Relics of Aether - Homebound (Sample)

Chapter 7

Today was the day. Marina would run from the manor and never look back. It didn't matter that she had no destination in mind; escape was her sole objective. She turned twelve a couple weeks ago, marking her fifth year at the manor. Or was it sixth? It was impossible to know for sure. Her time in the orphanage was a blur, making it hard to judge how long she was there. Sometimes she wondered whether she would have been better off there, getting picked apart by the children. Maybe things would've been better if she wasn't a freak. Regardless, none of that mattered now. In the present, she had to run. She had to get away from the growing workload that the manor placed upon her. She had to escape Midas.

He managed her every move. She wasn't allowed to leave the manor unless he approved of it, and the couple of times she did he kept her close and hidden from the public. Sometimes she was stowed away in a carriage, and others she was covered by articles of clothing that hid her aquatic traits. Any time she would step out of line, she'd be threatened with "discipline". More often than not, that would involve his ring-laden knuckles driving into her back. That pain was unbearable. Afterward she'd be stuck with him until she used her mana to heal herself. He didn't need anyone seeing the marks.

If she could successfully run away, she could finally be rid of that forever, free to live her life how she pleased. The prospect invigorated her. Today, her last task was in the gardens. It was getting dark. She dropped everything she had and ran. She'd try to hide in the city somewhere. An alleyway should conceal her till day, where she could begin treading through the forest. The wildlife there could be dangerous, but at this point she didn't care. She stuck to the shadows, dashing between buildings. Using her small stature to her advantage to hide in boxes and the like, successfully avoiding the eyes of the townsfolk. Finally, she found a secluded spot in an alleyway in the poor outskirts of town, and settled in a corner on top of a discarded rug. After sitting down, her eyes caught on another pair staring back at her. Marina jumped and her gills flared, only to be greeted with a filthy, teenage girl with matted silver hair. Her purple eyes were bright with excitement, and beneath the grime, she appeared to be a very pretty girl.

"Oh- uh, hey," she started awkwardly, but amicably. "You're different," She continued sleepily. She scratched her head. Marina's nerves eased a little. "You're uh, awfully clean to be in a place like this. Not to mention those," She said motioning toward her fins. "You have a place to sleep?" Marina shook her head. "Feel free to stay here then, I wouldn't mind the company." Reluctantly, Marina agreed. The girl held her hand out. "My name's Melody." Marina stood up and sheepishly took it in her own.

"Marina." Melody's head cocked to the side and she wore a brief, puzzled expression. Marina quickly withdrew her hand, feeling as though she did something wrong. "S-sorry. I was never really allowed to shake hands."

"What? Oh- uh, no- don't worry about it. You're fine." Marina was unsure if she imagined it- but she swore she saw a hint of nervousness in Melody's friendly smile. Regardless, she was relieved to find someone so outwardly welcoming.

The girls stayed together that night, Melody spent her time reminiscing about the things she wanted to do, seemingly happy to simply have someone to talk to. As she got more comfortable she'd try an occasional joke with, admittedly, varying levels of success. Despite the audible scurrying of rats in the gutters and the eerie shadows looming around them, Marina eventually felt comfortable enough to tell the girl about her situation. She listened intently with a thoughtful look on her face. She told Marina that if she needed anything she knew where to find her. With that, they said their farewells and Marina fled for the forest.

Now, for the first time in her memory, she could feel freedom. The fresh air, the warm sun, the gentle breeze. She ran excitedly through the foliage. She wandered for hours, losing track of where she had gone, not caring if she'd be lost in the wild forever. Eventually, she stopped at a stream, relaxing for a moment. She placed her hands under her head, and just lay there taking in her surroundings. The steady flow of the water, the sounds of birds, the clean air in her lungs, and the rustling of the leaves caused her to realize that she finally was free- that she had truly freed herself from Midas. She closed her eyes and dozed.