Mini Brain Dumps

If you’re just joining us and haven’t read the beginning of Darkest Depths, you can catch up here: Beginning of the Story

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Trigger Warning: This novel contains references to sexual assault and mental health disorders. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter 30:

The festival continued, though not with the same exuberance that it had previously had. Quentin could hear the echoes of the festival as he swam through the castle grounds, mind heavy with thoughts. He was so absorbed within his mind that he nearly bumped into Cate who was sitting alone by a tranquil stretch of the coral reef.

Cate looked up as Quentin approached, a small smile softening her features. Her red hair swayed gently with the currents, contrasting beautifully against the vibrant colors of the coral. “Hey,” she greeted softly, patting the space beside her on a smooth outcropping.

Quentin hesitated only briefly before settling beside her, their scales almost touching. “Practicing your brooding?’ he asked.

She looked over at him. “Even a master needs to practice.”

Quentin chuckled and settled back into his seat and closed his eyes. “It’s been a day,” he finally said, his voice a mixture of weariness and relief.

Cate nodded, her purple tail gently brushing against the coral, her gaze turning out to the horizon where the last remnants of daylight filtered through the water in soft, muted hues. “It has,” she agreed.

They floated in companionable silence for a while, each lost in their own reflections yet finding comfort in the other’s presence. They remained there in the gentle currents as twilight descended, the hues of sunset melting into the cool shades of evening underwater. The reef stretched out before them, vibrant and alive, echoing the depth of their shared emotions.

“Thank you, Cate,” Quentin said breaking the silence.

Cate smiled gently, “I’m just glad you’re finally out of your room.”

Quentin nodded. “Me too.”

Cate flashed him a mischievous grin, her eyes dancing with excitement. “Let me show you something,” she said, pulling her satchel over her shoulder. “It’s a secret but I promise you, it’s worth it.”

He smiled at her. “Lead the way.”

_____

Cate slowed to a stop, her gaze scanning the rocky cliffs ahead. “We’re almost there,” she announced, excitement bubbling in her voice.

They approached the entrance to a cave, the jagged rocks framing the opening like a maw of a great beast, becoming them into its depths. With a final burst of speed, they darted into the mouth of the cave, the darkness enveloping swallowing them whole.

At first, Quentin could see nothing but the pitch-back void ahead, but gradually, his eyes adjusted the dim light filtering in from outside. As his vision cleared, he was greeted by a sight that took his breath away.

Stalactites hung like chandeliers from the cavern ceiling, their pointed lips reaching down towards the ground below. Shimmering walls of translucent rock stretched in all directions, casting a glow in the water. Shafts of sunlight filtered through hidden crevices above, illuminating patches of the cave floor where delicate anemones thrive.

“Wow,” Quentin breathed, his voice barely audible as he took in the shimmering beauty of the cavern.

Cate grinned, her eyes sparkling with delight. “Welcome to my secret hideaway,” she said, her voice filled with pride. “Come on! There’s something I want to show you,” Cate called out, her voice filled with excitement.

Cate, with a graceful glide, swam over to a large rock jutting out from the cave floor. She motioned for Quentin to join her, a glint in her eyes. He followed, settling down beside her on the rough surface of the rock. She turned to him with a mischievous grin.

“Watch this,” she whispered.

Quentin watched intently as Cate drew in a deep breath, her chest expanding with anticipation. With a deliberate exhale, she released a stream of air that seemed to shimmer and dance in the dim light of the underwater cave. He held his breath, captivated by the display unfolding before him.

As Cate focused her energy, the air began to coalesce, swirling and twirling around her like a living thing. It gathered momentum, forming a luminous bubble that expanded rapidly from her mouth, growing larger with each passing moment. Quentin’s eyes widened in astonishment, the magnitude of her power leaving him speechless.

The bubble broke away from her mouth and made its way to the surface, but before it could escape, she grabbed it with her hands and pulled it towards her. With precise movements, Cate stretched out her hands, her fingers weaving intricate patterns in the water. The bubble responded to her touch, obediently following her commands as it stretched and molded under her control. Quentin watched in awe as the bubble expanded, its surface shimmering.

Before he knew it, the bubble had enveloped the entire cavern, encapsulating them in a perfect sphere of air, skillfully crafted to ensure the anemones and other flora and fauna of the cave were not harmed and so that her tail remained in the water so her gills did not dry out. It was as if they were cocooned in their own private sanctuary, shielded from the outside world by the translucent walls of their makeshift refuge.

As Quentin gazed around him, he felt a strange sensation coursing through his body. His fins, once so familiar and comforting, began to tingle with an unfamiliar energy. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, they began to change, morphing into legs as the webbing between his fingers receded, leaving behind fully formed hands.

He flexed his fingers experimentally, marveling at the newfound dexterity they possessed. It was a sensation he hadn’t felt in months, the transition from sea to land unfolding before his very eyes. And then he took a deep breath – not of water, but air.

He was human again.

A human at the bottom of the ocean.

“Cate, that was… amazing,” he exclaimed, his voice filled with admiration. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

He turned to Cate with a beaming smile. She looked away from him, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red as her eyes seemed to flit nervously around the cavern.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his smile faltering.

“Um, Quentin,” she stammered. “You’re… you’re naked.”

Quentin’s own cheeks burned as the realization dawned on him.

“Don’t worry… I came prepared,” she said, tossing a sheet over her shoulder at him as she continued to stare in the opposite direction.

