10 comments/ 31159 views/ 15 favorites A Tale of Mermen By: ellynei A good while back, I posted this on an obscure forum, which shall remain unnamed here. Shortly after that, the forum, and everything on it, was deleted. So, if, before the forum was deleted, someone copied it from there and published it elsewhere, I'll have a hard time proving my copyright. I hate the thought of this story of mine having been lost though, so here it is, again publically available. Hopefully to a larger audience. It takes place in Karlan Sunflower's universe. Let me add, this is not sweet reluctance, this is deep dark non-con. * "Is there something wrong with your breasts?" "I..." Suddenly feeling shy, she turned to swim sideways, hiding her face and front from Valin. "How much further to your favourite practice area?" she asked. "Far," replied Valin and increased his speed, presenting Noma with a view to his tail. "Keep up or get lost," he yelled. "I don't spar with weaklings." "Neither do I," Noma yelled back and matched his speed. For nearly an hour they swam at high speed, before Valin finally slowed down and said, "We are almost there." He dove into a dark cave, Noma followed. Deprived of light they used sonar. "You didn't tell me you planned to practice in the dark," said Noma. "You didn't ask." "I haven't been trained in fighting without light." Facing away from Noma, Valin grinned. If Noma had been trained in the finer arts of sonar, she would have been able to tell. "Are you afraid of the dark?" he asked, prodding at her pride, baiting. "Don't be ridiculous," replied Noma. Without further complaint, she stayed at his tail through a network of tunnels. She didn't suspect foul play. Not until the two of them, thoroughly exhausted, reached Valin's destination --a fairly large cave. "Valin, you deceitful toad, I'll mush you into crab fodder," she screamed, realising she had been tricked, and attacked Valin with her fighting staff. Surprised Valin spun to defend himself. He had expected her to flee the moment she found herself outnumbered. "Do you think you can take all of us, you stupid fish," he yelled, even as his co-conspirators spread out behind her. No. Noma didn't think she could take all of them. Noma knew she couldn't. But, she also knew that she couldn't out-swim them. Not after Valin had tricked her into using most of her strength swimming to this trap. "In the dark, you can't even handle one of us." Noma bared her teeth, she recognised that voice. "Lopai!" she yelled and turned from Valin to charge the one who had to be the instigator of this entrapment. Noma's lower back exploded with pain, Valin had stabbed the end of his staff right into the soft area between ribs and tail. She curled backwards, involuntarily baring her front to Lopai, who wasn't slow to take advantage. Lopai's staff hit her abdomen just below the ribs. Valin targeted the soft area on her back again, this time on the other side of her spine. Another of Lopai's friends hit her side, another hit her neck, another hit... "Idiots," snarled Lopai, pushing her friends back with her staff. "You hit too hard. She's unconscious." "Maybe we should have planned this part a bit more thoroughly," said Valin, sliding away from the others, stretching leisurely. "When she wakes up, the rest of you will stay back while I beat her up," ordered Lopai. "She is exhausted, Lopai," commented Valin. "She isn't dead." "Are you implying I won't be able to beat her?" Lopai pointed her staff at Valin in a threatening manner. "Noma hasn't trained in the dark, that's how come she's so good in the light." "Enjoy your illusions, Lopai. Enjoy them while they last." said Valin, grinning widely. "Noma is awake." Lopai turned in time to observe Noma hurling herself down toward her fighting staff, which rested at the bottom of the cave. The cave was filled with an explosion of sound, as Lopai whistled, screamed and clicked to intensify her own sonar and obstruct her enemy's. Yet, Noma deflected her attacks. Lopai's friends didn't interfere until Noma had disarmed Lopai and was systematically beating up the backside of her tail. Valin merely observed. If Noma hadn't already been exhausted, and if it hadn't been dark, then Lopai and her three friends wouldn't have stood a chance. But, under these circumstances, which he had helped them create, Noma was the chance-less one. After having been rescued by her friends, Lopai circled Noma, who was now being systematically beaten by those friends. They were being more careful now, keeping the pain intense yet sufficiently tolerable for their prey to stay conscious. A while passed before Noma started begging for mercy. Not a long while though, Noma was young and not at all accustomed to such punishment. "Stop beating her a while. I want to savour this moment," said Valin, shortly after Noma's pleas had begun. "Please stop hurting me." It sounded so clear in the sudden silence as her attackers slid away from her. "Reduced to a frightened little bundle of hurt," said Valin, sliding through the dark water, needing no more sound than his speech to guide him. He grabbed hold of Noma's left headfin and yanked at it, pulling her head up and back. He made a single click, illuminating her face in explicit detail. "Terror looks beautiful on you, Noma." Lopai slid up behind Noma, grabbing