Until all his efforts have ceased."
I just stare at the green creature. I mean, what does one say, after being told something so dark and dreary. Their hero's life shall meet its end? Friends rise and fall? What the heck? Even the incessant rain seems to grow quite at the import of those words.
"The winds have lessened and yesterday the rain did to," the ancient Grindylow states into the silence. "Generators have not been seen in either world for millennia. Witnesses saw you use your power to calm the rains, and we know the time is near, for air has lessened his blustering in his own realm." He uses his trident to walk closer to us, and I hold my ground despite my rising apprehension. "We will aid you on your quest, Generator." He bows low to me, and I can feel my cheeks go scarlet as the other two women out here look at me. "We are yours to command."
I jump as he lifts his weapon and slams the butt down in the wet sand three times.
"What the—" I start to say as the water begins to boil behind the old Grindylow. Well, boil more than the rain was already making it churn.
"Get into your transport, Generator. My people will move you to the water, where you may continue your righteous quest." The Grindylow bows to us, and I spare only a quick glance to Angela. Her eyes are wide as she stares at the sea, and I turn back to see the green heads of numerous Grindylows bobbing in the surf.
"Best do as he says," Angela states, and turns to open the car door. Knowing what a pain it is for her to get into the cramped Orange Bubble, I quickly send her original image to her, and marvel as her form shrinks to that of a 1600's black-oriental slave.
Lisa follows her, and AnnaBelle awkwardly moves into the passenger seat, letting me drive. As soon as my car door closes, the sea appears to puke up a bunch of little green creatures.
They swarm my car, making it rock back and forth. Is this the mistake the prophecy had mentioned? Trusting these little creatures?
My fears are quickly proven unfounded however, as they're able to lift us out of the sand, and carry us to the lapping waves. They continue to carry us, until the hood of the Orange Bubble is submerged. I feel my panic rise once again at entering the water, but I shove it down. It seems easier to do this time. My mental conditioning with the rain yesterday must be helping some.
Even after letting us go, the green little monsters swim next to us for a ways, before the elderly Grindylow, spry and fleet now that he's in the water, waves his trident to us in a salute, and the Grindylows depart.
"Angela," I turn and ask as soon as the last Grindylow vanishes, "what do you know about that prophecy?"
The succubus looks troubled, as I let the car have its way. I know we need to get to Brooke, but the old Grindylow's words are seriously bothering me.
"I don't know," she says after a few uncomfortable seconds. "This is the first I've heard of it." She shakes her head as if to get rid of a bad feeling, before adding. "I wouldn't put too much stock in it, though. Those creatures aren't known for their intelligence and are considered rather gullible. They likely believe anything they hear."
I would be inclined to believe her, if for no other reason than that I really don't like the line about the hero's life meeting its end, except that Arethusa had mentioned a prophecy as well. Looking into Angela's eyes, and a quick glance at Lisa, makes me drop it. Brooke needs us right now, and this prophecy business can wait.
As we drive, I remember something about my mystical car, and know that I should have time to get this question answered.
"Angela, you once told me that my car is powered by the same thing that generates energy for me, but never said what exactly that is." Despite how much I've seen the succubus change forms, it still comes as a shock to see her as a short Asian/black girl.
"Ambient energy," she says in that way of hers, as though those simple words explain everything. Of course, I give her my 'what do you mean' stare, and she sighs before clarifying. "All around us is ambient energy. The wind, falling rain, even the ground has ambient energy. This car can tap into a bit of it, and keep running. Generators are a bit different, in that they can tap into a larger amount, turning it to their own use."
"So, that's why the rain lessened yesterday?" I ask, understanding why there seemed to be so much more energy from our sex than previously experienced. The cute black woman actually blushes a bit at my statement, but nods.
The rest of the ride is silent, as I think about what she's revealed, before Angela has me stop about thirty minutes later.
"Head to the surface," she tells me, and the car begins moving without my direct control. Talk about a backseat driver! "It's not too late to turn back," she says to Lisa and AnnaBelle. She knows I'm going forward no matter what. "It will be dangerous down there. Once you drink from the vial, you'll be able to breathe under the water, but if you fall asleep, or even get knocked out, it's over." I can tell she's speaking more to AnnaBelle than Lisa. Lisa at least has some self-defense skills. AnnaBelle only has her faith.
"A young woman is in need of aid," the mature woman states. "I will help in every way I'm able. Let us say a prayer, before we drink that." She doesn't even wait for acquiescence before bowing her head. "Dear Lord, which art above us, please watch over us as we descend into the inky depths of thine enemy. Allow us to see with your light, and guide our spirits, that we may find the young woman and bring her to safety. Amen."
I hear a whispered "Amen," from Lisa, and quickly mumble one myself. If I didn't know better, I'd say the car actually brightens as AnnaBelle lifts her head back up, and I can see the fervent glow of her faith behind her eyes.
I hand over the two vials, one to each of the normal humans, and watch as Lisa pops the cork off hers, taking a sniff.
"Hmm, reminds me of fishing with my dad, when I was a little girl." I can see Lisa as a little girl, sitting in a metal boat, an older man with a fishing rod in his hands, and hooks dangling on his vest. The girl sits staring adoringly at her father, as he explains the intricacies of fishing.
Blinking, I return to myself, a bit surprised at the peek into the blonde's past. Especially since this time, there was nothing sexual going on, until I see a sparkle in the blonde's eyes, as she winks at me.
AnnaBelle only shudders when she smells hers, but plugs her nose and downs it. Lisa drinks hers at the same time, but she smiles dreamily as she does so.
The smile soon vanishes, as both women begin to grasp at their throats, making choking noises.
"He poisoned them!" I exclaim, worried that this is the mistake I might make.
"No," Angela shouts, "the potion lets them breathe underwater, but it takes away their ability to breathe normal air."
"You just think to say this now?" I grumble, knowing that the succubus hadn't meant any harm.
Angela looks abashed as she tries to open the passenger door from the back seat, but with AnnaBelle turning blue against it, she can't reach the handle.
Leaning across the older woman, I hit the lever, and she begins to fall back. I only have a second to gasp at the amount of water around us, before AnnaBelle's hands grip my shirt, pulling me after her.
We land with a splash, and already I can feel water filling my lungs. I can't breathe! Marchosias had been wrong. I needed the potion too. Gasping, I flail about, trying to get back to the surface, but I never learned how to properly swim. It's been decades since the last time I was actually in water above my knees, not counting when I was a dragon. My actions are counter-productive, as I lift my legs in an attempt to kick, while my arms waive uselessly. My lungs burn, crying out for air, and even though I can see the rain splattering down on the surface above me, I know I won't reach it before I black out.
Firm hands grip me, and for a second I think it's the water finally claiming me after all these years, until I see Lisa's worried eyes in front of me.
Why is she worried? The thought flits through my panicked brain. She's in the water now, and can breathe.
Somehow these thoughts are like a reset switch, and my mind calms down as I open my mouth, and fill my lungs. Air doesn't flow in, but the water feels just as good as I take another watery breath. The sensation of something thicker than air filling my lungs is a whole new experience, and I focus on that thought, rather than the water surrounding me, to keep calm and sane.
