A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Closer and nearer, the spy came to them. Tarhuinn and she remained in their positions, not moving at all. They remained silent, and the steps slowed. When they finally came to a stop, the spy's shadow stretched across the stone wall. Light flickered and changed its shape occasionally. They both noticed the shadow of a short sword extending over the stone.

(F/n) darted her eyes over to Tarhuinn. He had one of his daggers at the ready. The spy moved a few steps closer, and their bare feet were able to be seen. She stayed hidden, and she would do so until he came closer to the rocks or until Tarhuinn drew the spy's attention. They were so close now. Her hands tightened even more on two of her daggers.

Their eyes fell upon Tarhuinn, and they immediately went to shout. As they turned, Tarhuinn leaped out of the water. The spy turned their back to her, and she darted out from the rocks. Dodging Tarhuinn's attack, the spy spun on their heel right into one of her blades. Metal plunged into their chest, and their eyes widened as the life faded from them.

The blade's victim collided with the floor while Tarhuinn walked over to her. They gave each other a congratulatory smile for taking out the four spies, but they were hardly done with their mission. There were still five authors for them to bring back to the mermaids. Two of them, they wouldn't have to encounter now, but the three below weren't exactly easy prey.

Both of them, though, proceeded to head down the way where the last spy had been. They kept their attention to the room below and saw that no other kelremm entered the space. No human made themselves known either. The authors were on their own unless there were guards in their rooms.

When they reached the end of the path, there was a stairwell leading downwards. Cautiously, they made their descent. They had to keep the pace even slower because of the water. (F/n) had nearly slipped several times on the water covered steps. If it weren't for Tarhuinn on some of those times, her face would have impacted the hard stone, and that probably wouldn't have left her in fighting condition.

At the bottom, they carefully peeked out from behind one of the stone walls. They were at the top of the space where the room doors were. Their focus directed itself to the door in the middle. According to what they had heard last night, that door led to Alpontus's room.

Quietly, they traveled across the floor. Light splashes of water still sounded, but they hoped that no one would notice. Besides, Rocean and Amtoma were rather preoccupied at the moment. Once at the door, Tarhuinn rested his hands over the metal doorknob. He took a deep breath in before he exhaled. Steadily, he turned the knob. The door opened and made a slight creaking sound.

Gulping, (f/n) peered around him and into the room. The space was domed, and a circular, ceiling window allowed light in. It illuminated the main water path of the room. As for the furniture, it was similar to their home back in the first complex but more spread out, larger and cushioned with regards to the bed. Pillows and sheets were piled on top, and some were near to dipping into the water. Torches were around the space as well but were unlit for the moment.

Stepping into the area, Tarhuinn closed the door behind them. Movement could be seen under the sheets. Quietly, they advanced towards the bed. Sheets slipped down some to reveal long, ink-black locks in a thick braid. They were near in length to Tarhuinn's but just a little shorter. The male turned their head towards her, and she froze. His eyes remained closed, but she took a worried step back. Jaw-length bangs brushed against the kelremm's forehead and hid most of it while they fanned out over the rest of his face.

Behind him, Tarhuinn took several steps more towards the male. He moved his right hand to rest the blade against the male's neck. In the blink of an eye, another blade revealed itself. Not thinking, she jumped forward and pushed Tarhuinn back. There was little time for anything else, and he wouldn't have been able to dodge.

A loud splash of water echoed throughout the space while a cry of pain exited her mouth. The dagger had sliced through her pack, cloak and clothes to her back. She could feel the blood already running her skin as she hit the cushioned bed while her supplies spilled out from the pack. Instantly, she felt weight on her back. Another scream departed from her when pressure was applied to the large but not deep cut. Hair being clutched, her head was pulled up, and she saw Tarhuinn get to his feet. His teeth were bared, and his dagger was at the ready. Eyes filled with rage and hate, he snarled out, "Let her go! You have no right to touch her!"

