Karen's POV

"Why in god's name would you kill Tefis, Darius? And when did you even do that?" Caspian asks while Iris sits scowling, behind him.

"Oh come on, he was such a pain in the ass. He wouldn't leave me alone," he answers.

"So you really killed him?" I ask.

"Why else do you think Kaya would loathe me that much?" he chuckles. 

Where was the sweet and pure Darius that I knew? This one sounds... so evil.

"And you were the one who figured the map. Why did that lead us to Kaya?" Caspian asks.

"It was a mistake, alright. Everyone makes mistakes." he defends.

"You should have given it to Iris." I say.

"Well, the mistake actually helped you, didn't it?" he asks.

"What if the one that got injured was Iris and not me? She could have died today!" I shout.

"She didn't, did she? All of us are alive and that's all that matters!"

"Guys, just stop!" Kevin orders. "We're not going to argue about this alright. Nevertheless, we at least knew about getting the sword-key, from Kaya," he says.

And that shuts everyone up.

*****

We reach the Ruins of Syenna the next day. The monks welcome us with grandeur as much as possible by them and served us food and drinks despite our protests. When they hear about me, their hospitality and praise only increase even more.

The head monk, or Glonis as named, was especially glad to see me. Unfortunately, he never knew whatever happened in Eponine, me being born and abandoned, the Borat being stolen, my father going on exile, his death, nothing. So technically I had to explain everything. In the end, he was shocked to know all that but nevertheless agreed to mold the sword for us.

We all were taken underground, into the depths of the ruins where the sword's mold was heavily guarded. For some reason, the monks' gaze keeps lingering on Iris as she shyly walks with Caspian.

"What creature might this fair friend of yours be, princess?" asks Glonis.

"She is a hybrid, Glonis. A mermaid-human hybrid." I answer. Glonis looks and at Iris who smiles shyly at him.

"My, my, my...Delmar has finally achieved his goal. How did that happen, little one?" Glonis asks Iris. She then explains all of it.

Us reaching the Dark Forest, feeling horribly thirsty, her drinking the water from his lake, her dying, him appearing, mine and Delmar's powers colliding to revive her, and lastly....her rising as a mermaid.

Hearing all that makes it feel like a lifetime ago. The sorrow we faced when we realized she was gone. All the emotions I felt when, when Delmar showed up. The confusion, the shock, the relief, everything.

Once she is done, she sighs. Caspian immediately wraps her in a hug, her face shielded from all of us in his chest.

Glonis also explains to us why he asked that. Apparently, her mermaid energy has been attracting all the virgin monks like a moth drawn to fire, and therefore they could sense that she was no ordinary human.

Glonis opens the huge stone doors to the vault. I am met with a room that is pitch black, like it...it is blacker than black, considering that this is about fifty feet underground and the vault has been shut for over a thousand years. Absolute silence envelops the surroundings, except for all our breathing and footsteps.

I am scared to even breathe because the sound of my breath seems way too loud and attention seeking in here. Even the growling of my stomach can be heard here and instinctively, grab my tummy.

How embarrassing? 

Darius smirks at me.

"The mold is kept at the farthest end," Glonis informs.

We walk and walk, sharply aware of our echoing footsteps and breathing. Glonis guides us towards the end of the room, a small torch of fire, lit in front of him, as we follow the source of light.

A while later, we stop right in from of it, where it gleams under the torchlight. 

It's the exact same size as my sword but yet I can see the charms and spells carved into the slot where the blade is supposed to be. Those might the key to opening the caves.

"This is the mold, princess," says Glonis.

"How long will it take to make the sword?" asks Kevin.

"Just an hour."

"So, it can be done quickly, right?" I ask and Glonis nods.

"But, there is one thing princess. Each of you has to supply a drop of blood into the sword." says Glonis.

"Blood?" asks Caspian.

"Yes. Nothing much, just make a cut on your palms and pour the blood into the mold. First goes in the blood, then goes in the molten metal. An hour to cool off and then, you can take the Sword of Bydoria to open the caves." Glonis explains like it's no big deal. 

It is no big deal actually.

I pull out the dagger from my pocket as Glonis begins dusting off the mold. Placing the blade on my palm, I press it into my flesh, hissing as I see the beads of the blood being squeezed out of my flesh. Glonis grins.

"Into the mold, princess." He says and I direct my hand into the mold, squeezing and I see the drops of my blood, stain the gleaming rock. I sigh.

"Yeah, just like that. Now the others too."

