Sweet Foam

Chapter 3: Autonomy of a Dream

Ally

This was exquisite. It had taken Ally almost five hours to hack through the rock blocking the path. Each swing of the shovel and pike had revealed new pictures and different styles, leading to the belief that these had been created over centuries or even millennium. She saw things she had never dreamed of, but when that final swing had caused the hole to form, a new butterfly began to grow in her stomach. There was another room! She lifted her lamp into the area, hoping and not really knowing what to expect.

It was beautiful. The room was half full of water, but a sizable part of the floor was rock. It was like having a private swimming area. She couldn’t wait to swim in the water. Ally dumped her bag onto the floor and started to shed her shirt and shorts. She sat on the edge of the ledge and dangled her feet into the water, cooling them down after the hard work of breaking through the rock. She swished them back and forth, churning up the water. She gazed around at the walls and noticed a ledge near the wall to her left.

There was a mystic glow coming from below the water. Ally wandered toward it, thinking that more crystals would be nestled there. She peered through the water and saw a ball from where the light was coming.

Under the ledge, Morgan was silently cursing himself. He saw a hand reach down towards his light sphere. With a gasp, he lurched forward, saying the spell to darken and grabbed the ball just before the intruder touched it. Unfortunately, the hand grabbed him instead.

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Cordelia was certain that not everything was all-good. She had felt the tension growing since this morning. Ally was gone and Derrick had not the gift or inclination. She sighed and focused on the sounds of the waves. They were so soothing. How many times had she wished she could go back? But then something always stopped her. This was not her journey, nor her adventure, she reluctantly concluded. Her dreams were over; it was time to let go of the past and let her granddaughter fulfill her destiny.

Cordelia released a sigh and relaxed as she let her magick flow through her. There had to be a way she could help, even if Ally had to do this on her own. She let her mind drift to the other day and concentrated on Ally’s aura. There had been something different. Something not quite right, like the feeling of long lost memories. Cordelia scrunched her face up. It was there, if only her mind would stop going in circles—circles, loops, and . . . chains! That was it! A chain had been hanging out of her pocket. Cordelia was sure that chain was familiar. Now all she had to do was see what the chain belonged to. If it was what she thought it was, perhaps there was hope after all.

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Ally felt her hand grab something solid and thick. Before she could pull it up, a flash of light rose out of the water, loosening her grip and causing her to fall backwards. She hit her head on the hard rock and had her vision go black. The last thing she saw was a head poking out of the water.

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Morgan stared at the unconscious girl’s body. Stupid! Were all humans so clumsy as to knock themselves out? Morgan rolled his eyes and turned to dive back in, but a moan issued from the girl’s mouth and her head lilted to the side. Morgan grimaced, again cursed himself, and heaved himself onto the cavern floor.

The gritty rock with its rough edges dug into his scales, causing discomfort as he tried to maneuver his body to her side. His tail flopped ungainly behind him as Morgan tried not to drag it. Morgan huffed as the uncommon dragging of weight on land made him tired. How did humans suffer like this? Gravity on land was impossible to live with. He grunted as the next pull scraped his tail hard. He’d have to find some seaweed salve mixed with coral dust to help from getting an infection.

Finally, he was plopped down at the girl’s side. She seemed to be breathing but her eyes were still shut. Morgan gently lifted her head, pausing only when she softly moaned, and then felt around to see how bad she was injured. His fingers came across a bump and a warm substance that made his skin tingle. The tips were covered in blood and it didn’t show signs of immediate slowing. Morgan set her head back down, being care not to let the damaged area touch rock.

He forced himself back to the water, making sure to go in big jarring leaps that hurt when he landed. Morgan let it go, thinking only of the girl’s need for attention. He hesitated as he tried to think about what best to do. Should he bring her down to the palace, or would he leave her there, unattended while he sought for healing salves. It wasn’t like him to care whether humans were in pain or not, but this girl pulled at him. He didn’t want to look past the obvious, that he was attracted to her, but he let himself carry the delusion that he wasn’t a monster, no matter what his feelings on humans were. To ease his mind, Morgan cast a quick shield spell, that way, he could leave but not feel uneasy about leaving her unprotected. With the shield safely in place, Morgan dived back into the water, trying to seem not in so much of a hurry to find the salves.

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The cave’s entrance was filled with seaweed and giant anemones. Morgan felt slightly tentative as he took his time swimming in between the natural barrier’s to the Healer’s home. This was a bit of a risk coming here, but he couldn’t necessarily go to the palace Healers. If word got out that Morgan, the Prince of the Undersea Kingdom, known for his views on humans and mortals in general, was willingly helping a human, he’d be laughed at and scorned. It wouldn’t do for the Royal Family to have this smear on their reputation. So the only option left was the Mizumiko Tora. The Water Sorceress. Morgan had heard stories of the weird and distinctive smells coming from the cave as she cooked potions and brewed spells. As he drew closer to the main room, the smell of exotic herbs and spices caught his nose. It wasn’t actually that bad, he reasoned. The smell reminded him of some food he’d tried off the coast of India.

Morgan pulled back the curtain of kelp floating in front of him to reveal a room filled with purple smoke and purple chairs. A figure was crouched over in a corner, what looked to be a mangled mess and rock and seaweed. Morgan studied the figure as it went on with its work, muttering to itself.

