A Daughter's Love

Chapter Four.

Ten years after the separation.

It had never crossed my mind that perhaps the gods were angry with me, that perhaps Amun was dissatisfied with what he saw. The perfect image of a small family, living happily, making it through life together but the most irritating image was that of my smile when I gazed upon my children. I was meant to mourn as Pandora did, meant to drive those around me mad with my own grief and Caleb was meant to take care of me, always worrying, always tormented by the sight of me so frail and weak, so riddled with sadness yet that hadn’t been the case. Caleb had told me of a friend from town who was a fisherman, a friend he had asked to take him out on the waters again for the first time in over a decade. I agreed, thinking that it would bring him some peace in his heart to once again feel the gentle rocking of the waves beneath his feet and the breeze in his hair. It was a beautiful summer’s day near the town docks when he boarded that small vessel which was nothing in comparison to the Sunken Soul. Rebecca and I sat on the beach, watching our children play in the shallow water all accept for Malik who was too interested in one of his books and lay with his head in my lap. In truth, both he and I feared that if he played in the water, he would forget about his abilities and reveal them. I brushed his hair out of his face, the round glasses perched on the tip of his nose as he read, gaze filled with wonder and curiosity of what was to come. I couldn’t remember the exact conversation Rebecca and I had that day but I knew that it had something to do with bakery. Maybe she had asked my opinion about some new pastries to add to the menu? One moment the sky was perfectly clear, the fisherman’s ship had departed and was drifting among the calm waves but the next the sky had darkened and a storm was fast approaching without us even having noticed “Father!” Malia’s voice pierced the air, drawing my eyes away from Rebecca and to the waters where the boat had been dragged beneath the waters, splintered chunks of wood drifted upon the surface along with other objects that had been on board, able to float “Rebecca, the kids” I instructed, moving to stand. Malik had sat up, his eyes staring worriedly at Malia and Ryker who still stood in the water. The red head met my eyes and nodded her head once before she began calling out to the two, telling them to return home with her. I remember running, heading for the docks, my bare feet sinking into the sand, fighting me but I struggled through until I reached the docks, pausing to gaze back at my children to make sure that they were alright. Malia had Malik’s hand in hers and was dragging him away from the beach while he continued to yell “I can help! Let go of me so that I can help!” I prayed that Malia wouldn’t let go, even Malik’s abilities couldn’t stop the events that were to unfold on that day. Because of their presence, I couldn’t remove my anchor necklace and left it where it was, running toward the edge of the docks, my heartbeat thundering in my ears and my breathing ragged when I dove into the water and began to swim, eyes scanning the murky waters in search of Caleb. Thunder flickered overhead, providing just enough light for me to notice him among what remained of the white and grey boat. I dove down, kicking my legs to reach him, hands moving to grip his clothing, wanting to drag him upward before my air run out. He was unconscious, hair dancing in front of his face and body limp when I gazed upward at the lengths between us and the surface. I kicked, gritting my teeth to reach it but I hardly moved. If I let go of Caleb even just a bit to remove my necklace, he would be swept away by the current, dragged down into the dark depths below. Why wouldn’t we move no matter how hard I kicked? Another flash of lightning came with the realization that if I didn’t let go, I was going to drown along with him and that couldn’t happen. My children needed a parent, they needed their mother. My eyes began to glow, my feet and fingers webbing despite still not being able to breathe. I couldn’t transform as long as the necklace still hung from my throat. I gazed down at Caleb, my eyes filled with tears at the thought of losing him, at the thought of only seeing him again once I, myself would die. I loved him, I really did love him but I loved my children more. I let go of his shirt, watching as he faded away from me, away from my grasp and clawed at my throat for the necklace. It was tangled in my hair, tightly wrapped around my throat, almost suffocating me. I tried and tried again to remove it but failed so I chose to swam upward but my kicks and movements didn’t bring me closer to the surface. Something was holding me there, trapping me beneath the water where I was unable to remove my necklace or return to the land. I was going to die. No. I thought. No, I can’t die