A Daughter's Love

Chapter Twelve.

A presence neared the foot of my bed, a familiar one that was accompanied by the scent of steamed meat covered in a sweet sauce that was accompanied by various types of cooked vegetables in a bowl. I heard the bowl as it cluttered onto the nightstand then felt a hand, gently shaking my leg “Lia?” the voice called out to me, stirring me awake. I groaned and pushed myself onto my hands and knees, turning my head to tiredly blink at the man who was perched on the edge of my bed, his body scrubbed clean on the day’s sweat, dressed in a pair of simple trousers and a short sleeve cotton shirt. Surely it couldn’t have been that late already? I looked to the window above my headrest and was met with the sight of the setting sun. Had I really been that tired? Ryker looked at me then quickly averted his gaze when he realized that Neptune’s coat had come undone at the front, leaving most of my breasts and stomach exposed to his eyes. I blinked tiredly and sat up on my knees, yawning as I stretched out my aching muscles. My stomach rumbled and I breathed a laugh, reaching for the bowl of food, crossing my legs beneath me as I began taking bites with the use of the fork that had accompanied the bowl. Ryker dared glance back at me only to blush at the sight of my bare shoulders, exposed cleavage and tone stomach “Earlier, when you saw me-.” he began, looking at the room around us along with the chair that sat in the corner where he would usually have my work clothing neatly folded, shoes polished and ready. I swallowed as I inspected the side of his face, his hair still damp from his bath that had washed away the sweat and grime from a hard day’s work “You smiled” I felt like a mouse caught in a trap at first but then I pushed it aside and nodded, taking another mouthful of the food, in somewhat of a hurry, racing against the setting sun “I was just happy to see a familiar face” I brushed it off by shrugging my shoulders which had Ryker studying me as if to detect some trace of a lie and that lie was revealed when I refused to meet his eyes, sticking a new round of food into my mouth but keeping the fork in between my clenched teeth. Ryker knew that I was trying to protect my pride, playing it off instead of accepting the facts “You’re lying” he declared as I finished the last of my food and leaned across the mattress to place the empty bowl on the bed side table. I then lunged at him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and leaning my face into his neck. He stiffened at the feel of my body pressing up against his and I couldn’t help but grow amused “I missed you, Ryker” I admitted to my embarrassment, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks as I hid them in his neck, afraid that he would see the tint they held and realize that I was just an ordinary girl and not a monster and I couldn’t have that “Lia-.” he began but I interrupted him, unwinding my arms from around him before he could touch them like he had planned on doing and slipping away from the bed to open the drawers of my dresser in search of something comfortable to wear for killing “Where did I put that old corset again?” I muttered more to myself but Ryker quickly caught on, knowing that it was my way of changing the subject. I found my black leather corset in the bottom drawer along with a pair of black leggings and some black boots that matched my brown ones. I shrugged the coat from my shoulders and began tugging the leggings onto my lower half, back positioned toward Ryker as I slipped one thigh high boot one of my legs then another on the other, expertly lacing them up like I had done numerous times before. The corset followed, the material clinging to my body like a second skin when I glanced back at Ryker from over my shoulder “Do you mind?” I questioned, holding the corset’s strings in my hands. He sighed but stood and joined me in front of the dresser, being careful not to step on the discarded coat as he took the laces from my hands and began tightening it. I gasped when he tugged to hard and he quickly apologized, finishing what he’d started by tying the strings off in a neat bow “You don’t have to keep doing this” Ryker argued, taking a step back when I turned to scoop Neptune’s coat up off the floor, tugging it onto my arms and shoulders, the silky smooth material feeling odd compared to the normal scratchy cotton that I had grown so used to over the years “This will be the last time” I announced, turning to head in the direction of the door but paused when Ryker reached for my belt and daggers that hung from it, holding them up for me to take “Don’t forget these” I grinned in the moonlight, turning with my hand raised as my eyes began to glow vibrantly, nails extending into razor sharp claws that had Ryker lowering the belt to his side in a mixture of wonder and awe “I have no need for them anymore” I said, my fangs glistening in the pale light when I spoke. With that I turned and slipped down the stairs to the second floor and past Malik’s room where he sat on his bed, reading one of his many books. His eyes flickered up to me for the briefest of moments then he continued his readings as if I was nothing more than a simple insect that scurried about the wall. I slipped through the bakery doors, not bothering to be quiet before I disappeared into the shadows of the night, able to see, hear and smell things around me that I hadn’t previously been able to as a human.

