The Merman's Hold

Here is another update I hope you enjoy! Don't forget to like and comment.
Also I do want to note that there won't be an update next week as I'll be away and without internet connection. I'll update as soon as I can afterwards!

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Aria awoke to what she assumed was early the next morning. Kaelen had arrived already, his eyes bright with an almost childlike enthusiasm, his excitement a sharp contrast to her lingering exhaustion. She was still drifting in a half-dream about her home on land, a peaceful escape she wished so desperately could be her reality. But the splash of Kaelen's arrival shattered her illusions. She was still here. Still his captive.

Blinking away sleep, Aria saw Kaelen darting around the pool, his tail flicking waves over the rocks. She squinted at him, half-glaring. He was chattering at a rapid pace, too fast for her groggy mind to decipher. What was he even going on about? She closed her eyes again, hoping in vain for just a bit more rest.

But Kaelen was having none of it. A strong wave crashed over her, soaking her entirely. She gasped and bolted upright, stunned. Water dripped from her hair, plastering it to her skin as she glared at him, half-annoyed, half-amused. Laughter echoed through the cave, and she quickly pieced together that he had splashed her on purpose. Despite herself, a reluctant smile crept onto her face. His laughter had warmth that made her irritation dissolve, just a little.

Once he calmed down, Kaelen swam over and held out her 'breakfast' – a pink-toned fish. The brief flicker of amusement vanished from her face as soon as she spotted it. While it was her only food source, she could hardly stomach it. He hadn't brought her seaweed in ages – not that she was a fan of it either, but ti was marginally better than raw fish. He seemed to delight in offering her an ever-growing assortment of sea creatures: clams, crayfish, crabs, even tiny octopuses. Kaelen's joy in watching her forced to eat each new creature was infuriating obvious.

With a grimace, Aria reluctantly bit into the fish's cold flesh, chewing slowly. Kaelen's smile of encouragement faded as she ate at what he clearly thought was an agonisingly slow pace. When she finally finished, she discarded the remains, as always refusing to eat the head or tail. Kaelen didn't mind; he promptly seized the remains, biting down on the head with a contented hum, his sharp teeth making quick work of the bones. To him, sharing food was an act of bonding – a custom with significant meaning. She'd learned this too late, much to Kaelen's amusement. Though she'd refused his past attempts to share his own meal with her, he'd settled on finding 'delicacies' he thought she might actually accept. Hence the assortment of sea creatures.

Once he'd finished his snack, Kaelen gently wrapped his clawed fingers around her wrist. She winced at the grip but refused to let her irritation show. He gently tugged, drawing her attention back to him. He was holding something out to her – something she hadn't seen before.

Aria stared dumbfounded at the peculiar object Kaelen offered her. It looked like a pastel blue sea sponge, with a honeycomb texture and a soft. When she gently squished it, instead of water air came out. Kaelen had been excited last night, babbling about showering her his world – and that she had no choice in the matter, as always. But why was he handing her this spongy object? A wary suspicion settled in her stomach. She knew this exploration meant he'd be pulling her into the water again, forcing her to hold her breath until her 'graciously' supplied her with air by pressing his mouth to hers, her lips bruising from the pressure.

Before Aria could dwell too long on the object's purpose, Kaelen tugged her into the water beside him. The sudden chill sent a shiver through her entire body as she surfaced beside him. Her eyes were wide with dread, bracing herself for the gruelling swim. But Kaelen didn't move, watching her expectantly. She paused, her hazel brown eyes meeting his glowing blue orbs in silent question, her head tilting slightly to the right.