Under The Sea

Chapter Thirty-Four - The Rescue

Axel stirs, pain coursing throughout his limbs, stemming from his chest. His vision blurs as he attempts to shift against the firm slab beneath him. A pair of hands come down on his shoulders as he attempts to move, holding him still.

"Who's there?" Axel asks, a shiver running through him, "Sam?"

"Calm down, Romeo, it's just me."

"Bast?"

"In the flesh," he returns, pushing down against Axel's shoulder as he attempts to move again, "would you stay still for a moment."

Axel gives in, allowing his body to relax against the slab as he feels Bast move around him, running his hand over his abdomen and chest. He feels a rush of cool water with every sweep of his hand as he works his way up to his neck. Bast reaches over his face, peeling off a layer of slime from his skin, and Axel's vision clears in an instant.

"What is that?"

"Snail slime," Bast informs as he wipes his hand on the sand, "your grandmother insisted it would speed your recovery."

"Of course she..." Axel catches himself as the words register in his head, "how is my grandmother here?!"

"What?"

"How did my grandmother get here?" Axel questions, springing up from his seat, "come to think of it, how are you here right now?"

"Your sister sent me away right before the attack began," Bast fills in, "she knew the Kingdom didn't stand a chance when the sirens appeared. So she sent me to find your grandmother and get help to defeat the sea witch. Is she..."

The question lingers in the air, both aware of what he desired to know.

"Alive," Axel returns, and Bast relaxes, "but imprisoned. My father is dead."

"I'm so sorry, Axel."

"Thanks," Axel returns, refusing to allow his emotions to control him, "I would like to see my grandmother."

"I'll go grab her," Bast returns, insisting that Axel continue to rest as he swims out of the cave.

Axel glances around, confused for a moment, before realizing that he is in his cave, spotting the remains of his collection buried in the sand. His expression saddens. The memory of his last time in here, the last time with his father alive, emerges once again. Axel brings his hand up to clench at his chest, the tender skin surging under his touch and bringing him back to reality.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," his grandmother's voice comes from the cave entrance as she emerges with Bast in tow.

"You're here," Axel sighs and pushes off the slab to approach her.

"Come, give grandma a hug, Guppy," she returns, stretching out her arms to receive Axel as he approaches her, embracing her without hurting his chest.

"Dad's dead," Axel informs, as he meets his grandmother's solemn expression, "He was killed... by aunt Phaedra. Did you know?"

His grandmother casts her gaze to the sand, struggling to meet his eyes as her knowledge becomes clear to Axel.

"How could you not say anything?!" Axel spat, "You knew all along that mom was killed by her own sister and you said nothing! I've barely even seen you since her death!"

"You do not know what it feels like to know that one of your daughters murdered the other," his grandmother returns, her gaze shooting up at his outburst, "I couldn't be around you and Clara, look you in the eyes every day knowing what had happened! After losing your grandfather, I just... I couldn't."