Shattering Reality - COLLAB WITH @AtomicDaDragon

Chapter 10

Atomic's Perspective

I walk silently, not looking at Alex, letting the question sit on my tongue.

What do you mean, my training?

The trees rustle with the sound of small animals, and I lick my lips. I'm starving. I bound into the trees after a mouse. Ella laughs.

As I go deeper into the woods, the light is dimmer, and the trees bigger. I start to worry, because I can't hear the others. I loose the mouse.

I hear a voice like water in the distance. It sings a song in the Dragon Language. I listen in, drawn to it.

''Oh, can you see

the one who is lost

come, follow me

into a world of foam and moss

After you see me,

you can't look away

I follow it, and a hand grabs me. Sera.

''That's a siren! Snap out of it,'' she shouts. Looking around me, I see a misty lagoon, leading into the ocean.

The others follow her, staring at the ocean. And at the siren.

She sits on a rock, singing to herself. She plays with her long black hair, and splashes her fins. She's actually pretty. Well, as pretty as a siren can be.

She spots us, and sighs.

''Oh, dragons. I was hoping for men,'' she giggles. I pretend to choke.

''I am Serafina Bystrom. You are an unlicensed siren. Stop,'' Sera commands. The siren looks at her innocently.

''Mer and dragons are two different species. You have no control over me,'' she shouts, her eyes flashing in annoyance. ''Arrogant queen, you are.''

Sera dives after her, hissing in anger. She laughs and swims away, singing her melody. I fly above Sera, and Ella dives in after her.

The rock she sat on was decorated with human, dwarf, and dragon skulls. I spit in disgust. ''Sirens will be the death of me,'' Ella shouts. Alexandra flies overhead.

Sera swims, and Ella flies next to me. The open ocean is under us. Sera is in desperate pursuit of the Siren. A tail shoots out of the water.

''There, Alex shouts. Ella dives, and I swoop low, almost skimming the grey-purple water. But this is not the siren. This is a mermaid.

''Guys, this is a mermaid, not a siren,'' I tell them. Sera grumbles. We are not in dragon land. This is the Mer kingdom. They have their own laws, civilizations and culture, and are as different as the elves, if not more mysterious. I know they have seven kingdoms, and every kingdom has a queen. The Island of Spirits is the most hallowed place of theirs. It's where they go to worship their gods. It is said to bring ill fortune to all other than Mer. I can see it in the distance.

''That's The Island of Spirits,'' I shout. The others stare at it.

Like they rest of the sea, it's shrouded in mist. the waves are high. A castle that seems to be made from sea foam itself is on the craggy island. An underwater entrance is in front of me. The castle glows blue, with white banners flying on the turrets. A chilly breeze blows from the north. I stare in awe.

''We need to go in,'' Sera states.

''No!''

''No!''

''No,'' Majirica says in all our heads. Sera dives.

''For God's sake,'' Ella shouts, and dives after her.

Alex nods to me. I can't do this. But I do.

The water burns. I scream, my voice drowned by the water. I struggle to the entrance, my vision blurry. I come to the surface, gagging and sputtering. Sera helps me out, her eyes clouded with worry. I growl at her, and she backs away. Majirica clambers out of the pool. Alex sits on the edge, soaked.

I look around. The room is a huge stone cavern, cone shaped. The moon shines through the small circle in the cone roof. The pool is in the center. Along the shadowed walls, orbs of blue power rest on pedestals. On a slab of white coral, the mer's history is shown. Their king god, Tarik, stabs a wave, bringing forth the first Mer, seven of them. They swim off, scattering across the seas. They are sisters. They each set up a kingdom, becoming the queen. The lead sister, Serena, declares that in any of the kingdoms, only the female descendant may succeed the throne. If the queen does not have a daughter, the kingdom would collapse. The youngest sister, Percessa, breaks away from the harmonious rule and does things her own way. Years later, her kingdom is brought back, but they are seen as the dark heart of the sea, forever.

''Wow,'' I mutter, my voice ragged. Sera nods. ''I'm glad I'm not their queen.'' I laugh harshly. Then a small voice behind us says ,''Who are you?''

It's a little merl. She looks just like the siren, with long black hair and pale face, but her eyes are not the same. Her eyes show curiosity, not hate and mischief.

''Who are you,'' Sera asks.

''I'm Ruby of the house Percessa. You are the Queen of the Sea, Serafina Bystrom.''

''How do you know,'' I ask.

''I live in the sea. I know these things,'' she retorts. I smile.

''Royal blood,'' Sera says.

''The royalist,'' Ruby adds. ''I'm the heir to the throne. I heard you break in. Why are you, Acid Dragon, in my realm?''

''Serafina dragged me here.'' I smile. Ruby laughs.

''Why are you called Ruby,'' I ask. ''Your hair is black, and your skin is pale.''

''My necklace,'' she says, holding up a necklace with a blood red shell on it. I nod. Her gown of sea silk is crimson, as well. She looks deadly.

''You descend from Percessa,'' I ask. She nods. Suddenly, the cave shakes. Ruby's eyes grow wide.

''Humans! Leave!''

We waste no time. I fly out through the roof, and the others surface as I come out. The humans have penetrated the mist, roaring boats through the tranquil sea. Sera raises a hand, and waves take out some of the boats. I stare in amazement. Then, I see Ruby, looking at us. She throws us something. A potion.

''She shakes her head, as if to say, ''don't drink it now.'' I nod, and she disappears under the waves. We get out of there as The Island of Souls crumbles into the sea.