Being of the Sea
Prologue
I know it's been a long time since I last published and I'm really sorry. For the those who are fans of the "Kakuzu's Treasure" series, I'll try and continue and some time. Readers, please enjoy this chapter. Please leave a review. Thanks for taking the time to read.
Bloodshed and war marked the verge of the new millennia. It stained the great waters ruled by the god Ryujin. He cared little for the affairs of human or their deaths. To escape the pollution of human death. He traveled north. Its cold water lacked the pollution of humans. From his frozen home, he watched both mystical beasts and human interact peacefully. Rare was it that he witnessed such a thing. He found himself falling in love with the life people crafted a home there. In dark months he could spend hours, watching the great northern. Or in months constants sun, bathe in its warm light. He hadn't only fallen in love the simple life the north brought, but his heart was captured by a wondrous beauty. From afar he watched her, never daring to go close, afraid of frightening her.
The beauty wasn't of human blood. No, the blood humans could never create her. This magnificent beauty was Amora, the princess of the Northern Selkie Tribe. Her was skin a delicate shade of ivory, which so easily blended with the snow. He found himself so easily lost in the deep warm golden browns eyes. Her hair dark brown tumbled delicately down her back in wavy curls. Ryujin hadn't spoken a word to yet he found himself so in love. Amora sat in the on edge the ice with her tail fin in the water.
"Will you only watch me? Or will you dare to speak me today", she said.
Ryujin wasn't one to refuse a challenge, especially from her. He dove into the deep frigid water and surfaced in front of her. Never had he been so close. There was no fear in her expression or scent.
"I do grow tired of only observation", he said.
Her face warmed with blush. His face was so close to hers. The god's breath tickled against her skin. Those intense sea green eyes focused only on her. His skin held the light of immortality. She was so tempted to touch.
"You speak to me with such familiarity. And I don't even know your names", said Ryujin.
"You know my name", she said.
"And what a name it is Amora", said Ryujin.
"What have I done to gain the attention of such a god", said Amora as she swatted him across the face with her tail.
He rubbed his cheek. No creature of the sea had dared to make such a move against him but found the feistiness enthralling. All feared his wrath, but selkies weren't of his creation.
"Must I put it into words?" he asked.
Ryujin smiled when saw he brought a blush to her cheeks.
"What draws you here to this barren place?" she asked.
"At the moment you", said Ryujin.
"Your sweet talk won't work with me. Tell me your real reasoning. There must be one for you to leave great palace crafted of white and red coral in a far distant sea", said Amora.
"Peace, and I believe I've found it", said Ryujin.
She smiled.
"Have I earned your favor?" asked Ryujin.
"You've earned my interest", said Amora.
"And the start of our beginning", said Ryujin.
"Our? Are you so confident in yourself?" said Amora.
"Yes", he said before flashing a white smile.
Amora folded her arms.
"What would I want with a mermaid?" she asked.
Ever since the creation of two species they despised each other. Each thinking they were the better. Ryujin floated on his back in the dark blue water. The scales of his tail fin sparkled even in the darkness of the ocean.
"Hmm, you'd prefer another form. A dragon maybe?" he asked.
"For what you would have for a dragon", teased Amora.
His tail fin glowed with silver-white light. The scales were replaced by silvery dark blue fur that was spotted with black.
"Do you approve?" asked Ryujin.
"It's a start", said Amora.
Day after day Ryujin showered her with gifts and every day she returned them. Never revealing her marvel at the wondrous gifts. To her, their conversation was far more enjoyable. One day he gave her a gift she couldn't find in her heart to refuse, a ring. The two were married in the great ice castle of the north. Ryujin built a great palace of ice and white coral to shelter his wife. Soon after their union Amora blessed them with twin sons. Ryujin gifted them with great power that surpassed those of his original offspring. His daughters from another sent gifts celebrating the births of their brothers, knowing their father always wished for sons.
A century later he was granted the greatest gift of all a daughter. The precious being rested against her mother's chest, huddled against her mother's breasts. She was wrapped in a blanket of blue silk. The infant had mother's dark hair and father's sea green eyes and power. Her skin held the light glow of an immortal. She couldn't be more perfect. Ryujin stood over them.
"What shall we name her?" asked Amora.
"Cora Yukimaru", said Ryujin.
