Memories

Ch.8: Truth

  My vision started getting blurry and my breathing became heavy as I laid on chastiefol. Chastiefol is actually really comfortable, but I couldn't exactly enjoy the comfiness when I was about to pass out from no water. What felt like hours later was actually minutes later when I was dumped into a little lake. I closed my eyes for a second, taking in the refreshing water. My eyes shot open and I swam to the surface slowly. I didn't want to tell them about my past, but if they're going to trust me and help me then I needed to tell them. I poked my eyes out of the water and I saw only King there. Gowther probably went to get the others. I saw King just staring at me, sitting on the ground right in front of the water.
"Gemminia?... Why didn't you tell us earlier?" He looked up at the now starry sky.
I propped my elbows onto the grassy land and rested my cheek on my arm. I looked up at the stars too. How do I explain this to him...?
"When I first met you, I was surprised you had a past that even had to do with the fairies... Now that I know you're a mermaid, I'm even more confused on who you are." He looked down at me with an expressionless face.
"King..." I exhaled but I got interrupted when we heard Diane and the others running towards us.
"Gemminia!" I heard Elizabeth yell, worriedly.
"Gem!" Ban ran over to me and picked me up out of the water, hugging me tight.
His eyes widened in shock though once he saw my tail.
"Holy mother of pearl you're a mermaid!" He screamed, dropping me into the water.
I popped my head back out and my eye twitched.
"Ow." I angrily said.
"Hehe... Sorry..." Ban scratched the back of his neck.
"So Gem, you're a mermaid?" Diane asked.
"Well... Yeah... I try to stay away from this part of me though." I flicked my tail.
"Why though?" Meliodas asked with a serious expression.
"Remember how I told you guys about how my kingdom was massacred?"
They all nodded.
"Well..."
I told them about the day. The full details. The dead bodies. The broken buildings. My shattered heart. Even what happened with Elaine. I didn't want to go back into the water because of that day. Which brought up the subject of my brother.
"Today, my youngest older brother, Calder, the third prince, tried to kill me while we on our way back to the tavern. Oh there's the herbs by the way." I pointed to the backpack next to King, "Anyways, he told me that he was ordered to kill me. Not that I'm surprised. I DID escape from Baste."
"You never did tell us why you were put there." Ban pointed out.
"And I'm gonna tell you now." I sighed with closed eyes then stared at everyone with a straight face, "It was for the attempt of overthrowing the kingdom of Liones."
Their eyes widened.
"Wait what? We were accused of that exact same thing but we were never caught." King said.
"I was caught because my memories were taken and I had no clue about it. I have zero memories of Liones, if I was ever even there. The thing is, after I was put in the cell, it seemed like people forgot why I was even there. Like their memories were taken too."
"Why do you think that happened?" Ban asked.
"I have a feeling that it has to do with the person who my brother was ordered to kill me from."
"Well you killed him! So now how are we supposed to know?!" King said, frustrated.
"I was hoping when I met you guys, I'd get an answer to why I was sent there. But like my brother said today, the memories were stolen." I sighed.
"So what you're telling me is you think that you were with us while we were in Liones?" Meliodas asked.
I stared at him for a while, flicking my tail again.
"Please help me. Help me find out which of the Holy Knights destroyed my family. I believe that since there's kind of proof that we met in Liones that we must've been acquaintances or friends. Help me bring my brother back... Help me find out who took away my life... Please..." I begged, almost crying.
They all stared at me for a while and I was about swim away from loss of hope when Meliodas grabbed my shoulder. I looked at him to see him smiling.
"I don't think we were friends when we met in Liones. I think we were best friends. How can we be so close to you now and it feels natural?" Meliodas smiled cheekily.
I sighed in relief and hugged him tightly. He patted me on the head and I looked up at him.
"There's... one more thing..." I pointed to my sin tattoo.
The tattoo is of a cheetah. The cheetah mostly represents my abnormal speed. The cheetah was in a position where it was growling. Everybody except King and Gowther gasped. They all looked closer, obviously shocked.
"B-but how? I thought there was only seven of us." Diane asked.
"Well, the destroying of my kingdom was blamed on me since I was the only mermaid left in the world. They gave me the sin of ingrate. They thought I was ungrateful for being a royal member and destroying my kingdom. They thought I hated how little I was payed attention to by the people of Atlantis. The truth is, I didn't even care that I wasn't payed attention to. My family was the only thing that I cared about. All my brothers and sisters loved me dearly while the rest of the kingdom was scared of my powers." I cursed under my breath, "Why did they have to kill my family though?" I balled my fists.
"Hey, we were all blamed for something we didn't do before. At least we know you're one of us now! That's pretty cool actually! No wonder you fit in perfectly with us. You must not get hurt usually." Meliodas pointed out.
"Yeah usually." I laughed nervously.
"Dang! So Gemminia can be a badass if she wants!" Ban smirked at me.
"Once this spell wears off, I'm gonna choke you!" I tried to jump out of the water to grab him but he ran away laughing.
Diane smiled at me.
"We'll help you out, Gem. Don't worry! We're all your friends!" Diane winked then followed after Ban with Elizabeth smiling at me from behind her.
Gowther, who didn't speak the whole time, left without saying a single word.
"Well, that's my cue then! We'll be right at the tavern! Be back in the morning for ya." He smiled then nuggied me lightly.
I splashed him playfully as he left and he ran away.
The only person left was King. I stared at him and he avoided my eye contact. I frowned. It was making my heart hurt that he wasn't looking at me. I felt guilty. I went under and stared at him from the water.
"I know you can hear me down there... Gem, I wish you would've told us earlier... Or at least me..."
My eyes widened at that. Wait what?
"I could've helped. You know I care about you, right? I'm not sure what kind of way though or what the feeling truly is but I know it's deep feelings." He admitted.
It was silent for a few minutes until I came up to the surface. I looked at him and placed a hand on his arm.
"Thank you... For at least caring..." I smiled at him, softly, "People haven't cared in a while."
My eye lids became heavy and I tried to stay awake but sleep took over me.