The Council

by Phoenix Willow

  Jewel cried out and smacked the little leech-slug away, but then managed to trip over the scorpion-crab creatures on the floor. She tried to regain her balance, but it was no use. Most everyone had already filed into the throne room at this point and the only thing she could find to grab onto was the handle on the halfway open door. Which might have worked if she hadn’t been moving at such a fast momentum and hadn’t slammed into the door, bruising her shoulder and breaking off the handle in the process. The sharp handle, that is- the very sharp handle. So now, Jewel was bruised and bleeding in two places as blood was dripping from the one shoulder, a purple bruise was throbbing into existence on the other, and blood had begun to pool on Jewel’s fingertips and palm on the hand where she had touched the coral handle which was now very broken and in pieces on the ground.

  Jewel screeched and yowled again but was also still fighting against falling over in front of everyone there, so she turned her body to try and gain her bearings as a few members of her group attempted to help her, but this all proved to be futile. Her feet somehow became tangled together as she took some very awkward steps backwards, and the next thing Jewel knew, she was sprawled out in the throne room on the beautiful, smooth black-purple floor, bleeding and silently cursing herself in front of the leaders of Aquatica and most of their Guard.

  Jewel laid there for a moment, her face beet red, and her mind wishing she was anywhere but where she was currently. She began to feel the pull of her astral projection power which jumped in to try and grant Jewel her wish as audible snickers began resounding around the large room, but her power was interrupted as Galadriel and Frost pulled her upright and brought reality crashing back down.

  “Way to make an impression, Green.” Galadriel smirked with an added wink that only added to Jewel’s mortification.

  “It’s okay, Gem.” Frost started, but upon seeing the blood- he stopped. “Wait. Is that blood? Are you bleeding? Why are you bleeding?”

  “She’s bleeding!” Rain repeated in a panicked voice. “Spitfire! Why are you bleeding?”

  “Yes. Why is she bleeding?” Skye said in a very accusatory tone which she directed towards the King and Queen of Aquatica who were sitting in their scalloped shell thrones and looking as though they didn’t know whether to laugh or be irritated.

  Ambrosia rushed forward with some of her spit dirt that she always kept with her and lathered it onto Jewel’s hands and fingers, instantly healing the cuts.

  “I’m okay! I’m okay!” Jewel attempted to say reassuringly, but it came out as more of a slurred type of speech. Truth be told, Jewel was beginning to feel a bit funny. Lightheaded and weird, but not in a necessarily bad way. She almost felt free from any inhibitions she might have had, and where the embarrassment had been before, hilarity was quickly taking its place. “I’m fine. In fact, I feel great.” She announced with a hiccup, causing more than a couple of eyebrows to raise.

  Jade began to shake Jewel’s shoulders. “Hybrid! Snap out of it. You’re doing that glowy thing again and your eyes are looking stranger than normal.”

  Jewel saw how serious Jade was and tried to stifle the laugh that was bubbling up but failed miserably. She laughed and laughed until her stomach hurt and tears ran down her cheeks.

  “Um….I’m thinking we should probably go. I think Spitfire’s lost her melon altogether.” Rain said to Skye.

  Sage came over and inspected Jewel as though she was some sort of new creature. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

  “I’ve never been better! I’m free. Free like a bird. Or a fish! We’re in the water, well not currently because there’s no water here in the palace, but we’re sort of in the water because this whole place is underwater, right. Right! Tell me I’m right, Sagey Pagey.” Jewel ranted, her eyes wide and a smile plastered on her face that was stretched so far that it was uncomfortable.

  “O-kay.” Sage said as he began to look more closely at Jewel’s hands and fingers. “I don’t see anything. I don’t know what’s wrong with her.” He said to Skye.

  “Right there.” Jade pointed. “Look at Hybrid’s shoulder. She’s got blood there too.”

  Sage immediately looked and found where the leech-slug had bitten Jewel earlier, studying the bite. “Well, that’s the problem. She’s been bitten by a tentacor.” He said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

  “A tenta-what?” Rain asked, eyes narrowing in on Jewel’s shoulder where the bite was and then flitting to Jewel’s eyes which were glazed over but beginning to glow.

