Page 91 of Shadow Witch

“That would make sense if they destroyed this part of town. I guess we’ll go explore and see what we can find.” Paige sucked in a breath as she stared into the dark, murky water beyond the town.

“Ready?” Drucinda asked.

“I think so,” she answered.

“Let’s go kick some mermaid butt,” Drucinda said with a kick of her foot.

Paige swam behind her, leaving the underwater kingdom behind as they set off into unknown territory. “How are we going to find them? We could be swimming around for hours.”

“Evil mermaids tend to lurk in sea caves. We should search for something like that,” Drucinda answered.

“Right. Hey, aren’t we being a little judgy calling them evil mermaids?”

“No, that’s what they are,” Eyva said. “Evil mermaids.”

“Are there non-evil mermaids?” Paige questioned as she scanned the area for caves.

Drucinda nodded. “Yes. There are all sorts of mermaids. Evil ones happen to be…evil.”

“Of course, we’d run into the evil ones.” Paige shifted her gaze to the right, peering into the darkness. “Hey, I think there’s a cave over here. The darkness looks…darker.”

“That’s a ridiculous statement. How does darkness look darker?” Drucinda asked.

“Well, look,” Paige said, swishing her hand through the water at the inky black spot. “It’s like…really dark.”

“It’s a cave,” Eyva reported as she swam closer. “Let’s explore it and see if we can find our nefarious friends lurking inside.”

Paige wrinkled her nose. “Wow, the way you say that makes me really not want to go in there.”

“Too bad,” Drucinda answered as she latched onto her arm and pulled her forward. “This has somehow fallen to us thanks to our stupidity last night.”

“I really hope this never happens again,” Paige lamented as the cave’s walls filled in around them. “It’s creepy in here. Even creepier than this place is to begin with.”

“It’s not creepy,” Eyva said. “It’s just…different.”

Paige ground to a halt as she peered into the darkness surrounding them. Sets of red eyes stared back from the blackness. “No, it’s creepy. What are those red things?”

“Eyes. Looks like we found our little mermaid friends.” Eyva sneered at them. “Let’s go you evil mermaids. Time to pay for what you’ve done.”

“I don’t think so,” a warbly chipmunk voice answered.

“I do. You ruined a town last night and all while impersonating us. I won’t stand for it. And don’t think you’re toying with just anyone here. I’m a full-blooded Valkyrie.” Eyva set her hands on her hips and raised her chin.

“I don’t care what you are, old woman, we’re going to kill the lot of you and eat you for lunch.”

Paige’s jaw unhinged at the words. “Oh, come on, that’s a little harsh.”

“And we’re going to start with you!” the voice said before a rush of bubbles burst from the blackness.

Three figures raced toward them, sending the water churning as they darted around. Paige whipped around in a desperate attempt to track one of the mermaids and capture her.

She reeled as she came face to face with a nasty-looking version of herself. “Yikes!”

“Yikes is right,” mean mermaid Paige answered as she reached for Paige with long talon-like fingernails.

“Get away from me!” Paige shouted. She kicked to propel herself backward through the water.

“I think not,” mermaid Paige answered. She sneered, showcasing a mouthful of pointed, triangle-shaped teeth.

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