Bennett still hasn't woken up.

Everyone's sad, Leo won't talk and I'm stuck in the middle.

Caspian keeps arguing with Leo about what's best for Bennett, but none of us are allowed near him. Possessive mermen are scary if you do something they don't like.

My back has healed thankfully but I wish I could say the same for Bennett.

Leo has been playing with the crystal and trying to communicate with the Kingdom and send help and more underwater ability potions so we can carry on the journey. Apparently it isn't that far now which is relieving to hear.

In the few days of being in the cove, I've been able to explore it, and if you go closer to the entrance you can hear the rushing water outside. The door is a thick curtain of seaweed and kelp which blocks out any light or sound other than the water. I always want to stick my head out and see what's out there but every time I even think about it Caspian tells me no and takes me to another part of the cove. He says we're deep, deep underwater and I shouldn't go out because I don't know what's there waiting, plus I'll drown basically. I'm sick of being stuck in here and I want to explore.

This is my first glimpse of what I'm getting myself into living in the sea and I'm starting to regret it. If we hadn't of come down here in the first place then Bennett would still be okay.

"Jojo?"

"Yeah?" I answer snapping out of my thoughts.

"The guardians brought food." Caspian says holding out a hand for me, still completely naked.

The guardians of this cove have been so nice to us. They're fascinating as well and I always look forward to when they will reappear. Caspian says it is their job and what they are born for but I'm still extra thankful. They look like small, blue balls of light. They have no faces or arms or legs but it doesn't make them scary. They sort of float around in the air and bring offerings of food, or new medical plants to help us. Then once they are done, they disappear.

"Hello Prince," The two of them say in union. "How are you feeling?" They ask once I walk into another room in the cove.

This one is lighter and has a high celling full of purple crystals, probably amethysts. There are a few large rocks that act as makeshift chairs and tables that we sit on to eat.

"I'm a lot better thank you, I-I just wish Bennett was." I say sadly.

"He will be soon Prince, have faith."

I nodded and Caspian squeezed my thigh comfortingly. We were severed fish and what I suppose was seaweed that actually tasted alright. I don't usually eat seafood but if I'm to be living in their world now then I probably can't afford to be picky.

The guardians disappeared and we ate in silence. Leo looked awful. Deep bags under his always sad, deep blue eyes and he is always frowning.

"So, Jonah," Leo pulled out the crystal from under the table and looked straight at me. Oh no, he's going to bring it up...

"I think you need to tell us what happened the night we were attacked." He stated bluntly.

"Get it away from Jonah." Caspian commanded with a dangerous tone to his voice.

He pushed out his hand and sent the crystal sliding across the room.

"We need to know Caspian! The element is air and it can't do what Jonah did." Leo argued angrily, balling up his hands into fists.

"I don't care Leo. Jonah protected us and we are NOT talking about this here."

"He's different and could be a danger to the Kingdom."

"YOU WILL NOT TALK ABOUT YOUR FURTURE LEADER LIKE THAT." Caspian's voice boomed though the cave and his eyes were glowing gold. "We know you are grieving but I won't have you talk about my mate like that."

Leo stayed quiet and looked at the floor.

Caspian picked up my shaking form and walked into the room with thousands of dark blue and black crystals and sat down in the shallows of the hot water. He whistled softly trying to calm me down and ran his hand up and down my back.

"You don't have to talk to him, Kitten. No one will make you tell us."

"I'm sorry I-I didn't tell you."

"You can trust me with anything, Jojo, but I am so proud of you."

"I don't know how it happened but it just did." I said curling up in his lap. "The day I was attracted to the crystal and then blacked out I would always feel this weird energy in me if I was around it. It scared me so I didn't say anything and I thought it might pass but then I started accidently smashing things or moving things. I don't know how to make it work but when I'm angry or sad it has more of an effect." I confessed.

"It happened for a reason, Jonah, and a gift like that is very precious. When we get to our Kingdom we can talk to my parents and they'll know what it is, I'm sure. I see it as an advantage, something to be proud of, and not feared."

"I love you, thank you for understanding, Casp."

"Anything for you, Kitten, I love you so much."

We lay down in the shallow water staring up at the crystals that always made me feel tired. They reminded me of the night's sky at home when Bennett and I would lie of the grass on summer nights looking at the stars.

"Caspian!" Leo ran into the room with relief and a hopeful look written over his face.  "The guardians have managed to get word to the Kingdom of where we are they're sending Mers now!"

