Mermaid's Justice: Fairy Tale Justice, #1

By Jane Poller

Oshella swore to restore her father's kingdom and put a stop to the Sea Witch. The first step is toppling Vesper's trading empire. Piracy is a sweet revenge for this little mermaid, but she will see justice served if it's the last thing she does.

Ripp has long been Vesper's vampire assassin. Trapped to the Sea Witch, he sees no way out... until she offers his freedom. All he has to do is capture the little pirate mermaid.

Neither expected to find their mate. Navigating the waters of love are more treacherous than expected, and death is inescapable. Love might win… and it might not

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amie Lech
• Release date: Apr 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223165538

Jane Poller

Jane Poller read her way through middle school. Romance books got her through countless life changes... moves, degrees, having kids, deployments, teaching high school, international living, health coaching, running a wellness business, homeschooling, and more. She finally gave in to the characters in her head demanding their stories be told. She's an avid reader of historical romance but writes primarily fantasy romance and contemporary small-town romance. Look for the fantasy romance series on her website. The Crimson Creek series is a contemporary steamy small-town romance set in a fictional town in Texas. Speaking of, she lives in Texas with her middle school sweetheart. He’s her real-life hero, Army veteran, and the inspiration for her stories. His interest in Dungeons and Dragons inspired her love of fantasy romance too. Without him, the fantasy stories wouldn't exist. When she’s not doing all the things, she’s reading and writing. Or arguing with her characters, who refuse to do what she wants. But that’s par for the course, since she’s currently raising teenagers and two dogs. Those reviews really brighten her day and are much appreciated.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Oshella’s blue and purple tail slowly flicked back and forth as she swam slightly ahead of the group of soldiers. She reached up a hand to stroke her pet octopus, Gyl, who was nestled in his favored place on her head. The violet and navy tentacles that made up her hair caressed her back as she scanned the sea ahead.

Her sensitive ears easily let her hear General Fjord, her adopted uncle, as he told stories of their past. Fjord’s green skin shone in the soft morning light, but his seaweed-like hair had turned white at the temples. He kept it short in the military fashion of his day, back when he’d served her father. His piercing green eyes looked at each triton and merman that swam around him.

The seafolk looked different than they had ten years ago when Oshella had first started launching attacks against the evil Sea Witch. Now well-fed and rested instead of gaunt and starving, they smiled more easily and fought with more skill.

Fjord had started the tradition of storytelling on the way to an attack. He’d said that it would remind the seafolk of who they were and what they were trying to accomplish.

They say that when the Collision occurred, debris from the break-up of the sphere landed in Nipania Oceana and formed the six islands that make up the Whaletid Isles. This event changed the world, but for the Whaletid Isles, it split the ancient Sirens into three sub-races: the mermaids, the tritons, and the water jinnis.

Oshella snorted softly, bubbles rising from her nose. The water jinnis no longer even lived in the sea, preferring their flotilla villages above. The Sirens were long gone but the mermaids and tritons had stuck together in the waters.

For the past decade, a band of seafolk pirates have steadily increased their raids on the Sea Witch's shipping empire. Their leader is unique. Supposedly, she's not a mermaid or triton, with her tentacles for hair and the ability to shift her tail to two legs at will. And that Vesper, the Sea Witch, hates her with a passion that brings on lightning and thunder daily.

Oshella frowned, not liking how he perpetuated those rumors about her. But they'd agreed years ago to keep the truth of what happened from the general populace. It was best for the people.

Fjord had raised her as the princess. The people respected that. They didn't need to know the extent of her heritage. Fjord knew, and that was enough.

The princess leaps onto the ship, landing on her two feet with a grin. Her rapier is swift and decisive, making grown men cower in fear. Some have even soiled themselves.

The older mermen and tritons laughed, and Oshella smiled. It was good to hear their laughter. She was always so nervous right before a battle. She swam slowly ahead, the shadow of a ship darkening the waters ahead.

It would be nice if she could dispel some of the tension with a quick coupling when they got home. But it wasn't worth going out and finding someone suitable. Instead, she’d curl up with her mother's diary and re-read it for the thousandth time, immersing herself in tales of adventure.

She sighed, looking forward to tonight when the battle was behind them. She held up a fist and brought the group to a stop, quickly went over the instructions and plan, then they silently ascended toward the hull of the ship.

