Abyss
I lay there now in my hide out cave, far away from the source of my plagued thoughts. The memory of yesterday vivid in my mind. I thought back to everything I witnessed and learned. I was just as shocked as anyone by his aunts death, I certainly hadn't been the one to take action. Did someone else intervene? Who?
I had too many thoughts all changing in my head like a tiny circus, if the circus was depressing.
I hated the feeling that maybe I was wrong about Onyx. From what I saw there that day it seems his family is more volatile than him.
They had the audacity to blame him for everything. "I am not sure what it is that made him so....self loathing" I pondered.
Maybe he has been dangerous before. I may be out for revenge but I am not an idiot. I understand that this isn't something he'd do, especially to his own.
Akkorokamui are creatures quite loyal to their own and their families generally. They form very specific bonds, that only ones that don't fit in with the rest like Onyx, are not on the receiving end.
It is perhaps a slightly older clan mentality, like shunning an albino animal just because they can't camouflage in the wild, even though they're perfectly healthy.
I could maybe be the source of this. They believe he's dangerous thus put pressure on him, thus he becomes exactly of their own making.
The thought made me upset actually. Suddenly I found myself rethinking my plan. Was it too late now?
I couldn't process the feeling that maybe, just maybe, there was more to Onyx.
I headed over to my makeshift of a gym, grabbing my spears. I spent a while getting my energy out on it. I was mad. Was I losing myself and my motivation? Even Sarit wavered less.
"But He hasn't spoken about killing that man in what...a month?" I muttered. Maybe he wavered more than me actually on second thought. I sighed now feeling frustrated.
It would be easier if I could just root out every single Akkorokamui and figure out how to take them out. I was finally getting closer to Onyx, so why is it I wasn't happy. It's progress right?
Riddle now popped back over, narrowly being missed by my dart. "Holy smokey whirlpools!" She exclaimed.
"Spending so much time on land you hate sea creatures now huh?" She said.
"Sorry Riddle, I was lost in thought, I didn't see you there" I apologized to her. She nodded in response patting my shoulder.
"So what's on your mind that has you so distracted. You only do all this when you're overwhelmed" she said gently wishing I'd open up.
I wasn't sure where to start, hesitating briefly on my words.
"Riddle... the more time I spend with Onyx on land, the more I start to waver and question if he is as bad as they say he is. If he is really related or responsible to what happened those years ago"
She looked at me uncertain and perched herself next to me pushing my weapons down.
"It's normal to falter. After all wasn't he just a kid like you when this happened. Not everything in this world is as it seems," she said.
I didn't know what to make of it nor what to think. Life is easier when you have a set goal or focus.
"I don't think I can deviate now, Especially not on a whim. Not after all these years for someone I'm not sure about," I said.
She nodded at me sympathetically. "Yes well... have you thought about maybe switching targets through him. If he's so innocent maybe you can talk to him and find out who did it" she said.
"And expose who I am?, he is only starting to trust me" I replied.
She shook her head "will he ever trust you if you keep hiding your identity?" She asked. I looked at her with emotional eyes, "well he probably wouldn't forgive me for taking out his tribe either" I said.
She replied, "well, many of us know what happened here, but only you know how deep it goes. You would be the one who was hurt the most, I know you don't want to talk about it, I respect that. I'll be here when that day comes you're ready to move on or talk about it. I can't make this decision for you, I wish I could, really I do. However, I can only hope you choose whatever path makes you a good person" she said now getting up from her perch, patting my shoulder then swimming away after her gentle words.
I watched her go wondering how she could leave me there with those words, and my head swimming in these thoughts more than her.
I made my way on land not excited about running into my target, fearing to waver even a bit again. I needed time to clear my thoughts, but Sarit and Chada were being all lovey dovey in their own bickering way on the shore.
Even as we were dropped off by the company building my head was still struggling to formulate normalcy.
Almost instantly after leaving Sarit temporarily I bumped into him. How do I keep running into him in every corner? He's everywhere. Since when were CEO's so easy to meet.
Like some cliche, he looked at me with those deep black eyes. Wow, they were beautiful. "I'm doomed..." my thoughts escaped from the abyss I buried them under.
