Enchanted Waves

by Ciara Lake

  “Shut up. Just shut up about my mother. Don’t mention her name mixed with this insanity.” They stared at each other for several moments. “Finish telling me what you came to tell me then leave.”

  “Very well.” Serena nodded. “I left General Saltar. I renounced him as my father and my leader. But because he was my father, I was marked to be a Forsaken. I found refuge with my lover. I gave birth to you. Zale loved us both. He tried to protect us. He bound your powers, your very essence, so you wouldn’t be detected as my child, to be safe from our enemies in case you were in this realm or the immortal realm.”

  “What other realm is there?”

  “When you were born we lived in another realm, a magical kingdom like none I’ve ever known. Your father’s domain is neither mortal nor immortal, it’s unique. Even the realms of the dragons are nothing in comparison to Zale’s or his brothers.”

  “Dragons? There’s dragons too? Magical realms and dragons?”

  “Yes. I can tell you more of them later.”

  “So what happened?” Tabitha asked.

  “I was foolish.” Serena looked like she might cry. “I was lured away from my love by Amuliana.” Tears rolled down Serena’s face. “She deceived me. Like an idiot, I left my safe haven by my lover’s side. But before Amuliana could kill me or turn me into a Forsaken, I managed to escape her. I fled to this century, and blessedly found the Locks.”

  “My parents?”

  “Yes, your parents. They accepted my story as truth.”

  “You’re kidding me?”

  “No.” Serena shook her head. “They were exceptional mortals. And really...” She shrugged. “I appeared before them on their sailboat, in the middle of the ocean, with a babe in my arms.”

  “I guess there was no other rational explanation, so supernatural reasons seemed probable to them.”

  “Exactly.” Serena nodded. “They’d prayed for a baby. So they eagerly agreed to take you, to love you, to keep you safe. I left my most precious possession with them. They did a fine job.” She smiled. “I’m so proud of you.”

  “Why didn’t they tell me about you?”

  “They promised not to tell you, in exchange to have you as theirs. It was a fair agreement.”

  “I find this hard to believe,” Tabitha said.

  “Well, it’s true. After I arranged for your safety, I returned to an earlier time.”

  “An earlier time? What does that mean?”

  “To an early century.”

  “Oh, yes, there’s time travel too?” Tabitha stood up and paced the room. The spirit floated near her.

  “Yes, for some immortals and the gods. There’s much in this world which is hidden from mortals.”

  “Okay, go on.” Tabitha waved her hand.

  “I pleaded with Goddess Persephone to take me as her own if I should be destroyed. Immortals who are destroyed can go to be with her, to serve her. But forsaken ones aren’t typically given that privilege. My beloved goddess accepted me as one of her handmaidens. Then I surrendered to Amuliana to stop her from looking for me and perhaps finding you. I told her I had destroyed you to save you from an unbearable fate. She believed me. I asked for death instead of banishment as a Forsaken. Thankfully, she obliged. She made my demise as painful as possible.” Serena’s eyes glowed. Tabitha could see her agony. “She’s a goddess of deception and cruelty. She killed me, and my lover never knew what truly happen.” Tears rolled down her transparent face.

  “My father thought you left him.”

  “Yes, I think so. He probably thinks I betrayed him.” Serena whimpered. “Typically, he doesn’t leave his realm for centuries on end. Persephone told Amuliana I killed my child. Persephone fostered the rumors as it was necessary to keep you safe.”

  “So, Zale thinks I’m dead? And he thinks you destroyed his child?”

  “Yes.” Serena nodded. “With Persephone perpetuating the tale it’s hard not to believe. But one can never really know what a great Jin truly knows. None of the immortals or gods understand much about the Jins. A child of a Jin is rare.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Zale told me.”

  “I see.”

  “The gods secretly fear the Jin.”

  “Jin? A genie, like the ones in a lamp?”

  “No.” Serena giggled. “The lamp is a mortal’s tale. Your father is a Sea Jin. He lives in a realm which is paradise. It makes the Enchanted Forest and the Sea of Enchantment seem like nothing special.”

