A Daughter's Love

Chapter Sixteen.

Malia was thrown clean across the deck of the Sunken Soul, her body tumbling and skidding across the wooden flooring until her back collided with the mast, forcing the air from her lungs, lips gaping and eyes wide. What a way to be awoken from her slumber on the steps that led to the ship’s helm where she remained awake for most of the night, alert, in case her brother was to awaken and seek his revenge. It seemed only fitting that he would awake once she herself had fallen asleep. She collapsed into a heap on the deck, gasping for air, chest rising and falling rapidly as a wheezing escaped her “Malia!” Ryker, who was drawn from his deep sleep by the loud banging of her body against wood exclaimed, stood in the doorway to the navigation room where his hammock had been hung the night before, a torn blanket and rock hard pillow accompanying it. Malia raised her hand to signal that she was fine and got to her feet, stumbling but managing to stand tall in order to face her opponent. His face was as familiar to her as that of her own father, having the perfect pale flesh of their mother but his glowing blue eyes were as bright and vibrant as those of Neptune with silver hair that was tossed in every direction, messy and unkempt as it usually was “Didn’t mom ever teach you that it’s rude to hurt your little sister?” she questioned, grinning as her own gaze studied him, the way his body heaved similar to how hers had just moments before, desperate for air. She then narrowed her gaze, able to see the difference in his appearance. His body was covered in bluish scales that reflected silver, his hands clad in black claws, his teeth like those of a shark, triangular and jagged. The scales that ran up from his deformed, dragon-like hands went up to below his elbows and on his back a large dorsal fin could be located, made up of spines and webbing like those of a fish. Its colour shifted from silver to blue in the early morning light. It was then that Malia realized that something was terribly wrong with her brother. Two spiralling horns began to protrude from his head as the veins across his bare chest, arms, neck and legs began to stand out against his flesh “You can’t breathe, can you?” she asked almost tauntingly then shrugged the coat from her shoulder’s, Neptune’s coat which she allowed to drop to the deck below before she took off at a sprint toward her brother. She had to protect the ship and its people at all costs, that was her main priority. Malik swung his claws at her but she ducked and dodged, jumping off the wall of the navigation room to connect her fist to the side of his head and landing in a low crouch with her back to him. The man’s head shot to the side at the blow but he quickly recovered, clawed, reptilian hand reaching for her throat when she stood to address him, picking her up off the ground and holding her in mid-air. Malia gasped, her hands clawing at the one that was constricting around her throat as she kicked and thrashed to get free of his hold. The commotion had awoken the rest of the crew, including Captain Benjamin who moved above deck to see what was happening only to grow cold at the sight of Malia being bested by her sibling, Malia who so mercilessly killed within seconds. The girl tried kicking at her brother’s chest but failed, his claws digging into the sides of her neck and drawing blood that trickled down her throat to her chest and shoulders. Malik wasn’t Malik anymore, he wasn’t her usually annoying yet overly protective brother, no, he was a monster just as she was, just as reckless and unpredictable. His eyes glared at her, blue orbs with two slit black lines running down the centre of them “Let her go!” Ryker demanded, drawing the monster’s attention onto him, head turning with rows upon rows of jagged teeth exposed in warning but the redhead was pulled back, away from the fight by the grip of a firm, pale hand, a hand whose fingers displayed many rings of silver and sapphire “You have no part in this, boy” Neptune sternly told him, turning to look back at the portal of black smoke as Aurella stepped through it as he had before her. Ryker’s hazel eyes found Malia’s mismatched ones, the concern in their depths swirling with her firm and convicted gaze. She managed to nod her head once to convey to the young man that she would manage then turned her attention back onto her brother. Her nails began to extend into claws which she dug into his wrist, tearing through the arteries that could be found there until his blood began to pour both onto her and the deck of the ship. Malik hissed then threw his sister from the ship, her body flying through the air. She was overcome with relief, knowing that this would put the fight at a safer distance, away from the ship and the people on board it, away from Ryker but she knew that a fight in the water would prove to be too difficult for her to win. A large gulp of air filled her lungs moments before her body was to breach the surface only to be forced past her lips when she collided with a solid surface as if the water had been frozen over. Her form once again tumbled and skidded until she managed to dig her claws into the hardened surface, slowing herself down enough for her to come to a stop on one knee, free arm raised in a clenched fist with her lips parted, panting. Malik made his way to the ship’s railing, the crew scurrying in every direction to place some distance between them and the horned monster whose arms dripped with the blood of both siblings, his wounds already healed when he passed by Aurella and Neptune without even bothering to acknowledge them but his eyes did catch Ryker’s for a split second before he hauled himself onto the railing. Malia rose to stand upright when Malik leaped down from the railing, landing in a low crouch on the water’s surface below. The force sent a ripple through the waters that caused Malia to stumble as it passed, like a warning, announcing his attacks which were soon to follow. Her fingers twitched to retrieve the daggers from her boots