Oshella and her group of mermaids and tritons broke the surface. Several of their archers launched grappling hooks beneath the railing, the metal embedding deep into the wood. The dull thuds were drowned out by the sound of talking from the crew.

She grabbed the nearest rope and checked her skirt. It flowed partway down her blue and purple tail, the hem uneven from use. She shifted her tail to legs with a thought, something no other mermaid could do, then reached for the rope to haul herself up.

Other merfolk relied on magic items from the water jinnis to shift, which is why all mermen wore kilts if they intended to shift. Rumors claimed that she wasn't really a mermaid at all, with her purple and blue tentacles for hair and shifting abilities.

She pushed aside the thoughts again. They just threatened to drag her down and remind her how different she was from her people. Instead, she peered over the top of the railing. They hadn't been spotted yet.

She stroked Gyl, securely entwined in her tentacle hair, to bolster her courage.

Ready?

Ready and waiting.

The small octopus’s response in her mind was immediate, and her tentacles vibrated with the hum of excitement. The tentacles themselves weren’t sentient, but they reacted to her emotions and made little sounds.

With a grin and a wink to Fjord, she kicked off the side of the ship and over the railing. Her bare feet landed with a thud, and three sailors turned at the sound, their jaws dropping.

Well, good day, mussel suckers. Stand aside or die. Which will it be? Thumps behind her confirmed the rest of the team were on board and ready for battle. The sailors let out a yell, making her wince. They grabbed the swords at their waists with shaky hands.

We have to fight. If she finds out we didn't, we're dead.

Oshella shook her head sadly, her tentacle hair waving wildly in the faint ocean breeze. Gyl’s tentacles camouflaged to appear as her own, and she unsheathed her own rapier from her back.

I could just cut you a little? You can tell her you resisted. Unlike Vesper, she wasn't a monster.

The sailors paused then lunged, swords swinging in half-hearted combat. She parried easily. One man's eyes were wide with fear as his eyes scanned her tentacles.

Gyl raised his tentacles high, and her own lifted in every direction as she yelled. Blue and purple tentacles waving and her sharp pointy mermaid teeth bared, she took a step to her opponent. The man froze in fright, pissing his pants.

Her sword pierced his arm. The poor man was a slave to the evil Sea Witch and didn't deserve to die. Oshella just wanted to disarm them and steal the cargo. It was the best way to anger the Sea Witch.

His weapon fell as he cried out, the sound hurting her ears. Then he turned and ran for the other end of the ship.

More sailors burst out from below at the yells, but they were much braver than the previous cowering idiots. They let out a battle cry, making her wince as they rushed the seafolk.

Now this was more like it. She didn't want to kill them, but she relished a good fight, taking out some of her anger and frustration with the Sea Witch on these poor fools. Those who fought valiantly usually had joined Vesper of their own free will.

Oshella raised her rapier and swung with a laugh. It was a dance she'd practiced a thousand times in the water. Moving on land was much swifter, but the clanging of metal on metal quickly deafened her sensitive ears.

Two of her tentacles covered them, muffling the sounds as she jumped to the left and swung down on her opponent. Wet-hot crimson splattered on her bodice as his shoulder cleaved in half. She twirled around and kicked him in the back, knocking him into another sailor.

Both men went down, but the movement dislodged the tentacles covering her ears. The sounds of battle deafened her. Her vision swam and white spots blinked behind her eyes. She slapped her freehand over one ear and backed toward the railing.

Gyl, my ears!

It’s ok. I won’t let anyone near.

Tentacles covered her other ear, but she still couldn’t see anything for the white spots. She felt the railing at her back, her breath catching as she debated jumping into the safety of the ocean or just standing there and waiting for some fool human to slice at her. She was defenseless, and it made her angry. Jaw clenched, she refused to give in.

She waved her sword from side to side, not encountering any resistance while the tentacles blocked her ears. When her vision finally cleared, she could see three tritons and a merman standing just out of reach of her rapier, fighting off those that had come to attack her while she was blinded by the noise.

Her people protected her, and she was grateful. A loyal team was something Vesper would never understand. Protection went both ways. Now that she could see, it was her turn to protect them. She scanned the deck. The Captain in his hat and red coat swung a short sword ten yards away, pinning down one of her weaker teammates.

She leaped onto the railing and ran nimbly along it past the other combatants in a rush to save her friend.