hold of her right headfin. "If you beg real good, maybe we will let you have a longer break before we continue, little fishy," she whispered. "Please, Lopai, let me go," said Noma, shivering at the threat. "If you let me go now I will never humiliate you in public again, I promise." "You arrogant..." Nobody could hear the end of Lopai's insult through Noma's screams. Lopai had resumed the beating, and so had her friends. By the time the cave went quiet next, Noma shook uncontrollably. "Beg," ordered Lopai. "Please stop," whispered Noma. "Please." "You gotta do better than that," screeched Lopai and threw her staff at Noma, like a spear. Automatically, Noma deflected it, grabbed hold of it, and defiantly held it up to defend herself. Lopai clicked furiously, illuminating the image of her rival holding her staff. "I will kill you for that, Noma," yelled Lopai and dove for Noma's staff, which again rested on the bottom of the cave. "Don't be so hasty, Lopai," said Valin, leisurely drifting between Lopai and Noma. "You should give credit when credit is due." Lopai clicked angrily, she wasn't in a mood for giving credit. "Don't you realise," continued Valin, smiling while facing Lopai's wrath, "how difficult it is for a warrior to say 'please'?" Lopai ceased her clicking and cocked her head, curious as to where Valin was headed with this. Valin's laughter illuminated the cave for Lopai and her friends. Noma shook harder at the sound, which wasn't sufficient for her senses. She was blind yet didn't click; she was too afraid. "For a simple gatherer 'please' is an ordinary word," continued Valin. "They will say it as easily as 'thank you' or 'good-bye'." Noma felt his movements transferring through the water. It was like caresses on her skin. Why had Valin --a warrior in training, like herself-- teamed up with these untalented, undisciplined wannabes? "Noma." Valin drew out her name, tasted it to the full. "Tell me, Noma, before today, when was the last time you said 'please'?" "It was five years ago," whispered Noma, hating herself for replying when she should be fighting. "I bet you remember what season and what time of day it was too." Valin's voice was smooth and confident. He laughed again. "Tell me to 'please' let you go." Noma wanted to attack him, almost did too, but the memory of pain was too fresh -- still stronger than her anger. "Please let me go," she whispered. "That's Lopai's staff you are holding," said Valin. "Ask her to 'please' forgive you for touching her weapon." Noma hesitated. "Aha," said Valin. "You haven't had enough yet." He clicked and raised his staff, preparing to assault her. Lopai's friends copied his movement. "Please forgive me, Lopai," screeched Noma, holding the offending staff tight. "Please forgive me for touching your weapon." Valin lowered his staff and swam to Noma. "Hand it over," he said, holding out a hand. Noma again hesitated. "Hand it over or face the consequences." She handed him the staff, and he handed it on to Lopai. "I knew she was a coward," said Lopai, circling Noma, holding her staff at the ready for further punishment. "Beg me not to hit you." Noma begged. "What's wrong with her breasts?" asked Valin. "Her breasts?" asked Malong, one of Lopai's three friends. He grabbed one of Noma's headfins and pulled back, clicking to get a clear vision of her chest. "What do you mean?" "She always keeps them covered," explained Valin. "Most maids take their breast-covering off when they are done sparring for the day, but I've yet to see Noma without hers." "I never noticed," said Malong, but now he too realised that he had never seen Noma's breasts. Lopai moved in and reached for the buckles keeping Noma's breast-cover in place. "Please don't." Noma pushed Lopai's hands away and curled into a ball, hugging her own chest. "What do you want from me?" wept Noma. "I never wronged any of you." Lopai's eyes narrowed. Her perspective on Noma's wrong-doings was somewhat different. "I want to see her breasts," said Malong. "I want to know why she hides them." He expected a disfigurement, a secret shame. "Then hold her still," hissed Lopai. Noma struggled bravely to keep her breasts hidden. Valin watched with an overbearing smile. He thought of how easily Noma could have been convinced to surrender, if only her assailants had bothered to pause and word a threat or two. In the end, Malong held Noma's arms together behind her back. One of Lopai's other friends held Noma's tail tight, twisting the fins at the end to a degree that forced Noma to keep still. "Don't," pleaded Noma as Lopai loosened the buckles of the breast-cover. Noma closed her unseeing eyes at the feeling of water moving freely across her breasts. She grimaced with shame when Lopai clicked loudly. Valin laughed. Noma tugged her arms, but Malong held on tight. "Those has to be the most suck-able baby-feeders ever," said Valin, still laughing. Lopai clicked repeatedly, giving each her friends a clear image of Noma's breasts. They were larger than either of them had expected. Freed of the cover they were perfectly round, weightless in the water. They were too large to fit a warrior. If not held tightly in place by a breast cover, they would be a hindrance to swift turns and movements. Malong laughed too. Noma, the most arrogant student of martial arts