Empress of Time

Chapter 10: False Success

Victor

I could tell that Clarissa didn't like his idea. She was so worried that she sobbed hysterically at his feet. But knowing that guy... we won't be able to stop him. He stepped out of the bubble and swam forward without hesitation and a burning sense of determination in his eyes. Lucia, Cassie, and Clarissa followed close behind. Kisa stood up to swim after them but I blocked her way. "In case... it doesn't work... I have a favor to ask of you."

She looked at me curiously. "And what would that be?"

"You control the properties of matter, don't you?"

"In a sense, yes... but what does that have to do with anything?"

"You're in water aren't you? Maybe if things get a little more complicated you could f--"

Her eyes widened. "N-No! I can't! I've never done it before. It'll all go wrong I can't do it..."

"You don't want him to die, do you?"

She lowered her head. "No..." she whispered.

"If you go in with thoughts like that, our little blondie is gonna die."

After a long pause, she took a deep breath with her final decision. "Ok... I'll give it my best shot."

I lifted her onto my back. "Good."

Ryan slowly woke up, standing up slowly. "Wait for me..."

"Idiot, you need stay here." I placed a black hole underneath his feet, absorbing him underground.

Kisa fidtegeted on my back, digging her nails in my shoulders. "W-What did you do that for?!"

"Calm down, girl. It'll keep him in a safe dimension until I bring him back up," I assured her.

"You will bring him back up, right?"

"Trust me, I will. I swear."

Kisa

By the time we caught up to the group, Tyler had already swum into a gang of mermen. Their tritons shinned in the darkness, aimed at Tyler. They started to charge at him, bracing their tritons mercilessly. Tyler moved away quickly but the tritons had scratched his legs, leaving unsightly incisions along his calves. The mermen quickly came back around to charge again. Tyler squinted at the pain but swam further away from us. The girls began to chase him in an attempt to help reduce the swarm, but another group of mermen surrounded us. No one knew what to do. We swam backward, only to find ourselves surrounded behind us, as well. They inched closer and closer with their tritons ready to pierce us. Victor pulled us behind him. Suddenly, the mermen lunged at us in unison. I closed my eyes. I felt a force drag us into the sand, my arms grazing against the grains. As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw the mermen charging at us from above. Cassie pushed the currents to force the mermen back. With the little time we had, we swam to our left to gain space between us and the enemy. Once they gained their balance back, they didn't charge towards us. They placed their tritons together, forming a large ball of light mixed with swirls of darkness. We tried to move but it was too late. They released the light. I could feel the heat scorching my skin as it came towards us. I held my arms over my head with Clarissa right under my body. I felt the immense burn as the light hit us but...it softened as it trickled into the skin. I saw a shadow loom over us, holding his arms out. Tyler's wounds suddenly vanished as the light seeped into his skin. He clasped his hands together, forming millions of light rays. Within seconds, he swung his arms apart as if he was throwing weapons from his arms. The rays were repeatedly released from his body, hitting the merman multiple times. The mermen's bodies jerked in multiple directions as they were hit. Many dropped on the ocean floor, then disintegrated into the sand within seconds. A few others had dispersed completely, leaving a trail of dark dust swirling in the water currents. Tyler sighed in relief, dropping his head into Clarissa's lap. Cassie reformed her bubble as we all caught ou breath inside the aerated space. "I've finally done it... I mastered the Light of Return..."