when you smile, sun shines; a brilliance you cannot fit into a framework of language.
the waves crash my heart and crumble down,
plagued by violent storms. 
exo; baby don't cry.

Clear blue water is the best water to swim in. It’s easy to see everything around and there’s hardly ever any surprises. All forms of sea life can be seen from all different directions. On the ledges of sand are crabs that waddle sideways to find food. Starfish hide under the sand, only to be seen when a school of fish swim by and push the sand away. Bubbles coming up from various hydrothermal vents that rest several hundred feet below. There’s large pieces of coral that hold home to fish and kinds of microscopic life. Each piece is beautiful and adds to the wonder of the sea.

A large school of trout swims past at a fast rate. The group creates a small current that drags anything near it along. Fingers grip the edge of a large piece of coral as wide brown eyes watch the several helpless fish being dragged into the current. A quiet laugh is hidden under the sound of waves being created from behind the coral. A ripped piece of seaweed floats towards the fingers. The boy leans up and blows it away, making it float back to where it came from.

The boy pushes off the coral, making sure not to push too hard or else it would surely break. It’s his time to go near the surface again. With a quick flick of his tail, he glides slowly over to the large sand dune at the edge of the coral. It’s close enough to the surface that items can land and not be lost in the sea. A flicker of the sun is all he needs to spot the item for the day.

“Wow...” It’s a watch, an expensive one he thinks. The gold shimmers against the tan sand and there’s spots of silver where the clock is. It wiggles in his fingers gently along with the current of the sea. He wraps the watch around his wrist. It’s a near perfect fit. A grin pulls his lips up as he fixes it so it fits well and doesn’t slide off. It’s his new prized possession.

The trip back to his grotto is filled with his brown eyes watching the gold shimmer as he moves. Against the water, the watch shines even more than it probably did out of it. Once it hits the bright light of the grotto, the shining almost hurts his eyes. The watch is carefully taken off his wrist and placed on one of the shelves. He adjusts the various other objects in order to make room for the new finding. He wants it to be in a position that makes the sun hit it all day.

There’s all kinds of trinkets and gadgets that he’s collected. From jewelry to silverware. Even a music box that has a mirror so he can see himself when the music plays. There’s various shapes and colors of pots and bowls from blue to orange. It adds color to the dark stone of the grotto. Each piece is treasured and he makes sure to keep it all in pristine condition.

“Kyungsoo!” He stops his swimming and lets his body go upright. He watches the other boy as he swims towards him, tail flicking behind him in a graceful manner. “Joonmyun is back! Father says to come greet him.” Kyungsoo nods quickly, a bright smile on his lips at the knowledge. He follows his brother back to their home.

When they arrive in the palace, Kyungsoo can hear commotion coming from around the throne. His smile widens as he spots his brothers gathered around their father. Kyungsoo flicks his tail and quickly speeds off, not caring that he’s leaving his other brother behind him. He’s eager to hear what Joonmyun has to say about his trip.

“What did you see?” Kyungsoo slows down as he reaches the throne. “Was it as warm as the water?” He pushes past the group so he has a spot where he can hear everything. Questions are being spat our quickly. So quickly that Joonmyun simply laughs. He waits until everyone’s calmed down before beginning his story. Kyungsoo sits on the side of the throne and he smiles as his father’s arm wraps around his waist.

“I came up near the beach. There were hundreds of humans around! Some of them were in swim suits and oh, their legs were beautiful. They look so graceful and humans can do so much on them. Run, walk, even skip! They can crawl on them too. I think they use knees? All of them were amazing. Even the ones that were really hairy. And there’s birds everywhere! Ones that fly above the surface and then there’s some that walk on the sand. I watched one bird steal a human’s food. The human got so angry and chased the bird away! They can run so fast.”

Kyungsoo’s eyes lit up the more Joonmyun talked about the surface world. All the things he said sounded amazing to him. The bad and the good. He wanted to see it all. Joonmyun wasn’t the only one of his brother’s to go up to the surface. He was one of the four brothers that had been allowed to go up. The other two, including himself, had to wait until they were of age. Kyungsoo was the youngest and he still had several months, almost a year, to go. His brother that was next in line only had a week to wait. Kyungsoo was extremely jealous. How he longed to go to the surface.

Ever since his eldest brother Joonmyun went up to the surface, Kyungsoo dreamed of going up every night. He wondered how the air would feel against his shoulders or how the air would taste. Then there was the humans. Kyungsoo loved the humans. He loved the way they walked. He loved the way they talked and how they could do so many things with their legs. When Joonmyun first came back and told the others about human legs, Kyungsoo tried relentlessly to walk with his tail. It failed miserably each time though. It didn’t stop him from dreaming about them.

Days past and it was time for the next brother to be allowed to go to the surface. The five brothers gathered around the inside of the palace to see him off. Kyungsoo smiled the best he could as he watched his brother Sehun swim his way up to the surface. All of them stayed where they hover until he can no longer be seen. Kyungsoo is the last to leave, his eyes still lingering on the sunlight that can be seen from inside of the palace.

When Sehun returns later in the evening, he brings gifts for everyone. Kyungsoo swims as fast as he can over to his brother at the mention of presents from the surface world. He brings a large silver bead for Joonmyun. A pair of glasses, the left glass popped out, for Baekhyun. A elegant spoon for Chanyeol, one that has flowered detail around the handle. And a silver hair clip for Zitao. For Kyungsoo, Sehun hands him a ring. Kyungsoo examines it carefully, his fingers brushing over the engravings on the side. It’s an elaborate ring, one that is fit for royalty. On the side he can see an engraving of initials. His eyes narrow as he tries to make out the letters. It’s hard to see but after a few seconds, Kyungsoo can see a small K and J. A large smile is on his lips and he clutches the ring tightly in his hand.

The shelves in his grotto are becoming full. It takes several minutes for him to rearrange items to make it look good. He takes the time to polish every piece of metal and silver that he has resting on the rock. It must look perfect at all times. Kyungsoo places a new piece of plate he found the other day to the side, resting it against the other pieces he’s found over time. The silver sparkles and soft patterns of white look good all together, even if they come from different plates.

Kyungsoo sits on one of the ocean-made steps. His tail sways slowly in the water, it going on its own accord to the current. The ring that Sehun had brought back is resting in his fingers. There’s something about it that makes it different than the other goods he’s found. Not because it was brought directly from the surface. Kyungsoo runs his fingers over the initials again. It’s special because it was someone important. Someone important enough to have their initials engraved on it, he thinks.

“Why can’t I be up there?” His elbows press down against the stone. The sun is barely shining through the open ceiling. Evening is coming to an end and night is beginning to overtake the sun. “I want to see how humans walk. How they talk. Everything.” Kyungsoo sighs and lets his cheek rest against his arm. He desperately wants to have his own taste of the surface world.

He slips the ring on his finger. It fits well, not perfectly like his watch but well enough that it won’t fall off if he swims. Kyungsoo decides to keep it on as long as he can. He knows his father will tell him to take it off. He never approves of his fascination with the humans. Out of all his brothers, Kyungsoo dreams the most about the surface world.

The sea king calls for all of his sons after the sun sets. None of them are allowed outside of the palace when there’s no light. It’s far too dangerous and he couldn’t bear to have anything happen to his sons. Kyungsoo is the last to arrive, his own body not wanting to leave the comfort of his grotto.

“When can I go to the surface world, father?” Kyungsoo floats in front of his father’s throne. He watches as his father’s face contorts and his hand grips tighter on the large gold trident he holds. “When you turn fifteen. You know the rules, Kyungsoo.” His father’s voice is stern. It echoes throughout the large throne room and Kyungsoo flinches at the tone. “I don’t get why you have such an interest in humans. They’re disgusting.”

No one shares the same feelings about the surface world. His brothers are interested sure, but all of them prefer to be in the sea where they belong. Kyungsoo however, wants to be a human more than anything. “Father, they’re so interesting! Don’t you find it fascinating how they do things?” Kyungsoo’s hands clasp together as he swims closer to his father, hoping he had a sudden change of heart. “Stop this crazy talk at once, Kyungsoo! Contact between the human world and the merworld is strictly forbidden!” At his father’s words, Kyungsoo nods. He finds it best not to dwell too much on the subject around his father.

Kyungsoo swims to his room, too upset to talk to Joonmyun who waits for him outside the door. He pushes the door closed quickly so no one can bother him. His bed is the only place he can find comfort in the palace.

After a few minutes of composing himself, Kyungsoo can hear his father talking. His voice is unmistakable and can be heard sometimes from what seems like miles away. Kyungsoo sits up and pushes his tail behind him so he swims towards the door.

“Keep an eye on him. If he starts getting too caught up in the human world, tell me immediately.” Fingers press against the door and Kyungsoo’s lips pull down into a frown at the words. It makes him feel even more alone than he already feels. “Yes, father.” Sehun’s voice can barely be heard from behind the door but it’s enough for Kyungsoo. Tears weld up in his eyes as he backs away.

His fingers run across the initials on his ring. They trace the K and the J over and over again until he can do it with his eyes closed. He’s grateful that his father didn’t see it on him or he would surely take it away. The others had already gotten their gifts taken away by their father only minutes after they received them. Kyungsoo was going to make sure no one took his ring. It made him feel that much closer to the surface
 world.

 

The water temperature is perfect. Not too cold but not too hot. It’s the result of a bright July day. The sun shines throughout the clear waters and streaks of light sway along with the waves. Many of Kyungsoo’s friends are swimming through the warm waters, all bearing bright smiles from the summer day. He watches them for a few seconds as they play tag around a small reef. Kyungsoo doesn’t think about joining, he has other things on his mind.

“Kyungsoo! Come play with us!” The two boys swim over to him, each of their tails shimmering under the beam of sunlight. Kyungsoo smiles and quickly shakes his head. “I can’t! I have to be somewhere else. Today is a very important day.” Both of the boys look disappointed but nod at the statements. They tell him to come back later when he’s not busy. Kyungsoo agrees and waves them off with a smile as he swims away.

