TW: Sharks and water. Also, Virgil kind of tries to eat Roman. Yeah...

Roman looked petrified as he stared at the deep blue ocean. He was shaking slightly as the water gently lapped at his feet. Thomas knew the Fire King couldn't be submerged in water, it would kill him, but Roman knew they had to go. The 'human' looked on as Patton waved his hand and the water parted at Roman's' feet. Roman glanced up at Patton but soon turned his eyes back to the water. He took a hesitant step closer and watched as all the water rushed away from his foot.

The Fire King quickly grinned and he waded in further, beaming as he looked at the dry state of his clothes. Thomas looked up at Patton. "What about me?" He asked, not missing the fact his feet were still getting wet.

Patton shook his head. "It takes a lot to hold an air bubble that big but I can give us both air pockets around our heads."

"But..." Thomas frowned and turned to look at Logan when he realised Patton hadn't mentioned the Earth King. "Logan?"

"I don't actually need to breathe," Shrugged Logan. "I have no lungs or internal organs. I am just stone."

Thomas blinked slowly. "Huh... Didn't know that." Logan shrugged in response and waded in.

The kitchen boy was left on the beach with the Air King, watching Roman irritating the stubborn, calm Logan. Thomas took off his shoes self-consciously and paddled in. He was knee-dip. He was waist-deep. He was kicking his feet slightly as the water rose to his shoulders. He was treading the cold ocean, keeping his head above water. Roman was standing comfortably in a tube of air and Logan was struggling slightly, holding onto Patton as to make sure not to sink.

"So, we just dive under?" Asked Roman.

"That seems reasonable," Logan panted, kicking his legs hard. He was heavy and the water nearly dragged him under.

Something smooth and sharp smacked into Thomas's' leg, dragging swiftly away, and he lashed out, his foot colliding with nothing. "Thomathy, you okay?" Roman frowned.

"Something hit my leg, I swear!" He gasped, trying to peer into the murky waves. "Also, that's not my name!"

"What hit you?" Logan asked.

Thomas yelped as it knocked him again. Hands grabbed at his ankles and he screamed, tucking his legs in quickly. Patton looked concerned and then he let out a sudden shriek, latching onto Logan, which made the two sink below the surface until Logan forced them back up.

Roman hesitated and glanced down and then he yelled out, taking a step back.

"Roman, are you okay?!" Cried Thomas, reaching out for his friend.

"I-I saw hands! They were- They were gonna grab me!" He panted, eyes fixated firmly down his air tube.

Patton reached out and took his arm. "It's alright, kiddo, we've got you!" Promised the Air King with a scared smile. He wasn't fooling anyone. They were all too terrified to be comforted.

Another pair of hands suddenly shot out of the water and grabbed Thomas's' shoulders from behind, yanking him backwards. Roman lunged, grabbing the 'human' by his wrists, and pulled him away from the light blue grasp.

"Sirens, merfolk or nymphs," Theorised Logan, calmly, as if the idea of unseen enemies dragging them down to a watery grave didn't scare the living hell out of him. "They're the only seafolk with hands..."

"Can we focus on this after  things stop trying to drown us?" Roman snapped.

Thomas wailed as he felt two pairs of hands grab his legs and a third pair snatch his arms. They pulled and yanked, tearing at his limbs as if desperate to pull the 'human' under. The ferocity alone made Thomas want to scream in terror and he tried to kick out but they held his legs too tightly. His chin dipped under the waves and his mouth soon followed, making Thomas splutter and gargle. Logan thrust himself away from Patton and he took Thomas by the shoulders awkwardly, pulling the coughing, screaming kitchen boy up to the surface. Thomas kept screaming, even as he felt the hands let go and water bat against his leg as his assaulters fled.

"You're fucking welcome," Growled Logan, pulling away from Thomas as the boy shrieked.

Thomas quickly shut up shamefully and swam over to the three Kings. Roman grabbed his wrist, gently pulling him inside his air pocket. Thomas shivered when the cold, ocean air flooded to him and starched his skin and clothes of water. The water had helped his burn mark, though; it looked less irritated and bulging.

Roman held Thomas tightly. "Don't worry, Prince!" He cried, missing Thomas's' wince. "We'll be okay!"

Then a head appeared in the centre of the huddle. No one had felt it slide up between them, but it had. They only saw as low down as the eyes but they were beautiful. Their hair was turquoise and floated softly on the water, billowing around them. Their skin was a pale, pale green and the eyes were wide and blue. Attached to the side of their head, hidden behind the waving hair, were large, stretched fins, matching their skin. They glistened in the sun and Logan's' breath hitched.

"A nymph," He muttered, narrowing his eyes. The nymph slowly rotated to look at him and they plunged back under the water. Logan reacted instantly. "Okay, everyone, stick together! Nymphs hunt by separating up packs and then they all swarm them!"

"Nymphs are carnivores?" Asked Roman, backing as far as he could from the water while keeping Thomas with him.

