Chapter 11 The Bermuda Triangle

Melchior leaned his head against the railing of the staircase, his muscles aching from all the training he'd done. It had been tiring, the constant muscle movement, the mental strain, not to mention the sweat, the only salt water Melchior wasn't happy to have on his skin.

The only thing that made the training worthwhile was Casmir, his constant jokes and taunting that made training feel like a huge game instead of an intense workout.

Not to mention the curve of his lips as he smirked or the way his eyes shone with admiration as he watched Melchior, or his cold, tender hands that always pulled Melchior up each time he fell to the mat in Katarina's training room.

"You're a natural" he'd say.

It made Melchior smile for some strange, blissful reason.

"Why are you wearing shorts?" He heard someone ask.

Melchior looked up to see Bloom standing and staring down at him, he had become accustomed to mortal clothing, the shorts were comfortable and allowed his legs some air unlike the trousers he wore back at the Fey, and the large hoodie made him feel like a caterpillar in a cocoon, and everything he wore smelt like Casmir, like cigarettes and incense.

"I'm trying to…what are the words, ah yes, fit in" Melchior said.

Bloom smiled and sat down with him on the stairs, her body inches away from his.

"You have been training" Bloom said. "You have never shown much interest in fighting before"

"We both know how it is back at home, I am not allowed to learn how to fight, I am…different"

Bloom sighed and pulled Melchior closer, her hand combing through his hair.

Melchior knew that their peers back in Fey Land often mistook Bloom as terrifying or without compassion because of how dangerous she could be, but no one saw the vulnerability that lay underneath all that toughness, the kindness that was just under the surface.

"Things will change in the Fey Melchior, I promise you will have a place there" Bloom said.

"I am of two worlds, part of me is siren and the other is merman, and because of that I am considered an anomaly" he said. "There is no assurance in your words Bloom, you know that"

"I know" she said. "but is it not better to have hope?"

Melchior sighed.

"To simply hope is not enough" Melchior said. "Besides, I think I like it here, the Mortal World has clothes that are quite comfortable and waters that I can actually swim in...."

"And Casmir" Bloom said.

Melchior smiled at the mention of his name.

"Yes, and Casmir"

Bloom chuckled, it was a soft sound that reminded Melchior of summer afternoons running through the Fey Forests, the trees and flowers singing.

"I would be careful with him if I were you" Bloom said. "He has his heart in different places, his mind is....out of touch with the world he's found himself in"

"I will, he and I share common interests, he is different in this world as I am different in mine"

She reached out her hand, he clasped his fingers with hers, her fingers were small, her nails clean and curvy, transparent and hard like the spines of a cactus plant.

"He could hurt you" Bloom said.

"He has no reason to" Melchior replied.

"He doesn't need one, hurt is almost always done unintentionally, especially when you've been born in the imperfections of this Mortal World" Bloom said. "Nevertheless when he does hurt you, and I imagine he will, I will be there, always and forever"

Melchior smiled and nodded, he knew she'd be, Bloom was the only constant in his life, and he had vowed that he would remain a constant in her's as well.

"Always and forever" he whispered back.

Bloom was about to say something else when there was a sharp knock on the door. Melchior and Bloom looked at each other and then rushed down the stairs to the living room.

Casmir and Katarina were already there, staring at the door hopefully but with caution.

"Who is it?" Melchior asked.

"We don't know yet." Katarina said.

"It could be him, it could be Sal." Casmir said.

"You don't know that." said Katarina.

The knock came again, harder this time.

Bloom rolled her eyes and walked to the door.

"Then why not open it and find out" she said.

As was her nature, Bloom did not wait for anyone to speak and swung the door open.

Late afternoon sunlight streamed in as the door flew open, there was someone standing in the doorway, their silhouette was a darkness that had edges of light around it, their head bent, their tall shadow cast across the floor.

The person raised their head and walked forward and Melchior saw with great fascination that they were a boy.

He wore a Shemer's tunic, the purple and silver fit him perfectly, it reminded Melchior of the sky and clouds of Fey Land. The brand of a purple nightshade bloomed on the back of his hand, like a painting on canvas. He had a halo of silver hair as the Winter queen did, cool blue eyes that seemed to burn like distant stars, dark skin like the soil of the Fey, rich and smooth.

The boy was beautiful, though he did not look ageless as the Fey did, he had mortal beauty, beauty that would burn for ages and be snuffed out until all that was left was the beauty of his heart. He was regal, without a hunch in his shoulders, nor hesitation in his steps as he walked forward further, he radiated nothing but confidence, nothing but power, nothing but absolute, unwavering surety.