Sun shines brightly into his grotto. He swears the sun had never been that strong before. It must be a sign from the surface world. “Maybe they know too,” he says as he looks up through the ceiling. The water makes the beams of light sway back and forth. The current isn’t strong that day so it’s gentle and calming. Kyungsoo thinks he could fall asleep from simply watching the sun.

Several new trinkets had been added to his collection. He almost had a full set of silverware. Each spoon and fork polished the best he could get. Though, Kyungsoo has no idea what they’re actually called or what purpose they serve. But he notices that the fork is slightly sharp on the edges and thinks it must be a hairbrush. He’s run it through his hair many times and declared it’s what it’s used for.

There’s a few hair clips and pins that he’s discovered by digging in the sand with one of his spoons. Most of them he gives to his brother Zitao but the special ones he keeps for himself. A large hair clip with diamonds on it rest on the middle shelf. The end of it houses a pink flower also made of diamonds. Kyungsoo holds it in his hands occasionally to watch how the diamonds look in the sun.

“This is finally it. It’s finally my day.” Kyungsoo can’t hold back the large smile and makes his brown eyes bend down into crescents. He looks around at his surface world collection and sighs happily to himself. “Maybe I’ll finally know what this is.” His fingers hold up a small thimble. It barely fits on his thumb and tends to tip to the side. “Or learn what this is!” He wiggles a silver bell that makes a broken sound as he shakes it. “Maybe it’s some sort of talking device. I wonder if humans use this to communicate.” The bell is put back into it’s place. Part of it tips and digs into the small sand dune Kyungsoo had created to keep his items in place on the shelves.

Kyungsoo sighs to himself, it being a sad sigh instead of his happy one moments ago. His eyes watch the water above him as it meets with the sun. He pushes himself off the steps and swims until the grotto’s ceiling is too small for him to fit through. His fingers reach up and touch the ceiling of the rock. The outside world is so close to his small fingers. He knows if his fingers brush the top of the water, his father would surely know. Kyungsoo knows if his father finds that he’s broken the rule, he’ll no longer be permitted to go to the surface world. His fingers are brought back down to his side. He doesn’t want to risk anything when he’s so close.

The ring on his finger is still in it’s original position. The king hasn’t caught it on Kyungsoo’s hand and he is more than grateful. Kyungsoo thinks he should take it off incase his father does catch it, but it’s too important to him to remove. Only his brother’s have noticed and Kyungsoo begs them not to tell their father. It’s his good luck charm, or so he believes. It’s brought him luck in finding more interesting things from the human world. With it on, Kyungsoo finds the most precious of items. He grips the ring in his hand. Whoever KJ is must surely be the most luckiest person in the world.

“Only a few more hours, Kyungsoo. Then I’ll finally get to see everything.” Fingers run over the sandy surface of his shelves. He remembers when he found his first human item. It was when he was nine years old. Kyungsoo constantly swam up to the sand dunes close to the surface. Each time he would do it to see how far he could swim. One lap after the other was a success, his fingers touching the edge of the dune with each go.

The second day he came back, he repeated his process. He could swim up to twenty meters without getting tired out. Kyungsoo was very proud of himself. He tried it over and over again, hoping to get further. Once he reached the sand dune, his fingers pushed into it as he let out a cheer for himself. His arms and tail were sore beyond belief, telling him it was time to return to the palace. As he pushed off the dune, a large school of fish past by. Kyungsoo didn’t see them coming and he was knocked back by the strong current. His back hit against the dune, making him let out a quiet groan at the gritty feeling against his skin.

When he was able to move again, he pushed himself up and turned around. A large indent had been made into the sand. The patterns from his tail were at the bottom, creating a texture to the smooth sand. As a cloud moved away from the sun, Kyungsoo spotted something glimmering from area his back had been pressed in to. He tilted his head at the sliver of silver sticking out. Kyungsoo ran his fingers over the object, his eyes watching it as the sand around fell down into the depths of the ocean.

It was his first surface world gift. The object was none other than a knife. It had dulled on the side but other than that, Kyungsoo saw no flaws. He quickly swam back to the palace to show his father and older brothers. When he presented the object, it didn’t go as he planned. None of them were as happy as he was, even his eldest brother Joonmyun who was due to go up to the surface soon, shook his head. The knife was taken away and disposed of within minutes. Kyungsoo listens as his father tells stories of why humans are horrible creatures. The other brothers tell him the same thing. They tell him that the merworld is where they belong. It brings tears to Kyungsoo’s eyes as he watches his knife being thrown down into one of the largest trenches. He thinks to go down and rescue it. But Kyungsoo doesn’t dare defy his father.

Kyungsoo’s collection has been kept private ever since. The grotto is the only place his treasures are able to be safe. He doesn’t tell anyone of his secret place. Not even his brothers. Seeing the knife fall down to be rediscovered years later by other people of the merworld made Kyungsoo realize how important each item is. He searches the sands and corals everyday to catch the items that could be lost forever.

He takes a look around at his shelves. There are several hundred pieces that he’s collected over the years. He thinks of how important they are to him and how each piece is a part of a world he wishes to be in. They are the closest things he has to becoming part of the humans.

The swim to the palace had never felt so long to Kyungsoo. Normally he feels as if it’s much too short. Not enough time to try and rid his mind of the surface world before meeting his father. But he doesn’t bother to clear his mind. The thoughts overwhelm him and it slows down his swimming. Kyungsoo quickly shakes his head and pats his cheeks. “Focus, Kyungsoo.”

His father and elder brothers are already waiting for him when he passes through the palace gates. All of them are talking with one another around the throne. Kyungsoo can barely hear what they say. He wonders if they’re all as excited as he is. Joonmyun is the first to greet him. He hugs his brother with shaky hands that press against his back. Joonmyun notices and gives him a smile. None of his brothers know how excited he truly is.

“Kyungsoo. You know the rules, correct?” Kyungsoo nods quickly in response. “Yes, father.” Even with the confirmation, his father insists on going over them again.

“You are to go to the surface for three hours and three hours only. If I find out that you have interacted with any humans you will be forbidden to return for the rest of your life. Anything you bring back will be thrown away immediately. Those disgusting human world objects have no purpose down here.”

Kyungsoo holds back harsh words that he wants to say to his father. He doesn’t think human things are disgusting. They are filled with mystery and have meaning with each piece. His teeth dig into his bottom lip as he nods. “Yes, father. I understand.” It’s the best he can do as he tries not to lash out. It will only ruin his day.

His brothers each give him a hug. They wish him good luck and to be safe. Kyungsoo promises them that he’ll behave. They all give happy looks as they move back towards the throne. Kyungsoo looks his father in the eyes. His eyes are stern and full of strictness. Kyungsoo knows why his father is protective but he constantly reminds him that he’s not his little boy anymore. Though he is hit back with the reminder that he will always be his father’s little boy. Kyungsoo gives up reasoning with him and tries again a few days later.

The ring on his finger is held tight as his hand curls into a fist. Part of him worries that it will fall off when he swims up to the surface. But he doesn’t dare to take it off. Not on his most important journey. Instead, he lets the sides of it dig into his pale skin. There are imprints of where diamonds used to rest against his small hands. His thumb presses against the initials he’s learned by heart.

Kyungsoo waves at his brothers and father as he kicks his tail. He watches bubbles float up next to him from the force of his kick. He only watches his brothers for a few seconds before he looks up. The water becomes warmer and warmer. He can feel the waves become stronger and he has to kick harder to keep his straight line.

Fish become sparse and Kyungsoo has to dodge a few floating jellyfish. He nearly hits his arm on one of the tentacles, making him stick his tongue out at the uncaring jellyfish. A wave knocks him off his path and he takes a minute to return to his spot. The waves are much stronger than they are down near the palace. It takes all of his muscles to kick up.

His eyes widen in amazement as his fingers feel cool. There’s a breeze that presses against them and it makes the warm water become cold. Kyungsoo smiles and kicks his tail one last time. Within seconds, his head is out of the water followed by his shoulders.

It takes him several seconds to adjust to the surface. There are sounds that he’s never heard before and they are loud against his ears. His hands go up to cover them as he adjusts to the new sounds. The water is much colder at the top. Breezes make waves hit against his chest, pushing him back and forth with each touch. Each wave brings a new punch of warmth against his cooling skin.

Kyungsoo’s hands are slowly dropped from his ears. His eyes look up and he can see birds flying around above him. His lips curl up into a smile at the sight of them circling around the area. There’s no beach in sight, he knows Joonmyun must have traveled far to find the one he had told them about. All he can see is ocean. Kyungsoo is sick of the ocean.

“Ah, hey!” Kyungsoo’s hands fly up above his head to swat away the seagulls that pick at his hair. One of them pull a strand of hair out, making him whine in pain. “Get away!” He frantically dives back under the water. Kyungsoo waits until the birds have gone until he surfaces again. His hand runs through his hair to fix the mess the birds had made.

The surface world is just how he imagined it to be. Bright blue skies with only a cloud or two in the way. The weather is warm. Kyungsoo likes the way the sun feels against his skin. It’s much different than how he imagined it. There isn’t crowds of people out on the water and there isn’t music playing that can be heard across the ocean. But he loves it anyways. It’s still amazing to him.

There’s endless ocean around him. On all sides it’s clear blue sky and matching blue water. His green tail is the only thing breaking the overwhelming blue. He doesn’t swim underwater like he normally does. Kyungsoo’s head is kept up above the water, his hair and face having become dried from the warm sun. His skin feels tight as if it had been pulled back but he doesn’t mind. It’s different.

He finds a rock that stands out of the water. It rests on one of the many tall sand dunes that he can see around him. The water is different shades of blue as he gets closer. The lighter blue is surrounding the rock before it melts into the darker sea blue. Kyungsoo kicks his tail and swims over to the rock, his body needing a rest from swimming.

