A Daughter's Love

Chapter Nineteen.

Malia.

Captain Benjamin was waiting for us along with Malik in the navigation room when we reached the deck. He was dressed plainly apart from his Captain’s hat and red coat whereas Malik and I stood out like sore thumbs dressed in all black from head to toe. Neptune’s coat hung from my body when I moved to stand beside Malik who had his arms crossed over his chest, gazing down at the table in the centre of the room “Your mother” Ben informed as my eyes took in the sight of the image among the black smoke that swirled around upon the surface of the table. Ryker stood a little away while my brother and I studied the woman. She was seated at a circular table though she was the only one we could see, dressed in a navy gown that had a low cut neckline and was decorated in sapphires. Her flesh was flawless, her features not a day older than we remembered her, prevented from aging by the immortality that was death. Though she appeared beautiful, queenly and even powerful, her eyes were tired and her mind was consumed with thoughts, fears and worries. The faint traces of crow’s feet stretched out from the corners of her eyelids whereas light lines that were hardly visible seemed to form around her mouth. Both Malik and I resembled her in different ways, his pale flesh and silvery hair, my mismatched eyes and beauty “Neptune wanted you to see her” Ben explained while he too studied the woman’s image as though seeing a ghost or a portrait that had been painted long ago of a person he had once known in real life. Slowly, the smoke began to evaporate until the image was no more and we were all stood, staring at the place where she had once been “It is all he could do, for now” Malik appeared to be lost within himself, his jaw set and his hand lingering on the wood before him, eyes hard with so many unanswered questions. I reached for him, my own hand tenderly gripping his upper arm “She’s hurting too” I felt the need to say to which he tore his arm away from me and moved to the far corner of the room to study the spines of the various books that had been arraigned to fill the bookshelves. I understood why he felt the way he did toward her however he wasn’t the only one who had problems to deal with or questions that had yet to be answered. Ryker studied him when the winds beyond the navigation room doors began to pick up speed. I turned to see what was causing the change in weather when two figures appeared, stepping forth from a mirror that reminded me of the ocean’s surface. The door disappeared and both were left dry. The god nodded toward the witch who moved for the navigation room, mixing various herbs into a bowl then crushing them to form a combination of some sorts as Neptune appeared in the doorway “The sword?” Malik questioned, turning his head for the first time to look at his father. I had already forgotten about the weapon but Malik remembered, wanting to get the war over with so that he could go back home to Vannes where he isolated himself in the Library and lay reading most of the time “In order for us to retrieve it we must gain the allegiance of another god-.” Neptune explained, his sapphire gaze locking with mine, taking in my clothing from his coat to the dress that sat beneath it. Ryker shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortable with anyone who saw me wearing something so short and revealing “But not just any god-.” Aurella proceeded, mixing liquids with the herbs and crushing it into a black substance. The way she worked was like a painter or a sculptor, in her mind, creating a masterpiece from nothing “The fire god, Vulcan” the name sent chills down my spine but Malik and Ryker only waited for her to continue. Ben sunk down on a chair beside the table, watching us while we conversed “This will not be an easy task-.” Neptune explained, nodding in agreement with the witch’s words. Aurella paused to glance at him with her empty, ivory orbs, hands stilling “As it is one that only you can accomplish. Our success lies solely with you, Malia” I stiffened at the god’s words, the way he said it like the weight of the world rested upon my shoulders and my shoulders alone. Malik straightened his posture, wanting to protest but remained silent “Your hand” Aurella insisted, setting the bowl down then holding her palm out for me to place my hand into. The emerald ring radiated power when I did so, hesitantly. Out of thin air came a dagger which she used to slice open my palm and drip my blood into the bowl to mix in an ebony substance along with the herbs. I gritted my teeth and Ryker made to help but was stopped by Neptune’s pointed glare. The witch then began to chant in a language I couldn’t understand as my palm healed and she mixed the ingredients together “Teleportation works differently depending on circumstance” Neptune explained when she moved past him to the centre of the deck