  “A tentacor, or as we like to refer to them as- truthtellers.” The Queen said as she took her place on her scalloped shell-shaped throne. She looked almost predatory as she peered down at everyone from her perch and Jewel found herself distrusting the Queen more and more, well, in between the hiccups and laughing that is.

  “Everyone will be seated and then the meeting will begin.” The Queen announced, motioning towards the table that had now appeared a few feet from the front of the throne with enough chairs to seat everyone.

  Ambrosia hurried over to Jewel and slathered on a handful of spit-dirt where the truthteller creature or tentacor as Sage had referred to it as, had bitten her.

  “Oh, there’s no need for that. No salve of your world will heal the bite.” The Queen said with a creepy smile. “I’m afraid you’ll just need to let the venom run its course.”

  “But Mother, we have the-” Coralia began, confusion marring her features.

  “Enough!” The Queen said, an expression on her face warning Coralia to not speak another word. “Everyone will have a seat. The King and I do not have all day.” The Queen stated harshly.

  Frost scowled at the Queen but pulled out a chair for Jewel to sit in, before taking his place on her right. Galadriel and Skye took the two seats to Jewel’s left and the rest of the group followed suit. Only Teagan and Ambrosia refused to sit and instead guarded Jewel’s back.

  “Do you two dare to defy my orders?” The Queen asked Ambrosia and Teagan incredulously.

  The Queen looked as though she was about to say something additionally, but the King placed his tanned hand upon her arm and she relaxed just a bit.

  “Now, now, Nerissa.” The King said in a silky, smooth voice. Jewel was almost mesmerized by the fact that even though he was speaking in but a whisper, his voice still seemed to carry throughout the room. “It is only right that the Unknown have protection. You know very well that if we were in the Otherworld that we would be doing the same thing. They aren’t defying you, merely making sure that their leader is protected which is not only understandable, but quite expected. I will allow it. For now.”

  Queen Nerissa nodded. “As you wish, Finley.”

  King Finley squeezed Queen Nerissa’s hand before addressing the group before him. “Now, I feel that it is only right if we are all transparent with our interactions today. I know that the Unknown will be, due to the truthteller venom, but I must ask the rest of you to do so as well. Do we have an accord?” He asked, looking directly at Jewel.

  “We do King Finley. However, I think it is only right that we start our possible alliance out on the right foot. Or the left which could also be right.” Jewel ranted with a giggle and a hiccup that both irritated her and made her want to laugh even more.

  “As do I, Unknown.” King Finley agreed.

  “Then I believe that if Coralia knows of something to rid my body of the venom from the truthteller, that it is only right that it be given to me.” Jewel smiled weirdly. “After all, we are here to build trust and how can we do that if I’m not thinking as clearly as I could without the venom. I say we get rid’em the venom. Yes?” She said, causing a few raised brows from the ridiculousness that was coming out of her mouth. Jewel merely shrugged and giggled and hiccupped some more. She had no control over it whatsoever, and it made her think that maybe this is how Zekiel Mangrove must feel all the time. Maybe he had been bitten by the nasty little truthtellers too at some point and just never got the
antidote, Jewel mused to herself.

  And while Jewel mused, the King too appeared to be mulling things over. He stroked his orange-ish beard before running his hand through his sunrise-colored hair. His amber eyes studied Jewel for several minutes before he finally spoke.

  “Agreed.” King Finley said, causing Nerissa to purse her lips so hard that it looked as though she had tasted something sour. “Coralia.” He said, and the mermaid sprinted off quickly.

  Everyone sat in silence until Coralia’s return. She placed a small piece of something brown and spiky in front of Jewel and then rejoined her brothers who were situated near their parents.

  Jewel looked at the brown spiky thing in confusion, not quite knowing what she was supposed to do with it.

  “You eat it, Unknown.” Queen Nerissa said in a very agitated tone, and an expression that was screaming ‘I wish I was anywhere but here’ and ‘how does this Unknown know so little’ all at one time.