His back presses against the warm surface. There are small bumps on the rock that are smooth but rather uncomfortable. Kyungsoo continues to lay back against them though. It’s part of the surface world and he wants to experience it. He lets his tail curl up against the edge of the rock. Half of it is still resting in the cool water while the other is pressed against the warm rock.

Kyungsoo closes his eyes in happiness. He’s dreamed for years about the day he can breathe human air. It’s not much different than the water. He finds it warmer against his throat as he takes each breath. Smells are different as well. There aren’t any fish that he can smell. One hear and there as a school passes beneath him but it’s not constant how it is in the water. He smells the salt of the ocean. It’s almost overwhelming to him at some points when the wind blows. If humans can do it, so can he, Kyungsoo thinks to himself.

The wind and warm air makes his skin feel dry. After almost an hour of laying out against the rock, Kyungsoo’s body longs for the water. He pushes himself off and slides back into the water, his skin finding relief in seconds. His head dips down in the water, making his hair plaster against his skin when he resurfaces. Kyungsoo pushes his hair back and to the side, patting it lightly to make sure it stays while he swims.

As he turns to swim in a different direction, he hears the sound of something odd. His head turns to look around the area. His eyes stop when they land on a large ship. Kyungsoo’s lips part before curling up into a smile.

Ships had always been interesting to him. There are several of them down beneath the water where he swims. He’s made sure to examine each one completely. Ones that are bigger hold better things. Kyungsoo’s found plates and more of his hairbrushes in chest at the bottom of them. He’s found other things that he knows nothing about. One object has a glass at the end. When Kyungsoo puts his eye up to it, he can see further away but the things look close up, almost as if they’re in front of him. It made his day much more interesting; looking at things far away and seeing them close up.

The ship nearby was the biggest ship he had seen yet. And it wasn’t broken down or under the water. It was moving towards him and very much still intact. Kyungsoo’s body sunk down into the water more so only his eyes and the top of his head were out. He watched as the ship moved closer and closer as the minutes passed.

It turned before Kyungsoo could see the details of the wooden planks on the ship. He sunk under the water and swam after it. His tail flicked in and out of the water as he swam. He made sure to keep his head down low enough that he wouldn’t be noticeable from far away but high enough up so he could see the whole ship. He watched the way the white waves splashed against the dark wood with each swift movement.

The ship was louder the closer Kyungsoo got. He could hear the waves crashing against the sides and the loud creaks of wood. The sun had begun to set, making the sunlight dim and give a yellow glow to the blue water. Lights illuminated throughout the different areas and cabins. All of them giving off a warm glow that reflected off the water.

There’s a large dip in the middle of the ship. It’s lighted by many bright lanterns that hang on the poles and doors. Kyungsoo swims closer to the middle of the ship, making sure he’s not noticed. People’s voices become louder and he can almost make out what they say.

Kyungsoo’s fingers grip onto the small ledge on the side that protrudes out from the side. He leans his chin against it, not minding the roughness against his skin. His head quickly ducks as a man strolls past the side. Teeth bite down on his bottom one lightly to make sure he doesn’t make any noise. Once the man passes, he leans his head back up so he can see onto the boat.

Several men, almost a dozen are gathered around on the deck. Most of them are dancing with one another. Hands are intertwined and there are swift movements that rock the other back and forth. All of them have large smiles on their faces. Laughter being emitted through their wide mouths. Kyungsoo noticed the way they were dressed. Almost all of the men had pants on that stopped right above the ankle. Boots of different shape and color filled the space between, not showing any of the leg’s skin. Then there were those in vests that covered only half of their chest. A few were made of what Kyungsoo thought was gold. Beautiful bright colors, all shining in the light from the ship. It reminded Kyungsoo of the shiny plates and silverware he had back in his grotto. Some wore bandanas around their hair. One even had an eyepatch. Kyungsoo had read about men with eyepatches. They were always angry pirates that wanted to steal everything and anything. But the people on the ship didn’t look angry at all. They bathed in happiness and warmth that Kyungsoo could almost feel it from where he was leaning against.

One person caught Kyungsoo’s eyes more than the others. A tall man that wore and long white sleeved shirt that came down on the chest past his collarbones. It had a lovely collar that flowed over the beginning’s of his broad shoulders. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, the night having been warmer than he expected, Kyungsoo thinks. A red belt his slightly hidden by the bottom of his shirt but it’s easily detected against the black of his pants. They are a dark black, almost night colored, where the bottoms are folded up to reveal a lighter black, silver like, underneath. Black leather boots fill the space between his calves and feet like the other men.

Kyungsoo’s eyes widen when he moves closer. His lips part slightly as he notices how close he is. It’s the first time he’s ever been close to a human. The man has beautiful soft black hair. The part is to the side and his bangs sweep across his face in the most natural way. Kyungsoo pushes himself up so his arms are resting against the ledge. He watches silently as he dances around with the other men on the ship. Kyungsoo thinks he’s the most handsome man he’s ever seen. Even in the merworld, where there are handsome and beautiful faces, nothing can compare to the handsomeness of humans.

He watches the way the handsome man dances around on the deck. He moves with grace that could only be brought by the gift of human legs. His legs are slim but full of muscle. Kyungsoo can tell that he works out often by the way his muscles tense up with each twirl of the dance. His cheek is leaned against his arm and Kyungsoo sighs in happiness.

“Sir! We’ve prepared the fireworks for your celebration!”

“Great! Please gather up the other men.”

Kyungsoo watched as the men gather around each other. They all watched as loud sparks shot up into night sky. Kyungsoo covered his ears quickly at the sound, it being too much for his ears. His head tilted back as the fireworks exploded into the dark sky. He could hear the cheering and clapping of the men on the ship.

“For Kim Jongin!”

They all cheered and clapped even louder. So loud that Kyungsoo could hear it over the loud explosions of the fireworks. Kyungsoo’s hands dropped when his ears adjusted to the sounds. They clapped together along with the other men, his lips curling up into a bright smile.

“Sir Kim, there’s a big storm coming our way and it’s coming fast. What do you want us to do?”

“A storm?”

Before the others could get anything else out, there was a loud rumble of thunder through the area. Kyungsoo looked up at the sky, his eyes watching flashes of lightning. The ship must have moved right into it while they were celebrating.

“We’ll have to do our best to make it through. Please secure everything.”

“Yes, sir!”

The men shouted to each other and commanded orders. Some of them climbed onto the other decks while others messed with the sails. Kyungsoo ducks his head every now and then to avoid being spotted.

Thunder and lightening are getting worse the more the minutes pass. Distant rumbling was in loud snaps above them. Kyungsoo sunk down into the water more as the sound became almost too much for him. The waves around him were fierce and it made his body sway back and forth at a fast pace. They pushed him away from the ship. Kyungsoo dove underwater and swam after the ship, fearing that the storm would hurt them.

As he surfaced, a large wave hit him, making him go under the water. He blinked a few times before pushing himself up again. The ship was further away than the last time he had surfaced. Kyungsoo watched as a strong wave made the ship tip to the side. He looked around quickly before pushing himself under the water. The waves wouldn’t effect him there. His tail kicked and he swum as fast as he could to the ship. However, the ship was going much faster due to the high winds pushing against the sails. Kyungsoo was out of breath before he could catch up.

The ship swayed back and forth. Each time, Kyungsoo closed his eyes in fear that it would tip over. He pushed himself further to chase after the boat. The closer he got, the more screaming and shouting he could hear. There were shouts to fix the sails a different way or turn the wheel to the other direction. The warm glow of the lights had flickered off, leaving only the moonlight to make the ship visible against the darkness.

Kyungsoo watches from afar as the ship tips to the left. Several of the men fall off into the water. Their feet kick and their hands wave in the air for rescue. Kyungsoo’s teeth dig against his bottom lip. He wishes he could save them. He pushes himself through the water quickly to move closer to the ship. Even from under the water, he can hear the voices of the men that had fallen overboard. As he surfaces, he spots the handsome man. His feet wobble and his body tips to the side as the ship turns. Kyungsoo’s hand is brought up to his mouth and he in a breath, eyes widening when the man falls off the side. He watches as his head hits against the board his arms were leaning on before.

The waves don’t slow him down as he swims towards the man. Kyungsoo can see him sinking further and further down into the ocean’s depth. A small whimper is let out of his lips as he kicks his tail as hard as he can.

His arms are held out in front of him. They catch the man before he can fall any further down into the ocean. He’s as light as feathers in his arms and Kyungsoo takes a moment to look at him. It’s only after he sees small bubbles coming from his mouth does he remember that humans can’t breathe underwater. Kyungsoo pushes himself up until his head is out of the water. His arms hold the man up so his head is rested against his elbow, the wind blowing against his black locks.

Brown eyes look around quickly for a place to set the man. Kyungsoo can’t leave him in the water or else he would surely die. He’s limp in his arms, lifeless almost, but Kyungsoo watches his chest rise and fall slowly. It makes his lips part at how beautiful it is to him.

He swims for several minutes before his arms begin to tire. Even with the water holding the man up, he’s heavy in his arms. After a few more meters of swimming, Kyungsoo spots land.

There isn’t a beach with light tan sand and foot imprints. No humans lounging in their swimsuits and having french fries being stolen by the seagulls. Kyungsoo only sees the dim lights of lanterns. There are steps that lead directly down into the ocean. Each one of them looking strong and sturdy. Giant columns stand tall on both sides of the steps. The bottoms are outlined with carvings of gold and pictures of waves. They glow against the lanterns that hang next to them that light the steps. There’s tall walls and large doors on the structure behind the steps. Kyungsoo recognizes it as a type of palace. Great large structures with elegant accents along every part of it. It reminded him of his own palace in the sea.

Kyungsoo swims over to the shore, his body being pushed up on the sand resting next to the stairs. The sand is dark and there’s only enough for him and the man in his arms. It feels soft against his smooth skin, each grain rubbing against it. He pushes himself up as far as he can to make sure the other man doesn’t get drug back into the water with the waves. Kyungsoo’s arms are covered in sand as he sets the man down.

