Chapter 13: Weird Communication Options
When the merchant finally left, his creepy humming that felt like singing followed him until the stairs, Nadeira sat back against the bars once again…
*blob*
Maribel was curled up half-asleep, but Nadeira's eyes caught something odd.
There was a puddle of water on the floor. Nothing special…except it was glowing.
She frowned. "Well, that's not suspicious at all. Should I drink it? Maybe it's magic juice. Maybe I'll die."
The puddle rippled, and a voice came from it. "Do not drink us."
Nadeira blinked. "Excuse me?"
The glow spread wider, and suddenly three faces appeared in the water. Caspian, Nyxmaris, and Orrisian stared up at her as if they were broadcasting from the ocean's first mirror.
Nadeira's jaw dropped. "Of course. My stalkers. I can't even get kidnapped in peace."
Caspian made sure he sounded strict. "We tracked you down. Where is that bastard?"
Nyxmaris glared. "We'll kill him tonight."
Orrisian cracked his knuckles. "Yes. Slice him like a fish."
Nadeira raised a hand. "Whoa, whoa, calm your fins, murder club. We can't just rush in."
They all stared at her like she'd lost her mind.
"You are in a cell," Caspian stated slowly. "With a creepy merchant above you. What do you mean, don't rush?"
"I want to meet the Baron," Nadeira closed her eyes, and then crossed her arms.
Orrisian's eyebrows flew up. "Why? To stab him with your eyeballs?"
Nadeira smirked. "Close. I want to castrate him. You know, a little snip-snip. Family jewels gone. It'll be fun."
Maribel, half-asleep, mumbled, "That's… graphic…" and rolled over.
The princes all spoke at once.
Caspian: "Absolutely not."
Nyxmaris: "This is reckless."
Orrisian: "Castrating sounds fun though."
Nadeira pointed at Orrisian. "See? At least one of you understands me."
Caspian pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is not a joke, Nadeira. He will…"
"He will cry like a baby when I'm done," she cut in. "Look, I've been tricked, betrayed, sold, dragged, and locked in a cage. Let me have this. I deserve it."
The three of them exchanged glances like it was some silent fish telepathy going on. Finally, Caspian sighed like he was giving his soul away.
"Fine. But if anything happens, you start crying."
Nadeira stared at him. "Excuse me?"
"You cry," Nyxmaris explained calmly. "We will hear it through the water and appear immediately."
"That's your grand plan?" Nadeira laughed. "You want me to scream like a toddler or…?"
"Exactly," Orrisian said proudly. "Cry, wail, scream. We'll come."
Nadeira dragged a hand down her face. "This is the stupidest safety system I've ever heard of. What if I sneeze? You'll all jump in here with swords?"
"Yes," Caspian replied without hesitation.
She groaned. "You know what? Fine. I'll cry. But if I'm crying, it won't be for you. It'll be because I'm about to stab someone's manhood."
Orrisian gave her a thumbs up. "As long as you cry loud."
Maribel muttered from the bench, "This is the weirdest rescue plan ever…"
Nadeira looked at the glowing puddle again. "Anything else, oh mighty sea stalkers?"
Nyxmaris fixed his mode to a serious one. "We will not fail you again. Trust us this time."
"Yeah, yeah," she waved him off. "Now shoo. Before the merchant comes back and thinks I'm talking to myself. I already look crazy enough."
The water rippled, and the three faces began to fade.
"Do not do anything foolish."
Nadeira smirked. "Too late."
The puddle vanished, leaving nothing but damp wood.
Nadeira leaned back against the wall, sighing. "Cry for help. What a plan. I can already see it: me bawling like a baby while holding a knife. Very dignified."
Maribel peeked one eye open. "Are you really going to… you know…"
"Yes," Nadeira nodded simply. "If the Baron shows his smug face, he's losing more than his pride."
Maribel winced. "That's scary, my lady."
"Good. He should be scared."
Thanks to the wind, the waves slapped against the hull, and Nadeira wondered how long before the Baron showed up.
She pictured him waddling in with his fat rings and greasy hair, ready to claim another victim.
"Just wait, Baron. I've got scissors with your name on them."
She didn't notice the shadow that had slipped down the stairs until the lantern light.
The cell door rattled.
The merchant's voice hissed through the dark. "Time for a little inspection before we leave, darling."