Chapter 15
Nemesis
A few days had passed since Calypso's outburst and the deaths it caused. Word had gotten around Sabaody, but Shakky was unable to confirm the exact number of dead, no matter how many people she sent around to gather information. Even the newspaper the next day only mentioned that there was an incident that resulted in the death of a Noble woman and that the World Government and the Marines were investigating so the culprit could be found.
Ace was not sure how to feel about all this. He knew that people survived and they could talk about what they saw, which meant this could all be blamed on Calypso who, all this time, hadn't left her room for even a minute. He himself was also unable to get back in since Ebony had kicked him out, but this didn't mean he wasn't trying to. Sometimes, when he was trying to get her to open the door for him, Ace could hear her sobs and cries through the door. His pain and worry for her increased. If not for the little tiger they had saved, he was sure he would have made a mess of his own by now in his attempt to protect her.
Currently, he was lying down on the sofa with a frown on his face. The tiger was curled on his chest, sleeping and purring a storm, but even it couldn't stop his mind from running wild with thoughts about his lover. He needed to talk to her and find out what happened that day, as his ignorance and insecurity were driving him crazy. Cursing under his breath, he stood up with the now-complaining cub in his hands, and walked to place it on Shakky's bar, causing the woman to give him an inquisitive look.
"She's been locked in there for days now and I know she's in pain. I'm going to talk to her even if I need to kick open her door to do so."
Shakky took the animal in her embrace and started playing with it in an attempt to stop its loud complaining. In the end, she just offered the small tiger a treat, which it eagerly accepted and started eating.
"After you will fix the door yourself."
The pirate received her comment as approval of his plan, and so he proceeded to knock loudly at the witch's door, noting the soft whimpers coming from inside.
"Oi, Cal! Open the door! Please, I'm worried about you, and I need to talk to you!"
The girl did not reply, causing him to knock with more force next.
"Cal, please! You've been in there on your own for days! If you don't open the door, I will break it down!"
He was ready to move ahead with his threat when he heard the click of the lock and Ebony's loud cawing. Wasting no time, he opened the door and instantly noticed that there was no light in the room. Frowning more he closed the door and carefully walked towards the bed, using his flames to light a few candles and lanterns around the room. It was then that he saw her curled under her blanket. She was fighting to hold back her cries, but he could see her body rocking with every sob. Feeling the pain in his chest growing at the sight, he climbed onto the bed and slid to lie next to her, his arm moving around her form. When he spoke his voice was low, as if he feared she was so fragile she would break if he was too loud.
"Cal, please talk to me. I need to know what happened and how I can help you. I can see you need help, so I beg you to talk to me."
She flinched at his touch and pulled her blanket closer, as if she was afraid he'd take it away.
"You know what happened. You were there…"
He let out a deep breath and he pulled her closer to his chest, causing her to let out a weak cry.
"I know what I saw, but I need you to tell me the rest. The things I can't know if you don't talk to me."
Her body tensed under the covers.
"I am a monster, Ace. A monster who is able to kill other people. I'm not sure how you can be so close to me after knowing this."
He raised himself up a bit to try and search for her face, even going as far as to slightly pull back the covers.
"No, you are not. You may have an ability that makes you insanely powerful, but you are not the monster you describe."
She didn't reply this time, causing the pirate to slightly nuzzle her hair with his face and kiss the top of her head softly.
"Calypso, please look at me."
She hesitated but eventually turned her face to stare at his, the tear stains visible on her cheeks. He smiled openly when he saw the heterochromatic eyes he so loved, and he raised his hand to stroke the tears away.
"These tears are proof that you are not the monster you describe."
Her eyes closed, allowing more tears to escape them and run down her face. Ace brushed these ones away too.
"The people I killed won't be brought back by my tears, nor will my tears wash away their blood from my hands…"
She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, attempting to suppress the agonizing pain and self-loathing she was experiencing.
"Ace, I even attacked you! You are the man I loved all my life and I tried to kill you! Doesn't that make me a monster in your eyes?"
The smile he gave her was soft, his eyes looking straight into her own as they tried to convey to her all the love he felt for her.