He watches the man carefully. Each breath is examined and Kyungsoo checks his pulse. It’s still strong. His elbows push him up so he hovers above him enough to see his face. It’s even more handsome up close, Kyungsoo thinks. The fluffy black hair is wet and parts of his bangs still to the side of his face. His fingers brush a strand away that covers his eyes. Fingers brush through the hair, checking for any blood from the fall off the boat. Luckily there is none. Kyungsoo doesn’t think he’d be able to leave if the man was bleeding. He takes his time to admire how soft the man’s hair is. It’s softer than his own, even when it flows through the water. His fingers run through his locks easily, not a single tangle or not stopping his hand.

Then there’s his face. Kyungsoo can’t keep his eyes off of it. Flawless tanned skin, most likely from hours on the sea and days being outside. But Kyungsoo realizes that it’s a perfect tan, meaning he was blessed with bronze skin. He has plump lips, much like his own. Kyungsoo’s fingers poke them lightly. He feels their warmth and his finger doesn’t want to leave them.

Kyungsoo becomes startled when one of the man’s legs move. It’s only a twitch but it’s enough to make him back away slightly. His pants are clinging to his legs, making the outline of them noticeable, even with the black pants on. They are fit, just how he saw them on the ship. He reaches out to touch them, fingers touching the small mountains the pants make along his legs. They feel soft yet firm. He can feel the muscles going down and feel their warmth even with the cool night breeze. Kyungsoo loves the feeling of them. They are scaly or slimy like his tail. Not smooth but not rough either. The silkiness from his pants made everything feel softer.

His lips part as he begins to hum. Singing always made him feel better, perhaps it will make the prince feel better too. The way his jaw moves as the words flow from his lips is something only Kyungsoo can do. He’s been gifted with the best voice in all of the sea. It’s a blessing but also a curse. For others often try to steal his voice away out of jealousy.

“Hello? Who’s there?”

He turns his head up when he hears a voice. It’s a girl’s voice. One that sounds young and fresh. Not an older voice. Kyungsoo quickly slides back into the water, his body sinking down until only his eyes show. It’s far too dark where he is for him to be seen. The girl walks out slowly from the building next to the small beach. Her steps are fluid, toes tapping lightly against the marble surface. She wears a nightgown, one that is full of beading and sparkles under the lantern lights. Kyungsoo’s eyes widen when she looks towards him. He keeps as still as he can, knowing any movement would simply attract her closer.

“Oh my!”

In a few steps, her feet sink onto the sand, almost disappearing into the tanned grains. Her knees press against the sand, some being pushed up into tiny dunes by her weight.

“Father! Father come quick!”

The girl’s hands cup the man’s cheeks. They are gentle and she seems to care for the man. Kyungsoo watches from afar as the elder man, father most likely, stumbles out in his night clothing. He too displays fancy clothing with gold trim and beads that embellish the clothing. Both of them help the man up, his body still limp and fragile.

“It’s Prince Kim Jongin, father. We have to help him!”

Kyungsoo’s eyes widen at the words. A prince? Could he have really touched a prince? His lips parted, throat holding back the small noises that pushed against his throat. He was a prince himself, sure, but a human prince was much more special. Kyungsoo believed they could accomplish more and had higher power. Humans were more powerful than any merman or mermaid.

“Please go inside and summon the doctor.”

“Will he be okay, father?”

“Yes, my dear, he’ll be fine.”

The girl stands up and quickly runs back inside the building. Only her small footsteps echo through the door. Kyungsoo presses his lips together as he watches the prince being carried back to the steps. Even in the faded light, Kyungsoo thinks he’s handsome.

Once the elder man disappears into the building, Kyungsoo turns around. He dives back into the water. He knows it’s time to return home to the merworld. It would be another year until he would be allowed to resurface and feel the cool air again.

 

July had come and gone quickly. One by one, Kyungsoo’s brothers had their turns to return to the surface world. Each time they would return with a new story. Baekhyun returned and told them of a great meteor shower he watched as the sun set above him. The sky had been filled with flying bright lights. Each one would leave a trail of sparkles against the dark night sky.

Chanyeol told them of the ship that played loud music and had dozens of humans danced and ate delicious smelling food. He watched as they sang happy birthday and celebrated with a large white cake. Chanyeol watched them sing and dance until the sun went down and the ship disappeared.

Kyungsoo listened to every one of their stories like he always did. His eyes wide with interest and his body leaning against his father’s throne. Even if he was told the same story twice, he always found a way to make it more interesting than the last in his head. Humans had the power to be anything they wanted. Sometimes Kyungsoo would make the girl a beautiful human that had fallen in love with an average man and they were going on their honeymoon across the ocean. Other times they would be lost at sea, searching for help. He often dreamed by himself, never once bothering to share his stories with his other brothers.

The grotto was filled with dozens of new items. Since Kyungsoo went to the surface world, it’s all he thinks about. Every second of every day. He searches to the furthest points of the kingdom, where no one else dares to go in search of new human world items. Each trip had payed off and rewarded him with a handful of new sparkling objects.

Kyungsoo leaned back against the steps inside of his grotto. His hair flowed weightlessly in the water. The blackness slightly out of place in the bright blue of the water and shinning of the silver from the shelves. The sun shines bright, the middle of the day coming close to an end and evening slowly approaching. Kyungsoo holds his hand up so the light hits it perfectly. The ring on his finger bursts with light and reflects off the other silver things in the area. He turns his hand so the initials on the ring are in his eyesight.

“Prince Kim Jongin. Kim Jongin. Jongin. Prince Kim Jongin.”

The name falls off his lips easily. He thinks there isn’t a name that could sound better coming off his lips. The name flows and it works well with the way the water goes. Kyungsoo thinks that Kim Jongin’s name was meant for his lips. Soon after returning home to the merworld, Kyungsoo declared that his ring was none other than Prince Jongin’s. The initials fit and it looked as if it was made for a prince.

Everywhere he went, Kyungsoo stared at the ring on his finger. Each direction he swam, each position of the sun as the day went on, each different shade of blue made the ring shine. Kyungsoo loved it. Just as he was in love with Prince Kim Jongin himself. Kyungsoo couldn’t get his face out of his head. The sound of his voice when he talked. The feel of his hair between his fingers. Every part of him Kyungsoo loved. It only made his want to return to the surface world greater. He wanted to meet Prince Jongin. Meet him properly.

Kyungsoo swims past the palace gates and to his grandmother’s home. She rested only a short swim away from the palace itself. She often complained about too much noise coming from the six teenage boys that fill the palace. It was always Kyungsoo’s favorite place to go, other than his grotto.

The home was well lit, even in the middle of the day. Never once where there dark spots or blue or black. His grandmother was a positive person, always wanting to look on the bright side of things. She provided the support that Kyungsoo’s father and brothers couldn’t give to him.

His grandmother was resting on the couch. Kyungsoo knocked on the door before pushing it open slowly, his head peeking in enough to meet his grandmother’s eyes. They both smiled and held their arms out for each others embrace. They hold each other for several minutes before Kyungsoo pulls away.

The house is cozier than any room in the palace. It’s decorated with love, each piece having been picked out by his grandmother herself. There were shells of all different color and shape. Some were large and took up almost the whole wall. While others were small and Kyungsoo could hold a dozen of them in his palm. The color of the rocks were a warm color of orange. An orange that wasn’t quite neon but not quite a burnt orange. Openings made the view of the palace shine and shimmer. Each piece of gold from the gates and lanterns could be seen perfectly out each opening. Even the great coral reef that was almost a mile away could be seen out the window. The curves and dips of the coral along with the vibrate colors and sizes of fish all contrast against the light blue that surrounded it. Kyungsoo often found himself staring out the opening and watching from afar.

“Did you enjoy your time at the surface?”

Kyungsoo sat against the opening and nodded as his grandmother prepared a lunch for the both of them.

“I did.”

His eyes watched his grandmother work. She worked fast but it was done with great precision. Every movement was done with love and perfection. His mouth watered at the sight of freshly picked seaweed being wrapped in the finest tuna the gold from their family could buy.

“Grandmother, I have a question.”

“Yes, Kyungsoo?”

He feels the hard coral under his fingertips as his hands stretch out against the table. “Could humans live forever if they could breathe underwater?”

His grandmother chuckles. Her hand grips the bright colored plate, it gently being set down on the table as she sits down across from him.

“Well no, dear. You see, humans lives are much shorter than us merpeople.”

Kyungsoo picks up a seaweed wrap, his plump lips tightening around the edge of it, teeth biting down. It’s not too salty and the fish goes well with the kind of seaweed. Sometimes he thinks it’s odd to eat the fish that he swims next to everyday. But then he thinks that humans do the same. They kill the cows that they drive past and the chicken they raise.

“How much shorter?”

“Certainly not three-hundred years like us. I’m not sure on the exact number, dear, but I do believe it’s only around a hundred, even that may be pushing it.”

“Only a hundred? That seems so short.”

The wrap is finished as his grandmother laughs at his sentence. Kyungsoo was very thankful for his grandmother. She was wise beyond her years and always had valuable information for him. She knew much about the humans. Even things that his father didn’t know.

“Humans live very different lives from us, Kyungsoo. They walk on land and breathe the air that we are only permitted once a year. While we can breath both air and water, they can only survive with the air. Without it, they will die in a matter of minutes.”

Kyungsoo thinks back to the prince. How he had been almost lifeless after falling into the water. His lungs filled with water and didn’t permit him to take breaths of life. Kyungsoo suddenly feels special.

“Then when humans die, their souls fly up to Heaven to live forever that way. Or at least until their souls find a new home to go to. A human soul never dies.”

“But what about merpeople, grandmother? Will I live on to be someone else? Maybe a human..”

His grandmother shakes her head, her lips parting to let out a sigh. “When us merpeople die, Kyungsoo, we turn into sea foam. Our hearts are gone and there is nothing left for us.”

