Crossing the road and back into the human realm, she felt the magic of Faerie pull at her. It was like thick, sticky taffy, begging and longing to keep her in its grasp. She almost felt naked walking away from the magic land along the asphalt, thick with the tarry smell of newly laid road. Bundled rows of houses lined the lakeshore near them. She liked their rustic appeal. Some were tightly clustered while others had private driveways ending at enormous log cabins touching the canopies of the thick evergreens. They made their way down one of the many dirt roads leading toward the rocky beaches.
The hum of magic returned, flowing off the water in waves, calling to Shade in low whispers. It made her hair stand on end and her fingers tingle as she took in the atmosphere. This was definitely it, she could feel it. Kilara was closer than ever before.
Chapter Two
Rubies & Water
“IT’S SO COLD,” Shade half whispered under her breath as she let her fingers dip into the lapping waves, rolling over smoothed pebbles and mud. Her feet sank into the sand, shocking her skin, but it still felt good. She’d pulled her boots off of her aching feet, longing for the cool embrace of the frigid water. It wasn’t as cold as it was during the winter, but it was never really warm. Luckily, her fire powers heated the water lapping against her skin, making the shock wear off quickly.
This beach was full of boulders the size of mammoths and more secluded than the previous ones lined by the cabins. Shade’s eyes followed Dylan, who was making his way toward the cluster of gigantic stones at the edge of the lake. The water was so blue and clear, it was stunning. Even so, the impressive size of the great stones was dwarfed by the enormity of the lake, surrounded by even more behemoth mountains.
“It’s beautiful here. Have you visited this place before?” Nautilus was perched over a boulder, leaning down to caress the surface of the water with his fingertips.
“Yes, but it was a long time ago. My father… my human father… brought us here to this very place. We dove off the boulders and swam all day until the sun started setting and the chill crept into your bones from swimming in the water too long.” A small tear slid down her cheek at the memory. Remembering was always painful.
“I’ll get the boat.” With that, he disappeared over a hill of boulders, leaving her to her thoughts. The day was wearing on too fast. Even in the long hours of summer, time appeared to go faster in the mortal world than it did in Faerie. Shade had spent too much time there, and now the human world was feeling incredibly foreign. It was hard to shake the uneasiness of that feeling.
“Hey, I’ve got the boat!” Nautilus pulled a moderately sized speed boat slowly from an enchanted alcove nearby. It was a modern craft, equipped with an engine, and big enough for six people. Shade briefly wondered how he’d known where one would be, but decided she could always ask him later. They’d have to wade out to it in the chilly water. The waterproofing spells would help ward off the cold somewhat, but not enough for Shade’s comfort. A flash of the Seven River Valley she’d had to trudge through her first days in Faerie scratched at her mind. The deep permeating chill from those rivers still made her shiver at the thought. At least this would be much briefer than her endless submersions into the tangles of those rivers.
“Let’s get to it.” Dylan pulled his pack over his head and strapped it on tightly, jumping in and heading toward the boat. Shade gave one last groan, staring at the cold, clear blue water. Tossing her shoes into her pack, she dove in after him, feeling her body stiffen at the shock of the lake. It was unpleasant, but she pushed it from her mind and made her way to the boat.
Dylan reached over, helping her into the boat and throwing her a wide smile as his warm hands gripped her sides firmly. His face always calmed her, and she relished the moment, glad he wasn’t holding grudges today. Nothing was better than Dylan’s embrace.
Speeding through the waters was exhilarating. It couldn’t be compared to the open air of the mountain forests, but it was a different kind of peaceful feeling. It made Shade wonder how she’d ended up a summer faery princess. The warmth of the south was nice, but the cool, mountain air was revitalizing. Maybe it was the human part of her which made her enjoy it more than her faery half. Whatever it was, she was glad to be out of the stifling confines of the Scren Palace, no matter how beautiful and magical it was.
“Stop!” she shouted over the roar of the wind. Dylan cut the speed and pulled the boat around. The waves slapped the sides of the boat until they calmed their choppiness. Shade leaned over the side and peered down into the endless, dark blue abyss. Visibility was clear for several feet, but the sun’s rays were swallowed up by the mysterious depths, the bottom nowhere in sight.
