Aquata Cove Ch. 15

"H-Huh? Just like that?" Merrick said, holding his hand up like he got sauce all over it.

"Yep!" He said, "Just like that!"

Adam and Merrick walked around the pier. Merrick got more and more comfortable with mingling among humans. He and Adam had lunch at this cozy café, where Merrick tried chicken for the first time - AND fried fish. They visited several shops, where Adam bought a simple, silver bracelet, with no charms on it, on his left wrist.

Merrick looked as they walked on the tall docks, where Merrick kept inspecting the local fisherman, and watching in amusement as some of them reeled in a fish, "It's so funny!" He told Adam, "Why don't they just swim in the water and use spears? It's easy!" Adam chuckled as he pushed his boyfriend's shoulder.

"Well, sor-RY, Mr Fish, but it's not as easy for us. We're land animals, we do what we know how to do," He smiled as they came to the familiar pier fishery, "And here's where I work!" He said as he escorted Merrick over, "This is the Fish House! We deliver fish, crabs, lobster, and so on!" He took Merrick to the back of the Fish House, where a boat is lifting a large net FULL of game fish. Merrick stared wide-eyed with awe as he say the writhing cluster of fish in the net.

"Now THAT is hunting!!" He proclaimed as the crane swung over to a large tank to unload the fish.

"Hey ADAM!" Came a raspy, cigar-altered voice. They turned to see Captain come up to him. Merrick stared at the large human, looking like one of those sadistic pirates merfolk have come to fear, "Don't suppose ya came in to work today, did ya?"

"Nope!" Adam responded, "Just giving my friend here a tour of the pier."

"Heh, thought so. See ya tomorrow, fishboy." He grumbled as he walked off.

"Wh-Wha?" Merrick said, "H-How- How did he know about me???" Merrick asked franticly. Adam chuckled and shook his head.

"He didn't, he was talking to me," He explained to the confused, "That was my boss, Captain. I work for HIM, like everyone in the Fish House, and he nicknames us fishboys, because we pack and deliver fish! Get it?"

"Sort of... So, he has no idea I'm a merman? He IS a pirate, after all! Are you sure you can trust him??" Adam laughed as he put his arm around Merrick, "I'm serious! Pirates are sea hunters! We've lost countless merfolk to those humans and their ships!"

"Hahahah, relax, sweetie, he's NOT a pirate. He looks like one, I know, but he's not, trust me. He's rough and salty around the edges, but he's a good guy when you get to know him."

"I'd prefer not to..." Merrick said. Adam smiled as they leaned on the wooden post of the dock, "But still... This human port IS fascinating... So much happens around here, and in just one place..." He said as he watched the afternoon sun. Adam smiled as he turned Merrick's face.

"You're so cute when you get excited." Merrick smiled back and leaned in for a kiss. Adam kissed slowly back. The blonde closed his eyes and lapped his soft lips gradually with the other. Adam licked his tongue gently against Merrick's upper lips before nuzzling him.

Minutes later, Merrick and Adam are holding hands as they walk along the beach, under the tall, large wooden pillars, "I'm kinda interested in meeting this friend of yours, Adam. It'd be quite intriguing to know how a mermaid would live near humans for so long, undetected."

"Uh-huh! She's a Holsien, by the way - a white and pink sea snake. I can't tell you how many times I helped her keep her secret though!" He said with a laugh, "She's getting better though; she's a lot more careful and subtle than when I first met her... Oh! There she is now!" He said as they spotted a the brown-skinned, pink-haired female, putting on a one-piece blouse, "Hey, Belinda!" She looked up, and smiled at the human.

"Ello to you, Adam!" She said as she trot up to Merrick and Adam, "How iss you on dis day, Adam!" She asked, cheerful and bubbly as usual.

"I'm doing great, Belinda! Here, I want you to meet my boyfriend," He said as he indicated his blonde lover, stepping aside towards her, "Merrick, this is my friend, Belinda! Belinda, this is my-"

Merrick gasped and grabbed Adam, "NO!" He quickly yanked him back away from Belinda, "Get away from her!"

"Whoa! Whoa whoa, Merrick, take it easy!" Adam said staggering. Belinda stood there, looking shocked and startled, "What's the matter, I told you about her, she's a friend-"

"No, she's not!" Merrick said as he glared at Belinda, "THAT is a monster, Adam!" Adam looked at him with wide eyes.

"What?" Belinda said, looking hurt, "I am no monster, I swear. I am just mermaid who left 'er pod!"

"You LIAR!!" Merrick said as he charged at her.

"HEY!" Adam yelled as he threw his arms around Merrick.

