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Chapter 11: Mentality
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Her face had contorted into one spasm of complete horror. Her eyebrows knotted together, her eyes wide open as the skin resting at the middle of her nose folded into tiny lumps, as the fishy lips that could only belong to Zeus pressed against her own. Her hands were trembling as she tried to grab onto anything- anyone. That said thing or person happened to be Kado, and he was drawn forward from the fist that pulled at his damp shirt. Getting away from the close two was complicated for him, and Isabella looked as though she wasn't at all planning on letting go of him.
Zeus, however, was quite enjoying himself. Because as he pulled away from her, he couldn't help but let on a bigger smile than I thought possible. My eyes couldn't stray away from him or Isabella as she gnarled her arms around Kado, shaking and confused. The look of mortification was still on her face as she glared incredulously at the Zora before her.
"Well, that was unexpected, Zeus," Ariella leered with a sigh at the end. She didn't look as though it had been unexpected.
Although, hadn't Kado said something the night before about it being better that he was the one that saved me rather than Zeus? The "saving" part somehow involving mouth-to-mouth contact did require something the Zora would probably enjoy.
And then I laughed, loud and obnoxious and completely out of hand. I was enjoying this way too much. For one, well, hah! Maybe I wouldn't have to get kissed once during this trip- not including Kado's part that one night. That, in fact, was just for life-saving purposes.
What did I have to worry about anymore, anyway?
"W-what's so funny, Walker?" Isabella remarked.
"How do you know my name?" I asked finally after my laughter had died down.
Glancing at Ariella, I realized she was trying to cut out her own laugh before it escaped into the night air. Zeus and Kado, on the other hand, were watching a bit warily with the one exception that Zeus was grinning and Kado was looking very much bewildered.
Isabella continued to stare at me, her eyebrows slowly releasing from the annoyance she had once been going through to just watch me… without an expression of annoyance, or anger, or bewilderment. She said nothing. Her lips hadn't twitched to form a grimace, her nose hadn't crinkled to show aversion, and she didn't even turn her head to show that she was avoiding me.
"All right," Zeus finally interrupted once realizing the stunned silence didn't plan on leaving anytime soon, "One of you will have to wait here in the boat so we can take the other two through the tunnel. Anyone offering?"
I had been too busy thinking- and laughing to realize that the looming black rocks that served as high walls around Hyrule were only a few feet away. In the moonlight, I could see the slippery surface glinting midnight blue with the dark waves. As though any second it would disappear into the backdrop of the night sky and be gone like a dream drifting with the waves.
But it didn't. It was there, blocking out the horizon from one side, leaving me to wonder further why the trail had disappeared from the seafloor below. I wished I could dive under the choppy waves and see what Zeus was seeing, but his perception was most likely stronger, much more surreal than any human's. He could probably see farther, focus on the littlest of details or maybe see a thin trail covered in coral and seaweed but outlined in blue and greens and reds.
"I'll stay," Kado spoke. His voice was hoarse as if he hadn't spoken for hours. In which case I believed he hadn't. He cleared his throat before leaning back slightly. His back shuddered slightly and I realized he was cold. He would get sick if he stayed out in the cold ocean air any longer.
"No," I interjected as Ariella stood up, ready to guide me into the water. "I'll stay. I'm not the one freezing to death."
"That's a bit of a lie, don't you think?" Kado muttered, glancing up at me with his eyes narrowed.
"Even if I am, it isn't like I'm feeling the cold anymore than I'm supposed to."
"Hold your breath long enough, Jade." He looked away, ignoring my reply, "I don't think I have enough energy to save you, again."
I grimaced, "Funny, Kado, but I'm not…"
"Jade," Ariella placed a hand on my shoulder. It twitched slightly, and it probably felt as though she were resting her hand on a cold glacier out in Antarctica. "Just listen to him. It's late for bickering. You can do that tomorrow."
I sighed, "But…" Then, I stopped. She was right. The longer I stood there arguing, the longer it would take to get him back and into the warmth. "Fine…"
Zeus was the first to dive, his steel hard grip on Isabella's wrist unfaltering as she writhed in shock when he grabbed her. He mumbled something to her and she took in a deep breath and held it. They went under with hardly a splash.
"Us next…" Ariella said, taking hold of my wrist.
I glanced at Kado, feeling guilty. I furrowed my eyebrows at him as he finally craned his neck to watch me warily, probably wondering why I was staring at him for no reason.
"I'm…" I bit my lip before continuing, "sorry…" His eyes narrowed again, but this time it was as though he were trying to contemplate what I had said. I hoped he had heard me, but usually things like apologizing didn't exactly work my way.
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"You're insane!" I gasped at Ariella with wide eyes. Climbing onto shore wasn't as difficult as last time, but the pain of swimming felt exactly the same.
The said Zora was cackling just before she replied; "Hey, your buddy didn't seem to mind last time. He thought it was fun."
Her meaning of "fun" meant swirling uncannily through the dark tunnel, just barely dodging rock and coral that could have very easily butchered me to death. Just thinking of how half of my body had nearly collided with the large rock jutting out from the side of the tunnel where all types of coral and life had plastered themselves onto the surface sent adrenaline rushing through me. The near fatal experience- in my eyes- had almost caused me to inhale, and drowning was the last thing to do in my mind.
