We had walked for quite awhile and nightfall was fast approaching. Rose was nestled in Ian's arms, for she broke some time ago and could not take another step.

Although I dearly wish it was not so, but the truth was that I was jealous of Rose at this very moment, the truth was I wanted to be the one clutched in his arms. Honestly this was getting ridiculous.

Even after declining Sebastian's offer to carry me, he still walked close to me. As if silently offering his strength should I need it. And it made me feel warm inside.

"Alright we need to make camp, and find something to eat, then sleep". Ian declared. And we all promptly agreed, dropping down with a groan.

"We need fire and food!" I announced. And Finnegan rolled his eyes.

"Thanks for that genius, we clearly had no idea we needed those." Finnegan said, and I jumped to my feet, to launch myself at him. Sebastian was quick to stop me, to my great annoyance.

"Let me go! A scar or two will build character for him." I cried.

"I am rude to everyone, you are not special." Finnegan screamed.

"That makes no sense." I screamed back. I had successful wiggled from Sebastian's grip, and was going straight for Finnegan when a hand stopped me. I turned and met Ian's exhausted eyes.

"Please stop, you will just encourage his bad behavior." He told me smiling a bit, immediately all the fight left me and I allowed him to lead me back to my seat. Everyone snickered, something I promptly ignored.

After successfully gathering sticks and making a fire, we all sat around it, and fell into fitful sleep, totally forgetting to eat, and forgetting to keep watch. It was honestly a wonder we woke up the next day in one piece.

But wake up we did. And successfully located a streaming river. It was crystal clear  and it took everything in me not to strip and dive under.

"Thank the stars! Water means less dirt, I have never been this dirty before you know." Rose said, and we rolled our eyes.

"Yes, you made sure we knew that little detail your highness." Rheanon scoffed.

The boys had gone to look for food, giving us the privacy to wash. After washing up, we went back and saw the fruits the boys had managed to ensemble.

After eating, they all went to wash, it was silent for some time before we heard a scream.

Arriving at the scene, we met the boys already dressed, all except Finnegan.

"I am assuming that scream was Finnegan's?" I asked, and they all nodded.

"Well where is he? What happened?" Bella cried.

"Well we were all dressing here at the bank, when we heard him scream, he was here one moment and gone the next." Alexander informed us.

"Welllll it's Finnegan, do we really have to look for him? Think about it." I told them.

"She is quite right, I relish this new found silence." Levi supported, and I smiled at him, he just nodded back.

"Well I support the lady." Ian quickly added. They all shrugged, and we all started discussing the miles ahead of us, turning away from the bank.

"Are you all fucking serious?" Finnegan's angry voice shouted.

Turning around, we saw him suspended on the air by what looked like a tentacle, wrapped around his foot and holding him upside down

"I need your help." A beautiful voice said. Emerging from the water was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

Her long shiny black hair, pale white skin, huge dark eyes, shiny red lips and a stunning figure covered with a strange type of glittering, yet expensive material was beyond alluring, Oh and her voice sounded like the ocean.

Everyone was speechless, including Ian, and I felt a sudden urge to block his view with my hands.

"Well if you wanted to blackmail us into helping you, you should have taken anyone but Finnegan."  I told her smirking at Finn.

"I mean yes, if you were going with looks, you should have kidnapped Levi." Rheanon added, making Levi raise his dark eyes to the heavens as if searching for peace.

"If you were going for charming, you should have taken Sebastian, although I am glad you didn't." Rose smiled.

"I hate you all " Finnegan groaned.

"What do you want?" Ian finally asked, when the laughter died down.

"A poisonous stone lodged itself in my river, and its causing my fishes to die." The delicate creature cried.

"What do you want from us?" I asked her again.

"Help me get rid of it." She cried, and pointed to a huge boulder firmly lodged in the other end of the huge river.

"Errr sorry my lady, but even you know how impossible that is." Alexander spoke up.

"Its not, she can speak to it, persuade it to leave." The creature cried pointing towards me.

"Firstly it's a stone, I believe it lacks ears. Secondly I can't and refuse to speak to a stone, I am not that insane yet." I said firmly. She narrowed her eyes.

"Fine, you made your choice." With a nod, the tentacle like thing, dipped Finnegan's head in the river for awhile, then brought him up again.

This continued for awhile, and Finn's face was becoming a strange reddish purple, for each dip lasted longer than the last.

"He is not coming out this time." She said firmly.

"You have to do something." Rheanon shook me, panic lacing her tone, while Rose and Bella cried.

"I don't even know what she's asking me to do." I told them.

"Don't worry you can do this, I'll go with you." Sebastian said to me.

"For the last time, what's your final answer?" The creature asked.

"Fine! I'll do it." I cried, stepping forward.

I moved into the water with Sebastian by my side. The boulder was not far from the bank. The water was to my stomach when we finally reached the stone.

It was black, rotten and smelled awfully, it smelled like weak black magic.

"What am I supposed to do?" I asked Sebastian.

"Order it to leave." He answered, and I rolled my eyes.

"You are the prince of magic, why can't you do it." I asked him.

"Perhaps you are it's queen." He told me, and I rolled my eyes smiling.

I looked at the rotten stone with contempt, how dare it come here on purpose and cause harm to cute pure hearted creatures such as fishes, and made a potential mermaid so mad, she threatened to harm my most obnoxious friend.

"I order you to stand up, if you can't, I command you to roll your disgusting self out of here." I said. Nothing happened.

"It did not work." I turned to Sebastian, who furrowed his eyebrows in deep thought.

"Perhaps you were not clear enough, if you don't do this Finnegan dies. You have to mean it." He told me firmly.

"LEAVE NOW!" I screamed finally, the thought of Finn's possible death pissing me off.

With a great heave, the stone lurched forward, and started rolling slowly. Sebastian pushed his hands forward as if pushing something, but I could feel the blast of energy from him. With a great groan the stone rolled much faster and soon vanished into thin air.

"That was awesome, you were great." I told Sebastian happily.

"No, if you had not ordered it, it would not have worked." He replied smiling at me like a proud father, and bent to kiss my hair. I was shocked when the gesture failed to cause alarm, but hugged him instead with a grin.

Shouts and cheers welcomed us back. Finnegan was also with them, and hugged me tightly almost crushing my ribs. Sebastian pushed him off though.

The creature gave us a boat filled with friuts to help us across the river, which we accepted gratefully.

We were all seated and set to go. Not bothered by our inability to sail, for she had commanded the boat to aid us to our destination.

"Remember, you must save her before the dawn of the witches moon, in two days time." She shouted, just before we sailed away.

~

Hey guys, thanks so much for reading, and pls don't forget to vote and comment😁....I am sorry for the lack of spacing in the earlier chapters, it will not happen again so pls, vote and comment... thanks 😊❤️