Chapter 22

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If the rope binding Ginny hadn't been holding her upright, she felt she would have drifted away in shock from the scene in front of her.

Blood, as black as ink in the dim light, bloomed under the blade Djet held to Queen Merneith's throat. Her eyes fluttered briefly at the pain, but her body hardly flinched. Djet dropped his hold on her head, and her eyes closed, head slowly lolling forward.

Fear and nausea roiled through Ginny, creeping up like hot acid in the back of her throat. This couldn't be happening, this couldn't be real.

Blood- so much blood- slowly trickled from the Queen. Ginny could taste it in the water. Merneith was completely limp, breaths growing slower and more shallow. After a few moments, her chest didn't move at all.

"No!" Ginny sobbed, her cries echoing off the stone walls. "Please, don't go! The Merpeople need you- I need you. This can't be how it ends." But the Queen remained limp, her face serene. Ginny's sobs fell on deaf ears- no one moved to help, and no one said a word- everything hushed as the life bled out. And Djet-

Djet just watched- stood there calmly like he hadn't just taken the life of his Queen- like he hadn't just murdered her in cold blood. Merneith deserved more- so much more. Fists clenching, Ginny felt her own blood simmer with the atrocity she had just witnessed. The Mermaid who had reached out and pulled her from that lonely boulder so long ago, only to be slaughtered by that monster and his father. The pressure built in her chest from the injustice of it all, from the urge to take up the knife in her own hands and turn it on Djet, to take revenge for his betrayal.

A deep rumble snapped her out of her rage- it felt like the entire cavern floor had groaned- Like the lake was mourning the loss of its Queen…

"Save your tears,Íde ," Djet growled at her. "I gave her a noble death. It was the best she could have hoped for in light of how she failed her own kin- how she failed you. After all, she lied to you, remember? How quick you are to forget that."

Ginny's shoulders slumped. Merneith had hidden things from her- important things. But despite all that, Merneith could have kept all of this knowledge from her, could have made her vow to become one of them, but she hadn't. She had given Ginny the choice, and that meant everything to her.

The water shifted and Djet swam back to the altar of flames, holding the dagger aloft. "The queen's blood will awaken ancient magic. With its power, the magic of Imbolc will bend to our will." The water shifted again, and swirls of blood that had spilled from Merneith coalesced into a river of black, arching towards the altar. The river poured onto the altar, combining with the burning flame until it turned inky black.

At the cave entrance, several dark figures emerged. For a moment Ginny's heart leaped- someone was here, someone would help. Cloaked and hooded, the figures moved slowly and purposefully. The first figure raised his head, yellow eyes glowed beneath the ceremonial hood, and Ginny's heart dropped like a stone. The Shaman's acolytes. Loyal followers of the Holy Merman. Cold and indifferent- not sparing a glance at their bleeding queen- they began chanting. The chanting grew louder as they joined in with the Shaman- incantations as ancient as the tides. The words were calling upon more magic, and it was flooding into the cavern- the water trembling with the weight of it.

But the magic felt… wrong. It was too volatile, too dangerous. It felt like shadows, thick with an unnatural presence. The realization of what he attempted to wield hit her. Dark Magic. And he was using Imbolc to enhance it.

Without warning, an image cropped up in the back of her mind, dragging her briefly into her own past.

She was kneeling on a stone floor, a black book in her lap. One trembling finger traced the warped and distorted cover, felt the edges of the hole that had been burnt through its middle.

"Why?" Tears ran in rivets down her face. "Why would anyone use such magic?"

The dim lighting cast shadows across the face of the man in front of her. He looked at her over his half-moon spectacles.

"Terrible things have been done in this world for power and glory. It has always been- since the beginning of time." His wizened face hardened as he leaned towards her. "But dark magic like this- taking such precious things from you against your will for his own power- is done by someone who fears the sacrifice required. He fears the cost. Tom tried to force you to make the payment for him because of one simple reason- he is afraid."

Ginny glanced at the ruined diary. It was hard to imagine someone like Tom could be afraid.

