With a deep breath Bubbles took in the salty air. A shining smile danced across her face as she slowly walked into the ocean waters. It had been so long since she had been home.
The moon above her shoulders sparkled across the water surface and shined against the other citizens. Cool water rushed up their legs as they walked deeper into the familiar dark waters.
Off on the shore line Billy waved goodbye hollering behind her. He wouldn't be ashamed to admit he was sad to see her go. He knew she'd come back for a visit, but he'd miss her already. Part of him wished he could venture down and see her, but without the proper equipment or bearing the aquatic genes he knew he couldn't.
"Thanks again Billy!" Bubbles yelled, the water levels now reaching her chest. She raised her arms high over her head and stopped just before the drop off. She had done this a million times but it was always frightening. Unlike most who make their way down to Alatas capital, Bubbles couldn't breath under water.
Expensive shops sold mouth breathers but those were always outside of her budget. Her adoptive family all possessed the water breathing gene, which made traveling at first a little hard. Eventually she had trained herself to hold her breath for three minutes before things started getting cloudy. Even short when the currents were strong against her swimming.
She looked back and blew one last kiss to Billy before taking the plunge.
Her cheeks puffed out and she wrapped her arms tightly around herself. The first time she had done this her eyes burned from the salt in the water. But not it was more of a pleasant sting.
Looking around she noticed a few familiar faces. Neighbors, shop owners and old family friends. A few of them took a little longer to say their last goodbye like her and slowly sank beside her. While others didn't stutter and had already descended into the light-less waters below.
The lower they sank the darker the waters grew until she could no longer see the faces beside her. She looked back up at the oh so tempting light. It'd be easy to just swim back up to the surface. Both the lands above and below belonged to the same man. Her man. But his home was in the deepest waters.
She wish he'd spend more time above the water, but all the trouble rumbled below the waves. The small islands above normally kept their best behavior as tourists and traveling traders inhabited most of the parts. Underneath is where the rich lived away from the 'land walkers' as they called it. Unfortunately most of those living in wealth didn't get it through hard work and discipline, but rather blood, sweat and tears.
Her nerves relaxed once her feet sank into the cool shifting sands. She curled her toes, digging herself deeper to avoid being tipped back from the current.
A swarm of bobbing lights made their way towards them. The colours glowed elegantly. Brightly burning reds, greens, yellows and purples made their way to their corresponding people, whilst also displaying their status and wealth. But the only colour she sought after was the pale blue light.
Instinctively she reached her hand out until her fingers intertwined with familiar rough ones. Her hand fit perfectly inside his.
Under the dim light it was hard to see the harsh scaring down the side of his face or the white of his blind eye. She used to hate the damages done, but now they reminded her of just how far he has gone. She traced her fingers over the raised patch of skin on his jaw as he pulled them deeper into the dark.
The closer they swam to the city the harsher the water push against them. Leaving the city always seemed easier with the water edging people out, but entering was another story.
The journey was always easier with someone to meet her half way. The first time she had gone alone she got lost and nearly drowned before another traveler had bumped into her. After that she had refused to ever go alone.
"Not much longer, my love."
She curled herself tighter into him as they entered a long tunnel. She shivered in disgust as the slimy walls brushed against her skin, as they were forced into single file through the cavern. One by one people slowly began disappearing through a large steel door. As the approached closer a prickly tentacle wrapped itself around Henry's arm as he reached out for the door.
Glowing a bright neon pink colour was Gavin, a large deep sea spider squid. "You got papers?" He hissed through two large fans hanging out the front of his face
Henry reached in his pocket and pulled out a small sack of coins tossing it at Gavin. "That amount better be paid back to me in full…" He threatened, shoving past him and into a smaller room.
As the doors closed behind them the water quickly drained, leaving the two soaking and cold.
"I don't remember there being an entrance fee…" Bubbles questioned, wringing out her pigtails.
Henry wrinkled his nose. "It's a new protection thing. Too many nosy people have been trying to make their way into the city. So I hired Gavin and his crew to keep them out. In return they collect a small tax from each visitor. Being the King I make a small cut of course."
Bubbles crossed her arms and pouted. Henry was suppose to be better than the crooked criminals in the city. She had only been gone for a month and he had hired known creeps to guard his home.
Henry sighed, slowly stripping out of his wet clothes. "Don't give me that look. I did what I had to. Besides keeping them out there is better than allowing them in here." He tossed his clothes into a small bin beside the exit. "Now come on, we haven't got all day. I've been waiting for you for years."
Bubbles giggled, quickly following his lead. "It's only been a month."
She did a slow look over at him, getting a better view in the lit room. Fresh scars replaced stitches and burns he had before she left, while all new wounds covered any untouched skin he used to have. A string of stitches crossed his chest down to his hip and dark black and blue bruises covered his neck. He had taken a hard beating, but still managed to stand tall beside her.
She didn't have to say anything, he could hear it all from her eyes. But he couldn't talk back. He quickly looked away and pried the door open.
"I had Natasha bring us all new warm and dry clothes." He joked, taking a folded stack from a tall braided woman. "There actually tradition Alatas uniforms." He explained, watching her confused expression at the itchy fabric.
The gown itself was beautiful. It was a full length silver dress with an exposed back and low cut in the front. It was the same styled dress her foster mother wore when she first met her. A common gown, one that didn't speak too loud.
"Why are you hiding? What happened while I was gone…" She asked, tearing her eyes away from the dress.
Henry waved her off, slipping into a pair of white dress pants. "I'm not hiding. I'm healing." He corrected her.
Hesitantly she pulled the dress on. The dress was slightly snug against her frame. Bubbles was a strong woman, she never really had a smaller frame and until now it hadn't bothered her. She wanted to cover her exposed chest but every movement felt like the dress would tear.
"My apologizes, but that was the only size available." Natasha bowed. "It was only a little smaller, I didn't think it would be so tight."
"It's fine." Henry cut in.
He grabbed Bubbles hand and gave it a light squeeze. "You won't be wearing it for long. We'll get you home and you can change. Along with all your previous clothing I had Natasha update it with some of the new fashions within the city."
Bubbles looked away and sighed. "I love you." She whispered.
"I promise I'll get you home, James will make you a hot meal and I'll have Natasha fetch you a hot bath."
"And then you'll tell me everything?" She wanted her words to come out more stern. More of a command than a shaky question.
Henry nodded. "I'll tell you all the amazing things you missed. Now come on. It's a long journey, even by cart." He lead her into a small wooden wagon, Natasha taking the leads and guiding the horses away.
Off to the side he watched them ride away, slowly creeping behind. He had watched him grow weak, and now that his greatest weakness had weaseled its way into place, he was going to make the final strike.