Chapter Text
"I wish I have a longer tail than you," Jackson mused as he look at his brother's pretty tail.
"I have the longest tail out of us merfolk, you having a longer tail would make you a snakeman rather than a merman," Yugyeom said not without a chuckle.
"Ew, I wouldn't want to be a snakeman, I heard they're all sly and evil."
Yugyeom narrowed his eyes in disapprovingly, "that's prejudice hyung."
"Sorry-"
"Hey! Heeeeeey~" a loud knocking heard from their room window, a calling voice they knew so well which brought a loud, deep sigh out of Jackson.
"I swear he gonna break our window one of these times," Jackson grumbled while gliding to the said window and opened it, "shut it Youngjae! For once in your life come from the front door!"
The said fishboy continue pounding his hand but this time on Jackson's arm while grinning widely, "I'm a trigger fish, everytime I go to your palace front door I feel triggered."
"More like I'm triggered by you trying to break down my window," Jackson catch Youngjae's hand as it still trying to hit him. "Can you stop hitting me?!"
"Hyung, you forgot his hitting habit was picked up when you're both kids, he's not gonna stop," Yugyeom giggled much to Jackson's despair.
"Tell me why I'm friends with you," Jackson sighed.
"Because you can't live without me and I'm the one who always got you out of trouble whenever you pissed Heechul hyung off," he grin even wider that he look more like an otter than a fish.
"Why my dad assign an eccentric blacktip sharkman as my mentor anyway? What was he's thinking, didn't he know I'm too innocent for that shark guy?"
"Innocent where??" Youngjae bellowed, flapping his hands as he laughed, "Heechul hyung is a genius and scary. Anyone who could handle you is supposed to be very terrifying and stern."
Yugyeom is confused, "isn't he a funny guy? He told me a lot of good jokes and teach me how to prank people."
"He what," Jackson widen his eyes as his brother covers his mouth with his hand, "no wonder your pranks getting more elaborate every each day. Well, he is an amusing guy, but not when he's in his serious mode, he's seriously scary and strict about my studies. But how come he never teach me how to prank people?"
"And risk the palace to fall into ruins? He's supposed to make you a better prince, not worse, of course he didn't. Not like you need it," Youngjae chimed in, hands already tugging Jackson's arm.
"When in the fact all those bad pranks was your doing and not mine," Jackson rolled his eyes. "And look, you're already trying to pull me into something else today," he points at Youngjae's hands on him.
"How could you make me the bad guy??" Youngjae protested with disbelief written all over his face.
"Aren't you the same??"
"You two are the same," Yugyeom cut in, smiling angelically before saying, "I shouldn't play too much with you two, it ruins my innocence."
"Boi what, you the biggest liar, you're the worst of us! I know you've been playing with that snake-"
Yugyeom cut Youngjae's rambling with his screeching, "look, look! It's almost time for Heechul hyung's lesson! You didn't wanna be here when he comes!"
"Huh, why?" Jackson look between Yugyeom and Youngjae feeling confused.
Youngjae have the audacity to look sheepish when he said, "I may or may not kinda broke his fabulous bag and Yugyeom may have hinted it was your... Doing?"
"YOUNGJAE!!!!"
--
"Aren't I the best friend for helping you to get away," Youngjae said which earning a slap to his head.
"I shouldn't have to run if you didn't do what you did, jerk. That is why you are so persistent at dragging me away from my house early in the morning, wasn't it," Jackson grumbled as he follows the younger swimming near the surface.
"Oh come on, you've been nagging me to take you away from his boring lesson!"
"But not like this!? There's gonna be hell to pay when he found me, he's not gonna believe me when I say it's your doing, you two faced fish made him believed you're some kind of an angel," Jackson rolled his eyes when Youngjae beamed a thousand watt smile. "I shouldn't said that, where are you taking me anyway?"
"Oh there's a big ship passing our area yesterday! The humans seems to be partying and sometimes some of them also goes swimming on the surface, don't you wanna see it too?"
