"My Lord, what is it that's bothering you? Why did you leave the room thus? " The wolf queen her husband as he rushed back to his chamber and sat restless in his place.
The king heaved deep signs as he looked hither thither.
"My Lord... " the queen began but was cut short.
" Is that even possible? That is the only logical explanation I can come to. Ah! My luck. My luck.
I can't believe I am even thinking it could be so. But it is. Reality is indeed stranger than fiction.
It is indeed. " The king heaved another deep sign.
Just then Xie, Roe and Lin rushed to the entrance to the king's chamber and yelled for to come in.
"Come in children, come in. " He said as he sat a little more comfortably.
" Nana said the pendant is still with a wolf. Somebody from the Royal family, " Lin got straight to point.
" She's come back to her senses. Is she alright? " The queen inquired.
" Yes mother. " Roe replied.
" With a wolf you say. Hmmm. I think I know where it might be. " The king said.
"Where? " The three asked in unison.
" It is with Mia. " The king announced.
Everybody looked at each other after the king's remark as if he was about to crack a joke.
" Impossible. I have been searching for it all these years. I would have immediately noticed it she had it. Impossible. " Lin had his point. He definitely would have.
" Correct. But you would have known if you would have seen. " The king looked into Lin's eyes,
"and I think even Mia has no idea that she has it. But the more I think about it, the more certain I . It is with none other but Mia. İt must have been passed onto her by Crystal. " The king after a pause, " her mother. "
It didn't make any sense. How could it have been with Mia? That too without her knowledge.
" I know what you all might be thinking. Please sit down for a moment and give me a chance to . If I am correct, Mia should already have a fair fighting chance. So we must be well with whatever we have to face this trial head on.
The kings story-
When I had gone to the Southern Oceans to ask for the witches' help, I had encountered a new world. They had agreed to take me to their queen after I had offered them the wolf in exchange. They had taken me blind folded. But unlike mortals who the mer-witches are to sometimes hunt, I could sense my surroundings. I could form an imagery of their even though my eyes were tied.It was nothing like words could describe. It aroused in me that I had never thought I had in me.
They finally had removed my blind fold when I stood in front of their queen. Though she was all of herself, she admired me for my courage to come all alone there, for what I really wanted.
They valued the brave.
Though the request I had made was forbidden they agreed to help. One of the witches took me a place that unlike all the other parts of the mer-world reeked of sorcery. The place was to breathe even when I was already using their breathing aid under water. The water was murkier in that region. It reeked of darkness and was literally devoid of light.
Once inside, the witch instructed me to get inside what looked like a cauldron. No matter how I might have been , it was something impossible they were asking out of me. I tried away. I haven't had the courage to admit this before but you are all my children and you learn from my mistake. The witches are powerful as it is, however inside water their are insane. I was immediately held and forced inside what looked like a big black . What happened after that is a bit hazy in my memory, but I'm sure I had my appearance to some extent. However, it became easier to tread the waters after that. I was then to the queen who said that she would be personally taking me there as the exact location my brother was captive wasn't known. Also , only the mer-royalty could trespass in those . Others would be sucked immediately inside them.
What had followed was her taking me to one land after another via the channels made by those . We were almost about to lose hope and give up finally the queen was able to dark forces in one of those areas. I was given only a minute to get my business done which she would leave, either with or without me.
I won't be able to describe that place I was in. I still have nightmares when I sometimes see it in dreams. It had a stench of its own. A blend of evil and gloom. My entire body, soul and mind at the mere thought of being left there for eternity. It was a place that drenched hope.
A place of lost hopes. All hopes. The place was very similar to that of a tower.
" Yes, the tower. Are you saying you and actually been there? Nanako asked, still standing at doorway, apparently listening to all that was being said.
" Yes. That is how I had the pendant in the first place. My brother, Jin, gave it to me. " The king .
" Jin? He gave it to you? '' Nanako was shaking as she mentioned the name with her trembling , "Didn't I, " She struggled and stammered, "didn't I lose it in the wolf lands after... '' Lin her just in time,as her knees almost gave way under her '' Didn't I lose in these lands my baby was slaughtered? He and it with him all along? " Nanako exclaimed as her eyes to a distance. It seemed like it was more like a lament than an actual statement. A followed with total silence.
********
Escape
Mia scurried away as soon as she found herself free from the creature's grip. Her feet hurried but succumbed to its injuries and Mia fell on her knees. But she has no time to waste. Mia on all fours. She ran and ran till she reached an opening. The beast was almost recovering its fall. It walked towards Mia with baby steps, rubbing its eyes along the way.
" Mia. Mia didn'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 properly. It was too dark down the line.
" Mia came 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 the argument that it was better to die someplace else than die , torn to pieces, losing all .
" Miaaaaaa, " She heard her name echo as ripples around her.
She felt water surround her in a motherly embrace. Her senses danced as it touched the cool . 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 every splash that hit her. Mia could her vitality get back too. It was no longer a surprise to her that she could breathe under the surface, since the incident at the Land of Lakes. She took in a few deep breaths letting anxiety flow , as far away as she possibly could. She had never ventured in the deep waters . 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 been a few moments after which Mia thought she saw a glimmer from a bent. That was odd there weren't bents on the ocean floor. Mia swam forward as she saw another glimmer at bend. She looked at that and then went after it. Then there was another and then . It was like an endless game of hide and seek that she played. Finally Mia decided to , with her hands on her hips.
" Come out. I know you are in there. Come on out. " Mia scolded somebody, around the bend.
A giggle followed her sound and amplified a thousand folds. It kept circulating around Mia till it so unbearable that she closed her ears with her fingers.
" Stop it. Will you? " Mia yelled again as the sound slowly subsided. A lovely young mer-witch , 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 face.
She came and hugged Mia as if she knew her for long.And blew kisses all over her, almost in a .
"Calm down. Calm down. Are you a mer-witch? Why are you here all alone? Mia asked the girl, her head slowly?
Like the mer-boy back then, the girl held Mia's hand instead of answering her. Rapid images 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 their faces. There were many present all fuming with rage. From what Mia saw, they were in 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 the other person with her.
" How could she betray us like this knowing full well our survival depended on it. " Barked .
" Did she think she was special? Couldn't we find another queen better than her? What pride did have to leave her tribe behind like this?" Lamented another.
" A coward. A fool. She was a traitor. Nothing more. Nothing more. " Yelled another, nodding head as if with utter disappointment.
" Forgive us. I beg the assembly. I beg forgiveness for my sister's misconduct. I apologize for someone in the family who brought so much shame. " The older mer-witch begged the as she banged her head against the altar. The girl ran up to her and hugged her from , " Don't do that sister. Crystal is gone. I can't lose 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 heard name but it kept popping quite a lot around this time. But was it her mother they were to? It couldn't be. They were talking about a mer-witch Crystal. Mia closed her eyes to get the whole picture of it.
" She wouldn't survive much longer anyway, " one of the other mer-witches intervened. " Mer- 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 sins, " An elderly looking mer-witch announced. " Only after that can we gather to appoint next queen. Time is ticking like a sword hanging over our heads. If we aren't able to before the appointed time, or track the lost sacrificial om time, everyone present here our very existence will be doomed. Let's get done with this nuisance quickly. "