Being away from Ryker had affected me in ways that I never knew possible. Getting myself stuck in sticky situations and not being able to think my way out of them was not my usual.

The large Merman held me close, arms tight like a vice around me. He didn't budge, only edged us closer to the dark waters of the lake.

"I don't think I'll survive a visit to your home, Cosmo," I warned, eying the lake with a look of absolute panic. 

"Sure you will!" He chirped happily, tugging me even closer to the edge.

"But you have gills, a-and I do not."

"Nonsense. Gills don't matter."

No...I'm pretty sure they do.

"Come swim with me," The Mers voice took a menacing tone as he wrapped his webbed fingers around my wrists and pulled me into the water. A scream tore its way out of my throat, hopefully alerting the others of my location, or potentially calling even more Mers to come feast on me. 

I took a deep gulp of air before the chilly waters slapped across my skin, grabbing and pulling me and my clothes. Beneath the surface of the waters was clear and pure blue, as if the ground were glowing and brightening the lake. I could see him before me as I struggled free. His hair billowed out around him, three gills ran alongside his neck and another three down his sides. They waved and twitched, catching the fragile bubbles of oxygen. His tail was absolutely beautiful, with blue and silver scales sprouting from his skin. It ran along his arms and down his chest until disappearing below. What was once legs, zippered themselves together, melding into one. His tail fin spread out like a traditional Japanese fan. Large and beautiful, just like the rest of him.

While in a trance, I almost forgot the pressing matter at hand. I could not breathe under water. The evidence choked me, burning my chest and throat as it fought for the oxygen that was just above the surface. I twisted, kicking a foot up and landing one firm against his chest. The Mer was hardly fazed, holding on my wrists so tight I thought they might break under the stress.

The call for oxygen grew more pressing with each second I spent trying to wrestle free from his grip. Cosmo pulled me further under the icy depths. 

It was then that I realized I was going to die.

It wasn't anything like I imagined. Ryker was not by my side and I never got the chance to see him again, even if it was just a glimpse. I'd die before I could even serve my purpose, if I even had one to begin with. I didn't want to give up, but the choice was soon escaping me.

Just as I was about to resign myself to my fate, I heard something in the water.

It was a faint sound, but distinct. It was kind of familiar in a way, but I don't know where I possibly could have heard such a sound before. It was almost like...singing?

My lungs couldn't hold out anymore and my mouth opened, letting all of the fresh water from the lake pour inside. Before I was completely overcome with the ridging of darkness that threatened to swallow me whole, I saw a face. A face that I was very familiar with.

Griffin Blackwell.

Swimming toward me with a beauty that was unfathomable. It was as if his attractiveness multiplied a hundredfold. His mouth was open and I could hear a soft melody. He glowed as he grew closer, and the last thing I saw was him reaching out to me.

I woke up in an unfamiliar place. 

When I say unfamiliar...I mean somewhere I didn't think even possible to get to. Somehow, some way, I found myself submerged under water, yet I was...breathing. It was like a cave with beautiful emerald ceilings and cold stone floors. The opening of the cave was vast and it was clearly showing the bottom of the lake, yet as I became less disoriented, I realized that I was in fact dry, and so was the cave. 

How is this possible?

"So you've woken up?" 

I jumped, looking over at the Mer who watched me lazily from a chaise not so far away. He wore a smirk proudly, seeming very content with the situation. And that included me chained to the wall of the cave. As I glanced over, I saw Griffin unconscious beside me, also chained to the wall.

"I was going to eat him, but then I thought against it. How rare, a Vampire and Siren hybrid. I should add him to my collection."

Siren?

It made so much sense now. When I first met him, he sang to me, and suddenly I could always sense where he was. And even before, I knew that there was something different about him, I could feel the difference between him and the other vampires. 

"I'm talking to you, little witch."

My attention flittered back to the Mer. He was watching me with a raised brow. 

How did he know that I was a witch? It shouldn't have been that easy to tell. Around this world, so close to the Land of Forbidden Spells, I cast a spell over myself that hid my true species. Am I losing my strength as a witch? Not possible.

"Aw, don't look so stricken. I've got a keen sense of smell. Mers are known to be able to sniff out anything even under the heaviest of spells or glamours."

"What do you want with me?" I demanded, glancing over at Griffin, wondering just how hurt he was. I couldn't see any noticeable injuries, but he shouldn't be unconscious for so long. It was seriously beginning to worry me. I needed to check on him, but I couldn't draw any more attention to him. I didn't know what Cosmo would do or what he was capable of.

