Chapter 19: The Sea
Arioch crept down from his room, into the kitchen. Every part of his body ached, and he didn't know why, but it hurt. As he stepped into the kitchen, which was engulfed in darkness, he felt a sense of relief for not having to face the bright colors. He pulled open the fridge and grabbed a wine bottle. He threw it back, letting the cold, thick liquid flow down his throat. As the metallic taste coated his teeth and gums, he felt a surge of energy as his eyes opened wide and his body became serene and at ease with the blood coursing down his throat.
"I'm sorry," Marv's voice softly touched the dark room. Arioch turned to see her silhouette against the moonlight.
"Why are you sitting in the dark?" he asked. He turned towards her.
"Why are you drinking in the dark?" Marv bit back but Arioch just stood there "Sorry, I ... huh" she watched him reach for the light switch "Don't switch on the light" she whispered so eerily.
Arioch leaned against the kitchen counter "I can still see you, I just don't want to talk to you with your eyes glowing" he said, taking another sip.
Marv huffed, shifting uncomfortably and wrapping her arms around herself. "I am sorry I threw you over my shoulder. It was instinct and I apologize," she said, her nails dug into her arms.
"You didn't throw me, I allowed you to do it," he said, taking another sip.
Marv shook her head. "Of course," she muttered before rising from her seat. "Did you ever find the vessel?" she asked, but Arioch shook his head.
Marv hummed, thinking for a second, "It's an old cherished vessel, right?" she asked him which made him nod "Then wouldn't it be somewhere your parents kept away from prying hands" She looked about the kitchen "my mother" she swallowed the bitter taste of the word "she would have it in the original wooden box, wrapped in a cloth, in a cupboard away from the other kitchen items"
Arioch stopped mid-sip. "I know where it is" he placed the bottle on the counter and walked off and Marv followed him.
Arioch's broad shoulders moved through the hallway, down some stairs, into a blue living room with white intricate molds over the arches and edging around the room. With airy furniture sitting perfectly under gold light fixtures, they moved around built-in shutters where a crisp white cabinet sat. The vampire got down onto his knees and began to pull out different sizes of wooden boxes. He opened them to relieve plates, cutlery, or crystal glasses.
Until he opened an old oak wooden box and there sat the vessel. He fell onto his butt as his eyes turned hazed and a bitter smile fell on his lips. The vessel was heavy in his hands. The Little Indian figures of a boy with bow and arrow sat on top while a man sat at the bottom, holding the whole thing up. His fingers caressed the Tamil scripts that wrapped around the egg-like vessel, the scent of essences floated around his nose.
"God, I remember this," Arioch whispered, then muttered in Tamil, in the deep velvet voice, crouched down next to him but still keeping her distance.
"What do you remember?" Marv whispered so softly.
"my mother" he sat back, eyes far away "she was this tall woman, eyes like fire and mischief sat on the corner of her lips" he smiled at the memory but the memory turn sore "every moon eve, we would celebrate with fire and water, cheerful dance but then she would scoop up my brother and I, take us to our parents room and we would drink from the vessel while she recited the honored blessing" he whispered "May Selene guide your part and May it be paved with gold"
He was silent for a moment. "who are Hilo and Arjun?" Marv asked again, but Arioch stood up, ignoring her completely.
"We found the vessel, we'll leave in the morning" Arioch turned cold and began to walk away.
Marv struggled to her feet. Arioch switched off the light and the waves crashed against the shore. She turned to face them as a gasp escaped her mouth. She moved to the window, faced the gorgeous water, illuminated by the bright full moon. "he used to love the sea" the words fell out of Marv's mouth. Arioch approached Marv but remained silent, trying not to push "We would get a whim and just drive down to the coast in the middle of the night, just so we could watch the sun rise over sea" Marv smiled at the sweet memory 'What color is the sky, Marvelous' his voice echoed past her ears.
Arioch's heart sank. "we don't leave until the morning. Maybe you should go enjoy the sea," he said. Marv turned to him with a big smile before running out the door.
She came to the stone stairs leading to the sea, and the breeze hit her face. She felt like home. "Noah," she whispered. She got to the bottom of the stairs, kicked off her shoes, and ran for the water. Not realizing Arioch was behind her.
She pulled off the knit sweater and her tights, moved towards the coastline, then she stopped, waiting for the water to move in again. The warm water caressed her toes and a smile spread across her face, a pure smile that wasn't forced or teasing. The sight alone made Arioch's heart stop. He grabbed his chest and Marv began to kick the water around, laughing gleefully at the soft sand and warm, cooling water.
Marv walked deeper into the water. She didn't realize that she stepped onto a slippery rock and went falling into the water. But before she could fall down into the water, Arioch grabbed her waist and pulled her closer, feeling her bare skin under his gloved fingers. Arioch looked down at Marv and the smile that balled up her cheek. Marv grabbed some water and dropped it on his head.
Arioch's long hair poured into his face. He let go of her to push the wet hair out of his face as he chuckled. But Marv lost her footing again. Arioch grunted and pulled Marv close again before she could fall over. Marv threw her head back and laughed until she felt Arioch's fingers caressing the scars on her back, frozen in his arms. The feeling of his clothed fingers tracing her scars made her flinch, as if she was receiving them again. She was about to push him while Nandi's voice carried on the wild.
Marv and Arioch turned to face her. "What are you doing?" she shouted, waving her arms.
Marv turned back to Arioch, who jawline clenched, the droplets hanging from the strains of his hair. The water dropped down onto his white kurta that was transparent from the water. Marv could see his hard chest and the smooth dark hairs that rested there. She let her finger stroked his chest, imagining herself leaning over him, her nail digging into the flesh of his chest.
She felt his eyes on hers and she looked up at him. Arioch's nose had flared, which made Marv push him into the water. He fell with a shocked look on his face and Marv took off towards the shore. Arioch got up and raced towards her. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. She cackled as his laughter vibrated around her thighs. They got to the shore where Nandi and Minjun stood watching the two and their hearts ached because they hadn't seen him be himself in a long time.
"this gonna break his heart," Nandi whispered to Minjun.
"Or he might break hers," Minjun whispered back and Nandi looked at Minjun with curiosity.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone