Hiding Royalty

13

Night was beginning to swallow the forest that was thinning by the second, and the trio forced their tired limbs to keep on moving. They were almost there, and they could practically smell the salt of the sea. Liam walked at the front of them, ready now to attack anything that came their way.

Slowly, the amount of tress lessened and within minutes the trio found themselves staring at the calm sea in front of them. This whole trek, all the challenges they had faced and all the emotions they had been subjected to, they were all worth it once they saw that view.

There was a small rowing boat that had been left there for the three travellers presumably, and Liam felt like jumping for joy. Finally, this perilous expedition would be completed and he could go back to his old life. One where he wasn't constantly being attacked.

Lyra however had a different thought at the sight of the old rowing boat, the paint peeling off the side slightly. It was boat her father had given her as a child and she had spent many summers rowing on the sea in front of them. Nostalgia swept over her like tidal waves, and she looked over at Emma and Liam who were already prepping the boat.

Despite the difficulties they had faced, Lyra hated the idea that the minute they got her to the island, that would be the last time she would see Emma and Liam. All her life she had lived under the palace roof, never experiencing anything remotely exciting. These people, this brave man and woman, had opened her eyes to the world around her.

"Let's get over there," Liam pointed towards the faint outline of the secluded island, and Emma and Lyra sat themselves in the rowing boat, grabbing an oar each.

There was a sense of mutual acceptance between the two girls who had fought before like cat and dog, maybe Emma had grown to accept that while Lyra was a princess, it didn't make her incapable of emotions.

The boat was pushed out the harbour and the three began to row slowly, trying to not catch the attention of an unlikely observer. It was midnight, and Liam highly doubted that anyone would see them but they still remained careful all the same.

The night was cold, and the water that occasionally splashed their hands didn't help but the three paddled on, wanting to get to the island as fast as possible. Liam hummed a song faintly, and there was a sense of accomplishment within the small group.

As they neared the halfway point, and the island was almost in sight, there was change in the water around them. First, the only real change were some ripples that appear on the surface and disappeared as fast as they had came. Next, the boat began to lightly rock but Liam brushed these things off as a change in the wind, ignoring the bad feeling in his gut.

"What was that noise?" Lyra asked after hearing a low groan that sounded as though it had come from beneath them, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up.

"It was probably nothing," Emma replied back and looked to Liam for confirmation but he had grown as white a sheet.

He knew they were not alone. He knew that something was lurking beneath the waves, and that whatever it was did not appreciate their presence.

"Whatever happens remain calm and try and get to shore as fast as possible," he said in a voice that was barely a whisper.

'How could I have been so stupid?' Liam thought to himself. These waters were known to hold dangerous monsters, monsters only spoken of in legends because no one had survived them. When planning his route, he had only thought about the fastest route and not the safest. Now they were paying the price.

Another low groan echoed around them, this time louder than before and the trio stopped paddling. The boat began to rock more violently, the water around them becoming more and more disturbed. Lyra muttered a prayer under her breath, sensing that something bad was coming.

And it was.

Rising from the sea was a gigantic beast, scales covering every inch of its body except it's razor like fangs. Legend stated that this beast was unbeatable, and that no man had ever seen it and survived. The three travellers watched with wide eyes as this monster rose even higher from the sea, standing at ten feet tall, and sneered at them.

Abruptly, the beast slammed it's body down onto the surface of the sea which capsized the boat, throwing the trio into the icy cold water. They were defenceless and afraid- the perfect target. Liam took one look at the girls, both of them frozen in shock, and knew that this would not end well.

Regaining its tall stature, the beast bared its sharp teeth and large talons, almost as if displaying how he would kill the three helpless people. The moon glinted off its dark green body, almost blinding Emma who was desperately trying to think of how to survive.

All Lyra could do was look up at this beautifully dangerous thing and hope that she remained alive, but she knew this was wishful thinking. So taking one last gulp of air, she immersed herself in the water and began to swim for her life.

Will they survive? What will happen next? You'll have to wait and see!