Late Night Dive Ⅲ

Merchieftainess Murcurs rises flickering her powerful tail behind her, before reaching into a stone cabinet and pulling out a pair of white conchs with an inner pink shell. She holds out one of them for Rowan to take. "These are called, speaking conchs. They only work at meters apart, but one may speak into it and hear the other clearly. I shall hand one to you and the other will be used by the tribe members to attract the attention of the snakes of your house."

Nadira proudly preens at the mention of the House of Slytherin or rather the term snakes. Rowan refrains from smiling affectionally at the albino serpent, before moving to accept the conch. She carefully pockets the conch and briefly discusses the date for the proposed encounter.

Tentatively, Rowan frowns before carefully approaching the subject. "Chieftainess of the Lake forgive me; I have one final question."

"Ask then."

"It is said in ancient times, the Spirits possessed a vessel to fulfill their will. Yet what if the chosen vessel was not willing, to begin with? Is there any record of how to remove or destroy such a connection?"

Merchieftainess Murcurs furrows her brows at the question. "There are ancient records even in the depths of the sea. An old broken tablet tales of a powerful Spirit called Poseidon by some and others Neptune. The Spirits in those days would find a suitable vessel to do their bidding. Among our people, this particular Spirit would inhabit them controlling the tempests and the sea. In times of joy there was much fish to eat, yet when the Spirit's wrath raged not even the deepest sea caverns was safe."

Shaking her head, Merchieftainess Murcurs yellow eyes gleam. "We must remember that while we are mortals the Spirits are eternal. They forget just how easily mortals can perish. It is a weakness on the Spirit's part."

Merchieftainess Murcurs appeared to be reluctant to speak further on the subject and returned to the subject at hand. "The records even in the depths are not intact. Age and even purposely have damaged the ancient carvings hidden in the depths of the sea. The partial records that remain are from eons ago when the world and the spirit realm had yet to split. But the records do tell that when the realms split into two, the Spirits could no longer possess a vessel without a great cost to them. Until eventually the cost became so great that the Spirits ceased to select a vessel."

Her long, wild loose green hair floats lazily after Merchieftainess Murcurs who furrowed her brow even deeper. "There are no records of a vessel fighting a Spirit's possession. It was considered a great honor to our people. Yet there is a record of just one…"

"Who?" Rowan asked unable to hide her eagerness.

Merchieftainess Murcurs is solemn for a long time, before quietly saying, "The ancient Hydra that caused mortals and Spirits to tremble. It came to possess a vessel, that rebelled against it. There is no record of their name except as the one who rebelled."

Rowan expectantly leans in closer to listen as Nadira's sapphire eyes sparkle with interest. Nadira curls closer to Rowan resting her head on Rowan's shoulder to listen. Rowan makes a face at the weight but doesn't move Nadira from her resting upon Rowan's shoulder.

"The vessel aided in the destruction of the ancient beast, but in doing so, the vessel perished," Merchieftainess Murcurs gravely said. "The vessel and the abomination are wholly intertwined and cannot be separated in life. It is only through Death can the binding be severed."

Rowan's face stiffens trying not to recall Mary MacDonald. She couldn't just give up just like that! But what if she did not find any other way? Then in the end Mary would die as well…?

Closing her eyes, Rowan suppresses her emotions as best as she can. However, some of it must have shown on her face as a trace of pity flashes across Merchieftainess Murcurs face. The mermaid chieftainess may not know the exact reasoning, however, she was intelligent to put two and two together.

The tension is broken by a loud yawn that escapes from Merchieftainess Murcurs, whose cheeks darken into a darker green in embarrassment. "It is time to rest, Child of the Founders," she pointedly gestured to the doorway.

"I shall take my leave, Chieftainess of the Lake," Rowan gratefully said with a bow, before departing from the stone home. Nadira chases after Rowan, who pointedly gestures to the stone statue. She needed to get to sleep, and it was past Nadira's bedtime. Not that the serpent had a bedtime, but it was the principle of things.

Very reluctantly Nadira returns to her spot on the giant mermaid statue. The protector was so mean! She just wanted a good scratch! Grumbling, the serpent curled up to sleep.

Once Rowan had gone sufficiently far, she teleported out of the lake onto the muddy banks. Her mindscape did not exactly work the same inside the lake. She could teleport out because of the firm land but not so much into the lake. Either way, it at least saved her one trip which she was profoundly grateful.

Shivering Rowan hastily dries herself and casts a warming charm on her person, before downing on her half-frozen cloak with clattering teeth. She pauses and listens for a moment, before apperating back inside Hogwarts. She'd take a very brief shower and then climb into bed.

The lake waters softly rustle and not long after a figure approaches, a tall young man. The Whomping Willow would have instantly recognized and subsequently attacked the student. The vessel, who nearly lost an eye to the branches of the Whomping Willow.

The night breeze tousles his chestnut hair as he pensively kneels down to stare at the muddy banks. "There was someone here not long ago," he muttered out loud, before turning to glance at the footprints. "The footprints only lead into the lake and to the edge of the lake. Interesting," before glancing at the waxing crescent.

His tawny eyes are filled with stars as a dash of freckles like a comet streaked over the bridge of his nose. Tall with lanky bangs, it is a wonder he can see anything through the curtain of bangs. His lips are quirked in a pensive expression as he mutters, "Taurus hangs overhead," the young before turning away from the lake to gaze up at the Gryffindor tower in the opposing direction of the Ravenclaw tower.

Inside the tower, Mary awoke panting feeling terrible eyes overlooking her person. She clutched her blanket to her chest and does not fall back asleep sensing a gaze through the tower upon her person. It was the OTHER vessel.

And for the rest of the night, Mary did not fall asleep even when the gaze departed from her. She knew it was a warning to her. They would not leave her be, she belonged to them. And they would utilize all their powers at their disposal including the puppets, (those under the Imperius Curse to do their bidding). And she would return to them one way or another.