CHARACTER LIST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
HERMIA- First introduced: Chapter 1, Last seen: N/A, Description: She is a half demon, half dragon hybrid. She has the powers of Shadow Charmer and Dragon Tamer. As of Chapter 23 she obtained a third power, Mermaid Whisperer. Her bite can morph any creature into that of a completely different one. She's on a quest for world domination.
ABCD- First Introduced: Chapter 4, Last Seen: N/A, Description: She was originally a fairy but as of chapter 12 she was transformed into a human. She accompanied Kendra to Wyrmroost to save Gavin and went with to Kwestianyah to save Seth.
KRISTAWF- First introduced: Chapter 4, Last seen: Chapter 24, Description: He is a Scene that is on the hunt for Hermia. Kendra stumbles upon him in the forest. He dies while attacking Hermia.
DAWNYA- First introduced: Chapter 4, Last seen: Chapter 4, Description: She is a fresh water nixie that Kendra is friends with. She tells Kendra about Seth's disappearance.
MICRAPSEUDO- First Mentioned: Chapter 5, Last Mentioned: N/A, Description: A demon, and Hermia's father.
BIRETRA- First Mentioned: chapter 5, Last seen: chapter 19, Description: Hermia's mother and future ruler of the dragon's. Gavin is her heir, but she dies before she has a chance to rule.
KAYDENCE- First Mentioned: Chapter 5, Last seen: last chapter (specifics N/A) Description: Hermia's brother/ follower in world conquest.
EVAN: First Mentioned: Chapter 5, Last seen: chapter 19, Description: Hermia's sister, killed by Hermia after mixing her three different potions. Takes after their mother more.
JAYCEE: First Mentioned: Chapter 6, Last Seen: N/A Description: Bracken's brat of a future wife.
DELEXA: First Seen: Chapter 9, Last seen: Chapter 9, Description: A small Lynateller who can give a person any spell or almost any magical object they need.
CHASITY: First Seen: Chapter 10, Last Seen: Chapter 10, Description: A small, child-like dragon that has the power to read people like a book. Gavin goes to her to ask for directions to Agad's castle and he ends up with a summary of his life.
SNOW: First Seen: Chapter 11, Last Seen: N/A, Description: A mermaid that Seth saved from death. She takes him to the mermaid "city" and makes him fit in. He ends up falling in love with her and they are bound for life by scales.
ROBIN: First Seen: Chapter 12, Last seen: N/A Description: An elf, Prince of Twilight elves in fact, that Kendra and Abcd saved from a pond in Wyrmroost. He ends up having a thing for Abcd.
LADY: First seen: chapter 13, Last seen: Chapter 13, Description: Robin's Phoenix.
LYNTHIA: First Seen: Chapter 13, Last Seen: Chapter 16 Description: A strange dragon who held Gavin prisoner. Robin, Kendra and Abcd got him back by trading Kendra's blood to Lynthia.
CELESTE (NOT MY CHARACTER BUT I GAVE HER LIFE): First Seen: Chapter 15, Last seen: N/A Description: Bracken's sister.
TONI/BREE: First Seen: chapter 16, Last seen/mentioned: Chapter 24, Description: Two Scenes working with Kristawf to capture Hermia. Bree is killed by Hermia for her hair and Toni is shot by a hunter.
SETH'S MERMIAD FRIENDS: First Seen: Chapter 17, Last seen: N/A, Description: Friends that Snow introduces Seth to. Ash, Annabelle and Terrance are the only ones who end up alive after Hermia poisons the pool.
CATRIONA(CATHERENE): First Seen: Chapter 20, Last Seen: N/A, Description: Care-Taker of Kwestianyah.
SCARLET: First Seen: Chapter 22, Last Seen: N/A, Description: She is a Foxefy that can send her whole body into flames, read minds and other powers not yet discovered. She is there to help the group but has a mysterious interest for Kendra.
UNIMPORTANT CHARACTERS LEFT OUT!
