Chapter 7

I swim out of the typhoon and see Asher smoking in the same spot as before with a blank expression on his face, staring down at the sand. His free hand is clenched in a tight fist that was slightly trembling from frustration.

He slowly looks up and we meet eye contact. He drops his cigar in shock and stands up, completely bewildered. “Are you… Are you real?”

“Yeah, I am,” I reply, stepping on the sand.

“I thought you died. I was sure of it. I thought… I thought I repeated my past and was convinced that I killed you by not being strong enough.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Ash,” I reassure, flashing him a gentle smile. “I knew you tried.”

“Not hard enough…”

“Don’t criticize yourself like this. You did everything you could.”

“I grew up here thanks to the deal I did years ago. I deserve to be criticized.”

“I know what you did and you don’t deserve it. Anyone would’ve accepted a deal to get what they desire, that’s understandable.”

“You don’t understand… you might know everything but you don’t know that I killed hundreds maybe thousands of lives in my past life. So many innocent people were slaughtered by me.”

“The nymphs?”

He opens his mouth to disagree but closes it again, furrowing his brows together. “Yes, and unfortunately, the gods don’t appreciate their nymphs being killed in cold blood.”

“Then we have to settle the misunderstanding, right?”

“They won’t listen to me or you.”

“We’ll just have to try and see.”

“They’ll try to kill you again.”

“That’s the risk I’ll have to take.” I turn to face the ocean and inhaled a sharp breath, watching as the typhoon inch closer to us. “Nymphs, I know who killed you, and although the murderer that physically ended your lives is the one responsible. The true traitor is the one of your kind. They sold your lives selfishly that night.”

An ivory-skinned woman emerges out of the water with a frown on her lips. Her long curly hair reached her ankles, swaying as she approached us. Her celadon-colored eyes stared at us prepossessingly ― they’re undeniably arresting. “I’m the former leader of the nymphs, Athena. Tell me your conclusion of what happened that night and who did it. The others aren’t patient enough to hear the reasoning, though ironically I’m not patient either, however, I’ll put my ill feelings aside to hear you out.”

“Thank you,” I say, walking towards her. “But this is something you should see for yourself.”

“Trusting me with your memories?” She cocks an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?”

“Are you evil enough to do something?”

“I am, but for now I’ll try not to indulge in my ideas.” She promises, placing her hand on top of my head. “Stay still.”

I close my eyes and allow her to look at my memories. She’s quiet for a few minutes before she withdraws her hand back. Her gaze meets mine again.

“I see… so Mae and Eve backstabbed us... How devastating to know.” She sighs, looking up at Asher. “And you, the man that loiters this beach, how sorry are you for your past actions?”

“I’m miserable thinking about the past. It haunts me. I wish I didn’t accept but back then, I was starving. I was skinny to the bone from hunger. I accepted out of need and did the unimaginable. I apologize for doing that to you and your family.”

“As much as I want to reject your apology, I’ve watched you suffer as long as we have in these waters, if not more. I wouldn’t usually let cruel actions be forgiven this easily but as the leader of my people, I have to make an example to show that rage is like a poison that kills you more than any murder can do. It kills your pride and common sense, leaving you to act on ambition alone. And we did just that. We were blinded by anger and the presence of this man caused us to kill the first being we could touch, which almost led to you getting killed without a purpose. I am very sorry for doing that to you, miss…”

“I don’t remember my name,” I admit, feeling embarrassed that I didn’t have a name to give.

“I’ll just call you ‘miss’ then.” She looks at Asher. “As for you, Asher, you seem to crave death, is that right?”

“More than anything.” He says.

“I can do the euthanasia method if you like.” Athena offers.

“Is it completely painless?” Asher asks.

“It is.”

“Then…” He flicks his cigar away on the sand and looks at her with a sad expression. “I want to do it.”

“Are you completely sure?” She asks. “I don’t want to end your life if you’re not certain. I don’t want to murder you, that’ll make me feel like I did it on a whim.”

“I’m sure, so, please… I beg of you… end my life.”

“Enter the ocean and count to ten, when you awake you’ll be who you always wanted to be,” Athena says, motioning Asher to follow her into the ocean that turns back to its original color as the typhoon vanishes. Asher steps into the water and begins to count to ten. He looks at me one last time and smiles, mouthing ‘thank you’ as he continues to submerge himself into the ocean water. The other nymphs appear and surround him, humming a tune that’s softer than the other one and more elegant.

Once Asher’s head fully submerges underwater, Athena looks at me with a smile.

“You truly are someone that we never expected to meet, miss.” She says. “Thank you for purifying our souls for the better. I hope you reach your destination safely. The nymphs won’t interrupt your journey any further.”

“You’re welcome. Please take care of him for me.”

“Although he’s a mere stranger?”

“You don’t need to know someone to help them.”

She gives me a curt nod in agreement. “I agree, miss.” She sinks into the water, waving to me. “I’ll take care of him. Thank you again.”

I wave back to her and wait until she’s not in my line of view anymore to drop my hand. I look down at the sand to see Asher’s cigar and pick it up. “I know he doesn’t want me to but I want to bury this so his place to return to isn’t here anymore,” I mutter, pocketing the cigar before diving into the cool ocean waters.

I may not have a specific direction to go in but if I follow my instincts, I’ll get there.

Hopefully.