Told you it'd be quicker this time around. Here we go!

o0o

Marjorie ducked as shards of luminescent coral flew down with the force of the sharks' impact. She looked toward the girls, their faces white with fear.

"GO! SWIM!" she screamed. The two mermaids hesitated only a second before bolting out the door they'd came through. Marjorie turned back around just in time to dodge the maw of one of the sharks. She could feel the dark magic pouring from them. This had to be her sister's doing. Sadness filled her alongside the revelation. She dodged once more, just barely avoiding being rammed into the wall. Looking up, she saw the glinting armor of the royal guards. Their eyes glowed with a sickly green color. She knew that she would have to use magic to defend herself, but…these were innocent creatures. They were being influenced; it wasn't their fault!

"Ah!" Marjorie's guard had dropped. One of the sharks slammed its tail against her back. She flew into the wall, cracking the coral. Her vision and consciousness began to fade.

"Up…to you…now…" she whispered. Darkness overtook her.

o0o

Annalise and Jeanette swam as fast as their tails would allow. They heard the crashes as coral came crumbling down from the walls. Pure adrenaline pushed them all the way out of the castle and into the deserted streets of Oceana. The rest of the group watched with alarm as the two finally slowed down to catch their breath.

"What happened!?" Ripple swam to her cousin. "What's with all the crumbling?"

"There was…an…attack," Anna gasped. "Guards…tiger…sharks…"

"M-Marjorie gave us…this," Jeanette panted, holding up the little shell.

"A…whistle?" Ripple leaned in to examine the object.

"She said…to…head north…as close to Europe's shore as possible. Someone would help us there."

"North, huh?" Brittany frowned. "We have to swim all the way there?"

"I guess so," Annalise straightened, having finally caught her breath. "But I can't get my mind off that attack. Those tiger sharks just burst through the wall like it was made of sand!"

"You said there were guards, too?" Simon asked. He was floating next to Jeanette. "Why would guards attack you? Aside from the whole sneaking-inside thing."

"Their eyes…they had been just like that mermaid's…" Jeanette shivered. "Glowing, and…and GREEN…"

"They were possessed?" Ripple turned to Annalise. "Then that means…"

"Whoever was behind Jeanette's kidnapping must be behind the attacks!" The pink-haired mermaid swam upward a little. "And that means someone not only wants Jeanette, but the Queen as well…oh no, the queen!"

"She told us to escape!" Jeanette's face showed horror. "But…she couldn't have possibly have fought off those sharks AND guards!"

"Queen Marjorie is a very powerful mage," Ripple said.

"But she's also gentle," Annalise pointed out. "She'd never hurt anyone or anything unless absolutely necessary."

"I hope she's okay," Theodore said.

"Well, we'll have to trust what she told us. I suppose this means we're heading north."

"By the way, did she know about the spell not working?" Ripple glanced at Jeanette.

"Yes, she did. She said we'd understand it later, though. I don't know what she meant, but I think we should trust her."

The group, under unanimous agreement, set off to gather some things from Annalise's cove. Unbeknownst to them, however, a young merman had been listening to every word. His teal eyes narrowed, and he silently swam back to his house to prepare.

o0o

"Hmm…" she leaned over her mirror, pondering deeply. Her seemingly endless blue hair floated around her lair. The strands seemed to writhe and slither like the tentacles of an octopus. "Interesting…so she gave them the whistle…oh, Marjorie, when will you learn to respect family treasure?"

"Y-y-your Majesty?" a shaky, high-pitched male voice called out timidly. "Sh-Sherri has r-r-returned…"

"Send her in." She said in a dismissive tone.

"Y-yes, your Highness."

"Not bad, Sherri," she said the moment the lesser mermaid entered the cavern. "My sister was quite surprised. Unfortunately, she was able to warn the traitors before the guards could destroy them. Therefore, you failed. However, since your effort has rendered my sister incapacitated, your life will be spared."

Sherri fought the urge to roll her eyes. Whenever her master's threats weren't frightening, they were just plain annoying. She forced a grateful tone into her voice.

"Thank you, My Liege. Your mercy is most appreciated."

"Whatever. You may go," she waved her hand toward her. "I will call for you if needed."

"Yes, Highness."

Sherri turned and swam away calmly. When she got completely out of the cavern, she scowled and swished her tail in ire.

"Call me when I'm needed, indeed!" she raged. "As if she could do a single thing without my help!"

Puff and Slight, the two mutated guards of the cavern, cowered and gazed at her in worry. She turned her glare to them.

"What are you idiots looking at!?"

The guards snapped to attention, their bodies nearly shaking with fear. Sherri stormed away to her room. The guards dared not say a word.

o0o

"So...they're going to the North, then?"

"..."

"Then they must be going to see Beannahain..."

"...Well, we can't have that, now can we...?"

"A light storm should clean this up in no time...but it would take a lot of resources...ah, well, some things just can't be helped."

"The coast is suspecting a hurricane, after all. Who am I to dissapoint?"

o0o

Geez, Sherri. Hissy fits much? and what's with that merman...? And that last part...*shudders*

Happy Easter, you guys! :)