Y/N couldn't pull back from the kiss even if she tried, so tight is the hold the merman has on her.

Luckily, it doesn't last long. He releases her, setting the girl back down outside of the water. With a flick of his fins, he moves to lounge in the shallows beside her.

For the first time, Y/N can get a good look at his tail. His pale, toned torso gives way to black and red scales, powerful fins folded as he rests. Even in the low light, the scales shimmer invitingly, appearing to almost glow. But with this beauty, comes danger. Sharpened dorsal spines line the back of his tail, black venom visible within their hollow cores.

Trembling from both fear and damp cold, Y/N folds her arms across her chest. She is suddenly very self-aware of the fact that she is only wearing a night dress, the white fabric now stained and torn.

With no food, clothes or even sunlight, she wonders how long she will be able to last in this cavern.

Does he even know what a human needs to survive?

He. That reminds her.

"Can I ask you something?" Y/N looks out of the corner of her eye to the male draped over the shallow rocks. The last thing she wants to do right now is anger him.

"That depends on what it is," his reply is guarded, though Y/N can tell he is curious.

She takes a breath, then asks, "You seem to already know my name, so what is yours?"

A look of amusement crosses the merman's features.

"A fair request," he cocks his head to the side, flicking his tail, "Amongst my kind, I am called Lysanthir."

Y/N sounds it out, testing the strange syllables on her tongue.

"And your kind," Y/N dares another question, "you are merfolk?"

"That is what you humans call us, yes," Lysanthir replies, "but to those underwater, we are known as murdukann."

At least now she has a name for the monster that took her. Lysanthir. The one who stole her away from her family. The one who has entrapped her in this underwater lair. The one who dared kiss her after destroying her life.

Y/N's thoughts return to her family. Had they survived Lysanthir's attack? Her mother had been badly wounded. What of her father? Of Magdalena? Worry overtakes her as she imagines them clinging onto life, calling her name.

She has to go back. She has to escape.

Y/N gathers her thoughts. There isn't a visible passageway to the cave, but Lysanthir would have had to enter from somewhere. So, it must be under the water.

She sceptically eyes the dark expanse. The last thing she wants is to run out of air down there.

Logically, there must be air pockets. Otherwise I would have drowned on the way here.

This gives her courage. She just has to hope she can swim fast enough. The thought of getting trapped in an underwater tunnel makes her heart rattle in her chest.

"You're shivering, Y/N", Lysanthir says with concern, reaching a hand out.

She tries not to visibly recoil as he brushes against her arm. Now's not the time to get on his bad side.

"Humans," she says carefully, "aren't made for places like this."

"I know, my darling", he murmurs, "and I am sorry. This is only temporary."

Temporary? That means he would be taking her somewhere else. Maybe somewhere far away, without any possible escape.

Y/N knows she has to make her move soon. She just has to distract Lysanthir, get him away long enough for her to find the exit.

She shivers again, which gives her an idea.

"Do you think you could maybe find me something to cover myself?" She lets vulnerability shine in her eyes, "Just so I'm not so cold."

The murdukann examines her carefully.

"I could warm you," he offers.

Oh no. Quick. Think of something.

"It's just..." Y/N's mind races, trying to come up with a credible excuse, "the water. It would only make me colder."

Y/N has to stop herself from sighing in relief. She didn't even have to lie, it's true that she needs to be dry to warm up.

Lysanthir hesitates.

But then, "Alright, I will return."

He turns and surges into the depths with a single flick of his tail.