here. My gaze turned in the direction of the shore, unable to see it but able to sense where it was. Were they still watching? Were they still waiting for their mother to bring their father home to them? I screamed in the back of my throat, thrashing and fighting, kicking and clawing against whatever kept me trapped in place. Malik. Malia. The names crossed my mind, once, twice then a third time and I tried again to remove the necklace, claws scratching at the flesh of my throat, causing blood to seep into the water but still I was unable to remove the silver chain. I knew that soon I would meet with Balor again and when I did I would demand to know who had been behind mine and Caleb’s death. I would murder them from beyond the grave for tearing me away from my children, I would torment them for as long as my soul would refuse to rest. I was going to die, I accepted that fact but before the last round of bubbles escaped my parted lips and the water filled my lungs, I gave one last silent prayer to the sea ‘Protect them, for they are mine and yours’ they were the words that I wished for Neptune to hear. If Caleb and I were killed, then perhaps the same being was after my children and for that I wouldn’t stand. My body, my corpse drifted limply among the waves and currents, my eyes void of all life, drained and empty as they gazed upward to the surface, to the flickering lightning as thunder rumbled around me. I would soon see Caleb again in those fields between this life and the next but I would never see my children again for many decades. Rebecca would be the one to raise them, the one to be there when Malia would have her first bleeds or when they would stub their toes. She would be the mother I never could be but at least they would have someone who resembled a mother to look after them. I remember the darkness swallowing me whole then I was thrown into a field of lush green grass where lions and zebras moved about freely, not harming the other. My body collapsed onto the greenery and I began to violently cough, vomiting up water while I gasped for air, hands gripping at the grass as I blinked away the darkness, trying to see there in that cavern. Caleb lay beside me, his face still, skin oddly pale but he was breathing, his chest rising and falling. He looked so peaceful, as if he were sleeping, as if he had given into death whereas I still fought violently against it “You have returned” the voice wasn’t feminine but instead it was gruff and mighty. My eyes shot up to glare at the giant of a man who stood among the grass, his arms crossed over his wide, muscular chest, watching me with black eyes “Why?” I gritted out past clenched teeth. I wanted to tear him apart but even I knew better than to challenge a god when I no longer was one. I was simply a mortal, as weak and as helpless as any other. I rose to my feet, hunched over to try and regain my balance “Why am I here?” I repeated, raising my head to lock gazes with the god of death. Balor watched me, compared my struggling state to that of Caleb’s peaceful one. He had given in and accepted his fate willingly whereas I struggled against fate’s hands, tugging on the restraints that dare bind me “It is Amun’s doing” he began to explain, his eyes turning to gaze upon the rest of the fields, taking in each creature, each tree and flower that bloomed beneath the glowing blue crystals of the cavern ceiling “His punishment was for you to mourn for the rest of your human life yet you did not, instead you flourished and because of this your human companion did not receive his own punishment-.” it must have been some sick twist of fate to punish someone in such a way because they had simply been strong enough to cope with the pain of loss. My hands balled at my sides when I stood up straight, shoulders pulled back and my chin held high regardless of whether I was a mere mortal or not “He underestimated your mental and emotional strength thus resorting to temporarily placing you here, in the place between life and death” temporarily? Did that mean that I wasn’t yet dead but not alive either? I breathed in deep and closed my eyes. Caleb and I were to be punished through the use of my agonizing grief, the grief I had felt shortly after the separation, the grief that had followed me for nearly a year until my children were born. My children had put an end to Amun’s punishment and because of this he desired a new form of punishment which was to take me away from my children. I could feel the rage coursing through me, the anger boiling up within my veins “I wish to meet with Neptune” I declared to which Balor lowered his arms and proceeded to protest. