6. Mermaid Trouble

Sleeping in the forest did not offer me comfort as my mind was still plagued with nightmares. This time I dreamt I was being chased. I didnt know what was chasing me and I was too scared to look back so I just kept running and running until all at once I felt the earth beneath my feet dissapear and I was falling. I woke up with a start and blinked wildly at the arching rays of sunshine bending through the trees. Theo was gone and waking up alone in woods like these were not a comforting feeling. I quickly grabbed my bag and headed for the trail home only to find it leading me in circles again as I groaned upon passing the same twisted tree for the seventh time that day.

"I guess the forest doesnt want me going home." I mutter to myself with a yawn as my eyes desperatly search the trail for a way out of this twisting maze.

"Are you lost?" A shrill voice asks me and I shudder at the sound as I slowly turn around to come face to face with probably the last person I wanted to see. It was one of Rays mermaid friends, the one with the red hair, only instead of having fins she stood before me on two thin and pale legs. She shifted uncomfortably on the two limbs as her hand rested on her hip and her eyes sized me up silently in a very uncomfortable manner.

"I'm fine." I mumble after finally regaining my breath but the girl doesnt seem to believe me as she smiles slyly.

"I never did introduce myself did I?" She says with a smile. "Im Sloane and my pinkish friend you met from before is called Alice. She should be here shortly. We were planning to meet up here to go visit Merlin."

"I know Merlin." I say outloud and imediatly regret it as Sloane shots me a drity look.

"Well you just now everyone dont you? Would you like to come with us? I'm sure Alice would love to see you again."

I smile weakly at the offer as I can sense the hidden hostility in her words.

"I'm fine." I mumble.

"But arent you lost? Do you really want to just keep walking circles out here?"

I thought it over for a moment and before I could open my mouth to speak my arm was grabbed roughly by the red head who smiles up at me.

"Lets get going. We dont want to be late." She says as she drags me off the trail and into the trees. My mouth hangs open gapping like a fish as I try and fail to find the words to say no. Seconds later we emerge from the trees and into a familair clearing where a large lake stands still. The pink mermaid, Alice, is already there swimming in the water and as we apprach she looks at me and then shoots her friend Sloane a confused look. Sloane just smiles darkly as she drags me to the water edge.

"I brought a friend." She says with a smile and Alice nods in understanding as a sly smile creeps onto her lips. I didnt even nottice Merlin watching from the sidelines of the lake as my attention was fixed solely on these two mermaids, or whatever they were, who were clearly up to no good.

"Would you like to go swmming with us?" Alice asks and before I could open my mouth to answer Sloane pushes me in from behind and I crash into the water. Beneath the surface all sound was muffled but I could still hear the quiet laughs of the two mermaids as they giggled above the surface. Seconds later I felt two strong arms wrap around me as I am pulled to the surface where I desperatly breath in thick mouthfuls of oxygen as I cough out whatever water I had accidently swallowed.

"Thats not funny!" Merlin screams at the two girls as he holds me tightly in his arms just above the surface. The two girls go silent as they glare at us before resuming their usaul smiles.

"We were only playing." Alice says.

"No harm done." Says Sloane and the two girls start giggling again as Merlin swims away to the opposite side of the lake with me in his arms.

"I'm so sorry about them." He says as he pushes me up onto a half submerged boulder where I sit with my legs still in the water while Merlin keeps a hold of my waist.

"They usaully arent this mean." Merlin adds on. "They are probably just jealous."

"Jealous? Why? Of what?" I ask.

"Because you are so pretty." Merlin says with an evident blush on his otherwise pale skin. His response leaves me a bit flustered as well as I look away and try to ignore his hands still on my waist. Even beneath the fabric of my shirt I can tell his fingertips are cold and icy to the touch, a sensation I find somehow calming in the heat of the summer day.

"What are you two doing over there?!" Alice screams at us.

"Include us!" Sloane yells as Merlin gives me a sympathetic look as he releases his hold on me and motions for me to stay put as he swims back across the lake to talk to the girls. I cant hear what they are saying but based on their movements and facial expressions I can guess they are arguing. More than once one of the girls looks over Merlins shoulders to cast me a dirty look. I sigh and try to ignore it as I try to take not os the time based on the position of the sun above the trees. When I look back both Alice and Sloane are gone and Merlin is swimming back to me.

"I need to get home." I tell him as he approaches and I try to ignore the sadness in his face at my words. Merlin nodded in understanding and helps me swim back to the shore where I climb back up onto dry land and try to wring the water out of my clothes.

"I want to give you something before you go." He says quickly as he motions for me to stay put before diving back under the surface of the water. I wait a few minutes and then he emerges, pulling back his long blue hair from his face as he breaks the waters surface.

"For you." He says sweetly as he hands me a small trinket. Its a necklace made of simple black cord with some sort of foggy blue gem at the end.

"It's Lapus." He says and I nod in understanding.

"Why are you giving this to me?" I ask and Merlin tries to look away to hide the embarrassment in his face.

"N-no reason." He stutters. "It's just a gift."

I smile at him as I bring the necklace up and over my head where it sits limply across my chest.

"Thank you." I say and Merlin smiles at me as he gives a quick wave goodbye before diving back under the waters surface.