Fablehaven: The Enchantment of the Mermaid Whisperers
Chapter 25
Seth thought long and hard about Snow's face as his legs pounded through the water. His lungs were burning and yet he was only halfway there. Snow, her name kept repeating in his mind. Snow, a twisty feeling began to form under Seth's ribs and black splotches dotted his already blurry vision. Snow, he willed himself on, though much slower than before.
Finally, without meaning to, he stopped. His numb arms wouldn't carry him anymore and he just floated in the warm water. This is it, Seth thought, this is how I'll die. One last time he envisioned Snow. Suddenly, something clicked inside Seth and a warm glow enveloped his body. The warmth penetrated his skin and forced itself deep inside of him, right to his core.
When the feeling faded back to the cold water, Seth found himself…breathing! His hands darted to his neck where he found a pair of gills. Suddenly, thick black hair floated into his vision and he grabbed at it. Tugging on it he found it was his! His skin was pale, his body curvy and his tail a bright glowing white.
"Oh my gosh I look like Snow!" Seth said aloud, but in a soft, higher pitched voice. Little did Seth realize that this was apart of his Mermaid Whisperer abilities. Not questioning the strange phenomenon, Seth sped through the water at mermaid speed.
At one point in his life he feared the raging waterfall that was the gateway to the tiny place the mermaids called home, but as Seth shot through the water and off the edge of the rushing water he felt no fear.
Seth found himself free-falling right in front of the waterfall, the cold mist picking his skin. He could barely see but the feeling was amazing. With a sudden jerk of his body he was behind the falls again and plunging straight into the water.
With sight fully restored, Seth took a cursory glance around. The tree that kept the mermaids alive was already turning earth brown at an alarming rate. Many of the shells were fading to a ghostly white, alerting Seth that he didn't have much time.
Without even having to think he knew where Snow was. Pumping his brilliant white tail as fast as he could, he made his way toward the abyss.
Upon reaching the bottom, Seth dry heaved at the sight. LaVaughn was the closest one to Seth, lying limply on the sandy ground, and he almost jumped back at the sight of her. Every freckle on her body was black, pitch black and her skin a deathly pale. Her eyes were wide open, but the amber color was gone, replaced by grey. Her royal blue hair was brittle and came out in chunks as the current ran over her. Gold blood seeped from her scales and eyes, and her tail had random white scales littered among the faded gold. Reluctantly, Seth felt her wrist for any sign of a heart beat, but the only thing that happened was a sickening crack in her whole hand.
"Ahh!" Seth slightly screamed and jumped away from the mermaid. As he backed away his fins brushed Starlet.
Starlet had similar symptoms that LaVaughn had, and Seth found that Hunter and Tyger looked about the same as well.
The whole place felt like death and Seth began to become scared.
"Snow?" he called into the darkness. No answer.
"Snow?" He shouted this time.
There was a long pause but finally an answer came, "Who's there?"
It wasn't Snow's voice but it was good enough, "Over here Ash!"
Ash appeared out of the darkness along with Terrance.
"Who are you and why do you look like Snow?" Terrance asked in a fluster. Both looked prepared to fight.
Seth sighed and thought hard about what he looked like as a mermaid. The warmth evaded his body again and the two mermen backed up a tad.
"It's me," Seth stated as the glow disappeared.
Both scowled at Seth, but Ash said, "Seth, you have no idea how betrayed we feel by you. Normally we would force you to leave or fight you to the death but we need your help. We don't know anything about what's happening and you clearly do. Not to mention the only person Snow wants right now is you."
"Snow is here?" Seth asked abruptly.
Ash and Terrance nodded, then pointed to the darkness. Seth quickly swam in the general direction, his eyes quickly adjusting to the dark, until he saw Snow. She was a ghostly pale like the others Seth had found dead but her eyes were closed and her scales were still bright. She lied in the arms of Annabelle, who brushed the hair out of her face and looked worriedly down at her. Peering up at Seth, Annabelle whispered, "Seth! Please help us. Help her." She gestured down to Snow.
Annabelle wasn't looking too good either, her scales becoming splotchy white, her hair looking coarse and her eyes speckled in deathly grey.
