Chapter 9: True colours
As dusk fell, Kai rowed away, both his mother and Miriam worrying for his safety but unable to stop him due to Stavros' authority. Instead, they had packed him some supplies, like his favourite foods or warm clothes, as a sign of their love for him. Stavros watched him depart from atop the peak, the trident safely stored underneath one of the seats of the rowboat, alongside his supplies. And Lucia watched too, distant, still not quite sure if she deserved to be saved but grateful nonetheless.
As Kai approached the borders of the city, the night had fallen and the waves were calm, the only ripples being from his oars. Further away, he could hear the laughter and chatter of Itarians, music drifting on the wind from the various street performers. And then, a new melody hit him. Pan pipes. He was near Fiddle. Moving closer, he positioned himself close to a wall where she was playing, as she was playing near the docks. He didn't necessarily want to use the docks, but Fiddle would surely be able to keep his arrival a secret if he needed her to. Suddenly, the music stopped, and he heard someone approach. "Playing out here again?" Merlie spoke, Fiddle obviously not answering, but Kai presumed she nodded in response. He heard the wooden dock creak slightly as Merlie sat down next to Fiddle. "Hey, Fiddle? Remember not to step out of line." she suddenly whispered, Kai stiffening up immediately. "That boy you like? Allura could just kill him if you dare sneak out again." she threatened, Kai starting to shake. All this was Allura's doing? But she seemed so kind… and yet, he couldn't quite disbelieve this either. Things like the room full of statues, Lucia's enchantment and the way Allura spoke to Fiddle, all of it lined up with Stavros' assertion that he shouldn't trust anyone. "Pass me the pan pipes, Fiddle." Merlie commanded, Fiddle gritting her teeth, but eventually handing them over. Instantly, Merlie threw them into the water, dragging Fiddle home with her.
Kai heard the splash, and, nervously, approached the docks, but couldn't see where the instrument had fallen. He sighed quietly, worried for Fiddle, and vowed he would get her out of the city someday. His eyes then fell toward the tower. It could work as a storage point…but that would mean having to see Cori. He weighed up the options, and rowed toward it, tying the food beneath his shirt to try and avoid it getting too wet and ruined underwater. Gripping the trident, he swam upwards and climbed the stairs, before finding Cori, still frozen in the position leaning down, one arm out for the blindfold and a little smile on her face, a smile meant for Lucia. Sniffling, he gently tried moving her over, but the stone was far too heavy. Instead, he leant against her and curled up, eventually falling asleep and dreaming his lost best friend was giving him a warm hug.
The next morning, Kai swam out of the tower and jumped into his boat, the trident safely stored underneath his seat and hidden with various supplies. He ate breakfast, some homemade sfakianopita, and then headed toward the docks, crouching and tying up his boat. Instantly Merlie noticed him and waved, her sisters standing alongside her. "Hello there Kai. Welcome back!" she smiled, offering her hand to help him stand. Nervously, he accepted, standing and walking alongside the three nymphs. "Allura wishes to see you once more. Where are Cori and Miriam?" Stelle asked, Kai coming up with a quick excuse. "They both got sick…I think from allergies, hehe. Or a stomach bug from all those grapes." He explained, but his voice shook slightly. Emilie looked worried. "I hope they feel better soon! Perhaps we could visit them…?" she suggested, Kai's heart stopping. "Um…no! They need a lot of rest…but I'm sure they'll come back here eventually…" he trailed off, unable to say the last thing he wanted to say easily. "B-But…I'm here to stay!" he proclaimed, finally finding the words and praying he hadn't just sealed his fate. The necklace was hidden underneath his shirt, but in the moment of silence afterwards, he prayed to Hermes for protection. All three sisters smiled. "We're glad you love our city just as much as we do, Kai." Emilie replied, the other two murmuring in agreement. As they approached the iridescent palace, Kai felt himself wobble, as if he was built like a jellyfish. The sisters didn't follow him in, but instead went about their chores, Kai approaching the throne room with his heart pounding like a drum. He felt as flaky and fragile as a fan coral, and wanted to run, but knew he had to find information to help Lucia, and perhaps even Cori. Steeling himself, he walked through the doors.