Jackson's furrowing his eyebrows, "hey, isn't that dangerous?"
"Hmm, I don't think so, it's not a fishing ship maybe a cruise ship? And we won't get too close, I just want you to see. One of them have a really good singing voice! Makes me wanna sing along too," he said cheerfully, tugging Jackson's hand to swim faster.
"Yeah right, you have a nice voice it's not a problem, me? If I sing along they gonna be terrified."
"Jackson, I thought we're over this?" the fish boy sighed, "you have a beautiful voice like any merfolk has! More beautiful even."
"Last time I checked that's not how it is," he scoffed.
Youngjae was about to retort, but then his eyes caught something else which diverted his attention and pulling Jackson's hand harder, "there they are! Look they are swimming too, let's get closer."
"Youngjae, it's dangerous!" Jackson half screamed as he tugged back his hand to stop his friend, but Youngjae keep gliding forward taking Jackson with his momentum.
"It's not! Look at how many people on the ship and the ones swimming, if we get in the middle of them, they won't even realize it. They're not diving either, they won't see our tails!"
Despite Jackson's warning Youngjae keep swimming to the surface where the humans are. In the last moment Youngjae let Jackson's hand go and break the surface by himself, mingling amongst humans. But Jackson can't let the younger alone, so for safety he also break to the surface but at a certain distance where he won't be too close but close enough to swim fast to the younger if something happens.
After a few minutes it seems Youngjae was right as the humans didn't even notice him even as the younger loudly laughing along them. Still Jackson worry, keeping his eyes steady on the fish boy he didn't even realized there was another human swimming near him. He was alerted when he heard a singing, turning hastily in shock when he noticed it was very close to where he is.
There was a male human floating on his back, singing softly to a song which familiar even to Jackson. At first he can't see the face but he keep his wary eyes on the human, guarding and anxious. But the voice, the human's voice was soft and gentle, almost kind and against Jackson's will, he finds himself relaxing. And he just watch and keep watching.
That is until he sees the human's face and he was brought into awe. So handsome. Jackson couldn't tear his eyes away from the human's face, there's something about the way the human look which intrigued him so. He didn't even realized he was singing along to the song until the human straighten up and stare him in the eye.
His heart stops. Either it was because the handsome face in full attention on him or because a human noticed him and it's dangerous as hell, he didn't know. His throat feels clogged and yet he can't move, his eyes locked on the dark brown eyes. His heart jumped when the human smiled softly to him.
"Hey," the human said still with a smile as he swim closer to Jackson.
His brain screaming for him to run, to get away and drag Youngjae along away from danger. But his body went rigid, he can't move.
"You have a nice voice," the human said again. He stops, an odd look on his face, "are you okay?"
No I'm not, Jackson blinked and he realized he must have looked terrified and he need to act fast as the human haven't noticed that he's not a human. "No I'm nervous," Jackson cringe inwardly at his own lame reason, "I-I mean don't mind me, I was just nervous."
"You sure you should be swimming this far from the ship? Do you need help? Or is your feet cramp-"
"Yes! Yes I'm fine, you're so good looking!" Jackson blurted out in hurry, attempting to distract the human from glancing down to his tail. Only to blush furiously when he realized what he had just said.
The human's eyes was widening in surprise before it gave away to amusement, a wide smile causing crinkles around his eyes and Jackson found it cute. "So you're nervous because of me? Why, thank you."
Jackson lower his head in embarrassment, feeling his face heating up in shame. 'what a way to make a fool of yourself'.
"You're good looking yourself," the human chuckled and offers his hand to Jackson, "I'm Jinyoung, you?"
"I... Um..." he stutters before gulping thickly and tries again, "J-Jackson..."
They shake hands and Jinyoung grins, "what a nice name, just like your voice."
Jackson didn't even have the time to reply when someone shouted the human's name from the ship, causing the man to turn away from Jackson. He noticed another man on the ship waving to their direction, a pretty man much like the human in front of him bringing him into another awe.
