The Twins from the Sea

Chapter XXVII

"Moana!" cried Ophelia, picking her bag up off the sandy ocean floor and racing off after her sister. She swam as hard and fast as she could, before hearing a desperate cry behind her.

"Stop her!" barked the harsh voice of her mother. Within seconds, despite Ophelia's frantic attempt to rush forward, the swift guards were upon her, grabbing her fin. With a yelp, Ophelia crashed to the ground. With a kick of her fin, she turned around and sat up. Her mother approached.

"Ophelia, be sensible! Just because your sister made a reckless decision-" started Fiona, but Ophelia sharply interrupted.

"Reckless or not, she's my sister! I'm going with her!" Ophelia shouted, and made an attempt to get up, but the strong guards held tight to her arms. Ophelia looked deeply into her mother's desperate eyes, swimming with tears.

"Mum... Don't do this. Please. I will not leave my sister alone."

Fiona choked on a sob and after a moment's hesitation, took her daughter's face in her hands. "Release her."

The guards immediately dropped Ophelia's arms. Ophelia was silent as she looked into her mother's eyes and sped off after her sister.

•••

From the moment that Ophelia left her mother and the group of guards, she knew that she was following her sister into deep, deep trouble. Even dragging along the prisoner, Ophelia knew that Moana would be traveling at a much quicker pace than she could, and it would take a while to catch up with them. The cyclops had pointed west, in the direction they had been heading. Ophelia kept on in that direction.

But, as she veered farther and farther away from the place where she left her mother and the guards, the brimming hope, determination and love for her sister that fueled her began to run out, fear seeping into its place. The sun dipped below the horizon, and suddenly Ophelia was alone, in the dark, in the middle of the sea. Moonlight reflected in prisms through the inky indigo waves above her head, and shone down on her gold eyes, brimming with tears. She looked around her, hopelessness and despair filling her heart, and collapsed to the floor. Fish lazily swam past her, not giving her a passing glance.

"Moana!" sobbed Ophelia, crying out into the night in desperation. "Somebody! Help me..." Ophelia curled into a ball, sobbing and wallowing in her self-pity, just for a moment.

A sudden, soft light caused Ophelia to look up from her tears. A dark figure silhouetted by soft turquoise light was approaching her. She stood up suddenly, rummaging around in her bag for anything that might resemble a weapon, but all she had brought was her compass, notebook, pen and ink and "300 Ocean Monsters". Her heart pounded in her chest. Her thoughts immediately were filled with memories of her sister. If there was one thing that Moana taught Ophelia through all their years together, it was to be brave. As the figure loomed closer, Ophelia put a hand to her heart and tried to steady her breathing.

"Who goes there?" Ophelia called out, trying to sound less terrified than she felt.

The figure was silent as it came closer and closer. When it finally came face-to-face with Ophelia, her heart skipped a beat. Standing before her was the most immaculately beautiful woman she had ever seen. Her caramel skin glowed, as if fine gold dust was embedded in it. Her long, dark hair floated about her like a halo, and her full lips were pulled into a tight smile. Ophelia stared into her kind, amber eyes, filled with gentleness, and not the malice that Ophelia feared. She looked like nothing other than, well, divine.

"Please don't hurt me," Ophelia whimpered, tears sliding down her cheeks. All of her bravery was swept aside in front of the majesty that stood before her. "I'm unarmed. My name is—"

"Ophelia Day, princess of Jade Bay. I know, my love," said the goddess, her sweet voice rippling out across the water in sweet symphonies. "Of course I'm not going to hurt you. Come here." She stretched out her arms. Ophelia only hesitated a moment before gliding into the goddess' warm embrace. Her sickening fear was immediately alleviated, filled with the radiating love that poured from her soft skin.

"My sweet girl, it's all right," she said, stroking a hand through Ophelia's rose-colored hair. Ophelia backed away only slightly, looking up at the goddess.

"Are you here to help me?" Ophelia asked, brushing the tears from her eyes.

"I am. Allow me to introduce myself, Your Highness. I am Amphitrite," she said, curtsying deeply before Ophelia.

"Oh... Oh no, no! There's no need for that... my... my lady. I think it is probably me who should be bowing to you," Ophelia said, copying Amphitrite's actions. Amphitrite chuckled softly.

"Indeed. I am a sea nymph, you are a princess. We both respect each other then, how about that?" Ophelia smiled shyly. "Now, I didn't come here to make small talk! You're looking for your sister, aren't you?"

Ophelia nodded eagerly. "Yes. How did you... Oh. Right."

Amphitrite laughed again, and held her hands out, gesturing for Ophelia's bag. Ophelia handed it over, and after rummaging through it for a moment, she pulled out Ophelia's compass. She opened up the compass, running her fingers over its smooth glass surface. "How perfect," she muttered. Ophelia looked from the compass to the beautiful woman in front of her, puzzled. Amphitrite gently set Ophelia's bag on the sandy ocean floor, and took a few steps back. Ophelia backed away nervously.

Amphitrite gripped the compass tightly and squinted her eyes shut. Ophelia heard a faint humming noise slowly growing louder, until Amphitrite's mouth burst open, filling the sea around her with beautiful song. It was an enchanting, gorgeous melody, sung in an unrecognizable language. As song poured from her lips and light from her eyes, Ophelia wondered whether or not this was what siren-song was like. Amphitrite held the compass out in front of her, and Ophelia watched its needle spin furiously, so much that she was sure it would break. But it held fast nonetheless, and as quick as the spectacular ordeal had started, it was over. Amphitrite came back and held the compass out to the stunned siren before her.

"That was..." Ophelia stammered, at a loss for words. "Incredible."

"Oh, I know, wasn't it?" Amphitrite said, practically glowing. "Of course, none of that was really necessary, but oh, I do love a good show!"

Hi there! It's me again. I apologize for not updating in a while. I've had this chapter written for a good two months or so... but I forgot to post it. My bad. Anyways, here you have it! I'd really appreciate it if anyone reading this would be able to leave a vote or a comment, or maybe even send me a message! I'm always looking for thoughts, reactions, reviews, criticism... a sign that anyone might actually be reading my work lol :) I hope everyone is having a fantastic week, and to all you students out there currently going through finals... I feel your pain. Hang in there. "Sea" you soon friends! (see what I did there? ... okay. I'll stop now.)