The Lake of Blood

[Empusa Sesshi]

She doesn't stop you, or say anything further. The itching is particularly intense on your right forearm, the skin peeling a bit to reveal slick bluish scales.

[Teddy]

"Oh, damn! You! Is there anyway to stop this?"

[Empusa Sesshi]

She hrms a bit regarding you. "You murdered three of mine without hesitation, why do you deserve salvation?"

[Teddy]

"That was.. That was because I thought they were going to kill me. If I had thought to pause... I'm sorry. It's just.. I don't need THIS and my current one."

[Empusa Sesshi]

She blinks those large hazy eyes. "Thought they were going to hurt you? The first was pleading and the second two were merely talking to one another."

[Teddy]

"You haven't gone out, have you? If I could've understood the first one, before I killed it, I might've thought something was wrong.. And the other two, well, I thought it was best to strike before I was hurt... Again, I'm sorry, but taking my life won't bring them back... Nor will it atone for my sins. How about... I do you a favor if you tell me how to remove this?"

[Empusa Sesshi]

She frowns a bit. "Beneath the lake you'll find a stone, I believe it to be the source of our affliction. If you destroy it, you'll save us and yourself. As to what you owe for the lives you stole, you'll explain to the orphans why you felt the need to murder their parents."

[Teddy]

"That... That sounds easier than it is, right? Well... Allright." And with that, Frey stood at the edge of the isle, reminded himself to kill Fate later, and dived into the lake, going down to the bottom.

[Empusa Sesshi]

The priestess watches you jump in...of course once you're inside you realize you uh...can't exactly see the bottom, or through blood at all...

[Teddy]

Frey thought to himself. <Okay, I've got a great to-do list. I've got to find a stone I can't see, explain to children why their parents are dead, and remove all of my current curses. Waita second.> Frey bobbed back up, looking at the priestess. "...Can you direct me to this stone?"

[Empusa Sesshi]

She sighs and makes her way over to the water's edge by you. "I can help you, yes." She rests a sticky hand over your face...and the sunlight begins to sting your eyes badly, it's also gotten a bit harder to breathe. "There, now go."

[Teddy]

"...Thanks." Frey then dived back into the blood, going straight to the bottom. <Now, where would a cursed stone be?>

[Empusa Sesshi]

Diving in your newly adjusted eyes allow you to see perfectly in the murky 'water'. You see many more of the fish beings here and there, all keeping a distance from you. It looks like they don't have homes, just lay on the mud on the bottom of the lake. You manage to see the faint outline of a cave.

[Teddy]

Frey shrugged and headed for the cave, sword still hanging at his side. "Well, the worst thing is that I could die..."

[Empusa Sesshi]

As you approach the opening, you notice something odd, there's a faint disturbance in the water, like something's there, but unseen, invisible. It's also rushing right at you!