Melchior turned to Bloom to ask who it was that stood before them but she was mesmerized, her eyes held that familiar gleam of dark seduction and made Melchior roll his eyes.

He looked to the others to see that they too were equally affected by the boy's presence.

Katarina's face was pale and frozen in shock, her eyes kept darting up and down the boy's body, as if trying to register if what she was looking at was real, and Casmir was just staring, not only at the boy's attire but at him.

Melchior felt his heart clench as he watched the relief written all over Casmir's face, his eyes pleading for the boy to look his way, to acknowledge his presence, and there was something else, something in the way he looked at the boy, with recognition, with…. care.

This is Salome, he realized.

"I must admit" Bloom said. "that was quite an entrance Salome"

Salome looked at her and frowned.

"I just walked through the door" he said.

Salome searched the room, until his eyes settled on Casmir's. He gave the vampire a simple nod of greeting and Casmir answered with a nod of his own. He didn't have that look in his eyes anymore, and it almost looked like Melchior had imagined it.

"You're one of them?, one of the Shemer?" Katarina asked.

Sal's eyes landed on hers and watched her thoughtfully, Melchior could see sparks flying like sprays of fire, he sighed and spoke.

"I have a lot I need to tell you guys"

***

There was a flurry of different things that followed after Sal had spoken. He'd been introduced to Melchior who he thought was a nice guy, beautiful as all Fey were, and innately deadly. He had received whispered apologies from both Casmir and Katarina, of which he assured them were not necessary, they had been shocked and scared and had reacted as shocked and scared people would react. Then he'd been sat down and asked a multitude of questions, all the answers of which he summarized into a story.

Now he had finished and the sun was at the edge of the horizon, preparing to sink and sleep for a time.

Sal hadn't looked at any of them as he told his story, he'd stared at the Nightshade symbol, had traced it as it glared back at him with it's purple shades of colour. Another heavy mark for him to bear.

"I can't believe this" Casmir said.

"I can" Bloom said, her eyes still roved Sal's body, it reminded him too much of Titania the Winter Queen. "Melchior and I knew all along, Phantom's have been a major part of Fey legend, though most of them were Shaded beings before the Court started choosing mortals"

"And neither of you could mention this" Casmir said, his voice steady, his eyes trained on Melchior.

"We sensed something greater at work, it was better you found out this way" Melchior answered.

"The Court did this to you" Katarina said, her voice shaky with a deep anger, one Sal could feel was a combination of what she felt now and what she'd felt once before. "they did this to you and now they're using you, and yet you still want to go through with this?"

Sal sighed and looked at her. It was easier now, looking at her, back in Fey Land he hadn't turned back partly because he knew if he had looked at her his anger would turn to hate. But now he had chosen to forgive her. Her and Casmir.

"It's my duty Kat, I understand that now" Sal said, his eyes staring into hers, his mark burning as he felt her confusion.

"You are Shemer, you can pick any other hunt, any other challenge, they're playing games with you Sal" Katarina said.

"She's right, the Elder's Court, the gods especially, they play with the destinies of many mortals, they convene with Fate and complicate futures, they are indeed wonderful" said Bloom.

Katarina gave her a look that said she was not helping.

Bloom ignored her.

"Look I'm not stupid okay?, like Melchior said there's something greater at work here, I can feel it." Sal said. "This hunt isn't just a game, it's more than that and I have to complete it if I want to find out more, but I can't do that without you guys" Sal said, his eyes meeting each of the others before settling on Kat's once again. "I need you, all of you"

He saw Katarina's eyes soften, sensed the smile spreading across Bloom's face and heard Casmir sigh heavily.

"I promised you I'd be here with you" Casmir said. "I'm not going back on that"

"We will help as well" Bloom said, Melchior nodded in agreement.

Katarina took Sal's hand, the touch surprised Sal but he held on to her and looked at her as she spoke.

"We're here Sal" she said. "till the Shade loses its power we are here for you."

Sal nodded with a smile.

"Thank you" he said.

"Now open up that scroll and let's see who's next" Katarina said as she let go of him.

Sal pulled out the scroll from his pocket.

The names of those he had found were now like faded ink on the golden scroll, two remained stark, and one of them shone brighter than the other.

"Antony Neptune" whispered Sal.

Bloom and Melchior gasped softly. Everyone turned to them, and Melchior flinched slightly as all eyes landed on him.

"Do you know them?" Sal asked.

"No, not personally, though I have seen him on occasion." Melchior said.

"But you know them" Katarina said.

