She fought against whatever was grabbing her and tried to hit it with her fist, but the thing wouldn’t let go. The flow from her green stone illuminated the deathly face and familiar black hate-filled eyes of the sea witch.
The hag’s face smiled widely to reveal several sharp pointy fangs, and her hand swatted the stone from Mina’s grip. She dropped it, and the glow disappeared, leaving her in complete darkness with the monster.
Chapter 24
Panic overcame Mina as the darkness threatened to swallow her whole. Was this her grim end? She tried to swim away again but felt the witch’s hands grasp her legs. Pain laced through her where the crooked claws raked against her skin. But it was that painful slash which reminded her of her own weapon. She reached toward her thigh and pulled out her glass knife, and frantically tried to stab the witch, but she couldn’t see her and missed.
A yellow glow filled the small space as Nix reappeared. He looked horrified and rushed in to help Mina. But now there were too many bodies and not enough room to maneuver. Someone or something kicked her hand, and she dropped the knife. She was also out of air and needed to find some…now. She tried to push off and kick up the tunnel again, but the witch grabbed her and pulled her down. Mina tried to push her off but then felt the witch stiffen and freeze. Her snarling face froze in a mask of horror and pain as something stabbed her in the back. The witch’s scream died on her lips, and her black cat-eyes clouded over, turning gold.
The witch sank, freeing Mina, and she couldn’t help but stare at Nix’s horrified face as he held her Stiltskin-empowered knife. He had saved her, but had killed his own mother. He slowly sat down in the tunnel and buried his face in his hands. Mina tried to motion that she needed air, but he wasn’t paying attention. He was lost in his own misery. She grabbed his shoulder and shook, but he went limp and stared at the knife in his hands.
Frustrated, she pushed off and swam as hard as she could toward the tunnel that Nix had gone up. This one had to lead out; it was her only chance. She kicked until she felt a sucking current that began to pull her up. She was no longer swimming but being carried forcefully along a pipeline. Her head broke the surface of the water, and she had just enough time to breathe and duck as she was swept into a tunnel and then down a long slope. Faster and faster she traveled until she could see an opening, and then a drop.
Didn’t Nix mention something about an indoor waterfall that led to an inner bathing pool? He just didn’t say how big it was. Squelching any scream or sound, she tried to hold it together as she was thrown over the drop. This time she was prepared for the fall, and it wasn’t more than thirty feet before she plunged into the small pool. She was careful; she kept her head under the water and tried to look up and through the reflection for signs of life. There was a shadow, but then it moved away.
Mina kicked along the bottom of the pool and found a statue of a mermaid on a pedestal pouring water out of a jar. Keeping her head low, she hid behind the water feature and peeked around. Since it was nighttime, there weren’t as many Fae around. She saw someone in a robe walk past, and she quietly slid back down into the water and made her plan. The hall was dark; torches lined the walls, casting eerie shadows along the marble floor. Luckily, there were tons of potted plants, statues, and décor for her to hide behind.
First off, she needed to get out of her wet clothes and tend to her leg wound from the sea witch. Second, well, second, she needed to think of a better plan than getting dry clothes. She swam to the edge of the bathing pool, which was barely deep enough for her to stand up in, and crawled over the ledge by the side closest to the waterfall and ducked behind a large potted fern. She was right. Water puddled down her feet and ran across the floor. It was a good thing she wasn’t wearing shoes, or she might have been making squeaky noises as she walked. Mina did the best she could to wring out her wet shirt into the fern. It started to move and sway at her watery offering.
“Psst, no,” she shushed the plant. But its fronds tried to reach for her as if giving her a hug. “Gah, no! You don’t have to say thank you.” She stepped away, and the fern wilted a little, as if she’d hurt its feelings. “Are you going to be nice and stay still this time?” The plant wiggled in anticipation, but it looked like it said yes. “Then be good.” Mina finished wringing out her shirt and hair, and did the best she could with her pants. There was still a puddle forming whenever she walked, but at least it was a small one.
Someone was coming from down the hall, and Mina ducked behind the fern once more. This time the plant wrapped its large fronds around her, not to hug her but to help hide her.
It was a guard, in full white leather armor, unlike the giants and the trolls outside. This one was covered in head-to-toe steel with emblems of the sun and moon etched across his breastplate. He was running toward the end of the hall, where two huge double doors opened before he even got there. Her heart leapt for joy when she saw Jared step out and confront the soldier. No, wait, she had to remember that they only looked similar. It wasn’t Jared—it was his brother Teague, dressed all in black.
“What is it, Captain Plaith?” Teague demanded angrily.
“Something has agitated the trolls and giants, my prince. Even the siren went off.”
Teague froze at the words of his captain and glared at him. “And…”
“And kelpies, sire. They were seen causing a ruckus near the palace.” The guard fidgeted but was careful to stare at a spot to the left of the prince.”
“Kelpies? That’s it? Those stupid water horses are always causing a ruckus. Anything else?”
“No, sire. Just that there were two kelpies seen outside in the lake.”
Teague sighed and rubbed his forehead. “There are always kelpies in the lake. Tell your men to get back to your stations.” Teague shooed off his captain and headed down a long hall, but then he stopped and turned around, and called back his captain.
“Plaith?”
“Yes, my prince.” The tall man shuffled forward once more.
“Did you say that there were only two kelpies?”
“Yes, two. One on land and one in the water.”
Teague stared toward the waterfall and then the fountain in thought. His dark eyes missed nothing as he scanned the room, and spent an awful lot of time staring directly at the planter she was hiding behind. Her legs started to shake from fear. Even the fern began to quiver.
“There are never just two kelpies. They travel in herds,” Teague said thoughtfully. “Where’s the rest of the herd? You also said the underwater siren went off?”
The soldier nodded.
Teague looked pleased with himself. “Double the giants and the trolls at the gates, and bring more guards to each of the walls just in case. I believe we have company.”
“But sire, if there is something in the castle that is a threat to the Fates, shouldn’t we notify—”