Chapter 8: The News
I can't sleep. It's the dead of the night. The moon sits high in the sky; just a sliver, but so bright that I can trace its circular shape against the darkness of the sky. The water seems calm, but the wind is gradually picking up, filling the campsite with the rustling of leaves.
I sit at the water's edge, starting into the vast open sea with a cluttered mind. Behind me, Lucio is sleeping soundly under the tiger skin pelt. Earlier, after our kiss and filling up on a bounty of fruit, I told Lucio everything. Julian was alive. All was well with the crew. Plans were probably underway to bring me back to Vesuvia as we speak...
And I had officially given up. Not on rescue, or returning home, but on Julian; on our relationship. It hurt to say it considering all we'd been through together; whether I remembered it, or it was lost among the various other things I couldn't remember from beyond four years ago. I don't think I'd be able to get through another fight without saying or doing something I wouldn't be able to take back, and it'd be even worse if it happened while we were out at sea again. It'd be best if we ended things, and continued on with our lives as friends.
Lucio had quite a bit to confess, as well. He brought up memories from my past, some sparking headaches, and others just leaving me terribly confused. It was a well-known fact that Lucio and Nadia's marriage was anything but traditional; no monogamous commitment, and no end to the amount of frivolous affairs on both sides. Apparently, Asra, Julian, and I were involved on more than one occasion, but while Asra and Julian seemed to favor Nadia more, I used to have Lucio wrapped around my finger. Who was always at the very top of the list to his parties? Me. Who was given the finest luxuries the palace could offer? Me. Who would be there to boost his ego after everyone else had enough of his boasting and tantrums? Apparently, me.
Of course, losing my memories changed me, seemingly for the better. I wasn't about to let him become the spoiled brat I saw strutting about the palace after he had stolen my body. I wasn't going to put him before anyone or anything else. Above all, I wouldn't let our relationship fall under the label of an affair. He and Nadia were over, and so were Julian and I, whether that slippery bastard knew it or not.
But then what? Help would come, eventually, and I would leave this island to return to the familiar comforts of Vesuvia. But what about Lucio? Nadia had made the terms of Lucio's banishment crystal clear. If he was spotted in Vesuvia or any of its associated territories, he'd spend the rest of his life in the dungeons, if not be executed on sight, and the odds of him finding safe passage aboard Mazelinka's ship was slim. After all, this is what this whole predicament could be about, too; him using me to gain safe passage off of the island, but what if it wasn't? What was I going to do? What was Lucio going to do?
"Akari..."
A familiar voice calling me from the water pulls me from my thoughts. The surface of the water shimmers as I see Asra's image appear. It looks like he's back in Vesuvia, having returned from wherever his latest journey took him. I make out the branches of a willow tree swaying behind him, and I realize he's at the fountain that sits in the palace gardens.
I scoot closer to him, smiling as he takes a moment to look me over, "You're back."
"I am," Asra says with a nod, "And I have good news and bad news."
It's never good when Asra says something like that. The bad news is almost always worse than the good news, making me forget the good news entirely. Even so, I knew the response that I had coming to me, even as the words leave my mouth.
"Tell me the bad news first."
As expected, Asra's face falls slightly as he shifts his weight on the lip of the fountain, "Well, the bad news won't make quite as much sense unless I give you the good news first."
I let out a sigh, "Go on."
"Alright, the good news is I've received a little help in trying to figure out if Mazelinka and everyone on your ship are all right."
A loud chirp sounds next to him and a familiar owl perches itself on one of his shoulders. Chandra, the Countess's mail owl. I watch as her head swivels around to gaze at me before leaning towards Asra to nibble at one of his cloud-like curls.
"Nadia sent her out to look for the ship as soon as I told her what had happened," he explains, "And she managed to bring a certain someone back with her."
I lean forward with interest as Chandra flutters off of Asra's shoulder. Moments later, another shape lands on his shoulder, croaking loudly at the opal owl with ruffled black feathers.
"Malak!"
My heart lights up at the sight of the ragged, rowdy raven. He gives me a curious look, almost as if to ask, "What are you doing in the fountain?"
"Chandra was gone all day today," Asra continues, "and when she came back, he came squawking in behind her. Chandra also returned with a letter from Portia. The ship is still in one piece, and she, Ilya, Mazelinka, and Nazali are still all right."
I sigh with relief. I figured the ship and its supplies must be in pretty good shape if Portia had managed to write to Nadia. Then again, I kind of expected as much after what I'd seen through the carvings inside our nearby cave.
"Thus where I get onto the bad news," the delight in Asra's eyes wavers as the smile falls from his face and is replaced with concern, "The bad news is that the ship is still three days away from Vesuvia, and it could be a few days more before there are enough supplies stocked on the ship to go out and search for you. It could be a couple of weeks before we're able to get you off that island. Maybe longer."
"I honestly would have been surprised if you'd said it'd take less time than that," I stated, "I'm pretty sure I can survive that long."
Asra nods before his expressions grow dark, "How are you and him getting along? Has he dropped the whole nice-guy act yet?"
"On the contrary, we've actually had a pretty adventurous couple of days."
