Quest

Too bright, too bright why as I open my eyes, I'm in a velvety bed with lots of pillows. The sheer curtains sway to a cool breeze. I blink several times until my vision adjusts. Where am I? As I scan the room, I realize there is someone next to me. When I look, I find Night sleeping, he looks so peaceful. Wait why am I in bed with him?

"Relax," the King says stepping into the room, "Crimson and I figured it bed easier to tend to your wounds if we placed you in the same room."

"Why not a different bed?" I ask.

Crimson enters the room caring two bundles of clothes, "Night only has one bed," she says setting the clothes on an obsidian table, "you two have wasted time."

I take the cup the King hands me and down the chocolaty coffee, "I've never had this before, is it a drink from the Dark Realm?"

"We got it from another world during one of Crimson's and my reincarnations," the King says setting another cup on the bedside table next to Night.

Night sits up without opening his eyes he takes the cup and downs its contents, "sweet nectar of life," he says setting the cup down.

"Just like your mother," the King says looking over at Crimson who has begun to tie the curtains with a silver string.

"How long where we asleep?" I ask.

"Three weeks," Crimson says, "you two sleep like the dead," she sighs, "you realize now you'll have less time to prepare."

"Why did we sleep for so long?"

"You used too much energy," the King says, "when you bound your eternal souls to each other it only added to the strain."

"We did what?"

"When you gave Night your blood," Crimson says, "don't you remember as he was dying you promised to find him in each lifetime."

I jump out the bed, "that doesn't count," I say, my heart beating too fast too loud for them to hear, "I thought he could heal if he drank my blood. Also, when I said those words, I meant them in the sense I would repay him the next life for taking that blow for me."

"Well it's too late and can't be undone," Night says with a stretch his tone muscles flexing. Why was he shirtless?

"Did you know that would happen?" I ask him and he shrugs, "Night!"

"I didn't think ma would let me die," he says, "but then you cut open your wrist and placed it against my mouth. You started speaking and I couldn't help but agree. So, our eternal souls are tethered so what? Neither one of us had a mate so no harm."

I throw my hands up, "no harm, you let me tether myself to you, had I known I would have let you die."

He gives me a smug smile and says, "No you wouldn't."

"Yes, I would."

"Nope."

"Get out of my head."

"I wasn't in your head, you're just easy to read."

"Enough," Crimson says, "what's done is done, deal with it. Now change into these clothes and meet us downstairs." With that, they leave us alone. Night stands up and heads to the table thank the Underworld he's at least wearing pants.

"Don't worry when this is over, I'll let you play with me," he says pulling a black shirt over his head.

Those damned muscles and he has that V-shape picking out of his pants. Why, why, why?

"In your dreams," I say, careful not to touch him as I pick my bundle up.

"If you go through that door," he points over his shoulder, "you'll find the bathroom, you can change in there."

I mumble my "thanks" and head towards the bathroom. "Wow," I say, there's a metal fixture behind a glass wall and a pool at the center of the room. There's also an odd-looking chair with water in it.

"I forgot that a toilet you can use it to go to the bathroom," Night says pointing at the porcelain chair thing, "Once done just press this lever down and it'll flush it all away. You can shower if you want but I'm sure they want us gone as soon as possible," he points towards the glass door.

"I'm fine," I say, as he shows me how the sink works, "to wash your hands," he says. Night leaves me in the massive bathroom closing the door behind him. I quickly change into leather pants, a black camisole with a purple and silver corset on top. The Dark Realm like the Vampire Lands and Shadow Realm isn't big on the many layers of clothes. Clothing tends to be form-fitting or little to none. When I open the door, I find Night lacing up his boots. There's a matching set next to him and a pair of black stockings their ankle-high and thicker than what I normally use.

"There ankle socks made out of cotton," Night says, "and this are called combat boots."

I toss the nightgown I was wearing on his bed and put on the socks, "shouldn't they be longer?"

"Not really," he says, "they're good for travel and such."

I nod and lace my combat boots on then follow him put the room and down a hallway with walls made of emerald and quartz. We take a turn down another hall made of ruby and obsidian. Then down a flight of stairs where the Dark King and Crimson stand with our weapons in hand.

"You said no one else would be able to use them," I say.

"We're the original owners," Crimson says, "Ryan crafted the bow from a thousand-year-old dragon's bones. While I infused my twin blades with dragons' blood and obsidian."

"Meaning we can use them as we please," Ryan says, "until you two fully master them."

"Why those Night get the easy weapon?"

"There are twin souls trapped in these blades Silver and Ash," Crimson says, "tell me would you be able to withstand their constant babbling, their stubbornness."

Night leans down, "If anything you got the easier weapon," he says.

"Now then, you two will be husband and wife and considering you just bound your eternal souls that won't be so difficult," Ryan says, "your new names are Kaz and Jaya Calluna."

"I don't like it," Night says, "Kaz sounds so dull."

"You don't have to like it," Crimson hands him his blades, "do you remember what you must do?"

"Let our allies know war is coming and collect three precious items," I say, "is Calluna part of my name?"

"That's your surname," Ryan points between Night and me, then hands me my bow. It's lighter than I remember.

"Alright try not to get killed," Crimson snaps her fingers and we are no longer in the Dark Realm.

We stand at a cliff's edge waves crashing against the shore. The sky is a mixture of pink and orange the brine air makes my nose itch.

"Have you ever gone to the Undersea?" I ask looking down the cliff to the rocky bottom. Huge rocks jet out if we miss our landing we may be done for.

"Once," Night says strapping his swords to his back, "it didn't go well."

With that said he takes a step back then runs forward jumping off the cliff.

"Here goes nothing," I say mimicking him and braze for impact.

The moment we hit the water we're dragged undersea. It takes me a few minutes to remember how to breathe and when I do, I regret it. Salty water fills my lugs, Night pulls me towards him and places his mouth against my own pushing air in. He press's a ruby to my third eye the way they wear in the Shadow Realm. A wave of energy surges through me the moment he lets go I find the water doesn't bother me anymore.

"It helps channel your powers," Night says.

"What about you?" I ask.

"I'm a fourth siren," he says, "I don't need that also only females wear the sacred stone."

"Why?"

"The Empress of the Underworld made it a rule. If I wear it, it'll do nothing."

As we swim, we pass schools of colorful fish. Bits of sunken ships and scattered treasure. Night's eyes follow my own he shakes his head and points forward. Not far the City of Coral awaits.