Meeting Aggie

44.

We trailed behind the diminutive pixie, gliding through the water with a renewed sense of wonder. As we swam, my thoughts ventured into the realms of the supernatural, contemplating the stark contrast between this underwater world and the mundane human realm.

The ocean embraced a splendor that surpassed anything I had ever seen. Brilliant hues of green, yellow, and pink danced before my eyes, even in the depths where sunlight struggled to penetrate.

It was a sight that reaffirmed my belief in the unparalleled beauty and enchantment of this extraordinary realm.

"Almost there," Amphid's voice echoed back to us, filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation.

As our journey drew closer to its destination, a sense of relief washed over us, knowing that we had managed to remain undetected by the mermaids thus far.

Just as we approached our intended destination, Amphid's voice carried a cautionary note, breaking the serene silence of the underwater realm.

"You will feel like you're suffocating in the air of the cave. That's because you're a mermaid, but it will only be a minute as your tails go away. Understood?"

Apollo and I nodded in agreement as we emerged from the water, dragging ourselves onto the shore. Despite the depths we had traversed, the cavern we found ourselves in emanated a soft, ambient glow from its illuminated walls. The darkness loomed ahead, stretching into a tunnel that beckoned us further.

As warned, the air in the cavern felt suffocating, tainted with a poisonous touch. Instinctively, my hands shot to my throat, my mouth gaping open in a futile attempt to draw in a breath.

It was a stark contrast to the seamless transition I was accustomed to when using my natural magical abilities to breathe underwater. Tears welled up in my eyes, a testament to the disconcerting experience before me.

The transition was disheartening, a stark reminder that reverting from a mermaid to a human form was a far more arduous process.

My once radiant blue tail slowly dissolved, accompanied by a lingering ache, and as it faded away, I found solace in taking shallow breaths of air, gradually returning to a normal rhythm. The strain on Apollo's face spoke volumes, indicating that he too had endured the discomfort.

While mermaids weren't entirely bound to the water, their ability to remain on land was limited to no more than a month. I couldn't help but ponder the rationale behind their desire to venture onto land if it entailed enduring this ordeal each time.

Apollo steadied his breathing, his gaze narrowing as he directed his glare at Amphid.

"Next time," he began, his voice tinged with frustration, "tell us where we're going. I'll attempt teleportation first before subjecting us to this once more."

Amphid looked terrified but defended herself. "I can tell by your demeanor, Apollo, that you're opposed to her being helped by other gods. As her familiar, I won't let you send her into battle without being as prepared as possible."

Apollo's eyes widened but he accepted defeat.

I shifted my gaze toward him, observing his silence for a moment.

"I'm not mad at you, Apollo," I reassured him softly. "Your jealousy shows that you care."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, which he'd already dried with his sun magic.

"I'm not jealous, I'm territorial. Yes, I would've opted out of seeing Erebus as well. I just wish I was able to train you in everything you need to know by myself, but I can't."

With a comforting smile, I reassured him, "No worries, Apollo. I know you tried your best." I rose to my feet and employed water magic to dry my clothes and hair. "Lead the way, Amphid."

Amphid smiled as her little wings glowed. "Follow me."

We walked into the dark tunnel. I willed an orb and Apollo did the same. We could see the rock walls and floor faintly. As we continued walking, the light from the entrance gradually diminished until it disappeared.

I walked cautiously. I didn't want to step on anything or hurt myself. I also tried not to focus on my environment; unknown creatures could be lurking in the dark that I was incapable of fighting.

Apollo nudged my shoulder. "You look nervous, gorgeous."

"Thank you, but I'm trying not to be. You know I don't really like being in the dark."

"Yeah. Not exactly sure why you're afraid of it, though."

"You wouldn't know what it's like to be scared. Gods can't fear anything when you don't die easily." I scowled at him.

"I do get scared. I'm scared of losing you, Aggie. For the love of Styx, stop being oblivious to that."

I stayed quiet as Amphid glanced at us, clearly worried. I gave her a small smile and she returned it before facing forward again.

"I'm not oblivious. You're ignorant of the fact that you and I fear different things."

Apollo opened his mouth for a second, then shut it. He nodded in agreement. Though the rest of the walk was realistically five minutes or so, it felt like forever until we neared a lit opening in the tunnel. We extinguished our orbs as we walked down the hall, torches lighting our path.

Amphid cleared her throat. "Let me do all the talking. Okay?"

Apollo raised an eyebrow. "I'm a god too! Why can't I greet a fellow comrade?"

"Maybe because if you say the wrong thing, he can turn your world into darkness. He's a much older god than you. Would you really like to find out what it feels like to be extinguished, sun god?"

Apollo turned red and swallowed. Remiel, Isidore, and Poppy giggled at him. Apollo's head snapped toward me, glaring at the three inside me.

"None of us are afraid of you," Remiel said.

Apollo's eyes glowed red. "Those three are mine when you get the ability to separate them from you."

I eyed him in shock, but he left it there. I would bring it up at a later time.

"Can you three not antagonize him, please? I need his support," I said to my other forms.

My three forms agreed and fell into a contemplative silence. We walked into a smooth-walled chamber decorated in dark purple and black.

Oddly, there were curtained windows, but it was for design, as they didn't let in any light or look out on scenery. There wasn't much of anything in this space. Little to no furniture and only one door at the far back of the room.

In the middle of the room, a man with a sparkling dark purple robe levitated cross-legged above a black, circular carpet. He was facing the floor, I think.

The hood on his robe hung around his face, so it was hard to tell. Amphid held up her left hand to stop us from walking. Amphid carefully and slowly approached the man, but as she did, his head shot up, and he stared at me.

He had dark blue skin with stars all over it. His eyes were entirely black, like obsidian. I felt lost within their depths.

His voice sounded warbled and ancient, but powerful. "Introduce yourselves."