Ark of the Light

Two: Angel of Water

The yacht rocked with the gentle waves of the Caribbean Seas, as it traversed its way around the Florida peninsula before it turned out to the Bahamas. A gentle breeze carried the summer heat up to the deck. Salt and fish drifted with the heat, bringing the refreshing scent of the ocean. Nicholas stood by the deck rails, enjoying a moment of quiet. His parents probably dined in the caverns of the ship, sipping champagne and discussing where the news network would be heading next. Coming from money and small-town fame, Nicholas was sure the conversations below would prove to be worse than reading a middle schooler's first attempts at play writing, disconnected and lifeless. Somewhere after the tenth conversation about his plans for college and lack of love life, Nicholas had snuck out of the dinful ballroom.

Plans for college, he scoffed. He was sixteen. Who had their entire future laid out at sixteen? Besides, his mother wanted him to go to business school, inherit his grandfather's jewelry company. His father supported anything that would secure more fancy planes and fast cars. For the moment, what he wanted didn't matter. He would attend the most expensive private school his parents could pay their way into, he would find a woman who he tolerated, and he would live the life they had ordained.

But, in this moment, he stood alone on the deck of a ship wishing he could be anywhere else in the world.

"Hey, freak."

Nicholas opened his eyes. Leaning over the rail next to him, his sister lit a cigarette, placing it between her red painted lips.

"Could you do that somewhere else?"

"You gonna make me?" Amber raised a brow. She crossed her arms, but didn't look at him. Nicholas took in the tight black dress she wore, just a little too short and the neck line just a little too low for the express purpose of pissing off their mother. Nicholas grinned. His own white suit was freshly pressed, blond hair gelled back to keep it in place. "What you smiling about?"

"So, mother dearest hasn't forced you to change yet." Nicholas turned so his back rested on the railing, tipping his head back to observe the crystalline sky.

Amber's lips quirked upward. "She's too busy working on securing my future marriage." She turned to join him in his observations, kicking off her red pumps. "God, if she thinks I'm gonna bang one of those inbred rich boys, she has another thing coming."

"Ah, yes because bio-diversity is your greatest concern in childbearing."

Amber cackled. "Yeah, more like my ace ass would rather jump off this boat right now then let her dictate my reproductive system." She took another drag from her cigarette. It looked out of place next to her pale and polished skin and between her nails filed to claws. Her bangs had long abandoned the once tight bun she had tied that morning.

Nicholas felt a pang in his chest at her words. "Don't joke like that."

She paused. Stillness filled the space between them, aching. It made him feel so much older, so much more tired, like he could feel his bones calcifying and breaking down. "Don't worry, pipsqueak, I wouldn't leave it all on your shoulders. Someone has to deal with our parent's crazy."

"Pipsqueak? You're only four years older than me," Nicholas joked, breaking the moment.

"Yet so much wiser, who woulda thunk?" Amber pushed herself away from the deck, squashing the butt of the cigarette on the rail. "Care to join me for a dip in the pool?"

"You're going to get your swimsuit?" Nicholas lifted his head, watching Amber, as she picked up her shoes.

"Nah, I think I'm gonna ruin this dress. You know, icing on the proverbial cake of petty revenge." She smiled back at him, all mirth. Underneath her upbringing, Nicholas could see someone prepared to slit throats. He wondered why mother didn't push for Amber to take over the business when she was so obviously better qualified than him.

Nicholas shook his head. "Unfortunately, I quite like this suit. But you go ahead."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever loser, don't fall off." Not looking back, she strolled passed him. He watched as she turned the corner, disappearing from view. Sighing, he leaned down to pick up her cigarette butt. The habit disgusted him, but he understood why Amber did it.

As he stood, the boat hit a wave. It knocked him off his balance. He reached for the rail, only to find himself pushed off of the edge. Nicholas grappled for a hold. He clung to the deck. The wave had nearly knocked him overboard. He called out for Amber, for anyone, hanging on by his fingertips. Glancing down, his stomach clenched. The ocean greeted him down below. He screamed again, trying to pull himself up. His arms quaked under the strain. He closed his eyes and he was falling.

He braced himself for the pain, for the crack as his body hit the water.

It never came. Nicholas opened his eyes in wonder. The ocean surrounded him, but he remained dry, breathing with ease. He had sunk far enough that the light had become diluted. Around him, the fish swam undisturbed. Slowly, he pushed himself up, breaking the ocean surface. Above, the sun shined with equatorial force. The yacht was nowhere to be seen.

Nicholas waded in the water, lost. For the first time in his comparatively short life, he was alone. Without many options, he allowed the sea to push him northward to the coast of Florida.

It felt like hours before he reached land. While he wasn't tired, he was hungry and he could feel his nose already peeling from hours of exposure to the sun. He reached into his pants pockets, looking for anything of use. While his phone was missing, he still had his wallet with several credit cards, his identification, and enough cash to last him at least a week, three if he spent it wisely. Whatever had happened in the ocean, it had kept him dry, though he wasn't keen to decipher what had actually occurred. Trudging up the beach, he sat on the roadside, pondering his options.

Options. Even the idea felt foreign. He couldn't remember the last time he was allowed to make a choice. Logically, he would go home and find a way to contact his parents, but...

But he didn't want to. He wanted to just walk away, disappear. He wanted to figure out what he actually wanted in life. Groaning, he closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. He shook his head. Running away wasn't an actual option, it was a far away dream he and his sister shared in low whispers during boring dinner parties.

Nicholas moved to tie his shoe to start walking, but stopped. A sealed envelope fluttered in the breeze, blowing just in front of his feet. Printed on the back was his name. Curiosity getting the better of him, he reached over and opened the letter.

Nicholas McLain,

Do not be afraid. There is a choice you must make. The Prophecy of the All-Seeing Eye foretold your coming. Seven Angles of the Earth shall join in the ashes, forming the Ring and the Key to ending a princess of darkness, a Shadow of a Queen. These seven shall be the Ark of the Light, for it is their duty to protect the Light. As the Angel of Water, it is your duty to the Ark to serve against the darkness. If the Shadow Queen and her army prevails, surely you will face demise. Enclosed is the location of your haven. Let the waters guide you.

Fellow Angel,

M.

A choice. For once in his life, Nicholas had a choice to make without his parents pulling the strings. He glanced at his wallet. It would be more than enough for a bus to Michigan.