The Chimera (Legends of the Dark Creatures Book 2)

Ashley and Alex cried like toddlers for several minutes. Ethan was being patient with them. He hadn’t said a word and waited while standing a distance away. Tears of both joy and sadness covered both of the girl’s faces and each had their arms wrapped tightly around the other. To Ashley, this felt all like a dream, and no matter what she didn’t want to let go of it.

“Ashley...” Alex said, sobbing.

“Yes Alex, I am right here,” Ashley replied, crying carelessly. “I missed you so much.”

“So did I, little sis,” replied Alex. She rested both her palm on Ashley’s cheeks. “However...”

Even Ashley was sure she saw Ethan’s eyes widen a little when Alex landed a powerful headbutt on her forehead.

“OW!!! What was that for?” Ashley exclaimed.

“That was for deciding to kick the bucket so soon! How is it that you’re already dead huh?!” Alex shot back. “Better question... How long has it been since I died?”

Ashley held the back of her head and curved her lips into a nervous smile and replied, “A few weeks.” She was so happy to see that Alex hadn’t changed one bit.

“A few weeks!” Alex shouted. “Seriously Ash... While I did look forward to the day I’d see you again, I didn’t expect it to be this soon. At least for you.”

“But I am not dead,” Ashley said with a smile.

“Exactly and that’s why... Wait what?” Alex’s eyes stared at Ashley in shock.

“I am not dead,” Ashley repeated.

“But only the dead can be in the Underworld,” Alex stated, folding her arms.

“It’s kind of a long story but...”

“We need to get going, little mermaid,” Ethan said, causing Ashley to startle a bit. He was staring at the large expanse of grey sandy dunes and rocky hills that lay in the distance. Ever since they came here, he’d been looking in the same direction and Ashley couldn’t help but wonder what was out there.

“Say, Ash, who’s the hot guy you’re with anyway?” Alex whispered to Ashley.

Ashley gave out a slight chuckle and replied, “He can hear you, you know... Then again maybe you don’t. Anyway, that’s Ethan.”

“Ethan, right? Isn’t that the name of the Chimera you and your friends were trying to prevent from awakening?” Alex’s tone was low and she was looking intensely at Ethan.

“H-How did you know?” asked Ashley.

Alex walked to Ethan and stood in front of him. Her pearl-green eyes were fixed at him and even though her body was trembling she still maintained eye contact with him.

“Ashley, you are not the first person from home I have met here,” Alex said. “I also had the chance of meeting the one who killed me.”

“Wait... Jacob’s here too,” Ashley quickly asked.

Shaking her head, Alex said, “Not anymore. But before he left he told me everything that was happening in the town. How you guys were trying to stop the awakening of the Chimera?” She stepped closer to Ethan and asked, “I am only going to ask this once, Ethan. Are you the cause of Ashley being here?”

“All I did was make the little mermaid an offer she couldn’t refuse,” Ethan replied without a hint of emotion.

When Alex threw a punch at him, Ashley’s legs involuntarily moved. She dashed in front of Ethan and even though she could have easily blocked the attack, she allowed herself to be hit.

“Ashley! Oh my God, I am so sorry,” Alex exclaimed.

“Don’t worry,” Ashley said as she rested her palm on the left side of her face. “It was my fault.” Gritting her teeth, she continued saying, “I came here because I wanted to find out if my father is alive or dead.”

“Then the offer that Ethan made...”

Ashley looked at Ethan with a smile but he wasn’t even looking at her.

“Ethan, is everything alright?” Ashley asked, walking next to him.

“Never do something as foolish as what you just did,” Ethan said. “Not all things are worth protecting.” He began to walk in the direction of hills ahead of them.

Ethan proceeded ahead of both of them. Ashley placed her hand in the pockets of the large coat she wore and sighed.

“What’s his problem?” Alex asked Ashley.

“Long story,” Ashley answered. “Speaking of which, how long have you been here?”

