Rio kept one eye on her, then his eyes landed on the ring. "That ring…. you planted it" he said quietly, "What the h*** For?!"
Rashi flew back over the water, suddenly diving in soundlessly. Having kicked off his shoes in the house, he quickly propelled himself downwards with his wings.
"To see what lovely young women I could attract down here. And I'm sure glad it was her." He tilted her face upward, flashing a flirty grin.
Rio glared at him, "Get your hands off her…" he said, "Now." his fins at the end of his tail flaired threateningly, blue aura appearing aound him.
Soon Rashi neared the group, he could go deeper, being part water elemental, but much further and he'd feel the effects of the pressure. "Rio!" He threw Rio's sword to him.
Rio caught it, water swirling.
"And why should I? From what I can tell, she isn't yours. So finders keepers." The pressure was really starting to get to her head, making her lightheaded. She dropped her head on his shoulder, but not because she wanted to.
Rio saw the movement, "She can't survive in the deep you idiot!" he said, "At least head for the surface so she doesn't die on us!"
Rashi put a hand on his shoulder, wings flared. "You know I can protect her, and I will if they don't" he said, glad that he had more pressure resistance.
His grip only tightened on her. "Who do you take me for?? I'd never hurt her in such a way!" He swam up far enough for the pressure to stop killing her but not to the surface. "Don't worry my princess, I won't let them hurt you." He purred quietly, making her shudder in disgust.
Rio swam up after them, and Rashi followed, also grateful for the release in pressure.
"I can tell you're from the deep sea." said Rio, "You can't resist the pull forever" he frowned at them.
(He should be asking why Rio can resist)
Rashi glared at them, but stayed back knowing this wasn't his territory.
"Then why can you? You're no different than any one of us. If we can't resist it, why can you?" Fiona was still rather confused until her eyes flickered to the ring. She put it on, it should be easy enough to just take off, shouldn't it?
Rio sighed, "I'm part air elemental. As long as I don't get dehydrated I'm fine." he said,
Rashi watched him, "Don't make this any worse for yourselves mates…" he said.
"Here's the deal. I'll let you two go free but I keep the lady. Refuse and I'll have no choice but to force you out." He pulled her closer, making her squirm slightly.
"Not happening." said Rio, "I won't leave her with some creep."
Rashi nodded, "And I'm not leaving my brother to fight off you, and whoever your friend might be." he said, gesturing back to the cave, knowing that there had been someone else.
He sighed dramatically. "I was hoping you wouldn't do this. But it seems you've left me no choice." The other merman finally came out from his spot and the first handed Fiona to him, locking her in his grip. "By the way, the name's Antonio, just in case you were wondering." The second merman handed him two small shiny black swords. "Now, enough talk. You want the girl? You have to go through me."
Rio brandished his blades, "Oh goodie, just the sort of weaponry I train against." he said wryly, water current swirling around the two. Suddenly he lunged for Antonio, blade flashing as he went for the other's tail, keeping his own out of reach.
He seemed almost like he'd expected this, dodging perfectly before going for Rio. Fiona couldn't watch. She hated watching people fight and get hurt, especially people she cared about.
Rio twisted, lunging for him again, driving him to the surface.
Rashi would've followed, but he stayed to keep an eye on the other, making sure Fiona was alright.
He growled softly, diving back down and propelling himself to the deep cave he'd come from. He had to, he had no choice. However his partner seemed to take great interest in his friend's hostage considering he couldn't keep his hands still on her. They kept moving, exploring, almost like he was memorizing her and Fiona would've absolutely kicked him where the sun don't shine and darted if she could've moved.
Rashi watched him, growling, but knowing he couldn't take the chance that she'd get hurt.
Rio followed him, darting after him as fast as possible. "Coward!" he yelled, "Get back here!!"
"How about you come back down here?" He called back, laughing. He was having a grand time messing with Rio.
Fiona looked to Rashi, her eyes literally begging him to do something, anything, that would help get this creep off her.
Rashi flinched, sensing her disgust and panic. "I can't…. I can't risk you getting hurt…." he said softly, desperately searching for a solution.
Rio slashed a glowing blue diadem in the water, using it to warp behind Antonio, attacking unbelievably fast.
Caught majorly off guard and unable to counter, Antonio was forced to take the blow in full, making him cry out in pain. But he knew exactly how to get to him. He made eye contact with Fiona and smirked before snapping his fingers. Instantly, she cried out in pain. "There. That ring does a lot more than you think it does. Everytime you attack me, she'll feel the same pain."
Rio flinched, backing off. His blade had blood on it, he'd managed to cut the other's side. Carefully he swam around Antonio, watching him.
Rashi flinched when he heard the cry, glancing down to see what had happened, growling at the man that held her.
Antonio just smirked. "As long as she wears my ring, she's connected to me and I can do as I please to her."
Rio glared at him, his blue aura flaring, mixing with a lighter blue. The same was happening with Rashi, only opposite colors. Suddenly they switched palces and attacked. Rashi swept a hole in the water, an air bubble around Antonio, winds preventing him him fom escaping into the water.
Rio lunged for the man holding Fiona, dropping his blade as he deliberatly bit the guy's arm to get him to let go, slapping him away with his tail as he pulled Fiona away and to the surface.
She could barely react, the pain was still too strong. But she instantly relaxed once she was out of the creep's arms. Sure, she was still tense but at least she was with someone she trusted.
Rio pulled her to the surface, forcing his tail to fade as he swam, ending up back in his shorts, legs still scaled. Soon he was helping her out of the water and onto land. Setting her down on the sand several feet away he took her hand, readying to pull the ring off. "They can't reach you here…" he said, watching as Rashi burst fom the water, flying high to stay out of danger.