's eyes made her smile.

"If you don't tell, I won't." Mags teased and Annie popped a grape in her mouth. "Now, tell me, sweet, what is your name?"

"Annabel Cresta."

"A lovely name, and you are well suited for it. Now tell me, Annabel, why are you here today?"

"I have a story to tell. And doubt anyone would believe it. I need guidance." She said, much more hushed.

"Then tell me what you desire, and I will offer it to you." Mags said, crossing her legs. "Go on, tell me your tale."

And so Annie did. She told Mags of her story, of the storm, of Finnick. She spoke until there was nothing left to say, and she only stole a few glances up. At the mention of the merman Mags' expression grew intense, before she finally finished her tale when her father rescued her.

"…I have been tortured by it. Why didn't he kill me? Why did he leave like that? I don't understand and it kills me inside." Annie explained, feeling relief at finally being able to confide in someone.

"Finnick, you said his name was? He told you that?" Mags asked and Annie bit her lip.

"Yes. I don't know if the name is true or not, but that's what he told me." Annie said, a bit taken aback by the old woman's question. "You…you believe me?"

"Of course I do. I can tell when a person lies, and you were certainly not lying. And in any case, I know what you said was true because I have seen and come in contact with many a'merfolk before. All the things you've said are things that merfolk do. Though…this male you met certainly had quite the personality." She said with an appreciative chuckle.

"You don't know how relieved you've made me." Annie said feeling as if she was finally releasing a long held breath.

"But tell me, he kissed you. And is that it?" Mags asked and Annie couldn't help but bite her lip.

"He…touched my legs, and kissed the back of my knee. His body pressed against mine and I had not the strength or will to pull away. Even now…though it shakes me to my core…I feel his touch and want more." She explained, hugging herself, her head hung in shame. "I have become a wretched woman, haven't I? Craving the touch of a monster?"

"No. That is their magic. They draw you in with their beauty." Mags said in complete understanding. "But…was he really a monster?"

She looked up at the old priestess who smiled so gently at her.

"How could he not? He ate the corpses of the dead…the people I knew! He taunted me for days! He…he…played with my emotions." Annie said hugging herself closer.

"Listen to what your heart tells you." Mags said, holding her hand in hers.

Annie bit her lip.

"He brought me things…like shells and pearls. And he spoke to me about his life. I thought…he might be just lonely and looking for some sort of outlet in me. But when I told him the tale of The Mermaid Princess…I had never seen him so infuriated. He acted as if he was terrified of even the thought of a human and a mermaid falling in love." She said, "It was so odd. He asked me if I believed it was possible…and I said of course! Why not? Who was I to pass judgment on another's love? And that was when he kissed me and bid me goodbye. Then…he was gone. I don't understand what to feel."

"Listen to me if you want, though I'm nothing but a little old lady, but I do believe that the only way to find out the things you wonder is by calling to him and asking him… but with of course being more on your terms." Mags said and she stared at her.

"Call to him?" Annie asked with a frown, "But how? He could be anywhere."

"He gave you a name child, use it." The old woman laughed and she smiled gratefully at her.

"Thank you for everything."

"Be careful, child. The merfolk are dangerous."

She didn't really need that advice, out of anyone, Annie would certainly know.

She snuck out of bed the next night. Her room had once been Rae's but of course she had moved in favor of a larger one. She put on her simplest blue kirtle and white chemise before pulling on a hooded cloak for extra warmth. She snuck out of the house, and down the hill in back to the private beach the Duke and Duchess owned.

She had scouted out a small cove, which was secluded enough for her purposes. Feeling rather mindful of what she was doing, she took off her shoes and dipped her feet into the shallows, picking up her skirts to do so. The cold water swirled around her ankles, caressing her as if to coax her further in. But no. This was far enough.

She cleared her throat, before saying a bit tentatively,

"Finnick?" It came out as a croak, and she cleared her voice and called louder this time, "Finnick!"

A moment passed, and then two. There was nothing but the waves lapping at her ankles, the stars twinkling, and the moon shining above. Suddenly infuriated, Annie pressed further out, until she was about waist deep, her skirts floating around and sticking to her before she began again.