It took some time for Alex to answer. “To be honest,” she said, looking up. “I don’t even remember. For thousands of years, I was alone here in this desert. The first person I met was Jacob. I was so relieved to meet someone else that I threw my arms around the guy who killed me. We spent some time wandering around together and during that time he told me what was going on in our town; about you being a mermaid, Sebastian trying to awaken the Chimera, and about Richard Thane. At some point, he asked for forgiveness and told me about what he’d done for you as a way of redeeming himself.”

“And you forgave him?”

“I didn’t see any reason not to,” she said.

“And where is Jacob now?” asked Ashley.

“The moment I forgave him he just smiled and vanished,” answered Alex. “Maybe he found peace and moved.”

“And you, Alex,” Ashley spoke and started walking with Alex. “Why haven’t you found peace?”

“Who knows,” Alex replied shrugging her shoulders. “The Dhalla says it’s because I have unfinished business.”

“The Dhalla?” Ashley asked tilting her head.

Alex pointed in the direction of the hills where Ethan was heading. Because of the black clothes he wore, Ashley could only see his silhouette.

“Isn’t that where you are going?” Alex asked. “You said you wanted to know if your father is alive. The Dhalla know everyone and everything that exists— or has existed— in the Underworld. I met the Dhalla eons ago and they’ve been keeping me company with their never-ending tales. They should already know you are here so I wonder why they haven’t shown up yet.”

Interlocking her arm with Alex’s, Ashley said, “I think they may just want us to catch up on the time we lost together.”

Alex giggled and said, “Maybe. So Ash, tell everything that has been going on back home.”

“That’s another long story,” Ashley smiled. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

“It will take us over a week to reach the Dhalla’s hill. Why don’t you just start from the very beginning?”

Indeed it took them about eight days to reach what Alex had called the Dhalla’s hill. There was no day or night in the Underworld. Alex said she could tell how much time had passed by observing what she called the Soul Streams. Ashley couldn’t see them but Alex said it took for her to be able to do so. In the eight days that had passed, Ashley had told Alex almost everything that had happened to her in Ravenhill. Also, Ashley noticed that she didn’t feel hungry, tired, or thirsty throughout the time they’d been here.

Ethan had remained quiet the entire time and hadn’t even once looked at Ashley. She supposed that it was because she’d taken a punch for him days ago. Emotions weren’t things Ethan expressed openly but she was getting the feeling that he was mad at her.

“So wait...” Alex said, holding up her hand. “There is a god named Deimos trapped in the Spirit World, who might have the power to destroy the guy in front of us. You and your friends are looking for a way to awaken him and Ethan is okay with it.”

“It’s crazy, I know,” said Ashley as they began moving along a path that seemed to lead to the top of the hill. “I can’t just seem to figure Ethan out. Everything about him is a mystery and...” Ashley paused when she suddenly saw a bright purplish streak of light in the sky. It moved like a shooting star-- only not as fast-- and left a beautiful trail of red sparkling dust that faded almost instantly.

Ashley felt Alex rest her head on her shoulder.

“That’s a Soul Stream,” Alex said. “At least that’s what the Dhalla call them. At the end of every day in the Underworld, they appear and every soul that is ready to move on can leave. The first time I saw one was when Jacob disappeared.”

“They are beautiful,” Ashley said in a whispery voice.

“Only you can find something beautiful in a dark place like the Underworld,” said Alex.

With a chuckle, Ashley threw her gaze toward Ethan. He was walking slowly at a distance ahead of them. Alex must have noticed the way she was looking at him for she asked, “So, does he know that he was once your favorite character?”

Ashley’s heart raced as embarrassment flooded her body. The first person who brought this up was her mom when Ethan made a surprise appearance at their home.

She quickly looked at him and saw that he hadn’t turned back or reacted to what Alex had just said.

“Why do you look so embarrassed?” Alex said. “I remember how you would always tell us the stories your mom told you and you always had to mention Ethan. ‘He may be the villain but it wasn’t his fault’. That’s what you’d say.” And Alex burst into laughter when Ashley tried to keep her quiet.

“Please stop,” Ashley protested, trying to cup her hand over Alex’s mouth.

“Ah, it’s nice to finally see Miss Grainger laughing so much.”