  “Enchanted Forest? Sea of Enchantment?” Tabitha peeled over, laughing again.

  “Yes.” Serena floated closer. “The Enchanted Forest is a glorious, magical place. The Sea of Enchantment is so lovely it can make you wish to never leave. Many of the Mer’s cities are near the entrances of the Sea of Enchantment. No mortal can see it unless invited by an immortal or a god. I love to visit these wondrous places when my goddess allows it. During a better time in my life, I met your father near one of its entrances.”

  “Whatever.” Tabitha rolled her eyes. “This is too much. But go ahead and tell me the rest of your ridiculous tale. But enough about the enchanted lands. I’m not going to Oz.”

  “Oz? Where is that?”

  “Never mind.” Tabitha waved her hand.

  “Your father and I fell in love,” Serena continued. “We made you, our beautiful child. You are a mix of a vampire immortal and a Sea Jin.”

  “Why is he called a Sea Jin?”

  “He has an affinity for the oceans and his realm is hidden within an ocean.” Serena paused and looked around wide-eyed. “My time grows short. My mistress is calling me.” The room grew colder. “Be careful of Amuliana, she wears many disguises. That’s how she tricked me. She’ll try to fool you and destroy you out of shear hatred. She fears your father. All Jin. Zale isn’t one to be crossed. And one more thing. . .follow your heart always as in its core is the heart of a very wise Jin. Your heart will know the truth in all things. It will lead you to your mate. He will help your gifts to manifest.”

  “Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Reflect on what I’ve told you.”

  “Trust me, I will, even if I don’t want to.”

  “You’ll know the truth soon enough.” The spirit reached out and touched Tabitha’s chest. A peculiar emotion came over Tabitha. She experienced a chill inside followed by a warmth around her heart. “Your power needs to be unlocked, and your mate will unlock it in a most pleasurable way. Then one day, you’ll defeat Amuliana, General Saltar, and the other evil vampires. No matter what, don’t be disheartened, you’re destined to put my father in his place, once and for all.”

  “I don’t like you telling me I’m part vampire. If I am, why don’t I crave blood? Isn’t that what vampires do? I don’t want to be a bloodsucking creature.”

  “Child, we’re what we are.” Serena shrugged. “But you won’t be burdened with the desire to consume blood. Your father saw to that as well. Oh, I must go, my goddess has summoned me.”

  “Good. . .goodbye.”

  “But there’s one more thing.”

  “Of course there is.”

  “If you’re ever in trouble, you should call your father to you. You may need him one day. Call on him. Invoke the blood which runs in your veins and call him. I’m sure he’ll come.”

  “He thinks I’m dead, remember?”

  “If you call him, he’ll come.” Serena disappeared in a flash of light.

  “Sleep, young Talise.” An unfamiliar voice echoed in the room. “Sleep, child of Serena. My handmaiden has done well. Sleep, then wake and know what she has said is true.”

  Obediently, Tabitha crawled back into bed, and sleep took her without a fight.

  Chapter 8

  “You’re beautiful, my love.” Jax kissed Tabitha’s neck, behind her hair, down her back. She shivered.

  “You make me feel wonderful.” She moaned, caressing his arms, enjoying his muscular frame. A sizzling zing raced directly to he
r pussy. She dampened.

  “I can smell your desire.” He sucked her breast, playing with the nipple.

  As he continued to kiss her, wetness escaped from between her legs, covering her thighs. After kissing her breasts, he massaged them. He played with her erect nipples. She pushed against his hand. Her bottom pushed against his stiff cock.

  “I want you.” He maneuvered his rigid cock into her moist crevice, and he pushed into her ever so slightly, teasing her.

  “Don’t stop.” A tingling raced through her, and she trembled uncontrollably.

  “Oh, Jax, I love it.” She pushed back against him. Deeper he plunged, pushing in and out of her moistness. She moved, helping his efforts. She leaned her head back against his shoulder. Fervently, Jax kissed her neck, the side of her face. His strong arms held her snug. She was warm, hot, a smoldering fire.

  “You make me whole, like nothing else.” He thrust into her. She sighed, gripping his cock with her pussy.