More weight was applied to her lower back and away from the cut, much to her relief, but she wanted the male off of her. She was about to fight back until she felt cool metal rest up against her neck. "You're in no place to be making demands. I have your wife, and I'll kill her the moment that you try to attack me. You should get on your knees and beg me to release her rather order me around in my own home."

"You'll never hear me beg to any of you." A growl left Tarhuinn, but he didn't attack. He remained fixed in the same place and kept his gaze on the author. Alpontus laughed for a brief moment while the blade stayed to her neck.

Pressing his free hand against her cut, he elicited another shout of agony from her. "Fine, but I don't intend to let her go or you for that matter. You both invaded our home without our permission, so you'll pay the consequences soon enough. For now, however, I wish to have a quick chat with you two before my friends join us."

Alpontus shifted his weight from her back to the bed. He pulled her up and seated her between his legs. Her back was to his chest, and the blade continued to reside by her neck. His free hand slipped around her waist to keep her more secure. Tarhuinn continued to stand in an attack-ready position, and his dark blue eyes never lost their wrathful gaze.

"Given how you appear, you would think that I was the one invading your home," the author remarked, chuckling a bit. The blade tapped against (f/n)'s neck, and she could feel beads of sweat begin to form. If he hit the blade any harder, it would cut her skin.

"The other authors and you were the first ones to attack. We only wanted to ask all of you a simple question, but then you tried to have us killed on multiple occasions. We thought that we would return the favor and learn the answer to our question before we killed all of you," (f/n) retorted, reaching for one of her own daggers steadily.

"Speaking of favors, I might need to return one as well to both of you. My chat pertains to that matter actually, for ..." he paused, and his free hand slapped her left hand away from her nearest dagger. Swiftly, he untied the dagger belt from her and tossed it aside. It sank to the bottom of the water path, and the only near weapon now was the blade against her neck. His arm returned to being wrapped around her waist, and his grip on her increased.

"Continuing from what I was saying, I discovered that the snow pixies, which we had an agreement with, betrayed us. They attacked our own spies with a human mage. How they attained this mage is rather confusing. Perhaps, one or both of you could clear up this puzzlement of mine. It would be appreciated." Neither of them answered. "I see. Well, let me rephrase this. Did one or both of you persuade this mage to help the pixies? If I don't receive the truthful answer, I'll kill one of you slowly."

Standing up a bit straighter, Tarhuinn chuckled bitterly. "Even if we answered truthfully and didn't convince the mage to aid the pixies, you would still kill us slowly or one of the other authors would. After this chat, they'll probably have a say in our fates as well."

"Yes, that is true, but my word always is the deciding factor. I can guarantee you both a quick death if you had nothing to do with the mage, but I think that I already have my answer. You wanted nothing to do with the mage, am I correct? It was your wife's decision, and she went against you to bring him to the pixies. A husband as protective as you wouldn't have allowed her near such a vile man otherwise."

Choosing silence, Tarhuinn looked as though he was ready to pounce. She wouldn't be surprised if the handle of the dagger was crushed by his fingers. Her attention was forced away from him, though, as Alpontus gripped her chin roughly. The author's indigo-colored eyes stared into her own (e/c) orbs while a menacing smile coated his lips. "Did I get that assumption right, human?"

Instead of answering him, she spit onto his face. The action stunned him for just enough time. He had pulled back on the blade a little, giving her the chance to punch him in the midsection. His grip on the dagger didn't loosen anymore, but she was able to roll away from him and off of the bed. Tarhuinn swiftly moved her over to and behind him before he charged at the author.

Alpontus wiped the spit from his face and blocked Tarhuinn's blade. A chuckle left the author's lips, and he shook his head. "I assume that you were the responsible one, then," he remarked, keeping his gaze locked with hers. Tarhuinn struck at him again, and Alpontus had to look away while he defended himself, but a terrifying grin painted the author's mouth.

Each of the males' attacks matched the others, and they were moving too quick for her to step in and help. She had to view the fight on the side, but she could fight anyone who stepped through that door. Most likely, someone else had heard the commotion in Alpontus's room.