The Little Merman: America x Reader Chapter 15

The Little Merman: Chapter 15

Previously…

What upset Matthew more than those words was Alfred’s face. He was far too gone in whatever the man had to say to him and was blindly trusting him. Matthew knew after what happened in this grotto that the prince was a broken man. Whatever the jellyfish was planning it couldn’t be good and it was up to him to find out what his intentions were. Matthew followed the two out of the grotto careful to not be seen.

“Alfred I would like you to meet my two friends. Lukas and Vladimir.” Oliver spoke.

“We’re more like assistants.” Lukas chimed in.

Alfred looked around the cave Oliver had led him in. He had to squint his eyes at the bright blues and pinks that shone throughout the cave.

“Don’t worry.” Vladimir said putting a hand on the merprince’s shoulder. “You get used to it.”

“So how does this work?” Alfred asked.

“Oh it’s quite simple dear boy. We are going to bake!~” Oliver chimed.

“Bake?”

Oliver guided Alfred over to a vent that was billowing out smoke in different colors. With a wave of his hand the smoke disappeared and revealed a crystal flat surface.

“You see Alfred you aren’t my first client.” As he spoke Alfred could see images starting to form in the bowl shaped vent.

“I’ve had many a merfolk and alike come to me to help them with their problems. Problems about weight, wealth, and war. Issues concerning love, life and death.”

The images changed to fit with what Oliver had mentioned and the last picture seemed familiar but it went away before Alfred could get a good look at it.

“I’ve seen it all~” Oliver chirped and smoke started to rise from the vent once again.

“However…Your case is something I’ve never had the pleasure to work with.” A wide smile stretched across the jellyfishes face.

A flash of worry appeared on the merprince’s face. “Are you sure this will work?”

“First time for everything.” Lukas cut in.

Alfred’s face dropped.

“Oh hush now Lukas. Don’t listen to him.” Oliver lightly swatted at the barracuda’s nose earning an annoyed look from said fish.

“Our first time experiments work almost all the time!” Vladimir spoke up trying to comfort the prince.

“Almost?”

Oliver struck Vladimir with a tentacle letting him know he wasn’t helping.

“Do not fret Alfred. After all the reward outweighs the risk does it not?”

Oliver could seeing the wheels turning in Alfred’s head as he contemplated the offer. A final heavy breath and a look of determination later and Oliver had his answer. He clapped his hands together.

“Excellent! Let’s get started!”

Oliver’s hands and tentacles started grabbing things off shelves and from drawers and started putting them in the steaming vent making it bubble and change colors. Soon his tendrils and Lukas were the only things putting ingredients in the brew while Oliver stirred and hummed the mixture. Alfred watched on with amazement. He caught a whiff of the soup and smiled.

“It smells so good.”

“Almost done! We just need one more ingredient.”

Alfred swam up to see it.

“That fast?”

“Yes, but before I add in the last item I need you to do something for me. Vladimir.”

The barracuda tap Alfred on his shoulder.

“We need you to sign this contract.” He held out a coral parchment and a needle.

Alfred couldn’t read the writing. In was in a language he didn’t know, which surprised him because his father made him and his brothers learn every language of the sea. Oliver noticed his hesitance.

“Is there something wrong Alfred?”

“I can’t read it.”

“I’m sorry I thought you could read ancient Medusozoa. Well it just basically states that by signing this contract you agree to our deal and that as collateral I will have to take something from you. But don’t worry it won’t be anything big I promise.”

Inside Alfred was having and internal dilemma, but he put aside his worries.

“For (Name).”

He pricked his finger letting the blood seep out and signed his name. He turned to face Oliver.

“Alright I signed now add the last ingredient.”

Oliver’s smile grew even wider and held a sinister look as he pushed the merprince into the vent.

Matthew let out a gasp but quickly covered his mouth as he watched the entire exchange unfold before him.

“I should have stopped him when I had the chance…” he thought. His attention was turned back to the three when the one known as Vladimir spoke up.

“How much longer?”

“Any second now.”

With that a pale arm shot up out of the vent and pulled its owner out of the vent. Matthew sighed in relief when he saw Alfred’s face appear but it was short lived as he noticed something was wrong. The merman’s brilliant green fin was nowhere to be seen. In its place where human legs that looked weak and fragile. The thing that concerned the merman the most was Alfred’s lack of breath.

“Hmm, he’s drowning.” Oliver said all too casually.

He looked over in Matthew’s direction making eye contact with him from his hiding spot.

“Why don’t you come help your friend?” Oliver spoke to him.

Astonished but no longer needing to hide Matthew quickly grabbed Alfred and swam as fast as he could out of the cave and up to the surface his only thought being he needed to get Alfred away from there.

He broke the water’s surface and Alfred gasped and started to cough up the seawater that was now toxic to his lungs. Matthew started to examine his face as his friend was now breathing again.

“Thank Poseidon.” The merman breathed seeing his friend was okay for his current situation.

Alfred still wasn’t moving though. The events making him pass out. Matthew didn’t know what to do with the limp use-to-be-merman in his arms. He started looking around frantically seeing nothing but blue ocean for miles. How far was he away from Atlantis? Oh how he wished he would’ve paid more attention to where he was going when following Oliver and Alfred. Using his natural instinct he headed in one direction hoping his gut was right.

His adrenaline is what keep him going and Alfred a float, but soon the weariness of the swim and holding his friend caught up to the merman. His arms were burning and his tail felt sore.

“I’ve got to keep going.”

Matthew saw someone swimming towards him and he let out a cry of relief when he saw the familiar red of Francis’ tail.

“Mon Dieu! Matthew what, what happened to Alfred? W-where is his tail?” Francis began to quickly examine his prince but seeing the fatigue that plagued Matthew he calmed down and took the boy from his arms.

“We need to take him to his father.” Francis said.

“No.”

Francis looked at Matthew puzzled.

“The King hates humans and after the fiasco in the grotto what do you think he will do when he sees Alfred in this state??”

Francis looked to Alfred then to Matthew knowing full well that Matthew was right.

“Well what should we do?”

Matthew hadn’t really thought on it much. His first instinct was to take Alfred back to Atlantis but not to see his father. Alfred needed to be on land for right now but in Matthew’s panic he headed in the opposite direction. He searched his brain for another alternative when it clicked.

“I know where to take him.”

~~~

Alfred’s head felt heavy as he started to wake up.

“What happened….?”

The events played out in his head again and he shot up from his laid down position, eyes wide. He took notice of his unfamiliar surroundings. The soft bed, the cool air, the lack of water. While he could smell the sea not too far away he knew he was no longer in it. He quickly ripped the blanket’s back to reveal his new human legs. They were small and skinny and when he touched them they hurt.

“Ah I see you’re awake.”

Alfred looked up to see Gilbert standing in the doorway. He walked over to Alfred giving him a water bottle. Alfred took it and drenched his throat he didn’t know was painfully dry. Once he had drained the content completely Gilbert looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“How you feelin’?”

“I’m good.”

Alfred put a hand to his mouth.

“I’m good. I’M GOOD!”

“Alfred are you okay?” Gilbert asked.

Alfred keep trying his hardest to yell and scream but no noise came from his lips. Oliver’s word’s echoed in Alfred’s ears.

“…as collateral I will have to take something from you…”

Alfred’s eyes widened in shock and realization.

“My voice…he took my voice…”

End of Chapter 15