  “Jax.” She squeezed his cock within her. He kissed her harder. An amazing surge, like a high voltage, passed through them, and they both climaxed.

  “Talise, I love you.” He pulled from her.

  “I love you too.” She turned in his arms.

  He pressed her into the bed, her legs hugged his hips like a vice. He was strong, huge. She nipped his ear. His laughter was a deep musical sound. He took her again, plunging deeper into her with more force. He didn’t need to be gentle with her, she liked it hard, fast. The bed groaned as he pounded into her. She held his shoulders tight as her eyes locked with his. They were stunning blue eyes, she watched them turn silver like shiny metal. His canine teeth were fanged like weapons, but she didn’t fear him.

  She pulled him closer, kissing him, thrusting her tongue into his mouth. He responded in kind. His tongue imitated his cock’s movements. Releasing her, he nuzzled her neck, playfully nipping her. She released her viselike hold. He continued to ride her. He was a handsome beast. The urge for something just outside of her reach overtook her every sense. She cried out as a powerful climax took her once more, the surge of it made the bed shake. A bluish light gleamed from both of them. It was as if they were illuminated with a magical light. For a moment, it was nearly blinding. The intensity of her climax mixed with the surge of power was so great she could feel it even in her teeth, her hair.

  After her peak subsided, he held her. Slowly, he pushed his erect cock in and out of her wetness. When he did pull from her, he was still firm, pressed against her belly. Kissing her more, he held her until she drifted to sleep.

  * * * *

  Jax woke with a start. He sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. Naked, he got out of bed. How did I get in the bed? Jax looked around the room. The sheets were damp from his perspiration. His hair was matted to his head and he ached all over, but in a good way. An urge, a heated desire, grasped hold of him. He had to stop himself from slipping to Tabitha’s house. I’ve not had a mystic dream for centuries. He stretched. Leaning his head back, he looked up.

  This mystic dream left him unfulfilled. He wanted her, the real thing. Now he was desperate for her. He craved her with every fiber of his body. His heart raced with the mere thought of touching her or seeing her.

  “I need to swim. Computer, turn the lights off.” The room darkened. The moon was high, the night clear, and the ocean called to him. “Computer, what time is it?”

  “3:25 in the morning.”

  “How long has the electricity been on?”

  “Ten hours.”

  “How long have I slept?”

  “Nineteen hours.”

  “Nineteen hours? You’re kidding me? I’ve never slept longer than a few hours at a time.” Jax magically changed into a Mer suit. “I’ve blown it with the Forsaken. . .woman.” He pushed the sliding glass door open with too much force, and it slammed, jarring the house. When he stepped outside, he looked toward her house. Her house was dark, silent. The cool breeze enveloped him. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with the salty air.

  Jax slipped to the nearest cliff, high above the sea. He surveyed his surroundings. He turned in the other direction, away from her house, away from his temptation. The wind hit his face, sobering him.

  Stepping closer to the cliff’s edge, he looked down. “Great sea, your son has returned.” He leapt into the air, springing higher than the cliff. He dove into the sea like a missile. The sea opened its arms, receiving him as a woman who loved him well and missed him much. Its wetness swallowed him, deep into its womb.

  Jax covered several hundred nautical miles in minutes. Water washed over his body and through his lungs. He swam faster, putting a greater distance between himself and Tabitha Lock.

  After swimming for over two hours, he floated to the surface not far from the cliff he’d dove from. The sea was quiet, peaceful at the moment. Jax shut his eyes, and again the blonde beauty appeared in his mind’s eye. The cool waters did not abate his reaction to her, his blood heated once again.

  He slipped back to the beach outside his house. It was nearly daybreak. Soon the sun would peak over the horizon. However, storm clouds were already gathering. Jax silently looked out over the waves. Reaching deep within himself, he tried to find calm, to stop the storm clouds from congregating.

  “Jax.”

  Stunned, he turned slowly. “Tabitha?”

  “Good morning, Jax. I missed you yesterday.”

  “I overslept. I slept all day. I wanted to see you. It’s good to see you now.”

