Mini Brain Dumps

If you’re just joining us and haven’t read the beginning of Darkest Depths, you can catch up here: Beginning of the Story

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Trigger Warning: This novel contains references to sexual assault and mental health disorders. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter 24:

Quentin and Cate floated on the outskirts of the grotto; their gazes fixed on the dark expanse of the underwater tunnels that stretch out before them. The cavernous opening yawned like the mouth of a great beast, swallowing the light emanated by the grotto.

Cate glanced at Quentin. “Are you ready for this?” she asked.

Quentin swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his ears. “Absolutely,” he replied.

Cate led the way through the protective wards. As he passed through the barrier, a familiar tingling sensation filled him, but instead of warmth a cold finger crept down his spine causing him to shiver. No longer were they in the comforts of the temperature control magic of the grotto. Here, they were in the embrace of the cold ocean.

As they ventured further from the safety of the grotto, the water grew darker, swallowing the vibrant hues of the coral reefs and turning the surroundings into a murky abyss.

Quentin reached into his satchel, fingers fumbling until the closed around the smooth surface of the crystals that Elysia had given them. With a twist, her activated their gently glow, casting a feeble light that struggled against the oppressive darkness. The rocky walls closed in around them, their jagged edges looming like ancient sentinels of the deep. Ominous shadows shifted and writhed upon the uneven surfaces, their shifting forms making the very walls themselves appear to be alive and watching their every move.

Quentin and Cate pressed forward.

Suddenly, Cate’s sharp intake of breath broke the silence, drawing Quentin’s attention.

He turned to see her pointing ahead, her eyes wide.

“What is it?” he whispered.

Cate gestured towards the dark shape looming in the distance, barely visible. As it drew closer, casting a shadow that seemed to stretch out like a sinister claw, Quentin felt a chill run down his spine. But as it floated into the light, Quentin’s couldn’t help the giggle the escaped his throat. It was a piece of garbage, drifting aimlessly towards them on the current.

“Looks like we’ve stumbled upon the fearsome beast of the deep,” he joked.

Cate punched him in the shoulder as she passed him. He smiled and trailed after her.

They continued their journey through the winding tunnels, the faint echoes of their movements mingling with the gentle rush of water around them. Each twist and turn brought them deeper into the tunnel’s depths. As they rounded a particularly sharp bend in the cave, they were met with a breathtaking sight.

Before them stretched a vast expanse of ruins, their crumbling structures obscured by layers of seaweed and marine life. The remnants of a once-grand civilization lay silent and enigmatic beneath the ocean’s depths, beckoning Quentin, and Cate with promises of hidden secrets and untold mysteries.

“This has to be it,” Cate said.

They swam closer, their eyes scanning the crumbling archways that adorned the ruins. Cate’s hand brushed against Quentin’s arm. “Be careful,” he warned.

“You’re so boring sometimes,” she said, nudging him gently.

Quentin grinned. “Well, someone has to keep us from getting eaten by underwater monsters,” he retorted.

“Oh, please. If anyone us going to keep us from getting eaten, it’s me,” she laughed.

As they explored the darkened archways and hidden alcoves Quentin couldn’t help but marvel at the ruins, standing steadfast against the relentless passage of time and the unforgiving embrace of the ocean. Every now and then, they would come across discarded debris or strange markings etched into the walls. They swam closer, running their fingers over the intricate designs.

“This looks like what we saw on the Sovereign,” Cate said, eyeing the swirling lines.

“They do,” Quentin agreed.

“They have to mean something,” Cate murmured as she reached out to trace the outlines of the symbols with her fingers. Quentin’s gaze lingered on the mysterious carvings, but the answer to their mysteries were just as allusive as they were to him the first time.

Suddenly, a low rumble echoed through the ancient corridors, causing Quentin and Cate to freeze in their tracks. Before they could react, a shadowy figure slithered out from the darkness, its sinuous form twisting and writhing. Its scales shimmered with an iridescent sheen under the faint glow of their crystals. It was a Neptillian Viper.

Quentin’s heart pounded in his chest as he grabbed his trident, ready to defend himself and Cate against the creature. Beside him, Cate removed the dagger from her hair. Her long hair cascaded around her like hellfire.

