WARNING: Blood and gore in this chapter!
Cold, salty sea water sprayed on her face as the ship glided through the steady waves. The ocean surrounded them; an endless dark cerulean kissing the clouds and the soft blue sky. Lapis still felt intimidated by the vast unknown before her, still fighting the urge to run back into the safety of a small space; back to the familiarity; back to Jasper. She hated herself for that desire to flee back to the Titan. It did not matter anymore; she was finally going home. She pulled away from the railing of the ship, smiling at the sun lazily beckoning the morning. Peridot chose to keep away from the edge. Her pale face cast in a green shade with beads of sweat issuing from her forehead.
They had been traveling for three days. Pearl had borrowed the ship from a nearby colony that was known for fishing. They needed something inconspicuous to make the journey, and it was not unusual for the fishers to be traveling around this time. Pearl and Sapphire had planned accordingly to avoid arousing suspicions. Steven, Amethyst, Sapphire and Ruby decided to go with Lapis and Peridot while Pearl stayed behind to watch over the Temple. It amazed Lapis that she could feel so safe around these humans. They had accepted her, offered her friendship and security. Lapis looked over at Peridot, the smile on her lips tightened with pain.
Over the last few months, she had gotten close to Peridot. They had spent a lot of time together. Peridot took the time to teach her and guide her through this unfamiliar territory. This was something Lapis knew Peridot had no responsibility, or even reason, to do but she did. Lapis still could not wrap her head around Peridot's kindness, but she was thankful for it. She was thankful for her. Lapis clutched at her shirt. There was that dull ache in her heart. It would seize her chest when she dwelled upon leaving. She could not explain the sensation; she was overjoyed to be going home. Why did she feel that hurt?
"Are you going to be sick?" Lapis asked. Peridot was leaning against the wall with her head down. Her glasses were slipping off her nose; her blond hair was plastered to her damp face. She shook her head for a moment then slowly bobbed her head. Lapis grabbed her arm, trying to help steady her.
"I—I," Peridot hiccupped. "I'm going t-t-to see if Sa-Sa-Sapphire has anything f-f-f-for seasickness."
"Do you want me to come," Lapis asked. Peridot simply shook her head, groaning miserably.
"I—I got it." Peridot staggered out of Lapis's grasp, one hand grasping at her stomach and the other guiding herself down along the wall. Stubborn, Lapis thought as she quietly followed Peridot to make sure she made it to Sapphire.
The crew had predicted they would reach their destination by the end of the day. She would finally be home! She felt excitement bubbling inside of her; her stomach knotted in anticipation. It was strange emotion. Lapis was giddy. Home. She could already envision the beautiful city tucked away in an underwater cave. Would her sisters greet her with open arms? How much would they have changed? Would she be different to them? All these thoughts race through her mind until Peridot stumbled, fell to her knees and threw up. Lapis was pulled from her excitement as she rushed to aid her friend.
Apparently, Peridot was not the only suffering from seasickness. When they entered the infirmary, Ruby was lying in bed with the same green color washed over her pale features. Sapphire was attending to her wife; prepared for the sickness. Peridot collapsed onto the chair, ducking her head between her knees and clasping her hands behind her head. Lapis sat down next to her and folded her hands in her lap, looking around the room.
"I'll be fine, Lapis. You—you don't have to stay," Peridot mumbled, her voice cracking.
"It's okay," Lapis replied, thoughtfully. Truthfully, she did not want to spend the rest of the day by herself. Even if that meant, she would stay in the sick bay until they reached her home. Sapphire tended to Peridot shortly after Ruby, handing her a small vial and a cup of water. Peridot took it, coughing and sputtering after ingesting the medicine; her face contorted in disgust. A kind smile played on Sapphire's lips.
"It goes down horribly, but you will feel ten times better."
"Ugh. This is disgusting," Peridot stuck out her tongue and wrinkled her nose.
"Almost makes the sickness worth it, don't it," Ruby asked from her bed.