he had ever known. How many people knew she was hauling those jugs around? "Let go of me," screamed Noma, struggling to free herself. Then her scream rose to a higher pitch as Lomon --the one holding her tail-- twisted her tailfin even further. "Hold still or ill snap it out of its socket," threatened Lomon. "Yeah, hold still, milk-freak," said Malong. "I think they are lovely," said Lopai. Her laughter rang like clear bells, lighting the small cave like a ballroom. At least for those who were well-trained in the arts of sonar. It wasn't merely the size of Noma's breasts. Her nipples were spectacular. Hardened by the cold water they pointed out. Each the approximate size and shape of the last limb on a little finger. "Let's shed some light on this matter," said Valin, laughter still filled his voice. "Hold her tight," he cautioned and swam to where he had hit a fluorescent torch. He brushed away the sand hiding his torch, picked it up, and shook it to make it shine bright. Malong and Lomon held on tight. They both knew how dangerous Noma could be. Malong bit his tongue not to scold at Valin for bringing a torch. He didn't want to sound like a snivelling coward. "Just look at these things," said Lopai, grabbing a breast with each hand, shaking them in the water. Even after she let go the large soft orbs kept oscillating. Noma's sobs fed the oscillations, kept them going. "Those," said Valin, placing his torch on a small natural shelf. "Those breasts," he continued, turned and swam to Noma. "Those nipples!" He caught a nipple between thumb and index-finger. "Let go," screamed Noma, and again tried to shake loose. All she accomplished was to make her large breasts wave at her assailants. Valin gently rolled her nipple between his fingers. "Do you think you are in a position to make demands, Noma?" he asked. "Ask nicely." "Please don't touch them," sobbed Noma. "I like touching them," said Lopai, grabbing Noma's other nipple. Not surprisingly she pinched it. Noma yelped. Delighted, Lopai pinched again. A different kind of panic filled Noma's eyes as she again tried to wrestle free. "These nipples make me feel like a half-year-old," said Valin, still rolling Noma's left nipple between his fingers. "A hungry half-year-old," he added, and lowered his head. "No," yelled Noma. "Don't suck on it. Don't." She tried to pull her breast away from him. But Malong and Lomon didn't allow her to move an inch. "No," she screamed again as Valin's lips locked around her nipple and he sucked. Noma stared at Valin's face as his eyes first widened with surprise... He knows. ... and then closed. He sucked again, harder. To Noma, the suction was a physical shock. He is drinking it. Noma sobbed with disbelief and shame. She had been lactating since her breasts had started growing. Noma had never told anyone about the milk. Valin sucked again. He is drinking it. Noma stared at his face, he looked so peaceful and content, and there was nothing she could do to stop him. Noma's teacher had once found out about the milk and had taken Noma to a healer. "Stop it," yelled Noma. The healer had said nothing was wrong. That they shouldn't worry about Noma's milk. After that, Noma's teacher had stopped worrying about Noma's breasts until they started growing too large. Prompted by Noma's distress, Lopai took 'her' nipple, Noma's right nipple, into her mouth and sucked. Surprised she pulled back and opened her mouth to clean it out with sea-water. "Milk?" exclaimed Lopai, squeezing the breast she had sucked. "Is that milk?" A tiny white cloud erupted from the nipple Lopai had sucked. "Yes," said Valin and pushed Lopai's hand away. His voice sent vibrations through his lips to Noma's nipple. "Don't waste any of it. I want every sweet drop." "No," screamed Noma. Lomon laughed, as he held on to Noma's tail. Malong laughed too, but he didn't think it was funny anymore. Not funny at all. He held on to Noma's arms for dear life and laughed his desperation out. She is going to kill us when she gets loose, thought Malong, and twisted Noma's arms harder behind her back. Sweet god of life, sweet goddess of death, have mercy on us. We've planted the seeds of our own doom. Valin switched nipple. I can't stop him. More than anything Noma wanted to stop him. For years she had feared that somebody would discover her secret but had never imagined something like this could happen. A lightning shot through her breast, into her heart, down through her tail. Into her tail. No, that's not happening. Noma shook her head in desperation. Valin clicked rhythmically, savouring the sweet taste. The happy sound filled Noma's ears. He is enjoying this. He enjoys doing this to me. Noma had never been that humiliated in her life. Yet, each time he sucked, a lightning went through her body. "Does it taste good?" asked Papek, Lopai's third friend, who had been reduced to watching a while. "It is sweet, and thick, and heavenly," replied Valin, and again switched nipple. "I'll try anything once," said Papek and pushed himself next to Valin. Noma screamed wordlessly. Lightnings entered her body from both her hated nipples. Double lightnings, travelling through her. Malong stared at Noma's face as she screamed. Her eyes were changing shape, her skin was changing colour. We are going to die for this, thought Malong and