Theo suddenly remembered his last encounter in the room with the mermaid's tank.
"Lillie, I need to go."
Lillie looked surprised.
"Theo, please don't.", she said and Theo could detect her worry, "I don't feel safe anymore."
Theo sighed.
"Okay, you can come, but keep your guard up."
They headed off, but Ted had stayed behind crouched behind some crates so he could use his heightened wolf hearing to eavesdrop. Once Theo and Lillie were out of earshot, a sickening smile came to his face.
"So, he's looking for something eh?", he chuckled to himself, "Maybe later I'll spare him a head start before I eat him."
"Don't even think about it!"
Ted's ears were ringing as the voice from before rang in his head.
"I need Theo to find what he's looking for otherwise I won't have the proper piece in place."
"Just what is Theo looking for anyway?", Ted countered angrily, "I'm hungry, the moon will be out and-"
"It will be covered by clouds.", the voice interrupted sounding more miffed, "You'll get your meal, but only if you agree to work with me and not against me!"
Ted rolled his eyes back huffing.
"Then maybe I should just bail and leave you wherever you are."
"And miss an opportunity to cure yourself?", the voice asked in a slyer tone, "You may be forced to shift each night, but only if the moon is visible. I can provide you the means to control yourself in either form, but first you have to ensure that Theo finds the object that will be hidden at the Forbidden Islands where the mermaid is leading the ship."
Ted growled, but the voice chuckled.
"Don't think that werewolf strength of yours will be enough. I may be limited to this area that I've been sealed in, but if things go according to plan, I will see to it that you will get what you're after. The queen is eagerly awaiting her next meal. Why not act all buddy with Theo? Get him to trust you and believe you're a friend."
Ted then smiled.
"And when the moment comes, I kill him."
"Exactly.", the voice purred, "Hold up your end of this deal, and I'll hold up mine."
Ted rose and thankfully for him, his nostrils picked up Theo's scent quickly and he was off like a shot eager to play the part he knew too well.
/
Theo and Lillie got to the room and found the tank covered again, but after inspecting it, they noticed something. The tarp had been loosened enough for something to get out, but tight enough to look convincing when the time needed.
"You think she's out?", Lillie asked.
Theo froze and an icy chill went down his spine. Something was in here and it was watching them. Theo quickly hurried to the desk in the back and started going through the drawers which had a couple old maps, a rusty old fashioned compass, and a leather book bound with a buckle. Lillie had come over as well and one of the maps caught her eye.
"Hey, get a load of this."
Theo looked at it also and noticed a small drawing of a treasure chest with a tiny drawing of a pyramid on top of the pile of gold coins, pearls, and other stuff. Could that be what he was looking for? Just as he put the drawing down, the door opened and both Theo and Lillie turned to see Ted walk in looking curious and confused.
"Everything okay in here?", he asked.
"Yeah, just thought I saw something.", Theo answered.
Ted looked interested.
"You wouldn't be looking for a magic dice are you?"
Theo looked more surprised right away.
"How did you know about that?"
Ted shrugged.
"Call it a hunch.", he said casually, "That map you discovered will tell you that there's a treasure at the destination of this ship guarded by a mermaid who calls herself Queen of the Lair. She has other names too, but that one sticks out."
Lillie looked concerned.
"Since when do you know so much about what's going on?", she asked, "You weren't the one letting her out of the tank are you?"
"Me?", Ted asked giving an innocent look, "I'd never do that. So, what do you need the dice for Theo?"
Theo tried to hide his nervousness.
"Um..I'd rather not say. It's kind of important."
Ted smiled bigger.
"I'm all ears."
Fortunately for Theo, a hiss came out and all three turned to see the mermaid had come out of the tank, but was in her human form while still wearing her seashell bra and silvery skirt, but her icy eyes were locked on Ted as if giving a warning.
"Well, I'm going to head out.", Ted said inching towards the door, "I'll be happy to help if you need it."
