Scourge of the Siren

by Bella Settarra

  “Yes, but only two at a time, if you don’t mind,” the lady said with a kind smile.

  “It’s OK, Mom, you go first, we’ll grab a coffee,” Eban offered, giving Jerusha’s hand a squeeze, “by the way, did she say Mr. Oris was here, as in Taneli?”

  “Yes, he’s been a few times to see your dad, as has Pascal Levine.” Jerusha smiled.

  “Oh great, I can’t wait to see them again.” Eban grinned as his mom went into a small area off the main ward.

  “Come on, sweetheart, let’s get a drink, I’m parched,” he said as he led Amaranda back out into the corridor. “Pascal’s my best friend. I can’t wait for you to meet him. Taneli’s always been a bit too competitive for my liking, but my folks like his parents so I kind of make the effort. We’ve all known each other since school.”

  “School?” Amaranda queried as she took a flimsy cup of something hot from him.

  “Yeah, it’s where we go to learn stuff. I suppose you had all your lessons outside in the sun on Refrainia?”

  “Pretty much,” she said with a smile.

  Eban led her away from the drinks machine and they sat on some soft chairs that lined the corridor. He put an arm around her shoulder as they drank.

  “Sorry, sweetheart, you haven’t had coffee yet, have you?” Eban remembered that she usually preferred green tea. “It might be a bit bitter.”

  “It is,” she said after taking a sip, “but it’s OK.”

  She snuggled into him, glad of the comfort. This building felt very serious, somehow.

  “We’ll go see my dad as soon as they’ve finished in there. We won’t stay long. He’ll be exhausted if he’s been listening to Taneli all evening.”

  “And just what’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Tan!” Eban jumped to his feet and hugged the young man who now stood in front of them.

  “Hey bro, did I hear you taking my name in vain?” The man laughed, showing dimples on his bronzed cheeks. He had light-brown hair and brown eyes that twinkled as he joked with his friend.

  “Would you expect anything less?” Eban joked with him, patting him on the back.

  “Not from you,” the man said with a chuckle.

  “Taneli Oris, meet Amaranda, my fiancée.” Eban gestured toward her and she jumped up, sloshing coffee down her pretty dress.

  “Nice to meet you, Amaranda.” Taneli grinned, offering her a small piece of cloth.

  Tears of embarrassment were already welling in her eyes and she stood, openmouthed. Eban took the cloth handkerchief from his friend and gently dabbed at the dress.

  “Is it hot, sweetheart? Did it burn you?” Eban sounded concerned. Amaranda was too ashamed to admit that it was, in fact, quite hot against her soft skin.

  “No, no it’s just wet. I’m sorry,” she stammered as she stood helplessly.

  “You could always take the dress off,” Taneli said, laughing. “I’d like to offer my services if you need any help?”

  Amaranda felt herself flush bright red.

  “He’s only joking, sweetheart,” Eban soothed as he blotted the green material. “Behave yourself, Tan.”

  “Taneli chortled. “Don’t mind me, Amaranda,” he said, shaking his head.

  “I hope you’re not upsetting my daughter-in-law-to-be?” Jerusha came up the corridor.

  “She spilled some coffee on her dress,” Eban explained, as his mom took the handkerchief from him.

  “Oh no—did you scald yourself, dear?” the older lady asked with a worried expression.

  “No, I’m sorry, I’m just a bit clumsy I guess.” Amaranda sniffed to try to elude the tears that were threatening to fall.

  “Not at all, dear. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

  Jerusha took the near-empty cup from Amaranda and handed it to Eban, before ushering her to the ladies’ room.

  The door closed behind them just as the tears gave way.

  “Oh now, dear, it’s all right,” Jerusha said tenderly, as she led her to the wash basin, “Here, wipe your face with these paper towels.”

  Amaranda wiped her face and blew her nose as the older lady wiped down her dress, then took her to the hand-dryer. The warm air soon dried the thin fabric, and Amaranda felt much better. After making further use of the facilities, the two ladies went back to the corridor, hand in hand.

  “Better now?” Jerusha whispered as they neared Taneli.

  Amaranda nodded, giving her a shy smile.

