Athtar. This is the name of Lysanthir's home.

To reach it, Lysanthir had swum faster than Y/N had ever known was possible. Diving down, he had gripped the girl tightly. Only a few caves with air pockets dotted the mountainside, and it was a long trip down.

Athtar's stone entrance towers imposingly above the ocean floor. When they had entered the gates, Lysanthir had covered Y/N's eyes. She knew it was to prevent her from knowing the layout.

She had felt them swimming down winding passageways, heard voices murmuring as they passed room after room. Finally, Lysanthir had stopped and uncovered her eyes, revealing a sprawling, ornately decorated chamber. Shaped in a semi-circle, the room boasts several floors, tall pillars connecting each one. Doorways lead off to countless rooms and hallways. In the centre of the chamber, a staircase leads up to an open pavilion.

This is where Y/N is now, sitting on a chair made of carved stone and woven kelp. She is on a ledge near the top of the pavilion, where its large, domed ceiling creates a bubble of oxygen. The ceiling is magnificent, painted to represent the night sky. Constellations of twinkling stars illuminate the dark backdrop, and a blue moon glows.

Lysanthir left her here, telling her to stay put until he returned.

Evidently, murdukann are far more civilised than she had thought. It makes their monstrosity all the more terrifying.

When Lysanthir had told her of Athtar, she had imagined something far less grand. Perhaps a repurposed shipwreck, or a hut made of rocks and sea mud. Something fit for such a predator.

Instead, she has been presented with what looks like an underwater castle. Athtar is a murdukann stronghold, carved deep into an underwater volcano.

What is this place?

It is clear from the voices she heard earlier that Lysanthir does not live alone here. Yet, when they had traveled through the Faians, he had said that murdukann knew to stay away from him. Maybe then, those who live here are the other murdukann who are "favoured" by the ocean, as Lysanthir had put it. Those with the greatest power.

Y/N shivers at the thought. Having to deal with Lysanthir is bad enough. She doesn't want to think about the fact that she could now be surrounded by more creatures like him.

She hears a door open somewhere below her, and two voices float up to the pavilion. One of them she recognises as belonging to Lysanthir.

Y/N discreetly bends down towards the water, eavesdropping on the conversation.

"I still cannot believe that you have brought her here so soon, brother," an unfamiliar voice sounds out, low and gravely.

Brother?

"She tried to escape," Lysanthir growls, "Almost got herself killed by a pack of gorgu."

Gorgu? Were those the goblin creatures that had attacked her back in the cave?

"Humans are always too rebellious for their own good," the stranger replies, "You should teach her a lesson, like I did with Katerina. Put her in her place."

Y/N begins to shake.

"Unlike you, Ryfon, I don't like damaging my property," Lysanthir retorts.

Ryfon. She can now put a name to the voice. The voice encouraging Lysanthir to hurt her.

"You can heal her after," Ryfon chuckles, "And you don't have to scar her face, if that's what you're worried about."

The voices grow closer, and Y/N sits back upright. She wishes the ocean would swallow her whole.

The two mermen emerge from the water. Y/N can tell they are definitely siblings, sharing the same dark eyes and angular features. However, the resemblance ends there. Ryfon's hair is a dazzling red, held back in a long braid. The right side of his mouth is torn by a jagged scar, exposing several of his sharp teeth. As he rises further from the water, Y/N can see more wicked scars marring his chest.

"You're a pretty little thing, aren't you?" Ryfon raises a hand to Y/N's cheek, but she shrinks away from the touch.

"Oh, so shy," Dark laughter bubbles in his chest, "But you're not fooling me. I've heard how feisty you are."

"I could have so much fun with you," he continues, "You know what I would do? I would start by—"

"Enough," Lysanthir cuts in, "You won't be doing anything."

"Calm now, brother," Ryfon backs off, smirking at Y/N, "I already have a mate."

"Then go to her."

Y/N glances nervously at Lysanthir. She recognises the silent warning in his silken tone.

Ryfon shrugs, seemingly unbothered by the tension, "She's still recovering from last night."

"In that case, why don't you go tend to her?" Lysanthir slowly unfurls the spines along his tail.

Ryfon bristles. He then winks at Y/N before disappearing under the water, serpentine tail glinting.

She watches him go, eyes fixed on his retreating form.

"You do not need to fear him, Y/N", Lysanthir says as he swims to her, "A murdukann is forbidden from hurting the mate of another."

For some reason, this does not reassure her. In fact, this entire conversation between Ryfon and Lysanthir has been the exact opposite of reassuring.

Y/N couldn't wait to get out of the cave system. But now that she is here at Athtar, she feels more in danger than ever before.

~~~~~~~

After meeting Ryfon, Y/N is in no mood to encounter any other murdukann. Luckily, Lysanthir seems just as disinclined.

He immediately guides her from the great hall. After a short passageway, they surface into a room. Y/N's eyes widen in surprise.

Unlike the rest of Athtar, these quarters are almost entirely out of the water. A sumptuous bed is to her right, and a glass window gives her a view of the ocean beyond. A doorway to her left leads to a bathroom, and she can see the edge of a large bathing pool inside.

"These will be your private lodgings," Lysanthir says, "Until your changing is complete."

Her changing. She wish she didn't know what he means by that.

"I am sorry you cannot stay with me," He caresses her cheek with a regretful look, "But my quarters are underwater."

Y/N doesn't know if she can keep the relief from flooding her face.

Lysanthir says he has business to attend to, but will return for dinner. And with that, he leaves her in her new rooms.

Not bad for a prison...

Y/N sighs and climbs out of the water.