Chapter 41 #2
Mirella's expression shifts from mildly annoyed to intensely curious.' "It's stunning, and I would like to hold it. That is the price to pay for my help," she states, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Damnit. How the hell am I supposed to get out of this one? "Look, as much as I would love to let you hold it, it doesn't come off." I demonstrate by giving the headpiece a good yank, showing her it's not budging.
But Mirella is not to be deterred. "Then I would like to touch it and get a closer look," she insists, her eyes never leaving the glittering tiara.
I sigh, weighing my options. What's the harm in letting her get a closer look? Maybe if I indulge her curiosity, she'll be more inclined to help us. So, against my better judgment, I lean closer to the water, giving her a clear shot at the tiara.
Mirella reaches out, her fingers grazing the jewels, and then the little thief tries to yank it off my head! "Ouch!" I screech, swatting her hands away. But of course, the tiara doesn't budge, and I lean back, giving her a look that could curdle milk. "Were you really going to try and steal it?"
Mirella looks completely unrepentant. "I like trinkets and beautiful things," she says with a shrug as if that explains everything.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on.
"Look, I get it. It's pretty and eye-catching, but this," I point to the tiara, "is my thingy-ma-bob and belongs to me as the Savior of the Seven Realms. It can't be taken.
You can look at it all you like and touch it, but that's how it goes. Now, will you help us or not?"
Mirella pouts, her tail flicking in the water like an irritated cat. For a moment, I think she's going to tell us to fuck off and find our own damn way. But then, she seems to have a light bulb moment, her expression smoothing into something more surprised. "The savior, you said?"
I clear my throat, "Yeah, it's just a figure of speech." Not wanting to get into the whole 'I'm the Savior Spiel.'
Then, like some underwater flash mob, more merfolk pop out of the water, all gawking at us like we're the latest aquatic attraction. I gape at them as they keep their distance, probably afraid I'll contaminate their precious ocean with my human cooties.
"Mirella, what is the meaning of this?" A merman with long blue hair asks, looking like he's got a fish bone stuck sideways.
"Nothing for you to worry about, Kaelan." Mirella snaps, rolling her eyes.
"You know the rules, Mirella. This place is forbidden to outsiders. The Queen—"
"The Queen sent them, Kaelan." Mirella counters, her voice dripping with 'duh.'
Kaelan scrunches his face like he's trying to solve a complicated math problem. "No, Mirella. She would not send anyone here. Ever."
Well, shit. Now we're screwed. This Kaelan is about to blow my cover.
"So, how'd you get your hands on that sparkly little number?" Mirella asks, her eyes glued to my tiara like it's the most fascinating thing since the invention of the clamshell bra.
I stand there, gaping at her and the other merfolk. "Oh, you know, it was sort of gifted to me," I shrug, trying to play it cool. "Like a mystical hand-me-down from the universe."
That's the best I can pull out of my ass without resorting to blatant lies or diving headfirst into the whole spiel.
I mean, how do you break it to a mermaid whose biggest concerns are probably swimming and seaweed macramé that you're the Savior destined to rescue the world from certain doom? It's not exactly small talk material.
She glances over her shoulder at the other merfolk, bobbing in the water like a bunch of curious buoys.
"Very well," she says, her voice smooth. "Only because the Queen commands it—follow me," she says with a wink.
"Mirella, this is suicide! You cannot go against the Queen." Kaelan snaps, his voice tighter than a clam with lockjaw.
"Mirella, you are making a mistake." A female mermaid with long purple hair chimes in, probably the underwater equivalent of a Karen.
"What's your problem? They said they were sent by the Queen herself.
Do you all really want to take the chance of exiling them when it was her command in the first place?
" Mirella counters, sounding about as convincing as a shark trying to sell life insurance to a school of fish.
"You want to test that theory and possibly lose your fins? "
Oh, shit on a seashell. Cordelia sounds just delightful—in a morbid, 'might-just-ruin-your-day' kind of way. Looks like the underwater kingdom's got its very own Aquatic Attila. And here I thought mermaids were all about singing with crabs and collecting dinglehoppers.
"It's your funeral." Kalean snaps, then dives under.
Purple-haired Karen shakes her head and follows Kaelan.
With that, Mirella dives back beneath the surface, leaving us to scramble after her like a bunch of landlubbers trying to keep up with a seasoned sailor. I exchange a look with Rhyland, a silent 'here goes nothing' passing between us.
Damnit, I just got my leathers cleaned, too.
Suddenly, my bracelet starts vibrating and glowing like it's auditioning for a rave. I raise an eyebrow at it, wondering what in the magical hell it's doing now.
Rhyland sees it and asks, "What's it doing?"
