Emerald had regained consciousness and lay blinking her lids to clear the mist that seemed to cloud her vision, but to no avail. It was difficult to tell how much time had elapsed since her last lucid memory. Through her haze, she could make out that she was then in a poorly lit room. Voices drifted to her ears, but she couldn't determine who they belonged to, or where they were coming from. She set her mind to recollecting what had gone before. She had heard a commotion outside her door and gone out to investigate the source. Taking her by surprise, Agent Gonzales had pushed her back inside her room, then subdued her and injected her in the neck with some kind of needle.
A voice spoke near her. "How long do you think the woman will remain asleep?"
"I don't know. She should have been awake by now," said another.
Emerald tried to speak. Only a hoarse moan escaped her lips, but it was enough to gain the attention of the speakers.
"Did you hear that, Demelza?"
"Aye."
Emerald found herself attended by two female figures. Her vision seemed to have cleared well enough, as she could distinguish their features of ivory skin and long hair.
"She looks so pale," commented one. "Almost like those wretched Bethmooran elves."
"She needs sustenance, Sister. Go fetch food and water. I will stay to keep an eye on her."
"But Demelza, we were to take her to Maya the minute she woke up."
"Fine. Get her some bread and water, while I take her to Maya."
One woman came forward and pulled Emerald up by a hold on her elbow. Though the woman had first appeared to be tall but slender, her grip was surprisingly strong. Stumbling slightly, she allowed herself to be pulled along. Once through the door, her exposure to full light was almost blinding. Shielding her eyes, she blinked furiously to adjust. The next sight greeting her caused her to nearly gasp aloud in amazement.
She was made to stand before a wide fountain with a tall golden statue of a fierce looking horse creature placed at its centre, gushing streams of water from its mouth and nostrils. Yet this was not what had most surprised her. Seated around the rim of the fountain were mermaids, nonchalantly chatting together, and lazily swishing their tails in the pool. Emerald looked at her escort, whose hair was a shade of dull green, similar to the mermaids' colouring; then instantly dropped her gaze to the woman's feet.
"Yes, I have legs," the woman answered to her show of curiosity.
Next, Emerald's attention went to the source of the green-tinged glow reflecting off the surface of the golden statue. To her astonishment, she saw that the light radiated from outside, and shone through the glass walls and domed ceiling of the building itself. Schools of fishes swam past those walls, and Emerald had to pinch herself to make sure that she wasn't just dreaming of being inside a glass castle under the sea. It only hurt and marked her pale skin with a red spot.
"Are you a...you know...like them?" asked Emerald.
"Am I a siren? Yes."
"Where am I? How did I get here?"
Demelza rubbed her temple. "I can't answer your questions. I am simply to take you to Maya."
"Who's Maya?"
"Our mother."
"Do all sirens reside in such glass houses?"
"No. This establishment has been arranged for the benefit of our clients. Not all can withstand to breathe under the sea."
"What kind of clients do you get here?"
Demelza raised her eyebrows. "I thought you'd be fearful after being kidnapped and brought to a place so strange to you. Rather, you appear to be demandingly curious."
"I -"
"Reserve all your questions for Maya," Demelza scolded. Her grip on Emerald's arm tightened, which conveniently made her shut up.
Emerald was escorted down a darkened corridor until they arrived at a door. Touching the surface, she marvelled at the fact that it was made of reeds and adorned with sea-shells of spectacular colours and shapes. Demelza pushed open the door and dragged her along. The circular room was bright with underwater light reflecting through its glass walls. It was unfurnished except for the presence of a much smaller water fountain, this one having a silver carp-shaped statue in the middle to act as a spout. On the edge lounged a grey haired siren, who stared imperiously as Emerald was brought to stand in front of her.
"This is Lord Sreng's she-elf," Demelza announced.
"What?!" At the mention of that name, Emerald tensed in alarm.
"Calm down, child," said the aged siren.
But her words had the opposite effect as Emerald began to struggle against Demelza. The angered young siren cast off her pretty facade, the whites of her eyes and purple irises transforming to solid black; and she gnashed sharp teeth in a show of threat.
"Stop! Both of you!" Maya commanded.
Demelza pushed Emerald away. Steadying herself, Emerald glared wild-eyed at her opponents.
"How did I get here? Is this where Bres lives? Where the hell is he?" she screamed.
While Demelza remained on alert, the old siren held her silence and languidly swished her tail fins in the fountain pool.
"Sreng will return soon and in the meantime, I would advise you to stay in your appointed quarters. You shall be fed, but you cannot be allowed to roam in our establishment on your own. As you appear human, most of our clients would not think twice about devouring you. So for your own sake and safety, you will do as you're told."
"Fine!" Emerald retorted through gritted teeth.
"Demelza, keep her locked in. Her defiant eyes tell me that she will try to escape. Sreng won't be happy if we hand her over to him as a pile of troll turd."
Covering her snort with a cough, Demelza gripped Emerald's hand again and rushed her out of the room. Feeling helpless for the moment, she followed her captor.
Sreng's reflection smirked back at him as he surveyed his image in the full length mirror. His plans were coming together faster than he had anticipated, further heightening his confidence. He had all three crown pieces in his possession, as well as the elusive Annowrian she-elf. It was only a matter of time, he mused.