Ashley quickly turned to her right when she heard a voice coming from that direction. Nothing was there.

“Indeed, it is,” another voice said, this time coming from behind her.

Quickly looking back, Ashley once again found herself staring at space.

“Come on guys,” Alex said, placing both hands on her waist. “Stop messing around with my friend.”

A scream almost left Ashley’s mouth and her back hit a rock wall behind her when a greyish ghostly specter appeared in front of her face. It was about half the size of an average human, had three round faces, no limbs, and was floating in the air.

“So, you are one of Ms. Grainger’s friends,” one of the faces said. Its bright blue eyes were fixed at her and its glowing blue mouth curved into a smile.

“M-My name is Ashley,” Ashley stammered.

“Ashley!” the face in the middle said. Its facial features were like the one that had spoken earlier except that this one’s had a green glow.

“Ashley Morgan... the girl Ms. Grainger could stop talking about for millennia,” the third face said, opening its red glowing eyes.

“How could we have forgotten? She is part of Ms. Grainger’s story!” They shouted happily in unison.

Alex walked and stood beside the creature.

“Ashley, these are the Dhalla,” she said. “They may look creepy but trust me, they are the nicest creatures I have met here. I call them Blue, Green, and Red for obvious reasons.”

“We’ve told you Ms. Grainger our names are—”

One by one, all three faces said their names. Ashley realized why Alex had chosen to call them based on their colors; it was physically impossible to pronounce their incredibly long and weird-sounding names. They sounded more like groans than actual words.

The Dhalla turned their attention back to Ashley.

“Strange,” Blue said, with one eye slightly narrowed and head tilted. “We don’t know this one’s story.”

“But if we don’t know her story how will we tell it,” Green continued.

“It is a most puzzling predicament we face,” Red finished.

Ashley raised an eyebrow as she looked at Alex.

“Oh, the Dhalla usually know everything about those who enter this world after they die,” Alex said. “But you did say you’re aren’t actually dead right Ashley?”

The Dhalla all gasped and together they exclaimed, “She came through the Bridge!” Suddenly, the three faces split apart and became three separate bodies. They began hovering around Ashley, at times even passing through her body.

“She doesn’t appear to be a Witch,” said Blue.

“She looks human and yet this isn’t a soul of a human,” Green pointed out.

“A most intriguing soul indeed,” Red finished.

“What did you mean when you said ‘She came through the Bridge’?” Ashley asked.

“Well,” Alex was the one who answered. “Normally when any living being dies, their soul is sent here where it stays until moving on to either the Celestial Realms or... one the Nether Realms. However, there are ways to enter the Underworld without the need of actually dying.”

“Like a portal connecting this world to the world of the living,” Ashley stated. “Back home, Ethan opened a portal and left Talya in charge of keeping it open until we returned.”

“Wait, Ethan,” Blue said in a high-pitched voice.

“As in Lord Thane?” Green asked with a nervous smile.

“He wouldn’t be nearby, would he?” Red also asked.

“He is with us yes,” Alex answered.

“So this is where you’ve been hiding.”

Ethan’s voice came from above. Ashley saw him sitting on a high rock; staring at her. He jumped off it and landed gently on the ground.

“And here I thought I would have to spend the next thousand years trying to find you while you evade me,” he said, resting his hands in his pockets.

The Dhalla once again merged into one being and hid behind Alex.

“I see that even in the Underworld you are not everyone’s favorite,” Alex said to Ethan. “I am not going to let you hurt my friends.”

Ashley stepped in and said, “Guys please calm down. Ethan and I aren’t here to hurt anyone.” She said this but Ashley remembered that while she was here to find out about her father, Ethan had other plans for her and she still had no idea what those plans were. So, slowly facing Ethan she asked him, “We are not here to anyone... Right, Ethan?”

“Not that I can do more harm to those who are bound to this realm but no,” Ethan said. “However, the Dhalla have very strict rules against divulging the secrets of the dead to those who do not belong here.”

“That’s right I forgot,” Alex said, slapping her forehead. “Sorry, Ash but Ethan is right. The Dhalla can only tell the stories of the dead to those who have at least died and been here in the Underworld. That way they know your story and you can listen to those of others.”

