The sun was warm against her skin as she lounged on a large bleached boulder, the sounds of the ocean waves crashing around her like a song. The small beach alcove was the only safe place for them to sun bathe, away from human eyes.

She stretched, her large brilliant burnt orange tail lifting out of the water slightly, their scales glittering brilliantly in the sun. Her long, equally brilliant orange and gold hair was spread out behind her, finally dry for once. Her skin, what wasn't covered in those fish like scales, was a deep almost glowing tan, and her eyes, a fathomless blue, were rimmed in a strange golden orange.

"We should probably be getting back Solaris," her companion said, flipping water at her with her own tail.

Solaris chuckled as she flicked water back before sitting up, looking at her companion. "You sure Andromeda? We could stay for just a little while longer."

A deep purple and blue tail flicked water at her again as Andromida pulled her violet hair from the sand. "Yes I'm sure, they didn't even want anyone surfacing today. We are lucky we got what little time we did."

Solaris pouted slightly but started pushing herself into the water from her rock. The water was cool against her sun warmed skin, sending a pleasant shiver through her. As she completely submerged, the gills on the sides of her neck opened, welcoming the water in. The small fins on her forearms flared as she swiftly made her way through the incoming current, Andromida close behind. Before them, the shallows dropped away revealing the oceans expansive beauty.

All around them fish swam too and fro, weaving through coral reefs, ridding currents and some even swam through the mermaids hair as they swam. Being the free creatures they were, they had few rules, and those rules only applied to those in their community. Unlike most, their small number did not like to pray on humans, preferring to watch from a distance, and even protect those who become lost and stranded at see. Without being seen of course. Days like today, were hunting days for the more vicious soul hungry mermaids and sirens.

Solaris hated hunting day, they couldn't protect the humans, they were too few in number, and too weak compared to the skills of the others. Staying under on hunting days was one of the rules she wouldn't break

However, there was one she always hover on the edge of.

The literal ledge that was now growing closer the farther down they went. The Deep was strictly off limits, as it was home to a number of creatures not even known to them. Creatures of darkness who never viewed the light, creatures who, it was said, devoured anything that would dare to venture too close. Unfortunately for Andromeda, Solaris had an unending curiosity.

Andromeda stopped as Solaris swam closer to the dark abyss, that seemed to swallow the fading light whole. "Solaris I am not doing this today! For once cant you just be normal, go swim with the dolphins or something?"

"Go ahead and head home then, I'll be staying," she called back, not stopping until she settled on the edge of The Deep. She lay against the cool stone that lined the edge of the chasm, her customary spot to view into the darkness. She could hear Andromeda get angry, but paid the short tempered mermaid no mind. As expected, she soon swam off, leaving a swift current in her wake.

Solaris didn't understand her obsession with the darkness, she loved the sun. Everyday she could she would be on the surface, watching children play on the beach and sending shells their way. But she would be always drawn back here. Luminescent plants and algae dotted the area, even clinging to the edges of the stone as it traveled down. But the darkness seemed to even swallow that little light. Sometimes she liked to believe she could see things moving just at the edge of her vision, and in the stillness that surrounded the area, she could always hear faint sounds from deep below.

Every creature but herself seemed to instinctly avoid the area, leaving it quiet and empty. Today however, was different.

As the sun began to set, leaving her in the glow of the surrounding plant life, she saw it. Or, more appropriately, them. At first she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her, nothing truly ever cam from the depths. Yet slowly, two small, glowing violet orbs seemed to rise from the deep. The water around her seemed to chill more as the orbs vanished, the reappeared. Blinking eyes these violet orbs were. She new she needed to leave, to swim away as fast as she could. But she was finally about to see what lay beyond, what was so far into the oceans floor.

And so, she slowly drifted over the edge, beginning to sink into The Deep.