Kyungsoo feels his throat tighten. Nothing? He imagines his elder brothers being sea foam that washes up on the beach. The sea foam that human toes kick around and foam that gets blown by the wind. Neglected and lost. Was that what Kyungsoo would really become?

******

The water is dark, only being lit up by the moon from the surface world. Kyungsoo’s eyes learned to navigate through the dark blue water easily. He’s memorized the way to the palace, knowing he would get in trouble if he were to get lost, especially during night time. But Kyungsoo doesn’t go to the palace right away. He has too much on his mind to deal with his brothers.

Kyungsoo’s tail slowly moves in the water as he navigates through the dark patches of water. He thinks of going to his grotto but he swims past it. Soon, the darkness thickens and he knows he’s coming to the end of the kingdom.

No one dares to go past the kingdom’s land. It’s dark, even in the daytime, filled with the unknown. Evil sea creatures are said to lurk in the depths beneath the cliffs and corals. The great Sea Witch is said to live at the bottom of the darkest trench. His home only lit up by the redness of merpeople’s hearts. Some who have crossed paths with the home, say they can hear the pour people’s screams.

The ledge leading off to the forbidden sea, is big enough for Kyungsoo to sit down on. His tail falls gently over the edge. He can barely see the green color in the darkness. It’s silent around him. There aren’t fish that swim past and create bubbles and there isn’t merpeople who are sneaking out past their curfew. It’s silence; cold, dark, lonely silence.

Kyungsoo wonders if being on the edge of his kingdom is how it feels to be turned into sea foam. It’s abandoned. Left for anyone to take yet no one claims it. The area sits alone in it’s own darkness, scared to be touched by others.

He pushes a small rock off the edge of the surface. It falls slowly, being cushioned by the water. It’s held safe and is treated with care. But Kyungsoo knows how deadly the water can be, even in the brightest of days when it sparkles. The rock will fall for hundreds of feet, possibly even up to a mile. But it will hit cliffs and bump into fish on the way down. It’s part of the sea and it must follow the sea’s rule of where it allows it to go.

“Am I really going to turn into sea foam?”

The words echo throughout the area. He wonders if he speaks loud enough, the Sea Witch will hear him. He’s far, far down in the depths past the kingdom grounds but, maybe he knows the answer.

Kyungsoo pushes himself up from the ledge. There are bubbles that float up to the surface to be popped as he swims away. The water gets lighter and he can see the bright coral reefs that house hundreds of fish. A small pink one swims past his ear, it’s fins fluttering under the current. Sometimes he needs to be away from everything.

He hears the palace gates shut behind him. They creak and groan from the years of water that surrounds them. Kyungsoo watches as the golden latch falls down to completely lock him in.

“Where have you been all day?” Kyungsoo turned his head to look at his brother Zitao. He had entered the palace gates to find his brother standing behind one of the large pillars that line the palace sides. “Out swimming.”

Zitao swims over to Kyungsoo. His hair is pushed back to the side with one of the hair clips Kyungsoo had given to him several months before.

“I saw you at the edge of the kingdom. You know you’re not supposed to go out there.”

His voice is stern and it makes Kyungsoo move back as his brother moves closer.

“If father finds out, you’ll be in big trouble, you know.”

“Zitao, please don’t tell him.”

“So you were doing something other than swimming?”

Kyungsoo’s eyes widen as his brother moves around him slowly. The water tilts his body slightly, making his shoulders move to the side.

“No.. I-”

His head turned when he saw another figure moving towards him. It’s Sehun. His pale body shines under the golden lights of the palace. He moves slowly over to Zitao.

“Go to bed, Zitao. It’s late.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.” Zitao shoves the hand Sehun placed on his shoulder. “You’re the second youngest. You have no say in what I do.”

Kyungsoo swallows, the feeling hurting his throat as it goes down into his chest. He knows Sehun has been assigned to look after Kyungsoo. His eyes fall and he feels tears threatening to push past the corners of his eyes.

“If I see you out there again, father is going to know about this.”

Zitao’s words are firm and Kyungsoo nods quickly. He doesn’t want his father to find out about his travel. If he did, Kyungsoo would surely not be allowed back up to the surface world. He watches as Zitao swims away. His body floats with the gentle current of the sea until it disappears.

“Kyungsoo.”

He turns his head to look at Sehun. “I know, I’m sorry.”

Sehun’s hand is placed on his shoulder. His hand curves and Kyungsoo feels a gentle squeeze.

“Hide your ring better. Father is going to see it one day if you show it off like that.”

Kyungsoo looks down at his hand. The ring still shimmers against his skin, even in the dark. He can see the reflection of the moon along the silver band. It illuminates Prince Kim Jongin’s initials beautifully. Kyungsoo nods as his hand is moved behind his back.

Sehun gives him a sad look. One that is filled with disappointment. Kyungsoo wonders if he’s disappointed their whole family with his actions. He wonders if he’s disappointed the whole kingdom. Could they be looking down at him? Kyungsoo frowns at the thoughts. He’s sure the human world isn’t that cruel.

Days pass and Kyungsoo spends most of them in his grotto. He wakes up before dawn and leaves after dusk, long after the sun goes down and the moon rises. The ring tugs on his heart the more he looks at it. The vivid memory of Prince Kim Jongin never leaves. Even in his sleep, the prince with the handsome black hair and the plump lips like his own is there. He dancing with Kyungsoo on their own ship. One made of just the two of them. Kyungsoo has legs, beautiful legs that brush against Jongin’s. Smiles are on both of their faces, teeth shinning bright in the sunlight and all the way through the moonlight.

The water is warmer than it’s ever been during the current year. The August sun is relentless, heating up everything under it. It’s the only and final month where the water is truly warm. It feels like the hot springs or thermal vents that hide around various places. Kyungsoo knows it only lasts for a short month.

It is Zitao’s time to return to the surface world. The family gathers around the palace to see him off. All of them wave and smile as he swims up into the sunlight. Kyungsoo’s free hand is hidden behind his back, the words from Sehun proving helpful. If his father were to find his ring and throw it down into the ocean’s depth, Kyungsoo would surely go after it and get himself in trouble. The ring means the world to him.

During the many days spent alone, Kyungsoo’s become desperate. He’s desperate to become human. Desperate to have legs to walk with. Legs to run and legs to fall on. He wants legs to travel to see Jongin.

He waits until Zitao is long gone. His purple tail not being able to be seen any longer. He waits until his brothers disperse and his family continues on with their day. Kyungsoo watches as everyone around him leaves. They leave to do their own things. None of them bother Kyungsoo throughout the day unless it’s important. He hopes they forget about him for one day.

The trip to the edge of the kingdom is long. It takes him almost an hour to arrive at the ledge. The sun shines but the world past his home is still dark. He can only see a few feet below him. There are rocks and dark caverns that are scattered in his vision. He knows it’s a dangerous trip. But he’s desperate and love has clouded his mind.

Pressure surrounds his body the further down he goes. He can’t hear the waves crashing above on the surface or the chattering of merpeople. He doesn’t know if there’s anything to hear. Perhaps the darkness is only silent.

It’s almost too dark for him to see. There isn’t any light shining or anything that produces light. Kyungsoo’s ready to forget his mission and return to the kingdom. His tail stops moving with the water and his body straightens. Kyungsoo’s lips part for a heavy sigh that disappears into the dark water.

There’s quiet noises coming from behind him. Kyungsoo turn around, his eyes wide as he tries to adjust to the darkness around him. It takes him a moment before he spots the pulsing red light from below. His heart beats faster and his body tenses up. But he dives down and continues towards the light.

The noises became louder along with the light. It wasn’t exactly voices but Kyungsoo could hear different tones and whispers of words in a different language. They’re hushed, almost as if they’re not supposed to speak but they do anyways. Kyungsoo stops in front of the entrance that glows a dark red. He takes a deep breath as he kicks his tail and swims into the entrance.

Red mixes with black and the water seems darker than without the light. Ripples have been formed along the bottom of the rock. It looks soft like sand but Kyungsoo can tell that it’s hard rock that’s been exposed by years and years of water pushing over it. Kyungsoo’s fingers run across it, the smoothed hardness feeling odd under his fingertips.

It only takes him a few minutes to arrive at another entrance. It’s different than the open cave that faces out towards the sea. There’s a large door. One with different patterns along the rock. Parts of it glow red to match the red that lines the bottom of the cave. Kyungsoo reaches his hand out to run his fingers along the patterns but pulls back, afraid the rock will be hot.

As if the rock knew he was hovering in front of it, it began to creak and grind against the bottom of the cave. Kyungsoo moves back to allow the rock to move. He waits until he can see past it.

The room hidden behind the door seems like an ordinary room. He can see what looks like a small kitchen, complete with a dining table close by. A couch and shelves filled with various bottles and glasses, some broken and others perfectly intact. The only thing out of the ordinary is a large tub looking object in the middle. It bubbles different colors and steam flows from the sides. Kyungsoo’s fingers curl around the edge of the door as he watches with amazement.

He pushes himself off of the door and flicks his tail. His body moves gracefully into the room. It’s large and circular, unlike his room at the palace. There aren’t vibrant colors or windows that show the reefs and fish that swim by. It’s dark and the only light comes from the large tub in the middle of the room, but it’s enough to light up the room.

Kyungsoo swims up to the shelves that hold the bottles. All of them have labels on them. Writing in a different language he can’t understand. He wonders where the Sea Witch had learned it. Merpeople only knew one language for they only had to communicate with each other.

“Prince, Kyungsoo.”

Kyungsoo’s hand drops, almost knocking off several bottles in the process at the sound of his name. He turns to look at the man who called his name. It’s a tall man. One with bright blonde hair that is pushed to the side and frames his face perfectly. Kyungsoo swallows, knowing the man who stands in front of him is a man of evil. But Kyungsoo can’t help but notice how normal he looks. There are no horns or fangs that can be seen like the elders say. No sharp fins or blood red eyes. The man’s eyes are as brown as his own. His tail is a red color, matching the color that lines the cave, yet it seems softer on him.