The figure was clocked in a drab brown overcoat, which was tattered and worn thin. The hood that covered its head, reached almost to the chest, successfully hiding the figure’s true form. Its hands were covered by the sleeves, but seemed unhampered as its arms moved quickly around the disaster in front of it.

Morgan was about to approach when the figure rose up and raised its arms to the ceiling crying, “Baka!”

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Ally was in a fog. No matter how hard she tried, the way was always hidden. She turned this way and that, lurching in different directions, but met with nothing to give her focus. Her headache grew until it seemed there was only it and the fog. She fell, trying not to cry as she thought of a way out of the mist.

It was growing darker. Ally huddled into a ball, convinced that she would never be found and that her body would remain in this cold, lonely place. She wanted to be home, to be with her Nanna and Derek. She dropped her head and tears streaked down her cheeks. She was lost . . forever.

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Morgan scooted back, ready to swim as fast as he could, it didn’t matter he was a prince and unafraid of anything, this was really creeping him out!

Suddenly, the figure turned and around, moving closer as its arms reached out for him. Morgan was frozen stiff. He couldn’t move. Kuso! What should he do? He squeezed his eyes shut, unable to fight off this thing. When he felt two hands around his upper arms, he was astonished. He opened his eyes to see the figure take its hands off and reach up to lower the hood.

From underneath came the red-purple sheened hair on a young woman’s head. Her chocolate eyes were dancing with laughter and wisdom while her skin was young and unblemished. She was fairly pretty, with an oval face and generous lips that laughed as she smiled, showing straight white teeth. Her hair was short, to her chin and was curling around her face. She wore one earring, a dangling moon and star in her right ear lobe, surrounded by a large gold hoop.

Morgan stared, unprepared for the sight, expecting an ugly hag with warts and tarnished scales on her tail. She giggled, drawing his attention back to her face. It seemed to young to know so many things as rumored.

“Excuse me.”

Morgan stop his thoughts as the girl spoke.

“I’m sorry about the grabbing, but do you know how to work an X-Box underwater?”

Morgan had no idea what she was talking about. But it wouldn’t look wise to be ignorant now. This girl was one of his father’s subjects, and would treat him with scorn if, a prince didn’t help. He responded, “Fair maiden, of course.” He paused. “Umm, what’s an X-box?”

She giggled again and spun around, her cloak falling off her as she drifted toward the corner. As the cloak fell, it revealed a purple tail and tattoos on the girl’s back. There was one of a tiger, raven and angel, standing together in front of a jolly roger in the middle of her back, a ying-yang on her left shoulder, and an Ankh on her right shoulder blade.

The Sorceress flitted over to the corner and picked up the mess that Morgan assumed she had been talking about. She set it on the table and sighed, blowing bubbles in frustration. After a few more minutes of sighing and muttering with prodding in between, the Sorceress threw up her hands and let them flutter down in an exasperated fashion.

“Since it seems the Goddess is pointing her finger and laughing at me, I might as well earn my keep. What brings you here?”

Morgan, taken aback by this blunt questioning, tried to find his tongue, but the girl was again too quick for him.

“C’mon, it’s not everyday I get a prince at my doorstep. What’s your trouble? Pull up a chair!”

The Sorceress tilted her head as she peered into his eyes. A thoughtful look crossed her face.

“You do have some potential, don’t you? Aha, I see what’s wrong. Here.” She whirled around and dug through her cupboards, taking out two leather bags. “Mix these with some kelp and shrimp blood. It should be taken every four hours. And you’ll need these.” From behind her back came two necklaces. “You need to be bonded together for the medicine to work. Put one on her neck and one on yours. That will satisfy the requirements. Now hurry! There’s not much time, and so much to do!”

The Sorceress twirled with the statement and blew shimmers in his eyes. Morgan threw up his hands, but with them loaded, he wasn’t quick enough. When it was clear, the witch was nowhere to be seen. Morgan turned around and dashed out of the cave, just a bit shaken and anxious to just get the human healed.

The Sorceress chuckled as she watched the prince dash off. Bubbles floated by and she popped them. Tarot cards landed in front of her and the future became clear. She murmured a chant from a prophecy as the destiny of the sea vanished from sight.

As blood from the sea meets blood from the Lost,
Destiny twines once more.
The battle that lost, the war that was, and
Animosity of lore. It comes with the two lovers
Of to be and the hope that springs from them.
As the hearts of the races call to the love
That unites the worlds as One.

“Beware, young prince,” she whispered. “You’re in for an adventure.”

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With the darkness pressing in, Ally felt terribly alone. Her tears had streaked down her face and chin, onto her throat, coating them with a wet sheen. It was terribly uncomfortable, but she couldn’t stop crying.

Suddenly, she noticed a gray-green light off in the distance to her right. It hovered and drifted towards her, growing as it drew near. She wiped at her cheeks and started to stand, but couldn’t move her legs. They were frozen to the ground.

Trying not to panic, Ally looked around for another way, but eh darkness was unrelenting in its barrier. She started to hum quietly, hoping to stave off the fear growing inside her. It was a childish tune, just s soft lullaby her nana had sung to her when she was little. Ally tried to remember the words as the song became louder.

Starry nights twinkle bright
Hush young one and listen dear
The War is over yet drawing here.
Open thy sights to what lies underneath
The wonders of which you seek.

Tears came to her face as she sang it over and over. Would she ever see Nana again? Or was she stuck here, forever?

As soon as that thought entered her head, a bright flash surrounded her and eclipsed all of her senses. She knew nothing more.