"Oh, hush," Sapphire scolded. Lapis smiled, patting Peridot's hand reassuringly. Peridot grinned weakly before burying her head in her hands. They sat silently as the medicine slowly took effect. Lapis did not mind. She chatted with Sapphire and Ruby, telling them about her home and her family with genuine enthusiasm and excitement. Each story, each memory made Lapis feel giddy, elated. It coiled in her belly like a trap ready to spring. Once Peridot felt better, they said goodbye and went back onto the ship's deck. Lapis folded her hands on the railing, resting her chin against her arm. The sun was high against the canvas of blue, heating the air and creating a curtain of humidity over the gently breathing ocean.
Peridot leaned against the side, facing away from the sea. The green had washed away, and her cheeks colored with a rosy blush. She ran her hand through her blonde hair as the breeze caught it; adjusting her glasses with a gentle push of her index finger. Nervous twitches, Lapis noticed. They did not speak; neither of them knowing what to say to the other. What could be said? Lapis was not sure any words could begin to express her gratitude toward Peridot. She brought her home. Peridot fulfilled her promise, but she had done more than that. The sweetness of her return spoilt by the bitterness of saying goodbye. Lapis listen to the waves lap against the boat, the shouts of the crew and the groan of the wood against the pressure of the ocean.
"Do you want to see it?" Lapis suddenly asked, unaware that she was speaking or that thought had popped into her head. Peridot sniffed, pushing her glasses up again and folding her arms.
"See what?"
"My home. You can come down and see it."
"How would I do that? I can't breathe under water." Peridot was not looking at her. Her eyes were focused far into the distance.
"Yeah. You can." Lapis replied, smiling. She knew a way to give Peridot the ability to breath underwater. Even if it were only brief, it would give her enough time to dive into the water and reach her home. The city nestled in the air pocket of underwater cavern. She might have come from water, but they still needed to fill their lungs with air. Peridot shrugged and grounded her toes against the wooden floor.
"I guess. It would be cool to see your home," she answered, coolly though Lapis caught the corner of her mouth twitch happily. Maybe they did not need words, Lapis thought. What good would words do? She closed her eyes, rolling her head. This was nice; this was perfect.
The sun was sinking when Steven approached Lapis and Peridot. They had moved out of the sun and sought sanctuary in the cold shadow to enjoy a late lunch. He was wearing an orange life vest over his shirt. Lapis did not understand why he was so adamant about wearing it, but Peridot told her he was particular about safety. No one else had dawned on the strange garment much to Steven's displeasure. His mouth was curved in a tight smile.
"We are almost there," he announced. Lapis could not conceal her surprise that the day had already gone by. Peridot's face was passive, her lips pressed together.
"Hey, Steven. I am going with Lapis to see the city," she informed him. Steven gave her a curious look.
"How?"
"I have a way. I want Peridot to see my home," Lapis said, eagerly. Steven's eyes darted between the two girls and he shrugged.
"I guess that's okay." Lapis jumped to her feet and embraced Steven. His massive arms wrapped around her as his hands gently patted her back.
"Thank you, Steven," she whispered.
"Yeah. Sure. I'll just tell Sapphire and the others. I think it would be okay to hang here for a few moments. Make sure you get settled fine. Right, Peri?" Peridot rose to her feet slowly. She carefully wiped her hands against her pants. Lapis felt the tension squeeze in her chest again.
"Yeah. Sounds like a plan," Peridot replied. It was not long before the crew had cut the engine and the boat floated against the current on the gentle ocean. Peridot had changed into a wetsuit that the fishermen kept on hand. They had admitted to diving for other things while out on their voyages. No one seemed to question it though. Lapis could feel the excitement coil in her stomach. It was a nice type of nausea; she was almost trembling with anticipation. She kept wringing her fingers together. They continued to make sure that Peridot would be fine underneath the water and Lapis promised she would. She would not do anything to hurt Peridot.
She said her goodbyes to Sapphire, Ruby, Amethyst, and Steven. It was not an emotionally charged departure. Even though they had offered her their friendship, Lapis knew they were happy to see her home. Once she had spoken to everyone, Lapis and Peridot got into the lifeboat that would lower them to the sea. If she had her way, she would have just dived into the ocean. But, even for her, that was quite a drop to jumped into the water. The boat jerked and the ropes creaked as the vessel slowly fell into the waters below. It hit the surface was a heavy thud. Peridot strapped a pair of goggles over her glasses.