“I- was just..”

The man waves his hand at the sentence that stumbles from Kyungsoo’s lips. There’s a smile on his lips as he swim towards him.

“Curious?”

Kyungsoo moves back to allow the man to run his hand along the bottles. His fingers are gentle against them. No sharp nails that point from his skin as the rumors tell. Even his skin is soft and looks of the sand that his brothers tell him about from the surface world. He opens his mouth to speak when the man turns his head and looks at him.

“You can call me Kris. Now, what can I help you with? You must have come here for help, right? Why else would the prince of the Sea King come all the way down here?”

Kris’s hand drops down to his side as he waits for Kyungsoo to answer. His lips are still curved upwards into a gentle smile, making Kyungsoo’s body relax.

“I was wondering if you could help me. I want to become human.”

He watches as the smile on Kris’s lips turn into more of a grin at the statement.

“Then you’ve come to the right place, Kyungsoo. I can easily help you with that.”

“You can?”

Kyungsoo’s eyes light up. The side of his finger brushes against the ring that feels warm against his finger. Could he really make him human?

“Of course. Do you see this?”

Kris pulls down one of the many bottles that rest on the shelf. It’s a bright purple in color and almost glows in the dark room. Kyungsoo nods, his eyes fixated on how the liquid inside moves as Kris tilts and turns the bottle different ways.

“One sip and you’ll have legs, just like humans.”

He reaches his hand out to touch the bottle when Kris holds it out to him. The bottle falls into his hands gently. It feels warm to the touch. It reminds him of the way Prince Jongin’s skin felt against his hands. Even through the cold water that was over him, the warmth of his legs was something Kyungsoo could never forget.

The bottle glows with hope for Kyungsoo. His heart pounds against his chest. He could become human. If he becomes human, he will have an eternal soul that will go to Heaven when he dies. Kyungsoo will no longer become sea foam to be forgotten and abandoned. His fingers curl around the bottle, giving it a light squeeze.

“You have to give it to me, please, I beg you.”

Kris’s back sits against the wall, brown eyes watching as Kyungsoo pleads to him. It doesn’t matter to him that he would get in trouble if his brothers and father found out he was pleading to the Sea Witch. He holds the key to his happiness in his hands and he isn’t going to let it slip away anymore.

“I can give it to you. If you give me something in return.”

“I’ll give you anything, anything you want.”

The pleads sound desperate and tears form at the corner of Kyungsoo’s eyes. Kris laughs at them. His thumb reaches up to wipe away the tear that slides down his cheek. It disappears into the water as his thumb pulls away.

“I will give you the potion if you give me your voice.”

Kris’s fingers trace along the outline of Kyungsoo’s jaw. The fingers grip at his chin and tilt it upwards until Kyungsoo’s brown eyes meet with his. Kyungsoo nods quickly in agreement. Having no voice is nothing compared to having legs. If he cannot speak for the rest of his life at least he will have the legs he dreams of.

“But I must warn you, Prince Kyungsoo. Once you become human, you can never return to the ocean. Your friends and family can never see you again and you can never see them.”

Kyungsoo’s fingers curl around the bottle once more. It feels warmer than before, his own body heat making the glass hot and the liquid inside begin to bubble. He swallows at the thought of leaving his family, his friends, everything he has down in his home. But then he remembers how they scold him for his wishes. He lives in constant fear that his father will take away his treasures from the human world. Constant fear that his brothers will tell and get him in trouble. None of them understand him. Kyungsoo tilts his head to look up at Kris, and he nods.

“Drinking this potion will make you feel as if a knife is passing through your entire body. It will be the most pain you have ever felt in your life. But, once you wake and recover, you will have the human legs you plead for. Then you can dance and walk like no human has ever done so before.”

Kris takes the bottle out of Kyungsoo’s hand. His fingers hold it up in front of him. Kyungsoo watches as he holds his only hope to be what he desires to be.

“However, every time you take a step, it will feel like you’re walking on glass shards that are enough to make your feet bleed terribly.”

The conditions of the potion sound dangerous to Kyungsoo. His body trembles at the thought of the pain Kris talks of. Could he make it through that? But then he thinks of Prince Jongin. How his hair fluttered in the wind and his skin matched the color of sand that sits on a beach all summer. He thinks of how his heart beats every time he says his name; Prince Kim Jongin.

Kyungsoo follows Kris as he moves towards the other side of the room. His large hands pull a cup down from the cabinet. It’s white in color with a soft streak of red across the side.

“You want a soul too, correct?”

He nods. “Yes.”

Kris opens the bottle containing the potion. His hands tip the bottle slowly and the purple liquid pours into the cup. Kyungsoo moves closer. He watches as the liquid bubbles for a moment before becoming still.

“That can only be obtained if you find a true love’s kiss.”

“A kiss?”

Kris nods, “You’re in love with Prince Jongin, aren’t you?”

Kyungsoo’s eyes widen at the statement. He lips part in confusion as to how Kris would know something like that. Not even his brothers know of Prince Jongin.

“I see everything, Kyungsoo.”

The larger man holds up the cup. It’s gripped tightly in his fingers, not wanting his hard work to fall and be ruined by clumsy fingers. Kyungsoo’s eyes watch his hand, waiting for it to present him with the cup.

“If you get the prince to fall in love and marry you, part of his soul will go into yours and that’s how you will gain your soul. If you fail to do so, the dawn of the first day after he marries another person, you will die and you will fall back into the ocean as sea foam.”

It’s a heavy task that Kyungsoo must bear on himself. The consequences are far worse than if he were to stay in the sea and rise to the surface once every year. And he worries that Prince Jongin will never fall in love with him. But he must try. He’s dreamed and hoped far too long to turn away and live his life as it is.

Kyungsoo nods once more in agreement. His lips part to let out a quiet plead, knowing it is his only way to become human. Kris slowly places the cup into Kyungsoo’s smaller hands. It feels warm against his skin. Kyungsoo grips the cup tightly as he lifts it up to his mouth. In one mouthful, he swallows the potion.

It burns his throat as if it is on fire. His hands drop the cup, making it shatter against the floor beneath him. Kyungsoo’s lips part to let out a silent scream. Kris’s fingers wrap around his throat, giving it a tight squeeze until Kyungsoo feels as if he cannot breathe. He feels a finger push past his lips and touch the back of his throat. A small nail drags across the skin, pulling and curling up as it continues upwards.

Kyungsoo’s eyes squeeze shut, tears falling from the corner of them. His heart pounds against his chest, feeling as if it is going to burst and fall out. Kris’s finger pulls out of Kyungsoo’s throat slowly, the nail dragging along the top of his mouth. He gags and coughs at the feeling. Kyungsoo’s lips part, attempting to plead for the pain to stop. His body crumbles to the hard rock underneath him. He feels the rock dig into his shoulder and back but it doesn’t hurt. He can’t feel anything but the pain from inside his body.

Kris watches the boy twitch and curl up against his floor. Kyungsoo tries to choke out screams and cries for help, but nothing comes out. No matter how hard he pushes and parts his lips, his throat is dry and only breathy gasps can be heard in the room.

Gentle sand cushions his body as waves brush against his side. The water is cold but not enough to make his body shiver and goosebumps appear. Birds chirp in the distance above him. One of them flies underneath the sun, creating a shadow against his slim body. A bird lands next to him. It waddles through the sand, feet making imprints that stay until a wave passes and flattens the sand again.

A large wave crashes against the small beach, making Kyungsoo’s body become emerged in water. His lips part to breathe but are met with water that pushes past them. It fills his throat and he can no longer breathe. Kyungsoo coughs and coughs until the water sputters out of his mouth and down into the curve of his neck.

His hands push himself up, fingers pressing into the sand, enough for his nails to be buried. Kyungsoo’s arms wrap around his chest, the cool breeze hitting his bare skin. It’s only then when he realizes that he’s . Kyungsoo folds his legs up in hopes of hiding himself. His eyes widen at the feeling.

Kyungsoo’s lips part to let out a happy squeal at the feeling of legs. No sound comes out but he ignores it and focuses on the new legs he has. His hands run up them slowly, lips curling into smiles at the feeling of skin touching skin. It’s no longer scales that feel harsh when he runs his hand the wrong way.

But he remembers what Kris told him about his legs. How it will feel like walking on broken glass with each step, enough to make his feet bleed terribly. His fingers brush across the arch of his foot. It’s rougher than the rest of his foot and he pulls his hand away, afraid of the pain that may come if he presses down.

“I told you to paint it red not blue. They have two opposite feelings and now the room doesn’t feel like I want it to.”

“Sir, I’m sincerely sorry for the mistake. I’ll get the painters to fix it right away.”

“It needs to be done by this weekend! You know we have an important dinner.”

Kyungsoo’s eyes widen and his lips part at the voices coming from behind him. He looks around in search of a place to hide, all why his body contorts to cover his body. It’s only when he looks around, that he realizes that he’s at the temple. The tall pillars look even taller in the sun light. They shimmer from the rock that has small crystals in it.

He crawls over to the large steps. The surface hurts his knees as he slides across to hide behind a pillar. His arms wrap around it, fingers caressing the smooth surface. Kyungsoo’s head tilts as he watches the two men walk out from the doorway. His eyes widen even further when he sees Jongin. There’s no mistaking the tanned skin and soft black hair that flutters in the breeze.

He isn’t dressed in the outfit he was on the ship. It’s more special looking, more formal than the black and white clothing. His shirt is long, almost too long for his body, the back of it drags against the ground as he walks. It’s a beautiful emerald green that is accented by gold trim and what looks to him as a gold vest. It’s far too big for his slim body frame but Kyungsoo thinks it still looks perfect on him.

The man behind him is dressed less. His clothes are not as embellished or royal looking. By the way Jongin talked to him, Kyungsoo concludes that he’s one of his workers or perhaps someone lower in the family.

“It’ll be done, sir, I promise you.”

