Ummmm.
So yeah this Chapter happened.
(Disclaimer: The Author is not responsible for this shit storm of emotion, it just kinda happened okay?!!)

Good news is it's an early Chapter and I would really like to dedicate it to @Memoryxx and @jewelthief_00 - Although I'm very grateful to all of you guys for following APK after so long, I feel like you two a representation of an old and new following and I am very blessed to have your support <3 So thank you!
Enjoy,
Love Daisy xox

__________________________________

Chapter 36 | Past and Present

*

"Isn't it lovely?
All alone?
Tear me to piece's
skin and b o n e,
hello,
welcome home."

-Billie Elish & Khalid (Lovely)

*

OBSIDIAN

Standing over the dead body of his Father, knife in hand, his chest heaved with exertion. Although he was surrounded, not one word was spoken and slowly he dropped to his knees, his own blood pooling around him and mixing with that of his Fathers. His face was joyless as he wiped his mouth and spoke darkly, his words, and the venomous derision that laced them, not befitting a child his age.

"Eleven years on this Earth with you was far too long Father. I'm not sorry."

He looked down at his hands and saw that his fingers were trembling. His eyes were glassy as he stared at his own bloodstained skin and deep inside, his heart tore a little, a wound that would never heal - a scar to match all the others. He showed no sign that he had felt it though and instead raised his head to take one last look at the man he had known as 'Father.'

The older man's face was not peaceful in death. His golden eyes were wide open, staring up at nothing, and his mouth, although slack, held the memory of a cruel snarl. So many emotions left there on the surface... revulsion, loathing, rage, and then the feelings that the boy had no desire to acknowledge, pain, bitterness, suffering ... sorrow ... regret ...

In one hand the man still grasped a sword, an elegant weapon, whose golden hilt was studded with gems, its blade a deep, obsidian black. Almost as though someone else was moving his body for him, the boy reached down and plucked the sword from his Fathers hand. He straightened and held it vertically, studying the weapon closely. He had admired it many a time before as it had cut an arc through the air towards him, held firmly by his Fathers hand, gleaming with the promise of death.

'I'll do you the honour of killing you with this blade Boy. You should thank me, it's more than you deserve.'

"You are mine now," The boy stated, feeling the need to speak the words aloud. "My Father no longer has use for you." He stared down the weapon, his child's mind imagining that an understanding had passed between them.

He looked then, from the prize that he had claimed, to his Father's other hand which rested heavily on the back of another child, lying splayed on the wooden deck, his body trapped under the dead weight of the man's arm. His eyes were closed but a pulse beat steadily at his throat and as Obsidian watched, he saw Cobalt's fingers twitch, his face screwing up a little as he cried silent tears that slipped out from the corners of his eyes and disappeared in the curves of his face. '

Still standing, he made no move to help the other up and his eyes glazed over as he stared, transfixed by his brother's tears. The hand holding the knife was still shaking and as the chant began, he clenched it, his knuckles growing white. When his fingers relaxed the tremors were gone and he had looked away.

"Long Live the Pirate King."

Taking in a deep breath, he closed his eyes to his brothers grieving form, to his Fathers dead body, to the sword and the knife in his hands, to the crew that surrounded him, and focused instead on the pulse of the ocean that rocked the ship beneath his feet.

"Long Live the Pirate King."

Bending down, he tugged at the thin gold chain that hung around his Father's neckline, revealing the delicate golden pendant that had been concealed beneath his shirt. A rich golden gemstone was encased in the centre of the pendant and from the heart of the gem, a mesmerizing light pulsed softly.

"Long live the Pirate King."

In one smooth gesture, the boy ripped the chain and the pendant from his Fathers corpse, his hand clasping fully around the gemstone. The pulsing light flared brighter for a moment and beneath his fingers the gem cracked, a thin line striking straight through the core.

"Long live the Pirate King."

He was damned now. But he wouldn't bring his brother down with him. A plan was beginning to formulate in his mind, a bargaining chip that he had heard of, a rumour of a rumour. Even those had some truth behind them. He would start there.

"At the next island, burn his body." Not until the body was reduced to ashes, would he allow himself to breathe.  Turning his back on his Fathers corpse he made for the Captain's quarters that now belonged to him, the pendant swinging from his hand, his sword still clenched tight in the other.