  Jewel, not wanting to offend anyone, plucked the spiky chunk off the table and popped it into her mouth, and much to her surprise- it melted like butter and tasted like candy. Jewel smiled happily as she savored the flavors and felt the effects immediately. The fog receded from her mind and she was no longer feeling the same out-of-control euphoria she had been moments prior.

  “Can we get started now?” Queen Nerissa said with a frown and a roll of her cerulean eyes, clearly still unhappy that the King had agreed to Jewel’s request.

  “Yes. Thank you.” Jewel said to both the King and Queen.

  “You are quite welcome, Unknown. Now. Why are you here?” King Finley inquired.

  “Well, King Finley. We are here in search of ingredients needed for an antidote for my Dad. You see, he was stabbed by Slayer, or what I believe Coralia referred to as the Ancient Corruptible, and we need to create a potion that hopefully will serve as an antidote. We also are hoping to meet with the Council to discuss the disposal of Slayer and an alliance between worlds.” Jewel said simply.

  “This Unknown cannot be serious.” Queen Nerissa shook her head, making her blue-green ringlets bounce. “Why would we want to involve ourselves or our resources with anything you just mentioned?” She turned to the King, not waiting for a response from Jewel. “This Unknown brings trouble to our doorstep, Finley. We must distance ourselves from what she is proposing. It will do us no good to find ourselves in a war.”

  “You’re going to find yourselves in a war sooner or later. What side you will align yourselves with is the only question at this point.” Jewel stated. “But if you do not want Aquatica involved, then could you at least point us in the right direction of where we might find the Council. Because I would really like to get rid of Slayer and I need the ingredients for the potion that will hopefully save my Dad.”

  King Finley sat up a little straighter and narrowed his amber eyes in Jewel’s direction. “Do you mean to tell me that you know where the Ancient Corruptible is?”

  “Yes, I do.” Jewel said simply as she took out the dagger in question and placed it on the table in front of her.

  Everyone in the room, aside from Jewel and her group, hissed and shrank back a bit at the offending item.

  “The Unknown brings unspeakable evil to us. We must dispose of her and her group immediately before they can wreak havoc in Aquatica, Finley.” Queen Nerissa urged as Jewel re-sheathed Slayer onto her belt. “We must not delay.”

  “Father, if I may speak.” Coralia said, her head slightly bowed as she took a few steps forward.

  “You may, Daughter.” King Finley agreed, still eyeing Jewel warily.

  “I did not sense deception or evil from the Unknown. In fact, I believe she speaks the truth about wanting to dispose of the Incorruptible. I do not think she wants to use it to gain power.” Coralia insisted.

  “That matters very little, Coralia.” Queen Nerissa snapped. “You have no idea what that weapon is capable of. Even the strongest and purest of any world can fall victim to its allure. Not to mention that if used properly, it can lay waste to an entire army with one slash. No. This Unknown has to be dealt with immediately.”

  Jewel felt her group stiffen and she herself began to glow, emanating waves of power in a warning against all who might try and harm her or her friends.

  “See. Even now, the Unknown is unstable. The Corruptible has made her strong, but it has also made her power-hungry.” Queen Nerissa spat accusingly.

  “Lies.” Jewel snipped. “I’ve never wanted power, and the only thing that has made me strong is my own inherited powers and magic.”

  “That is enough, you two. Enough. I will be making the final decision here.” King Finley bellowed, pausing only briefly. “I have heard what everyone has had to say.” He began, his eyes fixing on Jewel. “Unknown, you come into Aquatica with no invitation and carrying a weapon that is a threat to everyone. In short, you are not welcome here. We also have no allies. Aquatica stands alone. It always has, and always will- but if we ever were to make an accord, it most certainly wouldn’t be with someone wielding the Corruptible. Now, I will not be executing you or your throng today-” Both Jewel and Queen Nerissa began to protest, but the King held up his hand, effectively cutting their protests short. “-but you will be escorted out of Aquatica, with the understanding that you are never to return. However-” He started, his expression softening. “-Coralia seems to believe you, and I trust my Daughter’s judgment to a certain extent, so what I can do is allow you access to our Realm until the tide shifts in order to find the ingredients you desire. Take only what you need in order to create your potion, and then leave. I will not give you another warning. Consider this your first and final. Now, this meeting is adjourned. Coralia- take your brothers, the Unknown, and their throng and figure out what it is that they require. You can point the Unknown in the right direction, but you are not to assist any further than that. That is all.” He finished with an annoying wave of his hand.

