Mermaid Story from Mermaiden Scarlet

Continued from Part 1…

Calisto’s cold laugh echoed throughout the black vortex that was her throne room. “You think you’ve caused permanent damage, child? Don’t flatter yourself. All you’ve done is make me stronger.” With a concentrated effort, she stretched out her hand toward the giant squid and suddenly Zoey cried out, crumpling to the ground. Waverlee swept her out of harm’s way with a wave just as Noodles’ tentacles began to thrash once again.

I cursed the witch under my breath and turned to fend off more tentacles as they reached for me. Brynn swiftly began to lob orbs of light at the monster’s eyes, twisting nimbly through a jungle of reaching limbs. Waverlee soon rejoined the fight, while Zoey, who had only just recovered from Calisto’s brutal attack on her mind, lashed back angrily and began her own battle—trying to break the sea witch’s control over the poor beast.

Turning again to face Calisto, I raised my sword as a challenge. In response she turned and beckoned to the forgotten merman who still sat on the throne. Suddenly he rose like a puppet controlled by strings. His eyes flashed as brightly as the sword he drew. At the rush of controlled anger I felt flowing from him, I knew he was being carefully manipulated by Calisto’s power.

“Coward,” I growled at Calisto, who hovered smirking behind the approaching warrior, Damon at her side. “Fight me yourself. Don’t send an innocent to your dirty work.”

“Innocent?” Calisto scoffed. “My dear, have you no idea who this handsome albeit aging soldier is?” She laughed at my confusion and shared a knowing smile with her son before continuing. “This, Princess, is the rightful king of the Mariana Kingdom and my husband, King Malik. If anyone is guilty of dethroning your father and taking your birthright, it’s he as much as I.”

My heart pounded as the threatening figure of my uncle descended toward me. I was unsure of what to do. The poor man was obviously under the witch’s spell and had been for some time. However, as Calisto had pointed out, he had played a major role in my father’s pain and my mother’s demise. Lastly, he had a rather large and razor thin blade in his hands. I quickly made my decision.

His first blow was sloppy, a powerful overhead slice downward with both hands. I was too smart to try to meet his full strength, instead opting to roll sideways and come up ready to strike his side. But to my surprise, my sword glanced harmlessly off of his armor. I hardly had time to raise my weapon once more before his next attack came, more poised than the first.

I was faintly aware of a distant rumble, like the volcano had awakened and was protesting the events that were occurring inside it. Waverlee and Brynn were still hard at work fighting off a gigantic Noodles, but suddenly I felt a panic coming from Brynn as a tentacle latched onto her tail. Waverlee fought viciously to keep the other limbs distracted as the Celtic princess struggled against her captor.

With my back to the scene, circling my opponent, I felt a roar of new emotion entering the room. The tentacle that held Brynn suddenly glowed white hot and, with a howl, the squid released his prize. A few more tentacles shot toward her as she struggled away, but they were quickly entombed in a layer of ice. The furious creature beat his frozen limbs against the ground to shatter his restraints and turned to face the new threat.

“You finally found a decent monster and didn’t think to invite us?” Obsidian yelled with a wide smile. “Should we be offended, sister?”

His twin corkscrewed through the loop of one tentacle, freezing it as she went. “Oh no, brother dear. It looks like we showed up just in time for the fun part.”

The twins’ banter made me laugh, the volume amplified by my own stressful situation. It was clear that either Malik or Calisto was a skilled swordsman because the fight was growing more difficult. I found myself dodging more blows than I actually defended. His strength was incredible.

“Doing alright, Zoey?” Waverlee called out.

Zoey winced, but nodded. “Yeah but this witch is really stuck inside that poor creature’s mind. It would help if somebody could distract her on the outside a bit.”

“On it,” Waverlee answered back, a little too eagerly. Swooping low toward Calisto and Damon, she sent a powerful wave that knocked the two backward momentarily. For a split second, Malik hesitated in his pursuit and I saw my opportunity. I lunged and slide my sword in a chink in his armor, cutting a deep wound in his right shoulder. The poor merman hardly stopped to register the wound before switching hands and began attacking with his left.

Suddenly, a swell of realization entered my mind. My eyes were torn from my opponent almost helplessly and focused on the glint of pink on Waverlee’s wrist. Then a string at Zoey’s throat. Finally, a glow in Crystal’s hair. The pearls that the MerCouncil had given the Mermaidens to enhance their power! I didn’t understand why I was now remembering this piece of information…and then I heard a cold, mirthless laugh.

Dread paralyzed my body as Calisto’s laugh resonated through the room. Suddenly her hold on my mind released, just in time to see the cold steel of Malik’s blade cutting down toward me. Faster than I had time to think, my sword raised to meet his, only just avoiding the horrible death that could have been mine. But his blow disarmed me and I found myself lying on the ground, dazed and defenseless.

Everything around me was muted. The only emotions I felt were my own, an intense calm that surprised me. Sounds blended together and the only thing I could see was the shining blade that rose above me, held in both hands and pointed downward for a deadly killing strike. My eyes slid closed, acceptance flooding my mind. I waited.

Then the world came back to life. Someone’s scream ripped through the room, tearing my eyes open. I couldn’t see, the water was too thick, too dark, too red. A powerful shift in the water cleared my vision and I watched Malik sail backward, smacking against his marbled throne and slumping to the floor beneath it. Calisto and Damon were gone.

Confused, I turned to look at the others and then… I saw him. Cal, motionless and bleeding steadily. Numbly I gathered him in my arms, whispering gently, “No. No, Cal, no…” The sobs racked my body before I had a chance to stop them. My old friend, a fierce and larger-than-life creature, looked so small in my lap. Wildly, I looked around and began screaming, “Where’s Jia? Get Jia, now! Please, I need Jia!”

She appeared at my side and I clutched at her arm, using her hand to cover the hole in Cal’s back. “Please, Jia, please heal him. Bring him back, please. I can’t lose him, please…”

Jia looked at me with such compassion and empathy. “Scarlet, I can do a lot…but he’s gone.”

“No, no he’s not. He can’t be!” I shook my head vigorously and touched my head to Cal’s. “Please, Cal, please come back. Please…I can’t lose you…”

Destiny, Obsidian, and Waverlee slowly approached. I heard Destiny softly tell the others, “We followed their trail out of the volcano but they’re long gone.”

“We have to go after them. We can’t let them get away,” Brynn growled.

The three shared a look and Obsidian swam forward nervously. “There’s, um, something you should all see first.”

Someone’s arms wrapped around me and lifted me up. I allowed myself to be handled, but kept Cal wrapped tightly in my embrace, refusing to let go. Dully, I noticed that Noodles was gone without a trace, but he had left his mark. Most of our group had red sores dotting their skin, evidence of the suckers on the tentacles they had battled. Brynn had one hand on her ribs and an arm around Destiny for support. Serena, face and arms covered in tiny cuts, was hardly conscious as Obsidian cradled her in his arms. Jia still supported my father, who had of course left the prison as I had expressly asked him not to do.

Destiny led us through the volcano and as we went, we picked up stragglers. Soldiers and guards, still disoriented from years of mental slavery, found our group and simply joined in. They were silent for the most part as we continued our a somber parade.

