Pheles’s POV:

I slip through an opening in the jutting rocks and find that it is empty, as I assumed it would be. Most people tend to miss it as it is pretty well hidden and the few people who know about it also know to stay clear of it. It is my unofficial designated spot and even though my rank doesn’t mean much in this place, people still seem reluctant to cross the invisible boundary that my status entitles me to.

Dill is right behind me as I step through, looking slightly uncertain about the whole situation.

“Where was this unresponsiveness when we were back at the castle.” I ask, more than slightly amused by his uncharacteristic behavior.

Go fuck yourself. He seems to be telling me and I am surprised to be able to understand him so well. I am unsure if this new development is due to me getting better at understanding him or if he is just being really obvious, but it is not completely unwelcome. Even though with my luck it is probably the latter.

“Don’t look at me like that.” I tell him a bit defensively. “I am a prince, your prince. Show some respect.” I only get a scoff in response as he turns his body slightly and begins stripping his clothes.

I am slightly ashamed to admit I find it hard to look away as he does, which is ridiculous. Firstly he is an extremely annoying ponce and a man to boot, not to mention leagues away from my position as prince. The thought, unfortunately, doesn’t make it any easier to tear my eyes away and I go on staring as he pops his boots off and begins unbuttoning his shirt.

There is just something in the way that he strips that I find transfixing. No one should look that good while removing their clothing, least of all a man. It brings a sour tang of jealousy to my tongue. It's totally not fair.

I don’t look that good undressing and I am amazing. How is it possible for this lowly peasant to be so much better than me at something so mundane. It’s utterly ridiculous.

I continue to watch, with begrudging attention, as his shirt leaves his shoulders and his hands move to his midsection. He is just about to reach for his ties when out of nowhere he jumps, a loud sound escaping his lips, thankfully dragging me from the pit of jealousy I had worked my way into. He makes a few wild gestures at the water where three sets of eyes rest just above the water line, gazing intently at Dill’s naked chest.

I find myself laughing before I can stop myself and I waive to the three naiads who have popped out of the depths of the pool. “Tenra, Murtyl.” I greet the brunet and the purple haired girl before turning my attention on the third.

Her face is soft and youthful, though age is hard to tell with naiads. Her eyes are a lovely honey color set into deep milky chocolate skin that exactly matches Dillon’s own dark complexion. She is utterly breathtaking, even for a naiad and I can’t help but turn my stare to her.

“And who might you be?” I ask in my most flirtatious voice.

Her eyes don’t even turn to me as she rises further above the water and says, “Please, do not stop, we wish to see what lies beneath.”

Her response throws me completely by surprise and it takes me a minute to understand what she said. Then another to realize she had completely ignored me and addressed Dillon instead.

Dillon appears just as shaken as I do, but gradually seems to be regaining his composure. He writes something on his paper that I neglect to read because I am still staring dumbstruck at the group of women in the water.

“Do not be shy.” Tenra says as she too raises herself slightly from the water. “Please join us. You too I guess.” She says with a look in my direction and I can’t help the indignant gasp that leaves my lips.

“Don’t you usually beg me to join you? What's with the cold shoulder?” I ask, more than a little insulted.

Tenra just shrugs her shoulders while Murtyl laughs beside her. “Been there, done that. You want our attention, come back looking like we could melt diamonds on your stomach.” Is her only reply before the group of them swim to the edge and begin running their hands up Dillon's now undressed legs.

“I think those should come off too. What about you?” Murtyl giggles with a suggestive glance at the undergarments that still hug his waist.

“No. These stay.” He writes on his paper and this time I am able to catch it before he holds it out for them to see.

“Suit yourself.” The pretty little one says before pulling Dillon beneath the water with one quick swat of her hand. He comes up sputtering and even though I am slightly irritated with him at the moment, or maybe in spite of it, I start laughing at the stupid face he makes.

I strip my clothes off, leaving my undergarments on, and before he has a chance to glare at me, join the small group in the pond.

“I am Nia.” The pretty little one says as she practically throws herself at Dillon. “What is your name?”

Dillon looks like he is about to reach for his quill when his hand stops. He was holding the quill and paper before he was pulled into the water which means that they are somewhere in the water with us. I neglected to put a charm on the paper so even if we found it there would be no hope for it and the quill… Well what good is a quill without paper anyway?

“His name is Dillon and he is mute.” I say for him and he gives me a cross between a thankful smile and an irritated glare. As if he can’t decide if he appreciates me answering for him or if he is angry that I did.

“Why not?” Nia grumbles, more than a bit disappointed by the news. Again, this whole thing is really pissing me off.

“I don’t know. Ask him?” I say with a gesture at Dillon who gives the three naiads a complicated look. Bottom lip between his teeth in a gesture that is infuriatingly more attractive than anything I can manage. 

