A Tale of Mermaids Acathiens: The Forgotten People

Chapter 12 Potential Mother

Audra searched everywhere she could think to find the King. He was no where to be found. Even the guards around weren’t sure where he was. An Acathien swam by and Audra recognized him.

“Arhin!” She called.

Arhin turned around and raised his eyebrows in question at Audra. They hadn’t had any interactions besides meeting once at the dinner hall. He continued to stare at Audra but didn’t offer any words.

“Um...do you know where the King is? No one seems to know where he is and I have finished with my study.”

Arhin nodded, “I am headed there now. Follow me.”

“Oh thank you!”

Audra followed close to Arhin and quietly observed him. Something had seemed off from the man she had met earlier. He seemed darker then he had before.(Add description of Arhin). Audra realized they were in a different part of the castle and voices were echoing through the hall. Loud ones.

“We have lost fifty men! MY MEN! That isn’t enough for you? Enough evidence that an attack is imminent?”

Audra could tell that the person talking was Eleas but she wasn’t sure what they were talking about. Knowing that more Acathiens had died was not a good sign.

“Eleas, what would you have me do? Enlist our army to attack?”

“YES! If we don’t attack the Ter…”

“My King.” Arhin interrupted and bowed before the King.

Audra noticed there were about twenty people in the room. Eleas, Galeo, and Enchel were among them. The others Audra didn’t recognize.

“Arhin...would you like to explain why our Little Human is here? She should be hard at work before my patience runs thin.” King Codon purred like a snake.

“I’m done.” Audra gritted

“Done? There is no way that you finished that quickly.” a burly man to the Kings left said.

Audra smirked, “I’m efficient. I was looking for one specific thing. If I didn’t find it. I moved on. I have the results. I know who will be able to have a much higher chance of providing a female Acathien.”

“Well by all means, Little Human, don’t leave us in suspense. Who are the lucky Acathiens to grant us with their...glory?”

“Almost every single Acathien carries more male dominant chromosomes. There were only three Acathiens that carry female dominant chromosomes.”

The room was buzzing. Audra could feel that, even behind his stoic face, the king was anxious to know. Who would be his competition for the throne.

“Eleas, Galeo, and Arhin.” Audra finally said.

The King’s face turned black. Galeo was beaming at Audra so much so she felt embarrassed and had to look away. Arhin looked uncomfortable and confused, trying to pull himself slowly to the back of the room. When Audra looked at Eleas her stomach dropped. His face was as white as a sheet. His eyes bore into her in complete fear. His eyes searched her face trying to communicate something to her but Audra didn’t know what it was he was trying to convey.

The King clapped, “Well looks like we will have to do luck of the draw. My heir” Codon slapped Eleas on the back of the neck squeezing a little tighter, “ my second son, or my almost son. One of you will have the opportunity to bring new life to this world. A great honor. One we will celebrate.” King Codon raised his fist in the air and those around gave a great cheer and began to clap the three Acathiens as if they had just won a game.

Audra's smile began to waiver as she realized what was happening. She was about to go through the process of having a baby. An Acathien baby. The sudden urge to vomit became so overwhelming that Audra took off and rushed to find an exit. She found an open window and dived out of it. Trying to get away from everyone as quickly as possible. She had to think. She would forever be stuck in the ocean. Tears stung her eyes as reality came crashing down. Audra quickly found a quiet warm spot hidden and let every emotion pour out of her. She was completely alone and had no clue what to do next.

Fury burned inside his soul. King Codon now had three potential threats that could have the right to duel for the throne. He would see to it that it didn’t happen. King Codon was going to ensure that Audra was his and the human would be his as well. Codon entered the kolegija.

“Mylio!” He shouted.

Codon scanned the isles of text looking for movement. From behind Codon, Mylio emerged.

“What did I do now to honor Your Grace?” Mylio asked in a monotone voice.

The King seethed, he wanted nothing more but to make Mylios head roll across the floor. He was too valuable for his own good. One day, the King would make that happen. Not today.

“I was told that we had success in finding a new successor for Acathia.”

Mylio stilled and looked at the king.

“Yes, Audra is efficient. She found answers quickly.”

“My sons as well.”

Mylio nodded but did not respond. His stomach began to tighten knowing that the King was about to ask something he wouldn’t like. King Codon locked eyes with Mylio. With a twitch Codon connected to Mylios mind. He began scanning until he found what he was looking for.

“Ah...Leon. It’s been a long time.” Codon gave a sickly grin.

Mylio tried to hold in the shutter of the invasive mind wrapping its burning tentacles around his familiar. Leon began to struggle.

Peace Leon...you will only make it worse.

“What is it that you need from me, my king?”

Codon smiled, “Yes, see I am glad to know that you see it my way so quickly. Audra will not carry anyone elses baby but mine.”

Mylio’s face drained of blood.

“But, the whole point is to try to have a girl born. To try and save our species. Why would we not try?”

“Because Audra is MINE!” The king roared and squeezed Leon so tight that Mylio collapsed to the ground.