We emerged from the Mariana Fortress to an uneasy sight. Seven separate legions of soldiers were lined up in distinct order, each headed by two impressive figures. The leaders approached as we nervously descended. However, soon it became apparent that the newcomers were friendly. Waverlee was the first to throw herself toward her parents, leaping into her father’s arms and covering her mother’s face in kisses. The others quickly followed suit as tears, laughter, and scolding ensued. Zoey’s mother held her daughter tightly to her chest while she admonished her through sobs. Obsidian’s father knocked aside his son’s formal handshake and gathered his two eldest children in his brawny arms until their eyes bulged.

A hand on my shoulder turned me to face my father. His eyes, clear now, took in my face like it was the most important sight in the world. “You look just like your mother,” he rasped, voice choked on emotion. I realized then that Jia had given him his eyesight, a kindness that I was sure had cost her dearly in her already weakened condition.

My father took Cal from my arms and then cupped my cheeks in his leathery hands. His thumbs softly wiped away the tears from my eyes. “Mariana, my child, my love. Do not cry over Excalibur’s sacrifice. His life could have ended in no nobler way. He did well in protecting you throughout his life. He would have desired no other death.”

I closed my eyes and somehow I felt myself nod. A flood of acceptance slowly spread through my body like a release of energy that had been pent up for far too long. I buried my head in my father’s chest and breathed in deeply, familiarizing myself with his scent. It was as if his strong arms simply drained all the bitter, lonely, and tense feelings out of me. For the first time in my life I felt a beautiful, peaceful happiness.

“Scarlet! What’s happening to you?” Zoey shouted in shock. My eyes popped open, then followed her gaze to my tail and I gasped. My deep red tail was… changing. I looked up at Serena, who was staring with an open mouth. She felt my questioning gaze and quickly raised her hands in a gesture of innocence.

When the transformation was complete, I stared in wonder at my fin. My scarlet scales had given way to a stunning, shimmering teal. A slow smile lit up my face. I looked up at my father, whose eyes glistened as he said, “There’s my Mariana. That is the beautiful tail you were born with.”

EPILOGUE from Mermaiden Mariana of the Mariana Kingdom:

“Fergus, ye infernal pest, sit still!” Brynn bellowed as she tried in vain to restrain her silky seal friend. She laughed good-naturedly when he ignored her command and instead flopped heavily on her chest and gnawed on her nose. “Ah, well. I suppose I’m excited to see you too,” she admitted. It was three days after our ordeal with Calisto and we were back in Jia’s kingdom, lounging around under lock and key while our parents sat in hushed council. None of us really minded the boring scenery, as we had had our fill of adventure for a good long while.

Crystal giggled as she sat back to back with Jia, cuddling Pepper in her lap. The poor penguin had refused to leave her side for the last three days, terrified that he would be left again. Obsidian and Waverlee lay on their stomachs on top of Snowflake, Sid’s killer whale. Bubbles, true to his name, lay nose to nose with the upside down whale and blew the occasion bubble to entertain her.

“What do y’all suppose they’re gonna do to punish us?” Zoey asked, making Cooper dance on her belly with his flippers in her hands. Her head bounced a little on Destiny’s stomach as she answered, “Can they really be that angry? I mean, we did save an entire kingdom. That must count for something.”

Frank, who had been uncharacteristically quiet the entire time we were in the volcano, piped up. “Ze crab thinks you all were very irresponsible running off like hooligans. Shame, shame.”

Laughing, Destiny poked him. “If anyone asks, we’ll just tell them it was your idea.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Frank gasped in horror.

“I would,” Zoey chortled. “And then I’d feed you to Snowflake.” As if to illustrate her point, the killer whale gave a loud belch. We all laughed as Frank shot back into his shell. “You should be grateful you are still alive,” he grumbled. “Well…mostly.”

Destiny’s sharp intake was audible even though I didn’t look up from where I sat, fingering a lock of Serena’s dark hair.  She closed her fist around Frank, enveloping everything but his eyes, which blinked once and then guiltily retracted. Serena, whose head lay in my lap, stared up at me with big brown eyes. “Are you alright?” she whispered gently.

I was silent for a while and then quietly, I nodded. “I miss him, but I know he died in a way that he would be proud of. I always knew he would try to do something stupid and brave like that. I just always believed I would be able to save him. He was my family.”

There was a long pause in which nobody spoke, but I could feel the sweet emotions of those around me: melancholy, sympathy, compassion, hope, love. I gave a long sigh and smiled up at them all.

“Well, lass. You have a new family now,” Brynn told me tenderly. “And we’re not going anywhere.”

Mermaid Story from Mermaiden Scarlet

“No, Cal. You must stay. I need you to watch over them. They are defenseless without you. Don’t worry about me, old friend. I’ll be careful.” My swordfish friend’s eyes showed his discontent, but my words seemed to convince him. I ran my hand down his bladed nose and lightly kissed the top of his head.

I stole one last long look at the hunched and broken man who was my father. His pain filled every ounce of my being, overwhelming my senses. As I stared, his eyes lifted to meet mine, as if he could sense my gaze, and despite his smile I could feel a wave of sorrow wash over him, longing for the wife of whom I was a reminder. Guilt, my own this time, gnawed at my stomach and I found myself somewhat relieved when our eye contact was broken by the prison door.

“Alright, which way lass?” Brynn asked Waverlee, hands on hips. The Pacific princess, excited to show off her new found talent, wound up and threw a volley of waves down the passage. Her face lit up as they reverberated back to her, causing a rush of anxious delight that made my upper lip twitch in an almost smile.

“She’s this way,” Waverlee told us with complete self-assurance. “I can feel her ugly powers from here.” I fought back a smile as we turned to follow her. I was fond of the golden-haired princess. She exuded confidence, joy, and a childlike wonder of the world. Her emotions were addictive and I often found myself subconsciously drawing near to her to draw off of her strength.

A slight tug at my hip and I whirled, hand instinctively whipping out my short blade. Zoey’s eyebrows shot up, hands raised in a gesture of innocence. “Woah there mate. Calm yourself, I didn’t mean any harm. Are you planning on using that thing?” She gestured to the long, shining sword that hung from a belt around my hips.

I slowly returned my dagger to its sheath and turned back to follow our group. “If I have to.”

“And do you suspect you will?”

“Maybe.”

Hurrying her pace to stay beside me, Zoey sighed loudly and rolled her eyes. “You know, I like you well enough Scarlet but this keeping everyone you meet at arm’s length is growing a bit tiresome. Here we are, likely marching to our deaths, all to help you win back your kingdom and I couldn’t even say what your favorite color is. I think you and I could really get along if you would put in a little effort. What’s the harm in opening up, just a little, to someone you already know cares about you?”

Her words struck me, not only because of their truth, but because of the open honesty and fervor behind them. There was something else, too. Fear. With surprise I acknowledged that the Aussie princess was afraid. I had never thought of this tough young mermaiden as one who was capable of fear. She possessed such an obstinate recklessness, a refusal to recognize that she was not invincible. Compassion for Zoey swelled within me as I grasped just how selfless and courageous each of these beautiful mermaidens was, to be willing to give up everything for me.

“Teal.”

Zoey looked at me, confused. “What?”

“That’s my favorite color. Teal.”

Her eyes softened and a tiny flame of hope leaped up in her heart. We shared a small smile, mutually and silently coming to an understanding of one another. “Well alright then.”