Jinyoung smiled to Jackson, "well I guess I need to go back. Nice meeting you, Jackson." Then he swam away, leaving Jackson breathless and stupefied.
When Youngjae came to him and drags him back home, Jackson didn't even realize as his head keep playing an image of soft smile. And he still cling to that image after days later.
--
"Alright I get it, it was Youngjae's doing and not you," Heechul whipping a kelp around, causing a soft wave to Jackson head. "But you ain't gonna go silent in my presence."
Jackson only blinked, mind elsewhere causing Heechul to sigh deeply yet again.
"Fine you have no intention to study, I'll just go and tell your dad the mighty king how you progress today."
At that Jackson brought out his reverie, "Sorry I was just thinking."
"Clearly you're not thinking when you decided to ignore me," the sharkman smiled sarcastically, "how are you going to be the next king if you keep neglecting your study, hmm?"
"I ditched a class one time only hyung," he whined, earning a mild slap to his cheek with the kelp.
"And ignoring my class for few days now," Heechul sighed again, "must I remind you it's a tough job being a king? And I have to make you ready for that. It's not just about making the folks happy and content, you also have to protect the kingdom when it comes. There are many enemies seeking our kingdom and power, the power which will bestowed on you when you become king. You still can't conjure stable magic much less to ward off a certain octopusman! He's been very persistent trying to get inside our kingdom, I don't need to tell you how displeased your father is because of it."
Jackson rubs his face with both hands, "yes, I know of him, he have a powerful magic and my dad feels threatened by him, I know. But he hasn't done anything right? He probably not that all capable that's why he can't do anything."
"Yet," Heechul warned sternly. "Do I have to teach you again how bad this octopusman is? The only ones who can use magic are-"
"The merfolks and the sharkfolks, yes, I know. If there's other magic user than us it will create unbalance and the power could be used for malice for it was unnatural," Jackson interject, he's so not in the mood for some lecture. "But has he done anything bad? It doesn't seem fair to judge when he doesn't do anything."
"Yet," Heechuls said again, "before him was already another octopus which have powerful magic and had inflicted a great damage on us due to greed, a damage we shall forever reminded of. Then there was a cruel snakeman who used his power only to jeopardize us for his own amusement, these are why we must be careful and wary of them."
"That was ancient times when wars are everywhere, there's no saying-"
"I know you always try to see the goodness in everything and everyone, Jackson," Heechul cut in, "but darkness is always inside of us, being careful in account of past history is never too bad. They're not only intelligent but also aggressive and territorial, it's a given we have to be careful."
"You sharkman are also aggressive."
"Aren't you prejudice too?" Heechul scoffed mockingly. "We are naturally a gentle kind, only some of our species are aggressive and even then they don't have an ounce of magic inside them. But the octopusman and snakeman have and the history shown us enough."
--
"Your mind have been out of this world these days, what are you thinking?" Youngjae poked Jackson's cheek.
"Just... Someone maybe?"
Youngjae's eyes light up and a grin grows on his lips, "ooh, who is it who is it."
Jackson didn't answer right away, considering if it was a good idea to tell his friend, "...the man I met when we went to the surface?"
Instantly Youngjae's eyes dimmed, "no, Jackson, no. What are you thinking-"
"I was just intrigued, okay? Just curious," he cuts in.
"Then don't think about it, don't let it grow. Nothing good will come out of it, he's a human."
"I know, I know it's just... I can't stop thinking about him. I won't do anything about it," maybe, Jackson thought.
There's a wary look in Youngjae's eyes, "you come from a different world, you can't even go to the land, you don't even know where he is. The ship already gone to god knows where."
Go to the land, Jackson's mind caught on those words. His face stay expressionless, but there was a spark coming alive in his eyes and the younger saw it.
"There's something I said which caught your interest, isn't it? No, just don't Jackson, you know it's not a good idea."
"I was just gonna see him one more time, that's it."
"No! Jackson please think it through, don't do that. Beside, do you think your father would just allow it and let you do that?"
"What my dad got to do with this?" Jackson frowned.