Shade….
Closing her eyes, she searched her memories for anything that told her the sanctuary of the Summer Ancient would be buried at the bottom of a freezing cold lake. Even Lana’s offerings told her nothing, and she let the magic floating off the surface of the water waft across her, circling around her body and into her lungs. Kilara was far beneath the surface. There was nothing left to do but dive.
“She’s down there.”
Dylan peered over the side, staring so intently, it looked like he could see through the indigo depths. The light went down pretty far, but who knew how deep it really went? Shade shivered at the thought and straightened, finding Nautilus observing her closely.
“Nautilus.” She acknowledged him with a nod, a tiny smile playing on her lips as her cheeks reddened. Clearing her throat, she decided it was time to figure out the game plan and get moving. “So… how do we get down there? The ruby lets me breathe under water, but I can’t possibly swim all the way down there, can I?”
“No. But that’s where I come in.” He grinned, looking like he’d won the lottery. Shade swallowed, returning her eyes to the water surrounding them.
Dylan was paying attention now and eyed him with perfect distaste. “What do you have in mind?” he hissed. Shade was sure he was none too happy to have his former Teleen Guard comrade along for the ride and would be sure to ditch him as quickly as possible if he could.
“Simple, really.” Nautilus pulled off his shirt and started dumping his gear on the floor of the boat, except for his small weapons pack. Everything he could need was in a small, compact bag, ready to be summoned to full size when he needed it. “I do the swimming, Shade holds on to me on the way down.” He snickered and threw Dylan a challenging stare. “All she has to do is hold the ruby crystal in her mouth and breathe normally. Its magic allows an affinity to water, therefore she’ll be able to breathe as if the water were air. She won’t freeze either; it dulls the sensations of both heat and cold while submerged, so she won’t go hypothermic.”
Shade pulled out the jewel once more and held it up. It sparkled and sent a thousand fragments of red light across her tanned skin. Her brown eyes shined under the crimson, making them look somewhat like dark blood. Dylan shifted uncomfortably at the thought of her diving in with Nautilus, but if he wanted to protest, he sure didn’t voice it.
“Be careful,” he whispered and slipped his arms around her waist as she also dropped her weapons and packs of supplies. She stripped down to just her shirt and jeans, knowing the hoodie would drag her down with excess weight in the water, and her shoes would impede any swimming.
Smiling at his warm embrace, she slipped her arms through his, hooking her fingers together around the small of his back. His heartbeat thumped like a drum, music to her ears.
“I will. Kilara wouldn’t have chosen this spot if she had ever thought her descendants wouldn’t be able to reach her. I’ll be safe, I promise.” With that, she let his lips descend upon hers, feeling their soft touch send bursts of lightning down her skin and deep into her chest. Nothing compared to kissing Dylan. His magic mingled with hers, happily entwining. It left her heart singing.
“Uh-hum.” Nautilus cleared his throat, buying a sharp glare from Dylan, but he acted as if he hadn’t noticed as he tightened back his bundle of dre
adlocks. “Ready, Shade?” He smiled and jumped off the side of the boat.
Shade flicked her eyes between Dylan and the now empty spot Nautilus had occupied. She couldn’t wait to get some alone time with her fiancé. They’d had none since he’d asked her to marry him back at the Teleen Caverns. The Faery war, her mother’s death, plus the impending end to the warded borders between Faerie and the human world didn’t leave much time for love. She wondered if she’d ever get any time to herself ever again.
She prepped to jump in, Nautilus already treading water as he waited for her, his hazel eyes gleaming greener in the blue of the water. “Wait,” Dylan’s hesitant voice interjected.
“I’ll be okay, hun.”
“I know. You’ll always be okay. I know that. You can take care of yourself, that’s what I love about you. It’s just… don’t forget… I love you.”