Greeted by music, he stared up at Allura, who was brushing her long hair whilst vocalising, braiding little strands of it in boredom. She met Kai's eyes as she sang, before eventually stopping as he simply bowed. "Ah, Kai. How are you doing?" she asked, Kai finishing the bow and looking up at her with a little smile. "I'm okay. Your singing was…nice." he attempted to compliment it, but in truth he wasn't sure what the others saw in the voices of the nymphs. They just sounded like normal singing voices to him. Allura gave a sweet smile. "Thank you dear. Often I sing when I'm happy or excited, so I'm in a good mood this morning." she explained, before the two heard Fiddle's footsteps and turned to greet her, Kai flashing her a little grin as she passed, carrying a jug of water toward the dining table. "Anyway, Kai, I have a question for you." Allura spoke, Kai's head immediately turning back to face her, as if he was a soldier. Slowly, she descended her throne, and walked toward him. "Where is my prisoner?" she murmured, Kai going stiff. "W-what do you mean…?" he spoke, voice trembling. Allura gave him a stare that could only be described as a warning, Kai shaking even more. "I know you took Lucia. Where is she?" Allura demanded, Kai gritting his teeth and refusing to answer. Allura's eyes turned to slits, and she raised her hand, about to strike him- and was stopped by someone clutching her wrist. The brown hand, covered in blue scarring, forcibly held Allura still. Fiddle had come to the rescue.
Allura turned to face the cloaked girl. "Do you think you're helping, Fiddle? I'm simply trying to get the information I need." Allura whispered, to which the insolent girl stamped on the nymph's foot, angering her. Her hair changed from the beautiful blonde down to an ugly grey, suction cups appearing on the insides, and her fair skin turned the colour of stone. Even her dress became ragged due to the strain of the transformation, and her legs changed into a mass of scales and a raggedy tail, but the long tentacles held her up so she could easily maintain her balance. Her ears became webbed, nails became claws, and eyes glowed a bright green, now hell-bent on revenge. Kai, shaken, watched as the siren outstretched her tentacles, grabbing the jug of water and throwing it at Fiddle, who recoiled, as if in agony. The tentacles then entangled Fiddle, throwing off her cloak and revealing the amount of scars underneath, Fiddle looking at Kai in desperation, silently pleading for him to help her. Allura instantly clutched Kai's ankles with her tentacles, holding him in place. His memory suddenly recalled them sinking in the city's rise, how something had similarly grabbed him. He stared at Allura in horror- it was all her!
"Well, Kai. It seems you've got a conundrum, hm? Will you save poor, innocent Fiddle, the little mute that conveniently can't touch water, or will you save yourself, the stupid boy who didn't even try to save Cori from her fate…?" The words hit Kai like a train, the boy feeling as if his brain was on fire. How on earth was he supposed to choose?! Suddenly, an idea came to him. A way to save both himself, and Fiddle. "Allura, you're right. You win." He began, staring up at the siren who was gleefully enjoying watching both of them suffer. "I'll make a deal with you. If you free Fiddle, and I mean completely free her, I'll take her place in the castle, and move into the library. I even have everything I need in my boat." he offered, Allura narrowing her eyes. Fiddle stared at him in horror- this choice would be his suicide. He took a deep breath, and stared back up at Allura. "Do you accept?" he asked, and Allura took a moment to consider. She could easily transfer Fiddle's curses, even though the water one wasn't actually intentional- she'd merely tried to stop the girl leaving Itar, but this worked out much better. And watching Kai slowly break as he never saw his friends or family again would be amusing. She looked down at the boy, before shrugging. "Go get your things, then." she replied, Fiddle being freed from the tentacles and nearly collapsing in horror. Kai rushed out, toward his boat, and instantly grabbed the trident. Various old Itarians recognized it, especially the ones who hadn't grown up underwater, and begged him not to use it. Clearly life under the sea had been less than pleasant for many, thus Kai vowed to fight for their liberation too. Rushing back to the throne room, he instantly held it up to Allura, who immediately recoiled. Clearly she recognized it too, and scowled. "Where on earth did you get that?" she demanded, Kai smirking. "Afraid?" he taunted, before scowling and holding it high above his head with two hands, despite how heavy it was. Weighing up her options, Allura narrowed her eyes, and transformed back into a nymph. Fiddle, meanwhile, relieved Kai wasn't going down so easily, ran off to the library, grabbing something from inside a drawer. A pearl.
Allura scowled at the boy, who couldn't sustain the heavy weight above his head, so he moved the trident closer to his chest. "I'll do as you say…" She spoke, with great reluctance. Kai stared at her with a glare. "How do we help Lucia?" he demanded.