  “Eban’s with his dad, shall I take Amaranda in?” Taneli offered.

  Amaranda tensed and involuntarily squeezed Jerusha’s hand.

  “It’s OK, Taneli, I’ll take her and introduce her,” Jerusha said with a smile.

  She winked at Amaranda and took her through.

  “He’s in a small bay of just four beds because he’s quite poorly,” Jerusha explained as she led her through the ward.

  “I’m so sorry,” Amaranda said as they walked toward one of the beds.

  Eban stood as they arrived.

  “Not apologizing again, I hope?” He put an arm around Amaranda’s shoulder.

  She shook her head.

  “Lamech, this is Amaranda,” Jerusha told the man in the bed.

  “My fiancée, Dad,” Eban said proudly.

  The older man studied her closely. His hair was gray and he had dark stubble around his face. His eyes were a paler shade of blue than his son’s, but they both looked remarkably alike with their strong jaw lines.

  “Amaranda, it’s good to meet you.” Lamech beamed, his whole face lighting up.

  “You, too, sir,” she said, offering him her trembling hand.

  Both his large, warm hands engulfed hers, and she smiled down at him.

  “I’ll give you a few minutes,” Jerusha said, backing away quietly.

  “OK, dearest.” Lamech smiled to his wife before turning back to Amaranda. “Pull up a chair, Missy,” he urged.

  Amaranda sat on the small, hard seat next to his bed. He was still holding her hand. Eban took the seat next to her and held her other hand. She had stopped trembling and was still smiling.

  “So, you’re gonna marry my son, are you?”

  Amaranda tensed a little. What if he doesn’t want me to marry Eban?

  “Yes she is, Dad, just as soon as we can arrange it. Ain’t that right, sweetheart?”

  “Yes—if that’s OK?” Amaranda asked the older man.

  “OK? It’s fantastic!” he enthused, squeezing her hand.

  “Thank you, sir.” Amaranda gave a small sigh of relief.

  “So we want you back on your feet quick-smart, old man,” Eban said. “We need all the help we can get to plan this wedding, d’ya hear me?”

  “I hear ya, son.” Lamech chuckled. “Just you try keeping me away!”

  “I’m glad to hear it, Mom was quite worried about you, you know?”

  “Yeah I know. I also know your mother.” Lamech winked conspiratorially at Amaranda, making her giggle. “My wife worries too much,” he confided. “Tends to panic a bit, if you know what I mean.”

  “Then you mustn’t give her reason to,” Eban admonished, shaking his head.

  Amaranda loved the relationship he had with his parents.

  “Time’s up.” The kind nurse from earlier popped her head round the bay.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Lamech took one of his hands from Amaranda’s to salute the lady, who went off, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

  “We’ll come see you soon, Dad.” Eban shook his hand as he stood up.

  “Feel better soon, sir,” Amaranda said with a smile, squeezing the old man’s hand.

  “I will, just for you,” Lamech promised and kissed her hand before waving them off.

  “Your parents are lovely,” Amaranda whispered happily to Eban as they left the ward.

  “Taneli had to go, but said he’ll see you tomorrow,” Jerusha told them as they got into her car. It was very dark and Amaranda tried to stifle a yawn.

  “Welcome
home, both of you.” Jerusha soon pulled up on the drive of a large, white house set at the side of a quiet road with a few other houses to either side and opposite.

  Amaranda realized she must have fallen asleep, slumped against Eban’s broad shoulder. She sat up quickly and tried to take a good look at the street in the dark.

  “There are lights,” she announced gleefully, climbing out of the car. She remembered seeing some from the train, but not this close up.

  “Yes, sweetheart. We have street lights as well as lights inside the house.”

  “You don’t have electricity on Refrainia?” Jerusha was surprised.

  “No, Mom, they don’t have running water or ovens or anything like that, but it’s a beautiful island.”

  “I’ll bet it is, dear. Come on, let’s get you in and find something to eat before bed.”

