Carter glanced down at his tail but kept his mouth shut about it. “Okay,” He nodded, “Just… That merman will do worse things to you than he’ll do to me, so please don’t get caught,” Carter told him, almost a plea. A plea that if worse came to worse, Arria would save himself no matter what happened. Hopefully it won’t come down to that. Carter thought as he began to swim.
Arris bit his lip and didn't respond, he just took Carter's hand and stated swimming himself. If he got caught he wouldn't care as long as Carter was safe. Hell, he'd give himself up if it meant Carter was safe from Yuri then he'd do it. The shouts slowly started to become louder, making the merman swim faster.
Carter looked over his shoulder at the growing sounds of shouting, “Gosh we’re in such a mess,” He mumbled as he tried to pick up his pace. He’d make sure Arria got out, he needed to. Carter wasn’t sure if he could even pull off another daring knight-in-shining-armor rescue again. He didn’t even want to have to take that chance.
Arria tightened his grip on Carter's hand, to not only make sure he kept up but to make sure he was still there. They'd get out of this, they had too. But as they rounded a corner another set of guards rounded the other end, heading straight for them.
“Heck,” Carter froze, “Nononono,” His head whipped around to search for some way of escape, but his eyes just couldn’t seem to focus. One thing was on his mind: Get Arria out.
Behind them, Herla was already been restrained, trying to get away. Arria panicked but then suddenly started swimming up, taking Carter with him. Before they could reach the surface, though, Arria was pulled back down, hand slipping from Carter's grasp.
“No,” Carter didn’t waste a heartbeat turning right back around and diving back to get Arria. He didn’t care if he got caught. He shot himself downwards, as fast as he could with his tail, trying to aim himself for the guards. A distraction, anything that might make the guards preoccupied long enough for Arria to get away.
"Carter don't!" Arria cried out. He would not get Carter into anymore trouble because of him. This was all his fault, anyway, it didn't matter what happened to him. He struggled against the merman holding him, only to be restrained even more. Some of the guards headed straight for Carter, trying to restrain him.
Carter whipped his tail around, not caring about the pain the was created when it struck the guards. He attempted to swing a few punches, flailing around. Please just let go of Arria, focus on me, please, let him run… Carter prayed as he wriggled in the guards’ grips.
Unfortunately for Carter, they didn't let Arria go and his attempts to get away just made more spare guards come to wrestle him. Arria struggled even more in the guards grasp, trying to get to Carter, trying to help in anyway he could.
Crap. Carter still struggled, but he knew it was no use. Idiot. He was such an idiot. If he would’ve escaped, at least he would’ve had a chance at coming back stronger and helping Arria. But now… Carter pushed himself up, just to get a glimpse of the love of his life. He sealed Arria’s face in his memory, because if he was being honest with himself… A sick feeling settled in his stomach as his energy was snapped away as he wrestled the guards until he was so restrained he could barely move.
Arria let out a very small whimper at the state of Carter and how restrained her was. All my fault, this is all my fault. The three restrained mermen were taken back towards the city, the guards not even caring how tight their grips were on them and Arria was sure they would have bruises. Even when they were inside the castle, the guards didn't let go of them.
Carter let himself go slack. What was the point? He glanced at the guards faces. They wouldn’t dare let go of them. Whatever was going to happen… He had no control over it. And Carter hated it. He hated that this time he might not be able to save Arria. If he really couldn’t save Arria… he wouldn’t even bother trying to save himself.
They were dragged into the main part of the castle, Yuri sitting on his throne looking as smug as ever. None of the guards let go of the three of them, but they did loosen their grips just a little, "Ah, welcome back, Carter, Arria, Herla. Have a nice time away?" He swam towards them, stopping in front of Carter, "Looks like your little potion didn't work as well as you thought."
Sh-t. Just sh-t. “What are you going to do to us?” Carter bit out angrily, clenching his fists tightly. He needed to get Arria out. That’s all he needed to do. One single task, yet it was an impossible task.
The prince just shrugged, “You’re mine now. I can do what I want with you. Probably put you to work,” He sighed, “But first you need to be taught a lesson so you know you can’t rebel against me again.”
Carter held his breath. “Just don’t hurt Arria,” He said, forcing himself to relax his clenched fists. A surrender. “Please just don’t hurt him.”
Yuri just smirked, “See, it wouldn’t be much of a lesson or a punishment for you, if I hurt you know, would it?” He turned to the guard holding Arria, “Put him in his chains. We’ll be down shortly.” Arria immediately started struggling, wanting to be anywhere, do anything as long as he wasn’t chained down again.
“Yuri please, please don’t. I beg you please just not that, I-“ He was cut off by a hand being placed over his mouth as they were finally dragged out of sight.
(I JUST SAW THIS… OMG I LOVE THIS THREAD!! Sorry.. friendly stalker here! Sits back in corner)
Carter saw red and tried to yank himself out of the guards hold, but it was no use. Nonononononono- He turned back to the prince, face breaking slightly, “Yuri, please,” Carter’s voice broke and he hated it. “Please. He’ll never love you if you do this to him, please. I’ll do anything.”
Yuri just tutted, “Arria and the sea witch aren’t the only ones who have little tricks up their sleeves,” He shrugged, “But it wouldn’t be as fun for me if you were punished. It’s a different kind of pain I want you to feel.”
Carter detested that it was working. “Wouldn’t you rather have something different? Arria isn’t special. Wouldn’t you rather play with a human instead of just some random merman? You’ve already had your fun with Arria.” Carter pointed out, although he was almost begging. Just stop hurting Arria.
Yuri rolled his eyes, waving a hand idly, “Humans bore and disgust me, ruining my seas with their plastic. Besides, that’s not how it works, I could never run out of ways to have fun with Arria.” He clicked his fingers, motioning for them to follow as he started to swim towards where he’d send Arria.
No. Carter was beginning to panic. He tried to slap his fin at the guards, he tried to pull himself free again, but there was nothing he could do. He didn’t have any control over it. He couldn’t stop this. Tears began to fall out of his eyes. Carter couldn’t save Arria.
Yuri led them deep within the castle, grinning smugly to himself the entire time. The future they swam, the easier it was to hear Arria’s shouts of protest through his own sobs. When they entered the large room, on the far end Arria had been chained down, one around his tail and one on either of his wrists, all pulled tight so he had no way of escaping.