Logan's' gaze darkened. "Luckily for us," He drawled sarcastically, "They are... And they're the worst. We do not want to die by their hands."

Patton tried a smile. "We'd rather not die at a-Argh!" He shrieked, pressing his back deeply into Logan as a light blur fin broke the water, circling around them teasingly. Roman threw a fist of fire at it but missed in his panic. An airy laugh was heard as two more fins appeared, one turquoise, the other surprisingly dark green. The fins grew closer and closer, and the Kings in the water could fill the water rippling around their legs, nudging their trousers and pushing at their legs. Roman looked at Thomas and made an apologetic face. Thomas nodded and stepped out of the air pocket, kicking instantly to stay afloat. Instantly, the fins perked up and the nymphs picked up their speed.

Logan snatched Thomas's' and Patton's' wrists, pulling them closer. The moment Roman was left briefly alone, the nymphs struck. They tore through the water at terrifying speed and the others barely had time to react before Roman was tugged down suddenly.

"Ro!" Cried Thomas and Patton at the same time. Patton's' hand left Logan's' as he self-consciously reached out but two hands grabbed his shoulders, pulling him down with a horrifyingly innocent giggle.

Thomas swallowed, skin whitening as he tightened his grip on Logan. "I see what you mean by separating the pack..."

"They're the best hunters, sadly," Grimaced Logan. "We won't stand a chance, I'm getting too waterlogged."

The kitchen boy glanced back at Logan. "If we're gonna die... I should probably come clean."

"What do you mean?" Frowned Logan, grip loosening as he turned to look at Thomas.

"I'm not a-"

A nymph jumped from the water and dragged Thomas under. He was cut off and he felt Logan being plunged down beside him. The water never reached his face, surprisingly. That meant Patton was still alive, at least. He could still breathe but he could barely see in the dark, dark water. Then, hands pierced the air bubble around his head and held his face. The thumbs brushed over his eyes and when they moved the way, he saw a nymph holding his head.

She was stunning, and that was coming from a very gay man.

Her hair was seaweed-green and beautiful, holding its' place and rippling in the water. Her eyes were pale yellow, and her skin had tiny, sky-blue fish scales that peppered across the light blue skin on her naked torso. Her tail looked like a blue goldfish's' lower half and it bobbed lightly in the slight current. She smiled at him and her tail whipped in the water as she beckoned for him to swim. Thomas hesitated and looked back to see Roman, Patton and Logan, unharmed. He couldn't resist a small smile and Patton grinned back. The Air King swam over happily, followed by the other two. The final nymphs were there too. Oddly, all the nymphs were unhealthily skinny and they watched their guests with an unknown need.

"Logan?" Asked Thomas, his voice coming out clearly.

"Yes, Thomas?"

"Are the nymphs going to kill us?"

The three nymphs suddenly giggled. The turquoise one, also female, shook her head. "We're to take you to our King, of course! We've already eaten."

The light green nymph, a male, took Thomas's' and Roman's' wrist, pulling them deeper and deeper with Patton and Logan being herded closely behind them. They went deeper and deeper, the waters turning colder and colder. Thomas felt like his limbs would drop off as the ocean around them got darker and darker.

Roman set himself on fire, whether for heat or light, Thomas didn't know. A few fish that had approached the escorted swam away and then they saw it.

It was huge, it was beautiful and it was ever so colourful.

The Coral Reef.

Not just 'a' coral reef. 'The' Coral Reef. A place that was thought to be a legend. Dolphins, sharks, fish and crabs were weaving around bright sea plants, seaweed was waving at them lazily and the whole colony seemed to pause and watch. Everything just gazed as they got closer and, the deeper they entered the Coral Reef, the more mythical creatures appeared. Roman extinguished himself in awe, as the place already shone with a purple, mystical hue.

A flock of sirens, with silver hair and grey skin, human legs and black eyes, pushed up from a ridge, pointing and whispering in beautiful voices as the Kings and kitchen boy swam slowly past. Merfolk swam up to greet them, laying necklaces of coral and sea flowers around their necks. They giggled and trailed after them.

Thomas stared around in awe and he caught sight of something hiding among the coral around the edges. A big yellow eye, peering out at them. On the opposite side was a green eye and both were slightly luminous, glowing at them from across flitters of curious seafolk. They eyed Thomas carefully and he went to wave but the yellow eye vanished and a sudden flurry of water showed that the green eye was swimming away. Odd. Thomas didn't know where he remembered those eyes.

"We will soon meet our King," Said a nymph suddenly, turning around and bowing steeply in the water which, admittedly, was very impressive. "He knows you're here."

Logan frowned. "When did he know? I don't recall you sending a message to him."

The nymph smiled knowingly. "He received no message from one of us, Earth King. He already knew you'd be coming."

Patton's' mouth quickly formed an 'o' shape. "Is he psychic?"

The little smile grew. "No," replied the nymph.