"Get me all of the information you can about the sacred pendants and the world they come from. All of the secrets my Father kept are now mine to know. I want to hear everything. Anyone who refuses to cooperate can join my Father's dead soul in hell."

*

When Obsidian opened his eyes, he was in the same room he had entered the day that he had killed his Father. He struggled for a moment, to shake of the last vestiges of memory that still clung to his skin like thick oil, tainting his senses and eating away at his sanity. The Captains quarters had not been changed much since his Father's rule, but time had marched on, as it tended to do, and  Obsidian found that his perspective now was vastly different to what it had been like when he was a boy. 

He was no longer afraid to enter this room. It was his. This was no longer a place he was brought for punishment. No more did he feel that everything inside the room was cold and intimidating, an echo of his tyrannical Father. The door down the back of the room no longer led to his personal hell, instead it stood quiet and unassuming, and currently slightly ajar, the stained-glass mermaid set in the centre of the frame smiling slightly at him.

Through the gap in the door the sound of a piano trickled out from the hallway beyond, the delicate notes lulling him where he sat in his chair, hands clasped loosely across his chest. He concentrated on the sound and closed his eyes. This time, he did not see his Father, dead before him. Nor did he see Zalas's stricken face, speaking words that were impossible, words that he didn't want to hear. Instead he saw ... silence. He breathed out slowly and opened his eyes.

Rising from his chair he moved over to the bookshelf, reaching to the top of it to retrieve a thin case. Laying it down, he blew away the fine layer of dust that had gathered since Cobalt had put it away upon his incarceration at the Water Kingdom. He flicked the latches and flipped the lid open, revealing a beautiful, deep black scabbard with gold detail, a golden, bejewelled hilt blinking enticingly up at him. With a sort of reverence, he reached out and plucked it from the box, lifting it with both hands, his dominant hand grasping the hilt to draw the blade an inch from its scabbard. The pitch black blade reflected no light as it emerged, it's only accompaniment the quiet chime of a drawn sword that echoed in Obsidians ears. He sheathed and hung the blade at his hip, his eyes burning with dark intent. He no longer needed a blade, but if his Father truly was alive, well. This was his sword now. And nothing would satisfy him more than to use it to kill the man who once called it his own.

All the while, through the door, the piano continued to play.

*

CIRCE

Her fingers floated across the keys as though they had never left, the gentle tune a soft compilation of notes that she had composed for Pearl, when her youngest half-sister had found the long days and shortened nights of Summer hard to fall asleep to.

She felt, rather than heard Obsidian enter the room, his presence apparent to her always. Closing her eyes, she continued to play, relaxing into the music as her fingers danced assuredly to the familiar arrangement, sure and steady, never missing a note.

His hands fell down onto her hair, lifting the heavy locks to one side so that he could lean over her body, resting his forehead on her shoulder. His touch was light, he was being careful not to restrict her playing. Her body moved a little with the music and he swayed with her, slowly breathing in and out.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured in her ear, nuzzling the exposed skin there. She felt her lips lift in a slight smile in response to his flattery, her fingers finding the notes to conclude the song. As she turned towards him on piano stool, he knelt to meet her, gathering her face up in his hands to kiss her reverently.

Pulling away she met his gaze and was struck by the seriousness in his golden eyes. She smiled a little, searching his expression for an intention but finding no clues. Reaching out a hand, she stroked his cheek lightly, her fingers finding his scar and tracing it out of habit. He caught her hand and kissed her fingertips, murmuring his next words against her skin, so softly, she would have missed them, if not for the intense way he gazed upon her, awaiting her reply.

"Marry me."

The words rolled so easily off his tongue that it took her a moment to understand what he had said. When it registered, she could not help but laugh out loud, the elated bubble filling her chest forcing out the mirth. What a perfectly Obsidian way of asking such a thing. "Of course." She replied without hesitation.

He frowned. "I'm being serious."

"As am I," she teased lightly, leaning forward to place a kiss on his nose. "Although I can't say I have ever heard of Pirates getting married before."

"You would marry me? Just like that?" He questioned sceptically, ignoring the latter half of her reply.