“My father will surely never let you live it down if it isn’t.” Jongin in a breath, his arms stretching out and fingers part. “Now, leave me alone. I have planning to do.”

The man nods, his body tilting forward as he bows. He takes a long look at the prince before turning around and returning into the temple.

Kyungsoo’s head slides behind the pillar as Jongin walks towards him. His cheek is pressed against the cool surface and Kyungsoo wonders how it’s able to stay cool even in the heat. Jongin leans against the pillar Kyungsoo hides behind.

“There’s so much work to do.”

Jongin’s lips part in a sigh and his arm wraps around the pillar. Kyungsoo backs away slowly, fearful of the prince finding him. His body scoots back until he can no longer feel the marble surface against his bottom. His eyes widen as he slips into the water.

Feet and hands kick and wave as he attempts to find the steps again. His mouth opens and instead of a breath, he only gets water in his mouth, causing him to panic. His eyes squeeze shut and he kicks his legs in hope of the force being able to push him up.

He feels a hand around his wrist and the sun seems brighter as he’s pulled out of the water. Kyungsoo spits the water out and he takes a deep breath. He suddenly understands how humans cannot breathe underwater. He finds it a great inconvenience. Kyungsoo’s eyes widen and he quickly attempts to cover himself. Yet he finds strings of seaweed covering most of him. A small sigh is let out of his lips, at least he attempted to let one. All that comes out is warm air.

“Are you okay?”

Kyungsoo looks up at Jongin who he’s almost forgotten. He wants to speak and wants to tell him how thankful he is that he rescued him from the water. But when he tries to talk, nothing comes out. He closes his mouth and nods, his cheeks heating up and turning a light pink.

Jongin smiles down at him. “You’re not from around here, are you? I haven’t seen you in the courtyard or the town meetings.”

He shakes his head quickly, body curling up as he feels the seaweed begin to slide off of his body.

“What’s your name?”

Prince Kim Jongin is much more gentle than Kyungsoo dreamed he would be. There’s a softness to his voice that matches his features. His hand slides up Kyungsoo’s arm as it pulls away. His fingers tap against Kyungsoo’s and they’re smooth and soft. Kyungsoo frowns, knowing he’s unable to tell the prince his name. He wonders if the prince will leave him outside alone because of it.

“Can you not speak?”

Kyungsoo nods slowly, disappointed that his chance may be slipping away from him. How will someone fall in love with him if he can not speak? It’s impossible and Kyungsoo feels his heart drop down to his stomach.

“Let’s get you inside and into some clothes.”

A hand grabs his and Kyungsoo stands up with the help of Jongin. His other hand quickly covers his crotch and a dark blush covers his cheeks. Jongin only laughs at the action and Kyungsoo feels a cool cloth being wrapped around him. The prince’s shirt has been removed to reveal a tighter fitting gold shirt underneath. By the looks of it, it’s made of silk and Kyungsoo reaches out to brush his fingers down the material. His hand pulls away quickly as he realizes what he’s done.

Jongin laughs again at his actions. His hand grips Kyungsoo’s wrist tightly as he leads them inside.

The gowns that Jongin gives him to wear are as elegant as his own. They’re light but heavy with all of the layers they require. Kyungsoo’s given a blue version of what Jongin wears. It’s almost identical but not quiet. He’s sure the prince would never have two of the same outfits, even if they are in different colors.

Kyungsoo sits on one of the many chairs in the closet. His back hit the soft chair and he feels relief. The walk to the room was excruciating. He had never been in more pain in his life, not even drinking the potion could compare to each step he took. Every step hurt more than the other, the pain from the last one not fading away before the next one started.

Jongin had only noticed once that Kyungsoo was in pain. He didn’t have time to force a smile back on his face and straighten his body. Kyungsoo only nodded at the concerned prince who asked if he was okay. The prince wouldn’t understand even if Kyungsoo were to tell him about his pain. There was nothing either of them could do.

Kyungsoo rises from the chair. He doesn’t want to sit any longer. He didn’t throw away his whole life to sit in a chair when he has human legs. Even if each step hurt, he wanted to walk. He wanted to dance and skip and jump. He wanted to be like a human. So he pushes the pain to the back of his mind and takes a step.

His toes press into a soft carpet but no pain is softened. It’s as painful as his first and Kyungsoo grips onto the chair to keep his body from crumbling to the floor. Another step and Kyungsoo’s feet are cushioned by the white carpet underneath him. He takes several deep breaths before taking another step.

“Having fun?”

Kyungsoo is startled and he sinks down to the floor. The outfit covering his body floats slowly down around him, creating a small breeze underneath him. Jongin laughs as he steps into the closet and over to Kyungsoo.

“I brought you a quill and piece of paper. Are you able to write?”

The prince sets the quill and bottle of ink down on one of the dressers next to them. The paper is curled up into a scroll that sits nicely in Jongin’s tanned hand. Kyungsoo nods at the question with a smile.

Kyungsoo is helped up by Jongin’s soft hands. “That outfit looks wonderful on you. Perhaps a bit long but we can get it tailored for you.”

Jongin pulls the scroll apart slowly. The paper is a beautiful gold color and it reminds Kyungsoo of the color of the palace gates back at his home. It shimmers under the lights that hang from above as the gates did from the sun. He doesn’t know how long he’s been away, but he hopes his family is doing well.

“First question, what is your name? I must know what to call you.”

The feather quill is dipped into the ink container. Jongin leaves it still for a moment before pulling it out and handing it to Kyungsoo. It feels awkward in Kyungsoo’s hand and he’s unsure of how to hold it. Luckily, Jongin helps him position it, lowering the tip to the paper then pulls away.

Kyungsoo’s hand moves along the paper slowly. It feels much different than the rocks he writes on at home. There’s no loud scraping or rough feeling under his fingers. It’s smooth and quiet. Kyungsoo thinks he’s fallen in love with the way it feels. But the prince takes a step forward closer and Kyungsoo falls in love with him again, forgetting the paper.

“Kyungsoo?”

The name falls off of Jongin’s lips like a leaf falling from a tree during the autumn season. Kyungsoo feels his cheeks heat up and his eyes flutter closed for a moment. His head turns and he nods quickly with a bright smile on his lips. The prince spoke his name. It sounds just as he’s imagined it and Kyungsoo wants to say Jongin’s name. He wants to show him how he’s perfected every letter and sound of it.

“Where are you from, Kyungsoo?”

Kyungsoo’s lips part in concern. He doesn’t know what to tell Jongin. Surely he cannot tell him that he comes from the ocean. Jongin will laugh at him and believe he is lying. He decides to call his home an island far away from the temple.

“Do you not have anywhere to go, then?”

He didn’t have to write to answer the question. He had no where. He could not return home. Kyungsoo could no longer breathe underwater and he no longer had his tail. No voice and no way of finding his way around. He was lost on his own.

Jongin smiles at the statement. “Let me talk to my father. I’ll return shortly.”

“We are proud to welcome a very important guest tonight for dinner. Jongin here has helped this lovely boy and we are more than willing to make accommodations for him.”

Kyungsoo sits awkwardly at the large dinner table. He’s surrounded by large curtains that cover the windows of the room. Silver and gold plates and bowls line the table. Each one holding foods that Kyungsoo has never seen before. There are a few different kinds of fish but the way it’s cooked, Kyungsoo can’t make out what they are.

His plate in front of him is full, thanks to the butler that stands in the corner of the room. His hand picks up the silver fork and Kyungsoo wonders why it’s on the table. For what he had discovered, it was a come for his hair. He looks around at the others sitting at the table. They poke the food with the fork and eat it that way, instead of with their hands.

It takes a few tries before Kyungsoo is able to pick a piece of meat up. He lifts it to his mouth, taking a small bite. When it slides down his throat, his face lights up. It’s delicious. He finds it much better than the fish he eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the palace. It has spices that make his mouth tingle and saliva fill his mouth.

Kyungsoo finishes off his meat quickly. Each piece being swallowed quickly after only being chewed for a few seconds. He slows down as notices that everyone is looking at him. Kyungsoo slowly sets down his fork in embarrassment. His cheeks heat up and his palms begin to feel sweaty.

Jongin brushes his hand across Kyungsoo’s arm in attempts to tell him that it’s okay. Kyungsoo’s body relaxes as he hears the family around him laugh. The King at the head of the table isn’t large and statuesque like Kyungsoo’s father is. No large staff and fancy crown on the top of his head. He looked normal, like Kyungsoo himself even.

The Queen was beautiful. Kyungsoo thinks she’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. She’s graceful and traces of her can be seen in Jongin’s face. He has her brown eyes and face shape. His father’s nose is on Jongin’s face and his plump lips as well. Kyungsoo thinks Jongin is the perfect combination of the two.

They eat together slowly. The King and Queen talk about their upcoming renovations on the home. How the library isn’t big enough and there aren’t enough bookshelves for all the books they have. The Queen mentions her bed not being as comfortable as it used to be. The King calls the butler over and tells him to find a new mattress for her. The butler nods in agreement and leaves the dining area.

Jongin keeps quiet as he finishes his food. There’s a crumb that sits on the corner of his lips, Kyungsoo watches as his tongue darts out and it away. It makes his cheeks heat up and he looks away quickly to finish his own food.

“Kyungsoo, Jongin will show you to your room. Please, make yourself at home. Anything you need, we can get for you.”

Kyungsoo nods at the King. His lips curl into a smile as he watches the several butlers clear the table of empty bowls and plates. They replace the empty space on the table with several dessert trays. One of them has cookies that smell as if they had just been baked. The others have cakes in all different shapes and sizes. It smells delicious to Kyungsoo. He hasn’t ever had pastries or deserts, unless sweetened seaweed counts as one.

“Do you want to take some to your room, Kyungsoo?”

He nods quickly at the question, eager to try a piece of everything on the table. Jongin stands up and grabs one of the silver trays that rest at the empty end of the table. Jongin places one of every kind of cookie there is on the display. The butler cuts a piece of each cake and pie, placing them carefully on the tray before bowing and stepping to the side, tray carefully in his hand.