"You ready," she asked. All Lapis could do was nod before she leaped into the sea with a loud splash. The icy water hit her, stinging her skin in a familiar, welcoming way. She opened her eyes, everything as clear as it was on land, and dove deep into the water. Home, almost home. Peridot joined her. Her green eyes flickered at her from behind the goggles, questioning. Bubbles erupted from her mouth as her lips moved. Oh! Lapis almost forgot! She swam up to Peridot, who was close to rising back to the surface for air. Cupping Peridot's head in her hands, Lapis pressed her lips against hers and blew gently into her mouth. Peridot twitched underneath her.
"Wh—what was that," Peridot sputtered once Lapis pulled away. Peridot's face was a vibrant red.
"I'm sharing the ability to breathe underwater and normalize your body against the pressure," she replied. She felt warmth in her cheeks as Peridot gaped at her.
"Warn me next time, okay?" Peridot's voice was clear and no longer garbled by the water. Lapis smiled, nodding, though she knew that there would not be the next time. Taking Peridot's hand, Lapis pulled her deep into the ocean. Schools of fish swam by in bright colors of the rainbow. A few dolphins were playing, calling to each other. Bulbous jellyfish hovered along the current, their long tentacles floating underneath their umbrella-like bodies. Lapis caught Peridot was studying everything in amazement. Somewhere, far in the distance, she could hear the echo of whales. They were not even near the deepest part of the ocean. About a mile down, the sun still sparkled in the water, and the sandy ocean floor was visible. The plants swayed with busybody crabs crawling along the porous coral. There were a couple of giant, ancient turtles swimming along the edges. Lapis recognized this place. Just ahead was the entrance to her home.
"Wow, it's incredible," Peridot marveled.
"I guess, it's pretty great, huh?" Lapis smiled. At the edge of the valley of coral, an open mouth of rock rose from the floor as if it was a monster about to devour the sea life in front of it. Squeezing Peridot's hand, Lapis guided her to the entrance. Just beyond here would be the home, nestled underneath the ocean floor and hidden from hostile forces. Safe. Home. Lapis promised never to leave it again. Giddy, Lapis pulled Peridot into the cave. It was dimly lit by fluorescent rocks that have been designed to light the way but remain unremarkable if someone was to wonder in. The path dipped down for a moment, lined with different animals, minerals, and plants. Series of dark opens lined the walls of the cave; some lead to dead ends while others lead back into the ocean.
The narrow cave led into a large cavern. It would have been dark except for the glittering lights that reflected from above. Lapis felt the bubble of exhilaration expand, threatening to pop as soon as she lay eyes on her beautiful home. Just beyond that surface of the water would be a marvelous city, filled with life; an incredible metropolis safely tucked away in the large grotto. It was almost surreal to be here. With Jasper, she had started losing hope ever to see this place again. Now it was just a few feet away, so close, so close. A burst of energy coursed through Lapis and she pushed up, breaking the surface of the water and leaving Peridot to struggle after her.
Air hit her lungs, cool and damp; water dripped somewhere in the distance. Something was immediately off. It was unnaturally silent, still. She should not hear the steady drip of the water from the stalactites. Lapis turned, seeing the somber, abandoned city sitting on the banks. The high buildings were collapsing; the hollow remnants of the intricate homes decrepit in the soft light. The excitement burst in her gut, sinking like lead; her mind went blank; her body numb. Peridot popped up beside her with a loud splash.
"What the heck, Lapis? Ditch me why don't you!" Lapis ignored her outburst, barely paying attention as she stretched forward and cautiously swam to the banks, moving close as if it would break the illusion. Her toes gripped the soft sand as she rose from the water. It felt so strange to her now. Lapis approached the city, her wet hair curling around her neck. Salty water dripped from her clothes and onto the cracked paved roads. The buildings were crumbling, decaying. Some looked as if damaged by tremendous impacts. Lapis's eyes swept over the ruins of her home. Bones were scattered among the sand and debris; white and gleaming under the glow of the gems. There was the sound of hasty footsteps slapping against the slick ground followed her.
