Rage burned through every word. The truth hurt, he could tell. The undine before him flinched. "The stories claim you were a monstrous being who wished nothing more than to hurt those who did not worship him."
"Many things can be true at the same time," he muttered, before turning back to Mira. "If your people are interested in helping, then I would like some of them to set up here. I know that likely will not be yourself, or perhaps any of those we met before. But there is much knowledge here, and this facility has sustained itself throughout the storms."
"We can arrange that."
"If any of them step out of line, I trust you all know that I will drown them before feasting upon their bodies."
There was a long pause of silence. Mira's nose wrinkled. "Feasting upon their bodies seems a little much, don't you think?"
"It will not sustain me for long, that much is true. But they are easier to catch than a whale." He bared his teeth, allowing his mouth to split open a bit. He had the thorough pleasure of seeing her eyes widen in horror. "I consume much to maintain a long life."
She swallowed and backed toward her mate. "I will be in touch then. Your droid seems to already have a connection to our base."
"It does. There are a few remaining facilities needed to bring Sanctuary online. I will need your people to go there as well."
Mira nodded. "Then we will talk through the droid. A small team of people will volunteer to come here and... research as well."
"Good." He was still smiling at her, certain that he was making her uncomfortable. "We will look forward to your message."
The other two headed out again, but not before he heard the long, suffering sigh that Ellie let out. He turned to look at her, exasperation making him want to follow the others into the sea as well.
"What?" he asked.
"You could have been nicer."
"Nicer? I was very nice. I didn't eat any of their limbs. I didn't threaten them even once. They were allowed to leave without any arguments or fights." He frowned at her. "I was very nice. I didn't expect him to prove himself to me, and many of his people used to do that. I battled any male who was within my presence."
"Maybe that's why they didn't like you back then," she muttered, heading over to the water and peering down into the depths to make sure they were actually gone.
"They feared me. They weren't meant to like me."
"They might not have locked you up if they had liked you."
Anyone else would have ended up in the ocean or his belly for saying something like that. Proteus snarled at her, baring his teeth even though he knew she was right.
"Go prepare the room for visitors," he muttered as he crawled toward the water. "I am drying out."
"I'll prepare for as many as I can," she cheerfully replied. Then dragged her finger down his back where he knew his skin was already getting paper thin. "Huh. You are getting dry."
Snarling once more over his shoulder, he slipped into the water to get a break from the tiny demon who now seemed to run his entire life.
Twenty-Four
Ellie
There was freedom in knowing she could disagree with him. Ellie wasn't sure what the feeling was in her chest, but she was thoroughly and wonderfully relieved that she could speak her mind without fearing his anger.
She trialed it ever since she'd gone against his wishes and walked into that room with all the other people there. First, she told him she didn't want a particular fish for dinner. He'd been busy, and the only thing he could find were herring, which he brought to her in a fistful. She didn't like herring and told him as such.
Of course, anxiety bubbled up in her chest the moment she did. She waited for an argument. For rage to burst forth from his chest as he yelled at her that he'd been taking care of her for so long, and what was she offering him? But none of that happened.
He just looked down at the herring, sighed, and then nodded. As though he had known she would say that. Proteus disappeared back into the sea for a while before returning with squid, which had become one of her favorites.
Another time she told him that she wasn't quite ready for bed. He'd ordered her to get some sleep so that she would be ready in the morning, but she wanted to watch a few more of the holograms. Instead of picking her up and putting her to bed, he'd nodded solemnly and resolved to stay awake a little while longer with her. If she wanted to research more, then he would do the same.
The freedom it gave her was staggering. She hadn't realized she could tell anyone how she felt. She hadn't realized how easy it would be to just say "no". And life continued on without anyone being angry at her.
What a strange feeling it was.