yelled, "Hold on tight Lomon, she is transforming." Papek raised his face, pulling his lips off Noma's nipple. "Keep sucking," ordered Lopai, shoving his face back onto Noma's breast. "She likes it." Lopai laughed, filling the cave with the sweet feminine sound. "She likes it so much she wants to surface with you." Papek's suckles might have grown timid, but Valin's intensified so much the more as Noma's skin became softer and lost its healthy green tone. Lopai grabbed hold of Noma's face and locked eyes with her. "You want to surface with my guys. They are just too hot for you to handle. Aren't they?" Noma fought the process, fought the change. "You've never gone two-legged before, have you?" asked Lopai. "You are trying to stop it, aren't you?" Lopai laughed again. "It's too late, your eyes are already human. You can't reverse it at this stage." Noma blinked, everything was blurry and her eyes stung. Human eyes don't see well underwater. But they work fine above the surface, she remembered. The nurses had told them that when they were small. Just another fact of life. "Spread her legs when it happens," instructed Lopai. "If you keep her legs apart she can't change back." Valin pulled away from Noma's nipple to observe the transformation. He felt the change pushing at his own body, tugging, tickling, but forced it back. Noma's scales whitened and disappeared. Her headfins simply vanished and hair bloomed from her scalp. It surrounded her head as a large dark brownish flower. Her gills worked in overtime even as they shrank. They worked until the very moment they disappeared. Her tail evaporated in that very same moment, giving way to two kicking legs. Lomon pushed away when faced with the two hard pendulums. He had never surfaced, had never seen legs. They were a whole lot harder than he had thought, especially at the ends. Lomon had lost his nerve, but Valin hadn't. He pushed an arm between Noma's legs. Trapping her in her human form. Malong still held on to her arms. Arms and hands didn't change all that much through transformation. She is going to drown, he thought, staring at Noma's instinctively shut mouth. One breath of air she had. That much the magic of transformation supplied. After that she would be left to the laws of nature, as any other air-breathing creature. Someone was yelling at him. Malong raised his eyes to see who it was. It was Valin. "Let go, you fool," yelled Valin. "We don't want to drown her." Malong let go and Valin swam off with the struggling human form. Noma didn't recognise her own body. Her lower body was... was gone and had been replaced with something completely alien. Her upper body was... weak. She couldn't see, she could barely hear, and her arms were weak. The water felt cold and she needed to... her chest was burning because she needed... Air. I need air. I need to breathe. Noma had never two-legged before, but her body knew what it needed. Valin pushed Noma's upper body out of the water, and she stopped fighting him to breathe. All that existed was breathing. Instinctively she supported herself against his shoulders, to get her head as far above water as possible. Her upper thighs were squeezing the arm he still kept between them. Valin let himself sink slowly. Noma blinked, staring at the approaching surface. Her human eyes did work above the surface, and this cavern was lit. I can't breathe down there. Noma screamed. A human scream. Air passing vocal cords. It was a horrifying sound, but not as horrifying as the rising surface. A Tale of Mermen In a sudden swift movement, she was pulled under. Noma instantly regretted the scream, without it she would have had more air. Under the water, Valin caught both her wrists and gathered them behind her back. He held them there easily with one hand. A feat he could only accomplish because human arms were weaker. He pushed his body between her legs, still holding one of her upper thighs caught with one arm. Then he rose a little in the water, just enough to let her head pass the surface. Noma breathed. She held absolutely still and breathed. She would have begged that he not pull her under again, if only she had known how to talk in human form. He was moving under the surface, repositioning himself. Terrified Noma heaved for air. He is going to... Lips encased her left nipple. Noma closed her eyes and forced herself to hold absolutely still while Valin drank. Each sucking movement sent small lightnings through her breast, to her stomach, and on to the alien part of her body. The part of her that didn't exist in her normal form. Noma craned her neck back, moving her mouth as far from the water as possible. Staring at the ceiling, she tried to ignore the sensations. Valin sucked harder, only few drops remained. Noma gasped when Valin's tongue licked the last drop off her left nipple. He sucked and licked again, just to see if he could cause the same reaction twice. Valin had surfaced once. Back home, his sweetheart had given in to him after his test had been announced. Their lovemaking on that beach had been chaotic and rushed. Valin couldn't remember if he had even touched her nipples. Noma gasped a second time, but the third time she had her breathing under control. Valin changed nipples to drain the last drops from her other breast. "Here they are," yelled