The viper hissed menacingly, its sharp teeth bared in a threatening display as it circled them, sizing up its prey with calculated precision. Quentin and Cate remained steadfast, their sense on high alert as they watched the creature’s every move, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. With a sudden lunge, the viper attacked, its movement swift and unpredictable as it darted towards Quentin with deadly intent.

Reacting on instinct, Quentin swung his trident with practices skill, deflecting the creature’s assault with a resounding clang as the two clashed in a flurry of motion. With a swift motion, Cate lunged forward, her blade finding its mark as she delivered a blow to the creature’s side. It recoiled in pain, its serpentine form writing in agony as it retreated from their combined assault.

Quentin and Cate pressed their advantage, but the creature seemed to anticipate their next move. Without warning, it sprang into action. Its movements were a blur of sleek muscle and razor-sharp fangs. With a scream, Cate twisted away from the viper’s lunge, but she was not quick enough. The viper’s jaw snapped shut around Cate’s arm with a sickening crunch.

With a roar, Quentin launched himself at the viper, his trident flashing in the darkness as he struck out with all his might. The viper hissed in pain as Quentin’s blows rained down upon it, its sleek form writhing and contorting in a desperate bid to escape. But Quentin was relentless, with each strike he drove the viper back, inch by inch, until finally, his trident sank into the viper’s neck and went limp.

Quentin turned to Cate. She offered him a weak smile, her breathing ragged. “I’m alright,” she assured him.

Quentin wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Hesitantly, Cate returned the hug. He held her for a moment before pulling away. “Let me see.”

“No,” she said, pulling away from him.

“Catherine, whatever your middle name is, Sinclair, let me see your arm.”

She rolled her eyes, “Yes, mother,” she responded. She reluctantly held out her arm. Two deep puncture wounds greeted him. He quickly began to look through his bag for the healing potions. “I said I’m fine,” she asserted.

Quentin shot her a look before pulling the shimmering vial from his bag. He held it out his hand.

She pulled away from him. ‘No.”

“Yes.”

She gritted her teeth and held out her arm, refusing to meet his gaze. Quentin uncapped the vial and poured some of the liquid onto the wounds.

“Ow… Ow… It burns… it burns…” Cate screamed, flailing her arm about.

Quentin’s felt his stomach clench. He began to frantically search through his bag. Maybe he had given her the wrong vial? Maybe Elysia had messed up the vials she had given them, and this one was meant to burn their victim, not heal them. Maybe the potion didn’t work on snake bites?

Cate erupted into a fit of giggles. Quentin breathed in deeply, looking up at her with a look of disappointment. ”Really?” he said. He held his breath for a moment to calm himself down. “That’s not funny.”.

Cate smiled at him, waving her arm in front of him. “I’m fine,” she laughed.

He grabbed her arm, inspecting the wound closely. The place where the two puncture marks had been replaced by two small slivers of pink. Quentin released a sigh of relief. “I’m glad you’re okay,” he muttered.

“Stop babying me,” she said, pulling her hand away and pushing herself off the ground.

With Cate’s injury tended to, they turned their attention back to the ruins that surrounded them. Quentin’s eyes roamed over the intricate carvings adorning the walls, while Cate’s keen eyes scanned every corner for any sign of hidden passageways or concealed chambers. But as the minutes turn to hours, it became increasingly clear that their search was yielding no answers.

“I think it’s time we head back,” Quentin suggested.

Cate nodded in agreement. “Maybe it’s those symbols and the viper” she suggested.

Quentin thought about it for a moment, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that they hadn’t found the answer they were looking for. At least not yet. “Maybe you’re right,” he conceded.

As they cautiously made their way back to the grotto, they heard it – a haunting melody that seemed to emanate from the very depths of the abyss. It was a song that sounded vaguely familiar to Quentin, but he could not remember where he had heard it before. It was both captivating and chilling it its beauty.

“Sirens,” Cate whispered, her eyes wide. “I’ve heard tales of them before… but I never thought they were real.”

The sirens emerged from the depths of the cave, their presence haunting. There were three in total. Quentin was immediately captivated, their beauty both mesmerizing and unnerving, a blend of elegance and danger.

