Trouble in Submerge-City: (part 1)

An amber sky, bronze clouds and glowing red sun painted the scene across Submerge-City. Thier were no roads or paths, just buildings upon buildings rising out the depths of the vast lake like colossal giants, scattered like abstract art their shimmering designs seemed to defy gravity itself. This city was located on the northern side of Veviera, founded on the largest lake in the world it was a perfect home for all  aquatic creatures alike. lights flickered on,  turning the waters surface into a radiant gold as the sun slowly faded into the east.

"Hey Bess, what do you think so far huh, pretty big place right?" the slender aquatic dragon put on his cheesiest grin, but was only met with a painfully awkward sigh.

The snow-white feline fidgeted inside her 'tourist' diving suit, she just couldn't seem to relax,  "Mark... look at me I'm a cat! I really don't think this is going to work. I can't stand water and you KNOW that!" She leaned back against the sea-stone bench watching the traffic of creatures swim by like they were no more than cars.

Now it was Mark's turn to sigh, he leant forward in the seat and grabbed his head in frustration "Bess, come on your just... Arrrgh! You're giving me a headache, why are you so...so...-"
"Tense? Scared? I don't know maybe because somehow, you convinced me to go twenty miles from my home to a place surrounded by water! I feel like I'm going to drown!" Bess shouted back, the voice receiver in her suit crackling from being overloaded with sound.

Mark's head drooped down to look blankly at his webbed feet, he was speechless, an atmosphere of silence clenched like a merciless vice, all hope for a 'good date' seemed to be naught. "Hi, sorry to interrupt but you look like your having a tincy wincy bit of a bad time, am I right?" A peculiar otter appeared from seemingly nowhere, dressed in a suit and tie he bowed politely,
"ITS NOT YOUR BUISNESS!" Mark yelled, gritting his teeth.

"ahem.... uhhhhhh, welll that is true but I really think I can he-" The otter's words faded into a stammer at the sight of Mark raising an angry fist.

There was a sudden blur of motion, the sound of water swirling as a swing was made, but was met with only thin air as the otter speedily kicked his feet and pushed himself off to the side just in time. He rose his tiny paw's in defence "Wait, wait! Hold on there buckaroo! I'm offering you the chance of a lifetime here, don't go and throw it all down the drain!"

His words fell short as more attempts were made to grab his slippery hind, but with phenomenal agility, the otter was easily swimming circles around Mark who couldn't land a single hit. The whole time  Bess remained seated, she looked on at the whole scene with a tiny grin, something about the way the otter darted about like a pesky fly was just too funny to take seriously.

"If you could just give-" The otter ducked at a kick  "Me a second to-" he somersaulted over Mark's head as charged at him"explain, I'm here to-"  Mark bounced off a wall as the otter was recovering from his fancy flip and caught him with both hands around his tiny body "help?" the otter finished, his pupils dilating.

He closed his eyes and looked away in fear, prepared for his pummeling... then felt Mark's grip loosen, he kicked away and looked on at Bess who had grabbed Marks raised arm - "That's enough Mark, come on we should at least hear him out. Maybe he can make this lame date of ours not so lame?" they turned and looked at each over... Eyes connecting, for a brief moment, their hearts skipped a beat.

The respite was suddenly broken by the otter's high pitched voice "For a start you two need to stop bickering, Come on I know the perfect place to make this date a time to remember!"

Mark rolled his eyes and looked at Bess who seemed far too keen to try the strangers idea out, "Well... You seem keen to try Bess, and that's the first time I've seen you keen all day... fine let's try it. lead on Mr... uh... - "Nick, my names Nick, believe me this idea I have is going to make you love birds never be able to live without each over, come on follow me!"
Nick's feet kicked out and shot off like a rocket, a trail of bubbles behind, in return Bess pressed a button on her suit. A propeller system engaged with a roar launching her at equal speed with Nick, leaving Mark dragging at the back struggling to keep up.

A good few minutes of travel landed them into the dining district, neon lights seemed to be everywhere, casting the waters into a rainbow array of colours. There were seemed to be thousands of places to eat with all kinds of quality ranging from top of the range to simple burger bars, "

"There are so many... hey uh, I'm assuming you're taking us to a fancy place right nick? Mark can we even afford this?" Bess frowned and looked back at Mark after realizing the otter was not listening at all.

"Uh... I hope so. This is our first date so I don't mind cashing out more than normal. Especially not for someone like you."  Bess  groaned, " Please, don't ever flirt again, you sound like a love novel."

Mark  rolled his eyes "What so now you're insulting me, if you wanna pay be my guest." Nick looked on at the two and just muttered to himself, the doors of the restaurant fast approaching.

The building was very tall and bulky looking, with the words 'Golden-Oyster' written in a bright yellow,  it's lights flickered strong and true much brighter than the rest of the establishments nearby. Five ornamental star-fish lurked just bellow the sign showing its reputation was clearly a place of quality. As they arrived an octopus in a specially tailored 'octo suit' greeted them with a lift of hat, a wave, a handshake, a 'respect', a swing of a party ratchet, a pat on the back, a salute and by course opening the door.

