Love Underwater

~Chapter Two~

     The sun had just dipped below the horizon when a pair of red eyes emerged from a cave. A strawberry blonde head emerged from the darkness of the small entrance. The rest of the body stepped into the growing darkness, revealing a long red trench coat. The boy stretched as though awaking from a long sleep.

     From the forest surrounding the cave, a pair of emerald eyes watched as the boy in the trench coat stumbled into the growing darkness, rubbing his eyes and stretching. It wasn't long before the boy noticed the eyes watching him. He walked over to the forest edge.

    Vlad looked at his green eyed friend. "Morning, Arthur. Long time no see"

    Arthur sighed. "The sun just went down." 

    Vlad smiled, revealing two sharp canines. Arthur crosses his arms, his blond hair messy and filled with leaves.  

    "What have you been doing in the two years I've been gone?" Vlad asked, noticing a small chunk of Arthur's right horn missing. 

    "Long story," Arthur said, shaking his head, his antlers glowing a soft golden color.

     The vampire sighed. "Have you seen Lukas? He should have been here a while ago."

     The forest spirit shook his head. "No. It's not like him to be late. He knows how important today, of all days, is."

      Vlad sighed. "Let's go ask around." Before Arthur could react, Vlad became a black bat and flew of into the dark sky.

     Arthur cursed. He started to run, watching as the trees parted for him. Breathing heavily, focused on the small shape flying above the treeline. He followed the bat through the dense forest for about fifteen minutes before they reached a pool in a clearing. The pool was crystal blue and circular.

    The bat landed on the ground. Arthur slowed his breathing and watched as the bat turned back into Vlad. Standing up, Vlad brushed off his coat and adjusted the small hat on his head. 

    "Next time," Arthur huffed. "Wait for me."

     The vampire smirked, though it disappeared when he turned to look back at the pool. "I should probably talk to her, right?"

      Arthur nodded. "I'll wait here. Don't let her know I'm with you"

     Vlad walked over to the circular pool and touched his hand to the surface. Almost immediately, two dark silhouettes, not just one, entered the pool from a dark whole, the only thing marking the pool's smooth, pristine walls. 

     Two women's heads emerged from the water. They were both deeply tanned, with black hair. He recognized the first woman; the second woman was annoyed and angry.

     The first woman smiled wider. "Hello, Vlad! Nice to see you!" 

     Vlad smiled back. "Nice to see you too, Michelle. Listen, have you two seen Lukas?"

     The second woman scoffed. "Lukas? Haven't seen him. Go back to sucking blood, vampire scum."

     Michelle gasped. "Lauren!" She exclaimed, whacking Lauren with her light blue tail.

     Lauren grumbled. "Well, he's been gone awhile now," said Michelle. "I don't know him that well, I don't know where he'd be."

     "Surely you must have some idea?" Vlad asked desperately.

     "Just cause we're both merpeople doesn't mean we're all best buddies," Lauren snapped, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

     Vlad groaned. "Me and Arthur were just trying to find-" He stopped himself, remembering too late he shouldn't have mentioned Arthur. 

    Michelle paled and Lauren grew red with rage. "How dare he come here after what happened?" Lauren hissed. She grasped an edge of the pool and pulled herself up, her cerulean tail smacking Vlad in the face. Off balance, he fell into the pool. He started treading water, watching as Lauren inched her way to Arthur's hiding spot. 

    "ARTHUR KIRKLAND!" She screamed. "YOU LEAVE ME TO ROT IN A HUMAN CAGE AND NOW YOU COME BACK ASKING FOR FAVORS?"

    Arthur emerged from a nearby bush, avoided the furious mermaid who was struggling on land, pulled Vlad out of the pool, and they both ran back to Vlad's cave. They were both panting wildly by the time they reached it. 

    Vlad laughed. "I don't know what you did to make that Lauren chick so mad, but that was hilarious!" 

    Arthur did not return Vlad's smile. "It's a long story." He said finally. 

    Vlad smirked. "Oh, yeah?" he asked. "Well, we've got nothing better to do..."

    "Fine," Arthur huffed. Vlad sat down on a nearby log, and Arthur sat beside him.

     "It was only about a year ago, actually. You had only just left on your mission when I met the Lauren chick in question."

~o0o~

Michelle is Seychelles, and Lauren is my OC Caicos. She and her brother, Turks, appear later in the story. 

Hope you enjoyed! More chapters on the way!