Chapter 29 A Queen Among Tides: Chapter Twenty-Nine - Sebastian
A fag. He actually called me a fag. My own parents have never even called me that and they’re walking, talking bigots. Not a single person I have ever come into contact with has ever called me that, and the first person to do it was my soulmate.
I walk through the palace on autopilot, my feet moving sluggishly against the marble floors. I feel as though there is a thick dark cloud looming over me, weighing me down. I need to get some air and clear my head, or at least try to. I make my way through the palace, being greeted by staff and officials as I go and for once I can’t bring myself to return their greetings. I can’t force a smile on my face, not when my heart is crushing me from the inside.
I make my way to a large, ornate, gold door on the first floor and open it revealing a large stone spiral staircase that leads down to the bowels of the palace. I carefully make my way down the stairs and feel my spirits begin to lift as my path is guided by the shimmering blue along the walls and stairs. There’s a specific type of algae that has a bioluminescent glow, and if you’ve ever seen it in the ocean, it’s truly a stunning sight. This staircase leads to an underground cavern that leads out to the ocean, and the water levels have been known to rise extremely high, which causes the algae to end up in unexpected places, especially if those of us using this entrance are dripping wet and carry it with us. Either way, it leads to a naturally magical sight.
I continue down until I come to the final step and smile at the incredible expanse before me. Stunning waterfalls flow from rock formations and flow down into the vast lake below. A flock of kingfisher birds flit around the cavern dodging stalactites, the sounds of their wings and chirps echoing around the open space. Trees and various plants grow out from the rock formations, reaching for the rays of light that stream into the cavern. A perfect example of how some of us always seek the light even in the darkest of places. I don’t think my animai is one of those people though.
I proceed down a winding stone path, the sound of the waterfall lulling me into a tranquil bubble. I go to sit at the water’s edge, but I immediately take a step back when I see a washed-up bunch of sea spirit. That was fucking close! I quickly back away and walk a good distance away before plopping myself on the rocky edge. Almost had to admit myself to the infirmary which would have been a lovely addition to my day.
Sea spirit is a type of seaweed also known as bladderwrack, and it is highly poisonous to sirna. For those of us who can morph, contact with it can stop us from morphing and it burns like a fucking bitch. If ingested or exposed to large amounts of it, it will kill you slowly and painfully. Learned that the hard way. I remember going for a swim with my parents as a child and being a kid, I did kid things. I found some seaweed and was going to throw it at my father as a joke, but the moment I grabbed it I remember screaming because my hand felt as though I’d dipped it in sulfuric acid. I’ve never seen my parents so scared. My father was over to me so fast, cradling me in his arms and swimming back to the palace faster than anything I’d ever seen. Everyone needs to try one at least once before they die.
Sirna heal relatively quickly, but not from exposure to sea spirit. Because I was so young, I did get rather sick and my hand was blistered for days, but my parents never left my side. They doted on me and took care of me night and day, and gave me all the loukoumades I wanted, which is basically like a fried honey doughnut.
I sigh as I take my shoes off and roll my pants up, dipping my legs into the lukewarm waters of the cavern. If it weren’t for the fact my parents hate me being gay, they’d be the perfect parents. They’re amazing, kind, and caring people and have loved and cared for me fiercely, but this is the one thing about me they can’t love. Seems to be the one thing about me my animai can’t love either, which makes things very complicated.
I don’t understand what changed. Last night was the most incredible night of my life. I thought we were finally getting somewhere, I thought he was finally opening himself to me, I mean, it sure fucking seemed that way, and then suddenly today he’s not just back to how he was before, he’s worse. He wasn’t even like this the morning he woke up here. Did I say or do something wrong? I wish he’d just fucking tell me what goes on in his fucked up head instead of leaving me in limbo all the time. It’s driving me crazy, and not the good crazy from last night.
Images of last night flash in my mind. The way he held my body, the way he felt under my touch, the sounds he made when I brought him to the peak of pleasure. I can still taste him on my tongue and feel his hands on my skin. I should be basking in the afterglow of the best sex of my life or at least trying to top it, instead of this. I slap the surface of the water angrily causing the sound to reverberate around the cavern.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a large fin break through the surface of the water, and I instantly recognise it. I smile softly as I watch Scylla’s large form swim closer and closer to me.
“Hey, girl,” I greet warmly, reaching out and tapping her head as she gets in arm’s reach, “I still owe you a swim, don’t I?”
She swims up to me, then turns around and begins lazily swimming around in circles in front of me, her body swaying in a majestic dance beneath the surface. I always feel better having her company. No idea how she knew to find me here or if it’s just a coincidence, but I’m grateful, nonetheless. She moves close once again and I give her snout a bit of a rub, being mindful of the little V-shaped scales on her skin.
Sharks are such beautiful creatures, and the hate they receive from humans is fucking ridiculous. A shark attacks someone, so they all take to the sea to hunt and kill it. That’s like walking into someone else’s house, getting shot, and then the entire neighbourhood coming to kill you in retaliation. These prehistoric animals are just living their lives, in their own homes. Humans are the invaders, and it’s not even like humans taste good. Sharks just tend to be curious and tend to have a case of mistaken identity, it can happen to anyone, no need to go culling their species. They lived long before us and, provided humans don’t wipe them out, they’ll probably outlive us all too.
I guess in a roundabout way, I can relate to sharks. Persecuted and judged for just being what you were born to be. Story of my life. Well, sometimes. Scylla can’t stop being an apex predator any more than I can stop being gay. This is just the natural order of things, despite what some choose to believe.
As I reach out to give Scylla another pat, I clutch my wrist and look down as the brand around my wrist begins to feel like it’s tightening painfully, followed by the sensation of thousands of razors lacerating my skin. The feeling is somewhat muted like it’s more of a memory of pain instead of pain itself, but it still has me hunching over and sucking in a deep breath and my fingers attempting to dig into the rock beneath me. What the actual fuck is that?
Before I can even process what just happened, to my right, Lemuel suddenly appears, and all pain is immediately forgotten as I take in the sight of him.