Their slender forms glided through the water. Their skin, smooth and iridescent, seemed to shimmer. Traces of intricate patterns adorned their bodies, runes that pulsed with a soft, eerie glow. Their faces were striking, with delicate features that spoke of unearthly allure. High cheekbones accentuated their sculpted jawlines, while their lips, full and inviting, curved into a seductive smile that sent shivers down Quentin’s spine.

Long tendrils of hair, the color of moonlight on the water, cascaded own their backs, swaying gently with each movement. Strands of seaweed and pearls were woven into their locks. But it was their eye that held the most captivating allure – pools of liquid silver that seemed to pierce through his soul.

“Ugh, I can’t stand the cold. Why did we have to come here?” one of the sirens complained loudly.

“Oh, come on, it’s not that bad. Besides, think of all the fun we’re having,” another responded, spreading her arms wide and spiraling midair, though her tone seemed far from enthused.

“I’d rather be warm,” the first siren grumbled.

Quentin and Cate looked at each other. Cate placed a finger to her lip. Quentin nodded in response and moved silently towards the edge of the wall, hoping to blend further into the shadows. With each graceful stroke of the sirens shimmering tails closed the distance between them.

“Shut up Nerida. We must make the most of our time here,” a third one said.

Quentin gestured towards the cavern’s exit, indicating that they should make a break for it while the sirens were distracted. Cate nodded in agreement, her eyes never leaving the approaching sirens. He moved slowly, using the rock walls to drag himself along silently. Cate followed suit.

“Is it even worth it, Charlie?” the first siren, Nerida, mumbled.

The third siren, presumably Charlie, grabbed Nerida by the neck, pinning her to the wall.

“How dare you question Lysandra’s commands,” Charlie whispered in Nerida’s ear. Nerida shrunk away from her, closing her eyes.

“Charlie, let her go,” the unnamed siren said, bored.

“Shut up, Cora,” Charlie shouted, not turning her gaze from Nerida. She released her hand from the girl’s neck lazily. Nerida pushed herself off the wall.

“We need to keep them distracted so we can get that girl from the prophecy, not fight among ourselves,” Cora pulled Nerida behind her.

Quentin stopped dead in his tracks. The sirens were looking for a girl? Why?

Cate bumped into his back with a small grunt. Quentin looked back at her; eyes wide. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest. Maybe they hadn’t heard them.

“What was that?” Nerida asked, her head poking out from behind Cora.

Quentin and Cate froze.

There was a long silence that seemed to stretch out in front of them. The three sirens approached slowly.

“We must’ve imagined it,” Nerida whined. “Can we please go?” She rubbed her arms.

“I think she’s right. Let’s go Charlie,” Cora agreed, turning away from the hidden pair.

Charlie glared in their direction, her eyes scanning. Quentin willed himself further into the shadows, praying to the gods that they’d not see him. Charlie’s head turned in his direct, and his breath hitched in his throat at her icy star, but her eyes passed over him harmlessly.

“Maybe…” she said as she turned away as well.

They all turned to leave, but Charlie continued to cast her glance backwards before disappearing around into one of the caves.

Quentin cast a glance over his shoulder at Cate. Her face was pale, but she looks at him and shook her head. He knew what she meant. Stay still. Don’t move. All he could feel was pain, the muscles trembling as he strained to stay still. He could hear them still swimming away. Just a few more seconds and they’d be out of earshot.

When he could no longer hear the trio, he let his arm relax, his body crumbling beneath him. Cate collapsed beside him, rubbing her arm.

“That was close,” Cate whispered, gritting her teeth as she stretched.

Quentin nodded. “Let’s get out of here.”

They used the wall to assist them as they glided as silently as they could through the water, not daring to swish their tails for fear of announcing their presence. As they began to cautiously pick their way back to the grotto. They pair turned a corner and came face to face with the siren trio. Quentin and Cate froze.

“I knew it!” Charlie shouted victoriously.

“Gods, she’s never going to let us live this down,” Nerida grumbled under her breath.

Suddenly, a familiar haunting melody filled the cave. Try as he might, Quentin found himself unable to resist the alluring call of the sirens. His mind clouded with a sense of euphoria; his sense dulled by the enchanting melodies that filled the air. He felt as though he were drifting in a dreamlike state, unable to break free from the grip of the siren’s spell.

