Chapter One: The Sea Trap

Ferns crushed as my hooves galloped through the sea. The air was a strange fusion of fae stink and sea grass when I ducked my head into the seawater. The amulet around my neck glowed, and I felt the familiar tickle of excitement and fear creeping down my back. We are not going to run into another trap, are we?

I bubbled out the water, my hooves treading the water slowly; as the waves became strong. The green light of my amulet turned brighter with every second. I reached for the back of my head and plucked a strand of hair. Breaking it mercilessly, I wrapped it around the amulet.

Ku asa si hane illuminateé,

Rà fa numa, ràkate Krisiana,

La Inna Màha, La Inna Lordé

(We are the one with the light,

I, the carrier of it, Krisiana,

All hail Màha, All hail Lord)

The green light died into it, as the strand turned white and engulfed the wisps of magic seeping out of the amulet. So much for catching a trespasser. My fingers wrapped tightly at the dagger in my hand. It would have been a lot easier if I could just be left on the land… if only.

Lasa Inna Nüan,

Cah mal si ruan,

Inna Nüan, si lagaste,

Énoka, énoka, énko la faé

(We hail Nüan,

Oh the one with Magic,

We hail Nüan, forever,

Long live, long live, long live the Fae)

I swam closer to the beach. The song of the Fae was loud in the air as I approached cautiously. I think I missed him… I bit into my lip, turning around when I found something tugging at my left hoof.

"Cease," The voice said, and I found my feet kicking in the water. I was stuck.

"Show yourself!" The voice was closer. I could hardly see anything in the dark. The Fae stink growing in the air, and then came the glowering light of the wings.

"If you are a Mer you will be apprehended and brought to justice. If you are a Centaur you will be killed. Cease!" The nerve of these bastards!

"No one is killing me today," I whispered, ducking down under water. Water filled my nostrils, as I tugged at the net that caught my hoof. I felt the coarse string, positioned my dagger to it, trying to cut it open.

"Cease, at once," The voice grew closer.

The water around me rippled, as I tried to hurry before anyone could get a hold of me. My dagger cut through the rope, blood seeping out of where it once was. Cursed fae matter…Tsk.

Pain shot up from the wound, as the net sunk to the seafloor. If I am lucky, I can silently tread out the water back to the Centaurian beach. My dagger was back to its satchel on my back. My hands pushing back as much water as they could, as my hooves kicked quick. I bubbled out water, coming to the surface for one last breath, before I could safely swim to the shore…

Céle trumbana

[Freeze, waters]

Oh God! I didn't duck my head back in, when the ripples around me freezed in their spot. The water solidified in my vicinity, making me a petty prisoner in its cage. The pain from the wound reminded me that if I don't treat my wound with magic, I will have to lose my hooves…

The lights of the Fae surrounded me. They were glowing with their yellowish hue, dangling in the air suspended with magic as they float across the air. I find them quite alluring, unlike most of the other Fae things.

Perhaps, it would also be one of the last things I would see…No, no. I must try my best to walk away from here. All I had to do was let them liquify the water. No sooner than they will do it, that I will use the magic in my hair and morph into a mer. 

"Name yourself, oh, trespasser-

State your purpose," The voice came and the lights circled around my head.

"Ca-" I can't tell them my name, or they will know. A mer name…

"Josêfhina," I said, as my eyes were blinded by the light.

Remember the word of the book… The word of Màha.

"Lasa Inna Lordé,

Mi refujék Máha,

Trumbana dèlakté,

Rågoan, rågoan

[I pray to you Lord,

The saviour of Máha,

Unfreeze the cold,

Let it flow like mercy,

Let it flow like mercy]"

This was my best bet.

"Inn cuama si Meriana?

Trumbana dèlakté,

Finkêdou,

Rågoan, si hánte Nüan!

[Why have you come here,

Oh, foolish Mer,

Unfreeze the waters,

You will not be harmed,

Mercy will be granted,

As if it comes from the almighty Nüan]"

The answer came, in a raspy voice. I tried to open my eyes and found the water flowing around me. But this won't last for long.

I pulled sharply at my amulet and spoke the words…Gradua Meriana Merchi. With a sharp jolt, the waters surrounded my hooves, forming thicker curtains as the spell resurrected the seaweed to morph into a false tail to hide them. Let them be fools… I prayed.

"Tell, why are you here?" I could feel the winds blowing like a whirlwind as the winds flapped. Fucking show offs.

"I was lost in the Satyrian waters, swimming back to Mermaid Reef," I lied.

"Have you no shame to address the Prince of the Faes like a commoner," the voice was so close, I could feel something breathing down at my neck.

"Beah-" The voice whispered with muffling words.

"My apologies. My regards to the Sun of the Empire," I said, lowering my head even still; hoping my hair are hiding my ears well. A warm breath landed on my neck, and as a reflex I found myself turning in the water only to realise that my hooves are still hurting.

Jade eyes watched me with scrutiny. I looked down the next instinct, knowing very well what was happening. It is a trap.