Emory nodded, muted by the beauty and fascination of these woods. That’s when Memphis handed her a pair of goggles and, with a wicked glint in his eyes, asked, “Ready to explore?”
Beaming back at him, Emory grabbed the goggles which suctioned to her face when she adjusted the strap. She peeked over at the Commander, just as he peeled off his thin black shirt, revealing the dips and valleys of his chiselled chest. Pink scars rippled in the afternoon light. Too many for her to take in at once.
Memphis looked up to meet her gaze, and mortified, she jerked her head forward. Heat pulsed off her body. Get a grip on yourself. Taking deep breaths, Emory felt heat flare in her cheeks. Looking back at Memphis, she asked, “Will we keep our weapons?”
“We will, just follow my lead.” Winking, Memphis surged forward, dragging her along with him.
They jumped, plunging into the cool water. Initially, the shock stung her skin. She dropped further, toward the bottom, her eyes closed. A hand brushed her cheek, and her eyes flew open. Memphis pushed a strange triangle cone toward her, motioning to put it over her mouth. Her lungs were already complaining for oxygen, so she didn’t hesitate. Instantly, the fabric molded to her skin, and beautiful clean air met her lips.
She couldn’t help but be delighted as she exhaled, and a school of bubbles escaped from the spout. It was like a portable oxygen tank, and this realization made her relax, so she took in the hidden world around her.
Memphis swam lazily, looping and twisting, the streaming light capturing his fluid grace in front of her. He looked more at ease in this aquatic world than she had seen thus far. Long pale green reeds encircled them, growing from the clearest gold sand Emory had ever seen. She swam forward, kicking her still booted feet as a school of long eel-like fish cut in front of her. Her limbs were flayed out in every way as she tried to get away, her breath coming in short bursts.
The fish eyed her cautiously, their grey skin looking dull against the backdrop of their home. Memphis flashed her a quick thumb’s up, motioning to them: They were okay.
She gently treaded water, taking them in more closely. Memphis reached a hand out to the fish closest to him, brushing its scales lightly. That’s when their world exploded into an array of dancing colors. The school encircled Memphis, swimming laps around him, each fish seemingly glowing, their grey skin dissolving.
Hundreds of shades of colors danced on their skin, bathing them in a rainbow of light. She gasped, utterly entranced by the display. Memphis dove toward her, grabbing her hand once more, and they swam deeper into the lake, the fish following and roping around them. It was like being in a pearl, a crystal world hidden from prying eyes.
They swam for several glorious minutes, her body becoming more natural in her weightless state. Memphis’s blond hair billowed out in front of her as they stopped suddenly in front an oddly shaped tunnel.
Mischievousness danced in his eyes as they plunged toward the darkness, and she didn’t have time to protest because they were sucked in, leaving their new friends and their glorious light behind.
For a second, she was disoriented, not knowing where her body began and Memphis’s ended, as a current surged from behind them, pulling them deeper. The silken blackness dulled gradually, and the walls came into view, the sand providing a soft glow from beneath them.
It looked like they were in a worn cavern, strange markings etched all around them. Emory couldn’t quite make them out because they suddenly plunged down, her yell caught in her throat. She squeezed Memphis’s hand so hard, she was surprised the Commander wasn’t wincing in pain. Darkness blinded them again, and her stomach lifted to meet her throat at the sudden gravity change, the current gone.
Floating, Emory squinted in her goggles, trying to make out the shadows. She let go of Memphis’s hand and swam forward just as an iron voice rang out.
“Who dares disturbs us?”
The bone pommel was luminous as a blade met her throat, pricking her skin, and she tried to back pedal; Memphis was behind her, and she rammed into his bare chest.
Through the shadowed water, two luminous eyes shone back at her, slowly revealing who the voice belonged to. Pale white hair floated around his strong upper body, his muscles taunt from holding the sword. Strange tattoos swirled on his skin, the same markings they had seen before on the walls. Emory’s eyes trailed down his skin until her gaze stopped where his human body changed to that of a fish, deep blue scales glinting back at her. Two huge incandescent flippers propelled him forward as the merman repeated in a dangerous whisper, “Who dares disturbs us?”
Memphis squeezed the back of her arm as he swam in front of her. She was frozen, and the merman took in Memphis with furrowed eyebrows. Memphis had stilled, staring at the creature intensely. It dawned on Emory that the two were having a private conversation just then, as the merman’s eyes constantly flickered over to her, assessing.
Her hands shook as the merman slowly lowered his weapon after several painful seconds and swam to her, coming face-to-face.
“So, Emory Fae, you have finally come to claim what is rightfully yours?”
What was he talking about?
Panicked, she looked up to Memphis who nodded his head. This was a test. Memphis had purposely put her in this situation. Forcing her to trust him. She looked into the merman’s pale grey eyes and nodded.
He smiled wickedly, revealing pointed teeth. “If you can retrieve the heirloom, you may keep it.” He waved her forward,
