The World Below

chapter one

"Years ago, we lived the ways of Dreamers. We followed the ways of the Oblivious, the two-legged humans who walk the Earth, and we walked the Earth with them. One day, the great Inundatu below sent a great tide of darkness from the sea swallowed those few humans who did not dream- who lived- and carried them into the depths of the sea. We grew scales like fish, sprouted tentacles like squid, and our hair faded blue like the algae. Our ways fell to the darkness and pain grew. But, in turn, the light swallowed the darkness and we were born- the Natarians, the ones who swim the way of the Undersea, the followers of the great Inundatu below. She is above and below all things, even the tides. But the flood had taken her strength, and so she chose a leader among us, several thousand years ago, who passed the gift down to her daughter, Anahita, the Queen of the Tides."

Mothe nods approvingly from the audience. She made sure when preparing that they would not mention me becoming Queen someday and overtaking her. The Donum priest drones on in his nasal voice,

 "Life gives way to death and death to life. In turn, darkness swallows a soul and light swallows darkness. Suspended on an axis we cling to sureness- balance. We accept our duties on this day as Restorers of Balance, Protectors of the Dreamers, and ambassadors of the Dreamless. This day, we bestow the Gifts of Balance upon two young Bantlings: Princess Aaliyah and Aria. They are the only two in centuries to be marked by the great Inundatu as to receive a gift of Balance. Princess Aaliyah, please come forward to receive your gift."

I remember my tentacles and arms trembling, swimming onto the sacred rock to receive my gift. Ari and I were the only Natarians to receive gifts at that ceremony. Since then, our Gifted numbers have only grown smaller. With the Restorers of Balance fading out through the centuries, I fear for the future of our people. Then, I just perched upon the rock, nervous and pathetic, not ready to become what was required of me. I expected an announcement. A declaration from the Queen of the Undersea, perhaps, telling me what my gift was. Instead, I sat empty and cold on the stone for what seemed like hours until a voice split my head.

It wasn't loud, no. It was the choice that was splitting me in two. A gentle whisper gave me a name for the forces that tugged my body in two. On my right, she said, her voice calm and deep, was life. On the left was death. My Gift, my job, my purpose were clear in an instant. Again, that mellow voice gave me the words for the feeling.

"Balancer," I murmured, awed. "I am the Balancer of Life and Death."

The small crowd heard me and descended into a flurry of hushed tones. Khoury stands shocked at the altar. The last Balancer of Life and Death was granted immortality, and legends say she went to live with the Dreamers on land. Her name fell in disgrace, and now the daughter of the Queen rises to take it. 

"The heir to being Master of Tides? Of course, she would get something so important." Ari grumbled. I jabbed her in the gills.

'Your turn is coming, miss oh-so-disadvantaged." I teased, "Just you wait. It's your 156th Kalendis cycle too."

Ari was, actually, disadvantaged. I was shocked that she was even marked to get a gift. As the only blind Natarian, she was considered less-than and below most of our population. But it made my heart burst once she got her gift- she was named Balancer of Light and Darkness. Ari controls how the sun bounces off the water, and how our world below fades to black at a human glance. With her gift she creates depth and darkness around our living place, so no human would discover us, and perhaps more importantly, she changes hearts from light to dark and dark to light like I extend lives and kill, all in the name of balance. With her gift of sight beyond sight, she could finally be equal, if not honoured, in our community. She always said she didn't care what the Undersea thought of her, though, as long as she had me.