Both Raphael and the girls didn't want Vanessa going out in the water by herself. She saw the stressed worried looks on their faces before she ran out into the water. She swam forward, looking around for some clues around to where they took him to but she couldn't find anything. She went lower into the water but it was pointless since she couldn't find any clues and she already gone six miles out.

She felt this strange feeling someone was watching her from behind that made her back stiffen. She turned her head slightly around to see a water form of a snake like the other day that had attacked Raphael but at least four times bigger.

Even in water, she could hear it hissing even though it was made of water and it made her blood feel ice cold. It slithered in the water as it came near her and she dodged the snake.It quickly turned around, hoping it's mouth and came after her.Holding both her hands up, she held the snake form back but it felt like she was trying to push something heavy. Pressing her lips firmly together, she pushed her arms out forward and the snake hissed as it's icy fangs length.

The tail sneaked up from under her and grabbed her tail. It pulled her down and she let go of the snake as she cried out. She held her hands down, trying to grab onto the snake tail but her fingers only went through it. It was twice the size of an anaconda, she could feel the snake tail crawling further up her tail up to her waist.

Fear and panic washing over her, she screamed out as she tried to get out. She heard a loud thunder from the sky but she was overcome with fear she couldn't focus hard enough. The snake hissed as it lowered it's head to her and she felt her heart race. It hissed once before it lunged at her and she squeezed her eyes shut.

Then when it was only an inch away it suddenly disappeared. She didn't it's trail around hers or it's hold. Opening her eyes, she looked to see it was indeed gone. She turned around, looking to see if it was some trick but dozens of feet away she saw Queen Severina and two of her mermaids. Adalyn was with them but the mermaid was holding her. Vanessa fear didn't stop as Adalyn had a shell against her mouth, her legs kicking around. Queen Severina looked pissed as she turned to Adalyn and grabbed her chin, removing the shell from her mouth. Adalyn held her mouth shut as she tried hard to hold her breath.

Vanessa moved her tail but they turned and quickly left. Knowing she couldn't catch up to them—especially Queen Severina.

Breathing heavily, she cursed in her head and rose up to the surface. Seeing Coasta Sirenas light on the east side, she went away from the lights to continue to look for James. Going back under the water, she hurried looked around for him. They apparently didn't have James with them but they did have Adalyn which explained why she hadn't come back. Vanessa only felt more guilty and ashamed. They took Adalyn because of her.

After swimming another mile, she saw something at the bottom of the surface. She winced, looking closer to see a passed out James. Her eyes widen with concern as she quickly came down towards him. She found a chain around both his wrist where heavy pieces of metal were. She tugged at them, trying to break them fear from his wrist.

James eyes peeled open a bit to look at her and she grabbed his face, trying to tell him to keep them open. They fluttered though and closed again. Panicking, she wrapped her arms around his chest and lifted him up. He was much heavier with the chains and metal. She swam up to the surface as fast as she can.

When they reached the surface, James head fell back and she grabbed his head to lift it up, "James,wake up." she said, shaking his head. She shook him a bit, "James! Oh God, this shouldn't be happening. You haven't even shifted yet!"

"Vanessa!" she heard her name being yelled. She turned her head around, seeing Raphael and the girls a few yards away.

*

James sighed heavily as he took breaths, "I didn't even see them coming." he said tiredly as Raphael took the chain in his head and used some pliers cutters to cut them up. It wasn't that hard since the chains were old and slightly rusted. James brought his free hand up, cutting the red flesh. He was leaning against the door of Raphael shed exhausted, "I was just walking out of the bathroom when four of them came up behind me and grabbed me. They pulled me away from the festival and we went passed Queen Severina who started to do things. They dragged me all the way to the beach and into the water. They took me far where you found me and just put theses on me. It was all very confusing."

Raphael grabbed James left arm roughly and started cutting up the chains, "They used you as bait to get Vanessa." he said, snorting. James gave Raphael a cold look as he rubbed his other wrist, "You shouldn't have gone to the bathroom alone knowing—"

"I don't need a partner to go to the bathroom." James coldly said. "Even apparently it took you guys a moment to realize I was missing."

Vanessa frowned and lowered her head, feeling bad because maybe if they would have noticed sooner he might not have fainted in the water. "Sorry." she said, lifting her head to look at him. "You're right, I should have noticed sooner. I'm supposed to be leading this coven but I'm doing a pretty crappy job."

James cold look vanished from his face to a sincere look, "I don't blame you, Vanessa. It's been a hassle for you lately and you were only trying to enjoy your night."

Vanessa shook her head, "I shouldn't have done allot of things. They have Adalyn also. If I hadn't yelled at her this morning, she wouldn't have left and they wouldn't have taken her. They could have left her there but they took her with them."

Ninda put her hand on Vanessa shoulder, "Hey, stop that. None of this is your fault. We're gonna get her back." she said. "You showed Queen Severina you would do anything to protect your coven and bravery for going out there. You faced her weapon."

Vanessa scoffed, "Faced? I almost got swallowed by that things. I think it only vanished because Adalyn must have done something to Queen Severina. She was hell of pissed at Adalyn before they left."

