I'm Not A Story (Aphmau: Aarmau AU)

=9=

Chapter 9: Threats and Reasons

Aphmau's POV
"What? What does that mean?" I exclaim.

The girl in front sighs.

"Whatever... it's not worth it." She sticks the knife into the wall besides her. "My name is Taiya, and this is my twin sister Kaiya. You obviously don't know anything."

"Right... I'm going to start dinner..." Kaiya mumbles, walking towards one of the benches.

"Wait, what?" Aaron asks, confused. "First your talking like you have to kill us, now your deciding it's not worth it?"

"Look, if killing was worth it, you would know something about the war. Obviously, you don't, so it's not worth it." Taiya retorts, sitting down.

"What war?" Aaron asks.

I think hard. The only war I know of is the mermaid one... from years ago. It was part of why I was sent up here. About a few hundred years ago.

"An old one, from a few hundred years ago." Taiya replies. That doesn't sound good.

"Your not... talking about the mermaid war, are you?" I ask carefully.

"So you do know about it. What do you know?" She asks.

"The mermaids lost and went extinct. That's why everybody believes they're a myth today." I say.

Kaiya whirls around.

"Mermaids didn't go extinct! They went into hiding, and are still out there somewhere! They have to be!" She exclaims, suddenly upset. Kaiya shoots a glare at me, and runs over to comfort her sister.

"Oh... I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was such a big deal..." I mumble.

"It's fine. A common mistake. Kaiya's very sensitive about it. We're descended from mermaids." Taiya sighs, "Our family died in the war..."

Something clicks with Aaron.

"Wait a minute, how do you know about this war, if it was hundreds of years ago??" He demands.

"Mermaids live a long time," I explain, "I was born in the middle of the war. In guessing these two were born closer to the end." Aaron gives me a strange look.

"Wait, so how old are you?" He asks.

"210." I reply.

He does a double take, staring at me.

"That's only 19 in human years!" I exclaim angrily.

"Your... a mermaid?" Taiya asks tentatively.

"Um," I suddenly feel self-consious, "yeah..."

They're both silent.

Then Kaiya cheers.

"I knew it!" She cheers, "I knew mermaids didn't go extinct!"

She runs over to me, and engulfs me in a big hug. I'm a little taken aback, but I hug her too.

"Wait, are there any other mermaids?" Taiya asks.

"Mhm! My friends, Garroth, Zane, and Vylad are mermen." I say.

"No, Zane's a crab." Aaron corrects.

"He's still water life." I retort.

"Is he a mermaid?" Kaiya asks, pointing at Aaron.

"No, he's human." I reply.

"He doesn't smell human." Taiya grumbles, sniffing. A pair of werewolf ears and a tail pop out. The same happens to Kaiya.

~Timeskip: after dinner~

Aaron
"So you live down here alone?" Aphmau asks.

"Yep." Taiya replies, widdling a chunk of wood with her knife.

"What about your parents?" I ask.

She points at two stones in the corner, with some dead flowers by them. "Gone."

"And your stuck down here?!" Aphmau gasps, horrified.

"Yep." Taiya replies, putting her knife down. She puts her mouth on one end of the wood and blows. A short musical note comes out. She smiles.

"Hey, Sis, catch." She says, tossing the new flute at Kaiya, who catches it, and smiles. She puts the end to her lips, and starts to play.

(I LOVE THIS SONG DON'T JUDGE MEH)

I simile faintly and glance at Aaron. He's quiet. Probably thinking.

"So, any way to get out?" He asks.

"Only way we know of is through the water. But it's too dirty too swim through, and we can't hold our breath long enough." Taiya replies.

I glance at the water.

"I could swim through it, and make air bubbles for you guys." I say.

"Really?" Kaiya smiles brightly, "We can get out?!"

I nod. Aarom glances at me worriedly, but doesn't say anything.

"When do we leave?" Taiya asks, smiling a little.

I pause before answering.

"Whenever your ready."