“You will not tell a soul but you will switch all the samples when it is time for the ceremony. You will use mine, and mine alone. Audra will carry my child and will be mine forever. She has great power hidden beneath her. I will have that power. Do. We. Understand. Each other?”

Mylio could barely breathe as he felt his familiar screaming in agony at Codon burned him. He tried to nod when a voice whipped through the water.

“What are you doing?”

Codon turned around to find Audra watching in horror and rushing over to Mylio’s side. Her eyes were red and puffy. Her hair was a bit of a mess and the worry she wore on her face intrigued Codon.

“Mylio! Are you alright?!”

Mylio gasped for air as Codon still squeezed giving him a warning. Audra realized what was happening.

“Let him go! NOW!” She demanded.

Codon smirked at the small demanding imp. A smack rang out as Codon slapped Audra across the face. Flying her across the room.

“AUDRA!” Mylio screamed.

It was more emotion Codon had seen from Mylio in years. Audra slowly lifted herself up and grabbed her cheek. A bruise was already beginning to form. Codon knew he had hit her too hard, but she had to learn her place.

“That mouth of yours might be pretty, Little Human, but it is going to get you killed one of these days if you are not careful. Your charm is wearing off. I will not tolerate it anymore. Mylio, you will do as I ask.”

Mylio was barely paying attention as he rushed over to Audra. Her warm brown eyes were filled with murderous cold. She glared at Codon who winked and went on about his day.

“Audra, let me see. Did he hurt you.”

Audra didn’t want to let it show but her entire head was throbbing from the force of Codon's slap. Her cheek burned and her right side of her body hurt from landing and sliding across the floor.

“Why was he torturing your familiar?” Audra asked through clenched teeth.

Mylio shook his head.

“Mylio...please what does he want you to do.”

“I can’t tell you. I have to go”

Mylio shifted into his familiar and quickly swam away.

“Mylio” Audra hissed as the pain. She slowly stood up and tried to follow after Mylio.

She caught little glimpses of him as he sped away. She could tell he was headed to the lab. When she finally arrived Mylio was already inside. Audra pushed open the door in time to see that Mylio was dumping out the Acathien samples.

“Mylio! What are you doing?”

Mylio jumped and lifted the tube looking back at Audra.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have a choice.” Mylio turned back and dumped out the remainder of one of the three samples.

“NO! Mylio, those are the only three possible ways to provide a female! You know this.”

Audra froze.

“This is because of Codon isn’t it?”

Mylio didn’t respond.

“Dad!” Audra shouted.

Mylio whipped around his eyes shocked and his hands trembling.

“If you are doing, what I think your are doing, I will never forgive you.”

“Audra, I don’t have a choice. He is my King. he will kill my familiar and leave me with a life worse then death.”

“So instead you would subjugate me to a lifetime of having Codon as my baby's father?! Your grandchild will have to call that...that...Monster dad? You cannot do this to me! If Codon fathers this child who knows what he will do with that kind of power!”

“What do you mean?”

“Mylio my child will be the most powerful Acathien born since Aitivara.”

Mylios head shot up.

“How do you know about Aitivara?” He whispered.

“The Aishgara. She showed me all of Aitivaras life and the banishment of Acathiens. How every half breed child was killed because of jealousy. Codon suspects and if he bares a child from me he will have power unlike anything the world has ever seen. Please. We must come up with something else.”

“If the King finds out that I destroy his sample and use another, he will kill Leon. Then I will live a life worse then death.”

“Dad...the world will suffer worse if we let this happen. Codon cannot get stronger. He will be even more deadly than Posidnea. We cannot allow for history to repeat itself!”

Mylio sighed, “What would you have me do?”

The oceans had turned cold. Winter was finally upon Acathia. It had been months since Audra had found out that Eleas, Galeo, and Arhin were possibilities to father her child. She had sent for an Acathien to buy some human ovulation tests. She kept them in Mylio’s lab and had finally shown that it was time. The ceremony was to be held that night. During her months of waiting Audra avoided every Acathien possible. She had been moved into an actual room and Eleas had provided her with a bed. There she gathered many books and read everything she could about the Acathiens and their history. She studies the ocean and its seasons to better understand the ocean from the perspective of the people who lived there. Through this time she rarely left her room. When she did she would hide from Eleas and Galeo. Anytime they would see her they would call out and try to track her down. But she would duck out of sight or hide so they couldn’t find her. She even avoided Mylio, bringing the books back to her own room to read. The only Acathien she talked to was Cephal as he provided her the serum that she now only needed once a day. Audra paced her room back and forth. Acathia was preparing for the ceremony. The King wanted to celebrate his victory of finding the answer to providing Acathia’s future. He announced a great banquet to be held. Audra felt as if she was going to be sick. She always thought she would have children one day. But not like this.

A knock came at her door.

Audra jumped. “Who is it?”

“It’s Delphine. Let me in. NOW!” She fumed.

Audra quickly opened the door and Delphine, Inks, and Cya walked in. Cya was only a few months old but looked as if he was already six years of age. He chased Inks around Audra’s room and giggled as the little squid sprayed ink at him.

