Mermaids are Menacing (Book 2) Complete

26.) A Drop In the Ocean

If the crystallines were see through then they couldn't be the crystals I was thinking of. The spouse finding ones were blood red in color but it did grant special abilities. I suppose it doesn't matter anyway, the cave and everyone els was destroyed and I would never see them again.

"There was another thing I wanted to know," I began but in the distance I heard a bellowing roar.

"Go!" The tree ordered. "You must go now!"

I waisted no time saying goodbye, not when I knew what was coming. My feet made a straight line for the cove. It was shaded in the forest but I could still see daylight in the sky. I still had hours left untill night came, why was it up when the sun was out!?

When I reached the beach I jumped from the ledge and half rolled half fell into the cove. I was lucky I didn't fall into my own spears, although it probably would have only left some soreness. Plucking the spear out of the ground, I aimed the burnt and sharpened edge to the tree line.

The unmistakable reflection of red eyes were hiding there but not just one pair. What made those things become this intense? That more than one came looking for me. I had to abandon the cove. These things were going to wait for night fall and then take a bite out of me. Fighting one was hard with a group, fighting alone against two would be impossible.

North was my only escape. I stayed on the beach and walked but the eyes in the forest kept up with me, forever staying in the shaded area of the trees. With each step I became more anxious. The south is blocked off, the west is forest infested with Red eyes, the east is ocean, and North the river will cut the land in two. I just had to make it to the river and swim across.

Sand and rocks skittered infront of me when my urgent steps crunched down on the ground. I began to calculate how much sun remained, how much time it afforded me. My body was tense. I could hear the Red Eyes following me from a distance, never far behind. If I had concentrated on collecting the fire wood I could have at least bought myself some time to run away by lighting a fire.

When the river was before me the sun was already getting ominously close to the mountains to my left. The ocean was dyed in a hazy orange. I paced thinking about the river before me. I wasn't confident in my ability to cross the wide expanse especially with my new form. I was heavier, and while I could at least float and tred in shallow water, this was fast moving and possibly infested with Carnals.

In my frustration, I screamed and screeched with anger. It was always one trial after another and I was tired.  Emotionally and physically the hardships took their toll. Screaming did nothing to change my situation but I did at least feel a little better after. Crossing the river with a spear was not an option. I hurled the thing at the Red Eyes hiding in the forest. The shadows of the trees were slowly creeping towards me as time passed, increasing the range of the encroaching monsters.

With a deep breath I took my first steps into the river. The water was warm and I couldn't see anything under the surface. I waded through the water that was already up to my waste. My tail swished anxiously in the water propelling me forward. Deeper and deeper. I felt a sence of rising panic when the water reached my chest. I might be mostly impenetrable but I could still drown.

The last Red Eye found a way over water to attack the Orcs, trying to stay in the shallow water might not be enough to deter them and Roka said Carnals were most active at night, which was quickly approaching. I was already in deep water and the rivers current was pushing me out into the sea.

Shit. Shit. Shit I thought over and over in my head. I wasn't even half way there and I was struggling through mud, making slow progress. Hoping up and down to keep my head above the water while moving forward. Before the sun dropped over the mountains back I had the familiar screeching and screaming.

Thrashing wildly I gave up on bouncing and tries to swim to the other shore. If the Orcs find me on their side of the river they might believe I have become crazy from Red Eye contact and kill me immediately but I had no other options. My mind was racing when I was pulled under.

I struggled and wriggled without sight. Under the water, it was to dark to see. Thrashing, wriggling I tried to fight with my arms pinned to my sides. For a moment we breached for air, I took a gasped breath still blind from the water in my eyes before being dragged back under the water. I felt the water rushing past at what must be a great speed. The torturous pattern repeated itself over and over again. Dives accompanied by grateful gasps of air but I came to wonder, why wasn't I being eaten?

I stopped struggling. I still couldnt remove the water from my eyes and I could tell that my messy braid had already come undone when I felt pieces of black hair sticking to my face. Roka. He was the only one who nearby who could swim and would come to my aid. Where we were going I had a clue. Now that my make shift home was gone, I didn't really have the ability to complain about the destination. My only hope was that I didn't drowned before we reached our destination.

After some time, the sound of screeching had already dissipated far behind us but we kept moving forward. How far from shore are we? We slowed down and the vice like grip around my arms and waist loosened. I held on in response fearing that he might let me go entirely and I'd since to the bottom of the ocean. Roka rolled on to his back. I held on to his side. I waited for a snide comment or a joke but instead we floated while he propelled us with his tail.

Away from the Carnals, the ocean was calm. Peaceful. The feeling of being rocked by the tide wasn't bad. I couldn't see I felt absolutely safe but at least I wasn't worried about being shredded apart by a horde of hands and teeth.

"Why were you bleeding?" He asked.

"They came in droves for a couple drops of dried blood?" I asked avoiding his question.

"If they're within a knot, a drop of blood is all it takes for them to come for the source." Roka explained. "Your blood is especially appealing since it's higher in mana."

"I had never heard that word before and now I'm hearing it twice today." I remarked. I layed back and floated with my head in the crook of his arm. "Were going to the sea palace right?"

"No, a cave further south." He replied.

My hair spill out in a black inky mass, unlike Rokas that seemed stiffer and stayed flat to his head and together.

"How long till we get there?" I asked.

"At this speed? Maybe four hours." He replied. "For being obstinate before, you seem rather calm about this situation."

"Its not the first time I've had to leave home because of danger." I answered.

"But the first time with someone as dazzling as me?" He asked.

"How can you say things like that with a straight face?" I remarked.

"Being with a beautiful woman makes me confident." He smiled.

"Stop or I'll choke on sea water." My mouth pursed into a thin line.

"I can flirt and carry you at the same time." He said proudly. He pulled me on top of him while continuing to swim. How strong was he to stay afloat? His delicate features are deceptive.  "As I was saying, I'm terribly pleased that you finally excepted my invitation."

"That's not how i remember it going, i believe i was dragged under the water without saying anything."

"Ah but if you could have said something it would have been 'Roka! Thank you for rescuing me! I owe you my life, how can I ever repay you." He said batting his eye lashes. "And then I would have said, "My Pearl, anything for you." And then we could spend the rest of the night entangled in an embrace not entirely different than now.

"You have a very active imagination." I replied dryly.

"Well if you enjoyed that part I can go into detail about the second half." He grinned showing a row of sharp teeth.

Something told me this would be a very long trip.