forum The Siren and the Chimera (with @Dances_with_Shadows)

Started April 12, 2019 by @PrettyLittlePyro

tune

“I do,” the man said, smiling at her. “But I am older.”

"Ah, finally. Someone beats me in the age category," Kora said with a chuckle, then cocked her head to the side. "I don't mean to be rude, but I believe I've forgotten my manners. And who might you be?"

The old man smiled. “I have many names, but I am usually called the Old Man of the Sea.” He pulled Aquarius to his feet. “And I do hope the Chinera hurries. Nyx won’t be able to distract the council for much longer. The siren princes are his favorite toys.”

Kora frowned in the direction that Leon had gone, then looked to Levi, who had seemingly forgone picking the locks and was simply calculating the precise angle needed to bash it open. "Levi, what in the gods' name is your brother doing?"

"Unsuccessfully trying to find some rope. He did find a gag though."

The Old Man laughed. “Who needs rope when we have my dear Kora here?”

Kora sighed, "I have to do everything around here," then rubbed her hands together. She stepped in front of Aquarius and flicked her fingers around, creating a rope of water that circled around the siren's body and pinned his limbs so he couldn't lash out.

The man laughed. “I was thinking of something else, but that works.” He let go of Aquarius and looked to Levi. “Would you be so kind as to open the cage?”

"Yup, just a sec." He grabbed a nearby rock and smashed it into the lock. Just as he predicted, it popped right off.

Kora tilted her head in curiosity at the Old Man. "What exactly were you thinking?" she asked, grabbing Aquarius so she could guide him. Leon came back with a cloth in his hand, then gave it to Kora for her to tie it around Aquarius.

The old man shrugged. “Surely you know other methods of trapping people? Or finding things?”

She shrugged. "Yes, but this is simpler and less likely to cause a mess. And as for finding things, my specialty lies in the ocean. I can find practically anything in the water, but I'm not so well off on land."

“Someday…” the old man said, then stopped. “Hide,” he whispered harshly.

Kora hissed a slippery curse, then released Aquarius and turned to a puddle on the ground. Levi and Leon turned into a lizard and housecat, respectively, and scurried out of the view of any newcomers.

Footsteps rang through the hall. The old man grabbed Aquarius and darted into the cell before shutting it. About a hundred men came in, all with red eyes.

Kora didn't dare stir, but she was well aware of her surroundings. I don't like this, she thought to herself. Levi and Leon remained hidden, not making a sound.

”The king has requested your presence,” the one who seemed to be the leader droned to Aquarius.

Shit, we were to slow, Kora grumbled to herself, mentally kicking herself for dawdling. She was a warrior– warriors didn't dawdle and talk to the locals.

Aquarius nodded. The guards stepped up to the cage and frowned. He had noticed the lock.

Double shit. If she had eyes and known where Levi had scurried off to, she would've glared at that damn lizard.

“What is this?” the guard asked.

”Someone was trying to break me out,” Aquarius responded.

You don't know who. You don't fucking know who tried to break you out.

“Who?” The brainwashed leader looked as started as his clouded mind would allow him.

Aquarius looked confused. “I-I don’t know,” he confessed.

Kora breathed a heavy mental sigh of relief. Oh thank the gods.

It seemed that, for just a second, his eyes flashed his normal blue. He was fighting it.

Aquarius was pulled from the cage, and the old man was left. A new lock, stronger and heavier, was chained to the cage, and more guards were posted.

Damn. Kora wasn't too frazzled, however. She just stretched out her "body" until it was wide enough to reach all of the guards, then grew until she was a giant and borderline raging wall of seawater. A faint, feline whimper could be heard.

The guards turned and cursed. “What’s happening?” One asked.

“Call the commander!” Another yelled.