Nik froze with the cup halfway to his lips when the woman's words finally registered in his brain. He couldn't believe it...it didn't make sense that she...this woman was...but why now? After all this time? After all these years?
If she truly was who she said she was, did she only now care about him because he had almost died and now she felt something? Felt what? Surely if she knew he was injured to the point of death and now just showed up right where they were with a gift in the shape of an evil man she had to have known where he was all this time. Right?
He felt angry. It was a white hot rage that grew in his stomach but he wasn't even sure if it was justified.
And now this? This place? Why the theatrics? Why send Lia to find them when it could have just been her instead?
The woman laughed at Morgana's comment as if she had just heard a terrific joke, "I prefer the term enchantress. Sea witch has such negative connotations don't you think?" She took another sip of her drink and leaned back in her chair while crossing her leg over the other. She looked completely at ease and if it weren't for her extremely sharp eyes, one might easily believe she was completely nonchalant.
She waved off the comment about Selari, a secretive smile and a chuckle bubbling at her lips, "Oh no, Selari wouldn't dare." Then she placed her cup down and smiled warmly at the two of them.
"I am so happy that you're here. I wish it had been under different circumstances, but I'm just so glad it doesn't need to be pushed any longer. I'm sure you have questions that Lia couldn't answer for you – she's a nice girl but simple. I believe you want to know where you are and what this place is?"
She stood and waved her hand, the bracelet on her wrist flashing gently again before the water on the floor next to them rose gently to form the semblance of the very massive undersea dwelling they had stumbled upon outside.
"This is Home." She said quietly, proudly, "A project of mine...a very long project...it's taken decades but here we are and while it might still need some tweeking here and there but it serves it's purpose." She waved her again again and the water shifted, the bottom door opening and then transforming into the cavern they had seen only moments before.
"This is our entrance for seafolk, the one you were brought into. I found that something more organic tends to help our kin feel more comfortable and at home than swimming into something more...human....in its design. In fact, most places here can be customized to your own preferences. We have about four hundred souls on board and there's still room for more. Now this..." the water shifted yet again and formed a small boat on the surface, "Is our human entrance."