She couldn't help but laugh again. "Just like that? I think we have been through more than enough, don't you? I highly doubt the words 'just like that' are applicable to any part of our relationship. In fact," she teased, "I don't remember ever actually agreeing to be in relationship with you exclusively-

She shrieked as he lunged up to grab her, pulling her down to the floor with him where he covered her lips with a growl. "Stop teasing me you demon woman," he grumbled against her skin, snatching kisses in-between her breathless laughter, "I just asked you to marry me and you're treating it as a joke." He rolled over onto his back on the floor, pulling her to sit atop him where she straddled his waist comfortably.

She reached out to smooth away the frown still creasing the skin between his brows. "I'm not treating it as a joke."

His hands gripped her waist, face still sceptical. "I will ask you again," he declared resolutely. "When this is over, I will ask you again properly."

She couldn't help but smile at his seriousness and wondered if he would believe her if she told him that marriage no longer meant the same thing to her anymore, as what it had used to. What was a title when she planned to spend the rest of her life at his side regardless?

He was still staring at her. "Wait for me?" He asked, a little anxiously, she thought.

She smiled wider, "No matter when, or how you ask, the answer will always be yes." She promised him, her face solemn in its sincerity.

For a moment he seemed speechless and she watched his eyes widened minutely before he covered his face with one hand, turning his head to the side as a strangled groan escape his mouth along with some words she couldn't decipher. 

"What?" She asked, slightly shocked. When he didn't reply, she tugged at his hand, trying to pull it away from his face. "Obsidian!"

His face, underneath his hand had coloured with a light flush and as he deflected her efforts to reveal his expression, under his hair she saw his ears had gone red.

Slowly, a satisfied grin spread across her cheeks as she suddenly understood. Tugging at his hand, she leaned over to whisper into the exposed ear. The skin below her lips was hot with the force of his blush, adding to her delight. "Obsidian," she cooed, "you're not embarrassed, are you?"

"Shut up!" He growled from behind his hand, his other hand pushing her face to the side as she squealed with delight.

"You are!" She giggled, tugging furiously at his hand with renewed determination, "Show me, your face! You don't need to hide," she wheedled as she pried his fingers back and tried to muffle her laughter, "Why are you embarrassed?!"

She shrieked in surprise as he suddenly rose from the floor beneath her, one arm holding her firmly to his chest so she couldn't see anything.

"Pah!" She gasped, pulling her face out from his clothing and straining to catch a glimpse of him before his hand was swiftly covering her eyes, forcing her head away.

"Obsidian," she whined, her voice slightly muffled by his palm. She tried to sound pathetic, but the laughter in her tone was evident.

"Leave me alone," he muttered gruffly from somewhere above her head, "You're too much."

She tried not to grin at the awkwardness in his voice. "Let me go, I won't tease you anymore. I promise."

He huffed. "Like I'd believe that," but he removed his hand.

She peered up at him; he had his face turned to the side, unwilling to look her in the eye. His ears were still a little red, but the blush on his face had mostly dissipated. He peeked at her sideways and promptly covering her grinning face once more.

"Stop looking at me like that." He demanded hoarsely.

"I can't help it, I'm happy!" She replied from under his palm. She felt like her face was going to split in two from smiling so hard.

He sighed and finally let her see properly. When she met his eyes, she thought he looked a little unsure. "I ..." He began, "I will try my best, to always make you happy." He faltered.

Internally she was screaming with elation, but not wanting to embarrass him again she controlled her expression. She squeezed his hand, "You already do," she replied honestly.

As she watched, his face seemed to glaze over again. Before she could react, she was once again swiftly crushed to his side.

"Obsidian!" She squeaked, the air huffing out of her chest, "I didn't do anything!"

"Stop talking," he said throatily, "that's enough. We need to go."

He let her go just enough so that he could swoop down to press a bruising kiss to her lips before he was pulling her from the room, the door clicking closed behind them.

*

Circe needn't have been worried about Obsidian's confession distracting her, the moment they re-joined the main group, the good mood dissipated instantly. She sighed as she looked sideways at Obsidian's now, stone cold face, and hoped that at least, the happy respite from earlier would help to ease the chaos that she was sure, would soon ensue.

