Page 15 of Sunken Empire

When Zanthus barks out a laugh, I can’t decide which makes me happier, hearing it or knowing I’m the one that made it happen. He closes the distance between us and drops a quick kiss on my forehead.

Then he and Zale are leading us again, and going back to our other conversation, I admit, “Your birthmarks are kind of awesome. I hope I get to see the markings of your clan.”

Zephyr laughs. “If you’re impressed by those little things, I have some more elaborate ones I can show you.”

My mouth pops open, and my face flames as he winks at me. The other two are laughing as we make our way out the main door. All other things fly out of my head once they lead me outside the gates, though it could possibly have something to do with all the sexiness surrounding me. The three of them close ranks, blocking my body in with theirs. With each of them touching me, I feel safer than I have in a long time.

Everyone we come to bows to us as we pass.

“Guys, I think you need to wear a disguise next time,” I say quietly.

Zephyr snickers from beside me and Zale states, “They aren’t bowing to us, princess.”

I try to form coherent sentences after that but fail miserably. It doesn’t take long for us to make it through the small city, and that thought comes as a huge slap in the face. I bet this place was once thriving with life.

I’m so caught up in despair that I don’t notice where the guys are taking me until it’s too late. We come to a stop right at the barrier of the magical dome. At least, that’s what I’m going to call it.

“What are we doing here?” I ask.

Zale turns around and takes the hand that Zephyr hasn’t been holding. “We want you to try something for us.”

Shaking my head doesn’t stop Zanthus from taking off his necklace and hanging it around my neck. It’s still warm from his body heat. I’ve been so distracted by their bodies and the sadness of walking through the streets that I forgot about the witch’s talismans hanging around their necks.

“I can’t go out there,” I say, still in shock. My voice drops to a whisper so that only the three of them can hear. “Please, I have the bravery of a chicken nugget. I can’t do this.”

They stand around me, trying their best not to crack up at my confession until Zale pulls my attention to him. “Rubi, we need you to try. Cecaelia has disappeared and after three days, we still haven’t seen any signs of our returning magic. This is just a theory that Merrick and I have discussed.”

He touches the necklace hanging at my neck. “This will allow you to breathe underwater, and we will stay at your side just in case our theory doesn’t work. We can jump right back into our little magic bubble.”

It doesn’t sound so scary when he says it like that. Plus, I did say that I would help them in any way that I could. Boy, am I eating those words now.

I look into each of their faces and swallow the huge lump in my throat. “Okay.”

Of course, that's exactly where my bravado ends. My hands slip from theirs, and I let them swing idly between us. Maybe if I get them moving fast enough, they'll propel me forward, and I won't have to think about what I'm about to be doing. Oh, sweet god or goddess of the ocean, please keep me safe. I'd really rather not be crushed by tons of pressure or get eaten by a shark. I think those would probably be two of the worst imaginable deaths at this point in my life. Which, of course, brings me to my next train of thought. If I somehow miraculously survive this little test, I need to do some research on this realm's deities. Can't be pissing off one by praying to the other. Especially if it means the difference between life and death.

All the while I've been trapped in my own mind, none of the Zs have made a peep. They're graciously allowing me time to make the decision myself. I can't say I'd do the same, were I in their position. If I'd have been trapped against my will for most of my life, I'd probably be shoving myself as hard as I could out of this bubble dome.

That shatters my wall of hesitation.

Taking off at a sprint, I don't hear any of them calling me back or telling me to stop, so I'm assuming it's going to be as easy as popping through. And, it is. One second I'm on the side with all of the sexy mer dudes and the next, I'm alone on the other side in pitch-black darkness.

A protective air bubble surrounds my body but doesn't give me the gift of sight through the nothingness that's around me. The Zs said they'd be here with me to help me find my way, but I'll be damned if I see scale nor hair of them. My heart, already racing from my short run, feels like it's about to pound out of my chest, which simultaneously can't seem to draw in enough air.I try to swim, but it’s completely useless seeing as I’m surrounded by an air bubble. Besides, where would I go? I can’t see a single thing. I could be swimming up or down or right into the maws of a giant sea creature. Between that thought and my imagination, I can already picture the monsters around me.

Stupid, Murphy.This is why we don't trust people.You're going to die at the bottom of the sea, and no one will ever know what happened. Tears are flowing freely down my face as the sobs rip from my throat. Sounds are muffled inside my little bubble and echo around the tiny space. Wrapping my arms around my chest, I tuck myself into the smallest possible ball. If there's anything out here with me, I need to seem nonthreatening. Plus, I think I'd rather run out of air or drown than be ripped to shreds by some ancient sea monster down here in the dark depths.

A sensation ripples down the side of my bubble, and a scream horror movie-worthy slips from my throat. I said I'd rather drown, damn it. Why can't I just be given that one last request?

Another push against my barrier, this time at my back, has me slamming my eyes shut. I don't want to see the creature. It's not necessary for me to know how I'm going to die.

When the next prod pushes the bubble flush against my skin, a whimper leaves my throat, but I swear to whoever is listening out there that I will find a way to come back and haunt those cruel mermen.

All of a sudden, my bubble is shoved hard from my left side. I've got to be traveling through the water because I felt the first initialpush before my right-side smashes against the barrier.

The next thing I know, an explosion goes off around me, and my back slams harshly onto what feels like concrete. It stills what little breath I had left in my lungs, but it doesn't halt the tears. Something warm presses against my cheek, and I automatically flinch away.

"It doesn't make any sense," Merrick says, his voice registering through my haze of panic. "It should've worked. Maybe we missed something significant with the curse. Or, it could be the talisman. There's a chance it got in the way. She may have to go back without it."

I barely notice Zanthus' growl before my eyes fly open, and I try to crab crawl away from where they're hovering over me. It doesn't get me very far when I realize everyone that we passed on the way here is now standing around us. Some expressions curious or still hopeful, others concerned. At least none of them look my way with the defeat I feel in my heart.

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