I wrung water from my hair and watched the lake's surface warily for Zeus to pop up with Kado in tow. When Ariella and I had reached the lake, Isabella had already been spit up and strewn onto the soft grass where she was shivering uncontrollably from the wet clothes and hair in which water had probably seeped through her skin. She looked like a drowned cat after a storm, sitting on a high surface to avoid any more water puddles and waiting for the right time to start licking herself.
A few minutes passed and I was growing impatient from the wait. Isabella by now had somehow edged a little closer to me- still too far to reach, but enough to hold a reasonable, distanced conversation without much of an awkward moment because of unwanted eye contact. Ariella, by now, was half in the water and half in the dry. Her dripping wet cloak had long since been tossed out onto the grass farther out to dry while she simply wore a purple-colored, strapless tunic. I could see her drumming her fingers on her thigh, waiting just as the rest of us.
With a break of the water, Zeus's head popped up, creating soft ripples around him like a low halo. His eyes were narrowed and he seemed to be searching for something. Assuming maybe it was for us, I waved my hand up in the air for a few mere seconds. But, he wasn't paying attention. He dove under, again, without a single glance. And Kado hadn't followed after him because he hadn't shown his face above the water at all.
She didn't give us a warning as to where she was going, or a reply to my question as she slinked over to the deep end and splashed under the soft waves in the water. Isabella and I watched anxiously as both the Zoras disappeared from sight.
"What do you think they're waiting for?" I started suddenly, realizing the brunette was speaking to me.
I shrugged, "Beats me."
"Do they have Kado?" I probably shouldn't have been so irritated with her, since she was actually asking the questions my mind was racing to find the answer to. But, I didn't want to speak with her. I didn't want her to be in the same world I was in. This was my problem, my people I was trying to befriend or drive away from or figure out. What if she stole them away from me?
What if she stole him from me?
But, there was Kenny, too. The person- or Sheikah I was supposed to kill.
I shook my head. There wasn't time to think about crushes and whatnot. I was being utterly ridiculous to even think about myself at a time where something could go so easily wrong.
"I don't know…" I muttered, my eyes straying over to the dark rocks spanning the entire lake and further.
"I hope he's all right…" she sighed, sounding actually very sincere.
"How long have you two been together?" My throat was tight from saying this, my tongue feeling like a thousand needles were piercing it, trying to stop me from even asking.
"Before he…" she cleared her throat slightly, "Before we broke up- about a year."
"Oh…" I tried to voice, but only a puff of cold air escaped.
"And how long have you known him?" her tone seemed edged with a bit of distaste. Her familiar expression was plastered on her face once more.
"Um…" I licked my chapped lips before answering; "A couple of days."
"Really, now?" She wasn't buying it. "About seven months ago I could have sworn you knew his name."
"It was a lucky guess." I murmured.
"Don't try and lie," she gritted her teeth and glared at me, "I have the right to know."
"No, you don't." I snapped. "And what business is it of yours to get involved with his problems? You not only put him in more danger- and yourself, but everyone else, too. So, I'm going to ask you, again. How did you know my last name?"
Her eyes flickered toward the lake, most likely trying not to make eye contact with me. At the same time, it felt as though my body temperature had dropped another ten degrees. I wasn't even sure if I was supposed to be alive at this point.
"I don't know how I knew your last name, okay?" She finally griped, folding her arms across her chest and shivering slightly.
"Where did you hear it? Did Kado tell you?" I was getting a little more curious.
She shook her head in impatience and voiced, "No," as though she had to say it out loud.
It was silent after that. Isabella avoided asking more questions- as did I, probably realizing I was as useless as I looked. Her supposed concern over Kado wasn't at all forced, but naturally real. She had more guts to actually wonder out loud what was wrong, than me- that only wanted to hide in a corner until everything was better.
She actually fought for Kado. She went after him. And what about me? I didn't fight for him. I hid my own desires just to get rid of him! I didn't want him to get hurt by me. I just hoped I hadn't been hurting him by pushing away so much. What if he finally realized that and now… I couldn't ever tell him anything because she was back in his life.
"Jade!" Both Zeus and Ariella called from where they floated not too far from the shore. I wiped at my eyes despite the lack of tears and squinted to better see their shapes more clearly.
"What?" I replied back, leaning forward on my hands and knees to peer at them.
"Uh," Zeus was glancing around nervously before replying, "Would there be any reason why Kado would have wanted to stay on the boat last?"
"What! Why?" I practically screeched, not understanding what he meant.
"Oh, for goddesses' sake…!" Ariella growled a few curse words at him before turning to me, "We can't find him, Jade, or the boat."
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Eheh, sorry for the short chappie, but I thought it would be easier to update quicker for you guys.
And thank you all for the awesome reviews!
Lindadoodle- thank you for the review! Haha, cool cool. Sounds like fun.
True Blue- thanks! Lol. My teacher made chem. a lot more fun even though it was a little complicated. Have you gone over boxes and sig figs yet:-) And good luck on the test!
I know I said I'd update next week but I was bored and I thought I'd update earlier. Hope you all enjoyed!
P.S I'm working on the cover art right now and I'll post it up on deviantart when I have the chance. So, if you guys are interested I can inform y'all when I have it up. Right now, though, all I have are doodles and some sketches on my binder.