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A loud bang drew Captain Curtis of the Damned Dame from his drunken slumber and quickly he began to make his way to the deck to see what the commotion was about. It was still dark with not even a single lit lantern to light his way as he expertly slipped past the hammocks and beds of his crewmen, all the while shoving at the hammocks and banging at the bed posts to wake his men but there was no sound, no groan of protest, no ‘Ai, Captain!’ or heavy thud as they jumped down from the hammocks. Curtis gazed back at the darkness and squinted but was unable to make anything out. The bang that awoke him came again, this time clearer and in the form of something heavy dropping to the deck above. The Captain ascended the stairs to the deck, roughly shoving the trap door open, causing it to ring with a loud, annoyed bang. He stepped out onto the deck but was again met with darkness. Had his crew really blown out all of the lanterns? He made a mental note to yell at them once morning came. Curtis tried seeing in the dark but not even the lights of Vannes in the distance could provide him with enough light, only the moon made him manage to stumble his way to the middle of the deck where an orange light lit with the striking of a single match. The Captain glanced up at the helm where a woman was perched on the railing, a lantern dangling from her clenched fist “Who goes there?” Curtis demanded, dressed only in an undershirt and a pair of loose fitting trousers. He was unarmed, exposed to whatever fury the intruder wished to rain down onto him. The figure moved the lantern closer to their face, revealing the familiar features of a woman he could not forget even if he wanted to. She haunted his dreams and plagued his thoughts “It’s you” he hissed, the word ‘you’ being spat like venom in Malia’s direction. She grinned down at him, eyes glowing dangerously bright with one hand dangling from her bent knee as the other tightened its grip on the lantern, gold eye reflecting the flames “Bonjour, Captain” she greeted, smirking in the direction of her prey. She was excited, her veins coursing with adrenaline that caused her heartrate to quicken and her fangs to extend, probing at her upper and lower lips. She blew on the flame in the lantern, snuffing it out and plunging the world surrounding Curtis into darkness once again. He turned in circles attempting to see when the sound of shattering glass caused him to whirl around. Malia’s smile only widened when she rammed her fist into his gut, sending him crumbling to his knees on the deck, clutching at his torso due to the sheer strength behind her blow. He gasped and coughed but froze, eyes wide with fear, lips trembling at the feel of her hot breath skimming across his facial features “Scared yet?” she questioned then was gone in the blink of an eye. The lanterns that decorated the deck began to lit, one by one, illuminating the ship around them and causing Curtis to cry out in a mixture of pure shock and horror. Corpses of men lay scattered around him, their blood smeared along the floorboards, the walls and railings, painting everything a beautiful crimson. Malia threw her head back laughing, stood among what remained of the Captain’s crew and turned her crazed gaze upon the frightened man who sat on his hands and knees among the slaughter “I rather prefer it painted red, don’t you?” tied to the mast was the member who’s arm she had broken, still half alive, fading in and out of consciousness as she came to a stop in front of him, gripping his chin between her thumb and forefinger “Please-.” he weakly begged, sounding like music to her ears as she examined him, disappointed at how quickly he had drained of blood from the cuts she had made on either of his wrists “It’s not so much fun