The waters swirled off the coast. A dozen men dressed in night pulled their catch in.

The net writhed with a half-fish, half-girl. She hissed with fangs one moment and wilted into herself the next.

Her green tail would be mesmerizing, a picture of smooth scales and wispy fin tips. If not for the rope sawing across its body.

The men grabbed the net, yanking it off a wagon bed as she was flung onto the ground.

She fell on grass. Through the sting, and the abducting, her palm clutched the grass. Cool, refreshing stems. Soothing and so much like the feel of water.

A man stomped on her palm. Hands encircled her throat. “Scream.” He commanded. Her throat clawed with the summoning of a weak wail.

Release.

Air.

He drew back his leg to swing into her stomach. Her heart cracked. After all, that is what occurs with the loss of hope.

The half-fish, half-girl was dragged by the hair to a stake. Tied up, she could only squeeze her eyes shut; she did not wish to see them coming towards her with their prepared wooden spears.

-•-

You may assume that if a monarch of the merpeople should exist, they rule vehemently against walking man. Interaction is forbidden. Indeed, the Queen declared no coexistence and stayed far away from man.

In the throne room of the sea castle rested three thrones. Empty and cold. Instead, the only remaining holder of a throne rose to the surface. Her head was held regally- this was the Queen.

The half-fish, half-woman would not be held back: A child under her protection was missing.

A trident from many a tale glinted in her hand. A biting silver and as tall as a tail. Three snarling, sharp spires broke the surface with its mistress.

Water of the darkest navy began to gather all around the isle. Out, in the distance, lay a heartless fire, vengeance herself pointing the Queen to the child.

The Queen roared with her waters. These villains would drown in her sorrow. Upward, the waters climbed.

-•-

A surrounding tidal wave threatened; it continued building even far from the coast.

The man who had clutched the pitiful thing’s throat earlier handed a pill to each of his killers. As one they swallowed and foamed.

The wave came ever closer.

-•-

The Queen was not far behind as her wave smashed the earth. Cold metal steeled into her hand, raging power plunged the land underwater. Like the forsaken night had not happened.

She searched for the child.

There.

Tied to a stake and limp to the water’s caress.

Cut free, the Queen moved the girl to her lap and rubbed her cheek soothingly. Was it too much to hope that the girl would moan and awaken? To shift or even cry? Where were the men who did this?

She ordered the waters to bring these vile beings.

And so, she found them all dead. Dead! Without paying their crimes. In her blind agony she ripped their limbs from their bodies and shoved them away in fury.

The child had been under her protection. Her daughter. The only remaining family on the throne.

Taken so quickly.

But man would pay. She would sink island and continent. The walking men had interfered, so she would revoke her decree and interfere. Heaven above and earth below would gasp for air.

To share the same water as their corpses disgusted her, even if they were dead, but she would assure this would never happen again.

“I broke my rules for you, darling,” the Queen whispered to her daughter’s hair. “And I’ll join you when I am done.”