She smiled back at him, finding his arms once more wrapped about her waist, and their lips pressed together one more time. “I know. I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
She turned and jumped off the side, down into the frigid water, ruby in hand. Surfacing, she found Nautilus making his way toward her, slicing his well-defined muscular arms through the water. She pulled the jewel up to her eyes, admiring it’s brilliance before popping it onto her tongue and sealing her lips shut. It was hard and cold, but easy to grip in her mouth. She wasn’t sure how long it would feel comfortable, so she signaled that she was ready and wrapped her arms around the Teleen-merman’s shoulders, hoping she wouldn’t choke him during the ride down. Dylan was gripping the sides of the boat, his face a mask of stoicism. He gave her a small, tentative nod right before Nautilus jolted up and jerked forward, bringing her head under the water, making the world above disappear as the water swallowed it whole.
Chapter Three
The Merfolk
AT FIRST, SHADE squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath. Slowly easing them back open, she was astonished to find that she could see clearly. It didn’t feel like a haze over her eyeballs, like at the pool she used to swim in at the Y. It was like she was looking clearly through a glass wall, without any kind of discomfort. She waited until her lungs were on fire before risking a tiny breath through her nose, the natural phobia of drowning screaming at her as they descended farther.
Nautilus had warned her it would feel like heavy air at first, but it felt as though she was breathing viscous oil as the water rushed into her lungs. She sputtered for a moment before it eased up, the burning retreated and her breathing normalized. Now it just felt a bit odd and uneasy, but her panic diminished rather rapidly, and she concentrated on holding on to Nautilus.
She’d seen his webbed feet and fingers before, but she was impressed to find he had gills opening and closing on his exposed neck. Closed, they looked like faded tribal lines against his light mocha skin, but in the water, with the rush of water shifting in and out of them, it was akin to being next to shark gills. It made her shudder, but she covered it up by adjusting her grip around his massive shoulders.
There was a vast nothingness around them, nothing but deep blue and the fading light from above. The pressure increased as they dove deeper, and she wondered if she would have to decompress when they resurfaced, like divers did when deep sea diving. Maybe she wouldn’t have to. Sometimes, being part Faerie had its advantages.
Feeling the current tug at her hair and the loose ends of her shirt, she was grateful for her fire powers, especially the deeper they went. Nautilus had also kicked up the heat and kept the freezing water at bay. The light faded away, and the darkness brought out another power of them both. He began glowing, his fire element burning along his skin, rippling in the water and casting an eerie light across the expanse around them. It sent chills up her arms, even though she was toasty warm. Something was getting closer, and they weren’t even near the bottom yet. It was nothing but instinct which kept her eyes peeled.
Nautilus stopped dead in his tracks, treading the water as a flurry of chaos surrounded them. Merfolk guards with tritons circled them as they floated, suspended in the darkness. Shade jerked her head around to watch the ones behind them inching in. Their faces were human, but their skin blended into an array of glittering scales, shining in the blue glow of Nautilus’s fire. Their eyes twinkled in the light, a dark fathomless black which watched their every move. His fire reflected in their black eyes like stars on a clear, cloudless night.
An echo, smothered by the weight of water, vibrated in Shade’s eardrums, making her almost let go of Nautilus to protect her ears from the high pitched sound stabbing at her. Cringing away from the sound, she managed to cover one of them before the voice died away.
No one moved, making her even more nervous. The merfolk guards flicked their tales to hover, weapons pointed toward them as they held their ground. Nautilus responded with the same resonating sound. It was unsettling, feeling the water echo around her, but it didn’t hurt her ears any more. She focused her eyes on the one merman who was obviously their leader. His scales shone more crystalline, and his arms were plastered with an array of platinum arm bands which glinted as he moved, pointing at them. He looked quite intent on yelling at them, his lips moving in strange, haunting calls with echoing clicks, reminding her of dolphin speak. She hoped he wouldn’t be using that long, sharp and dangerous-looking triton on them. From the sound of his voice, it wasn’t looking good for them.
