Chapter Six

One Less Mystery

:.:.:

As another week passed, I found myself being asked to the Yule Ball at nearly every turn. Not from any of my Durmstrang brothers, of course, but from an abundance of Hogwarts blokes, and even one of them from Beauxbatons. Needless to say, I turned them all down…nicely. I knew I needed a dance partner — or as Finn kept saying, a date — but I hadn't exactly planned on going with someone who I didn't even know. Not to mention, I was sure at least half of them were only interested in me because I was a champion and the other half only because my father was a Quidditch star.

But even though the ball really should have been my top priority, given that it was so soon, I found both the golden egg and my mother's locket to be up much further on my list. It was just too bad Viktor and I couldn't even open the bloody egg without wanting to chuck it over the ship's railing and Finn and I had absolutely no sodding idea what to look for in the library. But that was exactly what we'd been doing all day, and were currently on our way back to the ship to find that night had just about fallen.

"This is hopeless," I said desolately, Finn and I making our way to the ground floor.

"Oh c'mon, Demetria," Finn encouraged. "the stair's aren't so bad once you figure 'em out."

"Not the stairs, Finn," I dismissed. "This locket — the symbols! Just wearing this damn thing is like a massive weight around my neck!" And before I practically clawed at the chain, Finn moved to stand behind me and parted my hair to unclasp the necklace.

"I know it's frustrating," he reasoned. "but your mum gave it to you in a dream… So maybe we've just got to wait for another."

I took the locket from Finn's hands and secured it in my back pocket. "Another bloody locket?!" I asked in disbelief.

"Another dream, Dem," he clarrified, appearing slightly amused.

By the that time, we'd just begun to approach the Great Hall, and I took a moment to calm myself. I'd never really been one to become stressed out so easily, but I'd say that's what I was. I only hoped people like Finn could deal with me and help me maintain my sanity…or what was left.

"Let's just talk about something else, eh?" he suggested brightly. "Erm… Gotten a date to the ball yet?"

"No," it came out more harshly than intended. So I managed to compose myself before asking him, "Have you?"

"Well actually… Yes-look-Cedric!" he rushed out afterwards. But I followed where he was pointing and, sure enough, there stood the tall dark-haired Hufflepuff making his way down the hall.

I turned back to face Finn who was looking rather nervous. "What's gotten into you?"

"Sorry," he calmed himself. "I just — I should've waited and made sure you got yourself a date first. That way if worse came to worst, you could've gone with me."

"Finn," I said fondly, truly touched he would do that. "Oh, don't worry about me. I'll find someone."

That brought a mischevious grin to his face. "In that case, might wanna try Pretty Boy." And with that, he'd pushed me back, knocking me off my feet and I was sent to collide straight into Cedric. The both of us had fallen to the floor, my legs laying over his torso. And just when I thought to hex Finn for that, I found he'd already run off on to the grounds.

"You alright?" Cedric asked me, re-capturing my attention.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I assured, removing my legs from their previous position on him. "Are you?"

"Course," he insisted, getting to his feet and helping me up with a single arm. "You're not exactly much of a weight." Couldn't argue with that, and standing at only five foot two didn't pose as much of a threat either.

Unsure of what to say next, Cedric and I simply ended up smiling at one another for a good minute until I finally had to laugh, as did he. And then I got to thinking about…well, I still needed a date after all… And things couldn't possibly have gotten anymore awkward.

"Cedric?" He immediately perked up, brows raised urging me to go on. "You…have a date to the Yule Ball?" But even as it came out, I thought about how pathetic it all was. Cedric Diggory was sure to be one of the most handsome bachelors at Hogwarts. How could he have not gotten a date by now? And the small smile he wore only confirmed it before he spoke.

"Yeah, got her just this morning actually," he told me, seemingly genuinely pleased with the bird. But his smile then faded and he appeared slightly crestfallen. "It's too bad they're not allowing champions to go with champions, eh?"

Well that was just perfect. I couldn't even go with Harry! Actually…what was I thinking? Harry Potter without a date? It had probably only been me without one at that point. "It really is," I agreed whole-heartedly.

"I'll save a dance for you though?" It came out as almost a question, but he shared a warm smile with me nonetheless, which I returned.

"I'd like that," I told him honestly. "But I've actually got to get going now. Still trying to work out this damn egg."

Cedric nodded. "Any luck?"

"Not at all," I admitted. "You?"