Papek, and slid into the cave. Valin licked the final drop off Noma's nipple. He felt no guilt for not sharing equally with Papek. Lopai and her gang were no friends of his. "Good, you've been keeping her from changing back," commented Lopai, entering the cave shortly after Papek. Noma understood what they said, even though the sounds were distorted from passing the surface. Lopai swam to Noma and pulled her under. Noma held absolutely still in Valin's hold, to make the air in her lungs last as long as possible. "Noma," said Lopai, her mouth right next to Noma's human ear. Lopai had surfaced a few times, she knew human ears didn't hear all that well. "I am going to do things to you, Noma." Lopai grabbed hold of both of Noma's nipples and pinched. "Things," repeated Lopai. "Things which can only be done when you are two-legging it." Lopai laughed right into Noma's ear. "It's the least I can do, now that you've gone through the trouble of transforming for us." Noma's lungs were burning. Lopai let go and Valin slowly moved his tail, bringing Noma's head above water. "Lomon," snapped Lopai, grabbing onto one of Noma's ankles. "Hold on to this leg like this. Whatever happens, don't let go." Noma's breath got caught in her throat when Lomon obeyed. What is she going to do to me? Noma had known, of course, that Lopai disliked her. The feeling was mutual. But, Noma had never realised how far Lopai was willing to follow those feelings. "Papek. Hold this leg. No, not like that. If you hold it like that she can pull it free. Hold your fingers like this." Lopai demonstrated and Papek copied. "You can let go now, Valin," said Lopai. It was more an order than an offer. Curious what Lopai had in mind, Valin let go. No longer held up by Valin, Noma sank. She trashed her arms, searching for something to hold on to, something to pull herself up by. Instinctively she kicked her legs, as she would have moved her tail to move upwards. That just made things worse, her ankles were caught, kicking her legs just made her body trash chaotically in the water. Her arm's breached the surface several times. Swim. Swim with arms. But she needed air, she didn't have time to learn to swim without a tail. Noma's lungs hurt by the time Lopai put a hand under her back and pushed her to the surface. "Grab hold of her hair, Malong," instructed Lopai. "Yes, like that - a good handful. Perfect." Lopai let go of Noma, who instantly sank. "Now pull up till her face is above water, Malong." Noma could breathe again. "Perfect." Lopai rose in the water till her upper body was well above the surface. "How do you like two-legging it?" asked Lopai, smiling. "Oh, that's right. It's your first time, you haven't learned to talk in that form." Lopai laughed and ducked under. "Touch your breasts," ordered Lopai. Noma hesitated. She usually avoided her breasts as much as possible. She hated them. "Malong, pull her under." I'll do it, Noma wanted to scream, but she didn't know how. She trashed for a few seconds, trying to pull her hair out of Malong's grasp. Then it occurred to her to just do as told. The moment she grabbed hold of her breasts, Malong raised her to the surface. "Pull her under every time she lets go of them," ordered Lopai. We are going to die for this. Malong was getting used to the thought. With every passing moment that thought grew less frightening and more alluring. It didn't matter what they did now, they were going to die anyway. Malong's eyes went to Valin who was watching from a distance. "Are you enjoying the show?" asked Malong. "I am most intrigued," said Valin, keeping his eyes on Lopai who was moving between Noma's legs. Malong laughed, for some reason Valin's answer had been funny. He wasn't sure why, though. Lopai still held her staff. With her eyes she measured a suitable length of it and moved one hand to border that length. A moment she was tempted to move her hand further down but resisted. The staff was hard, fairly thick too, and Noma had never two-legged before. It would hurt plenty even at a natural length. Noma understood what Lopai was going to do when she felt the staff probing between her legs. She moved her hands to stop it. Malong pulled her under. Of their own will, Noma's hands moved to her hair leaving the place between her legs unprotected. Lopai found the spot and pushed the staff in till her hand touched Noma's pubes. Noma screamed. Her precious air left her in huge bubbles. But, for a second it didn't matter. Something was in her body, inside her, and it hurt. Malong pulled Noma's face to the surface. Noma barely noticed. She screamed and breathed, but her attention was focused on that pain between her legs. Malong rose above the surface. His eyes followed Noma's hands. Like crabs those hands blindly sought. Down between her legs they moved and found Lopai's hand there. It still held on to the staff. "You lost your virginity to a fighting staff, Noma," someone said and laughed. Malong realised it was himself. Noma screamed and clawed at Lopai's hand. Her soft human nails didn't even scratch Lopai's mer-skin. "What are you waiting for, Lopai," asked Malong. Still laughing, he pulled Noma under again, stopping her screams. "Move that staff. Give her a fucking she will never forget." That was all the prompting Lopai needed. Malong let himself sink while