Imperfect Love

Part 15

"I tripped." Worst excuse ever. I know. But, when one is under the pressure, logic isn't really top priority. Adler looks at me skeptically, not believing anything that comes out of my mouth. 

"Are you sure about that darling? You aren't lying to me are you? Were you running away from me?" I gulp nervously. He's good. What am I supposed to say now? I suppose it's best to be honest at this point, he's already got me. 

"Yes, Adler. But, I am not sorry that I did. You still did kidnap me, remember?" I say, making a point. Adler just nods and gives me the 'come here' gesture.

I slowly walk to him, feeling as if I am dumb prey approaching the 'harmless' predator. When I am about a few away from him, Adler's tentacles coil around me, making it impossible me to step away. Slowly, he takes my palm in his hands, while his tentacles are wrapped around me, making me slightly arch against him. I blush at our close proximity, but I feel like I should be used to it by now. 

I am about say something, but hiss in pain as something from Adler's tentacles drip on the gash on my palm. I whimper, feeling tears build up in my eyes. Is it supposed to hurt this much??

Adler distracts me by kissing my foreheads, cheeks, and down to my jawline. Soon, the pain is gone and I am amazed. 

"Adler! That was so cool! What was that?! My wound is completely healed!" This could help so many people get better! 

"Darling. I am a monster, but that doesn't mean that I always hurt and kill people. There are a lot of things you don't know about me. In time, I hope we know each other completely, for now, let's just focus on thing." I am not gonna lie, I am impressed. 

Most of Adler's tentacles let me go, except one, which is firmly wrapped around my waist, refusing to let go. Fortunately, I could still move without being glued to one spot. I slowly make my way to the boat that Adler brought back for me. I really want to ride it and test out the motor. We never really had anything run by motor in the village. 

I am about to step in the motor boat when I feel the tentacle around my waist stop me. I glare at Adler. Why did he bring me a boat if he didn't expect me to leave the cave? 

"I am coming with, Kaaya. It's not safe for you alone in the ocean." At first, I am about to protest, but then I reluctantly nod. It actually might be safer for me with Adler, mostly because I have no sense of direction here in the ocean. 

After a few minutes of figuring out how to start the motor boat, I got on it and Adler decided to swim in his smaller form to match my pace. It's so beautiful and calming being in the middle of the ocean. I close my eyes and hear the waves crash against each other. I open my eyes again and see myself surrounded by blue below me and above me. It might look boring to some people, but I love the outdoors. The view reminds me of the view I see from ocean rock back in the village. 

My village. My family. Tyer. I miss them so much. But, I doubt Adler is going to let me go see them. If I can get him to trust me more, then maybe, just maybe, I could go back and visit my (relocated) village. As I am getting lost in my thoughts, I hear Adler say something next to me. 

"....few minutes. I am getting something. Wear this" Adler quickly put some sort of shell necklace on me and dove in the ocean. I looked at the necklace closer and realized there wasn't much to it except the cute little purple shell. I leaned over my motor boat and watched Adler plunge into the depths of the unknown. I wonder what is down there. 

Anyway, Adler is gone so I could doze off a bit and get some time to myself. After one minute of peaceful dozing, I am interrupted by something hitting the front of my boat. At first, I think that Adler is back and ignore it, but then it hits the back of my boat. This time, I look over the edge and see a fin?

A shark fin?! Many shark fins?!? Looking at the fins carefully, I realize that I've read about these fins somewhere. These fins belong to the predator known as the Great White Shark. And unfortunately, they are carnivorous beings that can kill a human being with a bite. Currently, there are at least 6-7 of them circling around my boat, pushing against it. If they continue to this, I am going to fall in! I decide to scream for Adler. 

"ADLER!!! HELP ME!!!" My screams remain useless as Adler was probably still deep in the ocean. Is this how I am supposed to go? I didn't even get to say goodbye to family one last time. I didn't get to apologize for so many things? I am feel like praying for Adler to get here faster and cursing him at the same time. 

Another Great White knocks the side of the boat and I tumble over the edge, colliding with the deep, frigid ocean waters. I feel my body become numb because of the cold and feel my mouth start to fill up with the water. On top of that, I could feel the sharks circling around me, getting ready to take a bite. 

As I am about to lose consciousness, I feel one the sharks brush against my chest. If I weren't drowning, I would blush at the close contact. The shark's nose seems to be sniffing me for something and it touches the necklace that Adler gave me. Suddenly, I am lifted up by one of the sharks, my back on the top of its back. I breath deeply and turn over and wrap my arms around its fin so I don't fall back in. I am still trying to breath when I realize the situation. 

I am sitting on top of a Great White Shark! Did I die during some time and is this just a dream? As I am panicking on what kind of situation this is, I am lifted into someone else's arms, bridal style. My arm's automatically wrap around his neck as if it's second instinct. I look up and meet Adler's concerned eyes. 

"Kaaya, sweetheart! Are you okay? They didn't hurt you, they did? If they did, I will deal with them." Adler's voice kept rambling on my condition, but I couldn't make myself reply as I was shivering too much. Thankfully, Adler noticed this and transformed into his monster form and he clutched my gently in his hands, trying not to hurt me. The heat from his hands warmed me up immensely and eventually I wasn't shivering too much. With his tentacles, he the took the motor boat and swam us back to the cave. 

After warming up for an hour or two, Adler started to question my on my condition once again. 

"Are you sure you are okay? I am so sorry I wasn't there to protect you. I should have told them not to touch you or disturb you." Adler says sadly. I know that he didn't mean to hurt me because he would have by now. 

"I-i am ok Adler. Just little shaken up. That reminds me, when I fell into the ocean, why did the sharks kill me?" I ask curiously. Adler growls lowly when he hears the 'kill me' part. 

"The necklace. It's hard to explain, but in simple terms, putting on the necklace basically means that you are my person. My equivalent. No creature will or even can possibly hurt if you keep it on." My eyes widen. Why would he give this to me? I must have said my thought aloud because Adler replied back. 

"Darling. I told you how much I loved you so many times. I have been on this planet for ages. Out of all of the many creatures out there, I picked you, my darling human. Speaking of you, my darling, I went out to the depths of the ocean to find something for us." 

"Oh? What is it?" I ask, a little excited and a little scared. 

Adler pulls out two matching ocean-styled crowns. They looked very expensive, looking as if they were made of gold and silver. My crown seemed to be more stylish than Adler's, having purple sea shells decorating it, matching my necklace. 

Before, I could protest, Adler puts the purple-shelled crown on me and puts on the other for himself. It looks like we are a matching couple right now, and surprisingly, I don't completely despise it. Although, I don't feel like I am worthy to have such valuable articles around me, I feel it would be rude to refuse them. I was taught to accept gifts and not refuse them as the person giving them to you kept you in their mind while looking for it. Refusing it would be like refusing their time and effort spent for you. 

Another thought pops in my heads as I admire the necklace and crown. Adler has been giving so many gifts these days, all of them are wonderful. But the question is, is he actually giving me them to make me happy or is he giving them to me so I don't run away from him?