"Nothing, but you'll be the first to know if I ever receive a break through."

"Cedric, you don't have t —"

"Oh yes, I do," he said shortly, and then lowered his voice for what was said next. "Harry told me it was your idea to tip me off on those dragons. It's the least I can do."

"Fair enough then," I smiled. "I'll see you around, Cedric."

"See you, Demetria."

So with that, I'd finally made my way on to the grounds illuminated by the moonlight, and walked toward the docks. And once I'd bounded aboard the ship, I immediately caught sight of Viktor perched upon the starboard railing with the golden egg in his hands.

"You are aware that staring at it won't solve it, correct?" I asked in jest, Viktor looking up from the egg and offering me a smirk. I took my usual position upon the railing with one leg dangling over the lake and the other hovering over the deck.

"As long as you are avare that if you do not play for Tutshill, you haff a promising career as a comedian," he countered, placing the egg between us.

I chuckled. "Yeah, well then maybe I wouldn't have so many ludi momcheta to handle." (crazy boys) And Viktor laughed but stopped when he noticed how serious I was being. But he didn't have to ask, because I was already asking: "How d'you know when someone's being genuine with you?"

He released a sigh like a river of thought before he spoke. "Are you meaning if they speak to me for only my fame?" I nodded. "Vun nefer knows for sure. But if they are genuine…you feel it." And then he gave a smile, so small and so briefly, but it was there. I could see it even through the darkness, and then I knew exactly who he was thinking of.

"So are you going with her to the ball?" I bluntly inquired.

He looked to me in mild surprise. "I…haff no idea vhat you are speaking of," was his poor excuse.

"Finn and I saw you in the library with Hermione Granger last week." I smirked all-knowingly.

"Vell in that case… Yes." And then the grin was back. Actually, it was more like beaming. I'd never seen Viktor like this when it came to a bird.

"You really fancy her, eh?"

"Vell I don't have many girls to do the comparing to," he reminded. "But there is something special about her."

But Viktor's dreamy gaze was brought back into reality upon hearing the Norwegian-accented droll of of Nikolai Pavel. "Oskar," he addressed his sallow crony. "is this not touching?"

"So very, Nikolai," was one of the very few things I'd ever heard Oskar Kowalski say. But there he was speaking, in all of his opposing Russian accented gloryor infamy, rather. "Ve vouldn't really vant to ruin it…vould ve?"

And after feigning thought for a moment, Nikolai answered him with: "Of course we would!"

"Oh sod off, Pavel," I snapped at him. "Shouldn't you two be off harrassing young first years to go to the ball with you?"

"For the information which is yours, Harris, we have already acquired dates older than eleven," replied Nikolai dismissively.

"Twelve, then?" I pressed, he and Oskar only getting closer. My hands instinctively gripped the egg tighter, and Nikolai noticed.

"What is the matter, Lille Prinsesse? You are not trusting of us around your precious egg?"

My mouth didn't utter a single thought that ran through my mind, as I internally shouted at them for being such pricks. On the outside, I only continued to stare them down, my hands protectively around the egg and my teeth gritted.

"Come now, Prinsesse," said Oskar. "You are like a sister to all of us." His hand reached out to brush my cheek, and that was when I did exactly what they'd been hoping for.

Both of my hands left the egg, one to swat away Oskar's and the other to push him away against his chest. Nikolai's swooped in and knocked the egg off the railing. Neither Viktor's hands nor my leg that dangled over the lake, could save it as we watched it plummet to the black waters. The splash emitted was enough to bring up a mist which hit my leg. Nikolai and Oskar walked away, chortling at their mission accomplished.

"Godric dammit," I swore, swinging both legs on to the railing and rising up.

"Demetria!" Viktor grabbed on to my ankle. "Vhat is it you think you are doing?!"

"If I'm not back in ten minutes, come get me," I ordered him, stripping myself of my Tutshill Tornados pullover which left me in my long-sleeved shirt.

And though reluctant, Viktor released his grip on my ankle. "I am making it five!" he warned.

I threw my sweatshirt behind me on deck along with the combat boots I'd slid off, and dove through the already disturbed, glassy surface of the lake. I felt as though my heart had been jolted awake and re-started as my body was submerged in the frigid waters. Luckily, I was used to temperatures far colder than that. And though I could spot the egg shimmering easily enough, it seemed that no matter how hard I kicked and grabbed at the water, I couldn't catch up to it. But it didn't stop me from cutting my way through, hoping to Merlin that I could hold my breath long enough.

