Chapter 3 - Dark Awakening

My father held up his fist. "Aphanes." 

At his words, a breeze blew past my ears, swooshing around me like I was falling from the sky. The pains in my head stopped abruptly and everywhere went silent. 

I opened my eyes and looked around, curious about where my father had taken me. It was just my room. My gaze lifted to his, disappointment etched on his countenance. 

"I'm sorry, father." I whispered, lowering my head. 

"Leading this coven is your destiny, not Fabian's," he sighed. "Not because you're older, but because you possess greater strength!"

I shook at his sudden outburst. "I wish I weren't the stronger one. Why can't Fabian be the one to end my life and lead when he comes of age?"

"We do not dictate our fates, Val," he said, nearing the door. "This coven depends on your leadership... They're under your protection. Your decisions affect us all. Unlike you, Fabian understands this, and you will remain here until you do, too."

As he reached the open door, I ran to him, pleading, "No, father, please do not confine me!" But my words fell on deaf ears as he left the room.

My body banged against the barrier spell my father had put up, allowing others to pass through freely except for me. I grunted, slamming my fist against the invisible force. 

~The Stranger's POV~

I laid on the floor, pains sinking deep into my bones. Warm blood trickled down my bare shoulder, pooling on the wooden platform. It was hard keeping my eyes open, as I was already drowning in a black world. 

Like a leaf in the wind, the pain slipped away. My eyes shot wide open as energy surged through my body, the gashes on my back tingling as they covered up. My brows rubbed together as I tried to comprehend what was happening to me, and then I gazed at my hands—sharp claws had torn out of my fingertips. 

The bright sky flashed its glow on my face as I flung my head backwards. My canine ached with the protruding of sharp fangs. 

Claws, fangs, why would I have those? 

Was I becoming a monster?

A scream pierced the tranquil atmosphere. "He's evil! A demon!" 

My gaze darted to the scurrying witches. "I mean you all no harm." I said, yet they ran still. 

Warlocks approached with weapons, led by Aurelius. I hurried to my feet and my body moved faster than I expected, agile and weightless. Aurelius cast a spell, and a force hit me, causing my feet to skid backward.

"I don't want to fight!" I yelled as he swung a sword at me, narrowly missing. 

"We despise your kind!" He used telekinesis to retrieve the blade.

"My kind?" 

I clasped my head, groaning as a sharp, piercing pain surged. My yells of agony tore through the agora. "What are you doing to me?!" I looked up at them with red eyes. My head throbbing with veins. 

They looked around eachother, confused as I was. Flashes of images appeared in my mind, voices which all soon they became vivid. 

---

 I stood in a narrow corridor. Knights in the corners, their armors shimmering as the windows let in the sunlight. Footsteps came from behind me. "Nero." A male voice called, gentle but firm. "You must not defy our father."

"Hyacinth." I turned to face him. "The merman is a fable. I will not embark on a sea voyage in pursuit of a myth."

"This is a royal decree from your king, not a request from your father. To refuse is to disobey the king."

"I won't take part in a pointless quest." My boot clicked all the way to my room. I left no chance for Hyacinth to say anymore of his persuasive words before I departed. 

As I fell onto my bed, the floorboards squeaked beneath my weight. I laid still, counting the black and ash squares of my checkered ceiling. A brief knock came before my father's entrance, the door protesting with a long creak. His eyes met mine, and I sat up instantly as he strolled in. His gold crown, adorned with gems, sat upon his brown hair. He paused by my sword stand, occasionally drawing out different blades, their metallic click filling the room as he observed them. 

"Do you know why I've gifted you swords on every birthday since you turned fifteen?" His hoarse voice bore into the silence as the blades' clicking sound ended. 

I stared at his back, mute, wondering why he had brought up the topic. 

"As you are aware, for years rumors circulated that you're not my biological son, that you belong to the devil'." He pulled out the dagger he had given me for my last birthday. "Those rumors don't matter to me. You posses strength, the spirit of a warrior. You're kind, just like me, and you'll rule this kingdom... Just as I do, even better." With his eyes on the dagger, he advanced towards me.

"If you've come to persuade me to join that hunt for the sea creature, I'm afraid I must decline..." 

He pressed the dagger into my hand, "I want you and Hyacinth to reconcile. Can't you two try for once?!"

"I've tried, father, several times. He shows no interested."

"I sanctioned this expedition because it means so much to Hyacinth, the thrill of adventure and all... It'll help take his mind off things and he'll need his brave, big brother by him." He turned away, heading for the door, "do the right thing, son."

I heaved a deep sigh, looking at the silver dagger in my grasp. Our name, mine and Hyacinth's, were encrusted into the handle. A gentle reminder for us to look after eachother. On our respective birthdays, our father had given it to us, collecting our vows to heed his wishes. 

Through the window behind me, I saw Hyacinth gather a crew for his grand adventure, the hunt for the famous 'merman' - a tale I adamantly refused to believe. It had been a story our mother used to scare us away from the sea. As I grew, I dismissed it as a mere misconception and preferred to keep it that way. Although, if accompanying him on his boat cruise could forge a bond between us, I would give it a chance. 

