The Sea of Change

by Tina Engel

  I was really starting to freak out. I needed to find Brett. I turned and ran out of the kitchen, out of the dining area, and down the hall before I could even think straight. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs that led out into the open air. I stood there, listening, as I tried to pull myself together, but heard nothing. I had to do something.

  “I have to go up the stairs.” I said, in a whisper.

  So up I went, and out onto the narrow walkway to get to the deck where all the fishing gear was, and hopefully the crew. Funny, when we went down into the living quarters earlier, this side of the boat was against the dock. There was now no dock, no town and no land.

  The panic inside me intensified. The water was rough. I looked up at the sky; it was dark, with black clouds swirling all around, and the wind was whipping at my hair, making it difficult to maneuver myself to the deck.

  I managed to get to the back, where all the fishing gear was, but saw no sign of life. I could feel droplets of sweat forming across my forehead, feeling such dread and fear. As I looked around, all I could see was water. I was totally surrounded by water. The boat was being tossed around like a toy.

  I started to yell, “Brett where are you?” I didn’t care who heard me or that anyone saw me in my fey form. “Brett, Rose, someone, Hello!!!!!” No one answered.

  Looking up at the control room, I saw no movement, but hoped someone was there. Up the ladder I went. The wind was getting worse and it was getting cold. The waves were coming over the sides and smashing me against the ladder, as if trying to rip me from the boat all together.

  I managed to get to the control room, opened the door and threw myself in. I lay there on the floor, trying to catch my breath. I crawled over to the door and forced it shut. The wind put up a great fight, but I won this battle, and shut the wind and water out. I stood then, stiff and cold.

  Why am I cold, I wondered? If I am water fey this shouldn’t bother me.

  Of course there was no one here either. I was all alone. The control room was all windows. I could see all around the boat and there was just water with angry winds, tossing the boat around, and grey skies that looked menacing. I was truly alone here.

  Where did everyone go? I wondered.

  I saw movement in the water all around the boat, and soon realized that it was the water fey that I had seen down below in the windows. There were hundreds of them. Some of them were so close, I thought they would crawl into the boat.

  I remembered my shield just then. I wondered if I could put it around the entire boat. Sure enough, just thinking about this, it happened. There was the shimmery, light milky colored shield all around. I took a deep breath and for an instant felt safe. Okay, not safe but safer!

  Then as I looked to the back of the boat, there standing on the landing, was Stephan. Our eyes locked onto each other’s and I felt that sickness in the pit of my stomach. He was in my shield. I grabbed onto my diamond for a bit of comfort and thought about the shield just being around this cabin, and it shrunk to rest just outside the control room.

  I looked down at my diamond and remembered what Kimberlite had said. If I needed him, he would be here. I looked into the diamond. It was Dark red in color, and hot, but I didn’t care. “Kimberlite!” I yelled. “Help me!”

  I could hear Stephan laughing and I looked down to see him watching me, with a smug look on his face.

  “Princess Emilee, do you really think that force field will keep me away from you? Keep it up if it makes you feel safe. Soon you will weaken and I will remove it from you like before.” Stephan laughed again and then disappeared.

  I looked back down at my diamond and there was no face in it at all. Kimberlite wasn’t there. He told me, he would be. Again, he let me down.

  The boat jerked and started to tip forward as I was tossed against the window. I turned to face the front of the boat, only to see octopus arms wrapping around it. It was pulling the boat into the angry seas. I had to do something. I had to get out of this cabin before it went underwater. I managed to get to the door, and open it with great difficulty.

  As I got myself turned around and onto the ladder, the boat flipped totally up, so that the back of the boat was facing the sky. I was lying on my back, against the ladder, just looking at the angry sky.

  Then I saw something way up in the sky. The clouds were dark and swirling, and the wind was blowing, but there was something coming out of the greyness. The clouds around this thing started to move away and I saw color. It looked like the end of a rainbow, trying to get through the thick blackness of the sky above.