“But, Ethan is a dark creature. He died once so they must know his story.” Ashley commented.

“You are only half correct, Ms. Morgan,” Blue said, sticking his head out from behind Alex.

“But while Lord Thane is a dark creature, he is perhaps the only dark creature whose story we do not know,” Green continued.

“A most unfortunate fact it is,” Red finished.

“But I thought everyone who dies— despite the realm, they come from— has to pass through the Underworld?” Ashley said.

“That is one of the laws of existence, yes” Blue uttered, separating from the rest.

Green and Red also split into separate beings.

“Alas Lord Thane even broke such a law,” Green continued.

“A great anomaly of existence he is,” Red said last.

Just like me, Ashley thought. She let out a sigh and said, “Then you can’t tell me about my father?” Was this a waste of time? Maybe she should have listened to Richard and tried finding another way. And now she was here; trapped with Ethan. He’d only suggested that coming to the Underworld was a way to help her find out about her father and there was no point in their deal that said that he’d actually help her get that information.

“You cannot tell the little mermaid anything,” Ethan said. “As expected you Dhalla are as useless as ever. But I am sure you can tell her friend over there, can’t you?”

Ashley’s eyes widened and she threw a gaze at Alex.

“Well, Ms. Grainger does belong to the Underworld,” Blue said, sounding even happy.

“Yes indeed. And there is no rule against such an act,” Green stated.

“Plus Ms. Grainger is our friend. A most pleasing situation has been presented to us,” Red concluded.

Alex rushed and held Ashley’s hands. “It might just work.”

“It will work,” Ashley said, aiming her gaze at Ethan. Of course, he would find a way around the rules of the Underworld she thought as a smile formed across her face.

“But before we begin,” Alex bit her lip and looked sideways at the Dhalla. “Guys... If would be so kind.”

Devious smirks appeared across the Dhalla’s faces. They suddenly began circling around Ashley and Alex; creating a large mist with different sparkling colors that engulfed them. Ashley’s hair was blowing across her face and the mist made it difficult for her to see. She felt her hand touch another and she involuntarily grabbed it. It was like being stuck inside a tornado yet it was so exhilarating that Ashley’s heart couldn’t stop racing.

When the mist calmed down and began to clear, Ashley found that they were now at the apex of a very high mountain. She could see the vast expanse of the desert that they had been wandering through for days and right she could see a large structure that resembled a castle.

“God, I always enjoy that,” Alex said, stretching herself. She was standing in front of Ashley and... Wait... If Alex was in front of her then the hand her left hand was holding belonged to.

Ashley quickly turned, only to be met by Ethan’s intense gaze. He looked at her hand that held his and back at her.

“Sorry,” Ashley said, slowly releasing Ethan’s hand.

It was quiet between all three of them until the Dhalla appeared.

“I think our teleportation skills have improved profoundly,” Blue proudly proclaimed, flying to Alex.

“Eons of practice have indeed paid off,” Greed agreed, coming towards Ashley.

“An excellent execution of both form and accuracy,” Red said. “Remember that time we accidentally dropped a soul in the Pool of Lost Souls.” Laughing Red continued, “Master Hades was most displeased that day he was.”

The Dhalla and Alex all began to laugh.

“I never pictured such happiness existing here in the Underworld,” Ashley said to Ethan.

He remained quiet for a while and walked towards Alex and the Dhalla.

“Oh right,” Alex said when she saw him moving towards them. “Guys, I need you to tell me about Ashley’s dad.”

“We will require his name,” Blue said.

“Owen,” Ashley quickly spoke, walking to them. “Owen Morgan.”

“Tell me about Owen Morgan,” said Alex.

Green sighed. “We know many named, Owen Morgan.”

“Ms. Morgan would need to provide more specific information,” said Red.

“Well, I- I only know he must have been a merman. Does that help?”

The Dhalla all shook their heads.

“How about when he went missing?” asked Alex.

“December 24th, 2001,” Ashley said.

“I remember now,” Alex said. “A day before Christmas and a few days before your birthday. Well, does that help, guys?”