Obsidian had been initially unresponsive when she had banished Zalas back to the island and pulled Obsidian into his room for some space. Just as she was thinking this, he turned to look sideways at her, his eyes softening a little as he reached out to touch her cheek briefly.

"It's going to be alright," he reassured her quietly, as they drew closer to the others, "no matter what happens."

She nodded, but her unease remained.

"Bones," Cobalt called, waving them over.

A very small group had been gathered on the shore front and the air was thick with tension. Hobbson was present, his relief at their arrival apparent. So was Samson, looking seriously stoic beside Cobalt. Lacy looked up at Cobalt's acknowledgement from her place in the sand beside Leonardo, to give Circe a tight, but welcoming smile.

Unabonan was not present, but Zalas stood a short distance away with his back to them, spine straight, displeasure radiating off him in waves. Elika was nowhere to be seen.

Anthemin? Circe thought, noticing the young dragon was not present either.

"Anthemin is with Unabonan," Zalas voiced as though reading her thoughts. He had turned to face them as they reached the others, his expression stiff. He didn't elaborate on the reason.

Vanima, I am with Unabonan, Anthemin's voice suddenly rang through her mind, confirming Zalas's words. I will listen through the link, but Unabonan has other things he wishes to discuss. I will inform your later.

She nodded imperceivably. I understand.

"It took you long enough," Zalas continued snidely.

"Just start explaining," Cobalt snapped back, before Circe had a chance to say the same, "I've already had enough of you. It's bad enough we have to see your face- "

"Your Princess," Zalas hissed, "was the one who asked for my help in the first place. I didn't come to you; you came to me."

"A choice we are already regretting," Obsidian interjected, his voice cool, but deadly. "You mentioned my Father. Start talking."

Circe noticed Obsidian did not acknowledge Zalas had said his Father was alive.

"Yes, I did," Zalas's eyes flashed dangerously, his expression furious. Circe thought that she had never seen him so uncomposed, "and we have already wasted enough time. Now that you are ready," he continued scathingly, "I hope you won't waste any further time, going forward."

There were ripples of outrage from amongst the group but before anyone could act, Obsidian had already spoken smoothly.

"For that, I apologise," he said icily, "I was unprepared, but have composed myself."

Zalas glowered at him for a long moment, appearing to weigh him up before he snorted coldly, his eyes narrowing. "Very well. I will apologise also for my handling of the matter. The news of your Father was an unforeseen circumstance, and one that I had not anticipated."

Circe could not help but stare openly at Zalas, the shock at his apology, apparent on her face. Beside her she felt Obsidian mirror her own surprise, before he instantly grew tense. Circe could not blame him, an apology from Zalas was unprecedented. Glancing around she could see from the faces of the others, that they felt just as uncomfortable with the situation. Except for Cobalt, he still looked as though he would rather grind Zalas's face into the dirt.

"Fine. Moving forward then," Obsidian growled tersely, "share what you know."

Zalas shot him a dark look before beginning, his voice grim, but his words quick and urgent. "A few days ago, the Water Kingdom arranged to move the Pendant, for the first time since it's joining. It is customary for the pendant to shift between Kingdoms, in order to equal the balance of power between the three. Ordinarily, the pendant would go to the Earth Kingdom next, but as the current status of the Elf Kingdom is unstable due to the rebel shifter uprising, the plan was to move it to my Mothers Kingdom and meet the Air convoy half-way. However, just before they reached the meeting point, they were ambushed."

Circe felt her heart jump into her throat, "Ambushed?" She voiced worriedly.

Zalas nodded towards her, one jerky inclination of his head. "By two dragons," he continued, his eyes snapping to Obsidian once more. "One of the riders on the back of the Dragons was identified as having an appearance that matched your Father."

Circe felt the group inhalation, her grip on Obsidian's hand tightening. "The pendant?"

"Gone," Zalas replied brusquely, but Circe could hear the underlying loss in his tone.

"Where did this information come from?" The voice that spoke, surprisingly was Hobbson's. Circe worriedly looked over at the older man, wondering what he was thinking. His face was drained of colour, his hands clenched fists by his sides.

