Chapter Ten

Aric

It's been three weeks since I've been living with Uriel and I was happy to know so many things about him that were pretty much amusing and interesting.

It turns out that Uriel was actually a lot older than he looked even though he aged, his body couldn't because of his curse that he refused to tell me about. Uriel also had a siblings, a younger brother and sister who stayed far away and lived independent lives. Uriel liked prawns which I found disgusting. He loved his job which was making deals with living creatures in exchange something of value depending on the wish. Uriel was afraid of clams, urchins and loved places he could blend his dull complexion.

I had learnt so many things about Uriel and then I knew that even if he was evil, he had a side of him that caring and kind. I also saw that he loved Rascal and Sly like his family though he called them pets. I saw that maybe Uriel had evil because of his job required it or his curse. But I had concluded that Uriel was not like what I had assumed him to be the day he brought me here.

I wasn't happy about staying in this cave but then kept made the best use of it. I still missed my family and Eric so I had decided today that I would ask Uriel to let me see them even if it's as an unreal image.

"Uriel I need a favor." I requested humbly as Uriel stopped making a new potion.

"What can I do for you?"

"I want to see my father." Uriel stared at me then continued making his potion.

"I'm sorry but that's one offer that I can't allow."

"Why?"

"Because I hate your father and the feeling is mutual. Once he finds out where I have you, he won't hesitate to take you away from me and kill me." He explained as he kept on working.

I didn't want to give in today. I was determined to have Uriel agree with me. I wasn't planning on selling Uriel no matter what but I just wanted to talk to him even once so that he wouldn't worry about me since my dad was a worrywart.

"Uriel I swear on my life that I won't let father kill you, just let me see him even if it's once." I pleaded but he was determined not to let me go.

"My decision is final!"

"Why do you hate my father so much?"

"Because he betrayed me." He said making me surprised.

Uriel looked shocked at revealing something and then he tried to avoid the question by leaving but I wouldn't let that happen. I took an empty vial and broke it then pointed the sharp edge to my neck. Uriel turned when he heard the glass shatter and looked at me.

"What are you doing?" He asked but I shook my head.

"If you don't tell me everything then I'm going to kill myself."

"You can't do it especially when you value the pain your family will feel."

He was right when he said that I couldn't do it but I was going to turn the tables on him. I placed the glass and then cut a piece of flesh on my neck making me bleed slightly. Uriel's eyes widened in surprise. I did this to show him we weren't doing child's play.

"Tell me Uriel about my father or I'll end my life."

"OK. Just put the glass down." He requested which I did but I didn't take it far from me. Uriel sighed then sat on the couch like rock.

"Before your parents got married, I was suppose to marry your mother." He explained making me shocked.

I looked at him but he didn't look proud to talk about my mother. I then came closer to him to hear the whole story.

"Athena was beautiful just like you with her beautiful red hair which was rare and only particular to her. She had the most amazing voice and loved children so much. Triton had discovered that Athena was his mate and had come to me to request that I let him have Athena." He narrated then sighed then looked me in the eye.

"What happened?" I asked curiously then sat beside him.

"I was happy because I knew Athena and I weren't mates and we both didn't want to get married to each other. So for Triton I used a forbidden spell that had passed down from generation to protect and had done something to tie Athena's soul to Triton but the book had a few curses attached to it that affected me."

"To grant anyone's desire who comes to you." I responded before he nodded.

"Yes. That was just one of the curses. I had to give my sister the book so that no one would be hurt by it ever again. I also found out that it made me not to age and this curse will affect my mate too."

"So what did my father do?"

"In exchange for something which was another curse you must exchange something of value. So I told Triton for Athena that my mate would be born from his bloodline which he agreed to do. Finally Triton and Athena got married, Triton by then had already been king, he was fierce and strong and ruled like a wonderful man with Athena as his queen. I was there when your sisters were born but I couldn't sense the bond with any of them."

"So what happened?"

"Finally Athena was pregnant with a seventh child and I felt this urge to protect and claim the child which was weird. I placed my hand on her stomach and you placed your hand on mine from the womb then I knew that truly you were my mate and that you were a male. I told Triton of this and he was angry. He seemed displeased but he said nothing."

I listened to the story more attentive in surprise as I started to think about how true this could be.

"Triton had set me up with a traitor of Atlantica that I had planned to harm Athena and her child a few days after you were born. I tried to prove my innocence but Triton kept piling crimes to my head and then finally the council had decided that since I had helped Atlantica then I would be spared but I will never set a tentacle in Atlantica. I never got to hold you and each time I wanted to see you, Triton was always with you or had guards around me." He narrated then looked with side eyes.

I was so shocked that I was so speechless. My own father had done something like this. I finally understood why my father and sisters had never wanted me to leave Atlantica because they all knew this. They all knew the truth but chose to hide it from me.

"I'm sorry. I apologize on behalf of my family. I know that saying sorry isn't enough to make up for everything that my father made you lose but I hope you can forgive us." I pleaded as I knelt on the cave floor.

Uriel looked at me then used one of his tentacles to push my hair out of my face before he brought his hands to my sad face.

"You did nothing mate."

"But it's my family that hurt you. Uriel your an innocent and kind hearted person and staying with you has shown me sides of you that I never knew someone as dark as you to have. If it hadn't been for us you and your family would still be in Atlantica and still on the council." I explained but then Uriel was smiling.

"I'm truly happy to have a mate like you."

"Please Uriel I now know why you hate my father but I have to see my father. Please let me go." I requested.

"I understand." He said then he kissed my forehead in a sincere kiss then looked into my eyes.

"I've removed the spell but if you leave you may never come back here." He informed me making my chest hurt.

I never expected Uriel to say that. I don't why but I felt a strong pain with being away from Uriel who I had grown fond of. He was finally setting me free by my choice. If I left I could go back to father and I could get him to let me to see Eric to explain but then I knew I would miss Uriel especially his weird sandwiches which I grew fond.

"I guess this is goodbye. I hope we meet again." I said but Uriel shook his head.

"I hope not mate, I mean Aric." He said it with a deep sadness in his eyes before he swam to blend in the darkness.

I watched as Uriel blended with the shadow and then I looked out the exit before I looked back with a sadness in my eyes then swam away.

Uriel

I watched as my mate swam away to his home after all I was keeping him hostage. I knew that trying to woo him was a total fail because I had not even kissed my mate since that time he was asleep. I recalled remembering Rascal saying that if you love them you let them go.

I finally understood what he meant and that was exactly what I was doing. Letting him go. I didn't bother telling him but then I knew that I was dying because I was rejected by my mate but I wouldn't die with regret knowing that my mate believed me and helped me discover a side of me I didn't know like I could dance and laugh.

Goodbye my darling Aric.