Cidaris and Raine

Baetica and Nucello swam along the base of the wall, but though several humans wandered out to the balcony for fresh air, neither Rigel or Derrin appeared. Sighing, Baetica motioned to Nucello to follow him away. “We’re not likely to learn anything tonight.”

Nucello scoffed. “Not with Cidaris having—”

Nucello stopped speaking as they watched Cidaris squeeze out of the tunnel beneath Rigel’s wall. The younger merman languorously swam back towards deeper waters swimming in large graceful spirals.

Baetica’s jaw dropped open. The boy hadn’t even listened and returned home. But before he could find his voice to lecture Cidaris, the younger merman stopped suddenly and with a flurry of bubbles darted back into the tunnel.

Nucello and Baetica looked at each other horror stricken and swam towards the tunnel. Neither one was slender enough to fit. “Cidaris!” Baetica hollered into the gap. The tide pressed him into the rocks and scratched his fin. He pulled away, but his cousin did not appear. “You try calling him.”

Nucello nodded. “Best keep that fin away from the clams. That nurse at the clinic is barely gentle the first time she deals with a cut. You do not want to meet her if you have to have a wound redressed.” With a grin Nucello swam up to the entrance. “Hey Cidaris, guess who I just saw swimming in the deep. Your beautiful mermaid Kellia.”

“Kellia?” Baetica hissed.

Nucello looked back at him and shrugged. “I mean, she is pretty attractive.” He leaned towards the opening again. “Her eyes that shimmer like crystal jellies. Her lips as red as coral. Her fin—”

“Stop. He has been moping for days because of her. This is just going to make him miserable.”

“If you’re no longer interested, maybe I’ll just swim over there and say hello.”

“Nucello.”

Nucello leaned away from the entrance. “Relax Baetica. If anything, it’ll make him mad and he’ll come out to try and stop me.”

But Cidaris did not appear.

Baetica swam closer. “Cidaris come out of there now. It isn’t safe. The prince has ordered us to stay away from them. Imagine what this would do to your parents if you’re caught.”

“Has he been caught?” asked Nucello. “He hasn’t answered anything we’ve said.”

“Cidaris, can you hear us?”