  I heard, “Emilee, it’s time to come home.” The voice was not yelling or frantic, just matter of fact. The colors just stayed there, as though the rainbow was looking down on me, and then it disappeared.

  I wanted to panic again but I knew that would do no good. “What do you want me to do?!” I yelled.

  Then I thought, Wait, I was sleeping on my bed, in my cabin, with Rose. Lily was sleeping on top of me. This is a dream, it’s only a dream.

  I shut my eyes, and grabbing onto my red hot diamond, I focused on my dry, warm cabin, with Lily on top of me, purring softly. I could almost feel the weight of her body on my chest, and hear her purring. I actually thought I could feel her breathe on my face. I was warm again, and I could hear the sound of the engines and the sea gulls.

  I opened my eyes to see Lily’s face staring into mine. I jumped slightly, but she stayed firmly planted on my chest. She had the most peculiar look on her face, as if she had seen the entire dream.

  I was still lying there, afraid that if I moved it would all disappear, and I would be back up on deck in the freezing cold weather with the octopus trying to drag me under. I looked over to Rose; she was sleeping peacefully. I looked back at Lily, scooped her up off of my chest, and put her to one side as I sat up. I picked her back up and sat her in my lap.

  “So Lily” I said, “it was just a dream, and what a dream it was, but you already know this, don’t you?” I had my legs stretched out in front of me and looking at my feet, I realized, I was barefoot. I hadn’t taken my shoes off before I laid down to rest, had I? Was it a dream after all?

  I stood up and walked over to the porthole and looked out into the water. There was no water fey there, waiting to get on the boat. I could see just above the water line, the sky above was still gray and menacing, but nothing out of the ordinary, like great octopus tentacles coming at me. I chuckled to myself at this thought, but still felt unnerved by the dream.

  I heard Rose stirring, so I turned towards her bed, and walking back to mine, I sat down.

  “So Rose,” I said, “How was your nap?”

  Rose lay there looking at me as she tried to wake up. She gave me a questioning smile, and said, “Well, I’m not sure. I had the strangest dream. Lily and I were in the middle of a large wheat field with a big old tree in the middle. We were both up in the tree and we were actually friends. Now how strange is that?!”

  Chapter six

  Feel the moist, damp air on your skin,

  Let it soak in and purify your soul.

  We are, after all, part water.

  Join and become one.

  Don’t be afraid to go home!

  Rose and I got ourselves put together with our glamour on, not knowing if the two crew members we hadn’t seen yet were fey or not, thought it was best to cover ourselves. We headed up to the top deck. There we found Brett and Adam, in the control room. I had Lily with me on her leash but I knew she needed to be let down to stretch. I asked Adam if it was okay for me to remove the leash and put her down.

  “No problem, as long as she doesn’t make a mess.” Adam smiled, as he said this.

  I did so and Lily immediately changed into her fey form. We all looked astonished and I said abruptly, “Lily what are you doing? There could be humans around.”

  “Princess,” Lily started, “I do need to relieve myself, so I suggest you let me out of this room so I can go find a place to do my busine
ss. You don’t have to worry about me going anywhere too far. I am a cat and I don’t like water much. I won’t be going for a swim.” At that, she turned back into her cat self.

  I looked to Brett for his opinion and he just shrugged his shoulders and went over to the door and opened it. “She’s right; there is no place for her to go. Watch out though cat, the crew may put you on a hook and use you as bait.” He said, with a chuckle.

  Lily headed out the door, but as she left, she turned her backside to Brett and lifted her tail in a huff, looked back at him and gave him a squinty eyed stare. Then out the door she went.

  “Well, she sure showed you now, didn’t she Brett?” Adam said, with a hearty laugh.

  I liked his laugh and I liked him. Adam had a tough-looking exterior and carried himself in a very domineering way. He was the boss, and everyone around him knew it, but he wasn’t arrogant about it. He had a sense of humor when the time was right, but work came first and foremost for him. Adam was there to help us get to New York safely, but fishing was his livelihood and that was going to come first.