Jongin’s hand extends out for Kyungsoo. He places his hand on top of the prince’s, rings hitting against each other, making a quiet sound between them. Kyungsoo watches as Jongin’s eyes narrow at the ring on the smaller boy’s finger. Kyungsoo feels his cheeks heat up and he pulls his hand away, only to be stopped by the tighter grip around his hand.

They both bow to the King and Queen, Kyungsoo’s bow being deeper and for several more seconds. His body tilts forward until he feels a tug on his hand. Kyungsoo stands up straight with wide eyes. He in a quiet breath before taking his first step. It’s still as painful as the last first step he took. It takes several minutes for them to arrive at the bedroom that Kyungsoo had been assigned.

It’s the most elegant bedroom that Kyungsoo had ever laid eyes on. A large sitting room, complete with several chairs and large bookcases. Even a desk with his own quill and ink bottle in the corner. It’s gold with red velvet cushions and accents. The ceiling painted to look as a picture. Angels and of the sea work well with the red and gold in the bottom on the room.

The bedroom area is just as extraordinary. A bed that has posts almost to the ceiling. The gold covered posts surrounded by curtain like fabric. Kyungsoo thinks that they can cover the frame of the bed for privacy. Large pillows are at the head of the bed. The first three had golden characters on them. He can see the initials of Kim Jongin’s name and the family crest.

Then there’s the window opposite of the bed. Kyungsoo pulls away from Jongin to run towards the window. His pace falters as the pain increases but he keeps the smile on his face. Fingers press against the windows until they open, revealing the sea below. Kyungsoo closes his eyes at the familiar smell. He can hear the waves crashing against the small shore below. The wind brings the salty smell up to his nose and his lips part, letting out a silent sigh of happiness.

“Do you like the ocean?”

Kyungsoo turns his head to find Jongin standing behind him, a wide smile on his face. He nods quickly at the question, his own lips matching the prince’s smile.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Filled with mystery and grace. Sometimes I watch the waves land on the beach for hours. It’s calming.”

Jongin’s hands press down against the windowsill next to Kyungsoo’s. The rings along his fingers tap against the hard surface. Jongin’s eyes concentrate on the ocean. His lips press together as his eyes flutter shut for a moment. Kyungsoo watches the way his eyelashes press against the tops of his cheeks. His lips part, seeing how handsome the prince is from the side. It makes his cheeks heat up and his head quickly turns to look back down at the ocean below.

“Come, let’s eat the desserts before they become cold.”

Kyungsoo in a breath as Jongin walks away from the window. His hands pull away slowly, closing the window before following the prince.

The tray is placed on the bed. Jongin slides onto it and pats the spot across from him to signal for Kyungsoo to sit. He climbs on the bed, having to use his arms to help him up for the bed was too high. Jongin takes off the top layer of his outfit, laying it across the pillows behind him. Kyungsoo follows shortly after and the prince places the cloth on top of his.

A cookie that has crystals on top mesmerizes Kyungsoo. His fingers press against the top of it, examining his fingertip when it pulls away.

“It’s a sugar cookie. It’s good, try it.”

Jongin takes a bite of his own cookie, one that’s identical to the one in Kyungsoo’s hand. Sugar. Kyungsoo knows that means it’s going to be sweet. He enjoys sweet things, only being able to have them once or twice a year. His lips press against the cookie, teeth sinking in slowly as he takes a bite. As soon as he swallows, his eyes light up. Jongin laughs and continues with his own sweets.

It doesn’t take long before the sweets become crumbs and empty pieces of paper. Kyungsoo thinks he’s never been so full in his life. It’s not a bad feeling either. Even being a prince in the ocean, he’d never had the amount of food that was presented to him. He finds himself stretching out on the large bed, his vest feeling slightly tighter than when he first put it on.

Jongin places the tray on the table next to the bed. Kyungsoo rolls over on his stomach to watch him as he moves.

“My room is right next door, please do not hesitate to come in if you need anything. I’ll be heading to bed now.”

Kyungsoo’s lips form into a small pout, not wanting the prince to go yet. But Jongin gives him a warm smile.

“Please, enjoy your stay here. I promise to make it the best I can for you.”

Jongin walks until he stands in the doorway to the sitting room. His fingers curl around the wood frame as his head turns to look back at Kyungsoo.

Kyungsoo wakes as the sun rises. It lights up the room, making the gold pieces shimmer and sparkle. His eyes are rubbed by his thumb and index finger, ridding away the sleepiness that covers them. Kyungsoo sits up so his back is supported by the dozen pillows behind him. He can see the sun rising through the crack in the curtains.

Slowly, he walks over to the window. His mouth opens and lets out silent screams with each step, his body crumbling against the window sill. He pushes the curtains open and reveals the morning outside. The sight takes his breath away. He’s never seen the sun rise from the surface world before. It’s big and the sky is covered with orange and red. The ocean is quiet, unlike during the day. Only a few birds walk along the sand, none of them making any noise.

Kyungsoo grips the curtains tightly in his fingers. He wonders how his brothers are doing. He wonders if they notice he’s even gone. And what about his father? Does he care? Kyungsoo shakes his head, not wanting to think about them.

The closet is filled with different kinds of clothing. Kyungsoo counts and there’s over fifty outfits, all perfectly matched and styled. His fingers run over the fabric, liking the way they feel under his fingertips. He picks out a outfit like the one the prince gave him. It’s lighter and less fabric and a beautiful royal purple color. Kyungsoo admires himself in the mirror to the side. It’s still a bit long but it fits him well enough.

A case in the middle of the closet shows several necklaces and bracelets. Each one lined with silver or gold. Kyungsoo pulls out a neck piece, wrapping it around his neck and examining it in the mirror. It looks odd with his pale skin but somehow illuminates him. He shakes his head and places it back carefully in the case. After trying on each piece of jewelry, he decides it’s best not to wear any.

The hallway floors are cold, the marble keeping the cold breezes from the night. It feels good against his toes, despite the pain. Kyungsoo looks around, his body slipping behind a pillar when a group of men walk past. He peeks his head out when they pass, watching as they walk around the corner and into a different hallway. Kyungsoo slides out from behind the pillar and continues looking around.

Jongin’s room is easy to spot. The doors have his initials on them. Painted in the gold he sees everywhere. Kyungsoo curls his finger around the doorknob. He quickly pulls away when he hears more men coming down the hallway.

“It’s almost impossible to get it done!”

“The prince want’s the ballroom to be finished by then. You must make it possible.”

The two men walk together in unison. One of them Kyungsoo recognizes as the man that was talking with the prince when he first arrived.

“You know there is a big dance this weekend. All the royals from the different kingdoms will be there. It must be perfect! The King will have your head if it isn’t.”

Kyungsoo bows to the men as they pass by. His feet cross and he stumbles backwards. The door doesn’t catch him and he finds himself falling. The two men stop in their tracks and watch as he falls. Instead of hitting the cold ground, he feels warm arms around him. Kyungsoo turns his head to see Jongin standing behind him, his arms wrapped around his waist tightly.

“Good morning, Sir.”

The men bow, a smile forming on their lips before the continue walking down the hallway. Jongin nods in response, his arms lifting Kyungsoo up. Kyungsoo turns around and quickly adjusts his clothing, a dark blush on his cheeks.

“Good morning to you too, Kyungsoo.”

Jongin laughs and he adjusts the vest he has on. It’s a pure white, lined with silver trim and beads. Kyungsoo thinks it’s much nicer than what he’s picked out for himself.

“Breakfast will be ready soon. Shall we go down together?”

Kyungsoo nods with a smile.

The breakfast is as busy as the dinner the previous night. The table is filled with different foods and smells, all new to Kyungsoo. A glass in front of him is filled with tea and the plate full of food. It doesn’t take him long to finish it, each bite tasting better than the last. He doesn’t know how he ate the food back home for so long. It’s nothing compared to the human food.

He’s left feeling full as he did after the dinner. It feels warm and he finds himself liking the feeling of it. There isn’t an empty space in his stomach when the table is cleared.

“Jongin, how are the plans for the ball coming?”

“Very well, father. Everything will be ready in time.”

“Will Kyungsoo be joining us as well?”

Kyungsoo widens his eyes at the question. His head turns to look at Jongin, wondering what his response is. Kyungsoo hopes silently to be allowed to go.

“Of course! It would be terribly rude of me to not invite our special guest. I have picked out his clothing already!”

His lips curl up into a smile as he claps his hands in joy.

The weekend arrives and the ball is only hours away. Kyungsoo had witness the chaotic mess that led up to it. Construction workers in and out until early hours of the morning. Painters and movers brought in new furniture and painted the walls different colors. The marble floors were polished until Kyungsoo’s feet slid across it like he was walking on soap.

He could see why it was so important to get the room finished. After the last of the workers left, Kyungsoo joined the prince in seeing the finished product. The room was breathtaking. Banisters lined with gold and red drapes that had the family name and crest on them. Tables and chairs made with the finest products their gold could buy. Ceilings painted with a mural of the ocean. Kyungsoo spotted the small mermaid to the side and it made him laugh, for humans do not know that mermaids are real.

“It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”

Kyungsoo nods happily in response. His body twirls around the room, getting every detail sketched into his memory. He parts his lips to tell the prince how lovely it looks but only air comes out.

“The guests will be arriving soon. It’s time for us to get ready.”

******

Guests line the ballroom. Each one in an extravagant gown and outfit. There are different colors that make his eyes bounce from one person to another. Some are wearing bright white, while others have on black as dark as the deepest trench in the ocean. He can see several crowns and tiara’s, showing the royal families easily. The families from the three neighboring kingdoms join together with Jongin’s.

Kyungsoo’s outfit was as handsome’s as the prince’s. It was the red and gold that covers the temple. A velvet hat with a small feather at the top covered most of his hair, his bangs being pinned back by the hair stylist.