when the tables are turned, is it?” Malia questioned, running her clawed fingers along his cheeks, jaw, chin and forehead, cutting deep gashes into what remained of his face. The man screamed, a sickening sound accompanied by a sickening sight that caused Captain Curtis to double over, vomiting what remained of his dinner onto the deck. Malia grew agitated and slit the man’s throat in the action of turning on Curtis for him ruining her work, her bloody masterpiece with his stomach’s contents. The man tied to the mast chocked to death, eyes rolling back into his skull as his blood dripped from her fingertips. She sighed heavily then began stalking her way toward the Captain. He fell onto his rear and tried to crawl away from her but was stopped when his back collided with the corpse of his crewmate “Just look at the mess you’ve made” she muttered, motioning to the deck before she knelt in front of Curtis, meeting his gaze with her mismatched one. The way she gazed into his soul convinced him that she was the devil herself. He was never a religious man but in that moment he began to pray in the back of his mind. He wasn’t sure exactly who he was praying to but he hoped that by some miracle they would spare him from his impending doom “Are you alright. You don’t look very well?” she questioned, reaching out with her bloody hand to tenderly run the backs of her fingers along his jaw and cheekbone. He trembled at the feel of her touch, so cold and dangerous as if a snake was about to coil itself around his throat “So handsome, even when you’re dying” she taunted, running her blood stained fingertips over his lips followed by a small peck of her icy lips against his. She enjoyed toying with her food, almost as much as she enjoyed killing them. Her hand trailed its way down the length of his chest, ripping and tearing at the fabric of his shirt until it was nothing more than simple rags dangling from his torso. The tips of her claws came to a stop at his abdomen “Burn in hell” she spat out, driving her hand deep into his abdomen, shredding through organs as he threw his head back, his agonizing screams like symphonies of triumph to her. She eventually retracted her hand and stood upright, ramming her foot into his knee, shattering the cap to which he collapsed onto the deck, whimpering like a small child, desperate and pleading for his life. Malia reached for a nearby lantern and tossed it onto the deck, causing the wood to start catching fire. She danced among the flames, destroying more lanterns so that their flames may burn both the bodies and the very vessel until nothing remained but the bits and pieces at the very bottom of the ocean floor “No-.” Curtis protested as he watched the bodies of his crewmen burn, as he watched his prized ship going down in flames “No!” he cried, his scream like music to which Malia danced, swaying her hips, laughing among the orange sea of heat and fire. Further down the coast, Ryker stood in Malia’s room in the attic, watching the ocean and the orange speck as it grew brighter and blazed out in the distance. He was fearful of her safety but there was really no need for him to be, if only he could see her grinning at the Captain as he burned alive, his body engulfed in the flames until his screams died down and all that remained was a burnt, crumbling corpse. It was on that night that Malia decided she loved fire, even more than she loved the ocean. There was something about its beautiful destruction that captivated her, that reminded her so much of herself yet their colour brought images of Ryker to the surface of her mind. The nineteen-year-old was awake and waiting for her when she came stumbling into the bakery in the early hours of the morning like a loyal lapdog to his owner, smitten and ready to serve in whatever way she saw fit.

