Beneath the Waves

Breakthrough

She heard the sound of something slicing through the water, followed by the distinct sound of metal hitting metal. This made her whip her body around. The two Chayal weren't after her anymore. Chris had her back to Ria, and had stopped the other Chayal blade with her own. She looked over her shoulder to Ria and winked. Ria took her place next to Chris and using her hands in a wave motion, created a wave that sent the other Chayal flying towards the shore.

Chris rose our of the water, Ria riding a wave right behind her. The Chayal on the shore looking at them both. She looked at Chris and said

"You would betray your own kind... for... THAT?" she gestured at Ria using her sword

"Don't you point your sword at my girlfriend like that. It's rude" she replied "Now get out of here unless you want this to be your last day on Earth" she hissed

"Traitor" the Chayal screeched as she disappeared "This is not over" her final words hung in the air.

Chris and Ria looked at each other and burst out in laughter. Probably nervous laughter cause that was too close for comfort. Chris looked at Ria for the first time in her transformed state and she was speechless. Ria was just as beautiful as the originals in the book, if not more. Her skin was like one of Chris' favourite crystals, Apatite, broken up by gold, sand coloured splashes and lines throughout her body. She looked otherworldly. And best of all, Chris didn't want to murder her.

"Shall we turn back?" Ria asked

"In a minute" Chris replied, still transfixed by the way the late afternoon sun caught those golden lines in Ria's skin. She went to touch her cheek, Ria flinched a little, probably an involuntary reaction since Chris was still in her Chayal state. Her skin felt weird under Chris' fingers, smooth but tough. It was so strange, all the rage she felt that first time when Ria transformed in front of her was gone. She could feel it at the edges of her vision, but it wasn't aimed at Ria anymore. It was like she had finally tamed a beast that lived inside of her, and she could fully control herself.

"Okay, sorry, you're just so beautiful... I wanted to look at you for a little while longer" she said.

"It's okay love, take all the time you need" came Ria's reply

"I'm good, let's get out of these forms and back to being you and me" said Chris

Hand in hand they moved to the edge of the water where Ria had dropped the knife. She wondered if it could harm a Chayal. Probably not since she was pretty sure it wasn't made of black obsidian.

Turning back was absurd, they each had their little ritual, it was like changing clothes in front of someone for the first time. Kind of awkward and embarrassing, but also a step closer. Getting to know each other on a deeper level.

After they were back in their human forms, they just stared at each other for a moment. Taking in what they had just done, and that they had survived. They walked towards each other and embraced. Ria put her hands on either side of Chris' face, as she often did. She squeezed a little and kissed Chris on the lips, her closed eyes, the tip of her nose, all over her face and then as a grand finale on the lips again. Chris deepened the kiss and Ria felt her tongue sneak past her lips. Opening up to Chris she realized they were now basically making out like two teenagers in the woods. She smiled into the kiss which made Chris pull away and ask her what she was smiling about. She replied, saying her teenagers line, which made Chris laugh too. It kind of broke the mood, but they didn't mind. They kissed a final time and Chris went to stoke the fire while Ria went to change into some actual clothes and put on her damn necklace.

When she came out Chris had started dinner and was sitting next to the fire looking beautiful and cozy as ever. Ria thought for a moment how lucky she was to have Chris in her life. She never thought that she would be one of those people, but here she was with the perfect girlfriend. Yeah sure she was a being created specifically to kill Ria, but I mean who was REALLY perfect? It would be a great story to tell their kids someday.