"Lapis!" Peridot called, her hand falling onto her shoulder. Lapis trembled at her touch, clutching her fingers forcefully into her palms. Her throat was tight; a lump is catching her sobs. Her vision blurred; obscuring the labyrinth of lifeless structures. Peridot's voice reverberated through the tavern. Lapis jerked away from Peridot's reassuring hands as she broke ventured deeper into the mausoleum. Skeletons spilled from the houses—no, tombs—as if trying to flee from some great force. Some clutched spears and swords while others held onto disintegrating valuables. One was clinging tightly to another, smaller set of bones. Peridot kept in step with her, breathing heavily but not saying anything.
Lapis finally stopped, unable to bear seeing more of her home. Peridot step beside her; not touching her, not speaking. Gone. It was gone. They were gone. Lapis fell to her knees, weak, as tears slipped down her cheeks. After everything…every scream, every hit, every touch, every empty promise. There was nothing. She had nothing. Everything she did was empty, pointless, cruel. Lapis wrapped her hands around her shoulders.
"Lapis, I am so sorry," Peridot whispered, kneeling beside her. Lapis turned mechanically to look at Peridot. Her forehead was etched in wrinkles while her mouth pulled into a sympathetic frown. She did not reply but stared back into the abyss before her. The numbness began to fade as fury; hurt consumed her. She felt it. It coursed through her. And the sea was effected. The water behind them bubbled churning and hissing. There was a rumble as the cave quaked under the tempest brewing under the sea. The creatures that now inhabited the area began to scurry away, sensing the danger.
Did Jasper know? She must have known. It was possible she had led the charge into the evident battle that took place. Would she have even found this place if it wasn't for Lapis? Did she lead Jasper to them? Or was this before while she imprisoned? She used her. She lied to her. Lapis stood up quickly, letting her anger and pain and power fuse and take over. Everything around them was trembling underneath the weight of the explosive power. Chunks of stone plummeted from atop of the building; hitting the ground with harsh impact. Water swept across their feet as it rose from the beach. Peridot jumped to her feet, grabbing onto Lapis's arm.
"Lapis. Stop!"
"Let go of me," Lapis warned with a deadliness to her voice.
"No! You are pissed and hurt! I can't begin to fathom what you are going through but you need to stop! You are going to cause a cave in, and if it gets any worse, you could hurt the others. Now, stop!" She couldn't. Her emotions had already seeped into her power, taking control. Peridot released her arm. "Lapis, please! Stop!"
A piece of the cave fell with a threatening whistle too close for comfort. Peridot cried and jumped away from the fallen stone. Lapis snapped out of the blinding fury, blinking as if she was just woken up. The water receded back into the ocean, but the rumbling continued. The cave was collapsing. Rocks were raining down on the graveyard of a city as water began to seep in. What had she done? Lapis had only let her emotions take over her control once before, and it had not ended well. She did not dwell on it but grabbed hold of Peridot and the two of them ran back toward the beach. The remains of the buildings began to tumble, spilling over each other. Lapis and Peridot attempted to dodge them as the sea began to spew in through holes created by the falling rocks.
They were almost to the abyss when a large boulder clattered angrily from the top of the cave. Everything moved so quickly; Lapis was not sure what happened. She walloped the water ground, rolling away from the massive object. There was a horrid, bloodcurdling scream. It was not coming from her. Peridot was a few feet away from her, by the boulder. No. Under the boulder. The stone had caught part of her leg in its descent. Peridot screamed again, and Lapis scrambled toward her. Red twirled in the salty water. More debris showered from the ceiling as the water began to rise. What could she do? Frantic, Lapis stood behind Peridot and tried to pull. Peridot shrieked in pain, demanding her to stop. Her free leg pushed against the round side of the rock. Lapis needed to get her out from underneath the boulder. She was not strong enough move it. What could she do? What could she…?
"I have to cut it," Lapis said, solemnly. Peridot was taking quick, shallows breath; her face was contorted in agony as her hand gripped at the trapped part of her leg.