The Dhalla again shook their heads.

“No merman named Owen Morgan from Ravenhill entered the Underworld around that time,” Blue said.

“No living being with that name came to us either,” Green added.

“This is proving to be very hard,” Red commented.

“But that means he might be alive right?” said Alex.

The thought had crossed Ashley’s mind but it wasn’t a solid fact.

“My dad went missing on that day but that doesn’t mean that was when he died,” Ashley said.

"If he died that is,” Alex corrected. “He was married to a woman named Rina. Their daughter is right here. Surely that helps.”

“We know many named Owen Morgan with daughters named Ashley Morgan,” Blue said. “And many more with wives named Rina.”

“A many from just Earth alone,” Green continued.

“If only there were just one thing unique to Ms. Morgan’s father,” Red stated.

“I am sure there is, right Ash,” Alex spoke.

Ashley knew that her friend was trying to raise her optimism but she honestly had no other information about her father that could help her learn what happened to him. She retreated to the ground and sat on a rock.

“There must be something, Ash,” Alex said.

With her eyes beginning to burn with tears, Ashley said, “Even if there was, I don’t think I know it, Alex. I don’t know a lot about my father. I grew up without him and while they were moments when I wished I could have at least met him... I was okay. But my mom has been trying to find him. She is the one who knew him, talked to him, and loved him. His disappearance affected the most ” The tears Ashley was holding back began to flow across her face. “I was planning on telling my mom everything about myself and I came so that I could give her... and even myself... some closure, you know.”

Alex knelt next to Ashley and she didn’t even mind that her beautiful dress was getting dirty. She hugged Ashley and let her cry.

Suddenly, Ethan came to her.

“Ethan?” Ashley said.

He knelt beside her and looked straight into her eyes.

“Memories can be forgotten but never lost,” Ethan said. “Compulsion can help.”

“Do it,” Ashley said without hesitating. She wasn’t wearing a Suppression Ring here in the Underworld so nothing would hinder Ethan’s compulsion powers.

With his eyes fixed on her, Ethan projected a wave of power, causing Ashley to stagger.

“Remember that which is unique only to your father and mother’s story,” he said. "Something you heard, read or saw... find it."

Ashley smiled at Alex— who was looking worried— and said, ”′ The ingenuity of humans never ceases to amaze me.′ My mother told me that those were the very first words heard him say to her. They met at a Spanish Restaurant in New York.”

“That is most precise information,” Blue said, flying up a few meters and coming back down.

“We have no memory of such a story,” Green said.

“Not even a memory of any merman ever saying such words,” Red concluded.

Ethan stood up and walked to the Dhalla while Alex embraced Ashley in a tight hug.

Suddenly, Ashley heard Ethan begin to speak. It was his voice but it sounded resonant— echoing everywhere— and unpronounceable groans were coming out of his mouth, The Dhalla also began to talk like him and they conversed for minutes.

“They are speaking in the ancient tongue of the Underworld,” Alex said. She was looking at Ethan but this time it was different.

“Can you understand what they are saying?” Ashley asked.

Alex laughed. “Of course not. Even an eternity wouldn't be enough for me to learn the ancient languages of the divines.”

After several minutes Ethan and the Dhalla finished their conversation. The Dhalla quickly came to Ashley and the mist that made up their body engulfed her. She felt her body relax as an intense warmth flowed through her. It was almost like she was being embraced by them.

They formed into one body and said, “A child of density... no... not destiny... Tragic is her fate but with the right strength, can she change it?”

“What do you mean?” Ashley asked.

“Good news, little mermaid,” Ethan said. “It is now certain. Your father is alive.”

Alex stood up and asked the Dhalla, “Is this true?”

“Yes Ms. Grainger,” Blue said.

“Without a soul fragment of doubt,” Green added.

“If only that was the only thing we’d learned, we’d be happier,” said Red.

“What else did you learn?” Alex asked.

“We are sorry Ms. Grainger,” the Dhalla said together. “But not even we can reveal that.”