"Who else have enough power to change your tail into a pair of feet?"
Jackson didn't answer because he know, there is someone else who can. He tries to hold in his smile so he don't alert his friend, but as always Youngjae caught it. But the fish boy knew Jackson's stubbornness, he can only hope his worry able to stop his intention.
"Please... Just, don't..." he clings to Jackson's arm, pleading. But Jackson's mind already set.
--
The area is a bit dark as the sunlight is harder to penetrate the deeper water, yet Jackson didn't falter as he swims closer to his destination. Not long the old, gaping deep cave came to view and he picks up his pace to a certain being dwelling. He's feeling excited, a rush of adrenaline pumping within his veins as fear and nervousness also accompanying him. He didn't stop, he knew what he wants.
The open cave lead to a big double stone door, dark and intimidating. Jackson inhales a deep breath, raising his hands to knock only for the door to open before his knuckles manage to make contact. This was the moment when he start second guessing, 'maybe this is a bad idea'.
"And who, the lost being that came to my place?" a deep voice ringing from inside the cave, the presence is thick like wave but Jackson can't see the owner of the voice. It's eerie and Jackson is rooted to his place at the entrance as fear start dominating.
A silhouette merges from the darkness inside the cave, greeting Jackson with eerie yet elegant moves and his heart stutters at the image presented. The octopusman is taller than him, bigger and holds a charm which so overwhelming. Jackson won't deny the man have a very gorgeous face. A shiver runs through his body, he didn't really know is it due to fear or attraction.
It was a mere second but Jackson caught the way the octopusman's eyes went wide before it settles back.
"Prince Jackson," the man said and there's just something about the way he said it makes Jackson's heart jumps. "Welcome to my humble abode, what have brought your way here?"
The way the man brought himself is elegant, mysterious like there's something hidden and dangerous beyond his seemingly welcoming gesture. Jackson's excitement was forgotten for a moment as it gives away to other indescribable feeling, "you know who I am."
"I know all about you, prince. More than you can imagine," there's a glint in his dark eyes, sharp and mischievous. He offers his hand to Jackson, palm upward, "shall we come in? It's impolite to talk at the entrance."
Instinctively Jackson placed his hand into the octopusman's hand at the gesture, before he start thinking that he shouldn't be looking too willing. What if it's a trap? But the deed is done and he got lead inside.
"Would you like something to drink, prince? Or do you need something else from me?"
The tone bringing another shiver on Jackson's body at what was implicated, wicked and underlying dangerous. 'Is this really a good idea?' but Jackson can't back out now, not when he's so close to what he wants.
"I want to be able to walk," he whispered, gaining a lift of an eyebrow on the octopusman.
"Walk? A pair of legs, my prince? That's a complicated magic," a devilish smile graced his face, "and an expensive price."
"What's your name? If i have to make a deal with you, I have to know your name."
"Why, I thought everyone in your kingdom knew my name already, did you not?"
"I don't dwell in rumours, if I have to know I will know from the man himself."
"A wise choice," the man elegantly motion to present himself with a hand to his heart and a shallow bow, "My name is Jaebum, prince Jackson. Although I believe you know already."
"Jaebum-shi..." the name rolls off his tongue softly and there's a twitch on Jaebum's eyes.
"Just Jaebum will do, my prince," he smiled then clapped his hand, "now, let us talk about your wish and... The price for it."
"I'm not your prince," Jackson can't describe the gnawing uneasiness whenever the being called him prince, it feels like a mock, like impure intentions.
"You are my prince, prince Jackson. Or would you like me to call you... Jackson?"
There again the shivers, Jackson shift in his place to shake it off, but the way Jaebum looks at him makes it hard to do so. "Whatever. What should I do?"
A quirk of an eyebrow, "do you not care what the price it will need?"
"What is it?"
"Let's save that for the last, shall we?" he teased and if Jackson wasn't so nervous he would have already whacked the octopusman's head.