"Of course he knows him" interjected Bloom. "All Fey know of the sons of Neptune"

"This guy is Neptune's son?" said Casmir

Bloom sighed like Casmir had committed some hopeless act.

"All that blood you drink drowns your brain, doesn't it?" she said.

"You need to know the difference between an actual question and a question for emphasis" said Casmir.

"You speak in riddles vampire" Bloom said.

"Guys focus" Sal said. "Melchior, what do you know?"

Melchior gulped and looked at Bloom as if pleading for help.

It was Casmir who spoke, his voice calm and soothing.

"Look Mel, just take your time, we're in no hurry, okay?" he said.

Mel?, thought Sal.

"Mel?" said Bloom.

Casmir ignored her and focused his eyes on Melchior, who was focusing on him as well, there was an understanding that passed between them that Sal could feel even without his abilities.

The tightness in Melchior's shoulders loosened and he spoke with a confidence Sal was sure wasn't there before.

"Neptune has many children, for as long as I can remember he, as well as other gods, have always fallen in love with one being or the other, both mortal and Shaded, but there are three he cherishes more than the others, his son Antony, his daughter Cordelia and his other son, Gladiolus."

"Cordelia and Gladiolus are blood siblings born from the same mother, a water spirit, but Antony is a demigod born from a separate mother, a human,  and he is the one that Neptune has chosen to rule the seas by his side and one day achieve godhood, he's the most guarded and most loved among the three"

"Just great" Casmir said. "There's no way a god will let us in and out of his sight with his beloved son without giving us some sort of…test"

"The gods are awfully fond of that, I remember the whole Hercules thing, poor lad" Bloom said.

Melchior shook his head to indicate that Bloom once again wasn't helping.

Bloom ignored him.

"Melchior, do you have any idea what this test might be like?" asked Sal.

"It could be anything, it could be slaying a kraken or getting a pearl from a seashell, the gods are like us Fey, unpredictable" Melchior said.

"Except much worse" added Bloom.

Melchior face palmed himself.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there, for now we need to find him, I could look, call his name"

"That may prove to be impossible" Melchior said. "They live in the Bermuda Triangle and Neptune's got thick Shade shielding that place, it's entirely surrounded by water which negates magic, so to use it would be futile, whether you're inside or outside"

"Then we go there, to the Bermuda, we bypass the Shade and find Antony"

"I don't think it's that simple" Casmir said. "I'm a vampire, water burns me"

"I'll use a glyph to keep the water away from you, magic can't be used inside or outside, but there a different forms of magic, glyphs can serve as an enchantment"

"Spells with instructions" Casmir said.

"I've never tried it before but I think I can create one for just this purpose"

"What about our weapons, they are magic, we'd be defenseless if we go without them" Katarina said.

"Then we take regular weapons, I can enchant those as well" said Sal.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Yes, we need Antony for the hunt, his name wouldn't be on the scroll if we didn't"

"I can guide you through the Bermuda, it's a door to Neptune's pocket dimension, only creatures of the sea know how to navigate it" Melchior said.

"Good then, let's gear up, The Bermuda awaits."

***

They were falling.

Casmir didn't know how or why but they were falling and he was terrified.

They had geared up, all in armour, save Sal who wore his tunic and Bloom who simply went as she was, their bodies strapped with weapons that burned with glyphs. They had lined up and walked into the portal after Sal stepped through. The portal's light had blinded Casmir and then before he knew it he was falling.

"Sal! What the hell?!" Katarina yelled as she flailed her arms about, dark blue hair whipping into her face.

"Calm down" yelled Sal, "grab someone!"

Casmir moved immediately to Katarina, grasping her hand and helping her keep steady, he could see Bloom and Melchior not far off holding each other,  while Sal fell alone like a raindrop, his face showing no sign of fear.

It was at that moment that Casmir realized they'd been falling through clouds and when they finally emerged from the thick whiteness he could see what they were falling towards.

Spread out below them like land was deep blue water, not a patch of soil in sight, even from here Casmir could feel the purity in the liquid, the life that he wanted but couldn't have.

Casmir hissed in pain.

"Cas, what's wrong?" Katarina asked in concern.

"Water" he hissed again, he could feel his gums itching as his fangs emerged.

"Hold on Cas, we're nearly there" said Sal, as if he could somehow make falling faster.

But Casmir held on, he kept his feral nature at bay focusing on the people around him, Katarina's warm hand clutching his, Melchior and Bloom falling as though they were one body, and Sal, silver hair whipping back, bright blue eyes focused on the fast approaching sea, even as they fell to their expected doom he still looked fearless, unmistakably sure that everything would be fine.