  “I wanted to see you too.” She smiled and stepped closer to him. Her hair and eyes shone the moonlight. “Jax Aquila, you’re an unusual man.”

  “Not really.” He shook his head.

  “Yes, you are.” She nodded. “In fact, you’re a merman aren’t you?”

  “What?” He laughed.

  “You heard me. Although, I truly expected a merman to be blue.” She giggled.

  “I did hear you, I’m just stunned by your statement.”

  “Why?” She stepped closer to him. She gazed out at the sea. “It’s beautiful. That’s why I love it here.” She watched him out of the corner of her eye. “I’ll cut to the chase. It seems I have information which would lead me to believe you are a Mer, a mythical creature of the sea. However, evidently you’re not mythical after all.”

  “You truly sound like a lawyer.” He chuckled. “Mythical is right. Why do you ask me such a ridiculous question?” He shook his head. “A merman and blue. What an imagination you have.”

  “Serena Saltar tells me these things exist.” She pointed at him. “I can tell you know the name. You look stunned. I doubt you’re caught off guard much. Surprise!”

  “Yes. . .I know the name.”

  “It seems she’s my biological mother.”

  “Is she?” He looked out at the ocean. “That’s interesting.”

  “Yes, I think so too. I’ve recently learned this to be true. In a short time, I’ve learned a lot.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, such as there are mermen, vampires, gods, and much more in this world I was unaware of. I didn’t want to believe it.” She shook her head, her golden hair curling around her lovely face. The moon illuminated her complexion, making her look more than human. “I knew in my core Serena was telling me the truth.” Tabitha touched his arm, she rubbed it.

  He gazed down at her hand which connected them. The surge that occurred when they touched flowed through them again.

  “I’m amazed I didn’t sense you when you arrived on the beach. I’m never caught unaware.” He pushed his hair back from his forehead. “You’re full of surprises.”

  “Perhaps you were too deep in thought.” She tilted her head to the side, gazing at him. “Were you thinking of me?” She smiled and moved even closer. “I’m sorry to upset your perfect record.”

  “It sounded like it, but I wasn’t keeping score. I’m just surprised.”

  “I understand there are a world of things I’ve been ignorant
to. I tried to deny it.” She looked away. “But since I was a child I’ve had feelings, thoughts, and dreams all of this is explained by.” Tears gathered in her eyes.

  He enjoyed her scent, she smelled fresh, clean and warm as if she’d just rose from her bed. “It’s hard for me to believe you’re Serena’s daughter.”

  “Does it bother you?”

  “No.” He shook his head.

  “You seem. . .stunned.”

  “I am.” He nodded.

  “From time to time a shadow visited me during my life. Turns out she’s my mother, my real mother, the dead daughter of General Saltar.” Tabitha paused, she squeezed his arm. “Are you listening?”

  “Yes, I’m listening.”

  “Does it disgust you that I’m related to such an awful creature?”

  “No. I said it did not.”

  “You look. . .not too thrilled with what I’m telling you. I understand Saltar is wicked and the cause of many problems in the immortal world.”

  “Yes, he has been awful. I’m not thrilled he’s your grandfather. I’m just listening.”

  “I’m also the daughter of a Sea Jin. Can you believe that? It seems Jins are real too.” She laughed. “I’m told my father’s name is Zale.”

  “Zale?”

  “Yes, have you heard of him?”

  “Only recently.”

  “When I saw you tonight up on the ridge...” She pointed. “When I saw you appear out of nowhere, I knew for sure what Serena had told me was true. In fact, I woke up with the knowledge she had told me the truth. Then I saw you propel yourself into the air and dive into the sea.” She chuckled. “Like a superhuman.” She grinned. “No, like a merman.”

  “You saw me? Weren’t you sleeping? Your house was dark. I didn’t sense anyone watching. I typically can.” He cocked his head to the side.

  “A dream woke me, and I couldn’t sleep any longer. I went out onto my screen porch to get some fresh, cool air. I was hot.” She glanced away from him, pink colored her cheeks.

  “Did the dream frighten you?”

  “No, not at all.” She shook her head. “It was emotionally intense.”