Amethyst P.O.V
We continued to run. We were down deep in a forest, dogging all the trees and little creatures that ran across the path. I held tightly to the stallions neck, already missing my family and feeling exhausted.
"Amethyst?" He called.
"Yes?"
"Do you hear it?" He questioned turning around with a smile.
I listened closely. The birds chirped and sang, the grass under us cracking, a slight breeze picking up, but as I listened even closer, the sound of waves crashing against a shore could be heard. I cocked my head to the side and squinted. I could see nothing through all of the trees and their leaves and branches blocking the way.
"You'll be safe here, my daughter. I promise." He told me, waiting for my horse to walk next to his before continuing.
"Where is it you're taking me?" I asked, pushing a stray hair away from my face.
"It's where your mother grew up. You'll love it here, I can assure you." He answered, having the same smile as before.
"I was happy at home, father. What do I need to be kept safe from anyway?"
He hung his head down. "From having the same fate your mother could have had."
"What does that mean?"
He shook his head. "It's nothing."
"Why does it seem like everyone is keeping something from me?" I said, the frustration becoming present in my voice.
"Some things are better left unknown, daughter."
"I should be told the truth about things. Prince Liam did not..."
"Do NOT say his name again, Amethyst!" He shouted.
I put my head down and said nothing more of the subject. I felt more confused and angry now than I have ever felt. My family had tossed me away. I felt alone and afraid. I had no idea what we were walking into and even if my mother had lived here as a child, I was scared. Scared of the unknown and scared of what lied beyond where I was brought up. I had never really been taken out like this before, especially not to where this was supposed to be.
The sounds of waves crashing continued to get louder. Any sound from the animals we heard earlier had become completely drowned out. My hands grabbed tightly around the horses black mane. I leaned myself down so I was almost hugging her neck again. My father kept his head held high. His short curly brown hair blew a little in the wind coming from the exact direction we were going. I looked back to the ground before closing my eyes and letting the darkness behind my lips consume me.
"Is she one of us?" A woman's voice whispered.
"She is a part of us, yes." A sweet voice spoke.
My eyes started to slowly flutter open. The first thing I realized was that I was no longer on the horse, but laying on a squared rock with a few broken ridges. My hair fell off the side and was laying on the ground. I turned over onto my back and looked up. It was a bit dark, the only light coming from outside in the open view of the now calmed water.
"She is so beautiful." Another whispered, taking a step toward me.
I turned my head toward the voices. There were many women. A few that had legs, sitting on the rocks inside the cave and others that sat in the water with tails and scales. I pushed myself up and tried to get up and run. I fell straight off the rock and splashed into the shallow water. I wiped the wet strands of hair from my face and saw that one of the women with tails was by my side. She smiled, showing teeth that were pointed and sharp.
"No! No, back away from me! What have you done?!" I screamed. "Where's my father?"
"Amethyst, that is no way to talk to your family." The sweet woman's voice I heard earlier replied.
I stood behind the rock facing her. When I looked into her deep green eyes, it was like I was looking into the eyes of my mother.
"Who are you?" I questioned, my breath shaky.
She smiled, coming toward me.
"I am Serena, the ruler of this clan." She answered calmly.
"What is it that you want with me?" I questioned skeptically.
"You are going to be safe here, Amethyst. Any worries you may have, please allow me to ease your mind." She replied, coming closer until she only stood a foot away.
"You are a very special creature Amethyst." She continued. "There are many others who... let's say wish to use the powers you possess."
"I have no powers. I'm just a peasant girl! There is no need for any of what is going on. I just..." I paused taking a deep breath, "Want to go home." I finished, my eyes and voice pleading to be returned.
"My dear, I'm afraid we cannot do that. They would find you..."
"Who are they?" I asked again.
I took a deep breath again and before she could speak I interrupted.
"When I asked my mother she scolded me for saying the Prince's name. When I asked my father what was happening and why, he told me that some things are better left unknown. If they are left unknown and no one is honest, how am I supposed to know or even prepare for what is to come?" I inquired.
The other sea women around us all began to murmur softly to each other. Serena rose her hand, motioning for them to stop.
"I wish to speak with her alone." She said to them.
They all swam or walked away. I watched as the tails of some of them splashed in the water once they were out in the ocean, sending droplets to rise up and fall back into the water to be covered and blended by the rest again. I looked back to the rock in front of me and climbed back on, holding my knees to my chest.
"You are of much value, my dear. You are in danger..."
"Because of the power I posses? Or is there something you are not telling me?" I asked.
All I needed was the truth. I did not wish to be stuck in the unknown and if there was something I could do to change it, I would need to prepare for that now.
"There is more to it." She finally answered before letting out a breath.
"Your mother was and still is..."
"SERENA! He's here! He's looking for her!" One of the sirens screamed.
Serena immediately looked up and saw the creature running toward her in tears. She ran up and was embraced by her. Serena held her and soothed her, running her hand through her hair. I remembered my mother doing that when I was still with her.
"Lilith, what has happened?"
"He's here!" She screamed in fright. "He killed her." She cried as more tears fell down her cheeks.
"You must be calm my child. Do the others know of this?"
"Yes, they have begun to look for him."
She turned straight to me.
"You and I must leave now." She stated sternly.
"Who is looking for..."
"He will know where she is Serena! You know this." She said the last sentence, emphasizing each word.
Serena's face went wide. She came over to me seeming to be enraged. I began to squirm away, only to be caught in her vise like grip. She pushed my hair behind my shoulder and pushed my head up and to the side, exposing me neck. I took deep breaths and held as still as I could.
"He's marked her." Serena said softly with shock. "He has made it almost impossible to hide her now."
"We should just give her to him. There is not much the others can do to stop him." The other said in defeat.
"We are not going to give her up!" She shouted.
A loud scream from outside made me catch my breath in shock.
"Get behind the rock." She urged me.
I slipped from the top and pressed my back into the side of it, putting my hands on my head and bringing my knees up to rest on.
"Serena..." I heard the other call to her.
"You are to say nothing." She warned.
The screams outside had stopped. A bright blue light shined through the outside of the cave in before beginning to the turn lighter, finally disappearing into mist. I uncovered my head and wiped the wet strands of hair behind my ears. I stayed behind the rock, but moved my body around so I was facing the outside of the cave. I slowly peered over the rock. Serena stood, her back to me as the other girl had now turned into her true form. Her tail laid in the water as the other half of her body laid across one of the rocks near the opening. She laid on her stomach peering over the rock in an attacking stance, ready to get whoever was unfortunate enough to walk in.

© Sierra321