Through the fog of his mind, Quentin caught sight of Cate, her expression filled with concern as she glanced in his direction. He wanted to reassure her, to tell her that he was fine, but his tongue felt heavy in his mouth, his words lost to the sounds that surrounded them.

With a surge of panic, Quentin realized that he had been rendered helpless by the siren’s song, his senses overwhelmed by its enchanting allure. He struggled to regain control of his faculties, but each attempt only seemed to deepen the hold that the sirens had over him.

It was then that he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder, a warmth breaking through the haze of his mind. He turned to see Cate beside him, her eyes filled with determination as she reached out to him, shaking him gently to rouse him from his trance-like state.

“Quentin, snap out of it!” Cate’s voice cut through the fog; her words tinged with urgency as she pleaded with him to shake off the effects of the spell. “I need your help.”

Quentin struggled to head her words, to push through the haze that clouded his thoughts. But as he watched Cate steel herself for battle, he felt like he was drowning, not in water, but in sound. The melodies echoed through his mind, their voices wrapping around him like tendrils of mist. He was dimly aware of Cate’s presence beside him, her voice a distant echo in the sea off noise that enveloped him. But try as he might, Quentin couldn’t seem to break free from the spell that held him captive. It was as if he was trapped in a waking dream, unable to move or speak.

Through the haze, Quentin caught glimpses of Cate, her form blurred and indistinct as she battled against their attackers. But even as Cate unleashed a flurry of attacks against the sirens, Quentin remained rooted to the spot, his limbs heavy and unresponsive. He willed his arm to move, but his fingers only twitched in response. It was as if his body had been disconnected from his mind, a mere puppet in the hands of the enchantresses who sought to ensnare him completely. He felt the panic rising in his as he fought desperately to break free, banging at the walls that had encircled his mind.

“Quentin,” a voice came through the fog, muffled and barely audible.

He felt himself slipping further into the abyss, his strength waning from the mental effort to push back the shields encircling him.

“Quentin,” the voice came louder this time, sharper. “I need your help.”

The words jolted, a crack appearing in the otherwise impenetrable wall. He lashed out at the crack, watching as it widened. He released a flurry of punches, the crack expanding further with each strike. When the wall broke to the point, he could slip through he ran for it, slipping into the hole before it could repair itself. As he passed through the opening he was jolted back to realty, his limbs slowly beginning to respond to his commands.

As Cate unleashed a barrage of attacks against their assailants, Quentin tried to take a step forward, but his tail only twitched slightly. He tried to speak but it felt like there was cotton in his mouth as his lips moved to form a coherent sentence.

“Quentin,” the voice came louder, a voice he now recognized as Cate’s.

He tried to move his tail, the fin responding slowly. As he tried to move his arms to grab his trident, they moved slower than he wanted them to, but it was better than nothing. He moved forward sluggishly, bringing his trident out. “What did I miss?” he said, his words slurred slightly.

“The best part,” Cate huffed, swinging her trident, and connecting with one of the siren’s sides.

Quentin shook his head trying to clear the remnants of the spell from his mind. His limbs felt heavy, but he forced himself to focus. With Cate by his side, he lunged forward, his trident ready to strike, but he missed.

The sirens snickered at his attempt, one lashed out, their nails digging into his shoulders. A burning sensation began to spread through his body, starting from his shoulder and working its way towards his chest. He screamed, dropping his trident. Cate turned towards him, her eyes blazing as she smashed her trident into the siren, Charlie’s, side.

Black blood began to seep into the water as Charlie backed away towards her sisters, clutching her side, her teeth bared. The sirens melodies grew louder, their movements more frenzied as they sought to ensnare Quentin once again. But he was not about to succumb to their spell again. Despite the radiating pain, he picked up his trident and lashed out. He connected with Nerida’s face. She screamed and retreated, holding her cheek in her hand as black blood spilled from her face.

Suddenly, a brilliant light began to shine from Cate’s fingertips, slowly creeping up the trident until it was completely engulfed in the white light. The siren’s stopped in their tracks, a look of surprise on their faces. Cate’s eyes shone brightly, her gaze locking onto Cora. She raised her hand, palm facing outward. The magic erupted from her fingers, engulfing the sirens in a whirlwind of swirling currents.