"There it is" Melchior said, the blue's and green's in his eyes glowing as they got closer and closer to the water.

Casmir pushed back another wave of vampire panic and violence and looked below him at what Melchior was seeing.

Below them was a tunnel of water funneled into the ocean, swirling and pulling everything around it down, to a mortal it would look like a hole in the water but for a Shaded being like Casmir it looked like a vortex of dark green energy, a breathtaking display of raw power.

"Tirichi" Melchior swore.

Casmir didn't know Fey language but from the look on Melchior's face it must have meant something along the lines of fucking hell.

Whatever they were heading to, it was dangerous.

As soon as that thought entered Casmir's mind another wave of feral panic crashed into him, he tightened his grip on Katarina's hand who yelped in protest but held him steady.

Then he felt the magic grab onto him like a lasso, he saw it grab unto everyone else. Suddenly they were no longer falling, the Bermuda was pulling them in.

"Brace yourselves" Melchior said.

Casmir didn't know how they could possibly brace themselves for something like this, they were crashing into the Bermuda Triangle, if the impact didn't kill them then the magic would.

Casmir closed his eyes and prayed to no one in particular.

Keep them alive, keep him alive.

And then he crashed.

***

Being pulled into a portal felt like sinking into quick sand, everything felt strenuous, the involuntary act of being dragged to a destination you didn't agree to go to, a place you didn't want to go to.

Sal fought the strain, keeping his mind on the things that were important to him, Lester, Katarina, Casmir, the hunt, his purpose, his destiny.

He gasped in cool air as he emerged on the other side of the portal and fell to the floor.

He checked himself immediately, Kyrona was still strapped to his back, his wand was still sticking out of his boot, the Sensory pendant still hung safely around his neck. He sighed in relief as he got up and looked around him, there were lights everywhere, crystals that glowed green with magic and illuminated Sal's surroundings.

He was in a tunnel, behind him was solid stone and before him was a path that led deeper into the tunnel, though it wasn't illuminated.

Sal could feel the hum of energy in the place, could see the light green aura of magic that hung in the air like smoke.

Just then there were a series of loud thuds and grunts behind him, he turned to see the rest of his group lying on the floor in a wet, jumbled heap and watched as they all got up moaning in displeasure, all except Melchior whose eyes were glowing brighter than they were before, his face set in a fixed expression as he rose, as though he was in a trance.

"We are here" he said, his voice sounded lost and faraway, Sal was starting to get worried.

"Melchior?, are you alright?" asked Bloom.

Melchior turned to her, nodded slowly, and began to walk forward.

"Come on" Casmir said with a grunt, unlike the rest of them he was completely dry and the back of his pale hand was bright with the Protection glyph. Good, Sal thought, It was working. "I'd like to believe he knows what he's doing, let's just make sure he doesn't get hurt"

Bloom and Katarina nodded but turned to Sal, waiting for his approval.

"Cas is right, come on, before he gets too far" said Sal.

He walked forward and they followed behind him.

As they advanced the crystals they approached glowed with light and the ones they passed faded back to beautiful lifeless shells, the tunnel was cool and once in a while there would be a surprising spray of water into the air, but their weapons were concealed in waterproof sheaths and quivers, and the water never touched Casmir, it veered clear of him entirely.

By the time they reached the end of the tunnel they were all wet, hairs dangling over their eyes, clothes matted to their skins.

Melchior walked through the only opening they'd seen since they got here and Sal rushed after him, afraid of what lurked in the darkness beyond.

He emerged into a temple, though how a temple got under the Bermuda Triangle Sal couldn't guess, it was domed, and the ceiling above them was transparent showcasing the life that existed under the sea. Though it was dark Sal could make out the lights of glowing jellyfish or the shimmering bodies of schools of fish as they swam in the waters above him.

There was only one source of light, the same crystals from the tunnel that glowed with multiple colours. Green's and red's and white's hung down from the ceiling and flashed above them, sending light cascading the marble walls around them. There were statues at the curving edge of the temple, sculptures of several people surrounding the room in a ring, and not far from him was another doorway, what lay further shrouded in shadows.

Melchior stood in the middle of it all, looking up at the domed ceiling, the lights above dancing over his scaled skin like fireworks.

"Melchior, what's wrong, what do you see?" Sal asked.

"Silence" said a voice.

Sal looked away from Melchior and faced the direction of the voice.

From the darkness of that doorway Sal saw a pair of eyes staring right back at him, both glowing with pure white light.

"He can feel it" said the voice once again.

"He can feel what exactly?" Sal asked.