The Captain swung his sword, striking flesh. The triton fell, clutching his side as blue liquid seeped onto the deck. The Captain raised his blade in a lethal blow.

Heart in her throat, she leapt off the railing, blocking the Captain. She spun him around, and he hit the railing with a cry. The sound made her wince, but she quickly disguised it as a snarl.

Not today, Captain.

Her jaw clenched as she pushed him back, her tentacles shifting to cover her ears and intimidate this overly large human at the same time.

Her heart raced with the excitement of battle, and Gyl leaped onto the Captain's hat. The move disoriented him enough that she could push him up the deck. He grabbed his hat, but it fell to the deck when he dodged her sword. Clang by clang of their weapons led him away from the injured triton.

It doesn't have to be like this, Captain. She had to give him an option to bow out. If he served Vesper under duress, she’d let him live.

The man snarled, his eyes widening as a few of her wilder tentacles lifted higher. Pirates get no quarter.

Oshella shrugged off her disappointment. Not looking for any. You, on the other hand...

The dumb man thought talking had distracted her. She chuckled as she parried, their blades meeting repeatedly. Sweat beaded his brow, and he panted.

Give up, Captain. Surrender already. We accept prisoners. You can escape Vesper's clutches and save your men.

He sneered. Not a chance. There is no escape but death.

So be it.

She feinted to the left, spun to the right, then slit his throat. His eyes widened in surprise. His jaw dropped as if to sputter in outrage. But no sound came as he fell to the deck.

Behind you. Seven o'clock.

Gyl's voice echoed in her head, and Oshella spun, her blade raised. A sailor impaled himself on her blade, his momentum pushing them both to the ground.

Oomph. Squashed between the dead captain's body and the sailor, she shoved and rolled, landing on her feet and pulling her rapier out as a cheer echoed behind her.

Blood from her enemies dripped down her bodice, but they'd won. Her people had half a dozen prisoners at sword point, ropes knotted around their wrists behind their backs.

Fjord was looking into the pocket mirror communicator and nodding, so she strode to his side.

Any updates on the others?

He nodded with a smile, a smear of red along his cheek, and tilted the communicator to show her the magical mirror image of their comrade giving his report. When he was done, Fjord said, No report from Team Six, but the rest were all successful and are wrapping up. Ten or fifteen minutes and all teams but Six will be back in the water.

She nodded, pleased with the immediate report. It'd taken years of losses to figure out their training methods and get their message of hope and justice to the various seafolk nations, but their numbers were increasing every day. The seafolk were tired of the oppression and slavery sustained under the Sea Witch.

Seafolk—mostly tritons and mermaids—were flocking to their little hidden haven of pirates. The other nations now listened to her messengers and responded. Some were even sending troops, although she used the term loosely. Mostly, they were families escaping horrible living conditions.

But that was fine with her, as long as they did their jobs, helped with the cause, and followed the laws that had been established by her grandmother and father before her. At the reminder, she smiled and reached out to the Kraken.

The attack was a success.

Sending prisoners to the jail soon.

I'm ready for them. Did you kick ass?

Are you injured or hurt?

She smiled as a blue merman came from below deck, followed by two other green-skinned tritons. His magical bag hung across his body, the one shoulder strap crossing his bare chest. The bag jingled against his kilt.

No, I'm not injured or hurt.

Just covered in nasty human blood.

I'll stop by on my way back home?

You better. I'll worry if you don't.

The tritons who came from below deck wore scaled armor pants, convenient when on land or sea with their legs, compared to the scaled kilts the mermen wore, who had to shift with the help of magic.

The merman with the magical bag patted it with a pale blue hand.

We're good, princess. It's all been transported back home. Do you want me to move the prisoners now?

She nodded, watching with a grin as the prisoners began to squirm. The merman approached the first one and hauled him up by his bonds. He marched the prisoner to the side of the ship with an opening in the railing. He plucked a bracelet from his bag and tossed it into the ocean.

A portal opened on the surface of the water, and the prisoner's jaw dropped as he began to struggle against his bonds. Oshella knew the portal took him straight to the dungeon, but he wouldn't be able to see that from where he stood.

The merman pushed, and the man screamed as he fell through the hole. His voice cut off mid-scream as he passed through to the other side.

The other prisoners gasped, some muttering prayers or blasphemies, she didn't care which. When they were all transported and the portal closed, she turned to the team, Gyl now firmly back in place on her head.

"Mermen, take the long way home