The Sea of Change

by Tina Engel

  We all sat there silently, looking at each other. Queen Widow was looking down at Lily with hunger in her eyes, all eight of them, but Lily made no sound. We could hear the men talking but couldn’t make out what they were saying. We then heard the door close and we waited for what seemed like hours, but was only minutes, I was sure.

  Then, like before, Adam appeared and told us the coast was clear for a bit. We needed to get up on deck and stay out of this room. The last thing we needed was for Jordan to find the spider family. That would cause a panic with the rest of the crew, and they didn’t need Jordan snooping around down here.

  Queen Widow then let Lily down, and she jumped right up into my arms, and I held her tight. Lily didn’t fuss at all.

  The queen said in a quiet but severe tone, “Keep all away from here. I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Princess, I will see you again when it is the right time. Until then, be safe and cautious. Learn how to handle your gifts, and then I will see you in our fey time and world. Until then, I will be close by.”

  She looked down at Lily and said, “Cat, you would be smart to stop trying to make trouble. There is a time and place for everything. I know you are here for a purpose, but stay out of my way. I do so like feline for a bedtime snack. Don’t tempt me again.”

  At that, she turned back into the very large, black widow spider and her little ones came scurrying out of the hole, which they had been hiding in.

  “Wait!” I said, franticly. “What do you know about the spider or whatever it was that bit me? What did the venom do to me or for me?”

  The queen turned back into her more welcoming fey body and said, “It wasn’t a spider of mine, or a spider at all. That much I know. The council has many secrets, and allies, that I know nothing about. I do as I am asked, by the council and others, as I see fit. My opinion regarding the venom from that creature, was to help you grow, not to hurt you.” She looked at Brett then, and continued, “My opinion, but maybe you should be asking someone else these questions.”

  Queen Widow then turned back into her unpleasant spider body, and as much as I didn’t want to feel frightened or repulsed, I couldn’t help myself.

  I didn’t need to over stay my un-welcome, and would get answers from Brett later, so I stood to leave. When I did, the room swayed just a bit and I realized just how weak I was.

  Brett reached out to steady me. He held me around my waist as we all moved away from the back of the room. Adam was last, and as he passed the area where the invisible wall was, the queen and her family disappeared. I handed Lily to Adam, and she didn’t put up any kind of fuss.

  We left the room quietly, and up the stairs we went. When we were all back in my cabin, safe and sound, we let out a sigh of relief. Brett brought me over to my bed, where I sat down, and Adam put Lily into her cage and closed the door. Lily laid down immediately and seemed quite content to be there.

  Adam asked where the algae was, and when Rose told him, he went in and retrieved it. “Rose, come with me. We will get this concoction put together for Emilee. It looks like she needs it, and now.”

  Adam and Rose left in a hurry and Brett came over to sit next to me. I let my arm rest against his, and the connection and vibration that was there between us, was soothing as usual.

  “Why am I so tired and weak?” I asked. “I thought I was getting stronger and not needing this extra nourishment so often, and what about the venom?”

  Brett had no answers for me. He was in the dark, as I was, regarding the venom in my body. He suggested that I lie down until Adam and Rose came back with my food, and try to rest. As I curled up on the bed, letting go of my glamour, I slept.

  Chapter eight

  Water,

  Everywhere water.

  I can breathe,

  I can move through it gracefully.

  I am not afraid, and feel strength

  With every moment that passes.

  I am part of the water.

  It is in me and around me.

  Is this where I belong?

  I’m no longer in my cabin on the boat. I’m in the water somewhere, just floating, drifting ever so slowly down. I have done this so often now that I know I’m dreaming, and I let it just take me. No fear or concern; just let it take me. I understand now; I need the water. It’s part of who I am. Just one part, but I need this part to stay strong. I let the water take me to wherever it wills.