Suddenly, Brynn and Waverlee pulled up short. We had been moving in an upward direction so far but the ground suddenly leveled out. I had watched the passages slowly transforming from dirty, roughly hewn paths to now polished, shining obsidian corridors. The long straight hall before us led directly to an impressive set of doors.

“She’s there,” Waverlee breathed, a hushed reverence settling in her usually bright voice. “She’s just inside those doors. I think…I think she’s waiting for us.”

“I’d have been surprised if she didn’t know we were here,” Brynn growled. She began to move forward and we all fell in alongside her. I was enveloped in the dread and unease of the girls around me, like a suffocating cloud of terror. All at once, a wave of nausea washed over me and I resisted the urge to vomit. Hands trembling, I proceeded toward the carved doors with a wavering resolve.

A steady hand slipped inside mine. Waverlee smiled and then gently whispered, “We’re a bunch of scared little clams aren’t we? I can’t imagine how you must feel, taking all of that on.”

I was silent for a long while before I let myself mutter, “It’s overwhelming.”

She studied my face like a mother would her sick child’s. “You know, learning to control my power was difficult. When I was young I lost control a lot and sometimes it ended up hurting people. For a while, I was really scared of the waves, but then I learned something. The more I constantly worried and obsessed over it, the more out of hand my power became. It was controlling me instead of the other way around.”

As she spoke my muscles began to relax, whether from the soothing sound of her voice or the truth in her words, I didn’t know. “So what did you do?”

“I let go. I opened up to the waves and allowed them to do as they wished. I prompted them when I needed to but I didn’t try to keep them from going where they wanted. I started to realize that if I kept holding on and trying to regulate every little thing, it would have torn me apart.” She paused and stared at me with her big blue eyes. “You have to let them in. You have to stop fighting them, Scarlet. You can’t keep this up forever. These powers were given to us for a reason, they’re gifts. They all have a purpose. If you can just accept it, allow yourself to feel these emotions and embrace them and learn from them, I promise you, you’ll be stronger because of it.”

Just as Waverlee finished speaking, we reached the end of the corridor with the shining black doors before us. We hardly had a moment to gather when all of a sudden, the doors swung open soundlessly. A moment passed when not one of us moved, hardly breathed. Then, side by side, we entered.

It was as if we entered a world without color. Although the way we had come had not been particularly vibrant, this place was a new kind of dark. The deepest black I had ever seen covered every surface of what I could only guess was the throne room. Thick pillars lined the walkway, casting strange shadows on the floor.

At the opposite end of the room, leaning heavily to one side of his obsidian throne, a pale merman watched us approach with eyes that looked but didn’t quite see. His long dark hair and beard were littered with streaks of silver and his glittering onyx tail swept back and forth absentmindedly. As we drew closer, he made no movement but to follow our approach with his glazed black eyes.

My gaze swept the room, searching for a glimpse of the sea witch. The terror of the unknown was far greater than that of the expected, and the shove of each of my friends’ fear was like a battering ram to the walls around my mind. Hands again beginning to tremble, I gripped the hilt of my sword to steady myself. I knew what I needed to do to find Calisto, but every fiber of my being cried out against it. You have to let them in. You have to stop fighting them.

Waverlee’s words fresh in my mind, I hesitantly allowed the beaten barriers around my mind to drop and braced myself for the anticipated crushing weight. However, the moment they lowered, a strange silence fell over my mind. It was as if, for all my life I had lived in the gale of a hurricane and suddenly the storm had passed. I waited, sure that I was only in the eye of the storm, that it would soon return in full force.

Gradually, I began to feel something, whispers of emotion. Tendrils that, instead of attacking my mind with ferocity, slid in and caressed it softly. They hinted at emotions, each person’s a unique feel and color. With wonder, I sorted through these new, tame feelings, drawing on the good and dispelling the harmful. A beautiful emotion began to bubble up in the pit of my stomach and in surprise I realized that this vivid hope and joy was my own.

Focus, Scarlet, I reminded myself of the task at hand. With my newfound freedom, I expanded the reach of my mind to the merman before us. As soon as I touched his conscience I knew something was wrong. A dull pain was buried by a strange and forced complacency unlike anything I had ever felt from someone before.

“Where’s the sea witch?” Brynn demanded of the dark haired merman as soon as we came to a halt at the foot of his throne. No answer came but the stranger continued his blank stare while a shadow materialized next to him.

“Now really Your Highness, is that any way to treat royalty?” Damon sneered. My stomach dropped at the sight of his glittering eyes and overstated posture. Brynn fairly growled at the appearance of her least favorite merman. “Where’s Calisto?” she barked in a tone that made it apparent she would entertain none of his silver-tongued ways.

“What could possibly make you believe that I would know that?” Damon asked, nonchalantly leaning against the throne and resting his elbow on the shoulder of the oblivious merman sitting in it.

Brynn’s glare could have withered coral. “Because, you slimy eel, not only is she your mother, but somehow you always seem to know things you shouldn’t. So I ask you again: where is Calisto? And keep in mind that while manners and civil conduct kept me from wrapping my hands around that scrawny neck before, I’m under no such pressures now. Don’t even think about lying.”

Damon opened his mouth to speak but then his eyes lifted and he closed it again. With no explanation, he simply smirked. It was only then I began to feel the presence behind us. Intense and erratic emotions gushed from the figure that appeared from the darkness, so chaotic that as I turned to face Calisto my head spun and my heart ached.

She was resplendent, as little as I wanted to admit it. Her ebony hair cascaded in spirals down her back. Her green eyes pierced me down to my core, my only relief in the split second they closed when she blinked. I felt Brynn shift uncomfortably beside me, turning her back to Damon to face the sea witch, who smiled wickedly.

“What a delightful surprise,” Calisto purred in a silky voice. “I knew I had visitors but I would have never dreamt they would be the young princesses. I do feel special. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Your Majesties?”

“What do you think we’re here for, witch?” Zoey demanded, her voice filled with exasperation. “You stole an entire kingdom, enslaved everyone who lived there, imprisoned their king, and dethroned the rightful heir. We’re here to set things right.”

Calisto’s smile grew wider, revealing a faint scar running across her face. “My, my, aren’t we feeling ambitious today? And how are you planning on accomplishing this feat?”

“We were thinking maybe something along the lines of this,” Waverlee grinned as she pulled back her arm and hurled a massive torrent of seawater at Calisto. With a flick of her wrist, the wave was sliced in two and it passed harmlessly on either side of the amused enchantress. Calisto smiled and began to speak but suddenly she stopped, a look of shock on her face. Her shock turned to rage, a white hot anger that filled my being. The only possible explanation, I realized, was that she had felt the first of the gems breaking, weakening her power as it shattered.

A smile crept across my face and I moved forward. “Listen to me, witch. I feel your fear as you realize what we’ve done. You are weakened and afraid. Well you should be. I have spent the last nineteen years wandering the oceans in search of a family and a home. I have been isolated and alone, all because of your greed. You took my parents, my home, my childhood. And while I can’t ever have some of those things back, I have come to take what I can. I have come to reclaim my father’s throne and I will do whatever it takes to see you defeated. You should be very, very afraid Calisto.”

Her face had gone deadly still but the storm of wrath and terror raging inside her was satisfying enough. Then without warning, her eyes shot to Damon and she gave a curt nod. I kept my eyes glued to Calisto while the others turned to watch her son. Waverlee squeaked as something began to happen and then Brynn muttered under her breath, “Oh Poseidon help us.”