Why is this happening to me? I am attractive too damn it! Much more attractive, this is all just a mistake. It must be because he's better at showing off than I am. The rationalization sounds weak even in my own mind and I have to stop myself from groaning. 

“Oh!” The shout from Nia pulls me from my pity party and I glance over to see realization dawning on her face. “It is like that is it? I can fix.”

It happens so fast that I don’t even have time to register what is happening before it happens. One second Nia is hanging off of Dillon like a particularly gorgeous scarf and the next she has him pulled down to her level, hands in his hair, eyes closed, and lips locked roughly against his.

“What are you doing?” A dark sultry voice suddenly exclaims as Dillon pulls out of the kiss.

The sound shocks me to my core and an electric current runs unbidden up my spine as his voice fills the room. My eyes flash to his face only to find him staring back at me with the same level of shock.

“You spoke!” I shout before I can really think it through, but honestly, it’s a pretty fair response under the circumstances.

“I spoke.” Dill says in wonderment, his eyes never leaving my own.

“Yes, is it not wondrous?” Nia giggles, a sound like small bells. “It is easy for us to break curses such as this.” She continues and I snap my eyes back to her.

“Curse?” I ask in confusion as my gaze sweeps back and forth between the mildly shocked Dillon and the far too happy Naiads.

“Yes, the one your friend is under.” Murtyl answers me with just as much elation as Nia.

“Curses like this are not hard to bypass.” Tenra giggles along with her fellows, but the look in her eyes tells me that there is probably more to it than that.

“What do you mean by bypass?” Dillon asks the question before I can and I jump at the sound of his voice. It is so rich, and deep, and kind, that it puts me on edge. I have never heard anything like it before and much like his eyes, it is completely uniquely him.

The naiads glance at each other for a second and a silent conversation seems to ensue. “Well…” Nia says with a sigh. “It’s not permanent. Our magic is tied to the magic of this cave and that same magic is keeping the curse at bay. It will break once you step foot outside. I am sorry, this curse is far more intricate than I originally thought and certain requirements must be met before it can be broken.”

“What requirements?” I ask and even though I am not looking at Dillon, I can tell he is feeling uncomfortable.

“The spell can not be broken by anyone but-” A voice interrupts her before she can finish her sentence and I whip my head around to look at the speaker.

“Yes, well, enough about that. I dare say it would be in poor taste to continue speaking of this while in the company of such lovely beings as yourself.” Dillon cuts in smoothly and Nia blushes slightly before giving him a knowing look.

The two continue to stare at each other and much like what happened when the other naiads had shared a look, a silent conversation seems to ensue between them.

“You have such a silver tongue.” Nia says a bit melancholy before she finally backs away from him and begins grumbling. “It is such a shame your words are not true. I would love to forget for a moment that I am not what you desire, but I am afraid it can not be. Your mind is far too open, I have not been able to hear somebodies thoughts so clearly in quite some time. Please stop whispering such sweet lies, it is cruel to lead people on.”

“Oh… Sorry, I didn't mean to.” Dillon says softly and I give him a confused look, which he ignores. “I really am sorry. I didn't mean to be cruel, I was only trying to…” He trails off and the naiads share another look.

“It is alright. We take no offense. It is not like we can change the way you feel.” Tenra speaks calmly. “We are merely disappointed. It is not often that we find someone as lovely as you, but it is not all bad. We still have this one. He will do I suppose.” Her eyes fall on me as she ends her sentence and I stare at her incredulously.

“I will do for what?” I ask still very much confused and more than a little envious that Dillon seems to be in the loop. I am a prince, how is it possible that my personal maid seems to know more than me?

“They were hoping to proposition me.” Dillon says, a bit of a smirk appearing on his face when it seems to dawn on him that I am upset by this news. “But it looks like they are going to have to settle on you now.” He says the smirk growing.

“Settle on me? Settle on me?” I demand completely outraged. “No one settles on me.” I claim, doing my best to keep the wounded tone from my voice, which doesn’t seem to be working if the shit eating grin that passes across Dillon’s face is any indication.

“Well there is a first time for everything.” Dillon tells me far too amused for his own good.

“Your voice is horrendous. It sounds like sandpaper.” I tell him in an effort to regain some ground. I even go so far as to tip my nose up in a snooty gesture so he knows I think he is beneath me. However, he is unfazed by my comment and goes right back to teasing. 

“Wouldn’t it be nice if that were true?” His words are like a breeze and they send short pulses dancing up my spine. Jealousy once again raises it’s ugly head and I have to grit my teeth to stop myself from childishly sticking my tongue out at him.

Yeah. That would be nice. Life is so unfair. I think before turning my back to him and sinking under the water.