  I breathe in and the water fills my lungs. There’s no pain. It feels just the way it would if I took a large breath of fresh mountain air. I exhale and inhale again. It’s natural. My body feels at home in this water that surrounds me. I look at my hands as I wave them in front of me. My fingers are slightly webbed. This is different. Looking down, I see my toes are the same as before, still slightly webbed. I see the bottom of the lake, just below. I realize I can see things so clearly. My eyes don’t sting in the water. As if there is a covering over them, to protect them from the particles that float by.

  I land softly on the floor of this large body of water that I’m in. Looking down, I see, I’m standing in a field of algae. It looks like the same algae that I must eat, to stay strong.

  Just ahead of me there’s a cave entrance. There are fish swimming all around, but I don’t see any enter or leave the cave. The cave is dark, but I’m called towards it. I feel an overwhelming dread, but am drawn to it nevertheless.

  As I take a step towards the entrance, I see tentacles coming out slowly, slithering and creeping along the sides of the cavern. They look like octopus arms, with suction cups at the ends. The arms of this creature, whatever it is; seem to be pulling the rest of itself closer to the entrance. I can’t see it yet, but I know I will be face to face with it, soon. So close to the entrance, but I still can’t see.

  I take a step back and trip over something, falling backwards. It’s the body of a water fey, blood seeping out of gashes on its chest. As I scoot away backwards, I look to the cave entrance just as the creature emerges from the dark. It’s Stephan’s face I see! The body of an octopus but with Stephan’s face. He slithers across the lake bottom towards me, ever so slowly.

  I feel panic deep down inside and know I should move, do something, but I’m frozen. I let out a scream but only bubbles escape my mouth. There are hands grabbing at me from all around and I look down to see water fey bodies everywhere, empty of life, but reaching and grabbing for me with such panic and rage.

  I look up to see Stephan just a few feet away; his mouth is now like the beak of this great animal, and it opens as if it wants to consume me. I put my hands out in front of me, and shutting my eyes, I yell again “NO!”

  As I opened my eyes, I see Brett leaning over me, talking quietly and brushing the hair out of my face. I sat up, wrapping my arms around his neck as I sobbed. Brett scooped me onto his lap and rocked me softly, repeating over and over again that it was just a dream and everything was going to be alright. I felt so safe and protected in his arms. I didn’t ever want him to let go.

  The door opened, and Adam and Rose came into the room with Trevor following behind them, carrying a mug that was steaming. They looked at us as we sat on the bed; me in Brett’s arms and I saw a slight embarrassment on their faces.

  Brett stood and placed me gently on the bed and explained that I had another dream and he was trying to calm me down.

  Adam’s look of embarrassment turned to a slight smirk and Rose to concern, since she understood these dreams were sometimes disturbing.

  Brett told me I should stay on the bed so I turned around, pulled my legs back up and leaned against the head of the bed.

  Trevor handed me the mug. Adam told me that Trevor was told by the water fey, exactly how to combine the algae and blood, and I needed to drink it all. I looked towards Trevor with a questioning expression on my face.

  Trevor explained, “I’m friends with many water fey here, and the one who rules these waters, came to me earlier in the day with the instructions. He didn’t tell me who I was going to mak
e this concoction for, but I figured I would know soon enough. Oh, and Emilee, you are quite beautiful in your fey form. You should stay that way more often.” At that, he was blushing just a bit.

  Feeling a bit embarrassed by Trevor’s comment, I smiled sheepishly and replied, “I forgot. I hope it is okay. I’m too tired to hide right now.”

  Adam reassured me that it was fine. “Trevor knows everything now and will be able to help you, with your diet, over the next few days, Emilee.”

  Looking down into the mug, this drink looked the same as usual, and I sipped on it as it was quite hot. It tasted just like the stuff that Sara had made for me when I ate it in a bowl like soup. As I drank, I told them of my dream. When I was finished with the drink and the story, I was sure that I needed to get in the water that surrounded this vessel. I needed to submerge my entire body in this lake.

  Brett must have been in my mind again, because he said, “No Emilee, You’re not going into the water!”