He smiled the sweetest smile seeing me. He suddenly didn't look like some stoney cold crystal. He looked so sweet and gentle. As if his colder demeanor was but a facade.
"How are you feeling today" I asked him.
He smiled bittersweet now, "much better thanks to you" he said. I felt the guilt pang in my chest. I saw a bruise on his shoulder, what did they do to him?
I gently said "may I?" As I gestured to pull his hand. He nodded letting me guide him to sit somewhere less people were.
I didn't ask him about it. I knew he probably wouldn't tell me and it may be a sensitive subject. I merely pulled out the extra bandage supplies I kept since coming to land and covering up Sarit's marks.
"For a manager, you sure seem to do a lot of jobs around here" he said.
I luaghed a small bit, a very light luagh,
"yeah, I have a lot more free time because you so kindly hired me while Sarit was just a trainee."
He watched my face as I now gently started fixing up his wounds and applying saline and Iodine. He made no reaction at all to me pressing them.
Looking at him like this, I realized maybe he was too used to pain. Too used to abuse.
I felt the softness of him in my hands. He was too trusting. What if I had decided to end him right here? How does he just easily believe me to be a human and a trustworthy one at that.
If he knew I was a sea creature he would have probably known who I was. Almost everyone in the sea's of ours knows me and Sarit.
Between his nobility and my magickal powers, his vengence on most humans, increasing the number of sirens, as well as my contrasting fragility outside of my abyss; yes we were certainly famous. Basically celebrities of the sea equivalent.
Why did he let himself get injured like this? Why wasn't he using his power? Why must I be so worried for him.
Now that was a thought I wish I had shut down before it formed.
Noticing my turmoil and concern, he softly lifted his hand up to my face cupping my cheek. His gaze peering into me and my soul.
A look I hadn't seen til my true soulmate passed away. "You have gorgeous eyes Abyss," with him still cupping my face softly.
"Haha no one tells me that. Don't I look evil if anything?"
He shook his head earnestly. "Not at all, you look like a dagger wrapped in a veil of shadows, mysterious and deep like the ocean. I think your edgy look is precisely what makes you so gorgeous, your long hair especially." He said trailing his hand down my hair, my eyes follwing his hand with it.
Inexplicably tears started to form in my eyes, he looked back up making a concerned face, putting his fingers on my eyelids to brush away my tears.
I looked at him in a way I am not sure I ever have. He didn't seem to know who I was yet somehow it always felt like he understood, like he sees me.
He too, did not ask why I was crying. Both of us living our own worlds but still colliding.
This is when I knew, I was falling for him.
"Your eyes speak a thousand words." He whispered softly. Last I checked mind reading wasn't one of his powers, so I was taken aback by him seeming to understand me in some way.
"The truth speaks when we do not. Deep within the abyss we hide ourselves in, lies a hue of shadowy opulence" he said.
"What?" I replied feeling maybe he found out. However, he just replied "it's a poem from a book I read once that my friend wrote."
"Oh, I see." I replied nervously. "Truth may be seen with eyes, but not heard with our ears, as truth seldom speaks as you say, merely shows itself in the deeper meaning." I said to him contemplating his words.
He seemed to pause to let my words speak in his heart.
"Yes, you may be right. I believe that one's own truth is more valuable than the facts. Everybody lies, they just lie that they don't. Everyone has secrets, at best people are just not aware they exist. I think the sincerity of the soul is more important."
It was the first time I heard this mentality, in my life shrouded in the depths no one could reach my heart, I was often told I was too closed off and needed to tell people more.
However he never asks me who I am, why I am here, or my background. He lets me be who I am without much in the way of pretense.
"Abyss, after work, do you want to go shopping with me?" He asked. "Oh? Why so?" I said.
"Ah well we can pick out you some better clothes, and get some stuff for Pixies birthday" he said sheepishly.
"Ah it's her birthday soon?" He nodded in response.
"Is it okay if I invite Sarit and Chada, my friends, they need to do some shopping too" I said.
"You can invite anyone you wish, but Chada, is he really just a friend?" He asked me.
"Well sort of, he's someone hitting on my friend. Someone I am waiting to see when he makes my friend not single anymore," I said
He now relaxed after seeing me clear the air. I smiled softly at him, seeing him differently now.