The Truth About The Many Worlds Of Printed Pages

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They landed on a sea shore in the middle of a windy, moonlit night. 

Helplessly, as they steadied each other on the smooth, slippery rocks, they watched as both Siena's bonnet and James' hat were thrown by the impetuous wind into the white-capped, surging waves assaulting the wet, black shore coated in the silver veneer of moonlight reaching them from high above.

James let go of Siena carefully once he was certain that, despite the shivers caused by the coldness of the wind, she was stable and sure on her feet. He glanced into the book she held open in her trembling hand then, confirming that they landed where they wished.

"The Sea Witch's cave should be just under these rocks," he muttered hopefully, dropping his bag onto the salt sprinkled rock under his feet, stuffing the book he took from Siena inside it even as he pulled the wetsuit and the diving gear out.

Observing him silently, still shivering slightly, Siena drew in a deep breath of the salty, cool air redolent of seaweed and iodine. She wasn't nervous about swimming and diving into the gelid waves half as much as she was about undressing in front of him... But this had to be done; helping the Little Mermaid was why they were here, and the easiest way to do it was to find the antidote of the draught the Sea Witch had given her. And she was almost sure that James wouldn't find it alone, she needed to go with him and allow her stone to guide them...

"What are you...? No." James said suddenly, standing up from where he was kneeling on the ground checking the air tank, when he noticed her removing the shawl wrapped over her shoulders. "We only have one air tank; you must wait for me here, Siena, please."

"But I'm prepared, I'm wearing a swimsuit under the dress, and I feel that the stone... That the stone wants to guide me. I know I'll be alright, I know you can't do this alone," she declared, pulling the pendant from beneath her bodice where she had pushed it a while ago.

It was glowing brighter than the full moon above them, and so was she-- the crimson stone seemed to be enveloping her in a pinkish, pulsating halo... James peeled his eyes from her-- she looked breathtaking as she stood in front of him ready to shed her clothes, her eyes glimmering with determination, her hair flowing on the wind, so little and yet so magnificent and regal-- and let them drop to his own stone, which was behaving just as usual. She was a few steps ahead of him in handling the magic of their gems. And even if she wasn't, how could he ever tell her 'no'?

He inhaled a lungful of the cold, salty air before he said, "Let me show you how to use the air tank, I'll dive without..."

She threw her arms around his neck, pulled him down and bestowed a kiss on his cheek, smiling at him gratefully before he could finish his line, then released him just as unexpectedly as she stepped back and continued removing her clothes.

"Thanks, James, but you'll need it, not I. I feel that I can dive without it."

He could do nothing else but to trust her instincts, he told himself, turning away from her to let her undress in as much privacy as the rock they were standing on allowed. She stood in front of him, shivering, dressed in a blue, one-piece swimming suit the moment he turned back to her, wearing nothing but the white long johns belonging to his Victorian costume. He would only use the air tank, he decided, seeing that she was going to dive without a wetsuit.

"You must promise me," he said, finding it hard to keep his eyes from strolling over her figure, "that should this not work as you believe, you'll come up straight away and let me try to find the antidote alone. Please."

"I promise," she said, her voice a little breathy with apprehension as she observed the fathomless, swollen dark water swaying at their feet. It was bound to be freezing... With one more inhale of the salt-infused wind, she jumped in, disappearing under the waves, giving him no other option but to follow her.