"But what they all fail to remember," Dumbledore continued, an odd tone in his voice, "is that sooner or later, they will find it wasn't enough- that the dark magic wasn't satisfied, and will come to collect. Sooner or later," His blue eyes were dark and triumphant, "they will have to pay a great and terrible cost."

The images faded, making her blink. It was a memory- she was sure of it. Perhaps there were more somewhere in her mind, untapped and hidden. But there was no time to wonder or rejoice- not when Djet was likely to get everyone in the cavern killed. "Djet," she pleaded, "This magic is Dark, and it's too far beyond you. It isn't going to fix everything- not like you think it will. It's going to cost more than you realize!" The acolytes and the Shaman ignored her, still chanting. The flames on the altar flared higher- reeling magic into its dark void like a vacuum. The lake water began to move- currents pulling into the flame. Ginny felt the pull- saw the hooded robes of the acolytes whipping around- and had to shout over the roaring that filled the cavern. "You won't be able to control it, Djet! It's too much power! You're going to get us all killed!"

But Djet and the Shaman were admiring the flames on the altar- now large enough they nearly touched the rocky ceiling. Eyes wide with lust for its power, they paid no heed to her cries.

Djet raised his hands to the air shouting into the void, "Goddesses, grant me your power this night, and find me worthy to end the curse on my people!" His roar thundered over the deafening noise of the compounding magic. The water pulsed with a wave of magic, and the flames on the altar opened like doors to the underworld. A deep abyss of dark and foreboding nothingness. Ginny felt nothing but utter terror, unable to look away from the darkness on the altar until she heard his next words. "I present this maiden- a girl only half in this world- that she may be rid of her human existence, and anchored into the form of my Merpeople. With her transformation, she will become queen, a sacred vessel for the kingdom, and the future of her people."

The hooded acolytes were upon her, cutting away her bindings. She thrashed and whirled but their strong hands quickly gripped her, and she could do nothing as they dragged her to the altar. The hum of power intensified as she neared, making the cavern groan in protest. It was far too much power- the cave would surely collapse in on itself at any moment.

"Quickly!" Djet shouted, then pointed to the base of the altar. "Down here."

Heart pounding with terror, she fought and struggled with renewed vigor, desperate not to get any closer. The churning water felt like it was pulling her in- a current more powerful than she had ever felt before. A hooded Merman held her on either side as they brought her closer. And closer. The flames rippled and fluttered, pleased at her proximity. No doubt wanting to devour her. The two hooded Mermen at her sides pushed her down until she was sitting at the base. She gave one last desperate look around.

Merneith's body was limp. The Shaman was across the altar from her, still chanting with closed eyes. Several other acolytes were in a perimeter around the altar. Still, Ginny looked meaningfully at each one. "You need to stop him!" She shouted. "Stop him before he kills all of you!"

Snarling, Djet gestured sharply to her with the dagger. A wisp of black flame shot out from the altar towards her- wrapping around her mouth like a gag. He moved closer, his magical dagger poised at her throat.

This was it.

No. This was not how it was supposed to be. She could not -would not- let it end like this. White-hot anger returned in full force.

Then it was her body that was humming- that foreign yet familiar magic tingling in her bones. Not caring if the dagger met her flesh, she thrashed around wildly. Djet reeled back as the acolyte struggled to hold onto her.

"Subdue her!"

"She won't stop fighting us!" The acolyte grunted.

With a growl of frustration, Djet dropped the dagger onto the altar. "Give her to me!" Grabbing her roughly by the wrists, he pried her away from his acolyte, who stumbled before moving back a few feet. "You will yield!" He roared at her, one hand wrapping around her throat. "Whether by your life or death- I will do what needs to be done! I will spill blood, I will raze villages to the ground, I will sacrifice all who get in my way, but I will wear the crown, and you WILL YIELD."