"I have seen real monsters, Cal, and I am not talking about wild beasts. I am talking about monsters walking around this world looking like other humans. One such monster we met a few days ago tormenting an animal that couldn't defend itself."
She frowned at his words and looked away.
"The woman I killed when I...lost control?"
He nodded and moved the covers more so he could bring his face closer to hers.
"Yes. If I were you, I wouldn't feel so bad about her death. It was unfortunate, but I'm not sure it was completely undeserving."
An exasperated sigh escaped his lips when he noticed her insecure expression.
"What I'm trying to say is that this woman was ready to have her bodyguards either beat you to near death or cut your tongue. If you hadn't killed her yourself, I may have been forced to do so eventually."
She gave him a weak smile and brought a hand to touch and squeeze his.
"I was afraid you'd do something. I knew they wouldn't just let us go and that they were going to try to hurt me, and I was afraid you might do something and expose yourself. I think...that's what allowed her to fully take control."
Ace gave her a confused look.
"Her? So this really wasn't you?"
Her expression darkened, and she turned once again to look away from him.
"It was me, but it also wasn't."
It wasn't difficult to sense his confusion at her words. She let out a small breath she was holding and attempted to explain as simply as possible.
"Her name is Nemesis. She is an ancient entity born of all my people's hate and desire for vengeance. She is a part of me now that I can't control."
Ace smiled openly and forced her to look at him again.
"Then what we need to do is find a way for you to control her! Cal, that's helpful! I now know how I can help you, so what happened that day won't happen again."
She pushed her lips together and shook her head.
"No one can help me, Ace, not even you."
He gave her a reassuring smile and moved to kiss her forehead.
"I beg to differ. My fire helped keep her in check during our fight. To be honest, she seemed to really hate it."
Calypso let out an involuntary chuckle.
"Of course she does. Fire doesn't mix well with her night."
"So this power is also hers? That's weird. I'd swear it looked like a Fruit power, and Ebony kind of confirmed it."
The witch smiled softly at his comment.
"The Heart of the Goddess is a different thing. It is, as you have guessed, a Fruit that I ate."
Her explanation caused him to raise his eyebrow.
"Then how come I've never before seen you using these powers? They seem very strong and helpful, especially for a thief like you."
She frowned and bit her lip again.
"I am afraid…"
His eyes kept looking at hers as he waited for her to tell him what she was afraid of.
"I fear that if I summon these powers they will bring Nemesis forth, and I will lose control of her."
Ace thought her words over for a while before speaking again.
"So even though you got your Fruit powers independently, there is still some connection to her? Is this why she seemed to be using this power so masterfully?"
Calypso nodded softly.
"Yes. The Nyx Fruit was originally hers when she was alive. It was a stupid mistake of mine that allowed her to gain access to its powers again. If I was more careful, she would have been less dangerous and possibly easier for me to control without having to use sea stone cuffs."
The shock in his face was not even slightly hidden.
"Wait...She's been out before? How come I've never seen her?"
"It used to happen mostly when I was younger, back home. She had only been out a couple times after I came here and, in the later years, I have managed to figure out what can trigger her, so I am usually very careful not to let her out."
The hopeful smile was on his lips again.
"So there are ways to counter her! Please tell me. I need to know how to help you better. This is now also my burden since I am your boyfriend, not just yours."
She gave him a loving smile and turned around to move as close to him as the blankets allowed.
"She seems to be affected by the moon in some way. I have noticed that it's easier to lose control when the new moon is close. She seems to be weaker during the full moon."
The pirate gave her a nod.
"I think there was a new moon a few days ago. I'm not sure if it was the exact day she got out, but I'm sure it didn't help either way."
Another thought seemed to cross his mind.
"Is this why you usually avoid going out some days every month?"
She nodded.
"Indeed. And if I go out during those days it's not to do something that will put me in danger. It's usually for a quick stroll or some errant."
"Is danger another thing that triggers her to come out?"
"Yes. She doesn't seem to like it much if something dangerous happens or is about to happen to me. That is why I am trying to avoid confrontation when I can."
He let out a chuckle at her words.
"You didn't exactly try to avoid confrontation that day, Cal."
"I got really angry that day! Can you blame me? The poor tiger was crying for help, and she kept hurting it."