where she dipped two fingers into the bowl and began drawing a circular pattern on the wooden floorboards “The farther the distance travelled, the stronger the spell must be enforced with blood” I clenched my healed hand and nodded in understanding, the weight of my upcoming responsibility already weighing me down however the image of my mother, as powerful and determined as she was, was enough for me to start making my way toward the witch, hands stuffed into the pockets of Neptune’s coat when I passed by him “What is it you expect me to do?” Aurella paused, the liquid made from a blend of herbs and blood, dripping from her fingertips when her empty, ashen gaze turned to glance up at me who stood beside her kneeling form “You, boy-!” Neptune’s voice erupted from somewhere behind me, directed at none other than Ryker. I glanced over my shoulder to find that my brother was stood in the doorway of the navigation room, his back to the Captain whereas Neptune’s back was to me “You will accompany us” there was a part of me that questioned what the god was getting at, just what it was he wanted to use Ryker for but I pushed the thought away when Aurella finished her circle and stood, her figure towering over mine “You will challenge Vulcan to a trial by combat-.” she informed, holding the bowl out between us only for it to disappear in a puff of black smoke as if it were nothing but ashes that trickled to the deck of the ship “And you will win” she declared, soulless eyes boring into mine, demanding me to win, leaving me no other option but to succeed at any cost necessary. I breathed in deep, jaw clenching when I thought of my mother, my father “I’ve never lost” I reminded her, meeting her icy gaze head on. It was true, never once had I ever lost in a fight, not even when facing my brother in his most powerful form. An amused smile tugged at her lips when I stepped past the barrier of her circle to stand in the middle of it, turning to face the navigation room. Neptune shoved Ryker forward, the red head stumbling with his cluttering bag clutched in hand as Joe squeaked violently on his shoulder, no doubt shouting profanities at the sea god. Malik shot Neptune a glare before he too joined me in the circle along with Aurella and Ryker “No one is to utter a single word when we reach Rome, do I make myself clear?” the sea god warned, his sapphire eyes moving from me to Malik and back to me. I rolled my eyes and ignored the feel of my half-brother’s shoulder rubbing up against mine. It wasn’t until Malik’s gaze burnt a hole in my skull that I spoke up “Crystal” I sarcastically said, not meaning it when Neptune stepped into the painted circle and Aurella began to chant in the same language she had before. Ryker’s muscles stiffened when the winds began to pick up, called forth by her haunting voice. Captain Benjamin approached us, Blue gazing down from the helm with curious pupil-less eyes “We will be anticipating your safe return” Ben announced just as black smoke started swirling around us, my hair violently whipping around though the pain of the strands striking my cheeks, forehead and chin hardly registered in the back of my mind “-paradóste mas sti Rómi, undall” the witch spoke and the blackened smoke devoured us whole, engulfing our bodies and blinding our eyes to all that might occur around us. I hated that feeling, the fear of not being able to see, of not being able to anticipate what is to come. My hands balled into fists in the pockets of my coat as lightning flickered around us in the blackness as though we were drifting through the night sky during a storm. I caught a glimpse of Malik staring at Ryker from in between the flashes of light but then it was gone and we were stood in the middle of the Roman Coliseum, surrounded in marble stands, pillars and red sand that stained my boots, the scorching heat of the sun dangling overhead, enough to make a mortal man die of dehydration within seconds but it wasn’t the sun that burnt so aggressively, no, it was the man who was stood before a throne, looming over us like the sun itself. My hand slowly lowered itself from where it had been shielding my eyes when they locked onto his fiery red ones, as crimson as blood yet as bright as a flickering orange flame. He wore a brown leather skirt, brown boots but his chest was left bare, sporting various burn scars that clad his chest, arm and back. There was a red marking or Roman numerals on one side of his face and his head was partly shaven with the remaining hair braided tightly down his back. He reminded me of a stallion, a warhorse, majestic and mesmerising even when he was simply grazing among a bloodied battle field, littered in corpses. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him, even though it hurt to look, even when Neptune moved to address him, all I could acknowledge was Vulcan and his powerful aura that left me gasping for air.