Suddenly Zoey grabbed my arm and we took off. I looked back over my shoulder and immediately wished I hadn’t. Noodles, the lying fiend, was facing Damon who, with a concentrated expression, was causing the cuttlefish to steadily grow in size. The stubby tentacles became elongated, the eyes swelled, and finally before us was an enormous squid.

From behind a pillar, we watched Calisto survey the angrily bubbling creature and then turn to face us. With a smile she pointed a long finger at us and said in a voice laced with power, “Kill them.”

The command sent the distorted cuttlefish toward us at a speed unexpected of something that large. I reached for my sword, barking orders at the others as I flipped into danger mode. “Brynn, use your light to blind it. Waverlee, beat back the tentacles as best you can. Zoey, you have to try to break her hold on its mind. We can do this mermaidens, the gems are breaking and Calisto’s becoming more terrified every moment.”

A chorus of nods and suddenly tentacles shot out from behind the pillar and came at us from every direction. Waverlee shrieked and was able to only just build a barricade of waves to block the reaching limbs. Brynn jumped into action, sending fist-sized orbs of light sailing at the monster’s eyes, causing him to use a few of his tentacles to swipe at them. The frustrated creature let out a piercing roar.

Zoey stood in the midst of the battle, hands on her temple and lips moving nonstop, although I couldn’t tell what she was saying. I watched her carefully, soaking in her peaceful determination and strength. All of a sudden, one of the squid’s tentacles broke through Waverlee’s blockade and shot toward the Aussie princess. Waverlee’s desperate cry resonated in her half-sphere of water as she attempted to stop it, but to no avail. Faster than I had time to think, my sword was in my hand and with a loud shout, I sliced the tentacle with my shining blade.

The squid bawled, a deafening high-pitched sound that reverberated through the room. His pain struck me like a slap and I doubled over while covering my ears. When I could straighten up again, my vision was blurry but I swiped the tears from my eyes and took a stance, sword in hand, to guard Zoey.

Suddenly a very different cry echoed through the room. Calisto fell, sitting heavily on the step below the throne, hands on the ground to keep herself from collapsing. Damon swept toward his mother, talking in hushed tones. Letting my mind reach beyond those around me, I came in contact with Calisto’s. The crippling fear, malice, and fury were accompanied by a feeling of defeat. I knew then that the gems had been destroyed.

Waverlee called out to me, “Scarlet, I can’t keep this up much longer.” Her exhaustion was apparent in her weak voice. I cursed myself for being so oblivious. I nodded at her and then rushed to Zoey.

“Zoey can you hear me? If you can’t break Calisto’s hold now, let go. We need to move now. Can you hear me Zoey?”

Zoey’s face twisted in concentration, twitching every once in a while. She began to shake her head violently and finally she let out a long groan that slowly grew until it became a yell. With one final shout, her eyes flew open and a grin broke out on her face. I looked up to see the tentacles surrounding us slowly drawing back. Waverlee and Brynn shakily ceased their powers.

One by one, we emerged from behind the black pillars, facing Calisto and Damon with their monster at our backs. I locked eyes with Calisto feeling stronger than I ever had before. Raising my sword upright with both hands, I smiled coldly at the sea witch. “Your move.”

To be continued…

Mermaid Tale from Mermaiden Serena

“Where to, Destiny?”

The Caribbean princess hardly skipped a beat before answering, eyes closed and roaming beneath her lids. “I see one of the gemstones…somewhere dark. There’s a guard, wait… two, three, four…four guards. It’s an open room, two entrances, four windows…it’s a tower.” Suddenly her eyes snapped open and she grinned broadly. “They’re in the watch towers surrounding the base of the volcano. There are five different towers and I’m assuming each is housing one of the gems. There are four guards per stone. All we have to do is work our way around the circuit and destroy the gem in each tower.”

I bit my lip nervously. “Without letting any of the guards escape to pass the word on to the others,” I pointed out. Her confident smile wavered a little as she contemplated that. But it returned in full brightness when she turned to Crystal and Obsidian. “That’s where you two come in.”

Crystal nodded thoughtfully and looked up at her twin brother. “We can make sure none of the guards get away.”

“Let’s focus on finding the towers for now,” Obsidian suggested, bouncing nervously as he stared down the dark passage we were floating in, just outside the doors of the prison. “We don’t want to meet up with any guards sooner than we have to.”

Destiny directed us to her right and soon we were flying through the bleakly lit labyrinth, twisting around corners like there was a Great White on our tails. I wasn’t sure if it was better to reach our destination quickly or to try to go unnoticed, but there was something about moving at such a breakneck speed that made me feel safer. And while the heavy darkness made me wish that Brynn had come along with our group, my gut told me it was better to try to blend in with our surroundings than to light our way.

Just before we arrived at a “T” in the passage, Destiny pulled up short. With a look of uneasiness she turned toward us and put her finger to her lips. I listened carefully and slowly I began to hear the sounds of a patrol coming from either turn. The steady rhythm of the water being beaten by armed tails, the piercing screech of metal against metal, the occasional snort or cough of a soldier. A chill ran down my spine as I scanned the passage for anywhere we might hide. Assuming they wouldn’t see us in the dark would be foolish, as they had lived in it for so long I was sure their eyes were permanently adjusted. There was no way Crystal and Obsidian would be able to use their powers to stop the whole guard and then have energy to take on those in the towers as well. I felt completely useless, once again cursing the fact that my power was so seemingly worthless.

Blend in. My own earlier thoughts came back to me, an idea formulating in my mind. I hastily gauged the width of the passage. As long as we spread out, it could work. Quickly, I grabbed Destiny and Crystal and placed each mermaid against one wall with a good distance between them, ignoring their confused gestures. Then I pulled Obsidian to the opposite wall and did the same. With all of their eyes on me, I took a deep breath, silently motioned for them to keep themselves pressed against the walls behind them, and focused on the colors of the dark world around me. Slowly, the murky blacks and browns of the cave walls began to roll up each of our tails, torsos, arms, and finally our faces. The sounds of the patrol grew closer and closer and just as I finished changing the last of Crystal’s pure white hair to the same muddy brown as the wall behind her, the first of the guards rounded the corner.

They poured in from either side, both patrols having arrived at the same time and joining ranks. With a shudder I turned my head and pressed my cheek against the wall, squeezing my eyes shut tightly. I could feel the cold that accompanied their passing, so close that the tip of one guard’s sword scratched one of my scales. My hand shot up to my mouth to keep from crying out, not from pain but from shock. It stayed there until the last of the guards had passed by us.

We waited a while after the last of the guards disappeared from view before any of us had the courage to move. It took some time to convince my mind to relax enough to let the colors I’d camouflaged my friends with drain off. They all watched their own bodies in amazement as their skin, tails, and hair became visible once again. Crystal shook her head, glancing up from her hands up at me and then back again. “Serena that was amazing! I thought for sure Sid and I were going to have to use our powers. Thank you,” she smiled at me and gently squeezed my hand while the others nodded in agreement and hugged me.

“Come on, we need to move before the next guard patrol comes,” Destiny told us. We all followed as she turned left and led us through passage after passage. The closer we wound our way to the center of the volcano, the more heated the water became. Even coming from a warm climate myself, the temperature was uncomfortable but I could see that the heat was really taking its toll on Crystal and Obsidian.