  Eban led Amaranda into the house, which appeared massive compared to her little hut. The young girl looked around in awe at the comfortable furniture, carpets, and lights, and then he took her into the kitchen. Wow! The huge, white room boasted a kitchen island, a range cooker, cupboards, and drawers all around the room. At one end stood a small table with some tall stools tucked underneath. There was a sink, as she had seen on the ship, but this one had a large, silver tap rising from the side. Everything gleamed as lots of tiny ceiling bulbs and a few large spotlights bounced the sparkle around the room. She had seen similar lights onboard the liner, but did not expect them here.

  “Jerusha, you have a lovely home,” Amaranda said, smiling in amazement.

  “Thank you, dear. Now, I’ll just make some tea and we can have some sandwiches before bed. You both look exhausted.”

  Amaranda hadn’t noticed how ravenous she was, as she soon devoured some supper, before Eban tucked her up in his large, soft bed. She felt the warmth of his naked body as he climbed in beside her, and heard his frustrated sigh as his large cock poked her in the back, just as she fell fast asleep.

  Chapter 7

  It was mid-morning before Eban and Amaranda had risen, showered, and caught up with Jerusha in the kitchen. She put a large plate of eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, mushrooms and fried bread in front of each of them at the little dining table. Amaranda had never tasted anything like it, but loved every morsel.

  “Taneli called, he said he’s on his way ‘round,” Jerusha announced, placing a rack of toast on the table before joining them.

  “Great.”

  “Hmm, did he tell you he’s been seeing Mitzi?” She looked warily at her son.

  “No, he didn’t mention it.” Eban shrugged. “How long has that been going on?” His mouth appeared slightly tense and his back stiffened a little.

  “I’m not exactly sure, dear. More tea?”

  Jerusha topped up their teacups from a large, brown teapot. Amaranda remembered seeing a similar one on the island, a treasure retrieved from a wrecked ship. She didn’t know exactly what it was for, but Hermandine had used it for transporting water.

  “Thank you.” Amaranda smiled.

  There were large, open, French windows leading to the beautiful garden, just outside the kitchen. The lawn was beautifully manicured, and Amaranda was amazed at the array of different flowers that stood proudly in neat borders, and hung from baskets on tall poles.

  “Is Mitzi coming over?” Eban’s mouth had formed a thin line.

  “He didn’t say, dear.” Jerusha’s face became slightly anxious.

  Eban grunted.

  “Perhaps we could sit outside when Taneli comes?” The sunshine was calling Amaranda, who was more used to being out-of-doors during the day. She had just spied a pretty wrought-iron table and chairs on an area of decking.

  “What a lovely idea, Amaranda.” Jerusha smiled with relief at the change of topic.

  “It looks beautiful out there.” Amaranda nodded wistfully toward the garden, which reminded her a little of Refrainia. There were open fields stretching for miles from the bottom of the garden.

  “Thank you, dear. Lamech loves to take care of the gardening. I don’t know how I’ll manage it if he’s in that hospital much longer.”

  “Don’t worry about that, Mom, I’ll help,” Eban offered, placing his empty plate to one side.

  There was a pretty sound of bells and Jerusha rose to answer the front door. Taneli followed her back into the kitchen, carrying a bunch of pretty flowers. Jerusha was already carrying some, smiling.

  “Really, Taneli, you didn’t need to buy me flowers,” she was saying, a little flushed.

  “Beautiful flowers for a beautiful woman,” Taneli announced gallantly, before turning to Amaranda. “And speaking of which, these are for you.”

  He handed her the pretty bouquet and she stared, openmouthed.

  “They’re a little different from the ones I gave you on your birthday, aren’t they?” Eban smiled.

  Amaranda flushed, remembering the first time she had been given flowers. It had been her twenty-first birthday, though Eban hadn’t known that at the time, and he had picked her a large bunch of white flowers from the island.

  “Let me put them in water for you, dear,” Jerusha intercepted, and took the flowers to the sink.

  “Thank you,” Amaranda said to both of them.

  “You’re very welcome,” Taneli said, smiling as he leaned forward and kissed Amaranda’s cheek.

  “Oh!” She jumped, a little panic-stricken, and shot a look to Eban. He didn’t seem at all perturbed by the gesture, and continued to drink his tea.

