They jump into the water.

Richard took Aria into his arms like they were newlyweds, then took a deep breath.

“Rich… I don’t like this…” Aria muttered before hugging him tight and burying her head in his chest. Richard didn’t like it either, but he didn’t like staying aboard even more. He exhaled and took a leap of faith.

The two splashed into the water feeling a shock of cold hit them. When Richard opened his eyes, his vision was blocked by Aria’s billowing white sheet. He pulled it down but it kept trying to unfurl in front of him. Aria moved away to give him space, but found it impossible to move around and keep the sheet wrapped around her, so she let it go. They looked around. There was nothing but blue water. Richard tried to see where Abe went, but he wasn’t around either. Then, a figure approached them at incredible speed. Richard’s heart raced. He looked to Aria and she looked back. They were both thinking the same thing; swim!

Even without the burden of the bedsheet, Aria’s swim speed did not compare to what was coming for them. Richard fared no better. Within seconds it was upon them. It took Aria first. Richard cried out, bursting air bubbles out of his mouth along with his precious air. The mermaid had Aria in her clutches and she screamed silently with bubbles flying out of her mouth. The mermaid looked at her, then went for her head!

Richard watched in horror. Then, as the flowing red hair streamed out of the way, he recognized the mermaid. This was Abe’s mermaid, Luna! She wasn’t attaching Aria, she was… kissing her?

Richard felt an arm on his shoulder. He turned to see Abe hovering beside him. Richard tried to communicate with him, but without a voice, he merely gestured frantically. Abe remained calm and pointed to Aria and Luna. The two women ended their kiss and Aria looked surprised. She stared at the mermaid for a moment, then narrowed her eyes. She turned to Richard, then back to Luna. Then she nodded quickly and pointed to Richard.

Luna swam over to Richard and held his cheeks, pulling him in for a kiss. Richard was about to protest when suddenly he heard a voice in his head. “Remain calm, I am allowing you to breathe underwater.”

“How?” Richard thought. “How am I hearing you?”

“She has telepathic powers,” Aria thought into Richard’s head.

“I can hear you too, Aria!” Richard cried out inside his mind.

“Aye, not only can she let us breath underwater, she can link our minds!” Abe told him, joining the conversation.

Luna released her lips from Richard’s and he could finally get a close up view of her. She was as beautiful as Abe had described, Her top portion was a perfect specimen of a young woman, slender build with healthy, weightless round boobs. Her human waist transitioned almost imperceptibly into a tail, which Richard could only describe as one like a giant carp. The scales were large and iridescent but leaning on the tint of green. She looked young and vibrant and quite attractive.

“Why thank you,” Luna blushed, reading Richard’s mind. Richard felt a cold dagger stab him from Aria’s direction. He shivered. “We must leave this place before the Sirens’ frenzy is over.” Luna said, turning their attention to more pressing matters.

“What about the rest of the ship?” Aria asked.

“They are nothing more than food now,” Luna lamented.

“Isn’t there any way to stop them?” Richard asked.

“I am but one mermaid, I am no challenge to the entire horde,” Luna explained. “It was enough that I came back for you two at Abe’s behest.”

“We’re better off out here, Richard,” Abe chimed in.