He was lead deeper into the cave, to another dark part which only illuminated by a soft, dimly light of many colors bouncing on the walls. It's pretty but the darkness only makes Jackson more wary and anxious. The colorful lights falls on Jaebum's fair skin, making his beauty more mystical and Jackson found himself unable to look away. What's with him and handsome men anyway?
"You wish to walk? I can grant you a pair of legs for five days," Jaebum turned to smile to the merman, wicked. "But..."
"There's price to pay," Jackson answered.
"And some conditions for you," Jaebum completed. "It's nothing dangerous."
Then what's that underlying dangerous tone, Jackson wanted to ask but decided against it. "Why only five days?"
"It's a complicated and strong magic, anymore than five days your body wouldn't be able to handle it, it will torn you apart. Or do you wish to extend it despite how painful and dangerous it is? You can lose your life." Jaebum tapping his fingers on the coral table as his smile grows, "Still want to do it?"
"What's the catch?"
"Why don't you tell me why you want to be a human first?"
Jackson heaved a deep breath, "nothing, I was just... Curious."
Jaebum glides to where Jackson is, inching closer that their faces was so close Jackson could see the twin moles on Jaebum's eyelid, his eyes glinting dangerously despite his soft smile.
"Don't lie to me Jackson, I know more than you think I am."
"Then why asking?" but the quirk of Jaebum's eyebrow tells him he want an honest answer or the deal is off. "I met a certain human, and I want to... See him again, that's it."
There's something swimming in Jaebum's eyes and unknown why, Jackson found his heart fluttering at the sight. Not quite fear but something else which different than what he felt to Jinyoung, yet similar in a way.
"You fell in love with him," Jaebum says and Jackson's heart kicked his ribcage.
"No, no that's not love. Nothing that serious."
"Really now? You're willing to change your beautiful fins into flimsy legs, bearing the pain and the harsh magic, even the prices I have yet to say only due to curiosity?"
"Yes, it is, curiosity," Jackson said still. He didn't even know what he felt for that human stranger. He's intrigued, and he want to see more of those soft smile.
Jaebum is smiling, the glint in his eyes shown that he's not, still he says, "very well, let us do the business. Are you prepared to withstand the pain which will befall onto you and the price for such magic?"
"Tell me."
"You'll be given five days to do whatever you want, but of course you have a mission to fulfill," the octopusman smiled widely as if he had won whatever game he's playing right now, "a kiss from this human you're attracted to. If he were to feel attracted to you and give you a kiss, it will seal the magic and you'll be a human completely."
Jackson waits but the other man didn't say anything else, "that's it? It's sounds... Too easy of a price coming from you."
"Easy? Are you sure? You only have five days," he cocked his eyebrows in amusement and mock.
"Everyone find me irresistible," Jackson shrugged earning a soft giggle from Jaebum.
"Always so full of yourself, prince."
"And if I can't do it?"
And the evil glint is back in Jaebum's eyes, wicked yet beautiful at the same time, "you'll belong to me, prisoner of my humble cave, forever."
He should have turn away now, forget about what he wanted, about the magic. He could feel it it's dangerous. But Jackson is stubborn and reckless. He's going to regret it.
"Okay, I'm in."
--
Who would have thought the octopusman went as far as delivering Jackson to where the human is, almost kind if Jackson didn't know any better. Jaebum was too willing to help it's extremely suspicious. But Jackson didn't want to dwell in that assumption too long as his time is ticking, he must focus to accomplish his goals, his mission.
The land feels so dry on his skin, something he almost sure can't get used to. It's so weird to be breathing air this long, to not needing water to receive oxygen. It's a funny feeling when his skin wrinkles when he stays in water too long, it never does that before. The sand between his toes is tickling, his toes feels weird and it's hard to stand on two legs he had to crawled on four before he managed to straighten his back. All in all being a human is strange, yet weirdly exciting.
He didn't even have half a mind to be feeling nervous about leaving his nature when he's faced with so many new things. So he walked closer to the huge house which the octopusman said was the human's house. But... How to do this?
