"The girl!...Dark natural hair,purple aura, princess?",the guard yelled.
"Oh my goodness!I don't know what you're talking about!!!",Whirly yelled back,shut his eyes and raised his hands over his head in a bid to defend himself and when he opened his eyes again,his shop was empty,he was the only one there.He creased his brows in confusion and tried to figure out what just happened but he couldn't figure it out so he closed his shop for the day and went to a snack shop.
"Maybe if I eat something,I'll figure it out",he convinced himself and floated away.
"We're in the territory of the 'grabby kelps' so whatever you do,don't make sudden moves,okay?",Cora said.
"Got it",I whispered.
"Are they carnivorous?",I whispered again ,floating slowly to avoid making any sound.
"No,they don't eat the whole body...I think.They just grab people and those people are never found...because part of them have been eaten."
"We better be extra careful...we must not die now ,even if I'll die it should not be here",I said and looked at the disgusting black liquid that covered almost all the leaves.
"Haha,don't worry it's safe... I always pass here anytime I leave Shark cave and I have never been harmed,I've never even seen anyone come near h..."
"Shh...",I said and put a finger over Cora's lips.
"I sense danger",I whispered.
Cora immediately brought out knives that I didn't know she had.
I looked at her and I knew whoever it was,was gonna get it!
I closed my eyes and I saw figures moving very fast in my head ,they hid behind the huge kelp leaves and they had no weapons...I didn't see any weapon with them.
"Behind the kelp...",I whispered to Cora.
"We're surrounded",I said again.
Emma didn't know but when she closed her eyes and was seeing the hidden things,a purple aura was visible around her and that was the ability of a Ruby...to see things in your head.Cora grinned at her and put her knives back into place.
"Okay come out...we're ready to surrender",Cora said loudly.
"What?!...are you doing?!",I whispered with my teeth gritted and eyes still closed.
"Leaving you",Cora said,my eyes shot open in
time for me to see Cora flash an evil smile.
Before I could reply,she swiftly disappeared behind the kelp leaves.
If it wasn't for the water,sweat would have visible on my head,I closed my eyes again not knowing what to do.
Slowly,they started appearing.Red eyes,low growls...I could see it all in my head, and tails!.
Tails,fins,webbed fingers.
There was only one explanation;they were ancient people of the sea,mermen!
I opened my eyes and the growls grew louder,I said my last prayer and opened my eyes thinking someone would save me like last time but the growls grew even louder.This was it!
I die in this stinky place without getting to know my family ,knowing that Cora left me here and Olly also didn't come after me to tell me to not follow her!That betrayer!
"Cora,if you're joking,maybe you should end it now 'cos they're gonna attack anytime soon!",I said with my shaky voice.
I wanted to cry but I pushed my tears back.
"Cora!",I called hoping she would float out from behind the kelp and cut down everyone of those things.
"Cora!!",I called out louder and started floating backwards.
"Cora!!!",I yelled.
Behind the kelp...
A kelp leaf moved slowly towards Cora from behind her and...started tickling her.
"Hahah...",Cora stopped her laughter by covering her mouth.She immediately cut it with the knife in her hands.
"Stop it,you stupid leaves,shoo!",she whispered and gestured for them to move away which they did. "Stupid tickle kelps".
She stood in her spot and continued watching Emma.She wanted to go out so badly and tell them to stop but Emma's Jewel shadow needed to be awakened and that wouldn't be possible if Emma isn't almost harmed so this was the best way.
She felt bad for lying to her and leaving her there all alone but if anyone of them tried to harm her,she wouldn't hesitate to cut his head off,she did warn them to only threaten her so if anyone disobeyed, he would be dead before he could blink so she remained calm.
I turned and wanted to run but they were everywhere!
"What am I gonna do?",I said with teary eyes.
They were coming out now,they started appearing slowly and they were even more hideous in person.
They bared their fangs at me and that was it,I fainted and my eyes fluttered open back in the castle,where the lady was still in the same position.
"W-W-Winter!",she said and the scene changed.
In another part of the castle...
The little girl from the painting was a little older,she had her back facing me so I couldn't see her face but her height increased and her hair grew longer and there were more purple strands.
She was playing with a young boy who looked older than her,he had blue eyes like the color of the ocean and he looked very handsome,he also seemed like he belonged here he had that dangerous look and was in black just like the girl,he looked familiar to me but I would surely remember if I had seen him before so...
"Dylan,you hide and don't come out till I find you or I say so,okay?",The little girl said gleefully. He looked very bored but he obliged anyway and went to hide behind a pillar that was not too far from her.
"One,two,three...",the little girl counted loudly and stopped suddenly. Dylan knew something was wrong so he peeped and immediately dashed towards her.
"Dad!,Mom!...Help!",he yelled and wrapped his arms around her tightly and tried to pull her away from the dark magic that was being used on her but it was useless,she remained as still as a volcano.
"Don't bother,they've been taken care of",a lady said and had an evil smile plastered on her face.
She snapped her fingers and both parents were brought out of the castle, unconscious.
"No!,Dad?!,Mom?!",Dylan yelled.
He didn't want to let go of the little girl in his arms because if he did,then the spell would trap her forever and she would never be the same,never!
He shook her gently.
"Winter, it's me,Dylan,your big brother that loves you so much... please fight the spell come back to me!",he said with teary eyes.
"Please, Winter...",he said again and let a tear drop from his eyes.
He shook vigorously this time and yelled,
"Winter!".
Her eyes that looked lifeless immediately regained their lively look and she hugged him immediately.
"Dylan..."
"I told you don't ever look into people's eyes when you sense danger around them!",he scolded.
"Mom...Dad!",she yelled, ignoring him.
"They'll be fine,Winter,let's go..."
"No!...mom,dad",she yelled and tried to escape her brother's tight grip,she kicked him violently and tried to float towards them but he was stronger.
"I promise,they'll be fine,let us go!",he said and eyed the lady who was still looking at them unbelievably.It seemed she was still wondering how the spell broke.
There was no way the spell would have broken,Lord Gilliam made it himself and even the strongest bonds couldn't break through it!
She was still in awe when she suddenly snapped out of it.
"You idiots!,grab them",she yelled.
"Winter... stop!Hop on",Dylan said and floated down so that he was on the same level as Winter.
She sniffed and climbed on,still crying. She knew her parents were dead and her brother was only trying to comfort her by telling her they were fine.
As though,he was wearing rocket boots,Dylan floated away very fast,kicking his legs in the water. Winter took a last glance at her parents and started another round of crying bitterly.
Dylan was determined to keep his sister safe then he would come back for these animals!