  I gave him a look, not of shock that he knew what I was thinking, but of stubbornness and humor.

  “Brett” I started, “I’m weak and I’m part water fey. We all know this. This drink is helping me to feel stronger already, but I need the water. My dream may be just a dream, or a premonition of what is to come, but I need the water and I have the water fey out there to protect me.”

  Brett immediately responded with a little more eagerness than I think he wanted to, “I will be in the water with you every second that you’re out there!”

  I smiled a victorious smile, knowing I had won. He couldn’t back track now that he volunteered to come into the water with me.

  Brett’s face turned flush as he realized what he had just said. He couldn’t think of anything to say now.

  Rose, however, was going to be more difficult to win over to this decision that I had made.

  “Are you both crazy?!” Rose yelled, and she turned to Captain Adam for some assistance in changing my mind. “Talked to her!” She said, “Don’t let her do this!”

  Adam just shrugged his shoulders and said, “Rose, there isn’t anything I can do to stop a woman when she has her mind made up. Brett already volunteered to go in with her.”

  He turned to me then, and said, “I don’t really know if this is right or wrong, but then, I don’t know what you need Emilee, just tell me what I need to do to make sure you’re safe.”

  I turned, put my feet on the ground, and Brett bent down to help me stand. Trevor came to my other side and helped me too. I felt much better and told them I could stand on my own.

  I saw a movement in one of the portholes, and turning to look, I saw the water fey I had talked to hours before. He motioned with his hand, pointing up, and then disappeared from view. I headed to the door with the others following, with Rose complaining all the way. I didn’t bother with my human veil and no one told me to put it on.

  Trevor stayed below to stop anyone from going up on deck, and the rest of us headed up to the front of the boat, where I had my first encounter with this water fey. Sure enough, he was there waiting for us. Brett had sternly told Rose to be quiet, or stay down below with Trevor. We didn’t need her loud commotion bringing the attention of the others to us.

  Captain Adam told us he would go to the control room and take over for the watchman, sending him to bed. Everyone else was down below, sleeping. Jordan Davis was in Adam’s room looking over charts, and Adam felt certain that he would be there for hours. Once he started charting out the plans for the next day’s fishing schedules, he wouldn’t stop for anything until it was done.

  The lights suddenly turned off, where we were, so I knew Adam had control of the boat. I took off my shoes, socks and jeans. I would have taken off my shirt too, but felt a little self-conscious. I sat down next to the water fey, and he helped me to slide gently overboard and into the water. Under the water I went, with him holding me firmly.

  I opened my eyes and all I could see at first was darkness. I could see the shadow of the water fey next to me, and shadows all around. I took in a deep breath and the water filled my lungs. Funny, I still expected it to hurt, when my lungs filled with water and was always a bit surprised when it didn’t. It felt wonderful. It felt like I had been holding my breath for too long and was finally able to breathe. I exhaled the water and inhaled more.

  My eyesight was improving and I could see in the dark now. I felt movement next to me, and there was Brett, minus his shirt, shoes and pants. He still had his briefs and socks on though. I laughed and pointed at his feet, and he started to laugh too.

  I pushed away from the water fey and swam around staying close to the boat. I had no desire to go down deep into the very bottom of the lake. I could see many water fey swimming around us, but they kept their distance. Were they there to keep watch so that I stayed safe, or were they just curious? I was guessing, a little of both.

  I could feel my strength returning but there was something more. My skin tingled, my eyesight seemed sharper, and I could hear sounds that I hadn’t, minutes earlier. I was hearing voices, not human, but the water fey as they spoke to each other. It was their language, but I understood.

  Everything looked different somehow; more colorful, more crisp. Was I seeing the fey dimension? Was I in their world now? I looked at the water fey, and he looked different somehow too. I turned to Brett and he was no longer the fey that he looked like in the human dimension. He looked like the fey that I had seen in the park in South Dakota.

  Brett was swimming and breathing in the water, as I was. He went from translucent to glistening, and his glow was beautiful. I was seeing it all, and then looking at my hands as I waved them in front of me, I realized I also was radiating an amazing, glimmering shine.

