Rebirth (boyxboy)

Chapter 11: swallowing fire

Chapter 11

CYAN'S P.O.V.

Cyan: 7 1/2 months until awakening

It had been two weeks since I'd last seen sunlight. The castle had been on lockdown since the moment the door closed behind Michellie fourteen days ago and from what I heard from pressing my ear against that same door every day, it didn't seem like that would be changing soon. We were attacked almost every other day.

The sounds of Elijah's booming voice ordering guards around and the occasional visit from Bruftus to bring down food and reprimand me for sitting by the door was the extent of my interaction with living people. Michellie remained locked in her own spare room, opening it when Bruftus knocked, but otherwise oblivious to everything. Including me.

The fight we had weeks before still felt fresh between us, like a wound that simply refused to scab over. Maybe it needed stitches, but neither Michellie nor myself made any move to try to heal what was starting to become infected.

Frankly, I was more focused on the fact that Elijah hadn't come down to speak to me even once. I heard him say he would a few times, when he stood in the hall just outside the door talking to Nancy and Bruftus would open the tunnel door, leaving after dropping off more food and checking on Michellie. Bruftus would ask him if he was coming down and he would tell him the same thing every time, "Just a few minutes."

I sat by the door now, my head resting against it as I listened to the calmness outside. The attacks seemed to have died down in the last day or so and I hoped soon they would cease so I could at least watch a sunrise from a window again.

I was so lost in my day dream of sunlight pouring in from a large stain glassed window that I didn't hear footsteps stop in front of the door. It wasn't until there was a gentle knock from the other side of the door that I noticed I was no longer alone. "H-Hello?" I stuttered out, my voice coming out strange after not having spoken in a while.

"Cyan! Bruftus tells me you at door." Aku sighed, relief evident in his voice. I notice with a smile that his english was still improving, but before I could comment on it, he was speaking again. "Aku must tell you of it."

"Of what?" I asked, pressing my ear harder against the door. "Did something happen?"

"Aku read book we take. Aku not know so many markings in the ocean. There markings for good posture, sharp teeth, knowing lies..." He trailed off. "Aku find mark. Book says it very old magic. Book say Solar decides who gets mark. Mother meant give me other mark but Solar change it I think."

"What is it?" I urged, my curiosity growing.

"Mark of vessel." He laughed.

"Of what?" I asked, thinking maybe I misheard. "What does that mean?"

"It mean...ummm," He groaned, finished off in a language I didn't understand.

"I dont speak merperson." I whined. "You have to tell me in English, or spanish, or french, or even dragon."

"I only speak merperson and English a little." Aku whined back. "I not know word. It mean... I carrier. I am holder."

"Holder of what?" I tried to get him to clarify, but to no avail.

"No! I not say right word. I am... I am-"

"What are you doing there Aku?" I heard Vincent call, cutting Aku off. I listened as Vincent's quiet but heavy footsteps got closer to my door. "If King Elijah catches you here, he will punish you. He already told you to stay as far away from Cyan until the battles end."

"I know. I must tell Cyan-"

"You must not." Vincent cut him off again. "I already told you that it is safer for you the farther away you stay from him as well. If something were to-"