I was gagging under the pressure of the water surrounding us, unable to breathe. Meredith gripped my waist, then gently cupped my face, her eyes locked with mine. She leaned in, her lips meeting mine in a slippery kiss, though our tongues did not touch. Her black hair swayed in the water as she exhaled air into my mouth, tiny bubbles escaping between us. She pulled back, her left hand pointing upwards, her head shaking in disapproval.
Grasping my hand, she led us towards what appeared to be the water's edge. Through the blur of the water, I glimpsed two figures standing on the other side. I couldn't tell if Scar was still breathing. With a forceful pull, Meredith dragged us onto dry land. I collapsed, coughing up water, while Scar, still clutched to me, jumped free and shook off the water, then began licking my face comfortingly.
"Welcome your Highness," a voice called out from a short distance as I lay there. I looked toward Meredith, who now stood tall, her demeanor changed, her breathing steadied despite being drenched. I stood, wiping my face and shedding my jacket, which one of the ethereal figures took with a slight bow. Both were cloaked in red hoods that concealed their forms, heads bowed slightly.
"I brought a guest," Meredith announced, her voice carrying a newfound fierceness.
"Your Highness, outsiders are not permitted in the kingdom of the the blood clan," one of the hooded women replied disdainfully, her head tilting towards me.
"How dare you speak to me in that tone?" Meredith responded, her fist clenching. Both figures immediately knelt, their heads to the ground in dismay and fear.
"Forgive us, your Highness. Please spare us; we fear the queen will have us beheaded if she learns we've allowed an outsider into our world," they pleaded, their cloaks spreading out around them on the ground.
"Meredith, I—" I began, but she cut me off with a gesture, taking my right hand in hers.
"You're my guest, Jaze. No one can tell me otherwise. We will see Mother together," Meredith said, her smile softening her words. The women on the ground exchanged frantic, disapproving glances beneath their hoods. Meredith's brows knit together in clear displeasure at their reaction.
"Take this message to Mother: Your daughter, the Princess of the Blood Clan, wishes to introduce a guest in the Queen's chamber. According to royal family rules, an ethereal can explore the Earth world and, if possible, bring a member of the Blood Clan. I have with me a descendant of one of our members who wishes to learn about his past." She paused, her gaze meeting mine, her grip firm on my hand. "Off you go before I change my mind and punish you for your rudeness."
One of the women scrambled to her feet, nearly stumbling. She removed her cloak and handed it to me. I studied her; her ears were pointed like a cat's, her eyes a vivid green like Scar's, and her hair was black, styled in a wedge. Her face was human-like, her attire reminiscent of a medieval maiden, her figure slim and alluring. I accepted the cloak, bowing slightly, unfamiliar with their customs, and donned it. The other woman handed Meredith a folded cloak, and with another bow, they both hurried off in the distance.
Caught up in the unfolding events, I hadn't noticed our surroundings until I turned back to see a body of blue water, like a river flowing upwards, covering the edge where we stood. I dipped my hand into it, pulling it out wet once more.
" I never knew magic could be this beautiful," I muttered, admiring the scenery.
Meredith approached from behind, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Whenever I stared into this river, connecting to the blue sea, I thought of you. Since I was little, I'd touch the waters, imagining you reaching out to me from your world. Now, I know my hopes weren't in vain. You're here by my side." Her words made my heart throb, and I smiled. A thought crossed my mind, and I gently removed her arms from my waist. Holding her hand, we walked to the edge of the flowing river. I bit my index finger, letting blood drip. Meredith squeaked, quickly holding my hand to her lips, sucking at the wound. Her eyes turned a scarlet red with the taste of blood, then closed as she healed it with her kisses. She released my hand with a gentle push.
"Jaze, please don't do that again. I can't bear to see you hurt, and you know we can hardly control ourselves at the sight of blood," she said, her tone laced with apprehension. I touched my healing finger to her lips.
"Close your eyes," I whispered. She gave me a flustered look but complied. I took her right index finger, biting into it gently. She gasped, her eyebrows arching in shock, but kept her eyes shut as I slowly sucked at the wound, the sweet essence of her blood lingering. I withdrew her finger, our hands interlocking.
"Consider that a love bite, and also an oath that I will love you across worlds," I murmured. A smile spread across her face, and she hugged me tightly, her arms enveloping my back. We stood in intimate silence until Scar screeched, breaking our reverie. We turned towards the little monster, startled by her impatience, and then we giggled.
As we proceeded, I observed our surroundings. We were traversing what seemed like a tunnel, with firebrands along the walls casting light on our path. We veered right at a fork and approached an ascending stairway. At the top, we encountered a grey wall, marked by a small, hollow circular carving of concentric circles. She reached into her chest, extracting her pendant which she then placed into the circle—it fit perfectly. I felt a slight tremble from the wall, yet nothing appeared to change visually.
She grasped my left hand, removed the pendant, and with a serene determination, she stepped through the wall. I was both shocked and bewildered by this sight, but then felt a compelling pull, and instinctively, I followed her into the wall.