"I'm not so sure yet. I saw you and I just knew I had to have you." A Cheshire grin split his lips. I wanted to be afraid and in a small way I was, but then there was the odd serene feeling that seemed to be clouding most of my judgement. He was dangerous, that much was obvious, but I didn't think he'd hurt me. Almost as if he couldn't. Yet again, I had no basis for that conclusion. I just couldn't help but think so. 

"And now that you have me, what will you do? Eat me?"

"Nope." He chirped, popping 'p' like a child. "I've got something else in store."

The Mer pushed up off of his chaise and sauntered over, sporting glossy black pants. He was barefoot and bare chested. A gold armband adorned his upper left bicep. 

He crouched down to my level, getting so close that I could smell the heavy scent of raw power. His nose skimmed along my jawline and neck, almost like Sylus when he's searching for a meal. Cosmo back away slightly to stare into my eyes, searching. For what? I don't know.

"It's so strange. You're not afraid."

"I am afraid," I countered. It wasn't a lie, but something about Cosmo's statement seemed truer. Maybe I wasn't as afraid as I thought.

"You're not. You're looking at me right now and are not entranced, or not scared out of your wits. What do you see when you look at me?"

I furrowed my brow at the question. What was his gain here? What did he want me to say? Was it some trap? Or game? Was he scrambling my mind before he devoured Griffin and I both?

I wanted to believe it was a farce of some sort but as I looked into the teal depths, I saw a man trapped. He was lonely and bitter.

"I know you won't hurt me," I whispered, searching those pained pools of anger and abandonment.

"And how could you possibly know a thing like that?" Cosmo replied softly, never blinking, just staring...hard.

"I can see it in your eyes. You don't want to hurt me. You're lonely...in search of companionship."

"Companionship? I don't need—"

"Where is your pod, Cosmo?" I interrupted. I noticed that this lake and cave were empty of Mer except one. There was no evidence of anyone else living here or even inhabiting the area.

Cosmo's eyes narrowed. 

"Dead," he finally uttered. And I saw the source of his bitterness in that one statement. There was an anger in his eyes that festered with the loneliness. It was a deadly combination that tore at my heart strings. 

Damn it!

Not again!

"Do you plan to keep me here with you?" I asked.

Cosmo seemed to ponder that thought a bit before nodding his head.

"I won't survive under here. I am a creature of earth, of land, my power comes from the witches that surround me. I have a duty to my Clan to continue our legacy. I can't do that from here."

"That doesn't concern me."

"It will if I'm dead. I need to be with witches in order to survive, we live off of each other's' mana. If I die, then it will be just like your pod and you will grieve even more."

Cosmo tsked, turning away angrily. 

"Am I going to remain chained up? It's not like I can escape. There is no way I can survive the pressure of swimming from such a depth," I called out to him. 

Cosmo stalked over, ripping the chains free from the wall and my wrists. I immediately hurried over to Griffin. He was breathing, but it seemed difficult. 

"What did you do to him?"

"Absolutely nothing. Well, counter my song with his. Sirens may be the stronger singers, but Mers are the better swimmers. Kind of hard to keep a note when you're fighting for your life underwater, especially when you're a half-breed."

"Help him!" I pleaded.

"Now why would I do a thing like that?"

I turned to the Mer. 

"Please Cosmo. I know you don't want to hurt anybody. Help him."

The Merman sauntered closer to the witch. 

"That's where you're wrong, gorgeous. It's just you that I don't want to hurt."

What could I do? What could I do to help Griffin? How could I save him?

"I'll trade you."

Cosmo raised a shocked brow at this, seeming all too amused with the declaration. I knew that I was going to regret this but I didn't really have a choice? There was nothing else in my power. If only I had my spell book, I could get us out of this problem. I only have a few minimal spells memorized and none of them were going to be able to help us. 

"Trade me?"

"Mers like deals right? You guys get a thrill out of tricking your opponents and reaping the benefits of the transactions. So I'll make a trade."

"I'm listening, little witch." Cosmo cocked his head to the side, thoroughly amused by the flustered man that was pulling at thin air in order to save his friend.

"You save Griffin and bring him back to the surface safely."

Cosmo leaned forward in anticipation. 

I let out a deep shaky breath before uttering, "And I'll stay down here with you..."

Oh man, what am I getting myself into?

"...forever."