but she restrained herself, knowing that it was her brother stood before her and not just another criminal to kill. When he moved, it was like lightning, flickering to a stand then lunging, appearing before her within seconds. Her eyes widened, unable to block his left fist as it struck the side of her head, sending her down to the surface below. Her head collided with the water like tiles or stone and bounced off just as a hand tangled itself into her hair and pulled her to her knees, her head forced back to look up at her half sibling. Malik used his right fist to strike again, letting go and allowing her to once again crumble to the surface beneath them. Blood pooled from her nose and into her mouth, making her white teeth appear as though they were stained yellow from the substance “Weak” Malik spat, the single word like a slap in the face as Aurella’s words echoed throughout her mind. Was it true that Malik was stronger than her? No, it simply couldn’t be. She was going easy on him but why? Was it because he was her brother? She loved him, cared for him just as she cared for her father. Getting to her feet, Malia looked to her brother and ran the back of her hand across her nose “Don’t underestimate me just yet” she commented, her eyes glowing, fangs extended and claws still at their full length, ready to cut through flesh at any moment. Malik swung again but this time she dodged, stepping back only to dodge another blow that came as quickly as the first had. She ducked only to strike her brother’s abdomen. He staggered back then quickly advanced again, hardly effected by her blow. She lunged, gripping his extended arm, ready to deliver a punch and used it to hoist herself upward, one foot bouncing off his chest, twisting herself to allow her other foot to connect with the side of his face, a blow that had the full weight of her body behind it. The soles of her feet met with the water’s surface, spinning so that her shin could collide with Malik’s face, kept low due to her prior attack that left him hunched over and sending him staggering to the side. Apart from the indents and bruises in the shapes of her boot’s laces that decorated his face, there was no real sign of any damage. Malia spat blood onto the water, blood which seeped through the surface and mixed with the current below “You need to calm down” she informed, thinking back to the first time Neptune had said the same to her after she’d awakened. This didn’t sit well with her brother who advanced, his knuckled striking the centre of her chest, sending her flying back once more. How was he capable of such force when she could barely cause him to lose his balance? It frustrated her to no end as she landed on her back and came to a stop a few feet away. Her hand struck the water in annoyance as she forced herself back onto her feet, eyes glaring at her brother with a mixture of venom and determination. This time it was her turn to attack, her speed like that of his, sending water splattering in every direction when she moved, her arms managing to deflect four of his blows before her own landed, fist moving upward and connecting with his chin. She moved quickly, gripping his arm and turning so that she could hoist him over her back, slamming his down onto the water’s surface. A shockwave tore through the air along with a ripple of water that shook the ship and shook the crew so that they stumbled to regain their balance, some gripping the railings to prevent themselves from tumbling. Malia’s lips parted in a fierce cry that echoed throughout the world when she let go of her brother and took a step back. His body remained still, sinking through the surface and descending further down into the depths. She gasped for air, panting, stood with her shoulders slumped and body exhausted, making the mistake of assuming that their fight was over. It was only when she turned to return to the ship that a piercing shriek burst forth from the water and Neptune knew exactly what would happen if a demi-god was to be awakened as a Heart “Cetus” the sea god uttered to which Aurella grew restless. Both of them wore black from head to toe, a signature look that they had adopted over time. Malia froze, turning to glance back in the direction where her brother had been defeated only to be sent flying moments later when a large beast leaped from the water, its jaws snapping as if to consume her whole but the wave it created had swept her out of its reach just in time. She pulled herself onto her hands and knees and looked to the beast as it fell back into the water. The only way of describing it was by comparing it to a dragon. It had two spiral horns on the top of its head, its body a silvery blue as spikes and spines stood on end on its back and down its neck. Webbing decorated the sides of its face, a face like that of a reptile with eyes that were as blue as the ocean beneath them. Two jellyfish tentacles extended out from its nostrils as rows upon rows of shark teeth lines its jaws. Its long neck connected it to a body like that of a blue whale but it had four limbs, clawed at the ends while a crocodile-like tail propelled it downward, into the ocean, into the unknown where it could hide without fear of being seen. Malia’s head whipped around to glare at Neptune who stood on board the Sunken Soul. She knew that her brother was no ordinary Heart and so did he in that very moment “f**k!” she snapped, getting to her feet, eyes searching the waters beneath the hardened surface for any trace of the monster but there was none. She turned this way and that, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end, her muscles tensed and as alert as her ears “We have to help her!” Ryker insisted back on the ship, hurrying to the railing where Neptune was stood only to be met by a narrowed gaze that stopped him dead in his tracks. The god did not like this young man and would’ve left him in Vannes if Aurella hadn’t insisted on his usefulness “And do what?” Neptune demanded, his harsh tone drawing the eyes of Aurella onto them, the witch caught off guard