Ginny stilled in his grip. Whatever good had been in the son of the Shaman was gone. The only thing left in him was a distorted, blackened heart. How long, she wondered, how long had he been using dark magic? How long had something inside of him been rotting and festering? Had she not been silenced by the gag, she would have asked him. But she supposed it didn't matter now, she only wished she'd seen it before it had been too late. That Merneith had seen it…

"This ends now." Djet straightened his shoulders, looking down at her with a sneer. "It will be done." He reached to the altar for the dagger, towards the flames of black magic… only the dagger wasn't there. Sputtering with fury, he rounded on Ginny, shaking her so violently she thought her bones might snap.

"Where is it, girl? What did you do with it?"

His jagged nails cut into her skin, and she shook her head wildly. She hadn't touched it- hadn't seen anyone touch it. Had the altar drawn it into the flames? A glint of silver caught both hers and Djet's eyes, as the acolyte next to them held out the dagger. Hand wrapped around the hilt, he pointed it at Djet. "Sorry," he said, raising his head so the hood no longer shadowed his face, "did you need this?"

Ginny's heart stopped- it was not the acolyte she had glimpsed earlier. This one had green eyes instead of green skin, and hair black as the flames on the altar.

Harry.

He was here, and she didn't know whether she wanted to laugh or cry, but seeing him there nearly made her collapse. Indeed, if Djet hadn't been gripping her arm, she likely would have. Harry's gaze was pinned on the crazed Merman- who was at a loss for words- only flicking to hers for a millisecond. "Call off the ritual before it's too late!"

Djet looked around wildly. The Mermen acolytes in the cavern had all lowered their hoods, all brandishing spears, looking at Djet and the Shaman with hate and disgust. One aimed his spear at the Shaman, who instantly halted his chanting. The roaring in the cavern began to dull. The water grew thick with an ominous tension. The flames on the altar flickered- sensing a threat. Searching for it…

"The Merpeople condemn you," Harry said harshly. "It's over, Djet. The ritual won't work, it isn't going to do what you think it will. This magic is too unstable- it will kill us and everything else under the lake unless you stop it!"

The tension groaned, and more rumbling vibrated in the cave. Ginny glanced around worriedly. It felt like everything would come crashing down at any moment. And judging by the look in Harry's eyes, that was certainly a possibility.

"Call it off," Harry demanded. "Now!"

The hand that was digging into her began to tremble. Djet was backed into a corner. The magic flames flickered and flared behind him. Demanding. Hungry. Djet let out a maddening roar of fury. Ginny suddenly felt two hands on her throat- choking her. Yellow eyes met hers, broken teeth bared. "You will not destroy us!" He screamed at her, fingers tightening until she saw stars. "You will die at the bottom of this lake like you deserve to! My only regret is that I didn't have time- time to make you suffer for every misdeed, for every crime against my people!" His grip was unrelenting, and Ginny's vision was growing dark. She could barely see Djet's horrible face as he leaned in, bringing them nose-to-nose. "I will send you right into death's cold embrace, you wicked little bitch-"

His words abruptly cut off, and his body jolted. Startled, he glanced down at his chest, where a tiny silver tip of the dagger was protruding from his green skin. A choked sound left his mouth, and his fingers released Ginny's throat. His body jerked again, and Ginny recoiled back, gasping and coughing. Behind him, Harry held a blood-tinged dagger in his hand. Screaming in fury, the Shaman tried to shake off the acolytes. The roar of the magic was becoming deafening, and it was impossible to hear the words that the Shaman shouted to his son, who still blinked in shock at his mortal wound.

Harry's hands grasped Ginny tightly. He looked her over quickly, spending several precious seconds assessing the severity of her injuries before wrapping an arm around her and pulling her to the others. The current was increasing, and it was becoming difficult to keep from being pulled towards the altar. "What's he saying?" Harry shouted over the din. Hair whipping around her face, she focused on the words of Old Mermish.

Do not yield.

She gripped Harry fiercely. "He's not going to stop it," she shouted back. "Neither of them will!"

"Then we've got to go now!"

"Can't you stop it?" She asked, gesturing to his wand.