  Jewel’s lips were tightly shut as she realized that they had failed in their mission to gain an ally. But be that as it may, she also didn’t want to shoot a gift horse in the mouth, so to speak. Her Dad needed the potion, and this was her one shot to gain what she needed from Aquatica, so she stood, dipped her head in the King and Queen’s direction and followed Coralia, Dune, and Brine out of the throne room.

  “Um, so, where exactly are we headed now?” Rain asked to no one in particular.

  “We are going to Brine’s room. He has acquired quite a few rare plants over the years and perhaps what you are looking for will be there. But either way, we will be able to go over that potion of yours and see what we might have and where you will be able to find the other ingredients that you seek.” Coralia answered, walking with a smooth but quick gait down countless hallways and up numerous stairs, which of course Jewel managed to lose her footing on more than once.

  When Coralia finally stopped, it was to allow her brother Brine to open a very rustic looking door with several odd shapes adorning it. Jewel was almost certain it was the language of Aquatica, but she was no expert, so assuming was as good as it was going to get.

  The three siblings entered the room first and visibly relaxed as they plunked down on the ginormous bed within, letting out audible sighs almost at the same time.

  “That whole thing was ridiculous.” Coralia said, her pink eyes rolling. “I think Mother’s actually getting worse.” She commented to her brothers as Jewel and the rest of the group filed in and found seats at various desks and pieces of furniture scattered around the room- which wasn’t hard since based on sheer size, the room was equivalent to a penthouse suite.

  Sage and Zephyr were the only one’s not sitting at this point. Brine, Dune, and Coralia were still going back and forth on how horrible the meeting had gone, but Jewel caught the two boys perusing through the several dozen shelves of plants, herbs, books, and various other trinkets which were all safely tucked in their own individual jars. It was like a greenhouse, bookstore, museum, and spell castin
g store that could all be accessed within the confines of Brine’s bedroom, and Sage and Zephyr weren’t wasting any time. Zephyr was already rifling through a very large book that he had found on the beautiful bookshelf that appeared to be made out of a myriad of different colored pearls, and Sage was walking around- pen in hand- jotting down quite a few notes as he studied each jar.

  “Well, alright then. Back to business. We don’t have a lot of time before the tide shifts and believe me when I tell you that you don’t want to disobey a direct order from my Dad.” Coralia said, running a hand through her long, sapphire hair.

  “Aw, yes. Straight to the point again, Rae.” Brine said, his lava-like eyes twinkling as he spoke. “Well, alright then. Rae is right, of course, so where is this potion? I’d like the opportunity to study it before we begin our search, if you wouldn’t mind.”

  “It’s right here. I’ve got it.” Sage said as he headed towards Brine. We have already found the two ingredients highlighted, but unfortunately, there are quite a few more that are needed still.” He admitted, as he handed Brine the book.

  The group sat in silence as Brine studied the book for a few minutes, which seemed like an eternity to Jewel. Dune was busy sharpening his two-edged spear, and Coralia had laid back on the bed and looked to be almost asleep, when Brine finally finished.

  “Huh.” Brine mused as he shut the book, not offering anything more, but quickly moving to his bookshelf where he picked up a scroll of sorts. “The potion you are attempting to create won’t help you when it comes to trying to rid someone of the poison from the Corruptible. Only poisons that were created in the Otherworld can be cured with this.”

  Jewel’s jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious!” She exclaimed, her heart suddenly beating like the drum line at a college football game.