"Finnick!" She shouted, "I just need to know! Just give me an answer to why you left me alive! Why did you save me? Why didn't you eat me? Why-"

She was cut off when a wave she hadn't been expecting suddenly smacked into her and threatened to drag her out. She cried and attempted to swim against the current as water threatened to invade her lungs-

Cold, sturdy arms wrapped around her and deposited her upon shore, leaving her filled with panic and shaking as she saw who looked back at her.

It was him.

"You know, I let you go. You think you would've been happy with that, but here you are, trying to drown yourself." He snapped annoyed. She just stared at him for a moment, unable to find words to say before finally smiling.

"I suppose I just have a habit don't I?" She joked weakly, before admitting, "I'm happy to see you."

"I suppose I'm happy to see you too. I have felt as if I would expire from boredom over the past few days." He admitted, a smile tugging at his lips as the rough cold fingers she had dreamed about suddenly brushed against her shin, "Though, do keep covered up. I haven't eaten in a few days, so if you wish to keep all of your limbs you should stop taunting me with your beautiful skin."

She flushed, realizing her skirt had been pushed up far past her knees. She rearranged her skirt embarrassed as she struggled with the wet fabric. He gave chuckle as she did so, resting in the shallows, his head upon the palm of his hand.

"You don't look starved." Annie observed. No, he looked as devastatingly beautiful as he had before. She had to fight the urge to run her hand through that soft, curly hair, or to lean down to touch his lips with hers.

"Oh but I feel ravenous. Have you decided to give yourself up to me?" Finnick asked eagerly, but Annie sighed and shook her head.

"No. I just wanted to know why you let me go." She asked and Finnick frowned, something flashing in those eyes that she couldn't quite place.

"I had already had my fill and didn't feel like teasing you any more." He said quickly, and Annie knew immediately that he was lying.

"Why did you give me your name then?" Annie demanded and now Finnick was looking thoroughly annoyed.

"Because I felt like it! I just gave it to you unthinkingly."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, really!" Finnick snapped, "You humans. Just as soon as you get on land you get all high and mighty."

She ignored his bait for argument, reaching into her bag and pulling out the bag. Finnick immediately perked up, and his eyes widened as she pulled out the butchered seabird that she had bought at the butcher after Mags had mentioned it to Annie before she left the temple. Birds that lived by the sea were a delicacy to merfolk Mags had told her, as they couldn't hunt them well.

Finnick snatched the corpse from her hands. He sniffed it, obviously checking for a trap, but when he deemed it safe, in a terrifying display, his jaw almost unhinged. His mouth snapped close with terrifying force, ripping off bits of meat and he devoured the whole thing, bones and all within a minute. He sighed contented, and began to admit a strange noise, almost like a purr that sounded like the rolling clicks of a dolphin.

"Was it good?" Annie asked him and he almost reddened as if embarrassed by his own display.

"It wasn't fresh enough." He said quickly, as though he was embarrassed by his display of hunger.

"You really were hungry, weren't you?" Annie asked him before pulling out the apple she had brought for herself. "I…don't think you'd like this much, though this is all I have."

She held it out to him and he slowly took it from her hand, his strange, cold fingers brushing against hers, sending sensation flooding to every inch of her skin. He balanced the apple in his hand, inspecting it as if he didn't understand its use. He sniffed it, rolling it in his palm before bringing it to his lips and pressing them against it.

Her heart felt as if it might burst as he smiled.

"This isn't meat, or anything I've ever seen before. What is it?"

"It's called an apple. It's a fruit of a tree. Flowers blossom, and then the fruit grow ripe. Inside of it are seeds, so when it falls to the ground it may plant more trees." She explained. "But they are also good for eating."

"Fruits are…baby trees then? And humans eat them?" He asked curiously. "Then won't the tree sprout in your stomach?"

She could barely hold back her giggle at his endearing question.

"No. That's why you only eat the flesh of the apple, not the seeds. And even if you did, a human body isn't the proper place to grow a tree. Trees need dirt, sunlight, and fresh water." She explained to Finnick who nodded.

"I see. So…is dirt different then sand? Is that why trees do not grow upon the beach?"