I tell him about our encounter with Nero, and the injuries Lucio faced as a result. I tell him about our trip to West Camp, and what we saw in the alcove. I tell him about the cave that sits on our campsite and the carvings that I saw. Asra hangs on to every story and detail with interest, but I can tell he knows I'm hiding some things. Some things I'm sure he wouldn't be the least bit happy to hear about.
"Wow..." Asra says as he rests his chin in his palms, "Lucio's never been the type to do anything like that for anyone, ever. Ahhhh, I wish I could have seen him get mauled by that tiger, but... Akari, is there more to it? I feel like there's something that you're not telling me."
My face must betray my thoughts, because Asra's features immediately light yup with a playful tease.
"Ooohh, I know that look!"
"Look? What look?"
Asra points and lets out a slight laugh, "That look. You only ever make that look when you've done something you're not supposed to. You always have."
Easy for him to say. It was only a few months ago, while we were having tea with Nadia, that he revealed that we had known each other for ten years; six of which that were completely gone from my memory on account of the plague. Whatever this look is that he's talking about, though, he isn't wrong.
"Akari," Asra says teasingly, "What did you do?"
I feel stuck. He knows I'm hiding something, and he'll pry it out of me one way or another, but how was he going to react if I told him I was breaking things off with Julian for Lucio? Asra merely didn't trust Julian, not for a while, at least. He hated Lucio, whether he's turned over a new leaf or not.
The conflict must show, because Asra's playful teasing tone lowers into concern and suspicion, and the question comes out a bit more rushed, "Akari, what did you do?"
I twiddle my fingers on my lap, choosing my words carefully.
"Speaking hypothetically, what would you do if I were to break things off with Julian?"
Asra's eyes go wide, "Akari..."
"Hypothetically speaking, of course!"
Asra is silent for a moment before he lets out a sigh.
"I'd have to ask why? You two seemed to be good for each other. I know Ilya... he'd be devastated. You mean the world to him. He'd be crushed, and I'd hate to see him relapse into his old ways."
An ache shoots through my heart. I knew it would hurt Julian in the end, but it would be better than to continue on fighting like we have been.
"Okay, and hypothetically speaking, what would you do if I... I don't know... kissed Lucio?"
The look that crosses Asra's face is one of absolute shock and disgust. His mouth hangs open in disbelief and his eyes are as wide as saucers. I might as well have told him that I undid the Devil's bindings to let him run amuck all over again.
Eventually his eyes close and he takes a deep breath, "Speaking hypothetically, eh?"
I nod, "Of course."
Asra's eyes point upwards towards the night sky. I can tell he's choosing his words just as carefully as I am.
"If Lucio has indeed turned over a new leaf, as you say, then I suppose it's not the worst thing you could do, but... Akari, I've known Lucio for far too long. He isn't a good person. I'd rather see you with the old Ilya than with Lucio," he pauses and sighs deeply, "But your intuition hasn't ever led you astray, has it? I can't let my own selfishness get in the way of what makes you happy. I just don't think it's wise to get yourself involved with somebody like him."
The look in Asra's eyes is pained, as if saying those words was no easier than swallowing shards of broken glass. What could I do? How could I get him to see what I was seeing in him? I could only tell Asra so much, and it wasn't like I was going to be able to drag Lucio back to Vesuvia with me so the two of them could get reacquainted...
Unless...
"What if the two of you just... talked?" I ask.
Asra shoots me a confused look, "What do you mean?"
"Well, Lucio is currently asleep in the cave behind me. He hasn't said a word against you since I've been here. I don't think he'd mind if I woke him up to see if you two can talk things out."
"Akari... I have my own reasons for hating Lucio. As much as the thought of him changing for the better appeals to me, there are some things in this world that just can't be forgiven."
For a moment, I think about just letting the topic go. Whatever Lucio had done to Asra in the past, whatever slights they may have had for one another, they must have been pretty terrible, but I knew Asra. Now that the word was out, he'd worry over me like a mother hen. He'd probably find a way to get me off of this island himself, if he had to.
"Just talk to him," I urge, "I'm not asking you to forgive him. Heck, you don't even have to like him. Just talk to him."
Asra ponders over the request silently for a moment, and I see a number of emotions flash across his features; anger, annoyance, worry, intrigue, curiosity to name a few. Over all, he looks completely torn, wanting to see this new Lucio that I seem to speak so highly of, but not wanting anything to do with it simply because it's, well, Lucio.
"I don't have to like him?" Asra inquires as his gaze fixes onto me.
"Not even a little bit. Just hear him out. See him for yourself. Give him a piece of your mind, if you want. Hey! If you think he has something to hide, there's a spell you could cast to pry the truth out of him; you know the one."
A mischievous look flickers across Asra's features, "Plotting against your own lover now, are you?"
A fiery heat explodes across my cheeks, "That's not... he's not... It isn't..."
My ears burn as I flounder with my words, all the while Asra collapses in a fit of hysterical laughter. He's enjoying this, and I hate it, but if it'll get him to cooperate, I'll take it.
"Oh, Akari, you know I can't say no to you," he chuckles, "Alright, I'll agree to talk to him. However..." Asra quickly pulls himself together, and his serious front is put up once more, "If he makes one false move, any indication that he's lying or planning on using you, I'll come over there and kill him myself."