Straight up knocking on the door when he's just a stranger, anyone would feel wary and repulsed. Moreover these humans appears to always being covered by some clothes and here he is naked like a baby, not to mention the weird full hair between his legs. Is that his penis? It looks different and... Cute. He thinks those area isn't something to display to public so he walked back to beach and curled up at some corner to hide.
First of all he needs to find something to cover himself. But what? Palm leaves? Hell no, it's itchy. The sea water also feels itchy to his naked skin on the crotch area as well now. He sighed, he's already feeling lost a mere few minutes on land. The dark image of him trapped inside the octopusman's cave is beginning to dominate his mind. Finally he's starting to feel scared.
"Are you okay?"
Jackson whipped his head so fast to look at the voice, seeing a man standing cautiously near him with a wary look. Dear lord, it's Jinyoung of all the people to find him in this situation.
Turns out the human remember him as well, "is that you, Jackson? What happened to you? Why are you... Naked?"
"Oh Jinyoung! I..." what should he say to bluff this situation? "I got... I got robbed, they took my clothes too! A-and I don't know what to do now."
Jinyoung's eyes grew wide in shock, "are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"N-no... Thankfully I'm not..."
The human looks around, the frown on his face appears to be thinking, "can you stand? Let's get you to my house."
Jackson wrapped himself in the jacket Jinyoung gave him happily, following the man to the huge house, thanking whatever higher beings there is to help him get out of the mess he's in.
"You must be cold, I'll ask the maids to make you something warm," Jinyoung said right away after he closed the front door behind them. Jackson only nodded, playing the part of damsel in distress he's in. When Jinyoung brought him into a room and pulled out some clothes from the wardrobe, another man walking into the room. Jackson remember his face too, he's the man who called for Jinyoung from the ship.
"What the hell? What are you doing?" the pretty man said.
"Oh Mark! Just in time, this is Jackson, he said he got robbed and he had no clothes on. Can you help me ready the bath for him?"
"Robbed? What kind of person rob another when the lights still out? And took their clothes too?"
Jinyoung's eyes shifts between Jackson and Mark, confused as well but his hand doesn't stop to try to help Jackson putting on clothes.
"I don't know..." Jackson said finally to help the situation, he need to think fast. "I don't even know where I am, they just took me, robbed me and dumped me here..."
The man named Mark cringed, "what kind of evil did you do to make people do that to you?"
"Mark," Jinyoung warned.
"Sorry, maybe you're just unfortunate and crossed with idiots. You look terrible." The whole thing is so dubious, Mark can't help but be suspicious towards Jackson.
"I'm cold," Jackson deadpanned.
"Right, I'm getting the bath ready," the he left not before sending a look to Jinyoung.
"I'm sorry about that, he was just trying to protect me," Jinyoung smiled apologetically and give Jackson a cup of hot tea which a maid had brought over.
"Your friend?"
"Yeah, uh... Kinda my bodyguard also," he smiled sheepishly.
"Bodyguard? Are you someone important?" Jackson's eyes went wide.
"No, not really... Just, well, my parents are too overprotective."
Well he's definitely rich, filthy rich, Jackson thought as he look over the room and the maids. Maybe also why he needs a bodyguard.
"Do you need to call your family? Maybe you can get them to pick you up?" Jinyoung asked and Jackson is lost. Call? What call? Jinyoung motion his hand to his ear, "I can let you borrow my phone."
"I... Uh," Jackson gulped, having no idea what a phone is. "I can't think right now... I'm confused."
There's empathy in Jinyoung's eyes, like he's understanding what Jackson must be feeling right now, "I guess you're still in shock. It's okay, take your time and you can tell me what you need later. You can also stay for a while here, just take it easy."
"Thank you..." Jackson smiled which returned by the human, those soft smile Jackson keep replaying in his mind. Before Jinyoung walk out of the room Mark peek in his head.
"The bath is ready."
Well, gotta think of a new excuse when he's in the bath.
--
He found out what a phone is and how to use it by looking at Jinyoung. It's an item which enable you to communicate with someone else in different places, it's cool and also weird. Jinyoung also eyeing him weirdly as if Jackson have gone mental. But he managed to pretend to call someone and asked for help.