He had no last name to give the child so his Amora's last name would take its place. Ryujin took her in his arms.
"I foresee great things for you, my daughter. You won't be confined by gender. Cora, you'll be a force to be reckoned with", said Ryujin.
Five years passed peacefully. His love for his daughter only grew. Ryujin's joy was ruined by a disruption of the balance of power.
"Don't go this is a matter for the gods of the land, not you", begged Amora.
"It's a matter of the gods I can't put this off any longer", said Ryujin.
"Daddy",
He turned to see Cora.
"My daughter you should be asleep", said Ryujin.
"Are you going?" she asked.
"Only for a short while, my dear", said Ryujin as he lifted her.
"Promise?" asked Cora.
"You have my promise", he said.
Ryujin put her down and pulled the blankets over her.
"And this", he said.
Ryujin opened his hand and black compass appeared in his hand.
"Open it", he said.
"It doesn't point north", said Cora.
"No, but it points to something better", said Ryujin.
"What?" asked Cora.
"It points to what you want", said Ryujin.
"It's pointing to you, Daddy", said Cora.
He smiled softly.
"Never betray it and it will always return to you", said Ryujin.
Ryujin left his family with a heavy heart. He had to see who had dared to break the balance. For the first time in centuries, he stepped onto shore. How he hated the inconvenience of walking. He walked water emerged from the ground to clean he area as he walked. He found her. Her white hair and skin stood out from the darkness. She stood with her back facing him.
"So you are the Rabbit Goddess. I was expecting something cuter. The horns make that difficult", said Ryujin.
"You aren't the first god to visit me, but you're amongst the powerful", said Kaguya.
"You should be honored. Not anyone can draw me onto land", said Ryujin.
"My intentions were good", she said.
"You know what they say about good intentions. Why do you think I've been so merciful? But you've incurred the wrath of the gods and I can't allow that to go unpunished. The ocean won't be a friend to you", said Ryujin.
"Nor will it be to you", said Kaguya.
"How dare you question my power of my realm!" growled Ryujin.
A triton appeared in his hand. The jewels that aided his power decorated the deadly weapon. He pointed it at her throat.
"Ceto has been searching for you? What wrath do you think she's inflicting on your beloved family", said Kaguya.
He cringed at the of the past. Ceto was once one of the most beautiful mermaids, but he cursed her for daring to try to steal his magic. Her beauty was taken she stolen and replaced ugliness. It was too late to seal back his magic.
"I wanted to be merciful, but you've brought upon my wrath", said Ryujin.
Saltwater seeped through the ground poisoning it.
"This tree will never produce such fruit again and this of my curse. Now the water shall bring no relief. Forever shall it burn you", said Ryujin.
"Please let me not be too late", he said.
Bloodshed ruined the peaceful village. Ryujin son's fought bravely to protect the remaining survivors. Both selkie and man lay dead on the ice. Ceto had yet to find her target. Amora heard Ceto calling out her name. Ceto's army of mutated sea creatures already taken over her palace. She'd already suffered great injury by their hands. Amora knew her time was limited. It was only a matter of time until they found her and Cora. She scooped her daughter up from bed holding her close so she wouldn't make noise.
"Mama?
She dove into the water. Amora had to find Ryujin and their sons! Amora held her young daughter her arms as she raced through the water. A trail of blood trailed behind her. She found a hollow glacier. Amora forced her upper body onto the ice.
"Mama", whined the child.
She pushed her into a hollow glacier. Leaving her with two a compass and sword gifted from her father. Amora sealed her daughter within the glacier with a protective spell. With the last of her strength, she broke the sheet ice and pushed away from the glacier.
"Goodbye my daughter", said Amora she sunk into the water.
Ryujin arrived to pure destruction. His sons won the battle, but the loss was great. The sad songs of the selkies could be heard throughout the realm. He screamed in agony as found beloved floating in the water. Ryujin held her body in his arms. He set her down gently on the ice.
"Oceanus, Triton watch over your mother. I must find your sister", he said.
He searched the sea for centuries but never found his beloved daughter.
After months of searching the sea witch, Ceto found what she was looking for. The youngest daughter great sea god. Frozen into glacier with the last of her mother's magic. She touched her hand to the ice. The witch hissed as the purity of the magic burned her skin.
"I may not be able to kill you, but I'll take your memory", said Ceto.