For a moment, the cave was filled with chaos as the sirens recoiled from the unexpected onslaught. The sheer intensity of the tumultuous currents caused the tunnel to tremble, sending vibrations running through the surrounding rock.

With a deafening roar, a section of the cave ceiling gave way, sending debris crashing down around them. Rocks and rubble tumbled from above, forming a makeshift barrier that sealed off their path from the advancing sirens. And then, as quickly as it had begun, the light subsided, leaving behind a stunned silence in its wake. Quentin stared at Cate in awe, his eyes wide with disbelief. Even Cate herself was at a loss for words, her breathing coming in ragged gulps.

“Cate,” he whispered, forgetting the pain in his shoulder for a moment as he stared at the wall of rock that stood before him.

Cate only nod in response as she stared at the trident in her hand. She threw it in the air before catching it and casting a glance at Quentin over her shoulder. “We really need to ask Elysia about these tridents,” she said.

“I wish mine did something cool,” Quentin said while inspecting his trident closely. He tried pointing it at the wall beside him, willing a rock to move, but nothing happened.

“Maybe it only works for mermaids and not Aquamorphs,” Cate suggested.

Quentin shrugged his shoulder wincing in pain as he did so. A flash of worry crossed Cate’s face as she raced over to him. “What happened?” she asked, peeling his hand away from his shoulder. She gasped.

“The leader, Charlie I think, got a hold of me. How bad is it?” Quentin asked, looking away as her fingers gently traced over the marks. He winced from the pain that shot through him.

“It doesn’t look good,” she answered, reaching for her bag. She rummaged through it quickly before bringing out the healing vial. She uncorked it and rubbed some into his wound. The pain was immense, his vision darkening around the edges as she applied it.

Burning heat seeped into his shoulder, his vision darkening further, but it was quickly replaced with a tingling sensation that seemed to run through the wound and spread throughout his entire body. He turned to look at his shoulder, watching as his skin knitting itself together again. In nearly a blink and eye, the large slashes marks had been replaced by three thin pink lines. Quentin moved his shoulders around, testing it.

“You lied, it does burn,” Quentin ran his fingers over the faint pink line on his skin. It was still slightly raised, and a bit tender to the touch, but otherwise you would have though he had been attacked by a cat. A slight pain persisted in his chest, and a slight dizziness marred his vision, but for the most part he felt perfectly healthy again.

He looked up at Cate with a smile. She smiled in return.

They took a moment to catch their breath, surveying the rubble that now blocked the path they had come from, sealing off the tunnel. It was a temporary reprieve, but it bought them precious time.

“We need to keep moving,” Cate said urgently. “There’s no telling when those sirens will find another way through.”

Quentin nodded in agreement. Together, they swam as quickly as they could. As they swam through the murky depths, the weight of the collapsing tunnel lingered heavily on their minds. Each stroke of their tails brought them closer to safety, yet the memory of the siren’s voices was fresh in their minds. Quentin thought of Cate, bathed in the glow of magic, as she single-highhandedly repelled the sirens. The power that emanated from her unlike anything he had witnessed.

___

As they emerged into the open waters of the grotto, a sense of relief washed over them. The tranquil beauty of their surroundings offered a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind in the caves. Rays of magical sunlight filtered through the water, casting a glow over the reefs and sea creatures that called the grotto home.

Quentin and Cate hurried through the seaweed garden, making their way towards the clam shell hatchery before finally finding themselves on the front steps of the Main Hall, one of the largest structures in the Mermaid Grotto. The building appeared to be constructed of a variety of different woods with pillars reaching towards the sky, carrying with it a large patchwork canvas that draped the front of the building’s facade. Cords staked into the surrounding rock kept the canvas securely in place. As Quentin and Cate swam up the stairs, he couldn’t help but think that the building appeared to be an homage to the ships lost to the depths of the ocean.

They entered the Main Hall and were greeted by rows of tables running alongside the walls, creating an aisle that led to the front of the hall. Two hearths laid on opposite side, filled with volcanic rock that cast flickering light across the room. Pots dangled above the rocks, filling the room with the delicious smells that made Quentin’s mouth begin to water. At the front of the room, perched atop a raised platform, stood two wooden thrones currently occupied by Sera alongside another Quentin did not recognize.

