This chapter is a bit shorter than the others but here it is, enjoy!
Summary: Nixie and Veridia race to stop the bleeding in time.
"Help me get her out of the water," Veridia instructed.
Nixie clumsily dove to the side to reach the edge of the pool and gripped the ledge. It took three attempts to get enough propulsion to get herself out. Her arm was still stiff and her entire body was shaking, two things which did not help.
By the time she got herself up and facing the pool again, Veridia had Rita sitting up, leaning against her, the blood turning scales red.
Between the two of them they got her out of the water. Nixie had pulled the Mermaid out of the water while Veridia helped lift her tail.
The blood. There was so much of it. The bright red seeping into the cracks in Nixie's skin made her stomach turn.
"Find something to stop the bleeding," Veridia instructed from the water.
Nixie just nodded and dried herself off. She tried to will her legs to move faster but they were shaking uselessly. She gripped the wall of the tunnel and she forcefully picked her feet up the stairs. She was tired. The long swim and exertion of everything took its toll.
Nixie stumbled round into the grotto. There was stuff here somewhere. What was it land people used, a towel? Mermaids don't use towels.. Bleeding gets stopped with sea sponges. Where would they be…? Nixie trudged forward along the upper level of the grotto, leaning against the wall for support.. All the potions stuff was here. Healing stuff should be too.
She collapsed to her knees at the potions table. There were chests under here. Nixie dragged the first one out and pried open the lid. Empty glass bottle things. She shoved it to the side and pulled out the next one. Strips of sea sponge, kelp wraps, seaweed poltices. Perfect. Nixie grabbed as many as she could and hauled herself to her feet, almost overbalancing in the process.
Her stupid legs were still shaking and no matter how much she willed them to move faster, they wouldn't listen. The most she could do was teeter, like some stupid land person in those heeled shoes.
She rounded the corner to where she'd left Rita and Veridia. There was blood all over the stone, blood all over Rita and Veridia's hands. Veridia was now out of the water with Rita's head resting on her… legs.
"I found these," Nixie held out the bundle of sea sponge.
Veridia nodded, "Hold them against the wounds, apply a lot of pressure."
Nixie set the bundle down and kneeled down beside Rita. Her skin had been pale before but this was a new shade of white, paler than bone. Veridia took strips of sea sponge from the pile and pressed them down heavily over the bleeding. Nixie copied her, trying to stop the wounds on Rita's shoulders from bleeding.
"Pass the rest of it," Veridia instructed. Nixie handed the rest of the bundle over. Veridia pressed them onto the bleeding wounds, then lifted her hand and flexed her fingers. All the sponge pressed downwards.
"I need you to get bandaging supplies Nixie. Rita has some doesn't she?"
Nixie just nodded and stumbled back up to her feet. The cave spun violently around her. Bandages, bandages, bandages.
"Nixie?"
"Hmm?" Nixie spun back around.
"I need you to do this quickly."
Nixie nodded and trudged back up the grotto on useless legs. She hated them. They were so stupid. Why have legs if they don't work?
The face that greeted her in the grotto was less than happy. A sullen Lyla with crossed arms and a disapproving look.
"What's up with you?" Lyla asked.
"Need bandage stuff," Nixie leaned heavily against the was blood on her knees. When did that get there? Her hands she knew about, the blood tracks on the wall where she'd gripped the stone gave that away.
"Why? Why are you covered in blood? What's going on?"
"Rita's bleeding. Just get the stuff."
Lyla ran up the stairs from the bottom level far more easily and far faster than Nixie could've.
"Where are they?"
"Under table, chest with sea sponges in it. The top's open."
Nixie rested her head against the wall just for a second and let her eyes close.
"I've got the stuff."
Nixie opened her eyes. Lyla stood in front of her with bandages in her arms. Nixie held out her hands to take them.
I'll help," Lyla kept the stuff from Nixie's outstretched hands.
"Mmm-mm," Nixie shook her head, "Veridia's annoyed at you. I got it."
"Veridia's here? She actually came?"
Nixie nodded and held out her arms again. Lyla passed her the stuff and wordlessly Nixie turned and left.
She managed a faster walk back down and dumped the stuff next to Veridia before collapsing.
"Nixie, you have to get up. I need your help. You can rest after."
Nixie couldn't remember much after shuffling over on her knees and holding out kelp wraps. She woke up in the grotto pool, the water sparkling clean, and a concerned Sirena looking over her.
Two chapters in the same week. This is the most productive I've been in a while. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and i'll be back with the next one. It will probably be a bit longer before the next chapter's ready but i'll get it done.
Until next time :)