To wake up on a white sand beach in a dark cave is a very startling feeling, and at first I was unsure where I was. I bolted upright, nearly delirious with exhaustion, but was soon relaxed by a tug on my hair. I turned around to face my rescuers, the boys, who lay in the shallow water near the beach. I smiled, feeling an overwhelming tide of gratitude. They had saved me from my father, one of them getting hurt in the process. I was indebted to them.
I reached out to Felix, and he came closer so I could check on him. Whoever had wrapped his tail did a solid job, even if the knot was a little messy.
"These are wonderful, but I should change the bandage to avoid infection. Is there cloth I can use?" I asked him. His eyes darted down, and I followed his gaze, confused. He was looking at my skirt, which, as torn as it was, was barely there anyway. Still, I blushed bright red. "Um, is there anything else...?"
Dante scoffed. "You're around us in a swimsuit constantly and you're afraid of showing some skin?" I blushed hard, but he had a point. In a roundabout sort of way. They were sirens, it's not like they'd know any better. I sighed and took off the dress, tearing it into strips for Felix's tail, painfully aware of the eyes on me. I quickly wrapped his wound before standing up and looking around the cave. It was cold, with the light fog kissing my exposed skin, and I wrapped my arms around myself as I wandered closer to the wall. It was crystalline, with sharp shards blooming like deadly flowers. I gently brushed my finger over one before hissing in pain. Beads of blood welled up and dropped onto the sparkling sand, and I backed away from the dangerously beautiful rocks.
I turned back to the men to ask if there was anywhere more comfortable we could go, before I realized there was no one there. A shot of panic went through me, and I ran to the water. "Guys?!"
I took a few steps into the water, trying to see in the inky blackness, but there was nothing.
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"Felix, you're hurt. We can take care of them, you watch Alyssa."
"The hell you will. I'm faster than you, even injured. She can't see them, and they can't see her. You know the stakes better than anyone, Dante."
He goes to grab his shoulder, before realizing he's right. He was their best chance of keeping Alyssa for themselves.
"You know what to do. Don't be a hero, if you need help, ask."
"I'm the best killer out of all of you. It will only take a moment. Relax," Felix soothed, before sliding off into the dark water. As he swam, his teeth lengthened, his claws emerged, and his eyes started to glow, lighting a bubble around him to let him see. Slender spines emerged and tangled into his hair, each tipped with deadly poison. His feather like fins waved gently in the current, easily propelling him in his desired direction. Soon, he came upon the threat.
A pair of adventure divers. Thrill seekers looking to go cave diving for fun. Unfortunately for them, the only cave in the area was currently occupied by his queen.
Stealthily, he send a sudden current to force the two apart. They spun like leaves on a lake, tiny and insignificant. Creeping up behind one, hidden in the seaweed, he suddenly flashed out, digging his claws into their face and chest and dragging them back into the kelp forest. With a ferocious growl, he sank his fangs into their neck, ripping out a chunk of flesh and vein that he quickly spit out, disgusted. Humans tasted so metallic and salty. Except for his darling queen. She tasted sweet.
Red swirled from their wounds as they sank, drowning and unconscious, bleeding out quickly. He then turned his attention to the other interloper. He hid on a tall outcropping, gazing intensely at the second diver as he tries fruitlessly to find his friend. He sees the red smoke floating through the water, and slowly comes to investigate. When he finds his friend, he is shocked, terrified. He whips around to swim away and sees a shadow. He looks up, and Immediately a clawed hand is plunged through his rib cage.
Felix wastes no precious time with theatrics. His energy was already waning as the adrenaline leeched away and his tail throbbed. He dug his other claws deep in the man's side, seeking purchase as he rips out the heart. He crushes the offending organ and grabs both bodies, pushing them into a riptide current. They floated quickly out to open ocean. Felix watched until the sharks caught their scent, before turning and going back to the cave. His dearest awaited his return. He smiled at his brothers as he returned, clean and back to normal, before swimming into the cave. As soon as he popped his head out of the water, she leaped on him. ___________________________________________________________________________ "I thought you abandoned me! Where did you go!?" I sobbed, burying my face in Felix's chest. He shushes me gently, kissing my forehead and wrapping his arms around me.
"It's all right dearest. I just was getting something for my wound. My brothers were helping me find the plant I needed. Hush now, it's all right." His voice was soothing, a deep and even cadence that settled my frayed nerves and calmed my anxieties. His arms cradled me gentle, loose, but comforting and solid. I clung to him, calming slowly. I was almost completely at peace again before I noticed something odd. Something red underneath his scale.
I pointed it out to him. "Felix, did you just eat? You have something under your scale."
His eyes flashed coldly, but his voice stayed the same calm cadence as before.
"Of course dear. Just went on a little hunt after I got the plant. I was a bit hungry."