Malia.

Ryker was waiting for me when I returned to the bakery in the early hours of the morning. A warm bath had been prepared, candles lighting the room when I stepped into it and began to strip, shrugging off Neptune’s coat, allowing it to drop to the floor by my booted feet. The bathroom door was left slightly ajar when I sat down on the chair beside the tub and allowed for Ryker to undo their laces, gently tugging them from my feet. His hands fiddled with the laces of my corset, undoing them before he left to fetch a clean towel and something for me to wear to bed. I finished stripping out of my leggings and corset then stepped into the tub, feeling my toes start to burn from their stark difference in temperature to the heated water. Lowering myself into the tub, I reached for the cloth and oils, impatiently scrubbing at the flesh of my arms, legs and torso so that Ryker wouldn’t be troubled with having to completely bathe me as he always had. My time spent on the Sunken Soul had made me realize just how selfish I had been by letting him do everything on his own so the least I could do was help. When he returned, he set the clean clothes and towel on the chair then reached for my discarded clothing, neatly folding them and setting them aside to wash later. I brought my knees to my chest and found myself staring at the embroidered detailing on Neptune’s coat, the anchor and whale design so delicate, so artistic and unique in the orange light of the candles. I was drawn out of my trail of thoughts when Ryker rolled up the white sleeves of his cotton shirt and cupped some water in his hands, dumping it over my head so that he could start watching my blood stained hair. He reached for the oils, positioned on his knees beside the tub when he began messaging them into my strands. My eyes instinctively closed and I tilted my head back with my arms still wrapped around my knees in a comforting hug. None of us said anything as he worked, eventually wringing out my short curls to change his position. He sat directly in front of me, reaching out to take hold of my right hand so that he could start scrubbing at it, making sure that the nails were free of dirt and my flesh was untouched by the labour of killing. Before he could start cleaning, I interlaced our fingers, drawing him out of his thoughts and to reality where he locked eyes with me from across the surface of the steaming water, his body completely frozen “Thank you-.” I began in a low whisper, swallowing my pride in order to thank him. It wasn’t something that I did, ever but I felt like he deserved as much. Leaning down, I placed a small kiss to his knuckles then searched the wall of the bathroom beside me to hide the blush that managed to creep its way onto my cheeks “For being the only one who truly understands me” I added, feeling his thumb running back and forth along my knuckles before his fingers slipped away from mine and reached for my face. I grew stiff, my head whirling around to look at him when his fingertips gently slid across my bottom lip, propping lightly at my extended fangs which I hadn’t even realized were extended until he acknowledged them. My eyes too, were glowing with their pupils slit, most likely a direct result of the bath water. Small scales began littering my arms, shoulders, tops of my breasts and neck but no gills dared to take form due to the necklace that dangled from my throat “Belle” he muttered, eyes searching my face which grew red from his non shameful use of the word ‘Beautiful’ that he so boldly declared. I tried to hide my face and reached to remove his hand from my lips, indicating that he should start cleaning my hands before it got too late. I studied him while he worked, the look of concentration on his face, the way his tongue poked out from the corner of his lips almost as if he wasn’t even aware it was doing so and the way his muscles moved beneath the tight material of his plain white shirt. He was strong and could hold his own in a fight, just not a fight against me. My eyes began to droop, the exhaustion of the night finally starting to catch up with me but Ryker was still wide awake despite having been up all day, working hard then staying up late, waiting for me to return. He pulled the plug once he was finished with my hands then reached for the towel on the chair, holding it up for me when I stood and took it from him, wrapping myself in the soft fabric. I watched as the bloody water slipped down the drain, hugging the towel close before I stepped out onto the wooden flooring, hurriedly drying myself while Ryker dumped my stained clothing into the tub behind me, making sure not to glance in my direction as I dressed in his oversized black shirt and a pair of his sleeping shorts. He stole the towel from me and began to tenderly dry my hair as I sat down on the edge of the tub, eyes fighting to remain open. He noticed and bent down in front of me, wrapping my arms around his neck so that he could lift me, hands gripping my thighs when he stood to hoist me onto his back. I buried my face in his shoulder blade and took in his familiar scent as he carried me down the hall and up the steps that lead to the attic where he gently placed me on the bed, tugging the sheets up to my chin and leaning down to place a kiss to the side of my head. I stirred and blinked tiredly up at him with a gaze that couldn’t even focus properly, to consumed by sleep to care “Ryker” I mumbled to which he breathed a laugh and turned to leave but my hand shot out in pursuit of his. He looked back at me in confusion with furrowed eyebrows when I whispered “Please, don’t go” I felt the mattress dip, his warm hand curling around mine then darkness fell, dragging me down into a deep slumber filled with memories and images of me and my father, my smiling, youthful face as he chased after me on the beach, his scrunched nose and exposed teeth when he snarled like a lion during one of his bed time stories, the way his hands formed mock claws. I could still smell his leathery, musk scent and hear his voice as he playfully argued with my mother, her beautiful laughter as they worked on making breakfast in the kitchen, the orange light of the morning sun peeling in through the window above the sink. I could feel her fingers tickling me, my father’s voice as we played hide and seek, finding me beneath my bed covers. Seeing their memories was the only time I ever truly slept, I best rest I could get with their voices and smiling faces replaying in the back of my mind. Oh, how I missed them, how my heart wept to see them again. I knew that there was nothing I wouldn’t do if it meant saving them from the gods if only to hear their voices again or to feel their welcoming embrace.   

Malik.

