The trip to the castle didn't take long as we weren't far from it initially, this time, I didn't try to escape, I was too worried about my parents, if what the merman I came to know as Trey is speaking is true, it means my parents are already in trouble, my heart pounds as we pass by the guards, none of them stop us, they just throw us fearful glances, this makes the uneasiness I already feel even worse, we approach the throne room and the scene before me leaves me shocked. The guards have the disgraced leader of the mermaids at the corner of the room together with some of his people, he looked beaten up and I'm sure my father did him the honours, as his eyes land on me he freezes.
'Father', I choke out almost in tears now, my heart broke as I saw the look of horror on his face, he looks between the two guards holding me as realisation dawns on his face, 'Rey' my father utters, that was when Chayon's laughter booms in the room, 'lower your weapons', he orders the guards around him, a wicked smile forming on his face. None of them budge, instantly, trey lifts a dagger to my neck, a cry escaping my lips, 'LET HER GO!', my father orders, his pupils dilating, looking between the two men at my sides.
His eyes roamed the room probably looking for a way out of this. 'Oh what a sight, the great `and mighty king has fallen under the reign of the mermaids, how pitiful, Chayon spoke up. I knew you'd surrender easily once we have your pretty little shrimp, he smirks.
'Reef' my father mouthed to me, instantly, the whole room started to spin making everyone lose sight. This is my chance, I thought as I swing my tail at them, setting myself free, I move with so much speed away from them not looking back, my hands were still chained at my back making it very difficult to move fast. I could hear voices yelling behind me. I can't let them catch me or my father would pay the price. I managed to get out of the castle but Trey and his accomplice were following me, I have to lose them, I thought to myself, sighing, I stopped, facing them regretting what I'm about to do. I tried to break the chains at my back but they wouldn't budge, so I bring my arms forward.
They stop, trying to figure out my move. I let out a shaky breath as I felt it, the energy consuming my body. Trey was carefully watching me, trying to figure out what I was doing. I tried to concentrate, absorbing the energy around me, i gathered it at one spot forcing it through the chains causing them to break free. I could feel it resonating in my body before channelling it back again, changing the form of the millions of atoms making the water what it is, to dozens of small deadly spears. 'GET AWAY FROM HER RIGHT NOW' Trey yelled. I watched as they begin to get away.
I raise my arm pointing the spears in their direction as it speeds past me raining on them. I watched as it pierced their skin oozing that familiar light red blood as each spear hit them. 'STOP, WE'LL LET YOU GO' Trey yelled. I wasn't having it, they almost got my father and I love him. No one threatens his life on my watch, I'm going to kill them, I'm going to kill anyone who tries to ruin my family. 'No merperson deserves mercy, you are all corrupted, my father spoke of your people' I replied training more spears towards them again.
At this point, my limbs were burning, I wanted to kill them but I can't, the energy I'm absorbing was slowly destroying me too.
'LEAVE' I yell at them, if you follow me I'll kill you, They rush away from me and the castle towards the crashed hydra. My head began to spin as I tried to release my energy build-up but it only grew, I couldn't control my powers, my body was burning, every inch was in pain and I couldn't help but worry about my soulmate, he's going to feel it too. My eyes felt heavy as I closed them and drifted into nothingness.
XXXX
My head was pounding as I opened my eyes, it was dark and the water tasted different. A familiar grunt turns my head behind me,
'Zaria', I was so happy to see her, what are you doing here? Where are we? What happened? I say while embracing her. 'Reef', she replies. 'Oh, you brought me here? She nods her head in response. 'Thank you, now we just have to wait for father, he'll be here soon, I say as I move to light up the place. It was a beautiful cavern hidden under the reef, It had gorgeous rocks that glow when touched, it was deep and spacious enough for four people to stay comfortably. I accidentally found it and Zaria too. She was peacefully sleeping here. When I got home I told my father all about it, I remember how I dragged him from the castle to show him the place but ended up getting us lost. I smile as I relieve the memory.
We found it after almost giving up and he made me promise not to tell anyone about it. He thought it to be a perfect to stay when there is an emergency. As for Zaria, I found her when I decided to explore the deep part of the cavern one day. Initially, I was too scared to go down there but curiosity got the best of me. 'I'm hungry', Zaria says, 'me too, let's get something to eat, good thing I always bring food here'. I open the chest containing some supplies as I pull out the octopus arm I earlier left here, we munch on it as I thought of my parents. We've been in the cave for a long time now and my father still hasn't come, I was beginning to feel uneasy again. It was almost midnight now, he should've come for me hours ago.
'Rey, let's use the reef as a safe spot ok? If anything happens, stay there, I'll come get you, but if I don't show up for a full day, LEAVE!' My father's words to me the first time we came here. It's been a full day now and he hasn't shown up which means I should leave but I don't want to. If he isn't here something definitely happened to him, something really bad. I'm not leaving, I'm going back to help him. 'Stay here Zaria', I say as I kiss her head. I'm going to help father, I can't leave him' To my surprise Zaria's eyes open, she quickly moves to block my path. 'What are you doing? I'm not leaving him' I say as I try to move her aside. 'No, you can't go back, the whole reason he told you to come here was to keep you safe, don't go.'
'But he is in danger, I say as tears spill from my eyes, how do I even help him? Even if I go I'll just be caught. I don't understand, he should've been able to defeat them, why isn't he here? Why? I know I'm too weak to help but what should I do? 'You're not weak, and you can definitely help him. Think! You have a smart mind, use it. But you going back is putting his effort to save you to waste.
I slid down the wall letting out a sigh placing my face in my palms, what can I do? I can't go back to the castle nor the kingdom, they'll be looking for me. 'That's it! I exclaim, we should go to Benera, ask the Yetas for help, They have an alliance with my father. I don't know how to get there though, and we don't have a hydra, we'll have to swim there. 'There is a map' Zaria states.
'Oh yes, I say as I open the chest, grabbing the map and setting it on the ground. Good thing my father taught me how to use one. We are here, I say pointing to a spot on the map. We need to get to Benera which is here, East of this place. It's far, we'll spend days before we get there, plus, we'll only travel at night to minimise the risk of being seen, so it'll take longer. It'll take us approximately ten days to reach Benera if my calculation is accurate'. 'We should leave now, we can make it to the outer seas before daybreak, find somewhere to stay until night. I move to the chest again, we can't go with the chest, we need some sort of bag, I groaned, I don't have any here. That's it, I thought, I exhaled concentrating on my surrounding, absorbing the energy around me, I take note of each atom in my possession as I move my hands around, the water droplets changing it's form into a bag. Perfect, this should do, I had changed the form of the once free flowing water to a compressed hollow pouch.
I place the map in, Zaria, we need light, she looked at me confused, I pointed at the glowing rocks, realisation dawned on her face as she tries to get them. Meanwhile, I get the lantern and place it in the bag as well, it'll eventually die so we need more light sources. I notice an unfamiliar dagger wondering how it got there but I place it in my bag anyways, there was a small bottle also most likely containing hayaat. Lastly was my combat clothes, I only wore them for training with father. They shouldn't be here, neither should the dagger nor the bottle. I squeeze my face not making sense of anything.