by the appearance of the sea monster from legend whom she had never seen before “What could you, a mere mortal, possibly do to help?” Ryker swallowed hard, his gaze moving from the woman whom he loved to the father of his childhood friend. He knew that if he was to attempt to help, he might just worsen things, he might place his Lia at a disadvantage if she was to fight and protect him at the same time. His hands balled at his sides and his nostrils flared as he breathed in deep “It would seem that you are smarter than I initially gave you credit for” Neptune noted when he realized Ryker’s defeat, his decision to stay where he was and simply observe despite every muscle in his body screaming at him to help her, to lunge himself at Malik for Malia’s sake. With that being said, they returned their gazes to the fight, to the woman who circled on the water, head moving this way then that in an attempt to spot Cetus’s next move until she completely froze, her ears picking up on movement below. Quickly, she tore herself from where she stood and flung her body across the surface of the water until she was crouched low and facing the place where Malik next breached. As expected, he leapt from the water and for the first time she retrieved one of her daggers, biting down on its blade before she took off at a run, heading straight for the beast as it cried out, jaws snapping shut, having only caught the salty liquid that she had left in her wake. The monster was large and therefor it was slower than her, a disadvantage that she used to her favour. She lunged, grabbing hold of one of its horns then hoisted herself upward to stand on its muzzle. She reached for the dagger, raising it above her hand, gripped with two hands, about to stab it into the beast’s skull, into its brain but she stopped herself when she remembered that the monster was her brother. She couldn’t kill him even if she wanted to. By then, during that moment of hesitation, gravity took hold and she had to leap from its head, landing stories below on her shoulder and shattering her collar bone. Her cry of agony shot through the air as her free hand gripped at the aching area, the other, still able to hold her dagger. Malik then began his descent back into the water, turning his head to bite down on his sister’s body, dragging her past the surface and deeper down into the depths. Her teeth gritted when his dug into her torso, arms and legs, unable to breathe due to the necklace that still hung from her head but s***h at its nose and muzzle with its dagger she did until the beast let go of her and began to circle around her. Blood, there was so much blood that the sea appeared red as she began to heal, her wounds closing and her shattered collar bone readjusting itself back into place. Her hair obstructed her view and because of this she was caught off guard when Malik came up from below, once again clamping his mouth down around her body, creating new wounds where the old ones had healed. She screamed, swallowing water in the process. Together they broke through the water’s surface and Malia gasped, coughing and gripping at Malik’s face since her lower half was completely enclosed within his mouth, able to feel his forked tongue as it slid around her legs and up her thighs. She could look him directly in the eyes, those blue orbs so wild, so void of humanity that it was clear that Malik was no longer there. The creature before her was not her brother, but the sea guardian, Cetus “Come on, Malik, I know you’re in there” she tried to reach out to him, the tentacles that protruded from his nostrils, wrapping themselves around her arms, causing her to shriek in agony as they stung her. Her teeth grit and her glaring gaze locked once more with his. She kicked at the inside of his mouth, her foot colliding with the palette then his tongue and the back of his throat. The beast heaved, its tentacles releasing her long enough for her to jab her dagger into the sea monster’s left eye. It cried out, letting go of her completely and together they fell back to the water. Cetus screeched, the sound vibrating throughout the water as Malia fell once more on her back, crying out when a few of her ribs gave way beneath the force. She was tired, so tired when she rolled onto her stomach, hands and arms trembling as they pushed her to stand, knees wanting to give in beneath her weight. Malik was stronger, he could not only control and manipulate water, he could become a guardian at will, capable of destroying everything that stood in his path. He could flatten cities, could sink entire fleets of ships, he could easily kill a mere siren if he so wished and the realization brought shame to Malia. She had always been stronger, had always been the better fighter of the two, having trained hard to get to where she was yet her brother could easily defeat her simply by having been the product of a god and a mermaid? It made her furious. She pulled her second dagger from her boot then began her wait, surely he would return, angry and seeking revenge for his eye and when he would she would leave him with a reminder of who she was, of what she was capable of, brother or not. Malia saw the beast long before he breached, shooting upward, heading directly for her so she stepped to the side and rooted herself on one knee just in time for him to break through the surface. When he did she jabbed her second dagger into the side of his face with both hands, watching as it cut through the scaled, thick hide until a clean cut had been made along the length of his body. Again, Cetus cried out then began to drop but this time its form shifted back into that of a young man. Malia tossed her dagger aside and raced to save him from breaking any bones as she had from her falls, catching him just in time moments before he blacked out completely. Both of her daggers had been lost to the sea along with Malik’s left eye which was bleeding profusely. A cut ran from below his right eye, down his neck, his chest and along his right leg but it didn’t appear to be healing as hers did so she