The sound of Ryker moving around the room woke me and I blinked up at his back as he rummaged through our shared dresser in search of some articles of clothing. I was about to ask what he was doing when I noticed that his bed was still untouched, that a towel draped from his shoulder and water trickled in the room next to ours. I had fallen asleep a few hours earlier with a book in hand, shortly after having seen Malia slip by, the book now lay open on the floor of the bedroom, my glasses laying on the pillow beside my head. Ryker closed the drawer then exited the room, heading in the direction of the bathroom after having pulled out bedroom door closed behind him. I reached for my book, neatly placing it on the nightstand beside my bed then crept toward the door, being careful not to be heard as I slipped down the hall and peered through the sliver in the bathroom door since he hadn’t bothered to close it properly. Malia was sat in the tub, a tub filled with bloody water as Ryker sat beside her on his knees, scrubbing at her hair. She was naked and only her knees, pressed to her chest concealed her from his eyes but he never once tried to steal a glance, being the gentleman that he was. She leaned her head back and sighed happily at the feel of his fingers messaging her skelp. I stayed perfectly frozen, completely still when Ryker finished washing her hair and moved to scrub her hands but she intertwined their fingers instead of letting him do his job. I felt jealousy serge through me when she thanked him and looked away, blushing like a fool “For being the only one who truly understands me” the way he looked at her, how he reached to touch her fangs and whisper how beautiful she was made my heart ache and my legs give in beneath me. I slid down the wall and hugged my knees to my chest, feelings tears sting the backs of my eyes as I listened to the water moving while he cleaned her hands. He held her towel out for her, gave her his clothes to sleep in and dried her hair only to pull her onto his back when he realized that she was too tired to walk on her own. I quickly but quietly slipped back into our room, peering out to see him heading for the attic but I didn’t follow for fear of what I might find if I did. Ryker loved her, he was head over heels and had been for a few years to that night but even so my heart had convinced me that perhaps it wasn’t so, that maybe he was just playing the part of a protective brother but the way he looked at her, how his eyes widened when she’d kissed his knuckles, even the way his breathing caught when he glanced from her eyes to her lips. I lightly banged my head back into the wall and buried my face in my hands. Out of all the people in the world, why did it have to be him? Why did I have to fall in love with Ryker and not Bastian or one of the other boys in town when I was little? But then again, I never really noticed anyone other than Ryker. I sat down on the edge of my bed as the memory of the day I started falling for him replayed in the back of my mind. I was seven and he was eight when I fell and scraped my knee while playing. My mom would always kiss it better and tell me that her kisses were made of magic but we were far from home that day and I wouldn’t stop crying so Ryker bent down to kiss my knee so that I would stop crying but he wasn’t annoyed about it, no, instead he offered to carry me all the way home and told me how brave I was for not crying as much as the other kids would’ve. I knew that Ryker liked women and that he may never truly notice me or realize that I cared for him but I did know that if he did, it would be the end of our friendship completely so I could never tell him how I felt, not him or Malia. I ran a hand through my hair and stared at the far wall, thinking back to what my father had said ‘Perhaps you should be as understanding of her actions as she most certainly will be of your preferences’ will my mother really accept the fact that I liked men instead of women? I knew that Neptune knew about how I felt toward Ryker but he hadn’t really addressed it. I fell onto the bed and groaned, rolling onto my side and tugging the sheets up to my chin, listening as Ryker washed Malia’s clothes before eventually coming to bed, stripping out of his shirt and discarding it over the back of a nearby chair. I squeezed my eyes shut to refrain from ogling him and listened as he climbed into bed, quickly falling fast asleep. His light snoring managed to lull me to sleep a few hours later before the sun dared peak its head out over the horizon.      

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Author's Note:

Hellllooooooooo my lovelies! I hope you're enjoying book 3 as much as I am enjoying writing it. I'm curious of what you guys think about Malik, Malia and Ryker? I believe that they are very strong characters, each with their own unique personalities which are more adolescent than that of Caleb or Evangeline but I would like to hear about your view on the three new characters? Could you relate to their struggles? If so then please let me know! AND BTW! This isn't the end of Evangeline and Caleb's scenes. More to come from them in the future.

Lots of love and mermaid kisses <3