All of a sudden, as we rounded a corner a faint red glow washed over us. The light seemed to be emanating from a distant opening at the very end of the passage. There seemed to be miles to go, but the closer we drew to the end of the tunnel, the stronger the crimson light became. We slowed our pace just as Destiny began to speak.

“We’re going to need to be fast. By my count there are only four guards in each tower, but I’m sure they have a system in place to warn the others of intruders quickly. Serena, do you think you could use your power again to get us to each tower without being seen?”

I nodded, exhilarated by the thought that I could finally play an important role in the plan. “I can do it.”

“Good. Then it’s just up to you two to hold off the guards while we try to destroy the gems,” Destiny told Crystal and Obsidian. The twins nodded their understanding just as we came to a stop at the end of the tunnel. I edged closer to the opening, trying to familiarize myself with the scene below in order to camouflage our group. As I peered out my lungs collapsed like someone had reached inside my chest and squeezed the air out.

We were near the very top of the volcano, but our distance didn’t make the intense heat of the center any less impressive. Far below, the bubbling, hissing, and popping of magma could be heard as it was forced up out of a black mountain of cooled rock and ran down the sides into a lava-filled moat. The trench had clearly been beaten back to keep from consuming the glossy black obsidian rock that allowed for a steady surface on which the volcanic base could rest.

The watchtowers were obvious, even from our height. They jutted out of the first ring at the base, five of them just as Destiny had said. Every few seconds I could see a group of guards march from one tower to the next. Heart pounding in my ears, I retreated to where the rest of my group stood.

“It looks like the patrol just left the very northern tower,” I told them. “That’s probably our best opportunity if we want to avoid them. We’ll wait until they move on the next and then follow through the circuit, one tower between us. It’s going to take a lot of energy for me to get us all down there camouflaged so let’s move quickly. I’ll try my best after to cover Destiny and myself so the twins can take on the guards without having to worry about protecting us while we go for the gems.”

Obsidian nodded and then rubbed his hands together, creating a small ball of heat in his hands that boiled and churned. “Okay let’s do this. Girl power!”

We laughed and Crystal lightly knocked her brother with her elbow. Then I closed my eyes and pictured the black walls of the volcano, lustrous and polished from centuries of intense heat. The color crept over us slowly but surely. When I finally opened my eyes, my friends had disappeared. I waited for a moment, unsure of what to do next. Sensing our dilemma, a small flurry of ice diamonds began to swirl around Crystal and we followed her as she led us to the edge of the opening.

We hardly paused. Suddenly we were flying down toward the center of the volcano, keeping close to the walls that would disguise us. The cold that accompanied slicing through the ocean at such a breakneck speed was a blissful interruption from the volcano’s intense heat. However, once we reached the first tower, it all came crashing over us like a punch to the gut. I struggled to focus on the colors around me, which all of a sudden felt as if they were melting away.

We swept into the first tower and I let go of my hold on Crystal and Obsidian’s coloring. The surprised guards, four of them just as Destiny had said, hardly had time to register the black shadows that had entered before they were surrounded by Obsidian’s heat and then encased in Crystal’s ice. I was amazed at how quickly and efficiently the twins worked, seemingly in complete agreement although a word hadn’t passed between them.

The gem, perched on a rather convenient pedestal in the center of the room, was lifted by a dark cloud. Destiny turned it in her shadowy hands, examining the stone for a weakness. Mesmerized by the small purple pulsing gem, all four of us drew closer. The power of the stone was shocking; it was obvious that the enchanter was strong and experienced. I shuddered at the sudden wave of wicked energy that washed over us, being so close to something so power hungry and evil.

A delicate layer of ice suddenly crept across the gem’s surface and Destiny hardly had time to let go before it glowed red and erupted into fragments that folded in on themselves and evaporated before they could touch our skin. Obsidian, looking pleased with himself, turned to the door. “Come on, we need to move.”

Once again I transformed us all into dark silhouettes and we set off to find the next stone. It became a steady rhythm. Obsidian and Crystal would enter, Sid blocking off the exits while his sister coated the guards in generous layers of ice. While they were finishing, Destiny and I would swoop in and secure the stone. Crystal would flick a webbing of ice onto the gem and one of us would promptly smash it or allow Sid to work his magic. Destiny was constantly humming under her breath, allowing us to know where the patrol was at all times.

Everything went smoothly…until the last tower. Crystal and Obsidian entered, immediately using their powers like every time before. But as Crystal casually tossed a line of ice at one guard, he threw himself out of the way and careened right into Destiny. They tumbled through the water, spinning and thrashing so that neither Obsidian nor Crystal could clearly get a shot at him without hitting our friend. Just as I moved to the gem, I heard a shout. The patrol had reached the first tower and was now charging back along the circuit. We had seconds before they reached us. Obsidian moved to the door and lit up the entrance with a heat intense enough to rival that of the volcano. Crystal still stood back from Destiny and the guard,   forcefully focused on shooting tiny icicles whenever she had the chance.

I turned to the gem, realized that I was the only one now who was free to destroy it. If I can just find a way to break it the spell on the guards will lift. But how? A thought struck me, remembering a game Leon and I used to play when we were young. We would gather small pieces of kelp and make tiny slits in the top. Then we would fill them with my paints and throw them at one another, laughing as they burst and covered us in colors. Maybe…

A cry from Destiny sent me into action. I closed my eyes and saw every color around me. The white of the pedestal, the black of the walls, the fiery red of the lava just beneath the tower. Pulling at them, I vigorously channeled every hue I could find into the gem. I could feel its confusion, flashing different colors as it tried to absorb them all at once. Too much, it’s too much, I thought. I felt my mind begin to close down. With all the strength left in me, I opened my eyes and mentally grasped every color that I could see. With one last shove, I thrust it all into the raging gem before me.

As my vision went black, the last thing I heard was a loud crack and then the shattering of a thousand crystals.

A New Mermaid Story from Mermaiden Brynn

As we stood watching the heartwarming scene of a reunited father and daughter, a muffled sound from behind me caught my attention. It was strange yet familiar, a sort of gargling noise that didn’t belong in a place like this. I turned slowly to scan the room but found that it was completely empty aside from our group. Just as I began to turn back, a slight disturbance in the water about three cells down caught my eye. It was only a shimmer, a vibration that could very well have been caused by nothing more than a warm patch, but something about the sight and the sound together reminded me of something…or more accurately, someone.

With an over-exaggerated shrug, I turned back to our group and nonchalantly sidled up next to Serena. The sweet girl sniffled a little as she watched Scarlet bury herself in her father arms. She smiled at me when she found me at her side. “Isn’t it beautiful to see families being reunited? It’s like watching someone find a piece of themselves that they know has been missing.”

I nodded distractedly, having a hard time appreciating the artist in my friend while I knew the very real danger that lurked behind us. “Yes very bonny,” I said. “Lass I need you to do something. Behind us is a nasty little creature that has the potential to get us all into a whole world of trouble. No don’t look just yet!” I added quickly, praying that the little demon didn’t suspect anything. “Okay, when I give you the signal, I need you to do something with your colors to make him visible. Right now he can blend in to just about any surrounding he wishes so I need something bright and eye-catching, can you do that lass?”

Serena nodded carefully. “I think so, just give me a minute to get ready.”