“Thank you,” Quentin replied gratefully, catching the sheet, and swiftly wrapping it around his waist to cover himself. With a sheepish smile, Quentin turned back to Cate.

Cate chuckled softly, her cheeks still flushed, “I wasn’t sure what happened to your clothes when you transformed so thought I’d be safe and bring something for you” she explained, “Sorry, I should’ve warned you that that could’ve happened.”

Quentin shook his head dismissing her apology with a wave of his hand. “It’s fine, really. Glad to know that happens though,” he said flashing a grin. “Well, that was unexpected. Remind me never to challenge you to a bubble-blowing contest.”

Cate chuckled, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. “Oh, come on, Hayes. Where’s you sense of adventure?”

Quentin raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. “My sense of adventure? It’s right here, wrapped up in this conveniently placed sheet.”

He stretched his legs out in front of him, marveling at the way the muscles moved beneath his skin. He closed his eyes, letting the sensation wash over him. It was a feeling of freedom, of liberation from the shackles of his own mind. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he had his own two feet underneath him again.

Cate laughed, the sound like a melody in the cavern. But as the laughter faded and a comfortable silence settled between them, Quentin couldn’t help but notice the change in Cate’s demeanor. Her expression softened, the mischievous glint in her eyes giving way to a more contemplative look. Quentin watched her carefully, sensing there was something on her mind that she wasn’t saying.

“Is everything alright?” he asked gently, his voice filled with concern.

Cate hesitated for a moment, her gaze drifting off into the distance as if lost in thought. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft.“Quentin, I know that there is nothing I can say to make you feel better, but…” she turned to him, her eyes pleading desperately, “I don’t blame you for what happened, even if it was you who did it.”

Quentin felt a lump form in his throat as he listened to Cate’s words. He had expected anger, blame, perhaps even resentment, but her forgiveness was unexpected, a beacon of light in the darkness that had consumed him for the past week.

“Cate, I…” he replied. “I never meant for any of this to happen. I never wanted to hurt anyone.”

“I know, Quentin,” she said, reaching out to place a comforting hand on his. She squeezed his fingers gently.

The weight on his shoulders eased slightly. “Thank you,” he said softly.

Cate offered him a small smile in return. “You don’t have to go through this alone. We’re in this together,” she said nudging his shoulder.

A comforting silence filled the room as they looked around at the cavern around them.

“Quentin, there’s something I need to tell you,” she began, her voice hesitant.

She shifted in her seat to face him, her movements a bit clumsier now that they were no longer in the water. Cate took a deep breath, “It’s hard for me to talk about this,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “But before everything…” she flicked her tail for emphasis, “…changed, there was… there was someone.”

Quentin’s expression softened.

“I was… in love with a woman,” Cate confessed. “There were men that I liked in the past but when she came into my life, I couldn’t help it. I tried not to, even hated myself for it, but… she was incredible, and I couldn’t help but fall for her.” She took a moment to gather herself before continuing. “I was foolish enough to think I could keep it a secret, but… my father found out. “Cate’s voice wavered as she recalled the moment that had shattered her world. “He… he beat me, Quentin,” she whispered, her hands trembling with the memory. “He called me names, told me I was disgusting, that I was no daughter of his. And then he cast me out of our home, disowned me like I was nothing.” Tears welled up in Cate’s eyes as she relived the pain of that betrayal. “I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to,” she confessed. “I ended up on the streets, homeless and alone.”

Quentin’s heart ached for the pain that Cate had endured, for the cruelty of a world that would reject someone simply for being true to themselves. He squeezed her fingers gently. “I’m so sorry, Cate,” he murmured, his voice filled with empathy. “No one deserves to be treated that way.”

Cate managed a small, grateful smile through her tears. “One night, I was begging by the piers when a group of men grabbed me and dragged me to an alleyway. They… they had ill intentions, and I was helpless to defend myself.”

Quentin’s grip tightened on her hand.

She recounted the harrowing events of that night, the attack that let her vulnerable and afraid. “I thought it was the end for me,” she admitted, her voice trembling with the memory. “But then he appeared – Jack.”

Quentin’s brow furrowed in concern as Cate continued. “Jack fought off my attackers, driving them away with a strength and courage that I’d never seen before. He saved my life that night, and I’ll never forget the debt I owe him.”

Cate paused; her eyes distant. “Jack took me under his care after that,” she explained. “He nursed me back to health and taught me the ways of the sea. He became my father in a way.”

Quentin nodded in understanding. “Jack was an extraordinary person,” he remarked softly.

Cate smiled sadly, a hint of wistfulness in her expression. “He was,” she agreed.

There was a moment of silence between them as Quentin processed everything she had shared. He reached out, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, his touch a silent gesture of support and understanding.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you Cate,” Quentin murmured, his voice fill with empathy.

Cate’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked at Quentin. “Thank you, Quentin,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. “It means a lot to me to have someone like you around.”

“Always, Cate,” he said.

As their eyes locked, Cate leaned in; her eyes filled with a gentle warmth. Quentin felt a flutter of anticipation in his chest. The air crackled with tension as their lips drew closer, and just before they met in a tender kiss, Quentin reached out and gently brushed his fingers against Cate’s cheek.

Their lips met in a soft, fleeting kiss, igniting a spark that sent shivers down Quentin’s spine. It was a moment filled with quiet intensity, a shared understanding that transcended words. And as they pulled away, their breath mingling in the tranquil silence of the cave, Quentin found himself lost in the depths of Cate’s eyes.

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