The Mermaid He Sold Away

ated into the lab, a vision in a white dress, holding a small plate with a pie

took a delicate bite of the cake. "We're going to honeymoon in the Maldives. He says the water t

ter and a jolt of pain up my spine. I winced, a soft grunt of pain escaping my lips. A few of my deep blue scales, already weake

. She leaned closer to the glass. "You wouldn't want to damage the merchandis

apidly, the pleasant coolness turning into an uncomfortable, then painful, warmth. A display on the wall showed the oxygen levels plummeting. I coul

is face pale with alarm. "

t. "I was just talking to it, and the alarms just went off! It must have done s

k. He quickly typed a code, and the alarm stopped. The water temperature began to fall, and th

corner, away from him. The look on my face must have been one of pure hatred, because he stopped, his hand fall

k, except for the soft blue glow from my tank.

The system has some bugs. I'm working on them." It was a weak, pathetic excuse. H

together. My nails, which had grown long and sharp in captivity, dug into the soft flesh of my own palms. I clenched my fists tight. There was a sickening crunching sound as my own s

took a step back, his

lab. She saw the blood in the water and the broken scales

ose. They would make a wonderful centerpiece for the Institute's main exhibit. The 'Vanc

his eyes. But it was a war he had already lost. He walked to a

ll," he said, his voice flat and dead. "Just... hold still. I ne

d and clinical. He reached in with the tweezers. He didn't just pick up the floating

sed, my body rigid with shock. He didn't stop. One by one, he ripped the damaged scales from my bleeding palm. "Just a few more," h