"It's dark magic, Ginny! If it were to try to feed off the power of this wand- I don't dare! And certainly not with you this close to it!"

"So your solution is we just run away?"

"Yes! Before it collapses in on itself!"

A deep groaning of the lake bedrock emphasized his point. The power drawing everything in heightened, and Harry had to clutch to a rock to keep them from slipping away into its center. Djet, blinking and bleeding, remained the only one unaffected by the current of energy, even while his blood spilled as Merneith's had.

"Harry!" Ginny shouted frantically, "Merneith! We need to get her, we can't-"

Djet's frantic arms wrapped around her Mermaid tail, pulling her so hard she nearly flew out of Harry's grip. He caught her at the last second, and she held on with every ounce of strength she had. The dark magic Djet had unleashed had turned on him- and he clamped onto Ginny as he too was being pulled in by the unearthly force. Trying to throw him off, he only held on tighter.

"Gin!" Harry held her with one hand, and a rock ledge with the other. Fear was battering her heart- because the only thing keeping Harry from death was his grip on that ledge- and she was a dead weight. Harry would die before he let go of her hand. Maybe she should-

"Don't!" he roared. His green eyes flashed with anger as if he had read her thoughts, "Whatever happens, I go where you go! If you let go of my hand, then I swear on my godfather's grave- I'll let go too!"

He would follow her in death. The very thought seemed to shatter her, and at that moment nothing was more important to her than making sure the boy holding onto her hand lived…

"Use the wand!" He nodded towards the holster on his arm.

"What?" she shrieked. "I can't! I- I don't have any magic!

"Yes, you do!" He grimaced and swore as he fought to hold both Ginny and the rock ledge. "I know you can do it, you have to do it! I can't hold on- Fuck!" His grip was slipping. "Do it now! NOW, GIN!"

He was going to die if she didn't.

Ginny didn't think- didn't allow herself one second to do so- she just acted. With one arm she seized the wand out of Harry's holster, just hoping for something- anything- to save them from this. The wand hummed in her hand, harmonizing with her being. Going by feel rather than thought, she felt a spark travel up her body, down her arm, and through the wand toward Djet. A blast of magic hit him square in the face, the force of it breaking his hold on her and sending him flying backward. The flames of dark magic on the altar seized him in their black tendrils, snaking their deadly vines around his thrashing form. A great black void opened inside the flames- a portal to a dark, soulless world. The great, hungry maw opened wide, surging swirling darkness within, and in one great breath, it devoured Djet's screaming, flailing form- the fallen Merman hurtling into the abyss.

The black void stilled, its hunger satiated, and everything stopped. The water around them- time and space- all suspended for a heartbeat. Then two. Then three. Soundlessly, the void flickered. It pulsed like a mighty heartbeat, and with each beat the portal grew smaller and smaller- condensing and compressing. It shrank until it was no bigger than a grain of sand. It gave one last flicker before it blinked out of existence. Time and space were released, and the world around them went supernova.

It happened quickly- so quickly she had barely glanced at Harry- hadn't registered the raw panic in his eyes- before everything around her exploded.

First, it was a blinding light, penetrating every surface of the cavern. Then a wave of energy erupted as the void collapsed in on itself like a dying star. It burst through the cavern in swirling fireworks of color, sending water and rock and acolytes flying. They were helpless against its momentum. Ginny was thrown violently into Harry with the blast, but his arms encircled her and caged her body with his own. She lost her grip on the wand as they hurtled through time and space, and braced herself for the fatal blow that would surely come when they hit the wall of the cavern. Clutching tightly to Harry, she didn't dare open her eyes. Water roared past her, the pressure was crushing down on them, and any minute Ginny was going to lose consciousness because she could feel herself slipping away…

Until it all suddenly stopped.

The silence was the first thing Ginny noticed. It was an eerie, heavy kind of silence, the kind that follows devastation. Rays of blurry light flickered around her, illuminating the drifting dust and debris that remained suspended in the water. The pressure was no longer crushing her chest, and the lake water moved in gentle sways.