The mermaid then opened her mouth and gave out a shriek that made everyone else in the room cover their ears and look away.
/
Once the sound died down, Theo cautiously looked back to see the mermaid had vanished and Lillie who was looking freaked out.
"What was that?", she asked.
"I have no idea.", Theo answered, "But it would be great, if it didn't happen again."
Theo then looked a bit alarmed.
"Lillie, is there a full moon tonight?"
Lillie looked confused.
"Why?"
"Because I think the captain mentioned something about mermaids turning human once a month during a full moon."
Lillie then looked thoughtful.
"Yeah, he did mention it once along with some kind of object they had in their possession rumored to be able to do something magical when it's used."
Theo gulped.
"Well, it looks like we have to either get away from this ship or we'll have to face the Queen and hopefully survive."
A loud clap of thunder rang out making them flinch.
"Storms must happen often out here on this part of the realm huh?", Theo guessed.
Lillie looked more scared.
"Theo, I think we've been down here longer than we thought."
Theo's eyes went wide.
"Lillie, I think I know where Ted came from and we need to get off this ship before-"
A loud wolf howl rang out along with another rumble of thunder. Theo rushed over to the tank and removed the tarp to reveal that the tank had only water. That was when the sounds of screaming came from up on deck.
"Right, time to face the music.", Theo said.
"Are you crazy?", Lillie asked, "That thing will kill us."
Theo smiled.
"I'll make sure she won't."
Cautiously, Lillie followed Theo up the stairs to the deck were they met a terrible sight. Several sailors were slain and laying dead with something lurking in the shadows. Theo gulped.
"I know you're there. Come on out.", he said trying to be brave.
Then, a webbed set of large claws came out and something long, scaly, and freaky slithered out. It was kind of hard to describe it, but mostly blackish scales covered the top half with pinkish white one the bottom, the body was serpentine with a large fan of sharp spines for a tail and the human half was replaced by one with a face of an exotic fish and large plates resembling a crown and a mouth full of fangs. Before anything else, a wolf growl came out making Theo and Lillie turn to see the werewolf that Theo had faced before only it was wearing a vest, but still had its leather shorts on.
"Hey how did that werewolf get all the way out here?", Lillie asked.
The Queen (as Theo deduced was the first creature) looked at the werewolf and sneered while giving a hiss. The werewolf crouched as its eyes locked on her too thinking she was another predator laying claim to his kill. The two jumped forward and Theo moved ahead with Lillie making the two collide, but they went at it while Theo and Lillie slipped away.
/
As the sound of fighting was heard, Theo saw in the light of each lightning flash that many rocks were sticking out of the sea and sighed.
"Lillie, I think we're here."
Lillie looked worried.
"So, what are you going to do?"
Theo put a foot on some crates near the edge.
"Lillie, I think I know where I'm looking for is, but you won't like it."
Lillie looked even more horrified.
"Theo please, you might die if you go in there."
Theo got up on the rail.
"Sorry Lillie, but for the sake of many universes, risks have to be taken."
And before Lillie could say anything and Theo could stop himself, he dove into the sea water. The initial shock and freezing cold almost made Theo reconsider his decision, but he had a job to do.
"Why didn't I just use my mirror to see where the dice was?", he thought as he swan deeper, "I hope Lillie is okay up there."
As Theo swam deeper, a lightning flashed causing a brief light to breech the darkness enough so Theo could notice the rocky sides as well as other mermaids like the one from before only they weren't leaving from the rocks, but watching Theo the way a pack of wolves look at an elderly moose. As Theo came close, one mermaid with gorgeous flowing reddish brown hair and icy green eyes who was wearing a pair of pearly white seashells as her bra smiled devilishly and raised a finger as if beckoning Theo towards her as ghostly light illuminated the area.
"We know why you're here."