I hadn't even thought to remove my wand from my boot and cast the Bubble-Head Charm. I hadn't thought of anything really, other than diving in to fetch the egg. I guess you could say I tried not to be too dependent on magic. Then again, you could also argue that sometimes I simply act on impulse and forget about all magical options.

Regardless, I was actually surprised to find that when I'd reached the egg, it still had yet to hit the ground. But I'd spoke too soon, for it did touch down on the sandy bottom. And not only that, but it cracked open upon the impact from a rock. And not only that, but rather than the cry of banshees, there came a chorus of eerily beautiful voices singing:

"Come seek us where our voices sound,

We cannot sing above the ground,

And while you're searching, ponder this:

We've taken what you'll sorely miss,

An hour long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took,

But past an hour the prospect's black,

Too late, it's gone, it won't come back."

But in that moment, I found myself so caught up in unraveling the clue, I'd grabbed the egg and involuntarily inhaled through my nose. And then, from the shock, my mouth was next to draw in a breath of water. No! I won't drown! Come on, you can do this! Just keep going! You can probably make…make it… My head… W-what's happening? No… No, I can't drown! I have to get back! But I dunno if — I could feel the oxygen escaping from my lungs, the water just beginning to fill inside me. Viktor! Someone! My…throat… No! Fight it…Demetria… But I Someone…

Just before I'd fallen victim to the darkness, I mustered all my remaining strength, my energy, and I knew I did something, something with magic — I could feel the vibration in the lake. I just didn't know what it was I'd done.

I was awake…but my eyes remained closed. Full, even breaths seemed enough of a struggle at the moment, as though I were just learning how to do so. And though I didn't know where I was, I did know that I certainly wasn't on the ship. But just then, there came the distant sounding of a door opening followed by a collection of footsteps.

"Viktor!" I could detect Grigor's voice calling out. Viktor must have been seated by me already, for I sensed him nearby. "Vhere is Pavel?! He has gone too far!" Which was followed by a stream of Bulgarian curses.

"Compose yourself, Poliakoff," came the demand of Karkaroff. "Nikolai Pavel cannot be held responsible." This only ignited another fire in Grigor's native tongue.

"So that's it?" came Finn, outraged. "He gets no punishment?!"

"He will, certainly," Karkaroff assured, growing nearer. "Not for nearly drowning young Demetria, but for what could have happened and what did happen to Tournament property."

"But, sir, she —"

"Viktor, did he hold her under the water against her will?" Karkaroff cut him off, the latter presumably giving a simple shake of his head. "Then you understand I cannot hold Pavel responsible for her mistake."

I began to wonder when would be a good moment to 'wake up'. The breathing was certainly coming easily enough now that I could have opened my eyes without difficulty. But hearing the opening of the doors once again, I decided to wait just a bit longer. Especially upon hearing everyone's greeting to the owner of those new footsteps — Dumbledore.

"How is Durmstrang's young champion recovering?" he inquired, seeming genuinely concerned.

"Just fine, I should think," said Viktor. "This Madam Pomfrey has not told me othervise."

"Albus, it is nothing too serious," Karkaroff insisted, almost as though it were an embarrassment to have an injury come upon one of his students. "I thank you for your concern, but so much is almost unnecessary."

Speak for yourself. I nearly died!

"Believe me, Igor, if what Mr. Krum has to say is as I have been lead to believe, it is more than concern which will be necessary," said Dumbledore somewhat distantly. I mean, physically he was certainly close, but one could almost hear the memories in his tone. "Mr. Krum, if you would please…?"

"Vell vhat I know is that bevore I could save her, the water began to do the rocking of the ship," That explained the vibration I'd felt… Or well, actually it didn't. But at least I hadn't just been imagining it. "And then just bevore she floated to the surface, there vas a flash of light from underneath the water, and… Vell, I had thought for a short moment I heard a…morska sirena."

"Mr. Krum…?" was what I assumed to be Dumbledore's polite version of asking him to translate it into English.

"A mermaid."

I had little next to no clue why 'more than concern was necessary' for that. He'd probably just heard the egg's song. But then again, that would've meant that I would have seen the flash of light… What in Godric's bleeding name was going on?! Thankfully, Finn didn't hesitate to voice my thoughts as though he'd been listening in.

