Downfall

Chapter Six

Softly soaring through the skies, while relaxing, tired Cassidy out. She loved the freedom, the independence that she got from flying. Shortly after she had left the Cliff, Cassidy had felt a surge of power rushing through her body, and the whole world seemed to light up – Everything looked brighter, more defined and more beautiful. It seemed like there wasn't a leaf out of place, and she loved it! It was wonderful, truly wonderful, and Cassidy was glad that she had left the dark, dull world in which she had lived for so long. She was finally free.

Feeling her own wings tire, noticing that Ember, too, seemed to be tired out from all the flying, Cassidy finally decided to land, so they could rest, and hopefully find something to eat. Spotting a sparkling lake, reflecting the bright sun in an almost entrancing way, she found herself flying down towards it, where she heard calm, quiet singing.

There were no words, but a strong, peaceful tune which spread joy and strength, but also a strong feeling of longing for a home, a longing to be with someone, no longer be trapped in isolation. As her feet touched the ground, her legs felt weak, and she fell to her knees. Tired, Ember lay next to her, half asleep. Her bright amber eyes watched Cassidy with concern, sensing the sadness and longing that had been forced upon her.

"Resist it," A voice said in her head, calm, and smooth as syrup, "Don't give into the song of the sea."

Cassidy looked over to Ember, noticing her intense gaze, how her scales flickered as the beams of light rippling of the lake's surface washed over them, and the way she was blocking her from reaching the lake.

"What is it? Why don't you want me to go to the lake?" Cassidy said, a sad expression painted across her face, "What's so bad about a lake?"

"I sense that there's danger there. It's not safe, Cassidy." The voice sighed in her head, and the young pixie realised that the voice was coming from Ember, but not out loud.

"Ember? You – you can talk to me?" She gasped in amazement.

"Just don't go near the lake! Promise me that you'll stay away from the lake!" The voice said, echoing in her head, getting quieter and quieter as Ember seemed to be drifting into unconsciousness.

"I- I'll try." She sighed, feeling a strong urge to make her way to the lake, but she did all that she could to resist.

A splash sounding from the lake distracted her from the resistance that she was holding, keeping her from being pulled into the lake. Afraid of getting too close to the lake, but too curious to stay away, Cassidy carefully stretches out her wings, and flies up to a nearby tree, where she could watch. In the distance, she saw a blazing fire, although it almost looked as though it wasn't even there, because while at times it glowed and glistened, the fire flickering furiously through the trees, seconds later it was gone, the trees looking in perfect condition, as though there had never even been a fire in the first place.
Another splash returned her focus back to the enticing lake. Wrapping her arm around a branch in an attempt to stay put, she felt a tug towards the lake as it sparked, glistening immortally.

Spotting something dark blue under the surface of the enchanted lake, she tried to get closer so that she could see what it was. As she got closer to the lake, further along the sturdy branch, the blueness surfaced, and Cassidy realised that it was hair. She curiously found herself flying closer, and she realised that it was a girl, swimming in the lake. If Ember had told her to stay away from the lake, then why was there a girl just swimming around in the lake? It was then that she noticed the scales. Green and Blue, blended to her skin, going from her waist down, ending with a thin, delicate tail – The girl was a mermaid.

Cassidy found herself getting closer to the mermaid, and then heard the song that she was singing. She found herself sitting near the edge of the lake, intensely watching the girl sing to herself, innocently. It was only when she found herself extremely close to the water, and more mermaids began to rise, their peculiarly coloured hair rivalling hers with their unique colours, and she felt that she would fit right in – She wouldn't have to worry about being an outcast – They could all be together, happy, under the water... Cassidy shook her head and quickly reclined away from the water, horrified by her thoughts. She hated swimming, as it wet her wings, and it took them forever to dry out enough for her to be able to fly!

The mermaids expression turned sour, and all her beauty vanished as she sped towards Cassidy, snatching at her with her clawed hands, grabbing tight onto it. Cassidy tried to fly back, but the mermaid's grip was strong, and a few others held her, but not until Cassidy had pulled the mermaid out of the water completely. When she did, the clawed hands became human, her features were more natural, and her scales became legs, but the moment she was back in the water, she was transformed again.

Growling as she was pulled closer to the water, Cassidy pulled out a dagger from her belt, which she had on her at all times for security reasons, since she had heard rumours of the dangers of the forest, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to take a chance, and she was right to do so. As the blade slashed across the mermaids arm, blue mist escaped the wound instead of blood, and the mermaid recoiled in pain, hissing as she vanished underwater, the others quick in pursuit.

The blue mist swirled around, forming a sort of orb of mist, and then the orb swirled around her hand, and something solid appeared. Her first instinct was to get rid of it, since it had come from the mermaid, but her curiosity got the best of her, and she closer her hand, flying over to Ember, who was still resting, as it was far enough from the lake that the mermaids would be unable to reach her, at least, without leaving the water, which she doubted they would do – The other mermaids had just been watching the blue haired girl try and lure her in, and only took action once she was out of the water, and stopped once she was back in. Cassidy figured that it was important for them to stay in the water, and that they weren't allowed to leave the water...

Opening her hand, resting against Ember's warm scales, Cassidy found a small, hexagonal box, blue with a golden rim, small yellow orbs decorating it. Before she opened it, she held it at eye level, carefully inspecting it for dangers, although the only dangerous thing that she could find in it was the danger of it being able to blind her temporarily if it caught the sun at the right angle. She placed the box down on the ground, carefully opening it, surprised to find a small curved cone. Unsure of its purpose, she reclosed the box, and found herself feeling tired, and although she knew that it was the mermaid's song, she felt too tired to resist, and saw no harm in taking a small nap, after all, what was the worst that could happen!

A dark growling sound alerted Cassidy to the dangers that lurked nearby. Sitting up at the speed of a bullet, she realised that she was no longer by the enchanted lake where the Mermaids were, but deep in a forest, with only Ember from company, although that was normal for her – What would be peculiar would be if there was someone there with them.

Looking out beyond the dark mahogany trees, she sensed that they were no longer alone, although the company that they had was not fey, nor did it want to be friends – It was watching them like a Hawk, ready to strike when they were at their weakest. Cassidy realised that the reason that it hadn't already attacked was because Ember was awake, growling threateningly at anything that came close to her, protecting the young Pixie as though she was family, which Cassidy figured they could be classed as, since they had been together for a while, and they were the only friends the other had, and the closest thing to family. Uneasy, she felt her gaze shifting around her surroundings, in search of any possible imminent threat or danger. Eyes wide, sharply watching, she slowly rose from her tired heap on the ground, Ember turning to her, acknowledging that she was awake.

"We should go, it's not safe here. I feel a presence watching us."

Cassidy nodded, and climbed onto Ember's back, her wings not yet strong enough to carry her, due to her drowsy state. "Yeah, let's go..." She yawned, still not properly awake.

They flew for ages, headed as far away from the mermaid lake as they possibly could.