Tonight, he planned to achieve one of his lifelong desires. Turning back to the mirror, he made sure of his readiness for the part he was soon to play. His pale eyes were enhanced to near blue by the aquamarine shade of his costume - worn specifically because he knew it was a favourite of the king. His long hair hung past his shoulders, oiled and plaited. As well, he had liberally perfumed his body with lavender and lotus.
"His Majesty has retired to his chambers," hissed the masked informer at his side.
"And Lord Alpheus?"
"Away from the capital."
Chuckling softly, he dismissed his servant. He went to a table where the Ocean Glory floated in a glass bowl, and picked up the blossom. Growing only in deep sea beds, Ocean Glory was a rare flower with lily shaped petals of bright indigo, and six pearls embedded at its centre. Its scent reminded Sreng of the sea, and left a salty tang in his mouth.
Sreng made his way along to Bres's chambers and was for a moment, delayed by a guard who announced his presence. As he entered, he was greeted by the happily smiling king.
"Your Majesty." Sreng bowed, concealing a malicious expression. 'What a fool.."
"Sreng!" Bres exclaimed, "You're a most welcome sight! And – what news of Prince Nuada do you bring?"
Sreng's mouth firmed in annoyance.
"Is that the first concern to spring to mind when you saw me, Your Majesty? Here I am, eager to present you a gift and convey my heart-felt regards...and you intrude the insufferable Bethmooran excuse for a prince."
Bres started. He had never known Sreng to show such emotion. Beneath his exotic appearance was a cold, hard demeanour. He had often wished Sreng to warm towards him so that he might take him as a lover, but his nature had never permitted Bres to make the proposal. In his most erotic dreams he would imagine Sreng allowing his touch, anywhere he pleased, without fear of rejection.
Bres now considered that a chance was at hand. "You've brought me a gift?"
Dipping his head in respect, Sreng presented the Ocean Glory.
"Is that what I think?" Taking the bowl in his hands, he inhaled the blossom's unique salty fragrance.
"Aye, Your Majesty."
"This is only the second time I have enjoyed the fortune to hold an Ocean Glory," said Bres, as he gently pressed aside the petals hiding the core. The pearls were revealed, shining like miniature moons.
"Shall I hope that my gift pleases you?"
"It does please me, surely!" Bres set down the bowl. "But to explain; over the past weeks, it has been my nightmare to handle my Lord Uncle. All he's been spewing are ominous premonitions about the Bethmoorans, and the risk they pose to my rule. Groundless!" he scoffed. "I am finally able to breathe a moment of peace, now that he has removed himself from my palace."
"Where has he gone, Your Majesty?"
"He refused to tell me. But I believe he's gone across the sea to Antrim in the north of Ireland. I heard him mention the Giant's Causeway while he consulted with Kowannoula."
"I see," Sreng replied with polite interest.
"And now, I would prefer not to pass our time together, in discussing my uncle."
Sreng made no move away from the king's approach as Bres set his hands on his shoulders and stared at level height into his eyes. Silent acceptance of his intimate nearness emboldened Bres to caress Sreng's powerful chest through the thin blue silk of his tunic.
"With all hope, I need you," murmured Bres.
Sreng made a noise in his throat. Intense excitement shivered Bres's fingers as he delighted in the feel of Sreng's tensing muscularity. He had desired him for so long that his dreams again swam behind his eyes. Cupping Sreng's neck, he pulled him close and forced his amorous tongue between his lips. Sreng endured it with a hidden thorough disgust, unable even to distract with fantasies of Maya's siren daughters.
Bres released the kiss, his hardness grown unbearably demanding. "Join me," he gasped, stripping off his own tunic on the spot. He turned and hurried his way to the foot of the grand bed.
"Your Majesty?"
"Must I command you?'
He responded with a devious grin and strode to his side. Bres anticipated the passion to come as Sreng pushed him to a fall on his back and leapt on to straddle him across the waist.
"Yes, my faoladh," Bres moaned, "Yes!"
"You thought to bed me?" The sound of Sreng's soft, cold laughter cut short his lustful reverie. "That I would act as a submissive mongrel to you, as I am to your uncle?" Stunned, Bres watched Sreng's features twist into a snarling mask of loathing. "Long live the Fomorian king!"
Sreng clamped down a heavy hand to seal his mouth. Pinned helpless, Bres lay in a shock of disbelief; then struggled in agony at the sharp tip of a dagger cutting into his chest, and the blade twisted through his heart. Blackish blue blood streamed steadily down his sides, wetting the velvet sheets.
Sreng swung off the body which had begun its transformation to ice, as resulted when a Fomorian elf was near death. At completion of the ice phase, the corpse would slowly melt away to nothing. Wrenching the blade from Bres's frozen heart, he looked into those glazed blue eyes for the last time.
"For Gaelshold and my Arianna," he whispered, and spat into the face.
Sreng sheathed his blade and as he made for the doors, brought out his twin scythes to meet the guards outside. Within moments, they too, lay dead and cold.
Author's note:I am sorry about the delay (again) but hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Please review! It really helps me to stay motivated and write this story.
I wrote a paranormal horror story to celebrate my Halloween. It is not too long, about 8k words. If anyone is interested to read it, please PM me with your email. If you own a Kindle device, you can download it from the Kindle store from 26th October, 2016. It is titledAstray- When adventure turns to horrorbyGinny Clyde. Pre-order is available too. So, wish you all a scary and fun Halloween ^_^
Beta-reader:Flint and Feather