I'm within a few more flicks of my tail away when I feel the furious hunter bearing down upon me once more.
So close.
I'm so close.
If only I can...
The thought is left hanging as a sound cracks through the water loud enough to radiate pain through my eardrums. It's quickly followed by a blinding flash of light that makes the twisted hunter at my back screech and pull back, gifting me a few more seconds of much needed time. That's when I spot her.
Sinking down toward the sand bed is the most beautiful creature I've ever laid eyes upon. Dark hair that's only a pitch lighter than that of the creature tracking me; however, the water flows through it, bringing more color to light that matches the vivid hue of her tail. A flash of gold at her ear could easily be mistaken for a glint of the sun. For a moment, I let her beauty distract me from the terror stalking and waiting in the shadows.
Diving down, I swoop her up in my arms and aim for another cave. The opening is slightly bigger, but I'll need it to get us both through anyway. We've almost made it when those perfectly framed eyes open with confusion and quickly widen with horror. Thankfully, she doesn't put up a fight to get away. Otherwise, we'd both be dead as I can see a looming shadow slithering its way to us.
My shoulder batters the rock on our way through the small opening, but I ignore the pain for more pressing issues. Doing a quick sweep of the cave to make sure there aren't any other predators lurking, I then flick my gaze back to the hole we just passed through to make sure we aren't being pursued. Seeing my distraction, the female in my arms starts to struggle. At the tightening of my grip on her, she opens her mouth as though to speak. Even knowing she can't speak human words in this form doesn't stop me from pushing her back flush against the cave wall and covering her mouth with one of my hands, trying to communicate the best way I know how.
Don't move. Don't make a sound. We're being hunted and it's out there right this second listening, waiting for us.
Her eyes widen in surprise as her chest expands against mine, making me acutely aware of her feminine form pressed against my rough hardness. Something I'd easily explore were it not for the fact that I'm pretty sure she understood the thoughts I'd pushed at her. Since being locked in our prison, all of us suffered one ailment or another. Mine was the loss of speech. I haven't heard my own voice since before that fateful day. Even still, I consider myself lucky compared to what the darkness did to some of the others, finding a way to mutate and make new monsters.
Can you hear me? I ask her, merely to confirm I'm not finally losing my mind.
At her nod, that feeling returns of a tether being pulled taut across my chest, the other end tied to her. This can only mean one thing.
I found my mate.
Arms lock around my torso, and I feel like I'm being towed through water. The vibe screams one of my mates, but the arms feel foreign. Lifting my sore lids, I find a dark-haired stranger staring back. His features are familiar, but the red eyes are throwing me off. I can't remember anyone having such a vivid shade since I came to this realm. Dark curly hair touches the tops of his shoulders as he hesitates for a moment then swims forward again. His tanned skin is a tad darker than my mates and his face is set into grim lines.
That's when I finally take note of where we are. On the wrong side of the barrier. Terror washes over me so fast, I don't bother trying to fight the stranger as he carries us into a cave that's been formed from the sandy bottom. Within the darkest of the shadow-filled corners, my vision is still good enough to see that we're alone in here. As his head whips back toward the entrance, I try to put distance between us, only to be slammed into the wall at my back.
Panic lights the stranger's eyes as he telepathically communicates our situation, and disbelief settles deep in my gut. I wasn't even able to hear the voices of my mates when they tried speaking to me. Who is this stranger who seems to be able to do so at a whim? It makes my heart race so fast in my chest that I seem to be having trouble breathing.
He seems to share my surprise as he asks, Can you hear me?
I nod mechanically since my brain seems to have been left under the barrier. Wait? What if this is a dream? It would explain how I got out here in the first place. I mean, I went from the bath to outside of the barrier without so much as barely blinking. Not possible. I'm probably still soaking in the tub, waiting on Zeph to return with food he'd planned on feeding to me.
Still, my imagination must be pretty good if it can conjure up the intense mer in my face. Not to mention the fear I can feel leaking from him as though it's a physical thing.
Am I dreaming? I ask as loud as I dare.
His nostrils flare with his shock and he shakes his head.
Sadly, no.
Where did you come from?
He brings a finger to his lips in a shushing motion.
We can figure this all out once we're safe.
What's out there?
Darkness.
One word and my word feels like it's tilting on it's axis.
No further explanation is required because I know this darkness he speaks of. I'd felt it waiting outside the barrier even before my magic started manifesting. The pitch is so dark that it's enough to leave what feels like an ink stain in your soul. If something is out there and hunting us as the stranger says, then he saved my life. I have no doubt whatever it is will gladly gobble me up for dinner, leaving no trace I was ever here to begin with.
Sparing a moment to think of my mates, I wonder if they've discovered that I'm missing yet. Did they feel me break through the barrier? Life or death situation or not, they'd never approve of this unknown male continuing to touch me long after the threat seems to have gone.
Those red eyes are locked onto the entrance of the cave, giving me plenty of time to take in the mer. His curly brown hair rests around his shoulders, leaving some to float around us. Familiarity of some of his features has my brows pulling down in confusion. Have I seen him somewhere before? Is he one of the others from beneath the barrier? One who has been able to keep the secret of being able to leave from his clansmen? His torso leads down to a wine-red fin, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's closer to the color of a cherry or ruby. The shadows here in the cave are making everything seem duller than they are.
Clearly breaking the rules, I can't help but ask anyway.
What's your name?
A twitch of his lips, making them an even thinner line than before is the only hint that he's heard me. This time, when his voice snakes into my head, it feels like a soft caress across my skin.
Aukai.
He doesn't ask mine, but I tell him nonetheless.
I'm Rubi.
This draws his attention back to me. Staring into his bright eyes, a color which should thoroughly freak me out, I feel the exact opposite. It's as if I'm being drawn to him much like I am with my mates. That one word, mate, has me withdrawing away from him. I've already got three handsome mate princes. Why on Earth would I be allowing this magnetic pull distract me from that fact?
Guilt weighs heavy in my gut, forcing a nervous flow of words through my head.
Where did you come from? How long have you been out here?
I've got enough sense to not mention my mates or them being princes. Even in this realm I'm sure being held hostage for some kind of ransom, or worse, isn't unheard of. Simply being taken like the other women in from the Yhalwgon Kingdom would likely be a closer possibility. Maybe it's better to take my chances with whatever waits on the outside. I know nothing of this mer in front of me, and if I want to get back to my mates, I'm going to have to play this wisely.