"So?" Jinyoung asked when Jackson give back his phone.
"It's gonna take them some time to get me... Can I... Stay here for a while? Maybe five days?"
Jinyoung is confused, "why five days?"
Jackson have nothing to reply and he must have looked reluctant so Jinyoung decided not to pursue it, "it's okay, you can stay. The more is the merrier after all."
"Jinyoung," Mark warns but Jinyoung waved his hand.
"It's okay, I trust him. You can stay."
Jackson almost squeals, but he had to hold it in if he didn't want to be more suspicious in Mark's eyes. He couldn't be more happier. And he found human's food is very delicious that night at dinner.
The next morning when he was mulling over how to flirt with Jinyoung, the man himself had invited him to go out before he could do anything.
"You said you never been here, right? I could show you to some places, you'll like it."
Jackson is forever thankful Jinyoung is so kind and friendly even though he's basically a stranger imposing in his house.
"I'll be there too, of course," Mark chimed in but Jackson didn't care, he actually think Mark is interesting as well.
"Well, let's finish breakfast soon and make the most of it," Jinyoung grinned with crinkles around his eyes, it's cute.
Jackson is so in love with the land, how different it is than his home, the ocean. He didn't just like the foods, everything else in land he love it. It's interesting, it's amazing and just full of excitement and amusement. Maybe it's because all of it is a novelty to him, new things always attract him the most. And Jackson found himself wishing to live on land longer than he could.
Suddenly, the image of Jaebum's mysterious smile came to his mind and he grew uneasy. Like a strange pull, like he's bewitched just by the remembrance of Jaebum. And suddenly the sweets in his hand lost it's magic over Jackson.
"You okay? You don't like the taste?" Jinyoung asked when he saw the sudden change in Jackson's mood.
"No, I like the ice cream... I just got reminded of something."
The human patted his back encouragingly and smiled, "don't let the sad things dampening your mood, let it go and live in the present, enjoy it to the fullest!"
Jackson decided he really likes Jinyoung and smiled back.
--
Jackson have fun, a lot of fun playing with Jinyoung and Mark, there's always new things to discover and he never left bored or disappointed. Yet... His heart grew heavy each passing day. Not to mention his legs starting to hurt and it's getting worse to his entire body by the hours.
Jaebum's voice and images of him haunting his waking and sleeping hours. And each time Jackson feels confused, the twist in his stomach tells so much he didn't understand. Did that octopusman put a spell on him?
'You'll be mine', the voice echoes in his mind, 'forever prisoner to my palace'.
It's his third day on land, Jackson's legs hurts a ton and the echoes in his head only makes it worse. He's frustrated, because it's a warning, a waking alarm for his limited time on land. And Jaebum is a man of his own words, he would expect Jackson to fulfill his part if he fails.
Jackson brought out of his thoughts when Mark clanking his spoon to his plate too loud, a hard line on his face, like he's upset or perhaps angry. Jinyoung eyeing him, quiet but observant and waiting.
"You can't keep running away, Jinyoung," Mark sighed, looking fed up, tired, given up yet angry. "You have a lot to prepare, you can't keep wasting time to go out with Jackson."
Jinyoung munching on his food, glancing briefly to Jackson before looking back to his plate. The expression on his face is calm, he seem like he already expected this moment but still he gives an understanding look to Jackson as if saying, 'it's not your fault'.
"If you won't do it, your mom would prepare the marriage instead, would you want that?" Mark continued and Jackson is in shock.
Marriage?
"You're going to get married, Jinyoung?" Jackson asked without thinking.
'You'll be mine', the voice echoes again causing a shiver on his bones and ache to Jackson's heart.
Jinyoung smiled almost apologetically, "I suppose, yeah."
'Forever', it feels like a whisper to Jackson's ear, chilling and constricting, like crawling vines on his limbs. He's been walking in Jaebum's palm all along.