“Don’t worry, lass. You just show the little bugger off and I’ll do the pouncing. He’s not too quick, but he’s a slippery devil so we’ll have to be fast.”

She nodded and then took a deep breath. “Alright, let’s do it.”

On the count of three we spun around, and like a frightened octopus’s inky mist, a bright pink cloud surged out of Serena’s fingertips. In a matter of seconds the entire room was cloaked in the ridiculous color, leaving an extremely confused and wide-eyed cuttlefish hovering not too far away. As quickly as I could, I dashed forward and grabbed at the slippery little fellow, but somehow Noodles evaded my lunge. He slipped through my arms and, moving suspiciously fast for such an odd looking creature, made a beeline for one of the empty cells on the opposite wall. There was a commotion as I once again took up the chase, while the others either swiftly moved out of the way or went to grab him themselves. Obsidian caught hold of one of his tentacles for a moment and Jia’s tail provided a momentary block but it seemed that, before I could blink an eye, the devious cuttlefish had nearly made his escape. My stomach sank as I desperately tried to reach the cell before Noodles, a small distance that suddenly transformed into an entire ocean’s length.

A flash of white stopped us all in our tracks. Noodles froze, literally, just before the cell, lying on his side in a block of ice the size of my head. All eyes were slowly drawn to Crystal, who stood not too far away with a smile creeping across her face. “Got him,” she said nonchalantly.

Obsidian gathered the iced cuttlefish and quickly melted his sister’s ice. Noodles lay quivering on the ground, dramatically sobbing and bubbling through his face full of tentacles. Rolling my eyes, I knelt beside him and dragged him upright. “Alright listen up, ya wee devil. We have some questions and you’re going to answer them. I know you spy for Damon. Where is he and why does he care what we’re up to?”

Noodles angrily blew bubbles at me in indignation. “You think I will give away my master so easily? You offend me!”

“Oh give it up. We both know you’re not loyal to Damon. You can be swayed as easily as the flag at the top of a mast in a gale. Tell me what I want to know and I promise we’ll protect you from Damon.”

The cuttlefish seemed to weigh the options carefully, eyes showing intrigue with a touch of amusement. “If you think Damon is the one I need protecting from, you know nothing. Damon is only a pawn, a weak one at that…but protection is what I desire. I will tell you what you wish to know, if you all ensure my safe passage out of this kingdom.”

I nodded in relief. “We will do all we can to help you. Now tell us what you know, creature.”

“Damon doesn’t know that you’re here. He didn’t send me to follow you because he didn’t need to. He was already here.”

“What do you mean?” Obsidian prodded when Noodles paused. The cuttlefish obviously relished in his dramatics.

“I mean,” he continued with a sly smile, “Damon visits this place often. He might even call it somewhat of a home.”

“But Damon is a MerCouncilman,” Serena pointed out. “His home is with the MerCouncil.”

“Not quite. You see, Damon was chosen to be a Councilman, just not as…let’s say… fairly as the others. You remember MerCouncilman Aldric? Well it seems the old man wasn’t as loyal as one may think. Instead of relying on the appropriate testing, he took Damon in to be his apprentice at the request of the boy’s mother.”

“Why would he do such a thing?” I demanded, all the while untrusting of the coy cuttlefish’s story.

“Oh Damon’s mother can be quite persuasive. But don’t take my word for it. Talk to her yourself. Although you may know her by another name…Calisto.”

The name sent shivers down my spine. I squeezed my eyes shut tight and tried to ignore the panicked whispers that erupted around me at the news. Damon was Calisto’s son? Things began to fall into place as every encounter I’d had with the faux MerCouncil apprentice flashed before my eyes. I took in a shaky breath and opened my eyes to glare at Noodles, who looked much too satisfied with himself. “Okay vermin, ye’ve had your fun. Now tell us how the sea witch controls minds and how we can beat her.”

Noodles scoffed. “I very much doubt that you and your friends have the power to beat Calisto, even eight against one. But it would be amusing to watch you try… very well I’ll give you some tips. Calisto is powerful, but even her power has its limits. In order to be able to keep the minds of all of the soldiers in the kingdom under her control, she had five gemstones made which act as enhancers for her power. Supposedly, if they were to be smashed, all of the pressure of the mind control would be placed back on Calisto. This would either weaken her sufficiently for even you and your friends to overpower her, or it would force her to break her hold on her army.”

Surprised at the simplicity yet efficiency of this possible solution, I thought for a moment. Could we actually trust the slippery little beast? His very nature was to deceive, but something told me he would have more to gain from telling us the truth.

I straightened and looked around at my friends whose faces ranged from excitement to anxiety to fear. “Well, you lot heard him. It seems to get out of here, we’re facing down a dangerous witch and her army of brainwashed muscle men. What’s our best bet?”

Scarlet spoke up. “If what the strange little fish is telling us is true, it sounds like we’ll have to split up. One group of us should try to find the gems that are enhancing Calisto’s power and dispose of them. That will weaken her hold on her army, which we can then use to outnumber her. The others should go try to catch that sea wench off guard while the element of surprise is still on our side.”

“Sounds like a solid plan to me,” I nodded at her in approval. “Although you’re forgetting about your father.”

Caspian had his arm slung round Obsidian’s shoulders but his head lifted at the mention of himself. “Don’t worry about me, young lady. I’ll keep up in any way I can. Besides, you’ll need me to guide you.”

“No Father,” Scarlet said sternly. “I’ve only just found you. I won’t be losing you any time soon. If you can just tell us how to find Calisto and where she might be keeping her gemstones, we’ll take care of the rest.” She turned to Jia, pleading, “Please stay with him. You still have need to rest yourself and you can help him if he falls ill. Please…”

Nodding, Jia went to help Obsidian lower Caspian to a sitting position. “Of course,” she said. “I’ll make sure your father is alive and well when you return.” The grizzled old king looked less than pleased with the arrangements, but he held his tongue if only, I guessed, to please his new found daughter.

“Now that that’s settled, we need to decide on the groups.” I studied the faces around me and quickly made up my mind. “Scarlet, Waverlee, and Zoey come with me to distract Calisto. The rest of you, do your best to find and destroy the stones. Once you finish that, bring all the guards you can to help us beat the witch. We can do this, lasses.”

Obsidian grunted.

“And lad,” I added with a small smile. “Now let’s go.”

I took one last look at my friends as Destiny, Sid, Crystal, and Serena all turned to leave. Then I squatted next to Jia and patted her shoulder. “We’ll be back in no time at all, so just sit tight.”

“Make sure you are,” she told me.

Oh we’ll all come back alright, I thought with a queasy feeling in my stomach, but I doubt we’ll all be the same when we do.

Mermaid Stories from Mermaiden Crystal

I sat with my back against the cold trench wall, studying the trails of molten lava outlining the enormous volcano before us. An overwhelming awareness of the ice coursing through my veins put me on edge. Trying to calm myself, I traced the fiery lines with my eyes and then quickly squeezed them shut to burn the image into my mind.

The next time I opened them, Obsidian appeared next to me. I tried to mask my surprised jerk by rubbing my eyes, but Sid smirked. “Why so tense Crys?” he took one of my hands in his and looked at me. “Don’t worry little sis, I’ll take care of you.”

“I’m not scared,” I said weakly, pulling my shaking hands back into my lap and glaring at them for giving me away. “I’m just a little nervous.”