Neptune.

I knew exactly what I was doing, despite being aware of just how cruel and selfish it was when I stepped forth from Aurella’s surface to address my brother for the first time since my separation. Having leaned of Vulcan’s attraction to Evangeline due to her defeating him in battle sent a wave of blinding jealousy through me which only fuelled my decision that would ultimately throw Malia into the line of fire. My lips parted to speak but the god of fire spoke first “Why are you here, brother?” he demanded, his voice gruff and irritated at the very sight of me. It was because of my separation with Eva that tore her away from him, away from the realm of the gods and forced her into Caleb’s mortal embrace, or at least, that was how he saw it to be “Evangeline has been cast into Purgatory-.” I began to explain, using the one thing I knew would get him thinking, the woman he cared about most, the one who had fairly beaten him in battle many years before. Vulcan grunted “And what does this have to do with me?” he questioned, his scarlet gaze narrowing onto my form, clothed in all black with minor blue or silver detailing, red dust clinging to my polished, black, leather shoes. I cleared my throat, jaw clenching as I contemplated saying the words I regretted to speak out loud “She needs your help-.” it made bile rise in the back of my throat which Aurella knew, her ivory gaze lightening at the sight of my clear discomfort, a sinister amusement flickering past her features as if it brought her pleasure to see me so disgusted and desperate “I’m sure you and that pirate are more than capable of assisting her” he countered, turning to leave the Coliseum however I moved forward, the air around me shooting outward, causing him to pause in his tracks, glancing back at me as if I was nothing but an annoying pest that kept getting in his way “She asked for you!” there it was, the snare that sprung on the trap, getting his eyes to flicker for the briefest of moments with worry and hope yet he kept up his façade because of his pride. Vulcan stayed rooted in place, waiting for me to continue “She needs the Leandors sword that is currently in Amun’s possession-.” I searched for the right words but there were none, there was no putting it lightly when I continued “She needs a god to lose control” the fire god’s gaze narrowed into slits as he comprehended what exactly it was we were asking of him. There wasn’t enough convincing for him to want to agree and I knew this when he shook his head “Amun is not to be messed with. I may be a god of fire and war but even I am aware of this” he moved to leave, his back directed toward us when Malia did exactly as I expected her to do. She shot forward, coming to a stand at my side with her hands balled into fists at her sides, her mismatched eyes filled with determination and her body radiating a fighting spirit “I challenge you to a trial by combat!” her voice roared throughout the Coliseum, drawing the god’s attention onto her by the sheer power that erupted from her voice. She was a born warrior, a slave of war that Vulcan could sense from miles away. He moved to glance down at her “And who exactly is it that dares challenge me?” he demanded, his face stern and nose wrinkled in irritation as if he knew it had been my plan all along. Malia looked in y direction as if to ask permission to speak and I nodded “Malia May Campbell, daughter of Evangeline and Caleb Campbell” she announced, shoulders straightening, chin rising and legs parted in a firm stand’s that managed to catch Vulcan’s attention. The god grew silent, inspecting her from the mismatched eyes down to her features, her plump lips and curvy body “This is your plan? To force me to fight a little girl, betting that she would win despite the odds?” Vulcan questioned, his gaze moving to glare at me. He was underestimating her already, betting that she would be useless in a fight and expecting to win. I breathed a laugh and ignored his asked question “If she defeats you, you will assist us in acquiring the sword-.” he stiffened, a desire to wrap his hands around my throat clear in the way his fingers twitched with need “And you will grant her our blessing as is customary when a trial by combat is won” a blessing might not help us in meeting with Amun, however it will bring Malia luck on the battle field as she will be blessed by the god who symbolizes combat and war himself. He slowly began to make his way down the steps that led to his throne, every step like the beating of a war drum “And if I win, you will leave as quickly as you came” it was a fair trade, all he wanted was for us to leave him alone as he had been before we came but I knew that we would win, that Malia was stronger than just any mortal, she was as close to immortal as any human ever came, stronger than the sea beast Cetus and equally matched with Amun’s first born