Ace thought of the cheerful animal whose care occupied most of the days he was exiled from his room and how lovingly it nuzzled against him, and he smiled openly.
"No, I can't blame you. He seems much happier now that he is with us, especially since Shakky is spoiling him rotten."
Calypso giggled slightly.
"Shakky has a big heart, and she does love taking care of strays. I mean, she has been taking care of me for almost four years now, and I was literally a stray old man Ray left at her door before disappearing again."
The pirate simply chuckled and nodded.
"She does take care of all of us properly, no matter how much trouble we cause her."
"And she also takes care of Hachi, Camie, and the Rosy Life Riders when they visit. Sometimes I feel amazed at how much patience this woman has."
Ace laughed openly at her words.
"I have wondered about that too when I have seen those Rider guys around. They seem like a loud band, and their boss can be a bit of a mess sometimes."
Calypso smirked and poked his chest playfully.
"Especially when he tries to have you join his gang. What did he offer you last time? All the girls you can get?"
He nodded with a smirk.
"I had to remind him once again that you are my girlfriend, and I am too serious about you to go around messing with other women."
She nodded at his words with a serious expression on her face.
"Good. Because if you do I may get angry or hurt, and then we will have another Nemesis crisis in our hands."
The raven-haired boy laughed at her words and pulled her close to his chest again.
"Then I better make sure to always keep you happy and make sure you know how loved you are, so the evil lady will stay put."
"And if that fails, I can show you where I keep the sea stone cuffs so you can restrain me properly."
He raised an eyebrow and smirked playfully.
"That means I'll have you at my mercy, though, won't it?"
Calypso chuckled at what he seemed to imply and gave him a sly look.
"Hopefully, yes. Maybe she'll put them on you and have you at her mercy instead."
The thought didn't seem to please Ace as much, and he showed it with his frown.
"I prefer not to have to find out. Instead, let's just make sure she stays how she is now. No more possessions and violent outbursts from her."
He poked her forehead softly.
"Do you hear me, angry lady? You stay in there from now on."
Calypso laughed openly, gave him a mischievous look, and started counting on her fingers.
"As long as we keep an eye on the phases of the moon and make sure I am not in danger and that my emotions are not getting out of control, I think we'll be safe."
His smile grew, and he moved to give her a quick kiss on the lips.
"Good. Because all these days you were locked in here I missed you terribly, so I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it if it happens again. Tiger cubs can only keep me occupied and away from my thoughts when they are awake."
She moved the blanket away so she could properly curl against him and kiss his chest over his heart.
"I missed you too. And I am glad you insisted and didn't let me wallow in self-pity any longer. I'm not sure I'd be able to handle this situation without you."
"Cal, I would never leave you to handle this alone."
A frown appeared on her face, and a few tears escaped her eyes.
"I know that now. But in the past, most people refused to help me. Even when I was a child, their solution was to just lock me away every time they thought I was losing control."
He frowned too and started stroking her hair.
"You mean back home?"
She nodded and hid in his chest, causing his temperature to rise slightly in anger.
"No wonder you can't control her then. Instead of showing you love and support to help guide you, they decided to lock you away. A kid like you needed love and discipline so you could grow strong enough to control her on your own. Hiding you away just made you fear her power enough to allow it to consume you."
After he was done speaking, the witch glanced up at him with a hopeful look.
"Will you help me grow stronger then?"
Determination took over his face as he gave her a quick nod.
"Of course I will! I told you that your abilities are powerful. If you learn to control them without fear, you will grow strong enough to make even someone like Nemesis follow your lead."
A warm smile appeared on her lips once more, and she moved to give him a long kiss that she broke only when she felt out of breath.
"This is a promise, then. You better keep it."
"I would never break a promise I made with you. Especially one sealed with a kiss."
Her smile grew brighter and she closed her eyes as she got more comfortable in his arms.
"Good to hear. I need to grow stronger so I can protect you better too, especially when you can't use your own powers."
He kept stroking her hair and back, his lips kissing the top of her head.
"Then rest for now. I know you haven't slept much these past few days. Once you're fully rested, we'll see about starting to plan your training."
She nodded and closed her eyes, moving the blanket to cover them both as she finally allowed herself to properly fall asleep.