"What does it mean, Dumbledore — Professor — sir?" he inquired, floundering for the appropriate title to address the Headmaster by.

There was a long pause before he replied. "I am afraid I cannot disclose such information until I make certain it is true. I expect to speak with Miss Harris…" Another gap in his words; everyone must have been waiting for me to wake up. And I thought it to be an oppertune moment, but it was Dumbledore's words which stopped me. "…tomorrow morning, to give her time to collect her bearings. I am quite certain any one of you gentlemen will do well to deliver the message — eight o'clock in my office."

I imagined one of the blokes — if not all three — nodded, for Dumbledore had bid them all farewell before his exiting footsteps echoed. Following his, there came several other pairs. And because I was hardly in the mood for questioning, I waited until I felt certain there was no one remaining to sit up and open my eyes, only to find a worried set of baby blue ones staring back.

The Weasley twins were making their way toward the Gryffindor common room after a particularly tedious Potions class. And no sooner had they stepped through the Fat Lady's portrait entrance did they find Ron just completing a card castle out of an Exploding Snap pack, only to have the whole lot blow up, singeing his eyebrows. The twins began chuckling and strode over to their younger brother who was now feeling his brows to check the damage.

"Nice look, Ron," was Fred's cheeky comment. "Go well with your dress robes, that will."

He didn't seem at all phased, and so Fred and George simply took seats at the table along with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The pair wasted no time as George promptly asked, "Ron, can we borrow Pigwidgeon?" They wanted to borrow Ron's owl to send what they hoped would be their final letter to Ludo Bagman before he coughed up the money he owed them.

"No, he's off delivering a letter," Ron said. "Why?"

"Because George wants to invite him to the ball," said Fred bitingly, the sarcasm easily detected…not to mention, expected.

"Because we want to send a letter, you stupid great prat," George told him somewhat uncharacteristically.

"Who d'you two keep writing to, eh?" Ron pried, but Fred quickly nipped it.

"Nose out, Ron, or I'll burn that for you too," he threatened with a wave of his hand. And eager to change the subject, he asked, "So…you lot got dates for the ball yet?"

To which Ron defeatedly replied, "Nope."

"Well, you'd better hurry up, mate, or all the good ones'll be taken," Fred warned him.

"Who're you going with, then?" Ron continued to inquire.

"Angelina," stated Fred without a trace of embarrassment. George didn't tell Ron that they'd actually both had yet to ask anyone to the ball.

"What?" Ron appeared taken aback. "You've already asked her?"

"Good point," said Fred, turning his head and calling out her name across the common room.

Angelina Johnson, who had been engaged in conversation with Alicia Spinnet by the fire, looked over and called back, "What?"

"Want to come to the ball with me?"

It raised an appraising look upon her face, but she agreed. "All right, then." And then she turned back to continue chatting with Alicia, her lips twisted up in a bit of a grin.

"There you go, piece of cake," said Fred to Harry and Ron who were currently in a state of awe. Fred then yawned and got to his feet, George mirroring the action. "We'd better use a school owl then, George, come on…"

And so the two left the common room, with intentions of making their way to the Owlery. Well, at least that was what George's intentions were. However, once the twins were out of earshot by the Fat Lady, Fred stopped abruptly.

"Oi! Why didn't you ask Alicia to the ball?"

George appeared taken aback for a moment, but quickly recovered. "I — What're you on about?"

"When I asked Angelina!" said Fred as though it were obvious. "You know Alicia fancies the bogies out of you — Poor bird's probably in shambles now that you haven't asked her."

"I'm sure she's fine," George assured his twin. "And…yeah, alright, I thought about asking her but…she's probably already going with someone."

But truth be told, George had not at all even considered asking Alicia to the ball. In fact, all he could think about when Fred had mentioned dates was the true girl he wanted to attend the ball with. Well, that and hoping Alicia didn't have the bollocks to ask him herself.

"Yeah, and Ron's going with Fleur Delacour," retorted Fred sarcastically. "You know as well as I do she'll turn down every bloke unless he's got red hair, blue eyes, dangerously handsome good looks, and isn't me," He puffed out his chest and feigned arrogance before dropping his shoulders, hand placed encouragingly on his twin's back. "Now, go back in there and ask her before someone else does and you're stuck with…Moaning Myrtle!"