  I turned to the water fey as he smiled, and said, “Yes princess, you are hearing our voices and you can understand. You have entered our realm. It appears that you indeed needed the waters from my lake to help you continue with your transformation.

  “You see us as we really are. As long as you are in the fey dimension you’re even more vulnerable to those who want you captured. We’ll keep you safe when you’re in the waters, but never go down, to deep, or away from the boat. As I said before, there are dangers in this lake that even I cannot protect you from while you are in our realm.”

  Brett spoke up then, “Don’t worry about that Andean, I’ll be with her every time she enters your waters.”

  “Andean, is that your name?” I asked. “It’s very nice to meet you. Thank you for your help.”

  Andean smiled, tilted his head slightly, and said, “Just remember, Princess, they are out there trying desperately to take you to the dark one. Trust only the few who help you now. Even I can’t trust all of my fey. If I’m not around, trust no fey that you see in the waters. Do you understand?”

  I nodded my head and Brett answered before I could. He reassured Andean that he would always be with me in the water, and we would only enter the waters when he was present.

  Brett asked me if I could leave the fey dimension while in the water. I tried, but waving my hands in front of me I only saw the hands of my complete fey body. Looking around, I still saw the fey world. I told them that I didn’t know how.

  We swam back to the boat, Brett getting out first. Andean lifted me up just enough so Brett could reach me, and Brett lifted me the rest of the way, onto the deck.

  Rose had a blanket for me, and wrapped me firmly in it. I turned and thanked Andean again, and he vanished into the dark depths of the lake. I turned to look at Brett, and saw he was now the Brett I was used to, in fey form on land. Rose was her fey self too, and the world around me, though dark and damp, was the world of humans.

  I wondered why, while in the water, I had entered the fey dimension without even trying, but out of the water I immediately went back to the humans’ dimension.

  Brett was in my mind again, and said, “Emilee it appears that the water fey part of you is more pronounced while you’re in the water. It seems t
o be the dominant side at this time. Andean is correct that you are in danger while in the fey’s dimension, in this massive universe that we all share. Soon though, we will have to enter that dimension and finish our journey there.”

  “You can breathe in the water too.” I asked. “You’re like me?”

  “No, I’m not fey as you are, but I can stay in the water for a time. My father is a water fey and mother land. I come from a very secluded place on this planet and my kind are few.”

  I said, more to myself than the others, “So I can put on a human covering while on land to look like a human, but as a fey on land, I look different than fey in the dimension that we truly come from.”

  “Yes, Emilee, our bodies change while in the human dimension. Otherwise we couldn’t survive. We must have a body, or shell, to handle the atmosphere and gravity. This fey body that you see is really what we look like, but while we were in the water, you were seeing us as we are in our spiritual realm. You saw us in a pure state. We don’t need the shell in that realm. Most of us, however, don’t live in that realm permanently. It’s a place where we go for peace and rest when we need it. It’s where we go to rejuvenate our souls and connect with nature.” Brett said.

  “Do some live there always?” I asked.

  “Eventually we all want to stay there, but only when we have learned all the lessons of this reality, or we die. It is our final home, but we can visit it whenever we want throughout our lives. If our fey bodies die in the human’s dimension or in Terrafirma, our fey dimension, our true fey form goes to our spiritual realm which is called Nirvana. That’s where we will rest forever. If that happens, we can never enter this world again in a body form. As long as our fey bodies live, we can come and go as long as we want.

  “You’ll learn more about our world, within this world, when the time is right. Don’t push yourself to see what you are not ready to see. Let it come to you naturally.”

  I was getting ready to ask what he meant by body form. What other form would there be, for them, to be able to come back to this reality. Before I could speak, Brett took my arm gently and led me back to the walkway and down the steps to our room. Trevor was waiting there, standing guard if you like. He, however, wasn’t in his human veil. He was definitely a leprechaun!