Theo guessed it was the mermaid talking telepathically cause the one beckoning him suddenly snapped her fingers and a couple others swam out carrying a chest. She opened it with her tail, reached behind her and pulled out what looked like an aquamarine four-sided dice which she held as if to show Theo it was real.
"Well, here it is."
Theo looked cautiously. There had to be a catch. Unfortunately, the mermaid seemed to read his thoughts and her grin grew more malicious.
"Wise move. It's pretty simple: a fight between you and me. You win, we let you and the lone survivor on your vessel leave peacefully while I give you the dice, but fail and both of you will join your crew in being our latest dinner."
As much as Theo wanted to disagree, he was running out of air so he just nodded and the mermaid holding the dice waved her free hand in the water and the dice she held floated out not far from her as Theo swam closer as the other mermaids formed a large circle around the two.
"It's showtime!"
/
One of the other mermaids held up a bell (I have no idea how they got that) while another held up a small hammer and dinged the bell. Before they did however, Theo waved a finger in the water and his breathing became easier.
"Thirty minutes to take down this person."
The mermaid he was facing shifted into what looked like a mirror image of the one left on the ship, but the crown of this one was not as large which Theo guessed was because she wasn't as old as the Queen. Unfortunately, the mermaid swam forward with such speed that Theo barely had time to conjure a shield to deflect her.
"Oh, so you're a psychic I see.", Theo heard in his mind, "We don't get to eat many of those."
"Well, I'm just getting warmed up.", Theo found himself thinking pretty sure the mermaid heard him, "If I was at my full power, I'd have this done before it started. Are you sure you want to continue?"
The mermaid tensed like a cobra.
"You're the one who's going to die here."
Theo smiled.
"I was hoping to avoid using more than I am, but I'm guessing you just want it to end?"
The mermaid charged, but this time, Theo snapped his fingers and an explosion sent him and the mermaid rocketing toward the surface. Once they exploded out of the water and into the open air, lightning flashed and came down and zapped the mermaid making her limp.
"And now what?", Theo wondered.
"Use the capture card."
Theo looked confused, but the dice case he had gotten magically appeared in his hands and a small slot opened up on the side and a blank card came out. Without thinking, Theo tossed the card and once it was near the mermaid, there was a flash and the mermaid materialized on the card which flashed a couple times before it went dull and Theo retrieved it only to fall on to the deck of the ship.
/
A bit later, Lillie helped patch Theo up as the ship started sailing away from the Forbidden Islands.
"So, the werewolf and the Queen fell overboard and didn't come up?", Theo asked before flinching as Lillie patched his arm.
Lillie nodded.
"He got the upper hand when she saw her fellow mermaid come out of the ocean and after the others cleared out the dead, they left something on the deck for you, but you were knocked out so I brought you below deck to help patch you up."
She placed the four-sided dice near Theo who managed to pick it up with his free hand.
"I wonder what it does.", he thought.
Then the ship rocked and the dice rolled off Theo's hand and landed on a 1. Then the dice glowed for a second and then went back to normal. Then a nearby mug shifted into a spray can which sprayed Theo with a thick green mist. It dispersed shortly after it did and the can shifted back into a mug.
"Well, it seems that the dice transforms things.", Theo theorized, "But on the bright side, I'm feeling better. That mist must have been some kind of medical spray."
Lillie put the dice into the case in a slot that looked like a triangle before observing the card.
"So, what's with the card?"
Theo took the card since he was feeling well enough to move and observed it.
"Must be some kind of calling card or something. So, what are we going to call this girl?"
Lillie looked thoughtful.
"Well, she seems to be the Queen's daughter so maybe Princess?"
Theo smiled.
"Princess. I like that."
Theo took out the little slot in the side of the case and found six more blank cards.
"Looks like I'll be finding six more creatures to add.", Theo guessed, "But I could use a nap."
He settled for one as Lillie left to give him some privacy unaware that the werewolf was flying after them with the demon wings from before looking battered, scratched and seething. His prey got away, but he wouldn't give up that easily.