"Let me go! She has to die! She has to end before she kills anyone else!!"

"STOP! Stop, stop! Merrick, calm down! What're you doing?! She's just a Holsien mermaid, that's all! What're you so mad about?!"

"Don't hurt me!" Belinda said as she took a step back, "I causse no 'arm to you or dey humans! You neva meet me, you-"

"Oh no, I know EXACTLY what you are, Latolcus!" Merrick said, his eyes filled with hatred and anger. Belinda gasped as she stared at him, "That's right, you monster! I am an Adra Triton, and I know JUST what you are just by looking at you!"

"Merrick, STOP IT!" Adam shouted at his struggling merman, "She's just a mermaid!"

"No she's NOT! She's a Latolcus! A blood thief! BLOOD THIEF!!" He shouted at her.

"What?! Wait wait, back up!"

"Let me go, Adam! I won't let her take you from me!"

"MERRICK! Just calm down!" He said as he put Merrick down, just as he stopped writhing and panted, still staring daggers at Belinda.

"I am not..." Belinda said, her eyes looking tearful, "I am not Latolcus-"

"Don't you DARE lie to me!!" Merrick said as he growled at her.

"Merrick, just, what are you talking about??" Adam stammered, never having seen Merrick get this angry before, "What's a Latocus?"

"It's a blood thief! They kill other merfolk, and steal their skills and talents by drinking their blood!"

"I don't drinks deh blood, Adra Triton!" Belinda pleaded.

"STOP LYING!!" Merrick yelled, taking deep, forceful breaths, then walking to stand in front of Adam, and holding out his arms, "I may be unarmed, but I'll kill us both before you touch my Adam!" Adam stood there, shocked by his lover, "You killed your Noita, then you hunted other merfolk! How many of our people did you suck dry, huh?!" Merrick demanded. Adam turned to Belinda, staring at her.

"Belinda... Is this true?" He asked. Belinda slowly frowned as she glared back at Merrick.

"... She would no teach me..." She said in a thick, distraught tone, "She would no teach me at all."

"And so you killed your own Noita and drank her blood," Merrick said in a lethal tone, "You sick monster. Before a merperson can absorb the abilities of another, they must first drink the mystical blood of a Noita. Isn't that right, Latolcus Belinda?" He said as he clenched his fist.

"She took me in as egg!" Belinda said, "She raise me like I was her Adra, and she made me tink I was HER daughter! And she would not teach me deh ways of deh moon! She LIED to ME!"

"And you killed her, you demon!!" Merrick yelled at her, "You possess magic and skills that were never supposed to be yours! All because your Noita COULDN'T teach you! You are not an Adra Noita, you had NO right!!"

"She lied me, Adra Triton! She LIED! What do YOU know?! I did what I could to survive after dey banished me!"

"BY STEALING MORE BLOOD?!" Merrick retorted, "Mermaids don't have the powers that Noitas do, so you STOLE your abilities from her!"

"I neber use! I neber use deh power I took! I am Latolcus no more!"

"YOU LIAR!!" Merrick shouted as he made to run at her again. Adam gasped and held him back again, "ONCE a blood thief, ALWAYS a blood thief! There IS no going back for you!!" He yelled out as Adam pulled him back.

"Merrick, please stop!" Adam said as he pulled him away from the shade of the docks, "We're going, just let it go!" Merrick growled and hissed as he struggled, and broke free of Adam's arms, and sprinted at Belinda, "Merrick NOO!" He dashed to the Holsien, and pinned her to one of the large wooden pillars. Belinda grunted and hissed at Merrick, showing her razor sharp fangs as he growled at her.

"I give you this ONE warning, Latolcus Belinda," He said, his voice low and lethal, "You stay AWAY from my Adam! Don't you EVER touch him! If you EVER incur a single scratch on him, I'll take you to the very jaws of Guardian Leviathan, and end your treacherous life!" Suddenly, Belinda's face contorted fear from the threat, "Do not waste my mercy, blood thief." He let go of her, and strode towards Adam, "We're leaving, Adam."

Adam stood there, at a loss, really. He looked at Belinda, who looked absolutely frightened at the blonde. He gave her an apologetic look, before turning, and following his boyfriend.

Merrick scowled as he gritted his teeth. He hates feeling angry, and hated himself for letting Adam see this side of him, but it happened nonetheless. He means what he said, and it bothers him that a Latolcus has been living so close to his love. The fact that she hasn't killed Adam already says something, but it doesn't change the fact that that mermaid slaughtered and absorbed merfolk for herself.

In all things, it deeply disturbs him to know that he inherited his father's wrath.