"Really?" Caspian shot up pulling me with him.

"Yes," He breathed running his hand through his black hair. "Come wait for them." Leo ran to where Bennett was laying murmuring 'thank you Aphrodite'. I remember Caspian telling us that was their God who matched up everyone or something. The one who decided the mates.

"Bennett will live, Kitten." Caspian smiled.

---

About an hour later, six half naked and very beautiful Mermen emerged through the curtain of green seaweed. I blushed and ducked behind Caspian before they saw me. Oh my God, they were huge. Some had long hair just passed their shoulders and others had shorter more messy styles. I felt my heart beat a little faster from nerves just seeing how tall and muscular they were. I was 5ft 8 and I thought I was quite tall but compared to them I was like a little weed. Most of them were around Caspian's near 7ft height. They all wore chest plates that just covered their pectoral muscles in a copper/bronze colour.

"Prince Caspian, great to see you again," The leader of the group said greeting Caspian with a bow. "I expect Leomaris is with his mate?"

"Yes Mizuko, he needs a doctor right away." Caspian said with me still pressed into him from behind.

I thinking I could hide but they all knew I was there.

"My mate will see to him." He nodded.

I peeped round Caspian to see what was going on and another, much smaller man with the same sort of build as me, emerged from behind Mizuko looking quite timid.

"Hello Prince Caspian, I will do my best to help Leomaris' mate." He nodded looking at the floor and holding bag in front of him with two hands.

He wasn't like the rest, he was around my height, cute face, big brown eyes and long silver hair that was Dutch braided on both sides and both joined together at the back. He was wearing a white doctor's coat and what looked like black leggings and had bare feet like everyone else. He looked amazing and truly magical with hair like that. I'm kind of jealous now.

Unfortunately, me poking my head out made everyone's eyes snap down to me. I embarrassingly squeaked in surprise and ducked back behind Caspian as I heard everyone chuckle.

"Don't be shy Jonah, come out." Caspian encouraged.

I slowly walked out but stuck to Caspian's side with my head down and of course my face burning red.

"Hello," I said shyly raising my eyes to look and everybody.

"Prince Jonah," They all said getting down on one knee with their hand in a fist and on their heart.

"It's a sign of respect," Caspian whispered in my ear.

The all rose and one by one stood I front of me, bowed and said their name. The only one to speak yet apart from greeting me was Mizuko. He looked like a leader and confirmed it when he introduced himself.

"Prince Jonah it is nice to meet you. These are my best men and they will be escorting you back to the Kingdom. My name is Mizuko and I'm head warrior." He bowed again before the next Merman with shorter and darker hair bowed and said his name.

"I am Merrick."

"I am Zale." Another one said bowing again.

"Kaeruis... Prince," He said bowing before winking at me. I froze but everyone chuckled and Caspian squeezed my waist.

"He's mine Kaeruis," Caspian joked.

"I know Caspian. Found yourself a good one there." He said cheekily. I blushed but a smile spread across my face.

"My name is Mako."

"Like the shark?" I blurted out. Everyone chuckled again and Mako rolled his eyes smiling like he had heard it a million times.

"Yes, like the shark." He nodded.

"And I am Aqilis." The last Merman warrior said.

"Hello Prince Jonah," A shy voice said. "My name is Dune and I will be Leomaris' mate's doctor."

"Will you make him better?" I asked desperately.

"I will do my best Prince, always." He nodded.

"I'll show you him then." I led the way into the room where Bennett was. Only Dune followed me and the rest of the big Mermen stayed away out of respect.

"Leo?" I called as we approached. "Dune has to look at Bennett, he's a doctor."

"I know. Dune, come forward." Leo commanded with a tone not to be messed with.

Leo sat back and let Dune look at him. He checked his breathing and pulse before pulling out a pair of scissors from his bag. Carefully he cut into one of the seaweed bandages and pulled it back to look at the wound. I gasped as the green puss from before leaked out. It must be the poisonous toxins from those eel creatures' teeth. I covered my mouth as tears welled up in my eyes. I didn't think it was that bad.

"Prince Jonah I think you should go. I don't want this to upset you." Dune said covering up the wound. I nodded and turned to go when he called me back.

"Drink this; it's another underwater ability potion." Dune said softly handing be another tiny glass bottle with a green liquid inside.

