By Damien Knight

I remember the day I died. We were told that we were fighting for our freedom. My kind slain and our fins removed, experimented on. We were an aquatic race, our fins were our life and we were told he was to blame.

The ocean bay was my home. My city was just under the waves. A commanding officer ordered us to attack. Defend our territory. A fatal mistake. Arajuan was the one I attacked. Before I could spear him his hands were upon my throat. He laughed, a dreadful cackle I will never forget.

I was dead. Those scarlet eyes would not give the merfolk mercy, I was certain. And before I could even contemplate my fate, I was consumed, turned to ash and sucked in to a dark swirling sea. I waited in the depths of his soul lost.

I am Asuana the mermaid lost in the darkness.