You'd been a mermaid/merman for the longest you could remember. Well, you thought everything was fine until your father wanted you and your fellow merfolk to try and sink a pirates ship.

After your father tried to make the pirate take your voice, you went to the one everyone thought was just folktale. The underworld sea sorcerer.

Luke Hughes.

As you got to Luke, he started to explain everything to you. "The only way to get what you want is to become a human yourself." Luke explained, folding his arms.

"Can you do that...?" You asked.

"My dear sweet child," Luke said with a chuckle. "Thats what I do. Its what I live for. To help unfortunately merfolk like yourself." Luke said, lifting your chin. "Poor souls with no one else to turn to."

Now, Luke couldn't deny that in the past, he had been called a nasty. Fortunately, he knew a little magic. It was a talent he possessed.

"Poor unfortunate souls, in pain, in need." Luke said, releasing your chin as he grabbed a shell.

"Do we have a deal?" Luke asked.

"If I become a human, I'll never be able to see my father or my siblings..." You said.

"But, you'll have, your man. Life's full of tough choices, i'nnit? Oh! And there is, one, more, thing! We haven't discussed the subject of payment." Luke said, setting the shell nearby.

"I'm not asking much. Just a token, really! A trifle! What I want from you is... Your voice." Luke said, poking your throat lightly.

"But without my voice, how can I-" You began before Luke cut you off.

"You'll have your looks! Your pretty face! And don't underestimate, the importance of body language! Ha!" Luke said with a chuckle. "The men up there don't like a lot of blabber. They think a person who gossips is a bore. Yes, on land it's much preferred. For partners not to say a word. And after all, dear, what is idle prattle for?" Luke said, grinning as he tilted his head.

"Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation! True gentlemen avoid it when they ca, but they dote and swoon and fawn on a person who's withdrawn. It's them who holds their tongue who gets their man." Luke explained.

Luke chuckled, tilting his head. "Come on you poor unfortunate soul. Go ahead, make your choice! Im a very busy man and I haven't got all day." Luke said, circling you with the shell.

"It won't cost much. Just your voice! You poor unfortunate soul! It's sad, but true. If you want to cross a bridge, my sweet, you've got to pay the toll. Take a gulp and take a breath. And go ahead and sign the scroll!" Luke said, offering you a contract with a grin.

You hesitated, staring at the scroll, exhaling as you grabbed a quill with squid ink, signing the scroll.

Luke grinned, raising the shell. "Now sing, my dear." Luke said, watching as the shell began to extract your voice as you started to sing.

"Now, if you break this contract, you'll lose your man and your legs forever." Luke said, grinning as he tilted his head. "Am I clear?"