In the chaotic suburbs of Turbid Waters…
Lumia, Thalassa, and Cassian were undercover, making their way through the disordered and dark streets of the district. The latter followed the first two without much trouble through the water as they ventured deeper into it.
The surroundings grew denser and gloomier; visibility down here was poor due to the suspended mud and floating sediments that blocked the light. The currents carried a smell of decomposing algae and rust, while the buildings seemed hastily stacked from the remains of sunken ships and worn sea stone.
Finally, the two mermaids stopped in front of a structure from which a greenish, dying light emanated. An old corroded iron anchor hung over the entrance, announcing a kind of underground inn or bar. From inside filtered a muffled murmur of rough voices and the clinking of glasses, revealing the refuge of the most feared inhabitants of all Azure.
The entrance of three cloaked figures, whose faces could barely be seen, drew the attention of the few tritons and mermaids who were giving themselves over to the pleasures of alcohol or lust.
In a corner, the sharp, coquettish voice of one of the workers rang out with a shameless little laugh, while a drunkard held her tightly and brazenly played with her breasts; far from complaining, she rubbed herself against him with clear delight, enjoying the groping and seeking to please him in order to squeeze a few more coins out of him.
Another of the waitresses approached them; she pulled out a notepad to take the order and, in a bored voice, said:
"There's no room at the bar. For three of you, you can go to the table in the back; with a few extra coins I can see about setting one up farther from the 'abyss.'"
Lumia glanced at what the waitress called that and swallowed hard at the sight. The table itself wasn't bad, but above it lay dead fish and drunkards' vomit that hadn't been cleaned; and not far away was the bathroom door. Before she could be the one to throw up, Thalassa stepped forward and replied:
"We've come to see Mireya."
The waitress lifted her gaze from the notepad and finally gave them real attention.
"The boss doesn't see just anyone if they're not going to spend. Get out," she snapped in a dry, unfriendly tone.
"Tell her we're old friends—she'll regret not seeing us."
The worker raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced, but turned and disappeared into the back without another word.
Lumia looked slightly anxious, her mermaid tail (hidden beneath the cloak) swishing from side to side. Seeing that the woman wasn't returning, she moved closer to Thalassa and asked:
"Do you think she'll see us? It's been a long time since I last came here. Without you, I'm too scared to come alone."
But her tutor had no time to answer her young apprentice. Instead, the woman who had left a moment earlier finally returned; with a flat, disinterested expression she pointed toward the back, then went off to attend, with a smile, some other customer who was ordering alcohol and offering lavish tips.
Thalassa took this as permission to proceed and headed toward the rear, followed by a fearful Lumia and by Cassian, who looked around the place with fascination. In his mind he was quite interested in who the owner of a place with so much personality might be, though… his gaze drifted to what they called the abyss and he shook his head in amusement.
In the "back" where they were heading there were stairs leading to a second floor. Unlike the first, there seemed to be a few calmer customers there; and in that very place, where Thalassa knew very well, was that woman's office.
No one received or guided them, so once she reached the door she entered without knocking, knowing full well that with Mireya this was the best approach.
Inside, a pale mermaid lay reclined in complete indifference on a worn marine-leather sofa, lazily exhaling the smoke from a sea-pipe. The woman ran a look of annoyance over them and pursed her lips, clearly irritated by the interruption.
"Don't they teach people to knock anymore?" she drawled in a hoarse, slurred voice, slowly straightening up. "Such bad manners."
Yet despite her feigned anger, a spark of amusement shone in her dark eyes. She knew perfectly well that if they had waited outside politely like ordinary diplomats, she would never have let them in; in her world of Turbid Waters, only those bold enough to force their way in earned the right to be heard by her.
Thalassa did not rise to the provocation. She knew this woman well enough to understand it was better not to pay attention to her verbal games. In fact, her arrogant, sharp attitude immediately reminded her of a certain someone walking right behind her.
The tutor threw back her hood at that moment and looked at Mireya with an amused expression. At the same time Lumia did the same, a little more nervously, while Cassian simply remained still and silent, observing.
But the relaxed atmosphere shattered completely the moment Lumia's face became visible. Mireya swiftly reached behind her, where a harpoon rested, and raised it, aiming it straight at the princess.
"The royal family and the nobles are not welcome here, Thalassa," she declared coldly. "We've been friends for a long time, but I don't want you in my waters anymore."
Mireya stood with a sharp look, bringing the tip of the harpoon close to Lumia's face, while her eyes locked onto the blue mermaid, who had no idea how to react to the sudden change and the hostility of someone she had considered a friend.
"I was in Hydria," Thalassa finally said, trying to ease the tension. "You know that, right?"
The gaze of the woman holding the harpoon wavered for a moment, showing a crack of weakness; but her expression quickly recomposed itself and she continued staring at Thalassa with coldness, moving her weapon and gesturing with her chin toward the exit.
"Neither she nor I agree with the confinement they ordered for the people of Turbid Waters; in fact, we're here to try to fix it, Mireya." Seeing that her words did not seem to convince her, she continued and insisted: "You know Lumia, you know me—we're not strangers, Mireya."
The pale mermaid frowned. Her gaze shifted to the one who still had not shown his face, then looked back at Thalassa demanding an explanation. The latter smiled at this, confusing Mireya.
The tutor approached Cassian, took his hand, and declared:
"He's my boyfriend."