Lycan King’s Nemesis

Going out again wasn’t in my plan today, albeit, when Tyler insisted-saying we were not training today-I knew I had no choice but to go out with him.

“Where are we going?” I asked for the umpteenth time as he drove at a high speed through the busy highway. From his radio, the soft rhythm of Billie Eilish and Khalid ‘Lovely’ drifted off, conveying from me an incessant urge to cry.

It was so emotional. As if connecting to my current dilemma.

“I told you to be patient.” He winked at me impishly and swung to the right, causing me to grasp my seat in panic and tossed him a death glow.

“Do you intend to kill me, Tyler?”

A rich sound resonated in the car from him as he stabilized the steering and glanced briefly at me. “Don’t be scared, werewolf. I am a Lycan, I have speed naturally.”

“That doesn’t mean you should be reckless.” I blew a stray hair off my face and further reached out to shove it behind my ear.

“Do you realize this is the slowest acceleration in the history of a Lycan?” He asked, making another turn that led to a less busy avenue.”… and it’s because of you.”

I tutted. “Just be careful, Tyler, that’s all I’m saying,” I grumbled and relaxed back on the couch, and looked outside the window at the flitting tall trees. The only reason I allowed Tyler to convince me to come out for this hangoutwas to take my mind off Ashton. Where is he, who he is with and what he might be doing.

And I am going to do that.

“Gwen…?”

“Yeah…” I shifted until I was fronting Tyler.

“Tell me about what happened.” I shook my head. “Hey.” His right hand came on top of my folded ones on my chest, not too close to my breast. “Talking about it eases the pain.”

“There is nothing to talk about Tyler,” I said honestly. “The only thing I know is exactly what you know. My mate cheated on me, I guess.”

He pinned me with a pitiful look for some time and then looked forward. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s nothing,” I sighed. “So, have you spoken to your girl?” I tried to divert the discussion.

A light beam fell on his face. “I haven’t gotten the courage yet.”

“Oh, come on, Ty.” I rolled my eyes. “The last time we met you said you will speak to her.”

“I know… And I will.” He rounded a corner and soon he stopped in front of a Fishsquare. I looked at him in question.

“What are we doing in some freaking Fish square, Ty?”

He bumped me with his right shoulder blade as his grin broadened. “I wanted to come here last week but pushed it to this week… Actually, I have been thinking of bringing my lady love here, but then, since it turned out you need it today, why not?”

“To do what?” I climbed out of the car, squinting my eyes to look at the expansive billboard in front of it. It read, ‘TEE’S SWIMMERS’ “To watch some lowlives feed some swimming monsters?”

He grabbed my left wrist and began dragging me on. We passed a cage-like gate and came out the other side with a field and he didn’t stop.

“Slow down, Ty. I have to catch my breath.” I was getting agitated already.

So, here is the thing. I have the fear of fishes. I don’t know if that has a name but anything slimy literally scared the shit out of me. My mother_I mean my former mother used to use it to tease me when I was a pup. She will often make me touch them, so as to repress my fear.

Till date, it didn’t stop.

“Trust me, you are going to enjoy yourself, Gwen,” Tyler appealed. If only he knew.

I swallowed. This part of me was a part I hated telling anyone. It was so sickening and shameful to tell someone I was afraid of fish! Some motherfucking fish. Who fears fish?

I don’t even know how or why I do. I just do.

“Are you okay?” Tyler asked, sparing me a concerned stare as we reached the gate where two ladies stood, handing out a green card written ‘welcome’.

“C-can we reschedule?” I squeaked at the same time the ladies eyes expanded and the next thing there heads were bowed.

“Welcome, your highness, we didn’t know you will be coming today.” The first lady by the right with a paler skin colour and bright blue eyes said. I like her shiny blond hair.

“Well, that is because the Queen just wanted to have a little fun without being ‘a Queen'” Tyler intoned buoyantly. He was nodding as he was saying it, with a sheepish smile as he looked at me to approve.

“Ye-yeah! Of course. I just want to… see the fishes!”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Oh, Lud. I don’t like this.

“Very well, Queen, enjoy your time here. A little tip,” she added, peering directly at Tyler. “The Queen might like to see the Dolphins. They are out today.”

“Dolphins!” I screeched, my eyes like saucers. “Dolphins.” Again.

“Yes, your highness. You will love them.” She turned to continue attending to a man that came behind us.

“I don’t think this is a good idea, Tyler.” I shook my head as we ventured inside a craty-building. It reeked so much of fresh fish. It was in good shape, clean and all that, still, one could easily tell the place was used for fish business.

“I thought you will like it, here, Gwen. Everyone loves it here.”

“Yeah, I do, but…”

“You wish you came with the King…”

I skidded my nervous orbs at him, appalled he would think that. I was more concerned about embarrassing myself here than thinking about my stupid mate who was the cause of my bad mood today. If I wasn’t mad, we should have been exchanging rapier now than coming to this dratted fish house.

I chuckled dryly. “You know what? Let’s do this.”

.

.

.

“Yay!” A thunderous cheer went up in the air as we busted outside the building to a large body of water, vertically stretched out endlessly to the other side.

I was so carried away with acknowledging the presence of so many people there that eventually when my eyes skated to the water to land on the biggest Fish my eyes has ever seen halfway outside the water on its tail dancing, with a lady in front of it, kissing its face, I became paralyzed with shock.

“Tyler?…”

“Huh?”

“Tyler?” I was anxiously tapping his hand but Tyler seem to be carried away watching the scene before us that he wasn’t paying me any attention. My skin was turning a darker shade of red and goosebumps was rising from them. “TYLER!”

“Yeah.” He flickered his obsidians to me in askance. “What i_ Gwen?”

“Please, take me out of here.” I was shaking my head, my eyes closed from seeing the gory scene further.

“Why?… Gwen, open your eyes. What’s going on?

“I have a fear of Fish!”

…