“Wow...I can’t believe Cya is so big already. Will my...will my children grow the same?”

Delphine nodded. “Acathia blood is very dominant. It will control the human part of the child and mold it to match its own. The child will develop very quickly so it can survive in the ocean.”

Audra sighed and went to her window and looked out.

“Are you alright? No one has really seen you lately. You turn Galeo away. Hide from Eleas. You haven’t even come to see me.”

“Delphine...I am about to get impregnated by one of three men. Two who I have very confusing feelings about. I am not only having a child, but if it is not a girl, the King warned I would suffer the same fate as Paisley. If I have a child, how can I leave her? I won’t leave her.”

Delphine rested a hand on Audra’s shoulder. “After six months your child will be old enough to fend for themselves. They will not need you anymore. You can go home.”

“And what...leave my child Delphine? Cya is your son. Would you allow anyone to take him away from you?” Audra’s voice began to shrill.

Delphine sighed, “I am not a human.” She whispered.

Audra pulled back, “What?”

“I am not a human. It is best for everyone, especially your child, that you go back to your world. They will learn our ways and survive. With you here it would be too confusing.”

“How dare you, Delphine. This will be my actual child. I will not allow anyone to separate us.”

Audra knew she had hit a nerve but she didn’t care. Audra remembered that the Acathiens send the humans back with their memories altered so they never remember being taken into the ocean. Leaving their child forever. Audra would not let that happen.

Delphines hair was pale but she kept her face even.

“The King wants you to wear this.”

Delphine pulled out the most spectacular and revealing gown Audra had ever seen. The skirt was as thin and see through as paper. It gave off a soft golden amber hue. Tiny multicolored pearls glistened like droplets all over the skirt. The top was a bralet and collar. Matching the pearls sprinkled through the skirt. It was absolutely seductive as it was elegant.

“What is this?” Audra reached out and gently slid her fingers over the translucent fabric. It was softer then silk and barely a whisper of even existing.

“This is the vestuv sulkne. An Acathien wedding gown. It was my mothers”

Audra pulled her hand away.

“A wedding gown?”

“Yes. This is sea silk. It is the rarest and purest silk found on this entire planet and is made from pen shells. It is a very delicate silk that is hard to produce but is the most rare and precious of thread. The pearls have been harvested for years. Once they reach a certain age they are harvested and threaded into the silk to make different styled gowns. This gown was my mothers.”

“Delphine, I can’t wear this. It’s a wedding gown. It is also your mothers! I will not wear this.”

“The King demands it!” Delphine shouted.

Inks and Cya stopped playing and looked over at the two women staring daggers at each other.

“Momma, is everything alright?”

The little boy's voice broke the silent battle going on between Audra and Delphine.

“Yes Cya. Why don’t you go to the valgyti (cafeteria) with Inks and get us something to eat huh? I have to help Audra get ready for the celebration tonight.”

“Can I get anything I want?”

“Sure! Tonight is a celebration after all.”

“YES!” The little boy shot out of the window with impressive speed with Inks close on his tail. Delphine breathed in deep and turned to Audra.

“I do not know why the King demanded this. I do know that we will not disobey him. Come. Sit. I will do your hair and help you get dressed.”

Forty five minutes later Audra’s hair was braided all down her back. It twisted and turned. Held together by small clams that clipped into place. A delicate pearl strand was wrapped and twisted like a crown all the way down her braid. Audra almost didn’t recognize herself. She looked like an Acathien.

“Now this gown is tricky. Let me help you.”

Audra’s throat was so dry she couldn’t speak. Just nodded her head as tears threatened to give away her emotions. Delphine helped clip Audra into the pearl top and gently slid the sea silk over her legs. Connecting it to the pearl top. Audra looked down and noticed that the pearl bralet barely covered her breasts and she felt horribly embarrassed.

“Is there any way I can...you know...cover up more?”

“Come with me.”

Delphine pulled Audra through the castle and came upon a large old renaissance mirror.

“We often find human creations from sunken ships. We found this reflective item and brought it back here. Many of us had never seen what we looked like before.”

Audra couldn’t answer. She could only stare. The woman looking back at her was beautiful. A seductress and someone Audra did not recognize. Her hair cascaded down her back and glistened like the sun kissed sea. The pearls gave a tantalizing dance as they clung to her neck, snaked around her arms, and barely covered her chest. The sea silk gave way to Audra’s silhouette. Her legs glittered under the silk leaving only a small portion for the imagination. The gown was beautiful. But Audra felt exposed and uncomfortable.

“Delphine. I can’t do th…”

“Brothers, friends, warriors, Acathiens. Tonight we…”

“We must go. The ceremony has begun. The King awaits you. Come. You are stronger then you know Audra. You have the spirit of an Acathien woman. You can do this.”

If only Delphine knew. The two women headed towards the banquet hall. King Codons voice getting louder. A lot of things he said were getting cheers and men banging on tables. The closer they got, the worse Audra felt.

“Today we have found the ability to guarantee the survival of our people. Today I bring you new life!”