It was fear, instead of feeling let down from Jinyoung's marriage, all he could feel was the seeping fear climbing up his feet. The price. Jaebum had haunt his mind and reigns his heart before he realized it. So wicked, so cruel. Yet there's something dangerously... Challenging. Like a thrill and it's running in Jackson's veins.
Wicked.
--
The fifth day, Jackson's fate is an hour away when he was sitting at the beach with Jinyoung beside him. There's only silence both too deep in their own thoughts, until the human suddenly decided to break it.
"I love someone else."
Jackson's eyes went slightly wider and turned to look at Jinyoung, "other than your soon to be wife?"
Jinyoung scoffed, "I never like her. She's just someone my mother forced onto me. If anything, I hate her, maybe. Because of her I might be losing my love."
Jackson stares at him, thinking of what he should says, "how are they taking it? The one you love."
"Angry," Jinyoung softly laughed, pained and sad. "All I want is to be with them, to make them happy. Not to hurt them like this..."
"Then why don't you?" Jackson said making Jinyoung to look at him as if he grows two heads, "run away with them, make your own life! Your life is your own, sometimes running away also a way to keep fighting."
The look on Jinyoung's face was unreadable, but there's a glint of awe in his eyes. Until the idea finally dawned on him and his smile grow brighter than Jackson ever saw on him. "I believe it now," Jinyoung said abruptly.
"Believe what?"
"I think you're a gift the heaven sent to me," he chuckled and Jackson can't help the giggles to bubble up from his chest. He pulled Jackson into a bone crushing hug before starting to sprint back to his home, yelling, "thank you Jacks!"
And it was the last thing Jackson heard and saw before the little wave washes him and coiling around him like soft ropes, dragging him back into the ocean. His feet transformed into his beautiful tail, glinting fins and his gills on his neck opens up and he's breathing in sea water again. So familiar, so natural. But he's not coming home.
The waves brought him to the old cave which been haunting his dreams, to the wicked smile on the octopusman's lips. Jaebum eyes is dark, deep and mysterious, the air surrounding him is menacing.
"So," he begins with that wicked smirk of his, "you failed to fulfill the mission."
Jackson stand on his ground, eyes hard and unrelenting. Running away is futile, Jaebum's magic is no joke, he could even be stronger than an army of magic bearer in the same level as Heechul. And Jackson is a man of his words, he had accepted his fate. A prisoner? So be it.
"You are so brave, my prince. Or should I say a fool? Making a deal with me without thinking it thoroughly."
"You knew this is how it's gonna be," Jackson accused, "you knew Jinyoung already have someone he loves. That's why you were so willing to help me."
Jaebum chuckled darkly, satisfied, "I did tell you. I told you I know more than you think I am."
"You snake," Jackson hissed causing Jaebum to laughed.
"Snake? What an insult, I'm far smarter than snakes might be. In case you missed the note, I'm an octopus," he twirls his limbs mockingly. "You can't blame me, you brought yourself into this. And what I am if I don't take that chance to make you mine?"
Jackson gritted his teeth, angry because Jaebum is right. This is his own fault. He only regret that their kingdom will lose the heir and he might cause their downfall. "Now you have me as your prisoner, you think you could win against my father? Never."
"Your father?" Jaebum quirks his eyebrows, "believe me when I say I have no interest for his kingdom."
"Then what is the reason for keeping me here?"
The octopusman glide closer to Jackson, letting his breath fall on the Prince's cheek to make a point, "why don't you find out? You have all eternity to find out now."
Jackson closed his eyes, willing himself to take a deep breath to hold in his anger.
"Do you hate me, Jackson?" Jaebum whispers to his ear, dangerously enticing bringing a harsh shiver on Jackson's spine. "I can feel so much hatred from you, such a strong emotion. I don't mind, you can hate me all you want. Your hatred will haunt you and everytime you will think of me, you'll never be able to forget me. Jaebum, the one who tricked you into this, trapped within my cave, forever with me."
It brings a hot swirls in Jackson's stomach. He don't even know what is it he's feeling anymore.