Chosen Chapter 13: From the Deep
Part 3
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In a dark underwater cavern, a dark-skinned woman dressed in rags tended to a collection of weeds and fungi while humming a creepy tune. She kneeled next to a glowing mushroom and used a bony knife to cut it loose from the rocks. She then walked over to a large black cauldron and crumbled the mushroom over the boiling liquid while continuing her tune. On the other side of the cavern, two figures appeared in spiraling blue energy, Bryant and Harper.
"So you have returned." The ragged woman noted without looking up from her cauldron. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"I think you already know, hag." Bryant replied.
"Perhaps I do, but I like to talk." The hag said as she turned to them while stirring in her cauldron. "I rarely get visitors."
"I wonder why." Harper remarked as she stepped around with a disgusted look. "You have such a lovely damp cave."
"I prefer the damp and darkness." The hag replied.
"Can we get down to business, please?" Bryant said impatiently. "We captured the mermaid you located for us, but the merman got away."
"And you need my help to track him?" The hag asked. "Again?"
"We don't care about one stupid merman." Harper replied. "He is expendable. We need more of them, lots more."
"It's not often that surface dwellers are interested in those that live under the sea." The hag replied. "What do you hope to gain from this?"
"That's none of your business, hag." Harper said. "We can pay you, double what we gave last time."
"I already have all that I could need from you." The hag replied. "What more could I want?"
"How about your life?" Harper threatened as electricity sparked between her fingers.
The Sea Hag glared at her and stopped stirring her potion. She held out her hand and sea weed appeared around Harper, binding her in place. Bryant tried to attack the hag, though she waved her other hand and a column of water rose from the floor to trap him. Both wizards struggled to get free, but the hag's magic was too powerful. When Bryant almost drowned, the hag lowered her hands and freed them both. Bryant gasped for air as he collapsed.
"I do not take kindly to threats in my own home." The hag replied. "You arrogant wizards should know better than to underestimate the power of the sea."
"Fine, we're sorry." Harper said reluctantly. "But you know our father can reward you. Anything you want."
"If Ambrosius wanted to make a deal, he should have come himself." The hag said. "Not send his bastard offspring. You are weak and fragile."
"Not for long." Bryant said angrily.
"I see." The hag said after a moment of consideration. "So that is what you're after. You hope to claim their immortality for yourselves."
"The ancient wizards were immortal." Bryant replied. "And now we shall be as well. We will reclaim our former glory and rule this world."
"I still have not heard a reason why I should assist you." the hag noted.
"We'll give you what you want." Harper replied. "When we rule the earth, we will give you the seas."
"Foolish girl, the seas are not yours to give." The hag said.
"Then what do you want?" Bryant asked impatiently. "There must be something."
"There might be." The hag replied. "Tell me, once you have captured the merfolk, how do you plan to obtain their immortality? It must be given willingly, and there are only a few magical artifacts capable of storing it."
"We know about the Auger Shells." Harper said. "And where to obtain them."
"As I suspected." The hag replied with a sinister smile. "In that case, there is something you can do for me after all."
"Tell us." Bryant said.
"In the place where you will find the shells, there is something I desire." The hag replied. "Something that will ensure my rule over the seas."
"So if we get it for you, we have a deal?" Bryant asked.
"You will have your immortality and your surface world, while I have the seas." The hag said. "And our worlds will never have to cross paths again."
"Sounds perfect." Harper remarked. "I've had enough of the smell of fish for several lifetimes."
The hag nodded and walked to a pool of water in the cavern. She held out her hands and closed her eyes as she began humming a tune. The water began to rise and bubble as if it were boiling. Harper impatiently crossed her arms while Bryant stepped closer to take a look at the water. As sudden as it began bubbling, the water became still again. A glowing image of the world appeared in the water with dozens of bright spots appearing all over it.
"How many did you need?" The hag asked as she turned to Bryant with a sinister smile.