son Perseus. She could defeat any opponent that stood in her way or give her life trying “Deal” she accepted without hesitation. The red headed boy grew fearful as he watched from the side lines however Malik grew irritated at the fact that I had chosen his sister to fight the god instead of him. Vulcan paused, examining her in the black dress, boots and coat with her short dirty blond curls framing her face, a face that so resembled both her mother’s and her father’s. Malia shifted her weight from one leg to the other, fingers flexing anxiously. It was as though her body wanted that fight, as if it burnt with a need to taste the adrenaline, to lash out and kill “Our battle shall take place at dusk” Vulcan informed then left but not before examining her once more. He knew there was a reason why I chose her and he could smell her eagerness, her excitement. Malia relaxed, her gaze boring into Vulcan’s back as his muscles shifted while he retreated into the Coliseum, leaving us to prepare for the upcoming battle “Well done” I praised, glancing back at Malik and Aurella, my eyes staring straight through the red head as though he didn’t exist. I knew that he would no longer matter once Malia won the battle against Vulcan, the god’s attraction toward her would burn out any traces of love the boy had for Evangeline’s daughter. She glanced at me from out of the corner of her eye then spoke the words that crushed my prior thoughts “I want Ryker’s life force permanently linked with mine-.” my eyes forcefully fixed themselves onto the boy’s form, a fat rat perched atop his head while he clutched a bag in hand that cluttered faintly. It would be a process that would forever connect him to her. He would heal instantly just as she did however if she was to die, he would too and visa versa. Ryker was weak, he could be easily killed and if that were the case, Malia would end up dead. I went to protest but she turned to fully face me, her gaze cutting like that of her father’s, dominant and overpowering “Or else I will throw this fight” it wasn’t just a threat, it was a warning. I gritted my teeth, an indication that I agreed to her terms. She smirked then started in the direction of the circle, leaving behind to watch her as she went. Her stubbornness, her recklessness was exactly as her mother’s, even the way she moved made me think of the ivory haired woman with mismatched eyes, dressed in a simple night gown as she walked away from my bed, there on the surface of the ocean’s water. It was after our night of passion when she was about to return to the ship but paused to glance back at me from over her shoulder with sadness and longing already evident in her gaze. I could only hope that Evangeline would forgive me for placing Vulcan’s attraction onto her daughter without her knowledge or Malia’s but it was necessary if we were to obtain the sword, if we were to win the war and save her from Purgatory.

Malia.

Joe squeaked happily when I approached both him and Ryker, leaping from his head to land on my shoulder, gripping at the fabric of my coat and attempting to tell me something but I couldn’t understand him despite him being able to understand me “What are you-?” I began to question the rodent but he scurried down my arm and skidded across the dirt to grab at Ryker’s bag, causing it to clutter to the ground below, its content spilling out like the intestines of a slit torso. Iron glistened in the harsh sunlight along with the familiarity of two, identical daggers that I instantly recognised as being the ones I had stolen from the merchant so long ago. Joe climbed onto the bag and squeaked with big black eyes that held worry in their inhuman depths “He desires for you to be safe” Aurella informed, studying the rat as if he was some type of disease. Her narrowed ivory gaze went from the black creature to Ryker with suspicion “At least, for the boy’s sake” she added to which I glanced at the red head before kneeling in front of the bag, my gloved hands moving to grip the daggers in my palm, the familiarity of their weight and shape almost comforting there in that foreign place, so far away from home. I’d left the behind however Ryker had thought to bring them in case I ever needed them. My black, leather belt caught my eyes and I quickly fastened it around my waist, sticking the daggers into their sheaths before something else caught my attention. Layered metal, shaped into the form of a woman’s chest drew me to pick the chest plate up, holding it as though it were a mere child, delicate and fragile “What’s this?” I questioned without taking my eyes off the piece decorated in bronze studs, meant to be tied at the back like a corset with brown leather as chainmail hung across where the shoulders would be. It was heavy but light enough that it wouldn’t slow me down during a fight “It’s the breast plate that I forged for you” Ryker stated, shifting to kneel across from me, digging through the contents of his bag to find a plates metal skirt that was to be tied in the same fashion. It matched the plate and had leather strips dangling down from the protective layer. The set reminded me of what Roman Gladiators wore hundreds of years ago without the sandals or fringed, red helmet “Like she’ll need them-.” Malik spat, gazing down at us with an angry eye and arms crossed over his chest. My back muscles tensed at the venom in my brother’s tone, hands gripping the breast plate, my reflection staring back at me in the polished surface of the metal “My son is right-.” Neptune agreed, stepping up to my side, his salty, damp scent filling my nostrils and overpowering Aurella’s strong herbal smell that somehow always managed to make my nose sting “Malia is able to heal instantaneously in a fight. You would have been better off forging them for yourself” Ryker’s hands shook slightly as he examined his handy work on the armoured skirt so I reached across the bag to grip his wrist in my palm, causing him to look at me with furrowed brows and catching everyone off guard “They’re beautiful-.” his talent for forging both weapons and armour never ceased to amaze me. Ryker’s gaze softened, eyes searching my features as Malik stood by, watching us interact “Thank you” I breathed, letting go of his wrist to stand upright as I shrugged Neptune’s coat from my shoulders, handing it to the god when I pressed the breast plate to my chest and turned so that my back was to a kneeling Ryker “Do you mind tying them for me?” I questioned, glancing at him from over my shoulder. Joe scurried up Ryker’s arm to sit on his shoulder when he nodded, standing with the armoured skirt tucked away beneath his arm so that he could reach for the leather strings to help me tie the corset at the back of his breast plate. I felt his trembling fingers while they worked, his warm breath on the back of my neck that sent a chill down my spine “She has requested for you to permanently bind their life forces together” Neptune felt the need to inform Aurella which had both Malik and Ryker stiffening at the words he spoke. The witch studied me when Ryker finished tying the strings and stepped away to allow me to step into the skirt, tugging it on over my short, black dress that Neptune had left for me “You do realize that he is weak?” she questioned me, ignoring the fact that there were people around us, people I cared about. I began to tie the skirt on the side where Ryker had placed the strings, lacing them and tugging them as tightly as I could so that the metal and leather hugged my form as though it were a second skin “By binding your life force to his, it could put you in danger-.” I finished tying off the skirt then glanced at the witch, feeling Ryker’s desire to protest growing from beside me however I wasn’t going to give him the chance to protest to my actions “But it would make him stronger” I argued and Malik’s chin raised as if to listen more intently to what we were saying. He was just as over protective of Ryker as I was and wanted to see him safe no matter what the cost “If he dies, you die” Aurella shot back at me. Those very words triggered Ryker into stepping forward but before he could speak, I turned, hand moving to shove lightly at the centre of his chest, keeping him pinned in place “Please” I breathed to the young man in front of me, feeling his heartbeat thundering through the thin material of his shirt. The thought of him being killed during one of my battles was enough to drive me insane with grief and loss. I couldn’t risk it; I wouldn’t risk it “He won’t die-.” Malik surprised me by saying, his eye locked on his father’s form with determination and assurance in its sapphire waters. Those very waters found my crystalline fountain, littered with golden coins “We won’t let him” I nodded my head firmly and looked to the witch who sighed heavily, her heels stabbing at the dirt when she moved to stand beside Ryker and I. Aurella’s ashen gaze momentarily glanced at Neptune as if to ask permission and when he nodded, she began to proceed with the spell “You will pay the price for your own foolishness-.” the woman declared, her hand moving to retrieve one of the daggers from its sheath that hung from the belt, tied around my waist. The way she held it in her pale hand was as though she was about to stab something “Not mine” she finished, holding her palm out for Ryker to place his right hand into. He knew what she wanted, having seen the way she had cut my palm prior to that in the navigation room. He gritted his teeth, sucking in a sharp breath when the blade dug into the skin at the centre of his palm, twisting from side to side as if to create a hole in his hand but soon she stopped, her iron grip letting go of his hand. Ryker held his hand close, glaring at the witch when she expectantly