A/N: Sorry for the long wait folks, bear with my laziness please :P
24
Miruko lay still on a rock paralyzed from the pain. What Icarus had done to him was horrid and painful, he wanted more than anything to turn back in time and save Calypsa from his wretched brother.
He knew he made a mistake and he was paying for it dearly, but so was Calypsa. If only she had left, none of this would've happened…
But he had to face the facts and there was no going back now. Calypsa might still be alive and only he could save her before it was too late. Yet he couldn't move; his body was in such an atrocious state that to even move a mere inch would cause him to wince from the pain.
He began to recall what Icarus, his brother, had told him only moments before. "You shall die brother, but slowly and painfully. And then you're going to wish you were never born."
He had cast a spell on him, but there were no wounds, nothing that would seem painful from the outside. It was his mind that was playing tricks on him and created an illusion that he was in absolute pain. Miruko's mind was defenseless against the spell and he knew there was no hope fighting against it, his brother had grown too strong…
Icarus watched as Calypsa's lifeless body floated on the water. The blood had spread across the stone and he waited for the moment of absolute power to reach him. Anger and greed was written across his eyes, he had waited for this moment for so long and now was the chance to finally get it.
It was so easy, almost perfect. Everything went according to plan except for Miruko. If he just stood out of the way he wouldn't have to die.
But that didn't matter anymore. Icarus had grown cold hearted over the years. His rage and greed for power overtook his soul and created a monster beneath it. He didn't mind of course, to have the greatest power of all was all that he wanted. Friends were merely a waste now, and love was just an empty feeling.
He remembered how Miruko used pathetic attempts to change him. "Why do you keep doing this brother? Don't you see this power is controlling you? You're not the same anymore!"
But he didn't care, he was happy. He wanted this kingdom to bow down and worship him or they would suffer dire consequences, much like Miruko. No one would stand in his way, not even an army.
His lifelong goal was coming true and this made him smile.
Yet as he watched the blood continue to trail on the stone, he felt nothing. No surge of power or any increase in strength. He felt the same as before and he clenched his teeth in anger as he realized Calypsa may still be alive.
I thought I would only see darkness but I began to dream. But it wasn't like any other dream I'd seen before, no, this dream was different because it was so real. Perhaps too real, and it may not even be a dream at all.
It was a rather bright place with nothing but shimmering lights all around me. I saw that I was back as my human self once more since I not longer had fins but rather legs instead. I wobbled my feet and smiled, it was good to be back to normal again.
Or so I thought. Perhaps this was heaven, or the after life of some sort. It didn't seem too spectacular, and after all, there were merely bright lights around me.
"Hello Coral." I gasped as a sudden voice shot out from behind me. I recognized that voice but I was afraid to turn and look so quickly. I turned my head slowly and there I saw a familiar face.
My father stared back at me with a smile, he looked better than ever. There was a strange gleam across his eyes and an aura of joy was all around him. I hadn't seen my father looking so well in years.
I ran to him almost stumbling as I went but I didn't care. My father was here with me and that was all that mattered. I practically pushed him to the ground as I drew a big hug around my father. He held me tightly and we just stood there for what seemed like an eternity. Tears formed in the corner of my eyes from joy and I didn't want this moment to end. A smile grew on my lips and my tears grew into sobs as I realized how much I missed my father.
"This is only a dream," my father said.
No it couldn't be, I thought. I was dead, and this is where I wanted to be—with my father.
He seemed to have read my thoughts, "Go back Coral, that's where you belong."
"I don't want to," I cried. I buried my face into his chest afraid to let him out of my sight.
"Icarus must be stopped Coral and only you can do it."
"I don't want to go back dad. I'm tired of him, I'm tired of that world, and I just want to stay with you!"
"And what about Miruko?" He asked.
I stopped to think for a moment, was Miruko worth going back for? I hardly knew him, yet I did want to see him again.
"You're not dead Calypsa, you need to go back," my father pushed on.
"What about Mina? Will she be there too?" I asked.
My father did not answer; he just looked at me with a blank stare. I repeated my question but he still didn't answer.
"Answer me!" I cried. If I was still alive, then perhaps so was Mina. There was still hope, there had to be.
"I'm sorry Coral, it's just you now," my father replied.
I screamed and my vision began to fade. My father was slowly disappearing and I cried out to him but there was no point. He faded and so did the bright lights…
Icarus continued to stare at what seemed to be a lifeless body of Calypsa's. He noticed blood stopped trickling and he stared at her for the longest time before he swam closer. The wound was gone and there was no more blood to spill.
It can't be, he thought. It was impossible, Calypsa had to be dead!
He grabbed Calypsa by the throat and began to squeeze with all his might. He made sure her gills would capture no air as he suffocated her.
Calypsa's eyes slowly began to open revealing the bright blue colors beneath it. Her icy stare made his stomach churn, but that only made him tighten his grip around her neck.
Suddenly a hand shot out and grabbed Icarus's arm. Calypsa's arm seemed to have escaped from the bounds and she pressed tightly against his. Her face leaned closer to his and no matter how hard he tried to push her back, her strength was far greater.
"You're going to pay for this," she hissed.
Calypsa grinned. This time, it was her turn to make Icarus pay.
She pushed him back against the wall with an amazing force and Icarus gave out a cry of pain. He looked at her with fear and surprise written across his face; he had never seen such power before.
I don't have time for games, he thought. Icarus looked at Calypsa with a more serious tone. His mind seemed to cloud with anger; he wanted Calypsa to pay for this dearly.
He gave her his usual sinister smile and fear escaped him completely. "My turn."
A/N: Please review, they're highly appreciated :)