"The sea" The voice answered.

At that moment Sal heard the oncoming footsteps of his friends and then the sound of heavy breaths as they emerged from the tunnel.

"Good you've all arrived" the voice said.

The eyes moved forward and into the light and Sal knew the minute they did that he was looking at a god.

Neptune stood in front of him, tall and proud, he was handsome, not eternally beautiful like Lucifer or the Fey or any other Shaded being Sal had met before. He looked human, or at least he'd tried to, there was still the sharp angle of his cheekbones and the smooth look of his fair skin that gave off that godly beauty, his hair was shiny and murky green, like seaweed, and was smoothed to the back of his head, his eyes were like the crystals that hung above them and they sparkled as he took in the group with a smirk, everything about him spelt danger and recklessness and yet had an undercurrent of cool sinister calm, like the seas of which he ruled over.

"Lord Neptune" Bloom whispered as she fell to her knees and bowed her head.

Casmir followed but went on one knee, his hands curled into fists as he bent.

Katarina didn't bow at all, she stood with her head high, her hands already twitching to nock an arrow.

Neptune didn't even seem to notice, his eyes were fixed on Melchior, like he was a valuable possession.

"Come to me child" Neptune said.

Melchior faced Neptune and walked towards him, his eyes distant, his gaze fogged with whatever spell Neptune had cast on him.

"Melchior!" Casmir called.

Melchior didn't turn.

"You all are quite the braves, aren't you?" Neptune said as Melchior crossed his legs at his feet, "you dare approach my realm uninvited?"

Sal went to his knees immediately, the power that emanated from Neptune was overwhelming, the Fey Queen he could manipulate, but this god was not on a level he could face, at least not yet.

"Lord Neptune, I beseech you have mercy, we mean no disrespect, we are only in search of someone we believe to be your son" Sal said.

Neptune considered Sal carefully, Sal could feel the eyes moving over him, looking not just over his body but into his soul.

"What is your name boy?" Neptune asked.

Sal was about to say his name, at least the name he'd thought was his, but not anymore, not now that he truly knew who he was, who he was meant to be.

"Nightshade" he blurted, his voice unintentionally booming. "Salome Nightshade"

Neptune's face contorted with shock and recognition, but it only lasted for a second, before he gestured to the doorway with long beautiful fingers.

"Come son" he said. "It is time"

And from the darkness emerged another pair of eyes, crystalline, like diamonds.

Like Neptune's.

Sal felt his heart lurch as the boy walked in the room, his stomach tugged with nausea, his head swam with dizziness, the person standing in front of him looked familiar, too familiar.

"Antony Neptune, my heir, my son" Neptune's voice was brimming with love and pride, like he was relishing over an invention and not his flesh and blood.

Antony stepped forward like the prince of the sea he was, his back straight, his hands crossed behind him, his bare feet silent against the wet marble floor. The black cape he wore over his bare upper body flowed behind him, his trousers shining like polished leather.

He had light brown skin, a mixture of Neptune's fair and a darker shade of brown, purple hair that bounced around in curls around his toned face and round, defined cheekbones. His eyes were crystal's just like his father's, and hidden behind their glassy surface were pupils, the colours indiscernible.  His brows were creased and there was a slight frown on his lips, and Sal could tell even without reading his mind or feeling his emotions.

Antony was nervous.

Antony scanned the people in the room, eyes studying them behind crystal shields, until his eyes met Sal's and the boy shivered and looked away. There was the sharp stab of familiarity again, he'd seen this face before, Sal knew it like he knew the colour of his skin.

"I believe it is Antony you search for" Neptune said.

"Yes my Lord" Sal said.

"I am not surprised" he said, that same disgustingly proud tone seeped back in, "of all my children he is the strongest, the best, most courageous and powerful, just like his mother."

That last sentence made Sal look at Neptune, the god was smirking, his crystalline eyes trained on Sal.

"Tell him Antony, tell him who your mother is, tell him who you are"

Antony looked to his father.

"Father...." His tone was shaky, pleading.

"I said speak child, I will not repeat myself" Neptune said, his voice calm and sinister, his excitement showing in the curve of his lips.

Antony looked to Sal, there was an apology in the set of shoulders.

"My mother..." Antony said, his tone carried the weight of a bombshell, "is Miriam Nightshade"

The sentence pierced Sal's heart like a bullet, he could see it now, he could see why Antony had looked so familiar, and why that familiarity had made the ground unsteady beneath him.

Antony looked exactly like his mother.

There was no denying it now, from the shape of his face down to the colour of his darkened skin.

"I am your half brother"