"What," Peridot huffed painfully. Lapis did not reply and grabbed the nearest sharp object she could find. She found a sword tucked within the ribcage of the skeleton. She pulled the weapon from its sheath and knelt where Peridot's leg was crushed under the boulder. Lapis pushed a piece of hair away from her face, biting her bottom lip until she drew blood and set the blade just below Peridot's knee. A set of hands prevented her from cutting down.
"No! No! You can't fucking cut my leg off, Lapis! Are you nuts?"
"The cave is collapsing and— "
"Whose fault is that," Peridot hissed, venomously. Lapis froze, her eyes widening.
"I know. I'm sorry. It's my fault. Once we get out of here, I will leave if you wish, but I have to save you and we don't have time for another option," Lapis ended with a shout. Peridot slowly, cautiously moved her hands away. Lapis took a deep breath and slowly began to saw into the flesh. Blood gushed from the incision, staining the Lapis's hands and flowing into the water. Peridot cried, tears streaming down her face. Lapis tore a bit of her shirt and bundled it up. She handed the wad of fabric to Peridot to bite down. She took the remainder of her shirt, preparing to cover the stump. Lapis pressed her entire body into pushing the blade through the skin, muscle, and bone. She heard the crunch of the bone snapping against the pressure. A few times, Peridot's screams were cut off by her loss of consciousness. She would come back after a while and resume her shrieks and sobs.
Finally, covered in blood, sweat, and salty water, Lapis carved into the final layer of flesh. Swiftly, as blood poured from the open gash where Peridot's leg had once been, Lapis wrapped her shirt as tightly as possible around the stump. Blood soaked through the fabric. Peridot was huffing and straining. Her face drained of any color; sweat and tears were glistening on her skin. As an extra measure, Lapis took the strip of fabric that Peridot held in her mouth and wrapped it above the exposed wound. Lapis grunted as she lifted Peridot onto her back. She tried to step forward and nearly fell to her knees under the dead weight of the injured girl. There was a deafening sound as the sea rushed into the cavern. Lapis raised her hand, stopping the wave of water from overtaking them. Once she reached the beach, struggling to avoid the rain of rocks and keeping Peridot steady, Lapis gave one final glance at her home before it was to be devoured by the sea.
"Oh, my gods! What happened?!" Sapphire shrieked as the lifeboat was raised back onto the deck. Lapis had swum back to the ship with Peridot on her back. She was sore and exhausted and covered in blood. Peridot was passed out; ghostly white and struggling to breathe. Lapis had rested Peridot's head in her lap, stroking her hair and apologizing over and over again, telling Peridot she will take care of her and make amends for what she did. This was her fault. This was all her fault. She allowed her emotions to overcome her again. Her friend was injured, possibly on the verge of death and it was her fault. All she ever does is cause pain and suffering. Steven came and collected Peridot from Lapis. There was something in his eyes, something that was angry and disappointed.
"I'm sorry. I promised I would get her back safe and I didn't," Lapis cried, numbly.
"What happened," Sapphire repeated. I happened, Lapis wanted to say. I did this. I let my powers get out of control and Peridot was hurt because of it.
"Cave collapsed," Peridot called with a raspy, shaky voice before Lapis could answer. "City was destroyed. Cave collapsed. Lapis got me out."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Lapis," Steven whispered.
"That doesn't matter! Help her, please," Lapis cried. Steven nodded toward Sapphire, and they ran off to the infirmary to help Peridot. Ruby and Amethyst looked at Lapis with grim, sympathetic glances. No! She didn't deserve this. Guilt burned in the back of her head, flushing her chest and chewing at her heart. Why didn't Peridot tell them it was her fault? Lapis wanted to run. She wanted to get as far away as possible. Somewhere she wouldn't cause harm. Somewhere isolated and alone. Somewhere she was safe, and everyone was safe from her. But, she owed it to Peridot. She needed to make sure Peridot was fine. Lapis needed to make up for what she had done. Peridot had done some much for her, and all she caused was agony. She needed to repay her. And if Peridot did not want her, she would leave.