"Thank you, and thank you for helping Bennett."

"Have faith." I nodded and turned away walking towards where I had left Caspian.

He wasn't by the entrance anymore but I could hear him and the rest of the warriors talking in another part of the cove. I drank the potion and walked towards the thick curtain blocking the entrance. It was so tempting now I could breathe and move around underwater. I could just go out there for a minute, look at everything and come back inside. Caspian wouldn't know I did it so he wouldn't be angry.

He doesn't make decisions for me so it's still my choice... right?

My curiosity got the better of me and I pushed aside the cold, wet seaweed and wiggled through until I was floating in dark waters. My eyes adjusted well to the darkness and all around me was coral with small fish darting in and out of it. It wasn't like a shallow water coral reef, but it was amazing to look at. The different type coral with different colours all glowed and illuminated every patch I was swimming over. I gasped and swam faster, watching the light glow around me from the patches coral and fade as I moved to hover over a different area.

"Prince Jonah," I jumped out of my skin at someone calling my name. In that moment I realised how stupid I was to go outside after Caspian's warning. He told me not to, but I still did.

The water was too dark to see anything and all the light I had was the light from the patch of coral that was glowing underneath me.

"Hello?" I called out into the murky water.

"Young Prince, come towards my voice."

"Kailani?" I called out relived it wasn't someone I didn't know. "Where are you?"

"Come towards my voice you'll see my reflection in a rock."

"Okay, w-wait I don't think I should be doing this, Caspian told me not to come out h-here in the first place." I said hesitantly.

"I need to tell you something, it's important."

"Okay," I swam forward slowly towards her voice and saw three huge rocks with flat surfaces all mirroring my refection from three different angles.

"Kailani?"

"I'm here," I watched as the old lady appeared next to me with a silver tail that stood out against the murky water beautifully. On her top half, her breasts were covered by black shells and she had a see-through purple top made of a thin material that covered her chest, shoulders and arms laced with tiny shells. Her long silvery white hair was loose and waving around in the water freely. I looked to the side but she wasn't there. I looked back into the mirror rock and she was.

"You will only see me through this, Prince, for I am not truly there."

"Where are you?" I asked curiously.

"I cannot tell you but I want you to feel you can trust me. I need to tell you something, I am a Zambezi but not by choice. I am mated to one and he took me from the Pacific Kingdom and has forbidden me to leave."

"We can help you, you can come back, right?" She shook her head and gave me a sad smile.

"I need to help you though. The Zambezis are planning an attack on the Kingdom and will take you, Prince Bennett and the crystal for power. They have insiders in the Kingdom so you can't trust what anyone tells you. The spirits have gifted you with a power since you were born and it is to be used wisely and at the right time. I can see you have a good soul and are strong. They have faith in you but for it to work you must have faith in them."

"Who are they and how do they know me Kailani. I'm so confused this is all new to me."

"They are all around you child, they listen to you and guide you. A gift from the spirits as so sacred and they do not make mistakes."

"What am I to do with it? I'm human and not like you."

She chuckled softly and looked at me with kind eyes.

"Yes you are human but use it to your advantage. You are intelligent Prince, and not all winners have to be the strongest species. Remember that."

"I will."

"You should be getting back to the cove now but make sure you don't tell anyone about me."

"I won't. Thank you Kailani." She faded from the reflection in the rock and left me on my own.

I turned back and swam the way I came, using the coral for light. I saw the cove and pushed my way through the seaweed and kelp to get into the cove. I wasn't sure how long I was outside but it couldn't have been too long. I ran into the part of the cove that held the hot spring and ran in ducking under the hot water. Now no one would be able to tell I went outside, they would just think I was in here the whole time, I thought to myself as I swam into the deeper bit. The glowing floor lights reminded me of the coral outside as I swam around thinking of the conversation with Kailani.

She said she was from the Pacific Kingdom. I wonder what that one is like. I can't compare it to anything as I'm yet to see the Atlantic Kingdom.

"Prince Jonah?" I emerged from under the water to see Kaeruis standing there. "We're leaving for the Kingdom now, baby." He teased.

"Don't call me that." I scowled.

"Let's get you back to Caspian, cutie."

I rolled my eyes and walked ahead of him. "Aren't you supposed to be respectful to your future King's mate?"

"Sorry your royal highness," He playfully.

"That's better." I smiled.

Things are starting to look up finally.