BOUNDED

IV

As I hoped it went after Zaria, it knocked the lantern out my hand so I'm guessing it can't stand light, I need to get the lantern, I spotted it few meters deep before diving towards it. The deeper I went, the harder it was to breathe, the water was becoming more dense, the temperature was decreasing and the pressure on my body was making me feel light headed. I was very close so there is no stopping, I finally caught up, reaching my arms out to grab it but Zaria's scream causes me to freeze, It had caught up to her and had her in a fight. 

'No, I whisper to myself as I watch them, I can't let the people I care about get hurt because of my cowardice. I looked on as she got slammed into a huge rock, her body went limp, her grunts silenced as I watch her sink.

'NO, I scream as I hurl the lantern towards her using my powers to boost its speed, it let out a loud roar as it cowered from the sudden light, rage burned through me as I target it with my spears, sending them off at it, I didn't stop, watching it writhing in pain as each spear pierced its flesh, forming a blood pool around it, its screams were terrible as it fought to get away, but I didn't let it. I have to finish it off, I thought as I aimed more, my limbs were beginning to burn once again, my eyes flashed, everything in me begging me to stop. I do after it stopped struggling. There was a pool of blood clouding it as I watch it sink away before sinking into my own darkness as well.

My eyes shoot open to the sound of Zaria's whimpers, she was curled up around me, panting heavily, I could taste her blood in the water.

'Zaria, I rush to get up, cupping her velvety muzzle in my hands, her eyes were closed, she was motionless and her wounds were bleeding into the water, I examine her, she had small wounds as well as major ones, a scratch across her eye, huge bite marks on her tail, from the looks of it, its deep. she had claw marks on her upper body as well, revealing her flesh. My eyes tear up seeing her in this state, it's my fault.

'The bottle, I gasp as I look around trying to find my bag, that's when I notice we're on the sea bed, there was sand everywhere, how long have I been unconscious? I wonder as I try to dig around, the bag had dispersed and all its content was scattered around, finally, I find it.

I open it, letting a bit of its content spill onto my hand before closing it back. 'Open your mouth for me Zaria' she seems to have heard me as her jaw releases, I cup her jaw letting it spill in.

'I'm sorry, this is going to hurt, I say as I kiss her before moving a bit, she lets out a roar, my hand shoots up over my ears as I try to block out her screams, this is the first time I heard her roar. Her body twists in a painful way as her wounds start to close, cutting off the blood loss. She finally stills again as the last wound closes up. I move to wrap my arms around her as more tears escape my eyes, only to be washed away almost immediately.

'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry', I mumble over and over as I hold onto her. 'You have nothing to apologise for, you're my responsibility, I'll do anything to protect you' She finishes, her head perking up to look at me, gorgeous golden brown eyes trying to reassure me. I was beginning to feel extremely light headed, it was really difficult to breath as expected considering we were basically at the bottom of the sea.

' We should hurry to the surface, I say as I scramble to gather my things, creating another bag to place them in. As I take the last glowing rock, something reflects from a tiny hole in the sand, what is that? I wonder to myself, I begin to dig around the hole, the sand starts to sink, creating a big hole, I gasp sighting what was there. It looked really weird, I'd never seen it but it looked really familiar, it looked to have sunk and been buried by the sand perfectly well.

 Curiosity got the best of me, so I pull at the side but it doesn't budge, I pull harder again as it lets out a creaking noise, finally opening. There were two seats in it and some controls, from the looks of it.... definitely a hydra, but I've never seen one like this.... never. They are much more advanced than whatever this is, half of it was still buried by the sand, I get into one of the seats, Zaria was watching me curiously, 'does it work'? I wonder as I run my hands over the controls looking for a familiar button, one of them stood out so I tug on it.

The hydra lets out a disturbing sound before stopping, I tug at it again, it seemed to have done the trick. Everything was different from a hydra yet really similar, I could figure out how to maneuver it, I press another button, it shakes a bit violently before lifting up.

'It works, I yell as I peep down at Zaria, we'll be at Benera in no time with it, come on, I say as I reposition myself more comfortably. She gets in the other seat, curling herself to fit, I turn the headlights on, lighting up ahead of us, a familiar sight appearing, it was the body of the creature, I spot my dagger still stuck in it, I'll need that back, I say as I pull it out.

Surprisingly, this hydra works just good enough, it acts up once in a while but we're alright. I decide to fly us not too far from the sea bed, if we move without taking breaks, we'll be at Benera in two days. 

I'm sorry Zaria, I say again, it's my fault, we should've stuck to the surface but I wanted to explore the deeper parts, I got us caught up with that creature. 

'No, don't blame yourself, you saved me' she grunts, not happy at my statements.

'You saved me first, I smile at her, I healed you but it wasn't painless. I frown.

'What did you give me? She questions

'We call it hayaat, I say as I face her. It has so many mysteries about it, father said it was a compensation to the royal family, he didn't tell me from who, I squeeze my face in thought. It gives us our powers and heals too but I don't know how it works, father tried to teach me but I was always distracted, I laugh at the memory, it's like a special water, I find it weird because if its water, why doesn't it mix with the sea? It floats in water on its own, it glows a bit, it tastes different. Father said we have to take it once in a blue moon but I don't even know what that means. I inform her.

She moves her head to the side questioningly. 'I'm confused too, I laugh, resting my head feeling myself begin to drift . The hydra works on its own, I don't need to worry, I say to myself as I let the sleep consume me.

We're on the last day of our journey and according to the map, in few hours we'll be at our destination. Ever since the encounter with that creature, it was smooth floating, we didn't run into any other issue. We only stopped briefly to eat. 

'We should leave the hydra here, I say to Zaria. I could spot the walls of Benera from here, we could speak to the guards, they'll help us, I say.

'I don't think so, sirens are not to be trusted, we should lay low and sneak our way to the royal house' she speaks up.

I ponder over her words, trying to come up with a plan, I'm a fish folk, it's really easy to spot us and she is a hippocampus, the last of her kind, we'd stick out. 'Either they rebuilt the walls or this isn't the entrance, I don't remember it being this way, we follow the west when we come, could there be another entrance from there? I state. 'Let's check it out, we should go around to the west, the plants camouflage us well enough for now.

We circle towards the west, there was an entrance but it was heavily guarded, much more than the times I came here but I don't pay it much thought. 'The guards will recognise me, go back to the hydra Zaria, I can't protect you from them, I'll come back for you, I rub her nose.

'No, I won't leave you, what if something goes wrong' she objects.

'I'm not asking you, I sigh, you know what will happen if they find you, if something goes wrong, I'll rush back to the hydra. I try to reassure her. She reluctantly agrees and does as I say, I wait till she's a good distance away before heading towards them. The guards aim towards me but freeze, probably shocked to see a fish folk. I put on a confident face watching one of the guards move forward.

'I am Reyna, heir to the throne of Azarthis, I'm here on behalf of my father, I wish to speak to the royal family, I finish. The guards spare weird glances, the one in front bows his head as they follow him.

 He squints his eyes at me before widening them. 'Princess! He exclaims, I'm honoured to be of your service, may you come with me'? he bows again as he heads towards the top of the wall. That was almost too easy, I sigh with relief going after him. He motions to a hydra, if you may please. I get in, feeling accomplished I made it.

Author's note

Hey guys, another chapter in. What do you think of this? Do you think she'll get the help she came for? A little spoiler (things get heated).*winks. Thank you for reading my book.