104. The shadows of the abyss

104. The shadows of the abyss
Amy was alone in a corner of the submerged hall, watching Pandora spinning with Persephone at the center of the party. The music echoed like liquid bells by the currents, but in his heart there was only one weight. Nayla had gone away to talk to her mother, leaving Amy alone.
It was then that the water around him seemed to sparkle in another way. A red-haired merman, with long hair that floated like threads of fire under the water, approached. His green eyes shone with supernatural intensity and a small golden crown rested on his head. His green tail, glistening like living emerald, beat softly in the rhythm of music.
He smiled with surprising sweetness.
 "Do not be afraid. I did not come to hurt you, miss fairy. I noticed that you are upset... and thought of offering company. Sometimes it is easier to vent with someone from outside, who will not judge. I am Prince Alarion. What’s your name?"
Amy swallowed dry and made a clumsy bow, which drew a light laugh from the prince.
 "Oh, you don’t need that!" he said, laughing. "I like to think I’m just another merman trying to live without great responsibilities."
"I... am Amy, of the Sidhe people. I’m a Bean nighe." She took a deep breath, nervous. "Not everyone likes us, they say we bring bad luck."
Alarion did not move.
 "They don’t like the merfolk too much either, because of some... smart-ass. You must have heard stories about pink dolphin, right?"
Amy widened her eyes and laughed, incredulous.
 "Don’t tell me it’s true!"
"Unfortunately. Some believe that to seduce and abandon is fun. But we are not all like that. Me and my brothers, Kaelion and Dorian, for example, are looking for wives. We want to start families, but it’s hard... we offer riches, affection, but so far no woman has accepted." He sighed, almost theatrical.
Amy laughed, relaxing a little.
 "I thought the newts were just looking for fun."
"Not at all," said Alarion firmly. "But say, Amy, why are you sad? Don’t your girlfriends pay attention to you?"
She bit her lip, hesitant. The heart was firing.
 "Well... you could say that one of them, the one I love most, hasn’t noticed me lately. It makes me doubt when she says she loves me."
Alarion bowed his head, interested.
 "And your favorite would be the purple-haired fairy?"
Amy stared at him, surprised.
 "How do you know?"
"Guess. I’m good at reading people." He glanced briefly at Pandora, laughing. "That elf seems intent on monopolizing her attention. But I give you advice: stand up. Go there and take back what is yours. Even if you have to share, you need to show that it’s your turn to be by her side."
"Do you really think?" Amy whispered. "What if she thinks I’m jealous or possessive?"
"If she loves her, she will love to see you fight for her," said the prince firmly. "Don’t wait any longer, Amy. Show that she’s tired of waiting."
Amy felt an unexpected strength grow in her chest. She smiled, reverent.
 "Thank you, prince. I wish that you and your brothers find companions as good as you deserve."
Alarion laughed again when she made another exaggerated bow.
 "Go, little fairy. Love does not wait."
Determined, Amy swam to Pandora and Persephone. She interrupted the two with the strongest voice she could muster:
 "Excuse me, little elf, but I think now it’s my turn to claim Pandora."
He reached out. Pandora, with a funny smile, nodded.
 "She’s right, Persephone. We’ve spent a lot of time together. Now it’s time to pay attention to Amy."
Took her hand. Amy smiled triumphantly, her heart lightened for the first time in a long time.
Persephone, however, uttered a low laugh and murmured to herself:
 "It seems that little Amy is changing..."
And so, Amy and Pandora danced, while the party kept pulsing in colors, music and secrets under water.

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The submerged hall, until then full of laughter, glitter and fluid dances, was taken by a sudden darkness. The shells that illuminated the walls faded as if they had lost the desire to shine. A cold ran the streams of the lake, and then, from the pitch, they arose.
Male merrows, creatures of the shadows, with twisted tails and empty eyes like bottomless pits, marched in silence. His spears adorned with black algae reflected a funeral glow. Lady Mourn appeared behind them, floating like a living shadow, her veil of darkness spreading across the hall.
"Let the celebration end in mourning!" his voice echoed, distorted, making the water vibrate.
Mermaids raised tridents. Tritons armed themselves with coral spears. The aquatic people advanced with courage, but the Merrows were faster than any common enemy. The combat exploded in a whirlwind of blows, bubbles and shimmering blood in the water.
Pandora spun spells in circles of energy, repelling creatures that tried to surround her. By her side, Persephone and Amy also defended themselves, but a higher Merrow approached and began whistling a somber song.
The melody cut the mind like invisible blades. Amy and Persephone’s eyes darkened, and in seconds the two were facing each other, casting spells, attached to the charm.
"STOP!" cried Pandora, swimming to them. But every attempt to contain the magic was futile. Their attacks collided, creating flashes that tore through the darkness of the party.
"Nayla!" Pandora called, desperate.
But Nayla was in trouble, surrounded by two Merrows with spears seeking her heart. She blocked as she could, clenched teeth, the tail moving in swift turns.
It was at this moment that an albino merman appeared. Long white hairs floated like ethereal veils, its blue tail gleaming. He advanced and grabbed Persephone, driving her away from the fight against Amy.
Soon after, another merman approached. Dorian, with long blonde hair and orange tail, wrapped Amy in his strong arms, holding her steady as she struggled furiously.
Pandora was paralyzed for a moment, torn between helping Amy and Persephone or facing the Merrows. But the hesitation cost dearly: one of them came forward and raised his spear against her.
"PANDORA!" Alarion appeared, intercepting the hit.
The dark blade pierced his chest, but he didn’t scream. He just held the spear, pulled it out and threw it away. The wound closed in seconds, as if it had never existed. His green eyes blazed with fury as he advanced against the Merrow.
"No!" Pandora shouted, seeing Alarion rip the enemy’s heart out with his own hands. The creature’s body dissolved into black smoke.
At that moment, Kaelion (the albino) and Dorian raised their hands and looked Amy and Persephone in the eyes. A wave of light ran through the hall. The spell was broken, freeing them from the dark melody.
"Pandora!" Amy called, desperate, to see her still stunned by the brutal scene.
Dorian pulled out Amy and said:
 "You can’t stay here! It’s dangerous! Come with us!"
"Where?" Amy asked, pulling Pandora by the hand.
Persephone, still furious, reacted:
 "Are you crazy, Amy? We’re not going anywhere with them! They’re monsters!"
Dorian laughed sarcastically:
 "You’re welcome to save your life, little elf. We didn’t attack them. Those were Merrows, and I suspect they only came out of the depths because of that creepy old woman."
Kaelion approached, eyes full of fury.
 "I bet it’s all your fault. You’re putting our people in danger!"
"She came for me... I’m sorry" Pandora confessed, shaken.
Alarion wiped the blood from his hand and said in a firm voice:
 "It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. You come with us. And that’s not a request."
Without alternative, the girls followed the princes to a shipwrecked ship on the seabed. The broken hull hid a preserved interior, with furniture, old tapestries and even rusty chandeliers.
In the central hall, Alarion stopped.
 "Let’s wait for the old lady to come after you."
The girls looked at each other, tense. The air, or rather the water, seemed heavy. Everyone knew that it was only the beginning.