pushing Noma's face above the surface. Holding his hands high above his head, he watched from below as Lopai raped Noma with the staff. It was the largest wrong Malong had ever seen, but it spoke to him. That movement. In out, in out. It was even more mesmerising than the screams coming from above him. Malong didn't realise he had transformed until his lungs were burning for breath. Air. Lopai saved him. She pushed him to the surface. "I got you, pal," she said. Malong breathed. Breathing air felt like being alive. It felt like lust. His body was weaker than ever, yet he felt strong. He felt like... like a man. He turned his head and looked toward Noma. Valin had taken over his spot below her. His face was next to hers, her upper body lay on his chest. Valin's gills were just below the surface, allowing him to breathe while licking her cheek. "Malong has transformed," said Valin. "Now you will find out what the real thing is like." Noma screamed again and Valin pulled her under. Malong reached an arm out in Noma's general direction, but held on to Lopai with his other. He didn't know how to swim in human form. "You want some of that?" asked Lopai and moved a hand between Malong's legs. Malong gasped as Lopai grabbed hold of his organ. The sensation was unbelievable. He closed his eyes, and rocked his abdomen against Lopai's hand. "It feels good, doesn't it?" whispered Lopai. Better than anything. Malong couldn't speak but his whole body quivered with the sensation. "It gets even better than this," said Lopai, and let go of Malong's now fully grown cock. She held his upper body above the surface on the short swim back to Noma, and helped him get in place on top of her. Noma had stopped screaming. Now, all her strength was focused on fighting. Valin pushed her under again, leaving it to Lopai to keep her friend's head above water. "You can't win this fight, Noma," said Valin, under the water. For a few seconds Noma didn't care if they would drown her. For a few seconds she kept struggling simply to delay the abuse. For a few seconds she was a warrior. But then, air, her instincts started taking over, air. Panic started taking over. I need air! Valin still held her under. Air, air, air, air. Valin grabbed her arms and gathered them behind her back. But he kept her under. "That's enough," said Lopai. "I don't want Malong's first to be a corpse." Again Noma was allowed to breathe. Lopai tried to help Malong's cock find the way. It wasn't easy, he was too eager and kept pushing forward. Sometimes it scurried across Noma's pubes. Sometimes it travelled down along her ass-cheeks. When finally it rammed into position, Malong froze halfway inside. He craned his neck back. Staring at the ceiling, unseeing, he slowly pushed the rest of the way into Noma. Better than anything. Malong pulled out a little and pushed back in. Better. In and out. Yes, that was how it was meant to be, in and out. This is happiness. He lowered his head and looked at Noma who looked anything but happy. She is going to kill me. Malong bared his teeth and pumped faster. But not until afterwards. Noma looked like she was going to scream, but Valin pulled her under. Malong's eyes widened. Noma's body was tightening around the part of him that was inside her. It's the terror, he realised. The threat of drowning. It was horrifying, yet delightful. Like her screams when they allowed her to. So wrong that it's right. Malong gave up every semblance of coherent thinking and pumped harder. He nearly panicked when at one point he pulled back too far and fell out of her. He yelled, a loud primitive air-based sound, and stabbed his private parts against Noma's again and again. Lopai helped him get in place. Once she had him back inside Noma, Lopai pressed her own body against his backside. Malong wanted to pull back to thrust again, but Lopai was still pushing him against Noma. Again he yelled in frustration. "Slow down, Malong," said Lopai. "If you keep moving this fast you will ignite too fast." He tried to push her off, but she was too strong. "Don't you want it to last long?" asked Lopai. Malong stopped pushing. A part of him longed to reach the end. Another part of him wanted it to last forever. "Don't you want her to ignite along with you?" asked Lopai. Malong stared down at Noma below him. Valin was holding her face just at the surface. Papek was making small waves with one hand, still holding on to Noma's ankle with the other. Some of the waves went high enough to cover Noma's mouth and nose. "If you pace yourself," continued Lopai, "then I can make her ignite for you." Malong thought about it. Noma, the proudest warrior-student he had ever met. The most arrogant. He cocked his head. The most attractive mermaid he had ever seen. She would never have surfaced with him willingly and he had never imagined taking her by force. But, now Lopai was suggesting... Malong nodded. Yes. He would very much like Noma to ignite for him. "Good," whispered Lopai, and slid back into the water. "Pace yourself, Malong. Move slowly." I won't ignite for that creep. Noma had heard what Lopai had said, but she couldn't take it seriously. Mermaids ignited for their lovers, not for people they despised. Malong moved slowly inside her. It was sickening. Lovemaking was for loving, it wasn't something done by