Xxx
Arthur and Violet walked through the halls of Magic School in an uncomfortable silence. Neither of them knew what to say and they avoided eye contact. Each time Violet tried to say something, she stopped. She wanted to say she had missed him, that she was worried. Arthur looked like he had not slept in weeks. When they entered his office, Arthur closed the door to give them some privacy.
"Can I get you anything?" Arthur asked.
"No, thanks." Violet replied.
Arthur hesitantly stood by the door while Violet walked around his office. When she noticed his research journals on the desk, she could not help but feel disappointed. She had told him his research was becoming on obsession, and it seemed like she had been right.
"You're still researching the wizards." She noted.
"It's not what you think." Arthur replied. "I thought about what you said, but I just know there is something I'm missing. I just need to figure out the final piece of the puzzle."
"Why is this so important?" Violet asked.
"I don't know." Arthur admitted. "For some reason, I just know it is."
"Do you realize how obsessive that sounds?" Violet asked concerned. "You look terrible. Have you been eating and sleeping at all?"
"I have." Arthur replied less than convincingly.
"I'm worried about you, Arthur." Violet said.
"You're worried?" He asked surprised. "I thought you were angry. You said you wanted a break."
"I was angry, but it's not that simple." Violet replied. "I said that we needed a break because I wanted you to think, to gain some perspective. I waited for you to call."
"I tried." Arthur said. "I picked up the phone a hundred times, but I didn't know what to say."
"Why not?" Violet asked upset. "Is this research really more important than us?"
"No, of course not." Arthur said. "I love you, Violet."
"I love you too." Violet admitted.
"I know I can figure this out." Arthur said determined. "I'm so close. I just need a little more time."
"How much more?" Violet asked upset. "Another a week, a month?"
Arthur hesitated and Violet realized she had already gotten her answer. As much as she loved him, she could not keep waiting forever. "Coming here was a mistake." She said and she turned to leave.
"No, please wait." Arthur said as he grabbed her hand.
Violet gasped as she was pulled into a premonition. She saw Arthur in an office and he was scared. The door opened and a man in a suit came in, followed by Bryant. Then the mysterious redhead appeared behind Arthur and electrocuted him. The man in the suit placed his hands on Arthur's face and then everything went blank. When the premonition ended, Arthur stumbled back with a shocked look. Violet tried to make sense of what she had seen.
"I remember." Arthur whispered.
"What do you mean?" Violet asked confused.
"Your premonition." Arthur replied. "Somehow it triggered my own memories. I know what happened now. I have the final piece of the puzzle."
"What were you doing with Bryant?" Violet asked. "And who was that man? What did he do to you?"
"That man was my father." Arthur said. "Bryant is my half-brother."
"What?" Violet asked shocked. "Are you sure? How is that possible?"
"His name is Ambrose." Arthur replied. "He wants to return the wizard race to its former glory. By rebuilding it through his own blood. He reached out to me, but his plans are evil. He seeks to destroy everything in his way. That's why he murdered the Tribunal."
"Oh my God!" Violet called out. "How did you get away from him?"
"I don't think I did." Arthur replied. "I met Ambrose the night of your party. I think he did something to my mind, to repress my memories. I knew I was missing something."
"So that's why you've been obsessing over this." Violet said. "You had your memories altered, so you felt like you were going insane."
"Exactly." Arthur replied. "But that's still not an excuse. I left you worried sick. I should have called you."
"It's alright." Violet said as she went over to hug him. "I just missed you."
"I missed you too." Arthur replied. "If it wasn't for you, I might have driven myself crazy. I'm glad you stopped by."
"Actually, I came here for a reason." Violet replied. With all this new information, she wasn't quite sure how to say it. Arthur was more involved with this than she ever could have suspected. "I guess it's about your family."
Xxx
Billie stood in the door opening of the kitchen, watching how Ridley was flicking through the channels on the TV in the living room. For a magical being like him, modern technology was probably a huge adjustment. At least it kept him distracted while they waited for Violet to get back. Billie hoped she was doing alright, as seeing Arthur could not be easy for her. Billie turned around and headed to the counter, where Duncan was making something to eat.
