A Descendant of Water

Chapter 25 - Sealed with a Kiss

"Alex !....Leave him alone" Lin shouted. She knew she shouldn't have done it but something was wrong with Seth. She had to do it. She was curious to know the story behind his injury but it was not the time now. The heat between them needs to cool off.

Alma glared at Lin.

" What is your problem? Your lover is hiding something from all of us. Did he at least tell you about it?!"

" He is not my lover Alex! Don't be so harsh, guard your tongue! " Lin said in a stern voice. Seth felt hurt at her words but he understood that she doesn't know his love for her. If he wasn't sure before he trust his feelings now. He has started to love this girl who unexpectedly bumped into his island. This girl who understood him and who cared for him.

"I will tell you" Seth looked at Lin.

Lin sensed that his temper was coming into control.

Seth and Alex sat back down. Everyone listened intently.

"As master said I was born with the talent to control water. when I touch water I can feel the current and the energy of water flowing into me. I felt like I could control every inch of water, it was like an extension of my senses. I practiced everyday for perfection, I wanted to learn more and more each day. I trained in little streams and lakes within the island. I lost my mother when I was 12 She didn't die but she disappeared . No one knows what happened to her. My father was strict and harsh on me. He made me practice not just water bending but war skills to become a true warrior. If I do not perform well , he punished me harshly for even the slightest mistake. I used to hide myself in a cave in the forest until my mother comes and fetches me ones my father calm down. One day she went out to the sea but never returned. Everyone thinks she is dead becoming a victim of the sea serpent but I know she is still alive. After that I felt alone but I had a friend who was beside me for everything. After my mother disappeared she cared for me just like a mother. We were good friends for so long. Later on, that friendship turned into a relationship. We understood each other very well, she was supportive and caring. She loved me for who I am. Her name is Aria"

Seth took a quick look at Lin. Her expression was blank. Of course she felt something hit hard in her heart but She listened more.

"My skills improved with every passing year and I became confident with my water bending skills. So I decided to go the next level. I wanted to try it on the sea. So I got into my boat and rowed onto that rock island over there"

He pointed to a small island made up of few rocks not very far away from the shore. They could see the rock island,it's not very large. A single person could comfortably fit on it. It will surely go under water when the tide rises.

"I focused myself on the sea water until I could feel and think only about the energy of water flowing through me. However Aria has come to meet me in her own boat but I was facing the sun so I didn't see her coming from behind. I drew a huge mass of water from the sea , just like a wave , I pushed it behind me towards the land side I wasn't aware of her presence It crashed onto her boat toppling the boat and drowning her under the waves. I heard a scream I knew her voice and when I turned back I saw the boat has toppled and there was no sign of her. Next thing I knew is that I hit the water as fast as I could, I saw her stuck in a reef struggling to free herself. I cannot breath under water like you do Alex but I can hold my breath under water more than a normal person. I dove towards her as fast as I could, then suddenly something approached behind the reef and in top speed it crashed into the reef destroying it into pieces, the water became murky with the chaos and I couldn't see anything. Ones the water cleared I saw the reef was gone and...... so was she. I looked everywhere but I couldn't spot her anywhere around. Then something huge what looked like a tail hit hard on my chest throwing me half way. Before I pass out I faintly saw it was the sea serpent. She became a victim of it..I was strong enough to wake up after a few days. But I learned that Aria's lifeless body has washed ashore later that evening. I wanted to see her badly for the last time and somehow I got the healers to take me there. I mourned over her death for many years. I was angry at me , I hated my ability. A blind rage took over me, I was disappointed at me, and that anger made me hate everyone else. I guess a special ability like this comes with a darker side ,when you master your power your dark side gets hidden but ones you start to hate it the darkness take over you. My rage was so fierce even my own father couldn't control me. I could kill anyone who disappoints me. I became uncontrollable. Finally master Ronan brought me here, isolated me from the village. my home. He helped me to calm my rage, wiped my dark side and brought me back to normal but I agreed to train with him under one condition... That I will never use my water bending skills again... I'm not afraid to die Alex. I'm not afraid to get gravely injured again. But I cannot bear the loss of another life because of me. I never thought about anyone else....until now."

He finished with his gaze fixed on Lin. Tears clogged in his eyes rolled down involuntarily. No one knew what to say to him. Lin's mind was like in a storm. She loves him... now she feels that he loves her too but can she replace his Aria?

Guilt rose in Alex . He didn't know how to apologize.

"I'm sorry Seth I didn't mean....I didn't know..." he stammered .

"That's ok Alex. You possibly couldn't know before.... I need sometime alone, if you excuse me."

With that Seth got up clutching his gash and slowly limped towards his cave. No one felt like being around afterwards so everyone else went indoors but Lin remained at the fire. She took her usual seat on top of the cliff and stared into the sea. She could imagine the pain he has gone through, to see his lover die of something he did right in front of his eyes would have been tragic.

Time passed by it was soon to be mid night. Lin was deep in thought. Soft wind brushed her skin. her hair gently flowed with the wind.The soft melody of the waves spread through the island.

She inhaled the cool gentle air around her and looked at moon , it was now closing into the horizon.

"No sleep?" Lin jumped at the voice. It was the familiar deep voice her heart always yearned to hear. She turned to face him.

"No Seth . I got carried away. I love this view. I could stare at it a whole day" Lin smiled.

Seth paced the gap and stood next to her.

"I'm sorry Lin"

"Why are you apologizing me?"

"The truth about me would have hurt you. I should have told you that before"

Why does he always care for the feelings of others on top of his own.

"No Seth. You dearly loved Aria. I'm sorry of what happened to her. But don't blame it on yourself. You possibly didn't know she was behind you. You wouldn't do it if you knew she was behind you. I don't think anyone can replace her in your heart."

Seth let out a loud breath.

" Lin that's not true.. she's already replaced" He said in a soft voice.

Lin starred at him trying to process what he said in her mind . Yet she wasn't sure whether he was talking about her. She fixed her gaze upon the sea again.

"You should be asleep now Seth. You just got on your feet and already tired yourself. You need to get your strength back."

Seth kept staring into the sea.

Lin turned to face him.

"You wouldn't survive another wound like this Seth. You should be careful"

He turned to face her and he took her hand in his. She was trembling at his touch. Her mind went blank, confused and excited. To feel his soft skin on hers felt like heaven to her.. She felt his fingers slipped through hers intertwining there hands. She felt his heat flowing into her matching their desire for each other. He looked straight into her eyes. His eyes ,as usual Lin could not escape them, they were sky blue gleamed in moonlight, perfectly matching her own brown eyes. she found her new home in him.

Seth slowly moved his hand to her face. All she could do was look into his eyes. He gently brushed his thumb on her skin having a firm grip on her face. He traced on the corner of her pink lips. Electric waves spread through her body against his touch. Her heart race turning her breaths heavy. His eyes never left hers.

"I will" Seth assured with a smile. She smiled at him with a warm expression. Seth finally made the move .

He wrapped his other arm around her waist and gently moved her closer to him. She allowed him to guide her , their bodies were only a few inches away. She was careful not to get too close on his wound. Hesitantly she wrapped her arm around his back. She wanted to say many things, but she figured that silence is better than words. He angled her face and took a glance at her before taking her lips in his. His lips were soft and tender, she could feel he was letting out the feelings he hid for a long time. She shut her eyes melting into his kiss. He gently tired to withdraw himself but Lin wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him back to her lips returning the kiss. The barriers and confusions were broken. She felt that she crossed in unknown border and entered into a new world. gently they withdrew their lips still holding on for eachother. Their first kiss under moonlight. They had so much to say but they both didn't speak.