  Rose and I sat in the control room, listening to Adam and Brett discuss the next three days of travel. They talked about the routine the men had; shifts for fishing, cleaning, working on equipment, eating and sleeping. Brett would be added to the work roster, and take his turn right along with the rest.

  As for Rose, Lily and I, we were to stay out of the way. I wasn’t sure if I liked the way they put that, (stay out of the way). I figured I would find something to occupy my time. I would go down to the galley and see if the cook would let me help out. I loved to bake and was rather good at it.

  As I listened to these two fey talk, I wondered why we were covered in our human veils. If we were all fey, then why hide who we were? Maybe it was because we were still tied to the docks, and maybe the other two men were humans. I wanted to talk to Brett and Adam about these fey, who they were and what kind of fey, but there never seemed to be a right moment to interrupt their conversation and ask.

  Brett would look over at me with a twinkle in his eyes, as if knowing the questions I had, but he wouldn’t change the subject from fishing and work to ask what was on my mind. That did frustrate me some. He, after all, intruded on my thoughts more than he should and now that I wanted him to, he was not cooperating.

  After a while, Rose and I got bored of sitting and listening to fishing stories, and I was getting more irritated with Brett for ignoring me, so we left to wander around and get accustomed to our temporary home.

  Adam informed us, we were permitted to go anywhere on the boat, except the room down below that was locked. We probably didn’t want to wander in the other room below deck either, since it was where the men slept and he couldn’t be responsible for what it looked like or what the men might be doing. Those were the only two rooms down there, so we decided to stay clear of the bottom deck. I really didn’t want to go down there anyway, after my dream.

  Interesting, how I dreamt about the lower deck and the locked room. How did I know it was locked in my dream? How did I know there were two rooms down there? Had I heard it in a conversation before I took my nap?

  We found Lily up on deck, sitting on the railing, looking out at the water and occasionally watching the men getting the poles ready to fish. The captain opened the control room door and hollered to the men that we were setting sail. He barked a string of orders and I went over to Lily, scooping her up in my arms so she didn’t fall into the water as we set sail.

  I looked up at Adam as he winked at me, and said, “Good idea Emilee, we don’t want to have to go back for the cat if she falls over board. A wet cat can leave a stench for days on deck.” And he disappeared back inside.

  I chuckled at this statement but Lily didn’t seem all too pleased with it. She wiggled out of my arms and headed down the narrow walkway and into the door, which led down to our rooms.

  I wanted to stay on deck and watch as we sailed out of the harbor, but thought I should keep an eye on Lily instead. I followed Lily into the room and found her already curled up on my bed, fussing over her grooming, and she paid no attention to me.

  “Well Lily” I said, “it looks like you can get around this boat just fine. I’m going to close the door now and I hope you stay put. I’ll let you stay out of your cage when I’m not in the room, as long as you don’t get into trouble. The minute you mess up, into that very small prison you go.”

  Lily just continued to clean, so I said, “Lily, do you understand?!”

  She looked at me with an, I don’t really care, expression on her face and went back to grooming her tail.

  I wanted to go up top, and watch as we headed out to open waters. As I left the cabin, the cook was just coming down the steps, and heading to the kitchen. I introduced myself to him and he did the same; Trevor was his name, and yes, he was fey too.

  Trevor was different somehow though. I couldn’t make out his true shape or features. He wasn’t a pixie like the other crew members, and wasn’t similar to Brett or Adam either. I was perplexed. As I studied him and tried to see through his glamour, I shared with him my love for baking and wondered if it would be a bother if I helped out some.

  I was not sure what kind of baked goods these fey liked, if any, but he was thrilled to have my help. Trevor told me he hated the baking part of his job and welcomed me, to suggest some new ideas for his menu. Trevor told me to go enjoy the view of the open waters, and when I had my fill up top, I could come and work with him to prepare dinner for the crew.