“What’s going on?” Shade asked, unsure if Nautilus could even hear her in the ruckus. Her voice was muffled and sounded as if someone had stuffed a sock down her throat. The merfolk guard glared at her, his eyes narrowing before he yelled out and flicked his hand for the rest of the guards to do something. They closed the gap between them, weapons ready to impale.
At this, Nautilus shook his head and swatted Shade off like a nuance. He then shoved her down with a rough push, sending her descending rapidly. The acceleration made her almost swallow the hard ruby in her mouth.
Twisting her neck to look up at the disappearing glow of Nautilus’s fire, she panicked and found that she was moving without any assistance from her own body toward a massive wall ahead. Stuck in the current, she thrashed, trying to move forward, or sideways, or any which way that wasn’t the direction she was being dragged. It was useless, especially since whatever had a hold on her was refusing to let go.
She had to gather her wits before she drowned or froze. With all the commotion, she’d let her inner fire burn out, and the water-proofing spell had broken up along with it. Shoot! That darned spell never lasted long enough, and it had let the cold freeze of water swirl in, overtaking her and stealing the heat away. She was left quivering with the cold in no time, near hypothermia. Closing her eyes, she let the calm wash over her, and the heat reignited. She opened her eyes and found that she was now being escorted by a couple of mermaid guards, also armed with tritons but less threatening in posture.
These merfolk were not exactly the traditional form of a merman or mermaid; they had no tails to speak of. Instead, they had long legs with fins formed on their feet, long and wavy. Their legs also glittered with small, shimmering scales which seemed to flash with a bit of self-emanating light. Their hair was long and braided, weaved with tiny shells and coral clipped to the locks. Their faces looked human but blended into the same glimmer of scales around the edges. Not all of their skin was covered with scales, only the edges of their faces, the cusps of their shoulders, elbows and most of their legs. Blushing, Shade realized they were otherwise naked, but she didn’t really think about it too much, seeing that the mouth of a large cave was rapidly approaching, and the jet stream which had a hold of her was pummeling her toward its mouth with alarming speed.
Gasping, she readied herself for impact, but before she hit the hard stone wall ahead, the mermaids grabbed her arms and pulled her along, entering the darkness ahead. Shade shuddered at the slimy, cold touch of their fingers on her wrists. She wondered if they could dwell on land or remai
ned underwater their entire lives. The difference between Nautilus and these full-blooded merfolk was obvious. He didn’t have the scales which decorated their skin. He did possess the webbing across his toes and fingers but lacked the long, pretty fins off the tips of his feet that these people had. Besides that, only their onyx eyes, without whites, kept them apart from even other faeries and mortals. Otherwise, they were quite humanoid.
A light shone up ahead, bringing her aching eyes forward. The water had had an irritating effect on her eyeballs, and she was sure they would be burning for a while after this was all over. The shimmering water shifted, making her realize they were headed upward, toward a surface, with air above them. She wondered what sort of underground cavernous place this was and what had become of Nautilus.
One big yank from one particularly rough female broke them through the water’s surface. The mermaids didn’t pull hard, but they pressed her to continue swimming on her own, up a long staircase which made its way down to the water’s edge and became completely submerged halfway down. Her feet bumped into a step, and she flailed her hands out until she gripped the slimy stone steps before her.
Scrambling up them, she stepped to the side and rolled onto her back, slowly taking deep, moss-scented air back into her lungs. With the first breath, she spit the ruby out into her hands, along with a stomach full of lake water. Gasping, she felt as though she was drowning for a few seconds until her body readjusted to breathing in the moist air. It wasn’t as fresh as she would have liked it to be, but it would do for now.
Plucking the ruby from the ground, she peeked up through the sopping wet locks framing her face to see more merfolk guards surrounding her, tritons pointed. As they closed in, she laid down onto her back, exhausted from the trek down and utterly unable to move her stiffened limbs. All she could do was concentrate on breathing normally, which felt like a task in and of itself. The magic of the ruby had left her feeling almost hung over, and she wished Nautilus had pointed that little tidbit out before they’d taken to the lake. Now she was at the mercy of the underwater inhabitants, and she hoped they weren’t anxious to chop her up into little tiny pieces.