There was a pleasant warmth- impossibly warm despite the cold depths. Harry's arms were still wrapped around her, protecting her body with his own. His dark hair floated gently, framing a face drawn with tension as he assessed the danger around them. Whispering his name, she touched his face. Brilliant green eyes met hers, and relief washed over his features. "Oh, Gin," he breathed, moving the hair out of her face, looking worriedly at the injuries Djet left on her face. "Are you alright?"

She barely had time to nod before he pulled her closer, pressing his forehead against hers, their surroundings momentarily forgotten. "How?" She asked softly, "How are you here? How did you find me?"

"I may need a significant amount of time to explain, to be honest," he grinned down at her. And it must be quite a story, because he was breathing comfortably at the bottom of the lake, and was sporting a type of gill on the side of his neck.

But explanations could wait. Half-laughing, half-crying, she threw her arms around him. For a few moments, they simply held each other- bruised, bleeding, but alive and together. Finally feeling whole again.

There was a faint shimmer in the water around them, a flickering golden sphere cocooning them. "You-" she gasped, realizing what had happened. "You shielded us."

"Barely," he said solemnly. "It was so volatile, I didn't dare use my magic in case I set it off- but I guess it didn't matter. When it all collapsed… I didn't think or plan or anything, I just couldn't-" He swallowed hard, his grip tightening again.

I couldn't lose you, his eyes seemed to say.

Ginny's heart fluttered at the raw emotion in his voice- at the words he didn't say. "It's alright." Taking his hand in hers, she held his palm to her cheek savoring the warmth. "See? I'm okay."

The invisible string that tugged their souls together, pulled taught as they stared at one another. For now, for this moment, nothing more was said, but a million words passed silently between them.

A sudden burst of bubbles rose around them- startling the couple. The last of the cave's fragile ceiling gave way, and after the rock and debris settled, Harry removed the shield with a wave of his hand before turning back to her. There was so much to do, so much to say, she had so many questions for him- and surely, he for her. She opened her mouth to begin the barrage of questions but stopped before anything came out.

Merneith! Queen Merneith was dead…

The bubble of happiness that had bloomed within her popped. The queen- bound and bleeding on the boulder. The memories, the betrayal, and- and Djet's knife- the fatal slice across her throat…

It wasn't a dream, not even a nightmare. The pain descended, quick and brutal, crushing her heart and lungs. It chased away every last bit of elation she had felt moments ago. She covered her mouth as a low moan escaped her, and curled herself inwards.

"He- he killed her," she sobbed. "Oh gods, he killed her!"

Merneith, her queen. Merneith, her friend. Betrayed and killed for a dark ritual. Harry rubbed her back as she shook with sobs, as she felt the stab of guilt and hurt and betrayal twist in her gut.

"I'm so sorry, Gin." He murmured into her hair.

She wasn't sure how long he held her, but it was long moments before she could pull away. Despite knowing what she needed to do, the words wouldn't come to her.

Harry nodded solemnly, seeming to know what was next before clasping her hand. "Let me help you look for her." Surrounded by rock and rubble, they had no way of knowing where the queen's body rested. "I'll help you take care of her, okay?"

Ginny could only nod.

"Alright. And we'll need to find the others. God, Ginny, there's so much to tell you."

And there's so much to tell you as well, she thought.

"Ginny?"

Someone behind her called out her name. Turning, she froze when she saw who had said her name. It was another human boy, and like Harry, he was breathing comfortably under the water. But what gave her pause was that face- friendly, freckled, and oh so familiar. The hair on his head was red, just a few shades lighter than hers…

Ron.

It felt like her heart would burst from her chest, and then she saw something else- Queen Merneith's body lay limp in his arms. Ron held a hand to her neck, to the deep cut Djet had made with his blade. Ron followed her gaze, glancing down at the Queen before looking back to Ginny and Harry, and grinned.

"She's alive."

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TBC

Thanks to Gin110881!