Chapter: 4.
******It was over.
It was all over.
No money. No home.
Loans to pay.
No child, no wife.
Just a few clothes in his bag, an ID in his wallet, and a dollar.
And just like that, all his dreams flew away with the winds. He was left empty and a shadow of himself. He couldn't go back home because then his mother would cuss him out. He deserved it though. He had fought off his family and had stayed hating them for years because they didn't like Maria and never gave their support when he told them about his decision to drop out of school and support her instead.
He was ashamed.
Disgusted with himself.
They were right and he was wrong all along.
He couldn't go back there. He would much rather be dead on the streets than return home.
What would he say?
What apology could he possibly give to his parents?
Useless.
The next few months were hell, he did all kinds of jobs and slept in his truck at night. Whenever Allison calls him, he would make sure to receive the call at a good time or return her calls when he knew he would be alone, with less noise around and he would assure her he was alright. It hadn't lasted two months and Allison told him, her mom brought someone named Michael home. She said Maria went on dates with him and got her a babysitter. She also told him Michael had fancy cars, and he was going to get her and her mother their own cars each.
Looks like she found one who would give her the lifestyle she wanted and how quick she was to move on.
The news broke him but he didn't let it show in his voice while he spoke to his daughter, after the call had ended with its usual 'I love yous' he had slumped beside his truck tire and cried, then he went and got himself a bottle of booze and drunk till his heart content. The rest of the months were filled with menial jobs and alcohol abuse until he stumbled into Easton, a coworker who was let go by Mr. Zachary the same day as him. He didn't even recognize the man, he had gone and done good for himself, and after he had explained for what seemed like forever the frustrated man finally remembered him. That night he ate a good healthy dinner and slept on clean sheets in a warm bed and cozy room.
Easton got him a job since he had worked as a marketer for far too long, he was familiar with the basics and so he was quick to get back into sync with his new job. Maria soon learned he had started working and came after him again. Claiming negligence to his child and he began to support his daughter, he didn't earn very much, his past loans had accumulated into huge amounts and he was trying to get that cleared. He loves Allison, she was his whole world, all that was left of what once used to be his life. It doesn't matter if Maria didn't allow him to see her, he cared for her and supported her as best he could. And the little girl made sure she called him twice a week. At least for now, he knows he still has her, maybe when she gets older she might get bored with him.
All seem to have finally taken shape, he went back home, gave that apology to his aging parents, they forgave him but his father had hurt himself when he fell and was lying in the hospital bed, his mother urged that he supported her and with his daughter, the loans, his sick father, Alexander couldn't function a day without depression and the only way he got by was through alcohol. At this point, it may just be said that he is addicted.
Then four days ago, it happened again, his job was snatched, his father had just been discharged, and is now home, thanks to him, but his loans remain and his daughter on the other hand, then his rent had expired and he had no job, no money.
Great-fucking-tastic.
The life he lived.
He didn't understand why he got fired. Nathaniel wouldn't give him a reasonable reason why he just fucking sent him packing. This was all so messed up. His life was a mess. To add sore to his injury he had spoken to Allison who told him that her mother was getting married two weeks after her sixth birthday. Has it even lasted a year since they separated? How eager was she that they separate? How long has she been unhappy with him? Could life take it any easier on his miserable soul? And Maria, how could she, really? After everything, she's just moving on as if he was never in the picture.
How fast can people change?
One minute you think you know someone and the very next second, it's a total twist of fate.
********
"Xander?"
He jumped at the sound of his name, he had forgotten he was speaking with Easton.
"Xander, you with me, hey?"
"Y-Yeah..." his voice cracked, he was going to cry again. Fuck. Rubbing at his eyes bitterly, he panted trying to hold back his emotions, to stop the war of tears before it tore through his aching heart.
"I'm at your door, open up."
"What?" He was shocked out of his bones to hear that. "No, no, no, you can't be here now! I need to clean up. The whole place is a mess." He ranted while ending the call and grabbing bed sheets from the floor. Just as he was about to make the bed, a loud bang came crashing on his door. "Fuck!" He cussed but continued to spread the sheets on the bed. His phone began to vibrate again and no doubt now, Easton was indeed at his door. How had he even gotten here so fast?
"Open this fucking door, Xander, or so help me, I'll break the damn thing down."
Alexander rushed over to the door, with one hand grabbing the keys he paused when he heard the door next to his open, he knew who it was and he didn't want to see them so he waited.