I shake my head, "Haven't got a clue. Maybe it's trying to communicate with its home planet." I motion toward the water, "Shall we follow the yellow brick road?"
As we wade into the water, I can't help but feel like we're walking into the lion's den—or, in this case, the mermaid's lagoon. But hey, at least the water's nice and warm. And who knows, maybe Mirella will be the helpful, friendly type who wants to braid our hair and swap sea shanties.
...Yeah, and maybe pigs will fly out of my ass and start singing show tunes.
I take a deep breath, fill my lungs with as much air as they can hold, and dive down after Mirella.
The moment I open my eyes beneath the surface, I'm blown away by the crystal-clear water.
It's like someone turned up the resolution on reality, every detail sharp and vivid in a way that almost hurts to look at.
The saltwater stings my eyes for a second, but the sensation quickly fades, leaving me free to take in the underwater wonderland around me—and holy shit, what a wonderland it is.
I spot Mirella's shimmering tail ahead, cutting through the water like a turquoise blade. She's swimming towards what looks like an underwater cave, a hidden oasis of coral and rock formations that takes my breath away (or it would, if I had any breath to spare).
As I swim closer, I can see the intricate patterns and colors of the coral, a kaleidoscope of pinks, purples, and oranges that seem to glow with an inner light. Schools of tropical fish dart in and out of the nooks and crannies, their scales flashing like jewels in the filtered sunlight.
It's like something out of a dream—a beautiful hidden world beneath the waves. I feel a sense of peace wash over me, a tranquility that seems to seep into my bones and quiet the constant chatter of my mind.
As we swim deeper into the cave, I feel the burn in my lungs, a growing ache that tells me I'm running out of air. Mirella seems oblivious, her tail flicking ahead of us as she leads the way, but Rhyland is at my side, his strong arms pulling me up toward the surface.
We burst through the water, gulping down lungfuls of sweet, sweet oxygen. "She must forget we need air to breathe," I gasp, clinging to Rhyland as I catch my breath.
He holds me close, his chest heaving with exertion. "It's easy to forget when you're used to living beneath the waves," he says, his voice a low rumble that I feel as much as I hear.
Mirella's head pops up a few feet away, her expression contrite. "I'm so sorry. I keep forgetting—here. Stay close. It's not far." She dives back under, swimming towards us with a few assertive flicks of her tail.
I take another deep breath, filling my lungs, and grab Mirella's hand. She gives me a reassuring squeeze, and then we're off, cutting through the water like a pair of torpedoes.
Rhyland swims at my side, his hand clasped firmly in mine.
We swim deeper into the coral caverns and enter a new world, an underwater oasis of twisting tunnels and hidden chambers. The colors are even more vibrant here, and the coral formations take on strange and wondrous shapes that defy the laws of physics.
I'm so caught up in the beauty of it all that I almost don't notice when Mirella starts pushing me towards the surface. But then my head breaks through the water, and I gulp air like it's the elixir of life, my lungs expanding with relief.
We've emerged into a hidden cave, the rocky walls dripping with moisture but sparkling like glitter and the air heavy with the scent of salt and sea life. It's like something out of a pirate movie, a secret hideaway where treasure and danger lurk equally.
As I look around, taking in the eerie beauty of the place, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement thrumming through my veins. I can feel we're getting closer to the key, to the answers we seek.
Rhyland bursts through the surface, sending ripples cascading across the tranquil water.
In an instant, he is at my side, his eyes scanning me for any signs of distress.
He grips the rocky ledge, his muscles flexing as he hoists himself up and out of the water with an effortless grace that never fails to take my breath away.
Then, he reaches for me, his large hands wrapping around my waist and lifting me as if I weigh no more than a feather. I cling to him, my body molding against his as he sets me gently on the cave floor.
The heat in the cave is oppressive, the air thick and muggy, but with our clothes soaked through and our skin slick with moisture, it's almost a relief.
Mirella bobs in the water below us, her tail flicking back and forth as she stares at me with those eerie, luminous eyes.
"Through there," she says, pointing to a nook in the corner of the cave, "are the Pools of Reflection; you must look into them to gain access to the next area.
This is as far as I go. No one has ever escaped this trial—I wish you luck!
But I have a feeling you won't need it." She winks.
And then, without another word, she dives back beneath the surface, her shimmering tail disappearing into the depths with a flick and a splash. I'm left staring after her, my mouth hanging open, trying to process her words.
I swivel to face Rhyland, my eyebrows trying to climb off my forehead. "Well, that was reassuring," I quip, trying to lighten the mood. "Looks like it's just you, me, Rhy-Pie, and whatever fun-house mirrors from hell await us. Shall we?"