They reached a ravine in the seabed and Thomas peered in carefully. There was a soft purple glow emitting from the bottom. A gentle, enchanting song that had no words drifted up to them. The male nymph said, "Please be quiet. Our King doesn't like loud  noises."

"Is the King a siren?" Roman asked.

All three nymphs smiled. "Our king is our King. He is many things. Underwater, his favourite form is a nyren. Now, please, follow us."

They began to swim into the ravine and Thomas glanced to Logan. "A nyren?"

"A cross between a nymph and a siren, I assume. Fascinating," Logan replied, "The idea that he can take different forms underwater."

"Quiet!" Whispered the turquoise nymph. "He would not like it if you interrupted him!"

The outsiders all quietened and Thomas listened carefully. Then, he heard the words of the King's' song.

"You don't love me anymore..."

Thomas felt his heart lurch at the sorrow and the beauty but he forced himself to stay quiet.

"You don't love me at all... I don't know what to do, I want to swim right back to you but you don't want me anymore..."

After a quick glance around, Thomas saw the Kings had the same reaction as he. Logan was wide-eyed, even if his face was passive and Patton was holding in a squeal. Roman looked captured, enamoured, obsessed and helpless. The group passed through the light and Thomas saw the Water King.

He was beautiful. His eyes were big and royal purple, with golden flecks inside. His skin was violet with indigo fish scales blossoming on his shoulders, elbows and fingers. The tail was also indigo and it was godly. It looked like a thresher sharks' and his teeth were sharped then a Great Whites'. Dangling around his neck was a small chain of a tiger shark and he was flocked by two small thresher sharks. He was beautiful, with dark, inky hair and a small smatter of indigo freckles along his nose and cheeks, slightly faded. Surprisingly, he was very scrawny and bony, completely unlike a king.

The Water King smiled radiantly at them, still singing his song but, like the first time, there were no words. Something changed in his purple eyes and they were gold with purple flecks when they locked onto the Fire King's' and his smile hardened and twisted in a sinisterly innocent way. The smile turned into a smirk and he silently, gently, softly swam over. He pushed his hands through the air pocket around Roman, quietly singing, as he held the King's' head. Roman just stared at him, enchanted, as the Water King gently swam higher, moving to the Fire King's' back as he started to hum elegantly and then turned back to his quiet, enamouring singing.

"You promised that you'd stay, but was I getting in your way? Why can't you love me anymore?"

Roman simpered as the enchantment was directed to him and Thomas watched the nyren's' effect. He had heard all the tales and stories about a siren. Some drew boats out onto the rocks, yes, but others carefully tricked unsuspecting outsiders with their soft, lovable voice. The Water King gently flipped underneath Roman as his two thresher sharks began to rub themselves gently around the Fire King, water somehow breaking into the air tube, yet not harming Roman. Thomas couldn't deny that it was slightly amusing to watch the loud, flirtatious and confident Roman fail to speak or protest to the nyren that swam around him.

"I don't think it's fair... When I wake up, you're no longer there..." Roman whimpered gently as the Water King pressed himself in closer. "I may be a shark but you're the net, you're a danger and a threat but I will love you forevermore..."

The Water King took Roman's' wrist, prying him away from the group, his eyes now completely gold. He pulled and Roman followed him instantly, looking lost. The thresher sharks closed in behind him and the nymphs started to lean forwards excitedly, eyes filled with hunger and desperation. The male one began to eye Patton. The Water King opened his mouth to sing another line and Logan quickly cleared his throat, breaking the enchantment. "That's enough."

Instantly, the nyren's' eyes flooded back to the way they were originally and he let go of Roman's' wrists, his thresher sharks gently backing up. The nymphs sank sullenly in the water. Roman blushed a dark crimson over his red skin and he hurriedly kicked his way back to the group. Thomas smirked at him and he glared back with a pout.

"I apologise," Smirked the Water King. "I just wanted to greet him properly."

Logan narrowed his eyes. "I've read books about you. You're a carnivore, you would've killed him and shared him amongst yourself and your sharks after enchanting him and possibly sleeping with him so he wouldn't have put up a fight when you were to tear him limb from limb to eat."

"What?!" Gasped Roman and Patton.

The Water King giggled. "It's not my fault such a rare, delicious food item swam to me willingly." His eyes narrowed. "We've been starved down here for several days. No humans are throwing us cattle or sheep and we are desperate. Either you have food, or I eat one of you."

Patton pulled back. "Why don't you eat fish?"

Instantly, everyone knew he had made a mistake. The nymphs jumped back and the thresher sharks began to lash around angrily. The eyes of the Water King turned to gold. "You're suggesting I am a cannibal?" He snarled.

"No! No! I'm sorry!" Patton apologised. "I just- Some of my harpies eat fish, it was just something I often suggest to hungry harpies, we've got quite a lot of fish in the mountains! Please don't eat me!"

The Water King sneered and looked ready to answer but then he saw Thomas. His eyes settled to a gold-flecked, royal purple and his aggressive stance softened. "Oh. It's you."