"She's a ghost, mind you," George was playing stupid with Fred then. "She can't actually be someone's da —"

"You know what I mean," The phrase 'all joking aside' literally occured in Fred's eyes then. He was looking to his twin with complete seriousness. "You don't want to end up like ickle Ronniekins scrouging around for a date at the last minute, do you?" He didn't even have to answer. "No, you don't! Now, Alicia's a fit bird who's bound to say yes. All you've gotta do is ask and bam — Fabian's your uncle."

George, mainly to appease his twin, agreed. "All right!"

"There ya go, Georgie!" exclaimed Fred, patting George on the back and leading the way back to the common room. "Now let's get you a date."

Upon arriving back outside the Fat Lady's portrait, Fred brought up the question George had hoped they'd left at the end of the corridor. However, he was hardly paying attention enough to remember that Fred was currently asking about Alicia.

"So what's the real reason you didn't ask her?"

And so George replied as though he were asking about who he'd truly been hoping to attend the ball with. "Wager I've just been too shy," he confessed. "Besides, there's not a doubt in my mind that she hasn't got a date already, what with her being champion and all —"

"Champion?" Fred parroted in shock.

"That is not the password," stated the Fat Lady airily.

"D-did I…?" But George didn't even have to finish his sentence. He could feel his ears heating up, undoubtedly reddening as well, as Fred looked to him with a mischievously lop-sided grin.

"George Fabian Weasley —"

"That is not the password."

"— you sly dog," Fred finished approvingly. "When did you plan on telling me you were asking Demetria?"

George relaxed now, smiling along with his twin. "I reckoned when we walked into the Great Hall arm-in-arm would be as good a time as any." Fred playfully nudged him in the shoulder.

"Well, I feel rotten leaving Alicia with Ron, but…" He pretended to be deep in thought before saying: "Let's go get your champion, mate."

But just as he began to nudge his twin in the direction of the nearest staircase, George planted his feet firmly on the floor to stop him. "Didn't you hear a word I said?" he asked his brother who only stared with a rather blank expression. "She's probably already got someone, Fred. And why wouldn't she?" Fred released him and ceased pushing as he dropped down to take a seat on one of the moving staircase steps. Fred plopped down next to him. "She's champion…daughter of one of the most famous Quidditch players of all time… She's smart, she's fun…funny…and —"

"— Cute."

George chuckled at what he believed to be an understatement. "More than cute," he corrected his brother who only mirrored his grin. George finally snapped out of his dream-like state to say, "Oi! I saw her first."

"Actually, by the time you got there, I was already flashing her," said Fred cheekily, earning a swat to the gut by George. "with Lumos, Georgie," he added, the two still smiling. "So you fancy her, then?"

"Well I —" This was one thought that hadn't occured to George. Certainly, there was an attraction…but just slightly… After all, he barely knew her.

Luckily, he didn't have to answer…for the time being, anyway. For sounding from below them, the twins could detect the wrenching open of large wooden doors and an angry bloke shouting in another language. They didn't think anything of it until George heard two things which caused him to race to the first floor — Demetria and hospital wing.

"George," it came out in a gasp, heart practically leaping from my chest. "what the — what the hell are you doing here…besides scaring the mickey out of me?"

"I think the better question is, what the hell are you doing here?" interrogated George. And allow me to mention he clearly had no intentions of backing away from my face. That is, until Fred finally stepped in.

"Well give her some breathing room or she'll never make it out of here," he told his twin, also having to physical pull him away from me. "So what does bring you to this neck of the castle, Princess — a hangnail?"

I actually had to laugh at that one…and roll my eyes, of course. "If only," I told him.

"Well nothing appears to be broken…no cast or anything…" George, at this point, was just babbling to himself while circling the hospital bed and surveying me. "Or maybe Madam Pomfrey just hasn't bandaged you up yet…What if I touched something and re-broke it…What if I just broke it the first time…?"

"George!" Fred and I finally both said in unison. The redhead looked up at me with a childlike fear in his eyes. "George, I'm fine," I insisted. "It was just an ickle incident but it's over now. I just needed to rest."

"No, if you need to rest you go to your bed," George continued to press on. "If you're in the hospital wing, it must've been something horri —"

"I almost drowned!" I had to say it, I just couldn't take much more. But to see the look on his face — both of their faces, actually — almost made me wish I hadn't. "One of the blokes from my school knocked the Golden Egg into the lake and I went to go get it. That's it, I'm fine."