force, everybody knew that. Lopai's hands slid along Noma's ribs toward her breasts. "I'll take care of these two nipples," said Valin. "You take care of the third." The third? wondered Noma. Valin caressed one of her nipples with one hand, still holding her arms behind her back with the other. "I will keep her above water now," said Valin, trailing Lopai's hand with his eyes as it slid down Noma's stomach. "I think Malong enjoys her screams." Noma decided not to scream again. Lopai's fingers searched between Noma's legs, just above where Malong slowly moved in and out. Noma gasped when Lopai's finger found its mark. The third nipple. Lopai moved her finger in a tiny circle. That's no nipple. That's something else. "Pace yourself, Malong," reminded Lopai. "This might take a little while." No. It will take a long while. It will take longer than Malong can keep moving. Noma closed her eyes, to focus on fighting off the sensation. Valin pinched her nipple. Not brutally like Lopai would have done. It was barely painful. I won't ignite for Malong. Noma was determined. Malong is nothing. He will never be more than a low grade fighter. He doesn't even carry enough skill to teach children. Noma's breathing evened out. Valin pinched again, harder. Noma yelped. A bolt had moved from her normal nipple straight to her 'third nipple'. No. It wasn't called a 'third nipple'. It had a real name. She had heard about it, vaguely, long ago. "Keep pacing yourself, Malong. We can do this," sounded Lopai's voice. No, Noma wanted to say, you can't. I won't let you. Valin rolled her nipple between two fingers, sending a continuous stream of treacherous pleasure to that spot Lopai was touching. Every time Noma thought she was regaining control, Valin pinched, breaking her concentration. Malong is a loser. Noma stared up at Malong, locking eyes with him. You are a nobody, and you know it. Malong increased his pace, and broke into a wide human-teethed smile. "Pace it Malong," instructed Lopai. But he ignored her, still locking eyes with Noma. At every stroke in, Malong pushed Lopai's finger against that spot. He enjoyed the way Noma's eyebrows jumped every single time. Valin started pinching her nipple in tune with Malong's rhythm. "You are going to ignite for that sorry excuse for a merman, Noma," whispered Valin. "And there is nothing you can do about it." No. Noma closed her eyes. "You can't win this fight," whispered Valin. Malong started pounding faster. Noma's insides tingled at each of his shoves into her. He was touching something inside her. Her body jerked every time his crotch pushed Lopai's finger hard against her. And, each jerk of her body was rewarded with a pinch to her nipples. "You are losing it," whispered Valin. "Losing to the loser." Noma shook her head in denial, even as her lower body started moving on its own accord. It moved up and down, adding to the sensation given to her as Malong moved in and out. It moved up and down, rubbing harder against Lopai's finger on her 'lust button'. Her... Noma suddenly remembered the name. Her clitoris. That lustful little center that only existed in human form. Lopai was laughing below her. Stop moving. Noma had never had hips before, she didn't know how to make them obey her will. Instead of stopping, they moved faster. "It feels good, doesn't it," yelled Lopai. Noma breathed fast. She couldn't control that either. In between breaths she made sound, she couldn't stop that either. Malong was making a sound too. It was strange, and strangely rhythmical too. Noma opened her eyes and stared at Malong. His mouth was open, and his lips were drawn back from two perfect rows of flat human teeth. And, he kept making that sound. Every one of Noma's breaths was a gasp now. He is laughing at me. Noma's back arched backward, yet her hips kept grinding her clitoris against Lopai's finger. That loser is laughing at me while... Noma's eyes rolled into the back of her head and she screamed. The sensation was beyond imaginable. Malong. She bared her teeth as she approached the peak. I'll kill him for this. She felt him inside her, pounding faster than ever, pushing her further into... Take it, thought Malong, ramming even harder into Noma as her insides started contracting around him. Take it. He was still laughing as she spasmed below him. He had been close a couple of times, he had almost come to the point she was at now. Ignition. But, now he had it under full control. Malong planned to keep going for a long time. "You lost, Noma," said Valin, and let go of her nipple. "Just like I said you would." Don't let go, thought Malong, wishing he could speak. We're not done with her. I'm not done. Noma was crying, her chest was heaving with sobs. Air-filled sobs. Human form sobs. People aren't meant to cry in human form, thought Malong staring down at her. Studying the unnatural situation. Enjoying the way she convulsed every time he pushed against Lopai's finger. He was very disappointed when suddenly, Lopai took her hand off Noma. A second later he understood why, though. As Lopai pulled Lomon to the surface. He had transformed. "I guess it's about time you ignite for her, Malong," commented Valin. Malong nodded and changed the rhythm of his thrusts. "Noma," whispered Valin. "Can you guess which of the losers just changed for