They carried on through a corridor and entered into an empty chamber, within seconds the doors promptly locked airtight, as a drainage system emptied the water with a gurgle. With a few button pushes Bess then ejected out of her clunky diving suit, another serviceman of the restaurant took it off her paws and hung it up in a storage room  with the rest of the suits, but not before fitting a small label with Bess's name with it.

She shook herself all over, whisking air to cool down her sweltering body. Being stuck inside a heavy metal suit all day had really taken the wind out of her "So then, shall we go or what?" she held her paw out to Mark, who regrettably hadn't noticed "Yeah, come on I'm starving!" He was keen to see what central part of the restaurant looked like.

Pushing past one final door, Mark had to fight with all his might to stop his jaw dropping, the smell of the most delectable delicacies wafted into his face like a speeding jet. The room was simply gigantic! burning red carpets embroidered with fish patterns danced across the floors, shining silver tables with fine white cloth circled around a huge cylinder fish tank that rose high up into the sea blue ceiling above. it was filled with all kinds of feral fish creatures, swimming around colourful corals and seaweed. A glass staircase spiraled up the tank, stopping once in a while to provide a total of ten floors for all its guests to dine on. The pale blue walls were decorated with rods,nets and all manner of fishing gear, under each bronze plaques hung, foretelling the history of each ancient artifact and their previous owners.

"I was expecting something expensive being five-star's and all... but this looks... a little um..." Mark stammered, he could already feel every ratt in his wallet disappearing into a void.

"Worry not my good man, I OWN this place! I saw you two love bird scrobbling so bad that it just broke my heart. That is why... for one time only... you can eat for free! So please take a seat. I will give you two plenty of space."

The otter darted off with post-haste, as the two sat together at a random table. The sound of beautiful violins played from upstairs as knives and forks clinked about on quickly emptying plates, murmuring and chattering seemed everywhere filled with laughter - "So... not in the water now, in a big fancy restaurant, eating for free. This is the life hey Bess?" Mark nudged her with a tail, but she was busy studying the menu like she was deciphering how to stop a bomb.

"Ah... I can't decide... it all looks so good, and I really wanna keep my fat levels low." Bess sighed, huffed and mumbled for a solid two minutes.

"Come on this is a once in a lifetime chance to eat at the best! don't worry about stuff like that!"

Bess shook her head, "You don't get it, I can't enjoy a meal if In the back of my mind I know its 'really' unhealthy that's all. I know I'm not overweight, if anything I'm just as I want to be... but I don't want to just go mental on the biggest dish available. do you get me?"
Mark shrugged "I just don't get it at all, why are you so worried about getting fat... grow up already." He folded his arms.

Bess responded by throwing a cup of wine in Mark's face, storming out like a freight train she hid tears with an arm as she went... The brief pause eventually settled and everyone watching went back to eating, leaving Mark with his face down on the table, banging at it with a fist. "Ladies are difficult are they not misure..." A french accent turned his attention to a suited anthro dolphin figure.

"Oh... thanks, more dating advice huh, who are you supposed to be anyway? get stuffed." With an 'impolite' gesture Mark turned back to his mopping, but was once more confronted by the stranger with a pat on the shoulder, Mark didn't react.

"Sorry if I came across nosey, I see many dramas unfold at this restaurant, I can't help but feel the need to help, if only a little... ahem, anyway misure I am the owner of this establishment, we are short on staff so I volunteered to be a waite" - "What?... but, an otter just told me he was the owner."

The dolphin blinked once or twice "Beg you pardon misure but I am indeed the owner, look for yourself my picture is even in the menu's." Mark flicked it open and sure enough, he was there... Something fishy seemed afoot, and it was not the good kind.

He looked left and right, looking for any sign of the Nick but it seemed as though he had vanished from thin air... Sweat formed on his forehead, his breath quickening "Something does not feel right, please tell me, do you know anything about the otter?" - "I'm afraid all I can offer is a rumour... they say there is an otter that is trying to find a new 'lady,' for the head of the mafia. Considering the circumstances... it is unfortunately, a possibility." the dolphin coughed, with the tension rising Mark decided to give her a call.

Bring,bring...bring,bring...bring,bring...click

The phone's call ended abruptly, either she had not picked up because she was mad or... - An icy chill went down Marks back at the alternative. He jumped out of his seat making it fall over with a clatter while rushing to the storage room, his heart dropped - Bess's suit was still there! With an envelope attached... With shaking paw's he opened it up as fast as he could -

He found a paper inside with writing.

'Bess is alive and fine in one of our own 'special' suits, don't you worry. Since you were clearly a terrible boyfriend we've decided to take away the burden and give her to a much more gentlemanly figure. Do not call the police, we will know if you do, and if you do. Well, we can always find another lady. - signed Nick.'

The sound of crunching followed as Mark clenched his fist in anger. He threw the ball of paper at a wall in distaste, was this it, was there nothing he could do... he was left with nothing, no lead, no trail. His whole life had just been taken away in the blink of an eye... Mark felt his knees begin to buckle, but just as he was about to hit the floor... he pushed himself back up, and punched at a wall. "NO. I can't just give up, I need to find a way in, I'm going to find you Bess, just wait a little longer, I don't care what I'm up against I WILL find you!"

Like a missile, He shot out from the doors back into the water. Heading for the best source of information he could think of.

'The Shark's Tooth.'