"Oh, hey there, Mrs. Takahashi." Easton greeted the short elder and smiled grandly at her.
"You want to break down my door?" She asked, eyeing him up and down evilly.
"Uh, no no, just trying to scare my best friend." Easton chuckled nervously. Mrs. Takahashi can be very scary herself, with a pointy nose and dark eyes, and that frown she always wears is like a second face.
"Is he dead?" She demanded.
"Huh?" Easton gawked and Alexander facepalmed behind the door.
"Your friend? Is he dead?"
"What no! Mrs. Takahashi, come on now, he's in there, just going through a bit of a hard time but he's strong and he will pull through."
"You know he owes me rent?"
"Oh, no, I'm so sorry, I didn't know."
"That's why he no come out." She said in her cute Japanese accent while pointing to the door then hissed. "If he no pay soon, I will send him out of my house. Tell him that." She groaned and turned to leave and Alexander was going to open the door for his friend but paused when he heard Easton speak his next word.
"How much does he owe?"
"What?" Alexander whispered behind the closed door but soon palmed his mouth to silence the rest of his words.
"Why? You want to pay?" She demanded and Easton stifled a chuckle.
"Yes, Mrs. Takahashi, just tell me what he owes you and I will clear it all and pay for the next couple of months. Is that okay?" He smiled at the woman but she huffed and nodded.
"Yes, yes, come on to my office, I will give you his bill." As they both walked down the hallway, Alexander slumped to his knees, the tears he'd been trying to hold soon came overwhelming him.
"It wouldn't kill you to smile every once in a while, Mrs. Takahashi."
He could hear both laughing as they walked down the hallway.
"If I laugh no one takes me serious." She defended her tactics and chuckled again. "You know, you are a good friend Mr. Easton."
"Thank you, Mrs. Takahashi."
Their voices faded after that and Alexander just sat there, his back to the door, eyes bleeding. He had hit rock bottom. Sunken so low that he even felt sorry for himself. He really had to do something about his current state. Maybe see a therapist or something. He was losing his grip on reality but first, he has a dirty room to tidy up before Easton returns.
**************
Chapter: 5.*****Using his still wet shirt, he wiped his eyes clean, fuck, he must look like shit. Looking around the room he wondered where to even begin. He has been eating and sleeping in a dumpster for days. How does anyone live like this? He picked up a box and began picking up the bottles. He was at his sixth bottle when his phone began to vibrate again. Fuck, he had become such an alcoholic. Putting down the box he walked over to the made bed and picked up his phone. It was Easton, probably returning to the room. He dropped the phone and rushed over to clear the bottles. A foul stench filled his nostrils, twisting his facial expressions into that of disgust. His eyes scanned the room for the source and soon found the many boxes of unfinished foods and pizza boxes with rotten slices sticking everywhere. "Fuck, Alex!" He cussed, putting down the box of bottles. The bottles weren't very important anymore, he needed to get rid of those rotten foods, fast. As he hurried to gathe
Chapter: 6.*****The city of Aquarial was created thousands of years ago. Thousands of years ago, the sea creatures roamed the Seven Seas, causing havoc and ruins among themselves and those who would trespass under the sea and above. It was a chaotic disaster for tens of thousands of years. Until the Gods took pity upon the sea creatures and sent forth a Fire Trident. It fell and merged deeply into the sea mountain. It was the only mountain in all of the Seven Seas and it has seven apexes all connected to one base. The sea grew warmer, the fishes went away into hiding, famine struck the Seven Seas and for many years the sea creatures feared their fate until the Elder of Elders summoned all sea creatures and asked that each Elect within themselves someone they considered worthy to lead and be the ruler over the Seven Seas.The sea creatures gathered, each having selected a worthy leader and thus the Elder of Elders led the seven leaders up the sea mountain to its apex. There he had th
Chapter: 7.******The laws of the Heavens, The Seas, the Underworlds, and Earth could not be tested but Atana had tested fate and changed what wasn't meant to be and worse using dark powers from Glasa. There is a saying in Aquarial 'Nothing Good Comes Out Of Glasa' she understood these things better but she chose her part. The Gods were angry and they withdrew their favors from her. The humans suffered and tormented Atana, so much so she couldn't show her face outside of her home. They were all afraid to go out for fear of what the people would do. And Atana's beauty began to fade.One of her great-grandchildren betrayed her, he went and told the townspeople that the source of their youthfulness was the blood of the mermaid who was his great-grandmother. This railed the people, they were filled with wrath and animosity towards Atana. Their hatred for the mermaid grew and her secret, exposed. Their sailors sailed the Seven Seas in their hundreds, tricking merfolks and all sea dwellers