  “Why don’t you youngsters take your tea outside?” Jerusha ushered, placing two large vases of flowers on the kitchen counter.

  The sun was hot, it must have been after midday, Amaranda guessed, looking up at the clear blue sky. It wasn’t quite as warm as it had been on Refrainia, and she was wearing an old shirt of Eban’s with a man’s belt tied around the middle. It was loose and baggy, as he was very muscular, but she felt more decent than in just her bikini.

  Taneli pulled an iron chair out for her to sit on, and she nervously perched down. Why hasn’t Eban done that instead of him!

  Amaranda shuddered as she felt a hand trail down her back as he pushed the chair in slightly, and turned around to find Taneli smirking at her.

  “Nice outfit,” he remarked as he took a chair next to hers, and she suddenly felt naked, as he looked her up and down.

  Amaranda put her elbows on the little table, her arms covering her breasts, and hands clasped in front of her face.

  “What’re you up to these days, Tan?” Eban sat at her other side, pouring more tea.

  “Still working on the quay, man, loading and unloading.” Taneli flexed his biceps to prove his point. They were massive. His shirtsleeves were already rolled up showing his beautiful suntan. He really was very handsome, his dimples showing in his bronzed cheeks.

  “Yeah, all right. We get the message.” Eban chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling.

  “What about you, man? I heard you’d all gone down with the ship?”

  “I’m the only one who survived the New World wreck,” Eban said ruefully, glancing over at Amaranda, who held her breath.

  Please don’t tell him the rest of the survivors were murdered!

  “That’s tough, man.” Taneli actually sounded sad for him. “You’ll get another sailing job though, won’t you? You’ve got a good record.”

  Amaranda stared at Eban. Is he really planning to go back to sea and leave me here with his family?

  “I’ll see how it goes with Dad before I decide anything,” Eban said flatly.

  Amaranda played with her hands, not knowing what to say.

  “Amaranda, I’m putting some washing on, dear, can you please help me a minute?” Jerusha arrived at just the right moment.

  “Of course.” Amaranda jumped up.

  “Don’t spill your tea now, we wouldn’t want another outfit ruined would we? I’d certainly have to help you out of it this time, darlin’.” Taneli obviously thought he was hilarious,
and Eban laughed, but Amaranda went bright red with humiliation and anger. How dare he be so rude!

  Jerusha took her inside. “If you can bring down your dirty clothes, dear, I’ll put them in the washer with the rest. I would have done it myself, but I didn’t want to go through your belongings.”

  It was then that Amaranda noticed that behind one of the doors, which she assumed was a cupboard, was a big white machine with a large hole with a window over it.

  “You don’t wash your clothes by hand, then?”

  “No, dear, we’d be there all day! We have a machine that does it for us. Go fetch your clothes and I’ll show you how it works.”

  Amaranda went upstairs, a phenomenon she still found strange as the only house on Refrainia with stairs was Hermandine’s and she had only been in there once when she was very young. She picked up all her dirty clothes. Bundling them in her arms, she made her way back down to the kitchen, fascinated at the concept of using a machine to wash the clothes.

  “Very nice, oops, you dropped something.” Taneli met her on the stairs, and offered her the panties that fell from her pile of washing. He eyed the rest of the bikinis in her arms salaciously.

  She felt her face flush again as she held her hand out for the offending item. To her horror, instead of handing them over, he held them to his nose and sniffed.

  “Hmm, very nice,” he said, before dangling them from his finger for her to retrieve. She stretched over, angrily, noticing how he ogled her cleavage as she did so, and snatched the clothing from him.

  “Now that wasn’t very nice, darlin’,” he admonished in mock-shock. “All I was doing was paying you a compliment. I’m sure you’re well used to that, aren’t you?” He was right in her face, crowding her space as the wall behind her hemmed her in. He towered over her, leering.

  “Leave me alone,” she whispered, horrified and angry.

  He chuckled deep in his throat. He held a hand up as if to caress her cheek, when a sound below them made him jump.

  “Can you manage, Amaranda?” Jerusha called up.

  Taneli smirked then winked at her before calling back down. “I was just giving her a hand, Jerusha.”