Chapter 10

I was told to follow the rope and whatever happens not to deviate because there are other creatures in this mountain that can overpower a vampire. I walked carefully till I reached an ornately carved door. It had had snakes and dragons carved into it. It also had something written on it that look like a drunk person wrote it. The beginning or ending of each letter was either going up or down. My dad would call it chicken scratches. I heard of cuneiform but I doubt this is it. I heard a distinct cackle and turned to see a woman dressed in white kimono. She looked like a ghost because she was slightly see through but it turns out she was corporeal. She waves her hand and I was covered in ice and pinned to the rocks. She tilted her head, "I will ask you once why are you here?" I tried to think of a witty response but then I recalled the memory of the library so I took an invasive maneuver. I snarled with confidence, "I am here on Dracula's orders. He wants the pearl of wisdom. The defenders have his wife and they are willing to exchange her for the pearl. The witch queen is busy otherwise she would be here." The made her jump out of her skin. She disappeared in a swirl of snow. I braced for the fight that she was going to bring me. But she came with full compliance and even remove the frost so I can move again. I am guessing she had a good beat down from the prince of darkness. She gave me the pearl and wished Dracula a happy marriage. I promised her I will and walked away. I didn't dare look back in case she thinks something fishy is going on.

I arrived to see Anatoli was having a conversation with Ded Moroz and his granddaughter Snow maiden. He saw me and burst out laughing at my apparent failure till I showed him the pearl. The mermaid screeched in joy. I gave her the pearl and she gave me a timid smile. I extended my hand and she grabbed it and swam as fast as her fins could take me. But she didn't take me back to where the other mermaids were. She took me to a remote island where there were more of her kind. I was shown a bed of seaweed to sleep on. I saw a small pool and I guessed that was where she sleeps. I heard a noise and I blurted summon the Kraken. I looked out through one of the openings and saw it. It was the Kraken in all its horror. The woman's name was Tiamat she is the Queen of the lair. She was one of the carnivorous mermaids. She lived on Skull island unlike the golden finned mermaids of Mermoria. Or the blue finned vampire mermaid of Merman. Or the peacock finned mermaids of Atlantis. The island had many Naiads, Oceanids and Nereids. The largest gathering of these creatures on Earth. I watched she ordered Draugen with an ear-splitting screech. I watched as a Kappa arrived with a spear and the other mermen screeched and attacked it. They fought for a few minutes and I was allowed to roam the island. I was followed by a merman with every step I took. The queen had forbidden the others to bite me or I would be shredded.

I decided that mind maze would be amazing. I searched for James and we talked to each other for a few minutes before I told him what I did. He wasn't very happy that I did what I did but he was glad I found an old relic. I tried to tell him it didn't feel like that at all. He laughed and wished me an amazing adventure. He warned me not to go near the Kraken. He hates vampires and werewolves apparently once they accidentally got in the way of his dinner. So he hates all of us for that one incident. I promised him and walked out to the sun for a vitamin D soak. I watched as Scylla and Charybdis take their place not far away. I watched as Gorgons and Sirens sat on rocks. They were so excited that I can feel it. It felt like they haven't seen action in years. I felt someone was watching so I turned to see Tiamat staring at me with deep intensity. I blushed on her gaze. My face got redder as she came closer and grabbed my face. She turned it left and right and opened my mouth. She opened my eyes wide and took a long look. Then she got up and jumped into the sea. I looked up ahead and saw different types of sharks in frenzies.

I asked one of them if it is possible for me to go for a swim. She stared at me tilting her head side to side. She took my hand and placed it on her cheek. I pictured the sea in my mind and held the question lightly in my mind as I did when I caught fireflies. She smiled at me and nod her head. So I looked around for a swimsuit and found none. I walked towards a rocky area and took my t-shirt and pants. I jumped in and swam around. I saw multi colored fishes, eels, baby sharks and jellyfishes. There was a sea anemone that was teeming clownfishes. I got out of the water and found a merman watching me. He looked hungry so I ignored him and climbed out.

I came out to see she was talking to a witch. They didn't see me. But I heard one side of the conversation. The queen was hiding someone for the defenders and Tiamat made it clear it was a non-negotiable deal. As merpeople they like to set aside their differences and work for common good. Their eating habits might differ but they will defend each other to their last breath. The witches wanted to negotiate a deal to acquire me but she hissed her and her children charged at the witch as though she was their dinner. She raised her hand to apologize but it was too late. They ripped her to pieces and ate her. The other witch who didn't say anything stepped forward and made a new deal. The one she protects can stay with her but can Dracula come over here till the situation dials down. Tiamat shook her head and shrieked. This made the witch jump out of her skin. She begged her to let Dracula stay here. She promised that Dracula would never hurt this person. Even if this was someone he wanted to kill personally. He would never break the accords. Tiamat tilted her head side to side. The witch smiled and walked away. Tiamat shrieked something and she turned around. She picked up a conch shell and gave it to Tiamat. This is something from her own cave. She threw it away with disgust. The witch fished her pockets for some kind of tribute and she finally gave her a carved jade pendant. This pleased the queen and she gave her an awkward smile. I felt like I should run so the first thing I did was try and talk to James but like I said I was followed all over the place. I felt a pair of hands and everything went black. I woke up to screams and wondered where I was. The realization hit me hard like a freight train. Dracula has entered the cave. I had to be extra careful. I focused and turned into bats to scout the place for any possible hiding places. I found a tiny hut that looked enticing. I flew back to my cave and found a mermaid waiting for me. She smile and walked away.