Quest For The Key

Chapter 22: Water

The girls were completely trapped. Maple looked at pepper and Pepper looked at Maple as the mermaid army started to close in. Then just before it was too late they swam down. Straight down, down  down as it got darker and darker and darker. When Maple heard a sucking sound and felt grains covering their feet and Pepper realized what was beneath them. The ground started to turn and the sound grew louder and louder. When they looked down they saw a whirl pool of sand beginning to form. It was like a tornado but under the water. As they watched and their breathe grew thinner and thinner a body started to come out. It looked like a worm and it was swimming right at them. The fish food swam but the monster was faster it slithered along cutting in front of them like the mermaids had. They swam the other way. Both of them were running out of air when Maple felt yet another strike of pain. She glanced back to that the monster had her ankle gingerly between it’s sharp teeth. One move and it he would bite it off. She stopped swimming and Pepper saw the problem. Knowing this wouldn’t end up badly anyway she pulled on maple and her foot slid out from it’s mouth grinding and cutting on it’s dagger like teeth on the way. Red blood, was spilling into the water as the beast was brought out of his gaze. Maple couldn’t swim, the pain was unbearable. Just then a slimy hand grabbed their hands and started to pull them up. At first the girls had thought it was the mermaids that had come back to finish then off, but who ever it was did not have a tail.

The green water made it hard to see details. They were dragged to the cave and pushed through were they drew in a long and deep breathe of musty stale air. Maple was losing a lot of blood and most of the colour was drained from her face. That was when they saw her.

She was light blue with spikes and tentacles for hair. She had a fin on her head and wore armour and lots of jewellery. All though she was strange looking the girls found her very beautiful. Her eyes were so deep you felt lost when you looked into them. They were a lighter shade of blue then her skin and were misty like the mermaid’s.

The stranger brought her hands together and the girls watched as a picture of a jellyfish swam out of them. It shattered in a million bits that were  suspended in mid air like the fire fairy had done with the hot coal. The pieces of light then fit together again as powder as it feel into her hands. The mer woman approached Maple and her outstretched foot. The woman sprinkled the powder over the cut and the wound started to heal. After it had fully closed there was nothing but a scar. She blew on it and the scar disappeared. 

“I am Mer. I live here with my two sisters Ripple, and Current. Has my friend Spark sent you.” sang Mer.

“Jeeze! This woman doesn’t believe in first impressions.” thought Pepper.

 Before the girls had time to answer two more figures appeared out of the shadows of the cave. One who they presumed was the oldest had black hair, green eyes, and green electric finger nails. Her sister on the other hand had red dread locks and had hazelnut coloured eyes. All sisters looked different but Mer reassured that they really were in fact sisters. The one with black hair was Current and the red head was Ripple.  

Maple told them their whole story and asked about Jack. Current disappeared and came back with sand in her hands. Current threw it on the ground then started to rub her hands together quickly. Doing this each and every grain of sand began to rise and mold together to create a seashell. Current held it out to them and Maple took it making sure she didn’t brush up against her fingernails. Then it was ripples turn. She rubbed her hands together like her sister but instead of a seashell she produced a round black and grey spotted pebble. It was perfectly smooth and symmetrical.

“ Take this seashell and pour the liquid into your brothers mouth. Make sure he swallows it. He should be ok and this  pebble is the water element. Take it a go forth to for fill your quest. “ said Mer.

“ There is a worm though. A terrible sea creature out there and mermaids and seaweed and.....” stuttered Maple.

“ No worry. . Follow this tunnel and there should be a exit to the water. The mermaids don’t even know it’s there.” reassured Mer.

So, the girls started to walk down the tunnel after thanking the sisters for their help. Sure enough there was the way out. Maple swam with no trouble from her foot, or shoulder which had seemed to heal as well. The girls climbed up the shore. Jack was still where they had left him. Leaning up against a nearby tree.