Onyx
I ignored my aunt's endless nagging; it made me shake every time I thought about it. I was scared what she would do if she found out about our plans. I had to let it go. Any new path is scary at first.
What gave me the bravery to try was Abyss.
I wonder how he was feeling right now being dismissed like that. I waited for the opportunity to text him to return, but logically surmised he may have returned to the water as well. After all, land isn't his home, why would he stay? It was only someone like myself that was so out of place.
I figured I would never belong anywhere. That was how life was. The one time in my life I had begun to feel like a place was home, my aunt ripped me away to continue the expansion of power in other countries. I haven't seen Myst or Akasha, my treasured companions, since.
There was once a time I had finally made some friends that weren't human like myself, where both of them struggled to fit in with humans while at the same time were only used to land dwelling. We had become fast friends; because of them I met my sweet daughter Pixie and took her in.
I stared at the clock and listened to it tick in the big desolate manor. For a house it sure seemed as if no life could persist in it, as it was shrouded in shadows far greater than Abyss's. I knew I grumbled about it too much; however, the feeling was too uncomfortable to not notice frequently.
My aunt's words resurfaced in my mind, "your father was the last smart one of the whole lot of you! At least he had plans!"
This made me ponder, what sort of plans did he have? Would knowing more about the past help us get revenge on everyone involved? To be concise, I did not even know everyone that was involved. I was too young at the time, and I suspected there may be more to it.
I decided to take a look around the manor in search of any kind of information from the past that could have been left behind.
It hadn't occurred to me before as I was too focused on the company and adjusting, but maybe there was something useful that my aunt didn't understand the true meaning of when my father passed.
I found myself in his office, a place I hadn't set foot into for many years. The office itself had this imposing, ominous energy. I never knew why the office filled me with such chills; I just attributed it to the fact it was a place my father spent most of his time. The person I feared the most. Recollections of days past where I had avoided this room at all costs even during his lifetime, in fear of him calling me in for some despicable plan.
I was always told not to disturb him while he was working, and if I did so even accidentally, I would get in deep trouble.
My father was a cunning man. He wasn't always cruel, and that was precisely what made him so dangerous. He would switch his moods and be nice on the days he got what he wanted, when I was his tool. Other days, however...
It was no use disparaging over the past.
"I don't even know what I'm looking for," I muttered. It had been less than a day since I had decided to involve myself in the revenge, and I had hoped to procure good results already without even having a clue what direction I was headed for.
I sighed. All I found was obvious business documents that had been collecting dust for years past.
I knew it wouldn't be that easy. Like a series, I tried pressing and pulling books and random items in the room to see if I could trigger a lever, but nothing happened. Too far-fetched and ridiculous, I supposed.
I pulled out the camera footage and double-checked that my aunt was indeed gone before sending a message to Abyss anyway. He would surely get it when he was available.
I deliberately turned off the camera access to my aunt's phone, something she seldom checked anyway. If she asked I would come up with some excuse about it not working. I didn't want her knowing about our plans or meetings.
I sat there reclining on the couch as the doors burst open and a very cute girl came running into my arms. "Pa!" she exclaimed, hugging me. "You're back!!!"
I scooped her up. "Of course, my little girl. I was just away on work for a while. You were taken care of while I was gone, right?"
Pixie nodded up and down with a rapid rate as she said cutely, "yes yes! Lily played with me lots and lots. They were going to let me play with the kids at school for Songkran but I heard you were back and I wanted to see you!"
I softened my expression and pulled her up onto my lap comfortably. "Oh? Don't you want to go play with your friends? I can take you now if you want. We can catch up another time. You should have fun."
She looked a bit downcast and averted her gaze; it didn't escape my notice as her expression became saddened again at the mention of friends. Was she still not fitting in with the kids at school? Worry began to form in my mind as she said, "no no, it's okay! I want to play with Pa! You're always busy you have no time for me anymore." Her voice got sadder as she said it.
I felt my chest pang, both with guilt and a reminder of the sticky kelp balm that was still on my wound. It was definitely waterproof, but I knew Abyss would object to me exercising right now.
"I'm so sorry, Pixie, you're right. I've been neglecting my responsibility to you as a parent and that must have made you feel lonely. How about you and I come up with a plan for little daddy-daughter dates with just the two of us doing whatever you want?" I said honestly, hoping to console her.
"Sure! But, can sometimes we include someone else?" she asked.
"What sort of person, a classmate?"
She shook her head, bouncing a bit. "No, I want to spend more time with Abyss! I want to know my new dad!"
I laughed. "New dad, huh?"
"Yeah! I need to know him well before you guys give me some cute new siblings! By the way! I want a girl!"
"A new sibling?!"