Richard answers the door.

Richard sighed and pulled himself off of his wife. Aria pulled him back, aching for his body.

“Oh hun, it’s probably just the staff checking it, let’s make them wait,” Aria said, kissing his arm up to his neck.

“I’d rather not rush on their account,” he told her, with a kiss on the cheek.

“I don’t know… I kind of find it kinky,” Aria giggled. Richard had already decided though, so Aria reluctantly let him go.

Richard got out of bed and pulled on Aria’s robe. Aria giggled some more at the sight of him in her girly silk covering with lace trim. She twisted around on the bed.and assumed a seductive pose to await his return. “Don’t take too long now…” she said in a sultry tone as she brushed her fingers over her naked body.

Richard eyed his gorgeous partner’s luscious curves and felt an urge to stick around. The door banged again and he **** himself to deal with the visitor as quickly as possible. He hustled to the door and opened it. His eyes widened.

“Abe!” he cried out.

“Richard!” the old man from the sea replied with an urgency of his own.

“I thought you drowned!” Richard said, confused. Sure enough, the man was soaking wet, hair matted to his face and clothes dripping a puddle on the floor, but looked very much alive!

“A man of the sea like me? Hah!” the old man scoffed. “But never mind that! You have to get off the ship!”

“What?” Richard replied, dumbly.

“You have to get off, quickly!” There was genuine urgency and concern on his face.

“Richard? What’s all the shouting about?” Aria asked, coming into the room with a sheet wrapped around her.

“You too! We all need to get off right away!” Abe ordered, seeing the man’s wife.

“What’s going…”

Before Aria could complete her question, there was a loud crash, shaking the entire boat, then high pitched, inhuman screams! Aria looked to Richard with concern, Richard looked to Abe. Abe nodded solemnly, then pointed to the exit door that led to the outer walkway. It was a sliding door that allowed the guests to step directly outside the ship without having to go through the halls, great for a morning view of the ocean, or making a quick escape.

“Come on, honey!” Richard said, pointing to the exit.

“But my clothes!” Aria complained, clutching the sheet tight to her chest.

“We gotta go!” Richard replied, darting for the door. He popped his head out and looke daround. He saw creatures leaping onto the ship! They were the mermaids of old Abe’s tale! It was too dark to make out details, but he could make out the upper torso of females attached to fishlike tails. When they landed on the ship though, their tails split apart, allowing them to stand on two feet!

“What are they?!” Aria asked with a deep dread.

Richard turned to Abe and asked, “Where now?”

“In the water!” Abe replied, taking the leap.

It seemed like the only place to go and Richard knew from the story that dealing with these creatures would be certain ****. Still, there could be more waiting in the water. They’d be sitting ducks in the mermaid’s domain.