Ashley stood up with a smile. “All that matters is that my father is alive.” She rubbed the tears from her face. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank us, Ms. Morgan,” Blue said.

“It was Lord Thane who gave the information we needed to know what we know to be true,” Green pointed out.

Everyone looked at Ethan.

“A most baffling creature he is,” Red said.

“If we are done here we need to get going, little mermaid,” Ethan said and began to walk away.

“Alex,” Ashley said. She breathed in deeply and mustered every ounce of strength to say what she said next, “Ask the Dhalla about Lenora.”

Ethan stopped walking. He didn’t turn and Ashley’s hands were shaking; afraid of how he might react.

“Who’s Lenora?” asked Alex.

“With Lord Thane here. There is only one Lenora Ms. Morgan could be talking about,” Blue said.

“Beautiful, charming, and always smiling,” said Green, flying to Ashley.

“One of the happiest souls we’ve ever seen enter the Underworld,” Red said.

Amazed by what the Dhalla had just said and while still looking at Ethan, Ashley asked, “She was Ethan’s first love, and... she was the one he killed to become a dark creature.”

“Wait what?!” Alex exclaimed. “Why was she saw happy then?”

“Again you are only half correct, Ms. Morgan,” Blue said, merging with the rest of the Dhalla. “Lord Thane did kill Lenora. However...”

“It is because of that very act that she was filled with so much joy,” said Green with a smile. “Her death by the hand of Lord Thane meant that she and her people would be saved... her death also meant the salvation of Rathzoria.”

“I—I still don’t understand,” Ashley said. “They would be saved from what?”

She heard Ethan’s voice but he spoke in the same ancient language he’d been using earlier with the Dhalla.

Red sighed and said, “Unfortunately, we’ve been bound never to reveal what happened on that tragic day.”

Staring at Ethan, Ashley wondered what she could still do for him. When she saw that his hand had curled into a fist she realized that all she’d done was open up his old wounds. It was selfish of her to think that she’d brought up Lenora for him. In truth, she just wanted to know why he’d kill someone he claimed to love, and now she had her answer and had ended up hurting him.

“Wait... Alex,” Ashley’s eyes flew open. “Ask the Dhalla about the happiest moment in Lenora’s life.”

“Ashley,” Alex said shaking her head. Even she could see how all this was affecting Ethan.

“Please,” Ashley begged.

Alex looked at the Dhalla and surprisingly the three of them all smiled.

“Well that’s easy,” they said in accord.

“She always talked about it,” Blue exclaimed.

“More than a million times, she proclaimed it in the Underworld,” Green continued.

“A most beautiful proclamation at that,” Red said. “For the happiest little Lenora had ever been was on the day she finally heard three words escape Lord Thane’s lips.”

And together they said the words, “I Love You"

With her sharp hearing, Ashley heard Ethan’s heart racing like an engine. Both his hands were shaking and he still kept facing forward.

“Lenora was always worried Lord Thane never realized his words reached her,” Blue said.

“Yes, he had said them moments before she died,” Green added.

“And she held on to them in all the time she spent here, that she did,” Red finished.

Ashley looked at Alex. The girl’s eyes were filled with tears. At first, Ashley thought it was only because of hearing Lenora’s story but that changed when Alex said, “Ashley... My little sister... My little Mila... How is she?”

It was then that Ashley realized that even though she’d told Alex almost everything significant about what was happening in Ravenhill, she’d neglected to tell her the most important thing. How could she have missed that?

Hugging Alex tightly, “Mila is as strong young as ever; just like her big sister. She said she will not carry on your legacy but instead, she hopes to make you proud by surpassing all your accomplishments one day. And when I said that I’d be the one to surpass you she bravely declared me as her rival.”

Alex laughed and cried at the same time.

“My two baby sisters are now rivals,” Alex sobbed and looked at the Dhalla.

“It appears you now remember everything now,” they all said. “You will be forever in our memory, Ms. Grainger.”

Alex’s body suddenly began to glow with a beautiful purplish color.

“Tell me more about Mila,” she said to Ashley.

“She won this year’s Ravenhill Award of Excellent!” Ashley shouted.