Quentin and Cate approached the front of the hall, bowing deeply as they reached the bottom steps.

“It is nice to see you again, Quentin and Cate.” Sera greeted. They both straightened. “This is Caico, my wife,” Sera gestured to the woman who sat next to her.

Caico was beautiful, with caramel skin and long dark braided hair tied into a bun on the top of her head. Her brown eyes sparked with a warmth, her eyes crinkling as a smile spread across her face.

“It is nice to meet the two of you,” she said softly.

“It is nice to meet you as well,” Quentin replied, smiling, and bowing his head slightly. Cate followed suit.

Caico rested her hand on top of Sera’s. Sera looked towards Caico and for a moment the stony expression on her face softened. “I do hope you brought good news,” Sera stated, turning her attention back towards them, her expression unreadable once more.

Quentin and Cate exchanged a nervous glance before Cate stepped forward. “I’m afraid we don’t,” she said, briefly describing the story of their adventures to the ruin.

She told them about the viper, the weird markings, and their encounter with the sirens.

As Cate told their tale, Sera sat unnervingly still, gritting her teeth. Caico squeezed Sera’s hand tightly, her other hand fidgeting with the ring on her finger. At the mention of the prophecy, Caico’s face paled.

“The siren’s…” Sera said quietly. “I should have known.”

Caico squeezed Sera’s hand. “There’s no way you could’ve known. It should be impossible for them to get that close to the ruins. We need to have the council come out, reinforce them, place new wards,” she reassured.

“We’re lucky we had these trident’s otherwise we would be fish food,” Cate said, tossing the trident in the air and catching it with a smile on her face.

A quietness filled the room that was only punctuated by the crackling of the volcanic rocks in their hearths.

Caico cocked her head to the side. “The tridents?”

“Yeah,” Cate said, pointing to the trident in her hand. “Quentin’s doesn’t work but for some reason but mine has some sort of magic in it.”

Caico bit her lip to hide her smile. “The tridents don’t have magical abilities,” she stated.

Cate stared at her blankly. “But this one does…”

Quentin rested his hand on Cate’s shoulder and leaned in. “I think she’s trying…”

Cate elbowed him in the stomach, hard, never turning her gaze from Caico’s.

The air was knocked out of him, leaving him momentarily winded as he backed away clutching his stomach. A fleeting ache throbbed in his chest. Caico covered her mouth to stifle the laughter that erupted from her throat.

“The tridents are simply a tool that can be used by a person to direct their powers, if they possess them,” Sera began unbothered, “but the trident’s themselves are powerless.”

Cate stared down at the trident in her hand. “But… but I don’t,” she stammered.

“I think you do Cate,” Caico said, clapping her hands together excitedly. “Having any magical abilities is such a rare gift to have among our kind,” she explained. “You have been blessed by Nareza herself,” she added, bowing her head slightly.

Cate looked around the room bewildered. Quentin rubbed his hand across his chest as he felt his heart ache. First her world had been turned upside down by becoming a mermaid, and now to find out that she had magical powers too. He couldn’t image the thoughts racing through her head.

“What prophecy were they talking about?” Quentin asked softly, trying to change the subject away from Cate who looked like she was about to vomit.

Caico looked at Sera and shook her head slightly. “I’m not at liberty to say,” Sera answered after a moment. Caico rested her hand reassuringly on Sera’s.

“What about the girl they were talking about? Who is she? And what do they want with her?” Quentin asked, glancing towards where Cate stood dumbfounded.

Sera and Caico shook their heads. “I’m sorry. You’ll have to ask the council,” Caico said gently.

Quentin felt his face heat, the anger bubbling up inside of him, simmering just below the surface. He took a breath to try to calm his fraying nerves. “We risked our lives to find this out, and you can’t even tell us why?” he said through gritted teeth.

His mind was racing at a million miles an hour, his vision clouded by the thoughts that raged against him. Each one that crossed his mind collided with the next. With a conscious effort, he tried to draw in a deep breath to calm himself, but it caught in his throat. He tried again, but no air made it to his lungs.

Sera and Caico exchanged a glance, their brows furrowed as they rose from their seats. “Quentin?” Caico asked softly.

And then, the world dissolved into darkness.

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