Tucking the dagger in the sheath attached to my belt, I took off my heavy robe and donned a simple shirt. I packed a bag with all the vital and necessary items, withdrawing a sword from its stand before stumping into the corridor. My feet were heavy as I marched down the stairs and towards the exit. 

"Your highness," Liam, my personal guard, called. "I'm coming with you."

I looked at his ridiculous outfit. A shoulder bag hung across his torso, stocked with the things he'd need for a voyage. 

"No, Liam, I'm doing this alone."

"Your highness, doesn't it strike you odd?" He asked. "Suddenly, Master Hyacinth wants your company on his mission?"

I reasoned Liam's words, but then dismissed it almost immediately. "Perhaps this is his way of wanting to reconcile."

"Forgive me, sire, but I don't trust him."

"I do. He's my brother, so you just have to trust that we'll all return with the merman in one piece."

"But, your highness, you don't believe in mythical creatures."

I walked away, ignoring Liam. Once I was out, I looked up at the royal balcony where my father stood gazing down at me. He beamed with ecstasy as he gave a farewell nod. Returning the gesture, I mounted my black horse. 

Neighing loudly, it galloped towards the ocean-side, the wind dancing in my hair. I halted the ride a few yards from the shore and alighted. Giving my horse a gentle pat on the flank, she turned and ran back toward home. 

"... we are prepared to venture into the deepest unknown," I overheard him saying as I went closer. "Gentle men... Shall we?" 

"Aren't you forgetting someone?" I asked. 

His gaze flickered in my direction, and his eye lit up. I don't remember the last time my presence brought joy to him, and this improvement made me smile, a warm feeling settling in my heart. I assured myself that all was going to turn out just fine. 

I climbed aboard and we set sail. My room on the ship was quaint and comfortable, with a window that offered a breathtaking view of nature, just as I remembered. It had been nearly eight years since I embarked on any mission pertaining to the sea. Being aquaphobic, I sailed a little, probably when necessary. 

The air carried with it the stench of salt and sweat as we dived farther into the ocean. I sat at the reading table, a quill in my hand. My journal and two small jars of ink sat before me as I scribble down some notes about the adventure and my hopes of bonding with Hyacinth during the mission. 

Although my door was shut, I still heard the chattering of crew members and the clicking of their wine bottles as they toast. Eventually, I left my room and climbed up to get a better view of our direction. I looked back at my compass and nodded, satisfied that the ship was on track. It'd been fifteen hours and my brother had avoided me the whole time, preferring solitude in his room over his crew's company. His door was locked. I stared at the brown wood, fighting the urge to knock and call out to my little brother. I missed him, and I longed for the same sentiment from him. 

Returning to the warmth of my room, I resumed writing in my journal. I grabbed my mythological book from the small shelf hanging on the wall, the cover dusty and old. Flipping through the yellowed pages, I found the page about the legend of the merman. I read through it; his powers, weaknesses, and origins. The book revealed him to be the third child of the Devil. 

 As I read on, lying on my bed, shadows crept into my room. The clouds darkened with a low rumble. The moon shone dimly, covered by thick clouds. Hours had gone by, but still no luck with our search. 

The jars on my nightstand shook, clicking against eachother. Soon after, the ship turned violently, throwing me off balance. I stumbled, making my way outside. Everyone scurried around the deck, doing whatever they can to keep us from sinking. 

"Captain!" a sailor's voice cut through the roar of the storm, his words lost in the howling wind. "Storm ahead!" he shouted again. 

The ship pitched and rolled in the tumultuous wave, the deck slippery with rain and sea water. Crew members scrambled across the deck, grasping onto anything sturdy to keep from being swept overboard. 

With all my strength, I pulled on the rope attached to one of the rigging, fighting to keep the ship on course. But a piercing pain in my side interrupted my efforts. I looked down to see a dagger protruding from my abdomen, its bloody blade glinting ominously in the flashes of lightning. The ship rocked beneath me as I wondered who had stabbed me from behind. It swayed harder, and I stumbled against the wooden rail. I spun around to the traitor and a blow across my face sent me sprawling to the wooden floor. 

"Hyacinth?" My voice broke. 

"Forgive me, Nero," he uttered with a solemn pause. "But you must depart from our lives forever. The Devil himself is on the search for you, ready to kill anything or anyone in his path. I am just trying to keep both I and father safe."

Life was releasing its grip on me; I could sense it. I'd lost a lot of blood, or so I thought as my blood mixed and flowed with the water on the deck. Amidst the chaos and the crew's hard work of averting a shipwreck, none aboard noticed what had gone down. With a wary glance around, Hyacinth stooped to raise me from the sodden deck.

"Please... spare me... from this fate," I gasped for breath. 

He walked a short pace to the railing. I stared deep into his pained gaze; his eyes betraying his fuddled emotions. The way he flung me off the ship like I was nothing, like he was discarding a refuse. I crash against the water, si nking into the darkening depths. My life replayed in my head, memories flashing in my mind as the ocean claimed me as its own.