Page 22 of Restored

“What do you meandrown? What do you mean, Ledger?” I’m whispering hysterically as a webbed hand shoots out of the water. It skims my cheek, leaving behind a stickysheen. I don’t dare move, but I’m trembling so hard the water ripples around me.

“Stay calm, it’s just curious. Maladras tend to be drawn to women.”

I bite back a scream as the creature dips its head, nose grazing my neck. It inhales deeply again. This time, its tongue appears, licking me from collarbone to ear. The scent of algae and fish floods my senses, and a strangled, terrified noise escapes my lips. “Ledger!” I beg for him to do something, anything, as he comes into view behind the creature’s shoulder.

“Eyes on me,” he commands, and my eyes snap to his deep emerald ones. He takes a slow step forward, making the Maladra careen around so fast water slaps me in the face. An ear-splitting screech fills the air. Ledger’s hands go up as if to calm it.

In the next second, I see Archie, out of the corner of my eye, lift his hand. He closes his palm and a large boulder sails through the air.

The creature’s eyes narrow, and that is the only warning I get before the Maladra grabs me in its clammy grip and pulls me under the surface. I silently scream as it drags me down, bubbles leaving my mouth in a flurry.

The creature swims with incredible speed, so fast I can’t tell what direction we are moving in. My ears pop and my lungs burn. I thrash around, considering this may be how I die.

My mouth instinctively opens for air and cold water floods my lungs. Blood pounds behind my eyes. The more I struggle the more disoriented I become.

My vision grows spotty as I catch a glimmer of sunlight rippling on the waters above.

Air screams back into my lungs, searing my throat and nose, and we surface. The air chills my skin as I gasp in choppy breaths, coughing up copious amounts of water.

My mouth tastes of bile and seaweed. I cling to the murky mud of the shore as if that could stop the creature from pulling me under again. When I look up, I see Ledger in the middle of the spring with a look of horror on his face. The Maladra and I are on the opposite side now, too far for anyone to attempt to use their powers.

Gathering my courage, my gaze snaps back to the Maladra. I realize I am now surrounded by three of them and shrink back. They are equally beautiful and horrifying as they tower over me.

One of them grabs onto my wrist and pulls me further into the water until I am waist deep.

“Oh fuck, oh fuck,” I whisper hysterically to myself, unable to form a single helpful thought.

It moves its grip to my arm and motions to one of the smaller Maladra with the other webbed hand.

In a frantic attempt, I crane my arm back to pull away, but it grips me tighter, motioning to the smaller Maladra again, more aggressively.

“You need to calm down and take a deep breath, they want something from you. Focus on what they are trying to tell you,” Ledger’s voice calls as he treads closer.

“Do not fucking tell me to calm down right now!” I hiss at him through my clenched teeth, knowing he is right.

I shake my head, attempting to clear it and take a steadying breath. It is then I realize the smaller Maladra looks sickly; its eyes are sunken in, and its skin is dull, illustrious, and dry. The other Maladra nods at me as if to confirm my thoughts.

“I- I understand, they are sick, you- you need my help?” My voice quivers.

It nods its head once, the side of its mouth tipping up encouragingly, revealing more serrated teeth. I swallow thickly, my tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth.

The Maladra releases my arm, and I move closer to the smaller one. I look at it and try to form a smile. I cautiously raise my trembling hands.

“Is this okay?” I ask, and when it nods back, I realize it must understand. I hover my hands calling my power and letting it ripple over its upper body. My power trickles out, cascading over its scaled skin before delving inside.

The Maladra’s eyes close after a few moments and it heaves a breath.

My own eyes fall shut to focus. I picture how the first Maladra looked. I think of the deep green, purple, and bluescales that shimmered off the sunlight. I push my healing light through every pore in its body.

A gasp comes from shore, and I open my eyes to see the water around the Maladra glowing.

I call back my power revealing the smaller Maladra. Its scales now beam radiantly, the colors shimmering. Its skin is now glistening with a dewy glow.

The two bigger Maladras assess it, sniffing and nudging. They all rest their foreheads together in an intimate display before turning to me and bowing deeply. They then dive into the water, disappearing. I stare blankly at rippling waves until I feel Ledger beside me.

“We should get out of the water.” He puts his hand on my lower back and leads me to the water’s edge. I step onto dry land just as the Maladras reemerge.

Ledger’s arm moves from my lower back to around my waist firmly as they approach. I lean back into his grasp, gripping his forearm hard enough to leave fingerprints.

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