Sid studied me for a moment before nodding and leaning back to let his head rest against the rock. “The worst part about a fight is always waiting for the first person to throw the punch,” he said in a way that instantly convinced me he spoke from experience. I stared at his profile for a minute, wondering when it was that my brother had begun to look so old. His face had changed so much and I hadn’t realized it until that moment. The rounded cheeks that I had known when we were children had given way to sharp cheekbones and a strong jaw. His boyish shoulders and torso were now broad and defined. Veins bulged in his arms and neck and his scales had taken on a lustrous new shine. How do we grow up without ever noticing it? I asked myself.

“It’s a good thing we’ll be the ones doing just that.” Zoey’s voice jolted me from my thoughts and called everyone’s attention to her as she stood. “Cal just informed me that now is the best time to make our move if we want to get inside the kingdom. The guards will be changing shifts soon and he knows a way that will lead us straight into a labyrinth of tunnels throughout the fortress.”

“Where exactly is the fortress?” I asked, squinting at the black heap of rock before us. It didn’t look much like a formidable kingdom to me, although the volcano itself was a sight to behold.

Zoey gave an unconvincing chuckle and then bit her lip nervously. “It’s kind of…inside.”

The silence was deafening while her statement sank in. Eyebrows furrowed in confusion, then slowly rose as understanding dawned. “You mean…inside…inside the volcano?” Jia asked, her voice sounding equal parts impressed and disbelieving. Zoey nodded solemnly. “Cal says it took years to hollow it out and many more to build the fortress inside, but it’s the perfect defensive location, which is what this kingdom was built for in the first place.”

Scarlet nodded thoughtfully and stared up at her long lost home with a certain respect.

“Now wait just a moment, lasses,” Brynn demanded, crossing her arms in front of her. “I don’t mean to put a damper on the adventure, but what exactly are we going to do once we get in there?” In unison we turned to look at Scarlet, who seemed uncomfortable at the sudden attention.

“Well, I suppose I haven’t thought it all the way through,” she said cautiously.

“Oh well that’s fantastic!” Brynn folded her arms and rolled her eyes, voice dripping with sarcasm. “What, you expected us all to just waltz on in and politely ask to be shown around?”

Scarlet’s eyes flashed in anger but, to her credit, she reacted civilly. “No, but what I do know is that there is a very evil witch sitting on the throne that belonged to my parents and, if there’s any way that I can stop her, I’m going to do it with or without your help.”

“We all made it this far,” Serena said stubbornly. “We’re not going to leave you and let you do this by yourself.”

Destiny put her arm around Scarlet’s shoulders. “Exactly. We’re here to help you however we can.”

Brynn groaned and nodded. “Alright, alright. I’m sorry lass. Let’s go beat the witch so we can help you take back your kingdom. Now does the fish know where he’s going or not?”

Excalibur, who had apparently been waiting for this moment, suddenly shot forward like a missile, leaving very little time for doubt. I hope we know what we’re getting ourselves into, I thought anxiously as I took off after Cal.

The base of the volcano was littered with crevices and uncertain terrain. None of us could have possibly found the entrance without Cal. The swordfish flew across the surface with unimaginable grace and when he finally dove down into the tunnel which would lead us inside, it took us all a moment to even realize where he’d gone. One by one, we eased ourselves in after him.

My eyes took their time to adjust to the darkness. I could only just make out the shape of Obsidian’s tail ahead of me, moving as little as possible to avoid beating against the walls of the tight tunnel. I grimaced as one of his tips caught my cheek, knocking my head against the cold stone to my right. A slight mumble marked his apology, which was followed closely by a hissed “Shhh!” from somewhere up the line.

The minutes passed slowly as we dragged ourselves through the long black labyrinth, our fingers digging into the stones searching for a grip to propel ourselves forward as we tried to  move our tails as little as possible. I found myself wondering how Cal, a large swordfish, could have navigated these paths with such ease. Of course when he lived here he was probably much younger and smaller, I realized, feeling a pang of sadness for the grizzled old fish. I couldn’t imagine the sort of painful memories he was feeling just then.

Lost in thought, I was tugged back into reality by a cold draft of fresh water breezing past my face. The line took a sharp turn and one by one the tails ahead of me vanished. Just as Sid’s black fluke was disappearing from view, I twisted left to follow into a gap that I wouldn’t have seen if it weren’t for the tips of his tail sliding through. After a few more tight turns and dips, the tunnel suddenly dumped us out into a splendidly wide hall.

I breathed in deeply as the feeling of claustrophobia disappeared and the dim lighting restored my vision. At first glance, the circular hall looked a bit like my mother’s parlor at home, where she entertained guests. However as my eyes slowly adjusted, the room grew as cold, menacing, and unfamiliar as night is to day. Thin, fiery columns of what I only could imagine was lava from the center of the volcano lined the majority of the wall, with short breaks of black rock in between. My mouth dropped open in awe as I stared at the red hot bars, behind which deep pockets of blackness awaited.

“What in Poseidon’s name is this place?” I heard Brynn whisper as she paced the room slowly, staring into the shadows behind the fire columns intently. We turned to look at Zoey, who stood near Cal with the familiar expression on her face that told us she was listening to more than what was going on around her. As her unseeing eyes suddenly focused, she snapped back to life. “Cal says that this part of the palace used to be a small wing for guests, although it was usually left abandoned. He isn’t sure now what it is, but he suggests we leave before we run into any trouble. We don’t want anyone to know we’re here before we’re ready.”

As she spoke, my gaze wandered to Scarlet, who had been floating on my left, but suddenly was no longer there. I turned curiously to find her and was startled to find her hovering dangerously close to one specific set of flaming bars. I hurried over and put one hand on her shoulder to pull her away, saying, “Scarlet, be careful – those are hot.”

She shrugged my hand away without breaking her intense stare. “No, I can feel it,” she whispered as if in a trance. “I can feel his sadness…his loss. He lost someone he loved. He’s lonely now. He’s been lonely for a long, long time…”

A hush came over the rest of the group as Scarlet’s voice rose. I was unsure what to do, hands hovering close enough to pull her away if she tried to grab at the bars, but hesitating at the words spilling from her mouth. “Who?” I asked gently. “Who’s lonely?”

Deep and gravelly, a voice echoed from the darkness that Scarlet had been so intrigued by. It was an old voice, one that should have been strong and loud, but scratched from disuse as it was forced through the mouth of the speaker. “I assume she means me,” it said, accompanied by a dragging sound and the sharp clang of metal on metal. Within moments, a shape appeared behind the red hot bars, coming closer and closer until the hulking outline of a man hovered not a foot from us. His gray hair was matted and wild, the lines in his face intensified in the shadows drawn by the fiery light. A worn cloak was torn and hanging from what must have been an impressive frame in its prime, but was now skin stretched tight over bones that had been broken and never quite healed right. His eyes were squinted nearly closed and, each time he breathed, a shudder passed over his body and I was terrified he would fall onto the bars before him.

“How do you know about me, child?” the crippled old man growled. “Who are you?”

Before Scarlet could open her mouth, Cal was beside her, making a noise I had never heard before in my life. It was a sort of trill that started deep like a growl and rose to a high squeal. Twice more the swordfish made the sound and then stilled, leaving us all waiting anxiously. The old man froze, his eyes open and searching. His arms extended, coming dangerously close to the bars. “Excalibur?” his voice sounded hopeful and dubious all at once.