"From the only survivor," Zalas said grimly. "The Water Sprite advisor, Ambrose." Circe inhaled sharply in shock, as Zalas continued. "He was heavily injured but escaped in the direction of the Air Kingdom convoy and managed to make contact with our ships." His eyes slid towards Hobbson, gauging his reaction to his next words. "The other advisor to Queen Evangeline, Aisling Hobbson, is currently missing."

This time Circe could not contain her gasp. "Hobbs ..." she whispered worriedly, watching her teachers face crumple in devastation as he struggled to compose himself.

"Ah," he said gruffly, raising a hand to his face, "that woman is always getting herself in trouble," he said flippantly, but the hand covering his eyes was shaking.

"Hobbs," Circe said quietly, breaking the silence that had fallen upon the group, "if you need to go-"

"No Princess," Hobbs rebuffed her instantly, raising his head. "Especially with Nathaniel's disappearance, my place right now is here. This is where my Queen needs me to be." He looked pointedly at her, "This is where you need me. Let the Prince finish speaking, some how I have a feeling that our mission to find your brother and this incident, may be more connected than we think." The old man jerked his chin towards Zalas, "Continue Highness."

Zalas inclined his head courteously before proceeding. "One of the dragons travelling with my Kingdoms convoy, looked into the Water Sprites memories and found the dragon Zeus Gold was riding to be unfamiliar. We have reason to believe that this dragon is the one who has hatched from the egg that was stolen."

Circe frowned in confusion, "But that doesn't make sense. If that dragon was still that young, how would it be big enough to carry a rider?"

Zalas's expression became foul, "It is possible if the dragon is being fed magic. Zeus Gold has done it before," he glanced at Obsidian, "with Zarska." His face turned even more sour, "Apparently that was why she felt indebted to you," he spat out.

Obsidian ignored the jibe. "So, get to the point. What are you trying to say?" he demanded impatiently.

Suddenly a realisation dawned on Circe and she glared at Zalas accusingly. "I know what he is trying to say," she uttered furiously, "you're trying to say Aranel is innocent in all of this aren't you? You're saying that if Zeus Gold truly has come back, then he could be the one behind all of this, not her."

"No, that's not what I'm saying," Zalas rebuffed harshly, amidst the hisses of outrage from Lacy and Cobalt, "the other dragon, it was identified as Nelonimi," he continued, "the dragon associated with my sister. Somehow, Aranel is involved."

"But you're saying that she might not be involved in the way we thought," Circe suspected, eyes narrowing. "How could you! After what I told you-"

"I never said that!" Zalas defended, "But after what I told you, do you really think Aranel would side with Zeus Gold? She would rather die than work with him."

Circe paused, her thoughts swirling. Beside her, she could feel Obsidians rage building slowly, but surely. He was growing impatient. She commended him for remaining calm this long. She looked at Zalas, lost for words. All she could see was Aranel, standing at the foot of the mountain, blocking her way to Obsidian, the other woman's eyes widened with a crazed thirst for revenge as she had confessed to framing the man Circe loved. To hate someone so much, that your hatred carried over to their children. Zalas was right, Circe could not imagine Aranel working with the person who had instilled such a hatred in her.

So, then what was left?

"None of this makes any sense," Cobalt said vehemently. There was a deep rage, in his voice that Circe had never heard before and she realised that he had not looked away from his brother's face this entire time. Now he spoke to Obsidian, "None of it makes sense. How could our Father be alive? How?!"

"You're asking questions that I cannot answer," Obsidian bit back with equal fury, "but it is not a question any-one else standing here can answer either. Enough of this speculation, there has only been one constant person throughout this entire shit storm," he turned towards Zalas, "do you have a pinpoint on the location yet? Involved or not, your sister has some serious answering to do."

Zalas's face turned to ice, but he nodded unwilling. "I suppose we have found something we can agree on," he said coldly. "And as a matter of fact, we do. Unabonan locked onto the location just before we received this news. If you are ready, we can head out immediately."

"Enough of the charades," Obsidian agreed emotionlessly, "It's time to expose the truth. Prepare the ships and tell the crew," he ordered Cobalt, "it's time to set sail."

Circe folded her arms across herself and shivered slightly at the cool detachment in his tone. Looking backwards over her shoulder she was met with the grey horizon. Nathaniel was out there somewhere. She knew he would be waiting for her.

"Hold on," she whispered, "I'm coming."

*