"That's it?" parroted George, in shock. "You make it said as though nothing bloody happened!"

"Nothing did happ — !"

"You nearly died! That counts as something happening!" Fred remained quiet during all of this, just watching his brother yell and scold. I wonder if he felt the same. "Demetria, how could you be so…careless?!"

"Careless?!" Now it was my turn for shock. "Just where do you get the nerve to speak to me like that?! I hardly know you and you tell me what I did for the egg was careless!?"

"What you could've done to yourself is careless! Blimey, you must really have some kind of death wish! First you put your name into the Goblet, you take a dragon head on, and now this!? What's next?!"

I could see George regretted what he said as soon as he let it register that he'd said it. "First you put your name into the Goblet." I swore to Godric, if one more person had the audacity to accuse me of putting my name in that damn goblet… And whether he meant it or not, I truly didn't care at the moment. I shouldn't have even been associating with people like George or his brother. Soon I'd be a Death Eater and they'd hate me…and I was letting them get all too close to me that they then felt the opposite.

"Demetria, I didn't mean —"

"Get. Out." No more yelling. My voice was soft, my tone like ice. I made sure the words cut deep.

"Please, I'm sorry —"

"One of us has to walk away and I'm unable to."

"Then you'll have to stay and listen because I refuse to leave without you hearing me out."

"Then stay," I told him, a small smile touching his baby blue eyes. "But I'm leaving." I was certain I'd never gotten out of a bed faster in my life. This is counting all those Chrismases as a child, mind you. And seeing as how I didn't really have to stay in the hospital wing, I made a break for the large wooden exit doors. Not really running, but walking fast enough to get away from either Weasley twins if they tried to advance on me, which they did. But after countless calls of my name and reaches for my hand, I imagined Fred had finally stopped his brother and let me walk out. Because that was exactly what I did before quickly navigating my way out of the castle and out on to the grounds, where I started running to the ship. And once on deck and not even aware of what time it was, only that the sun was still tucked away, I made my way to the lantern-lit bowels of the ship and quickly located the bunk-bed I shared with Viktor. But upon trying to wake him, I found that was not necessary, for he was already awake.

"Demetria," he said a bit groggily. Perhaps I'd caught him just as he was about to doze off. "You are alright?"

"Yes yes, just peachy," I insisted shortly.

"Vhy is it you are so…jumpy?" he continued to question.

"'Cause we've got to talk about the egg!" I locked my combat boot-clad feet on a spot in the ladder just to retrieve said sparkling egg from my top bunk. "C'mon! I've got to tell you about what I heard!" A soft thud was emitted upon my jumping back down to the deck.

"Can it not vait?" asked Viktor. "Dumbledore vishes to speak with you in his office in but a few hours. You vill need your rest."

"I rested plenty in the hospital wing, Vik!" I assured him before retrieving a wool jumper from the floor beside his bunk and tossing it on his head. "Now get a shirt on and let's move!"

"Can we not speak here?" Now he was just being whiny.

"No!" My voice was quiet, but urgent. Needless to say, I was not a very patient person. "I don't want scum like Pavel listening in! Hurry up!"

Viktor groaned but I saw him reluctantly getting up from his bunk as I was leaving. And it wasn't until he, too, emerged above deck that he threw the maroon jumper over his perfectly toned chest.

"Vell, vhat is it?" He looked to me expectantly. But rather than explain what I'd heard, I reenacted it. I softly sang the egg's song and watched Viktor's face light up in surprise. When I'd finished, he was silent for a moment, the only sound being the waters rocking the ship ever-so-slightly. "You vished to tell me…you can sing?"

"What? No! Viktor, were you even listening?!"

He chuckled. "Yes, of course…you just…" he grew more serious then. "…you sounded like the morska sirena I thought I heard."

"That's because you did hear it, Vik! You must've heard the egg's song too!" I told him fervently. And upon seeing the puzzled expression on his face, I continued to explain before he could even ask. "When the egg opened underwater, that was the song it sang. Everything after that — the light, the vibration — I can't really explain that 'cause I dunno for myself. But this song…it's the clue to the second task!"

Viktor looked as though he was just barely keeping up. Apparently, he was far more hung up on understanding the light and vibration. But after a moment, things seemed to click for him. But as he started to decode the song, I was already doing the same. "The morska sirena…they have taken something you vill miss…and if you do not find it in one hour…"

"Too late, it's gone, it won't come back," I recited.