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to contain my fury, the sheer rage of a mother wolf who had been torn away from her cubs, leaving them alone in such a cold and cruel world “I am afraid that I cannot interfere with my ruler’s wishes. Though I may not agree with his methods, I have sworn an oath to him as my king” biting my tongue wasn’t enough anymore, it didn’t hold back the venomous words that I wished to spat. I raised my head and met his eyes with a glaring set that blazed like the fires of hell. He was taken off guard by the sight but stood his ground “Your ruler is an unjust tyrant who feeds upon the pain of innocent people and wishes to punish those who have been victims themselves!” I snapped, my voice so powerful that it radiated throughout the fields, bouncing off the cavern walls and echoing back to where I was stood “And I will personally tell him that myself, when I dethrone him with my own two hands!” the winds picked up, able to sense my anger and strength as it continued to vibrate through the world around us. I did not fear the god standing before me like I should have, instead I feared nothing if it meant reaching my children again. As long as they were alive and unharmed, there was nothing that could threaten me, nothing that could stop me from clawing my way out of those very fields and somehow, someway ending Amun’s reign “You are determined but you are reckless and thus I do not fear you” Balor announced, calm and collected like Pandora had described him all those years ago. He proceeded to turn away from me, not interested in betraying his ruler or being branded through the act of treason. I gritted my teeth, taking a strong step forward when a voice came from behind me, one that vibrated familiarly through the passage ways of my ear canals “You are a desperate mother, fighting for the sake of her children” Pandora stood a few feet behind me among the blades of grass. She hadn’t aged a day since last we met whereas I, now twenty-nine had faint traces of crow’s feet stretching out from the corners of my eyes along with the wrinkles that were barely visible around my mouth. I had aged but I was still young compared to Caleb who was ten years older than I was “It has been over a decade yet Amun still desires to punish you for an act you were manipulated into doing” Balor had paused half turned away to look to the woman he loved. She wore a vibrant red gown and her auburn hair that almost matched it was elegantly tied up. I appeared withered compared to her in my simple sundress with my tangled, damp hair “These are not the actions of a righteous king” she was now speaking to the god of death, looking past me and to him. He was much larger yet when she spoke he listened as though she possessed the most strength between the two when really she was a mere mortal who had taken up the role of god for many years before taking her own life and ending up in those fields “My love, we must give her our aid” the god released a strong gust of air and growled in the back of his throat, annoyed but compliant. He nodded then continued to turn away from us “Never before has a war erupted among the gods however now they will become torn-.” it was true, some will side with me and others will choose to side with Amun because of their fear and loyalty to him. A war among them could flatten the earth, could leave millions of human’s slaughtered in its tracks. I didn’t want war or bloodshed, I merely wanted to be with my children, to have my punishment lifted “And you, mortal, will be at the very core of it all” he added, the earth trembling with his heavy footsteps as he retreated. Pandora silently watched him go, her hands neatly folded in front of her and her eyes filled with a calming sense of gratitude toward the god for having listened to her wish of helping me. If it hadn’t been for her, Balor would have left both Caleb and I without a glimmer of hope for the future. He hadn’t said that he would but I knew Neptune would come to see me for the first time in more than a decade yet the reunion would not be a joyous one, it would be one of strategy and secrets. My eyes landed upon Caleb’s sleeping form, his face peaceful and his clothing still wet “Thank you” I found myself whispering to the woman who stood watching. I fell to my knees beside Caleb and reached for his face, holding it in both palms to assess whether there were any injuries but he appeared normal apart from being soaked “There is no need for your gratitude, Evangeline-.” came her powerful, controlled voice, sweeping over the lush green grass and the plains that stretched on for miles around us. I raised my head to look in her direction from where I was hovering over Caleb’s body but she refused to meet my gaze, instead she was staring beyond me to some place far off “I too have my own reasons for starting this war” what reason could Pandora possibly have to desire Amun’s fall? Was it because of her longing for Vulcan? Perhaps it surfaced from Balor’s entrapment or stemmed from her marriage during her mortal life? Whatever the reason may be, it was clear that she too desired a new king upon the throne of the gods.                 

Caleb.

