The Seven Realms

Under the surface

The three huddled together, the Nymphs were coming closer, slowly, quietly, this unnerved Keira, that and their otherworldly whispers. Lupin and Alister had now moved in front of her, human shields that made her feel tiny behind their weight. "Stay behind me!"Lupin yelled, "Behind us!"Alister added, "What do they want?" she waited for a response but none came. Al, what do they want?" "Us, you and I that is, Fae, they want blood Keira." he hissed, they hadn't yet reached them, at least from the front. Keira felt something brush against her wings, then before she could look behind her to see what it was, something grabbed her by the wings and began to pull her backwards.

"Alister!"he spun watching Keira try and fight the nymph off, which he saw had taken hold of her wings and was pulling her down towards the water. There were no thoughts between Alister and Lupin, the two dove towards Keira, Lupin's eyes glowed a furious red, and Keira swore she could see his pupils turn to slits. Lupin grabbed a hold of Keira, slamming her into his chest, Alister, she heard, drove his blade through the body of the Nymph.

Lupin wouldn't let Keira look, she didn't want to, the ear piercing screams the nymph was letting off were enough. Keira dug her head into Lupin's chest, she was trying to calm down, so many strange things were happening, so many things she couldn't explain. "Is she okay?" Keira looked at Alister, he wiped his hand across his forehead to wipe away the sweat, and left blood, blue blood behind. "Just shaken, you may want to wash off the blood, she's gone white mate."

Alister turned immediately and began splashing his face. The nymphs were keeping their distance now, watching, waiting. The body of one of their own lay on the sand, they eyed it, and the three outsiders, they could smell the two fair folk, and the dragon.

"We need to figure out the offering now, they'll come for us soon." Alister nodded, Keira was still stuck to Lupin, who didn't seem to mind for the time being. "Keir, how about i carry you on my back instead? that way we can keep moving if you don't feel you can on your own?" Lupin waited for a response, "No, I, I think i'm fine now, thank you." she let go of him, now red in the face, she turned away from him, embarrassed. "Okay, we need to figure this out, now." Alister gestured at the shoreline, the nymphs had began to move again.

Alister who had his sword in hand, waved it at Nymphs who hissed and shrunk back away, Lupin and Keira looked at the manuscript he'd previously been holding, the image of the guardian mermaid depicted her tiny hands holding a small round object, "What do you think that is?" Keira asked, gesturing to it, "It could be a pearl, they grow in abundance in their realm, I wouldn't be surprised if you had to offer a pearl of the mer to get in." Keira stared at Lupin, "Surprised? beauty and smarts, I've got them both" he smirked, "Jokes aside, where do we get a pearl like that from?" Alister asked panting, Keira stood staring at her hands, nothing from her world came through with her, nothing, accept the ring Sarah had given her years ago, it was gold, and held a single pearl in the centre.

"I think I know, Al, the only thing from our world that came over, was Sarah's ring, this ring", he squinted, "Brilliant Keira, try it, try it now!" he continued swinging his sword, Keira ran over to the little metal mermaid, she took the ring off her finger and placed it in her hands, Lupin watched over her shoulder. For a time they both watched as nothing happened, then the gold of the ring melted away, the pearl was all that remained. The mermaids hands slowly closed over and the door, slowly creaked open.