you?" Noma shook her head. No. Please not a second one. Please, not again. "It has only just begun, Noma," whispered Valin. "Once we run out of male losers, I'm sure Lopai will show you a few more 'finger tricks'." Noma shook her head again. "She will probably take the time to teach those tricks to her loser friends," continued Valin. "And, afterwards, Noma. Afterwards there is the staff." Lopai figured out a way to keep Lomon above water and still have a hand free to rub Noma's most sensitive nub. Shortly before Malong came inside her, Noma peaked a second time. "You lost again," whispered Valin. Malong pulled out of Noma and gathered his legs to change back into normal form. "That was twice," whispered Valin. "You will lose many times more, Noma. And I will be right here. Counting." Noma screamed to drown out Valin's voice. He let her scream; it seemed Lomon enjoyed the sound. Lomon had his turn. After him Papek had his turn. After Papek Malong had a second turn. After that Lopai's fun truly began. Evening had become night, and night had become dawn, before Lopai suddenly closed Noma's legs. "Now we're even," said Lopai, while Noma's body changed back to maid. Then Lopai simply left. Swam away. As if she had no worries left in this world. Noma sank slowly. She was asleep before her body reached the bottom of the cave. Her body had been pushed far beyond its limit that night, as had her mind. A Tale of Mermen Valin blinked. His eyes had trailed Lopai's departure. His mind couldn't adjust to the way it had ended. He had expected Lopai would try to execute Noma before leaving. Malong swam to the exit too. "Wait," exclaimed Papek. Malong turned. "What for?" "We can't just leave her like that," said Papek, pointing at Noma. "We have to make sure she doesn't wake up." Malong shook his head. "I'm not a murderer," he said and left. "Once she recovers, she will hunt us down," said Papek, turning to Valin. "I know," said Valin. "Aren't you going to do anything about it?" asked Papek. "Sure I am," replied Valin and grabbed his staff. Expectantly Papek kept his eyes on Valin and his battle-readied staff. "Well?" asked Papek, when Valin didn't make a further move. "Well what?" asked Valin. "What are you going to do about it?" "I am going to practice harder than ever before," said Valin. "I have to. If I want to be able to defend myself from her wrath." "What?" Papek was baffled. Lomon stared at Valin, then at Noma, then back at Valin. "Papek, we need to start fleeing." "We need to kill her is what we need to do," said Papek pointing at Noma. "He won't let us kill her," said Lomon. "Don't you get it, Papek?" "Get what?" hissed Papek. "The test of the heir," whispered Lomon. "He has made a mortal enemy of our greatest warrior to be." "What a surprise," said Valin, still swinging his staff. "The loser has heard about the test of the heir." "What are you talking about," asked Papek. "Don't you remember, Papek?" asked Lomon, tugging at his friend's arm. "The test of the heir." Papek pulled his arm free. "If none of you will do the task, then I..." Papek went quiet as an old memory clicked into place. Old stories. Old myths. "The shadow order," whispered Papek and backed away from Valin. "We need to flee," repeated Lomon. "Noma won't sleep forever." "We need to kill her," insisted Papek. "Try," suggested Valin, smiling wider than ever. "Please try to kill her." That was enough for Papek, he fled the cave swimming as fast as he could. Lomon followed. Valin's smile vanished when he was alone with Noma. In this first part of his test, he had learned things about himself. Things which he had been happier not knowing. He picked up Noma and swam her to a safer location. Epilogue: "She was here this morning." Valin turned to look at his master, but didn't ask who 'she' was. He very much doubted it was his former sweetheart. Even before Valin had left to commence the test, she had told him she would never surface with him again. A long time would pass before any mermaid would be able to look at him without feeling disgust. "Your mortal enemy," added Valin's master. "That was fast," said Valin. "The first battle will be fought with combat staves in open water," said his master. "It will take place tomorrow afternoon." "I will win tomorrow's fight," said Valin. "I know," said his master. "She came too soon. She cannot have surpassed you yet. The first of your ten fights will be easy." "I wish I didn't have to kill her at the tenth fight," said Valin. "Are you sure you will live to attend the tenth fight," asked his master. "No," admitted Valin. "The council chose well when they chose Noma." "Yes, they chose well." The two mermen went quiet. The council of the shadow order didn't care who would win, shadow or not. What mattered was that a great warrior would be created in the process. Two of the best students, driven to excel. After some years, the name of the greatest champion of the sea would be either Noma or Valin. Mortal enemies. One driven by hate, one driven by survival. The test of the heir. * Feedback is very appreciated. Even if it is simply an "I liked it", "It sucked", or an "It wasn't as good as I wanted it to be." Constructive criticism is appreciated too, I'm an amateur with ambitions to grow. But, if you do take the trouble, please be very specific. I'm dense.