"Violet is taking a while, isn't she?" Duncan noted.
"She and Arthur probably have a lot to talk about." Billie replied.
"Yeah, it can't be easy for her." Duncan said. "But if anyone knows what we're up against, it's him."
"I know." Billie replied. "Though part of me wants to kick his ass for treating her like this."
"It's none of our business." Duncan said. "Besides, we might not even know the full story, so stay out of it."
"Fine." Billie replied reluctantly. "I've got enough drama to deal with anyway."
"What drama?" Duncan asked.
"Never mind." Billie quickly said.
"Wait, does this have something to do with last night?" Duncan asked. "I thought you were acting strange."
"It's nothing." Billie replied.
"Really? Because I noticed you giving us dirty looks a couple of times." Duncan said. "Do you have a problem with me and Nathan? Do you still not trust the twins?"
"Okay, trust me, this has nothing to do with you or Nathan." Billie replied. "It's the other one I have trouble with."
"What's going on between you and Nick?" Duncan asked.
Before Billie could answer, the kitchen door opened and Nick and Nathan came walking in. Billie rolled her eyes. How great that the jerk she had a crush on could just barge into her home at any given moment.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Duncan asked surprised as he kissed Nathan.
"Well, you guys left in a hurry last night, so we figured we'd see what's going on." Nathan replied.
"Yeah, and we missed you." Nick added as he leaned against the counter and looked at Billie.
"Didn't you have a girlfriend to keep you company?" Billie remarked.
"Darcy? I'd hardly call her my girlfriend." Nick said with a smug smile. "We're just having some fun, you know?"
"No, I don't." Billie replied. "And I doubt Darcy does."
"Uh, who the hot guy watching your TV?" Nathan asked as he looked in the living room and saw Ridley sitting there.
"Hot?" Duncan asked with a frown.
"Just saying." Nathan replied as he shrugged casually.
"His name is Ridley, he is a merman and an innocent." Duncan explained. "Violet found him last night, which is why we had to leave the bar. His love was kidnapped by the wizards."
"Okay, if we weren't all witches, that would have been a really weird sentence." Nathan said. "But now it sort-of makes sense."
"Yeah, our lives are pretty strange." Duncan noted. "So are you guys gonna help?"
"Sure." Nick replied as he sat down. "It's not like we've got better things to do."
"My hero." Billie remarked sarcastically.
Nick smirked and Billie walked away. She was not in the mood to deal with his smug attitude. As she entered the living room, several spirals of blue energy formed in front of her and Violet and Arthur appeared out of nowhere.
"Hey, you're back." Billie said.
"Yeah, and our problems are a little bigger than we realized." Violet said in a serious tone.
After everyone gathered in the living room, Violet and Arthur began explaining about her premonition and about Arthur's connection to the wizards. They told them that Ambrose wanted to bring back the wizard race and that he had messed with Arthur's mind. Targeting merfolk only seemed like one step in a much bigger plan, just like killing the Tribunal was.
"Well, at least that clears our name in the Tribunal murder." Nick noted. "Silver lining, anyone?"
"I don't understand." Ridley said. "What does all of this have to do with Nadia and me?"
"I have one theory." Arthur sad. "Ambrose wants to bring back the wizards. But all his children were born to mortal women, meaning we are all mortal."
"So he wants to steal our immortality." Ridley concluded.
"I think so." Arthur said.
"You're probably right." Billie said as she looked at Arthur. "But whatever his intentions are, we cannot let him harm more innocents. We have to stop him."
The others nodded, even Arthur. Billie wanted to trust him, but she had to admit she had doubts. Not only were the wizards his family, but Ambrose had messed with his mind as well. She worried where this would all end and what role Arthur would play in it. Billie looked at Violet and saw her friend had picked up on her doubts.
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