“Yes,” Scarlet answered in confusion. “Excalibur is here, but how do you know him?”

“He is an old friend of mine,” the man answered, eyes still darting back and forth. It occurred to me then that he was blind and suddenly I was terrified for him, afraid that he would fall forward and burn himself. Concentrating intently on the top of the bars, I slowly brought my ice down the columns. They hissed and popped in protest, but slowly the fire gave way to ice and within moments no barrier stood between us and the ragged man.

“What’s your name?” Scarlet asked, her usual tone of authority absent. In its place was a pleading, desperate hopefulness.

“My name is Caspian,” the broken king told us. “And I am the rightful ruler of this kingdom.”

We had nearly reached our destination when I began to feel the familiar heavy presence of Cal weighing on my thoughts. He appeared at my side, menacing yet comforting all at once. His deep voice reverberated through my mind almost like an echo.

“Princess, this terrain is becoming familiar. We are nearing the chasm into which my old home sank. I worry about what we may find on our journey down to the Mariana Kingdom. The enchantress holds incredible power over her victims and I am certain she has not left the entrance to her lair unguarded. The path will not be easy.”

I swallowed hard at the thought of facing whatever loomed in the pitch black of the enormous chasm. “Any helpful advice you could give us on what to expect?”

“Calisto demonstrated the strength of her power through her control over the Great White Shark. I presume that she will try to keep her army hidden for as long as possible, so she may send us some of her mindless creatures to try to turn us away. I do not believe she knows exactly who she’s dealing with as of yet so we may still have the element of surprise on our side. If she doesn’t know that you are with us, Princess, then her hold on her pets will not be as ironclad and you will have a better chance of breaking the bond between them. Do you think you can manage that?”

Just the thought of the oncoming mental battles was exhausting, but I nodded. “I’ll try.”

“We’re here.” With that Cal’s presence quickly slipped away and I was left feeling much lighter. It didn’t last long, however. As we drew near what I had previously seen as a thick stripe of black sand, my stomach dropped. The sheer size of the chasm was overwhelming; it seemed to stretch on forever in either direction. A silence, broken only by small gasps of awe, settled on us all as we stopped at the brink of what looked like a fracture in the globe. The pure black abyss extended as far down as I could possibly see and it appeared to grow deeper before my eyes.

“What do you think lives down there?” Crystal whispered, voice shaking.

“Only one way to find out,” I said sounding much more confident than I felt. With a nod at Brynn, I moved closer to the edge and watched as a large orb of light fell from her fingertips and lit just a small portion of the cavernous darkness below. Something flashed at the edge of my vision, fleeing back into the shadows. With a deep shaking breath, I led the way and we started our slow descent into the Mariana Trench.

The deeper we swam, the stranger everything became. It was like we were dropping into a whole other world, one filled with bizarre creatures and even more peculiar plants (though the vegetation seemed to grow more sparse the further we descended). Luminescent mushrooms littered the walls of the trench and dark tangles of black seaweed reached toward us from every angle. Down, down, down we swam. Every once in a while, some strange creatures would make an appearance at the edge of our sphere of light but they rarely stayed with us long. Most of our encounters were brief and harmless… so far.

Suddenly, an odd flat fish detached itself from the trench wall and swooped at Destiny, making her scream and Frank nearly faint. We continued on. Then a sly little jelly slid past our group and gave Serena a tiny shock at the last second before quickly disappearing. On we swam.

Out of the darkness two slimy eels slithered up Obsidian’s tail and crossed themselves over his chest. He couldn’t break free until he heated his skin enough to make the water against it boil. And just as we began to think we had seen the worst of the lot, the creatures grew even larger and more ominous.

One such monster scuttled out of the shadows just as Waverlee turned to ask how much further (for the seventh time). It looked like a sea spider crab, only I’d never seen one so huge before! The creature’s pinchers were extended out before it, reaching for Waverlee. Its beady eyes caught mine in an evil stare and from one glance I could tell that it had an agenda that I didn’t want any part of! Its gaze shifted and then whole body flashed toward Waverlee. The monster lunged and, to my horror, I was only just able to catch the slippery ends of its mind in a desperate throw of my power. Once I caught hold, I thrust into the monster’s thoughts and blocked his attack. Waverlee, who turned just in time to see the next of the spider-like crabs enter our sphere of light, reacted faster than anyone else. A powerful wave flew from her hands as she punched the water and sent the horrible beast thrashing back into the shadows with a chorus of angry clicking.

“Look out!” Crystal cried, pointing behind me with an ice-tipped finger. I ducked just in time to avoid a razor sharp icicle that flew over my head and shattered against yet another of the gigantic spider-like crabs. They seemed to be coming from every direction now. We instinctively formed a tight circle around Jia and Scarlet, who were still weak from their encounter with the Great White.

Obsidian’s searing heat drove off some of the monsters, while Crystal’s ice froze others in their tracks. Brynn’s light was blindingly bright, especially to the beasts whose eyes were well accustomed to the dark, and Serena added to the confusion with sudden bursts of color that helped to hide us from our attackers. My head felt like splitting open as I repeatedly grabbed hold of the mind of the nearest monster and forced it back. Their barriers were so fragile, I felt a stab of guilt when I easily tore down their defenses. But I had to protect my friends!

Within seconds, the short battle was over and the stream of monstrous crabs slowed to a trickle. As Obsidian beat back the last of them with a wave of heat, I surveyed the scene to make sure everyone was unharmed. “You all alright?”

“I think so,” Brynn answered, breathing heavily from the excitement. There was a slight pause as we all stared forward, fighting the urge to flee yet unable to summon the courage to plunge back into the darkness.

“Well? Don’t just stand zere!” Frank’s narrowed eyes were the only visible part of the cranky crab among Destiny’s curls. “Ze crab does not want to be here when those filthy creatures return to eat us up! Get moving!”

Destiny sighed in exasperation at her little friend and flicked him once, much to his annoyance. “I guess Frank’s right,” she said as he burrowed farther into her hair, apparently deeply hurt. “We should start moving before those monsters come back.”

Brynn nodded once and then took the lead, holding her light high and steady. We moved in a tight pack, a difficult feat with our tails constantly bumping one another. The shadows on the walls of the trench, crooked and uneven, did nothing to help our nerves. Even worse, an eerie hush had come over the trench, like somehow it was aware of our presence and none too happy about it. Defying logic, the water even seemed to grow warmer the further we swam into the deep, desolate darkness.

It felt like we were swimming for days but there was no way to know for sure how long we had been moving until we began to see the trench widening and, in the distance, small lines of red light slowly emerging from the darkness. They intertwined with each other as we drew closer, like a map marked in flames. My eyes were glued on those red rivers of light and a daunting idea of what they might be started to form in my head. When finally the steep black outline became visible, backlit by scarlet light like a scene out of a nightmare, I stopped dead in my wake. I felt Serena stumble, trying to stop in time, but I hardly noticed when her forehead collided with the back of my head. The others had paused as well, squinting and gaping at the hulking mountain of rock and lava before us.

Waverlee gasped slightly, “Holy Poseidon, is that a…”

“It’s a volcano,” Jia’s rasping whisper finished the sentence quietly.

Cal’s words resonated so powerfully within my mind, my mouth opened to speak them. “Welcome to the Mariana Kingdom, the Fortress of Fire.”