“She did?!” Alex smiled, holding both of Ashley’s hands. She looked at Ethan. A blue stream of light appeared in the sky as Alex ran to Ethan. Ashley could only see his back even as Alex walked in front of him. She kept looking at him with a smile and her eyes narrowed, flooding with tears. Unexpectedly, she threw her arms around him, hugged him, and said, “Thank you for everything.”

Pulling away from the hug, she rushed to Ashley and gently kissed her forehead. “Though the circumstances are scary— and a bit weird— I am glad we got to see each other again, little sis.”

“Me too,” Ashley said, sobbing a little. “After hearing about Lenora’s story I have realized that there is something I never said to you.”

“What?”

“I love you, Alex,” Ashley said, “With all my heart. Thank you for coming into my life and for being the best big sister and friend a girl can only dream of having.”

Holding Ashley tightly, Alex said, “I love you, Ashley Morgan. Always have, and always will. This will be our last goodbye because the next time we see each other...”

“We will be together forever,” Ashley finished.

“Just make sure it isn’t too soon alright.”

Ashley giggled. “I promise.”

Alex looked at the Dhalla. “Eons together and still I feel I am going to miss you guys.”

“The feeling is mutual,” Blue said.

“It has been a pleasure, Ms. Grainger,” Green agreed.

“Your story will be most engaging for the many other souls we’ll meet,” Red finished.

Alex’s feet left the ground and she began to float in the air.

But before she left, she flew closer to Ashley and whispered in her ear.

“You can always trust, Ethan,” she said with a smile.

“And tell Mila I have always been her greatest fan!”

After shouting those last words about Mila, Alex was carried away into the blue stream of light in the sky and vanished like a shooting star.

“Death is such a wonderful thing,” the Dhalla said in chorus.

Ashley smiled and said her goodbyes to the Dhalla. They embraced her with the same warmth she’d felt from them earlier and left.

She walked closer to Ethan until she was right beside him.

“You didn’t have to bring up Lenora,” he said and paused for a while.

Ashley’s head turned to the ground, anxious of what Ethan was about to say.

“However, you have my most sincere gratitude, little mermaid,” Ethan finished.

With a small smile, Ashley said, “You also didn’t have to step in and help me know about my father. However, you have my most sincere gratitude, Ethan.”

Ethan stared towards the large castle in the far distance. “I did something for you and you did something for me. As far as deals go we are even. Nothing should keep you from proceeding any further.”

“The deal was you help me bring to the Underworld to find out about my father and I help you with whatever you have planned. Whatever is done outside that is of my or your choosing. So where are we headed next?”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed a little; which was the closest thing possible to a smile that Ashley had ever seen on him. He pointed at the large castle in the distance. “Hades Palace. That’s where my objective lies.”

“Then what are we waiting for?”

As they walked together, Ashley thought about Alex’s last words. Why would she tell her to trust Ethan? Ashley was so focused on those words that hadn’t realized that they had already reached the edge of the desert.

“Once we cross this threshold, time back on Earth will advance,” Ethan said. “While my brother will ensure no harm comes to you, he will try to use any means to break the spell that binds us. So I am afraid it’s a race against time from here on.”

Ashley nodded and crossed the desert into a rocky valley but before she could take another step she felt a sharp stinging sensation coming from her hand.

“Little Mermaid,” she heard Ethan say.

She looked at him and saw a cut, as if made by a blade, on his right palm. She quickly looked at her hand and saw the same cut. Warm red blood slowly streamed down her and her wound began to close.

Both Ashley and Ethan involuntarily moved when Ashley felt something graze the side of her left cheek. Three claw marks appeared on the spot where she’d felt the graze and she saw the same marks appear on Ethan’s left cheek and he began breathing heavily.

They both had realized it but it was Ashley who said the words.

“Something’s happened back home.”

...

“If my tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I’d walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again”

Ashley and Alex had the chance to share their last goodbye. Ashley also now knows that her father is alive thanks to Ethan; whose goals in the Underworld still remain unknown. Something terrible is happening back on earth and threatens both Ashley and Ethan's lives.

Keep reading to find out what happens