Chapter: 8.*********"So? Did he fall for it?" The eager merman sitting beside the one that had placed the call asked once the conversation had ended. Roan turned towards the group of six and smiled grandly. "Of course, he did, he's completely smitten by me, it's pitiful." He spat, a taste of disgust lingering. "By the gods, he has to be the dumbest merman since the Fire Trident graced the Seven Seas." The first hateful merman mocked and the others laughed. "Even the crab soldiers would outsmart him," Hiro added. The crab soldiers were the dumbest of all sea creatures and they're mostly considered the clowns of the Seven Seas so they are often used in comparison with unintelligent sea creatures."When had you even discovered he preferred mermen rather than being embraced in the tender arms of a mermaid." Bay inquired and Roan just smiled. "I've known for a while." He replied with pride as if he had won a Nobel Sea prize."To think that he had to be the Tideian, ugh, makes me wan
Chapter: 9.********"Hello, Dad," his favorite cheerful voice resounded around his ears and he chuckled warmly. She still brings the light into his dark heart. "Hello, Princess." He called back and she giggled. "Did you forget what day today is?" "Did I now? Mhmm..." the man pretended to be lost in deep thought and the little girl just laughed harder. "What day is today?" He asked, causing her to laugh louder. "It's my birthday, you silly old goose!" She yelled between giggles."She called me old. My own daughter called me old, oh what a life." This cracked the little girl up harder and she nearly tumbled over from her end."But, you are old, my silly old goose, Daddy." She said between giggles."My poor heart.""I know you didn't forget." "Of course, I wouldn't forget the birthday of my one beloved." Her laughter boomed and he smiled. "Happy sixth birthday, monkey." He finally said and she laughed."Thank you, Daddy, but this monkey is getting bigger and bigger." She asserted as
Chapter: 10******The crystal moon took its full size and its glorious brightness filled the great city. Sea creatures gathered in their hundreds to watch the crystal moon grow bigger and its brightness was exceedingly great, it brightness near blinding and the Sea Creatures couldn't look upon it for much longer. It was time they each returned to their homes and rested and as they all retired to their homes, the Tideian made his way to the Sea Mountain, the crystal moon glow eased into his body, the Tideian marks scattered about all over his body each creating a spiral returning to the crystal moon, the Tideian soon became as bright as the crystal moon even his eyes glowed like the moon and then he was ready.Having made it to the Base of the mountain, he began to summon the falling Tears into the many Golden jars he had made to appear, each creating a circle around the Tideian. The Mountain Tears began to drop into the Jars, its divine sparkle twinkled like millions of sea pearls.F
Chapter: 11.*****Tide woke up to a burning sensation spreading fast across his left arm. Its pain was too intense and the burning scars which were starting to erupt from within his arms were beginning to drape his entire left arm with red bruises. He tried to heal himself but not after the third attempt had he realized that something was terribly wrong. He couldn't feel his soulpearl.Like his life had just been sucked out of him.He was...weak.Before his eyes he watched the bruises expand, spreading fast and eating up his arm, filling it with inflamed, painful, pus-filled boils. He needed help or he would die.Could it be the Mountain Tears he had dipped his hand into the day before? He had indeed acted foolishly. Why would he use his hand when he could have used his magic? Knowing just how powerful an undiluted Mountain Tears was. If the raw mountain Tears could cause sudden drought, how much more, his hand? How had he not thought of that? He had indeed acted foolishly.He hiss
Chapter 12.*******Naga returned with three different healing potions. Each in different shaped bottles. Placing the small bottles on a nearby table, he turned towards the still sleeping Tideian, whispering a few spells then reached for his hair, cutting a strand of his hair, next he proceeded to scrape a few scales from the Tideian's tail. Once he had finished with what he needed, he slowly returned to his sitting position beside the table which held the bottles.Both Venus and Nixie watched intently as the Merdragon casts spell after spell, the room grew foggy with magical mists, a few iced droplets of water fell upon them and they watched in awe as the dragon transformed before them, into a giant snow dragon, picking up the sleeping Tideian with giant wings and holding him afloat in the mist, more spells were summoned. The process lasted for an hour and once the spell was done, the Merdragon retreated to his formal form and then proceeded to reach for the bottles, the hair, and sc