waited for me to hand over my right palm. I let out a firm breath then handed it over, hardly flinching as she repeated the motion, my eyes squeezed shut to try and fight the pain “Join hands” Aurella instructed, brushing the blade along the fabric stretched across her thigh to clean it of our blood. I held my hand up, palm toward Ryker and he did the same, lacing our fingers together, our blood mixing and dripping down to the red dirt, trailing its way down our forearms. Malik turned his back to us, arms crossed over his chest while he inspected the Coliseum around us “Vertus mortaim, hecsial ventum” she chanted, the winds picking up around us, causing my hair to whip violently in every direction but despite that, my eyes remained locked on Ryker’s. There was a protest in their depths but the conversation between us in the alley way before departing for the Sunken Soul replayed itself in the back of my mind. The way he had so confidently said that I would never lose him because I wouldn’t allow for that to happen. He trusted that I would protect him, he knew that I was strong enough to take care of both of us. The way his gaze softened at the sight of me made me realize that he too was thinking about me like I was thinking about him. Aurella slit her palm, hand raising above ours to drip her own blood onto our joined hands, her power radiating from our palms, up our arms and to our chest where our hearts began to beat even faster. My eyes began to glow vibrantly, fangs protruding and nails elongating into claws right in front of his gaze “Your blood, your life now flows within his veins” the witch informed me but I couldn’t look away from him, not until the black veins that ran up from our hands to our shoulders faded and the blood had completely stopped flowing. When I let go, my eyes stopped glowing, fangs retracting along with my claws, my palm completely healed. Ryker breathed hard when he examined his own hand, eyes searching for any sign of the wound but there was none, only the layer of blood and the droplets that had streaked his arm “It is done” she informed, handing me my dagger before she turned to head in the direction of the Coliseum but Neptune’s throat clearing brought her to an abrupt stop, so much so that she turned to address us once more “If one of you are injured, the other will experience the same injuries-.” she warned despite there being a scowl across her lips. An unimpressed look was shot in the god’s direction before she continued “Keep that in mind during your next fight” those last words were spoken directly to me as a reminder of what I had forced her to do. I nodded my head, allowing her to retreat, Malik glancing at me and Ryker moments prior to following her. The iron gates were opened and they ventured through into the winding hallways “Make your father proud” Neptune spoke the words that ignited a fire beneath me. They reminded me that I was a Campbell, as strong and as fierce as the golden lion if not just as deadly. I straightened my shoulders which was enough of a sign for him to join the others “Lia-.” Ryker’s voice called out to me, drawing my eyes away from the back of the retreating god and onto him. He had managed to gather the things that had spilled out of his bag along with my armour and held it in his hand “Be safe” I felt my heart rate pick up its pace when I reached for his face with the palm of my hand, running my fingertips along his cheekbone and jaw. I knew I would win, I had to win even if it meant sacrificing myself for Neptune to retrieve the sword but what had me concerned was the wounds I would receive from Vulcan since they would in turn be inflicted upon Ryker “Be strong” I whispered, my hand dropping away from him, the sun starting to set over the horizon, winds having died down completely, leaving only the dry, desolate air to fill my lungs. My eyes caught sight of Aurella perched high on the stands behind Ryker ‘We will be observing from afar’ she informed, meaning that they will be somewhere within the Coliseum, watching me fight to prevent me from worrying about Ryker if he was to experience my pain. I nodded “You have to go” I declared, motioning to the iron gate. Ryker glanced at it then rubbed his lips together before leaning down and pressing a kiss to the centre of my forehead “Kick his ass” I couldn’t help but breathe a laugh at his words, his warm but worried smile the last thing I saw before he jogged toward the iron gate that started closing once he was inside along with the rest of the gates, trapping me inside. The fight between Vulcan and I would be an endless one, a constant struggle of two people who were equally as stubborn and equally as skilled when it came to combat but the war we would rage against one another wouldn’t just end with fights, it would end in arguments, tears and agony. A dreaded ending that I, myself, couldn’t predict.