Mia scurried away as soon as she found herself free from the creature’s grip. Her feet hurried away but succumbed to its injuries and Mia fell on her knees. But she and no time to waste. Mia ran on all fours. She ran and ran till she reached an opening. The beast was almost recovering from its fall. It walked towards Mia with baby steps, rubbing its eyes along the way.
” Mia. Mia don’t go. Mia. I am your uncle Jin. Mia” It called out to her in a voice full of sorrow.
Mia looked at it and then back at the opening. She peered down the opening but couldn’t see anything properly. It was too dark down the line.
” Mia come back here. I will keep you safe. ” The beast called out and came towards her faster.
Mia looked at it for one last time before taking the plunge ahead. At the back of her mind was running the argument that it was better to die someplace else than die , torn to pieces, loosing all dignity.
” Miaaaaaa, ” She heard her name echo as ripples around her.
She felt water surround her in a motherly embrace. Her senses dancing as it touched the cool liquid. Mia could now see her surroundings though it had looked dark and ominous from above. The place slowly filled with light as Mia saw her wounds slowly get wiped away by the waves. Wiped away because they were literally getting erased with very splash that it her. Mia could feel her vitality get back too. It was no longer a surprise to her that she could breathe under the water surface, since the incidence at the Land of Lakes. She took in a few deep breaths letting her anxiety flow , as far away as she possibly could. She had never ventured in the deep waters alone. Everytime she had her mer-friend to accompany her. This time, she was on her own.
Mia spread her hands like a butterfly’s wings and swam forwards. Then on and on she went. It had been a few moments after which Mia thought she saw a glimmer from a bent. That was odd as there weren’t bents on the ocean floor. Mia swam forward as she saw another glimmer at another bent. She looked at that and then went after it. Then there was another and then another. It was like an endless game of hide and seek that she played. Finally Mia decided to stop, with her hands on her hips.
” Come out. I know you are in there. Come on out. ” Mia scolded somebody, around the bent.
A giggle followed her sound and amplified a thousand folds. It kept circulating around Mia till it became so unbearable that she and to close her ears with her fingers.
” Stop it. Will you? ” Mia yelled again as the sound slowly subsided. A lovely young mer-witch , hardly the age of Roe, stood in front of Mia, with her head bowed.
“Come here, ” Mia called her seeing like that and she immediately rushed towards her with a happy face.
She came and hugged Mia as if she knew her for long. And blowed kisses all over her, almost in a drool.
“Calm down. Calm down. Are you a mer-witch? Why are you here all alone? ” Mia asked the girl lifting her head slowly?
Like the mer-boy back then, the girl held Mia’s hand instead of answering her. Rapid images filled Mia’s head and she closed her eyes to better access them.
Mia saw the girl, along with another older mer-witch. They had their backs at Mia so she could see their faces. There were many present all fuming with rage. From what Mia saw, they were in a Royal assembly except for the fact that the throne was empty.
” Who will take responsibility for its emptiness? ” Roared one of the members present at the girl and the other person with her.
” How could she betray us like this knowing full well our survival depended on it. ” Barked another.
” Did she think she was special? Couldn’t we find another queen better than her? What pride did she have to leave her tribe behind like this?” Lamented another.
” A coward. A fool. A traitor was she. Nothing more. Nothing more. ” Yelled another nodding her head as if with utter disappointment.
” Forgive us. I beg the assembly. I beg forgiveness for my sisters misconduct. I apologize for have someone in the family who brought so much shame. ” The older mer-witch begged the others as she banged her head against the alter. The girl ran upto her and hugged her from behind, ” Don’t do that sister. Crystal is gone. I can’t loose you too. Don’t do this. ”
Mia opened her eyes at the mention of her mother’s name. It had been a while since she and heard the name but it kept popping quite a lot around this time. But was it her mother they were referring to? It couldn’t be. They were talking about a mer-witch Crystal. Mia closed her eyes again to get the whole picture of it.
” She wouldn’t survive much longer anyway, ” one of the other mer-witches intervened. ” Mer-witches perish in a few decades outside the waters. Isn’t that a sufficient punishment in itself. Why do we need to torment these two for a crime they didn’t commit.? ”
” Somebody needs to pay. Since Crystal couldn’t be tracked, her sisters must suffer to expiate her sins, ” An elderly looking mer-witch announced. ” Only after that can we gather to appoint our next queen. The time is ticking as a sword hanging over our head. If we aren’t able to reproduce before the appointed time, or track the lost sacrificial om time, everyone present here knows our very existence will be doomed. Let’s get done with this nuisance quickly. “