"Yes, very much so. Sand and salt water are not things a tree can grow with."

"I've never seen a tree close up before." Finnick said almost wistfully, "Just from afar. But they always seem so big. But just to think this little thing is a baby tree…is very mysterious."

"I suppose it is." Annie agreed before Finnick held the apple back out to her.

"And I suppose humans are like that too. They need fresh water…and dirt…and the right amount of sunshine." Finnick said and Annie could hardly stifle her laughter.

"We don't need dirt. It's not like we eat it!"

"You…use it to grow trees on, that one day feed you, right? So don't you need dirt?" At his acute reasoning Annie found herself nodding.

"If you put it that way we do."

"You humans are very different from merfolk." Finnick sighed. "I was curious to know why. You…have something I lack. You care for each other. Even though I kept you captive you gave me something to eat. If you had held me captive I would've killed you."

"I have a feeling that if the tables were turned you wouldn't." Annie told him, smoothing her hands upon her skirts.

Finnick gave an annoyed sound before he said, "I enjoy speaking with you. And you're the only person who ever takes my questions seriously."

"That's because your questions are serious. To you."

"And you're the only one who understands that."

"Is that why you kept me alive?" She asked Finnick who just gave his wicked smile.

"I don't know. I'm still looking for the answer myself. Just like I'm still searching for what makes us so different." Finnick explained crossing his arms over his chest and becoming caught in a deep thought. Annie let him stay like that for a few moments.

"Did you find the answer?" Annie asked finally, smiling a little bit.

"To the first question or second?"

"Second."

"No."

"It's love. But that's not to say you don't feel love as well. I think the difference between our loves is that they're made up of different parts."

"Do you…love me?" He asked almost sounding anxious.

"I suppose I do. In some way. Somehow."

"Well…I suppose I love you too. I've always loved you." Finnick agreed, "Though were exactly does that put us?"

"Where ever you want it to." Annie said, pondering over what he meant by 'always' before Finnick held out his hand.

"How about…friends? I won't try to kill you. In return, you answer some of my questions when I have them."

"I don't know…I mean, we've kissed. Friends don't normally kiss each other." Annie said, hesitating a little bit.

"Then, friends who kiss?" He offered, head tipped to the side in confusion.

"I-"

He leaned in a captured her lips. This time, not fighting it, finally allowing herself to slip into desire, she just kissed back, allowing her hand to cover his as he pressed his ill-fitting lips against her again and again. He pulled away, and smiled wickedly.

"I changed my mind. How about…you're my bride, and I'm your suitor?"

"That's quite the change. Also, I don't know how I feel about being engaged to a man-eating fish-man." Annie pointed out, her lips dancing a smile.

"I think you feel quite well about it, considering how you just kissed me back." Finnick laughed, and Annie finally gave up with a shrug.

"I guess that's fine as well. But if you want me to marry you, you must impress me." Annie said, a little wickedness in her laugh as well.

"Then I must get started upon that. Until next time, Annie." He said with a small bow, before gracefully sliding back into the water and disappearing.

"Until next time, Finnick." She agreed to the wind, before walking up the sandbar and going back home.

So…I don't know what this is. I couldn't even tell you if it's good. All I know is that this was what was keeping me from updating Reaching You.

THERE. ARE YOU HAPPY PLOT BUNNIES? NOW LET ME UPDATE MY ACTUAL FIC IN PEACE!

God. Stupid plot bunnies.

I suppose this fic was spawned from the fact that I like un-romanticizing things. Mermaid meets human trope suddenly becomes Merman who has a fetish with playing with his food somehow falls in love with some food that likes to play back.

I also liked the open ending. Interpret how you may.

Well. I guess this is what happens when Green starts writing anything. It always ends up abnormal.

In any case, thanks for reading, and I hoped you enjoyed! Leave a review, and tell me what you think. And if you really liked it and inexplicably liked my writing go over and check out my other Odesta fic, Reaching You.

EDIT: Because of popular demand, Adrift it becoming a multiple chapter fic. A next chapter, titled Sink shall be up in the near future!

Until next time! ~OMGitsgreen