Page 40 of Fated

Everywhere I looked, new and extraordinary creatures appeared, some familiar and some I had no words to describe, their existence beyond anything I had ever read or imagined.

Like last night, soaring through the sandy dunes of the desert,thisfelt magical, as if stepping into an entire new world, one that no book could ever capture. It was like living inside of a dream and as I looked at Ash, it appeared that even he was filled with a sense of wonder.

We swam for what felt like hours, though time seemed to lose all meaning here. Eventually, we finally descended toward the lake floor, and just before reaching the bottom, the woman guided us into an underwater cave. Here, the walls were covered in a glowing moss, casting a soft bluish light to illuminate the narrow passageways.

We twisted and turned through the cave’s winding tunnels until finally, she pulled upward, and we broke the surface together into a small pool within a dome-shaped cavern.

Chapter 11

Ipulled off my goggles and removed the mouthpiece, watching as Ash did the same. Before us, a set of stone-carved stairs led out of the water. My attention went to the woman who had stepped out of the pool already. Her lower half, now human, revealed legs in place of a tail. She casually grabbed a towel off a hook on the cave wall and wrapped it around her body.

“I’m Mira!” Her bubbly voice echoed through the cave, high-pitched and melodic as she waved at us, smiling. The apprehension I’d felt earlier toward the girl seemed laughable; this cheerful petite girl didn’t look much older than me, and she certainly wasn’t threatening.

“It’s been so long since we’ve had any visitors!”

Her smile grew even larger as she pointed toward two doors near the pool exit. “Those are bathrooms, fully stocked for guests. You should find anything you need inside, even clothing suited to the weather down here. Cresinthia is much warmer than up above.” Her face practically glowed as she spoke, lighting up the room. “In the meantime, I’ll call Madam Pearl and let her know you’re here.” She giggled, her laughter like the soft chime of tinkling bells.

“Madam Pearl?” Ash raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, she’s in charge down here, and she will be dying to speak toyou.” Mira pointed directly at Ash, and he and I exchanged looks.

“So, I take it there are no evil lake monsters down here?” Ash asked dryly.

That brought another fit of giggles from Mira, her hand flying to her mouth. “What a silly thing to ask!”

Ash watched Mira as if she were deranged.

“You can leave your gear on the benches in the bathroom,” she continued, her cheerful tone unwavering. “Once you’re done, head out that door there.”

Her graceful hand pointed to the middle of the cave. “I’ll go send the message to Madam! Oh, she will be so pleased!”

Still smiling, Mira disappeared through another door to the left of the pool.

Ash turned toward me, his expression deadpan. “Wow, Areya, you were right—that girl is terrifying. I’m so glad she didn’t murder us with rainbows and an army of unicorns.”

I snorted. “She was so nice! But, then again, I guessniceis a foreign concept to you.”

He raised a brow. “If I weren’t nice, I would leave you here to figure your way out of all that gear on your own.”

I looked down at the scuba gear and then back up at Ash, chewing my lip. He smirked, walked over to me, and began undoing the various straps and buckles until I was finally free. Handing me the pile of equipment, he turned back to his own. As I headed toward the women’s bathroom, I paused at the door and glanced back at Ash.

“Look at that—the big bad vampire knows how to be nice after all. I’m truly shocked!” I teased, feigning surprise.

He rolled his eyes, but a faint smile played at the corners of his lips.

Inside the bathroom, I placed the scuba equipment on the bench by the entrance, just as Mira instructed. It was more like a locker room than a bathroom, built right into the cave.

The front wall was lined with sinks and mirrors, while a largewhite cabinet stood against the opposite wall. A little farther in were rows of showers facing bathroom stalls.

I approached the cabinet and opened the first door, curious about what might be inside. It was stocked with neatly arranged soaps, lotions, and hygiene products all smelling faintly of citrus and sea salt. Behind the second door were stacks of clothing in various sizes, though all turquoise, the same shade as Mira’s bikini top and all made from a light, breathable cotton.

Sifting through the clothes, I picked out a pair of shorts and a top that looked like they would fit. At the bottom of the cabinet were some strange rubber sandals in the same vibrant hue.

I took my time showering and washing my hair, afterward using a brush and an oddly shaped hairdryer from the third cabinet to dry it.

As I gathered my slightly damp hair into a messy bun, there was a knock on the door.

“Uh, are you ok in there, Areya?” Ash’s voice sounded awkward, almost concerned.

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