hoisted him onto her back and headed for the ship where a staircase made of water appeared by Neptune’s hand for her to ascend onto the Sunken Soul. Once on board, she collapsed, laying her brother down on the deck with her body panting, beaten and bruised from the inside out as she slumped back against the ship’s railing “Aurella” Neptune said her name in a way that made his desires clear. She nodded then headed for the navigation room as Neptune picked his son up from the deck and followed after her, leaving Malia to tend to her own wounds and thoughts “Did you have to take his eye?” Ryker questioned, appearing in front of her and she glanced up at him with a tired, defeated gaze. She breathed a laugh and turned her head to the side, wincing when it hurt to laugh. Though she harboured no serious injuries, her body had taken a beating and it would take some time for the dull aching to eventually subside “Would you’ve preferred I take his life instead?” she asked and Ryker too laughed, shaking his head from side to side at the sight of her. He was worried, fearful of how she had pushed herself and terrified of what she might have to face in the future but most of all he was angry, angry toward himself for not having been of any use to her so without any warning, he bent to scoop her into his arms to her protest and carried her to the Captain’s quarters where he drew her a bath and gathered clean clothing for her as he had done many times before. He undressed her, bathed her, dried then dressed her only to brush out her tangled hair and lay her down on the bed where her parents had conceived her eighteen years prior. It was the least he could do. He carried her from the bathroom to the mattress with her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms slung around his shoulders and her face hidden in the side of his neck. That was how he set her down then proceeded to crawl off her but her small, delicate hand reached for his upper arm, stopping him “Stay” she whispered, her hand moving from his arm to the side of his face, the stubble that could be felt there, the smoothness of his flawless, sunburnt flesh. Ryker swallowed hard, the sight of her there in a loose fitting shirt and nothing more enough to drive any man insane but he restrained himself, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of her nose before he laid beside her, drawing her into his arms. She was so small, so delicately and vulnerably built yet she had just bested a sea monster, had faced him on equal footing without fear or hesitation. Her hands, so tiny in his large palms had killed so many, had taken so many lives that it was a wonder they hadn’t yet been permanently stained red with their blood. He held one of her hands in his while the other held her head close to his chest where she could hear his heartbeat and eventually fall into a deep slumber with her free hand balling against his clothed chest. He loved her, she was the first woman he had ever come to love, his crush having flourished over the past three years into a love so grand it could cause mountains to bend and oceans to dry. When he was certain that she was fast asleep and unable to hear him, he placed his lips to her ear and whispered the very words she had prevented him from saying before “I love you” he too then fell asleep among the sheets and pillows as the witch and god worked hard in the room above theirs to treat Malik’s wounds. Aurella bandaged his eye before she set to work on his other wound, his larger wound which she began to clean and stitch up, moving onto his eye only once it was clear that he would survive. His eye was permanently damaged and there was no hope of restoring it so instead she treated it and left it to heal as it wanted to, bandaging it shut once she was done to prevent any further harm to come to it “Cetus slain by Perseus half a millennium ago so tell me witch, how is it that he appeared here today?” Neptune questioned when the woman began to rummage through Ryker’s bag in search of Malik’s glasses which she would enchant to act as Malia’s necklace did, allowing him to breathe and walk on land among humans for as long as he would wear it. Aurella hummed once she found them then turned to address her contracted god “Surely by now you believe in reincarnation?” she questioned, thinking back to Neptune’s first born daughter and how a small portion of her soul still resided within Evangeline, having been carried from one generation to the next as a way of reincarnation. Neptune gazed upon his son, a warrior who had been wounded by Caleb’s daughter, his jaw clenching and nostrils flaring “My son awakened as a guardian, as the reincarnation of Cetus-.” to this he shook his head and turned away from the table upon which Malik was placed with the pillow from the hammock resting beneath his head and the blanket concealing his nude form “When will this madness end?” he asked but the question wasn’t directed toward anyone in particular yet even so, Aurella felt the need to respond, placing various herbs into a bowl which she would then grind down and mix with Malik’s blood that she had previously collected in a small bottle “When Amun falls” the sea god glanced back at her from over his shoulder, dressed in his usual black trousers, his polished shoes and black shirt but above that he wore a silk ebony coat that was decorated in black lace “Soon we must meet with Evangeline concerning the sword” he informed, referring to the Leandros sword which they needed in Malia’s grasp if they stood any chance of facing Amun, however that very sword was left in the ruler’s grasp after the separation and retrieving it would prove to be a difficult task “And her children” Aurella added, locking gazes with him before he looked to his son and nodded his head once, firmly. To tell a mother that he daughter was a killer and her son a monster was something no man or woman would ever desire to do. The grief it would cause Evangeline was unknown but Neptune knew that she wouldn’t take it well, he expected that she wouldn’t take it well.