"Of course," Seth stated as he reached out for Snow.
Annabelle immediately handed her over and reached her own arms out for someone behind Seth. Terrance picked her up lightly.
"Where's Ash?" Seth asked in worry.
Terrance shook his head sadly and pointed to the far corner of the abyss, where Seth first came in. Swimming closer, Seth found Ash looking down at LaVaughn, gently feeling her dark blue hair.
"I loved her, Seth." Ash stated lifelessly.
Seth tried to think of something to say, anything, but couldn't find the words. He knew the stabbing pain of what it felt like to loose someone he loved. All Seth could think to do is softly pat him on his shoulder in comfort.
Ash nodded, taking Seth's hint, and began to swim toward the opening in the top of the abyss. Seth and Terrance followed, the girls most important to them in their arms.
Meanwhile, up on land, Gavin and Bracken took shots at Hermia as she effortlessly dodged them. By then Kendra had emerged from the bushes, glowing brightly with anger. The sun had set by then, casting shadows for Hermia everywhere. All Kendra could do was watch since she didn't have any specific powers that were useful. The fact made her angry and wishing she could fight, or at least do something to help.
Suddenly she thought of Scarlet and stealthily crept over to her. Kendra examined Scarlet's skin, which was infested with shadows and turning a deep dark blue. She gently touched Scarlet's arm, and was surprised by what happened; the shadows skittered away and a small patch of skin returned to it's peachy color. Immediately Kendra began touching all exposed skin on Scarlet until she simply appeared to be asleep.
Hearing a yell, Kendra turned around to see Gavin sprawled on the ground, unmoving and Bracken pushed against a tree under Hermia's grasp. She could see the surprised and pained look on Bracken's face as Hermia tightened her grip on his throat.
Without thinking Kendra ran at Hermia, prepared to attack her. But, as she ran past Gavin she tripped and slammed face first into the ground. He had grabbed her ankle! In a second Gavin shot up, got a running start and smashed his foot into Hermia's back.
"Ahhhhh!" Hermia cried out in pain as she let go of Bracken and sunk to the ground.
Bracken rolled away, stood and stared at the unmoving demon. Gavin and Kendra joined him in staring down at her. All three breathed heavily.
"Did I kill her?" Gavin questioned softly in a heavy exhale.
Before anyone could answer, the shadows all around them roared up and, inducing synchronized screams, enveloped both Kendra and Bracken in their web-like trap. Gavin jumped out of the way before he could be captured and immediately found himself battling with Hermia once again.
He was puzzled and frustrated at her tactics, constant dodging then swiftly surprise attacking. A stinging bite here, a deep scratch there, Gavin was being worn down fast. But, he suddenly felt relief when he took a small step back and found his foot upon the dagger that Hermia had pulled out of Kristawf. After a moment he found a break in her pursues and, in one smooth movement, scooped up the dagger and plunged it right into Hermia's stomach.
A surprised gasp escaped her dark green lips as she gripped the hilt over Gavin's hand. A ruby flow was already spilling over their hands as she slowly sunk to the ground. With a thud and many crunches, her body hit the brown leaves.
The shadows encasing Bracken and Kendra dissipated. Both inhaled sharply as they fell to their knees upon being released.
"Oh my gosh," Kendra breathed in surprise.
Exhaustion overtaking his body, Gavin fell into the dead leaves parallel to Hermia's bloody body. He only received a few moments of relief before abruptly, using what life she had left, Hermia yanked the twisted crimson dagger out of her stomach, reached over and stabbed Gavin directly in the heart.
"Ugh!" Gavin shouted through gritted teeth, clenching his fists and arching his back before falling back silently upon the bloodied leaves.
Yup I did it, I did the most horrible thing in the whole universe. I am so sorry but I've been planning to kill him for a long time. On a happier note, I will literally cry if this story gets one hundred reviews! I am not even kidding :)
Come back next time to find out the fate of the Fablehaven group.
Peace, Love and Bobby Sherman
Linsey