The boat had capsized, torn apart by the raging waves and I was dragged under. I remember cursing Neptune, surly it could only have been his doing that had caused the seas to grow so brutal and restless once I ventured out onto it again? There was a burning in my lungs, a stinging sensation that blazed within my chest when I breathed in the water, attempting to swim upward however something wrapped itself around my ankle and dragged me further down. I was struggling, kicking and thrashing, trying my best to keep my vision from blurring as I gazed down to my leg. There was nothing there, nothing that I could see that kept me trapped in place beneath the waves. Lightning flickered in the skies above Vannes and the sound of thunder rumbling soon followed, echoing throughout the waters like the growl of a humpback whale. I remember hoping that Evangeline wouldn’t come to my aid, knowing that it was a trap of some kind but having no way of communicating this to her. Was it Neptune who wanted us dead so that he could see her again? Was he jealous of the life she and I had forged together? Was that his way of taking her away from me? The questions were quickly replaced with fears. Malik. Malia. The names we had chosen for our children kept repeating themselves in the back of my mind. I had to survive, had to get to them which was why I struggled but if I was not meant to survive then I prayed to the gods that Evangeline would chose to stay with them and let me drown if it meant that they would grow up still having a mother to look after them. That fear intensified the moment I heard something crashing into the waters nearby and saw strands of ivory hair dancing among the violent tides. No. Gods no. It was then that my vision began to blur and I could no longer keep myself from fading into the darkness of my mind. I was going to die, I knew this. I had accepted it but by some miracle ‘Please let the mother of my children live’ it was my last thought before I gave into the black depths, into my approaching death and was dragged away from the human world, into the place where souls went after death, the afterlife “This world is a cold and cruel place” a gentle voice said but I was unsure of who it belonged to. Was it Evangeline? Was it someone else? An angel maybe? My eyes first squeezed themselves tightly shut then blinked open rapidly to try and adjust to the light. The ceiling overhead was made of, blue crystals? I was lying in a large bed covered in black silk sheets, the soft texture gave it away long before the world around me did. That place wasn’t home; it was too luxurious to ever be home. Was it the afterlife? Was that what heaven looked and felt like? I groaned, pushing myself to sit upright, my body stiff and my head pounding. The room I was in was beautiful with the walls and ceiling being made of the crystals and extravagant furniture littering it. There was a living area, a dresser and two nightstands that had stained glass lamps perched on them. The tub was placed in the centre of the room between the bed and the living area where gold and black Victorian couches sat surrounding a black wooden coffee table with a golden trey placed neatly on top of it. A fine chine tea set littered its reflective golden surface and above it hung a grand chandelier the chain of which disappeared into the blue crystalline roof. The waters in the golden tub grew restless when a figure rose to stand, her milky flesh the colour of the moon and her long ivory hair as bright and glowing as the moon flowers that littered the vases throughout the entire suit. She ran her fingers through its strands, mismatched eyes, half lidded staring upward in thought. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my lifetime despite having witnessed goddesses in all their glory or having grown surrounded by harlots, men described as muses. Water droplets tricked down her exposed breasts, stomach, hips and thighs, even trailing their way along the length of her neck. Stretch marks were faintly visible along her smooth, flat stomach, evidence of her having carried my children but they only seemed to make her more beautiful, my heart growing with the thought of our children. Her hands wrung out her hair before she stepped out of the tub, bare feet slapping against the cavern flooring, polished and reflective. She hadn’t noticed that I was awake until she looked up from where she was stepping to meet my gaze, the scent of lavender and sage hanging thick in the air “You’re awake” she stated, reaching for the black towel that sat on the cart beside the tub, using it to dry herself with. If she was there, really there did that mean she’d died along with me? Evangeline appeared calm and collected which in turn had a calming effect on my emotions. After thirteen years of knowing each other, she understood that growing frantic would only cause me to erupt in turn “Where are we?” I questioned, glancing at the world around me for a second time. There was a window off to the side, encrusted into the blue crystals that overlooked green fields littered in dirt roads, trees and shrubs. Evangeline dried her hair and abandoned the towel to the floor of the room, moving toward the foot of the bed where a black gown lay waiting for her “This place is what is known as the Elysium fields” she simply replied, causing my muscles to stiffen and my eyes to widen. The Greek counterpart of what would be heaven for Catholics? Her hands fiddled with the skirt of the dress, the silk and mesh material feeling foreign to her fingertips as if it were too grand for her to even be touching let alone wearing. There was a deep sadness about her when she looked upon it “The children?” I rushed out, throwing the silk sheets aside to reveal that I too had been washed, most likely by Evangeline’s hands then dressed in a pair of black trousers with a white button up shirt. I moved to stand but fell back onto the mattress, hunched over and gripping at my chest. What was this pain? Why did it hurt so much? My muscles felt like they were being torn apart and Evangeline only watched with empty, hallowed out eyes.