  I headed up top and to the front of the boat. It was still a very dark, gloomy sky, and the wind was quite brisk. The waters were rough and the spray from the waves dampen me just a bit. I didn’t care though. It was amazing how fast we seemed to be moving. I loved the feel of the wind, as it raged, trying to knock me down, but I stood firmly planted and just stared out at the open water in front of me.

  The seagulls flew next to the boat as if doing a dance in the sky. They would come up next to me with wings spread, and just glided there, looking like they were still, not flying at all. It was amazing how they did this. Then they would fall back and swoop around to my other side, and do the same. I laughed at them and they seemed to enjoy this game.

  As I looked further out, at the open water in front of me, I could see the water fey, breaking the surface of the water and retreating back down, over and over. I didn’t know if there were just a few doing this many times, or if there were lots of them. My dream kept coming back into my mind, and I felt a bit disturbed by it all.

  Looking up at the dark, forbidding sky, I said loudly, “Okay so now what do I do? Are you watching over me? Are you there, waiting to help, or to hurt me?”

  I waited for a minute or two, and then said in a very quiet, almost whisper, “I sure hope it’s to help.”

  I stood there for some time enjoying the wind in my face and the mist that was all around me. The smell of the water, which was not the sweetest odor, something like rotting algae, and the sounds of the boat breaking through the waves, made me feel welcome and safe. I realized, I was smiling and feeling at peace, as we went further out to the open waters before us.

  I felt a presence just behind me and knew it was Brett. I so loved that feeling; the tingly vibration I get when he’s close. My smile got larger just knowing he was standing there, reading my mind. I felt his arm go around my waist as he came to stand next to me.

  “So you’re feeling at home here, are you?” Was all he said, and we both just stood there with his arm around my waist for some time, before he added, “You’re a part of all of this, you know. It should feel somewhat like home. I feel it also.”

  At that comment, I turned my head towards him with a questioning look. Then I said, “You feel at home in the water too?”

  Brett smiled at me and then put his focus back towards the water that stretched out in front of us.

  “Yes, Emilee I do. I’m from a place that is both land and water, and I spent as much time
in water as I did on land. I plan on taking you there one day, I hope. I’d like to share it with you when this is all over, if it’s meant to be.”

  Brett continued to gaze out into the openness that we were entering, saying no more.

  I thought I should say something; ask questions quickly about his home, family, where he was from and who these fey on this boat were, while he was sharing something about himself. I somehow knew, though, this was all I would get for now. I turned my head back towards the waters and just enjoyed the feel of the water and sky, wind and openness, with this fey as he held me gently.

  Soon I was feeling chilled and Brett broke the silence by insisting we go down below. The sky was starting to let go just a little, and the drizzle we were feeling was not from the crashing waves, but the sky itself. Brett walked me to my cabin so I could change out of the wet clothes, I was in, and then I would go help Trevor in the kitchen.

  There were no more words spoken between us at this time, no need. We were both feeling the sweet sensation between us, and it was good enough. I didn’t want to ruin it with my stupid mouth. I do say the wrong things at times, after all.

  I knew that everyone on board was fey, except for the one crew member I hadn’t met yet, but I suspected he was fey too. Brett would share with me more about these beings who were helping us, and what was ahead, when the time was right. Being patient was the job I had for the moment.

  Lily was still on the end of my bed and she appeared to be sleeping. Rose was nowhere to be seen but I was sure she was up top, where she preferred to be. She needed the openness and the fresh air. The fierce, angry sky might be feeding her some negative energy, I hoped. There didn’t seem to be any from the fey on board. Not now at least.

  I went to the small bathroom and took a quick shower to warm up a bit. I was feeling chilled still, and wondered why since it wasn’t cold here in the cabin. It must be this fey body, still trying to adjust with the new heart pumping and all. The warm water felt so good and I could feel every pore drinking in the moisture. I was so thirsty, and this was quite invigorating.