"You still fought against it. You didn't run away, you challenged it as hard as you could and Queen Severina saw it." she said. "I suggest we leave tomorrow. Queen Severina is taking this more serious now and she's only gonna try to harm us more now. She'll do anything to kill us so we got to go get the Elixir tomorrow. We'll go get it, fight against Queen Severina to show our strength. It's the only way we can share the ocean. Fighting is the only way."

"Fighting has never solved anything in history." Raphael said. He breathed out heavily, "Look. . .James I'm sorry but should we all risk our lives for you?"

"Raphael?" Vanessa hissed at him. "He gonna die if we don't."

"He should go get it then." he said. He sighed as he put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a deep look, "Nessie. . .I don't want you to risk your life. I don't wanna see you get hurt or worse."

She shrugged his hands off, "He's apart of this coven, we all protect each other. How about if one of us suggest not trying to get what's gonna save you?" she asked and he lowered his head. "Exactly. I'm will aware of the risks being taken but I can't just avoid them." She stepped back to look at all of them, "Tomorrow we'll leave."

Raphael

Before they could step into the house, Raphael grabbed James and pushed him against the wall of the house, "You have feelings for her don't you?" he asked.

James gave him a cold look as he raised his chin, "So what?"

Raphael hands balled up into a tight fist with anger and he breathed heavily, "You know if I had my way, we wouldn't be leaving tomorrow."

"I know, you made your feelings towards me very clear." he said as he stood up. "Personally, I don't know what Vanessa sees in you."

"What the hell does that mean?" he coldly asked.

"Some spoiled little rich boy who thinks everything should go his way." he said, turning. "Who has some anger problems."

Without meaning to, Raphael grabbed James and slammed him back against the wall. He grabbed his shoulders and leaned towards James with a cold glare. James glared back at him and Raphael could feel his blood heating up. Raphael wanted to stop this, he knew deep down this was wrong because he was never an angry person. He was always the type to keep his cool and always stopped people from fighting. Ever since becoming a merman, his anger issues were such a big problems. They were coming between him and Vanessa. He knew this very well and doesn't want to do anything to hurt her. Why does this special gift have to have a bad side effect. Maybe he shouldn't be a merman, not if it means risking losing Vanessa.

Raphael let go of James, "Enjoy sleeping on the hammock."

Vanessa

Vanessa saw Raphael family loading the boat up that was about to leave port in a couple of moments.Raphael was over by his father and uncle trying to use his glamour enchant."We should leave quickly." Ninda said, Vanessa nodding agreeing with her.

She turned but then someone called out to her, "Vanessa!" Raphael dad called out.

Vanessa eyes squeezed her eyes shut, had been hoping they wouldn't notice her but how naive of her. "Go ahead, we'll be there in a moment." she said. The girls looked at each other concern and she sighed, "Don't worry, they don't realize it me. I'll try to speed it along and we won't have to worry." They nodded their heads before they continued on their way and she went over on the docks. She smiled at Raphael family as she climbed onto the boat, "Hi everyone."

Raphael leaned back against the rail of the boat, "Nessie, tell them what you think of the family business? It's going well, huh?"

"Uh, yeah." she said, trying to go along with his way of sneaking the glamouring. She looked at his dad dead in his eyes and they turned blank, "It's been such a busy good hard working weak. It's been so busy, you hardly reme—"

"Marc." one of his uncles called as they walked out of the drivers room. Vanessa quickly looked away, worried to get caught doing that and that woke Raphael dad up. "We're ready."

"Uh," Marc said, slightly confused as he looked at Raphael and Vanessa for a moment before turning. "Yeah, okay. A couple of moments." He turned back to Vanessa, "Well you need to come over again. Yesenia been dying to see you again. You'll come tonight, right?"

Vanessa smiled, "I'll try my best. My dad been doing allot of things to the house and has me helping. I'm sure I can talk my way into coming."

Raphael dad chuckled as he nodded and walked away. Raphael cousin Luke came over with a bucket of water to clear off the seaweed still on the boat, "We caught the biggest fish the yesterday, it was also. Wanna check it out?"

"No." both her and Raphael said quickly since the last thing they wanna see if a dead poor defenseless creature.

Luke shrugged, "Fine." He said, splashing water around. Raphael and Vanessa looked at each, giving the same look knowing they should leave. Vanessa turned and lifted her leg when she felt cold water splashed against her ankle. Her eyes widen at the water touching her and she looked down at her ankle. "Oh crap, I'm sorry Vanessa I didn't mean to hit you—"

Raphael grabbed her arm and pulled her off the boat, "Go." he said. She ran on the other end of the dock and jumped off.Even before she hit the water, she felt her tail appearing. She swam lowering into the water and under the docks. She went near the boat and rose to the surface.

"She's fine!" Raphael said quickly.

"Dude, she just ran into the water! Where the hell is she?" Luke questioned.

Raphael cleared his throat, "Luke, cuz, I feel like there's something in my eyes. Can you take a look—"

"Dude, you're girlfriend just jumped off the dock and you're worried about something in your eyes?" Luke scoffed.

"Just check please. It could blind me." he said. Luke groaned and it was quiet for a moment. "Vanessa didn't jump off." he calmly said. "She walked away, joining her friends. Go back to cleaning the dock of the boat."

"Cleaning." Luke said softly. Vanessa heard his footsteps as he walked away and she breathed out relief glad Raphael finally made it work. She swam over to a pillar and held on since the waves were moving.Raphael looked at her for a moment before diving into the water.