Next, goes in Caspian, then Kevin, then Darius, and then finally Iris. She was super nervous and to be honest.....there was barely a drop of her blood. I internally, laugh my ass off.

****

After an hour, as Glonis said, the sword is ready, all gleaming and sharp, ready to open some caves. The process was quite cool though. The molten whatever metal, being poured into the mold and then a whole ass sword coming out of it. 

Beautiful.

Glonis hands me the sword, which I put in my spare scabbard.

"When you use the sword, put it in the slot and twist it, it the crack of dawn. The second you see the sun. After locking it again, the sword will destroy itself and then you can exit the caves." he explains.

We thank Glonis for his hospitality before we set off for the Mystery caves.

*****

Iris' POV

I attracted virgin monks! Freaking monks. I might choke the life out of Delmar the next time I meet him. Hell, the next time I mind link him.

Now, we head to Mystry caves. 

I knew what I signed up for. And I knew thatit would take time and energy for it. But to be honest, I am getting super homesick. Like I just want to get back in my bed, munch on ketchup flavored chips, with some fresh juice on the bedside table, binging The Vampire Diaries or something.

Or even studying.

I miss them. I miss the constant nagging of my mother, my annoying little sister, my dad, hell, I miss school!

I miss being normal.

And I wished to be something else when I was normal.

Kevin turns to my lethargic self. "Baby, you okay?" he asks.

"Uh-huh! What happened?" I ask.

"You seemed silent. You don't want cookies." He says.

"You guys are eating cookies?" I ask. 

Woah, I didn't even notice that!

"Seriously, what's wrong? There must be something serious going on in that little head of yours, for you to miss us eating the cookies." says Caspian.

"Nothing." I shrug. Well, they're my friends, so they obviously don't give up until I spill the beans. "Seriously, it dumb, I just...I just miss home." I shrug.

Being close to me, Caspian is quick to sigh and engulf me in a soothing hug.

"Just some more days, darling. Then we can all go home." he assures.

"I swear to god, you and me, we're going to go to Starbucks, Dominos, Mcdonalds, KFC, and every fast food joint out there and feed ourselves like savages. And then we'll go to Victoria's secret to buy all those expensive ass lingerie we saw, and then buy those cute dresses and goth looking outfits we saw at Calvin Klein, and maybe even Gucci and all those stores. And then what else....." Karen says. "Yeah, and then we'll kick some major Hannah ass! How does that sound?"

"Great!!!" I answer.

A frown spreads on her face. "I'm so sorry, Iris!" she says.

"Seriously, it's fine. I knew this would happen anyway. Besides....it's quite fun." I try to lie. Obviously, it's Karen so she ain't taking it.

"Yeah, barely having any food, traveling under the sun every day, and sleeping on bare grounds in a nasty ass tent. Of course, it is fun." she rolls her eyes.

"Even if it's not, I am still glad that I joined you. Hey, I got to be a hybrid now!" I rejoice.

"And she got a new friend, Delmar!" says Caspian.

"Delmar is in for some shit, Caspy! He didn't tell me one thing about actual mermaids. And I am finding all those out now." I say.

"It's fun, right? Finding out stuff about yourself on the way, parvulus!" Darius chuckles.

"Yeah, right!" I huff.

"Hey, chill...isn't what ya'll say in the mundane world. Gurl, chill and get ya pussy banged!" Caspian says in a horribly imitated black accent. But what he just said-

Karen and Kevin burst out laughing.

"Caspian...who...who the hell taught you that?" asks Karen, unable to control her laughs.

"Why? Was it that good?" he asks, hopefully.

"You just....you just said her to go have sex!" Kevin laughs, repeatedly slapping his palm on his thigh. I laugh myself, muffling them in my hand.

Caspian glares daggers at Darius.

"I'll kill you!!" he threatens and then lounges at Darius. While I, Karen, and Kevin laugh our heads off, the Prince Brothers literally fight. They claw at each other, yelling profanities and punching.

In the end, Caspian's robes are torn, exposing his perfectly toned chest and Darius's arm has a little wound, both of them panting like dogs so I take the role of the mom of the team for once.

"Yeah, if I got in between you both, you guys would have torn me apart. Seriously, the hell?" I scold.

"He taught me that!" Caspian growls while Darius is laughing his head off.

"Shut up!" I yell at Darius and he instantly claps a hand over his mouth.

"Come on, let me dress that. And then we're all going to sleep." Karen announces. Kevin puts out the fire and we all retire to our respective tents. 

********

A/N: I'm lame, aren't I?