Hermandine had fortunately come around just as the decision had been made, though was most put out that she had not been consulted, and had managed to make her way across the causeway with the rest of them. Sofronia and Ophelie had roused sometime during the afternoon, but felt that their arthritic bones would not suit the journey to Destiny Rock. Instead, Ophelie watched the throng from a distance, relating her findings to her near-blind friend, who strained to hear their voices as Ophelie’s deafness prevented a complete account of the proceedings. The “dynamic duo” joined their friends as they made their way back up the island for their meeting.
“This is all very irregular,” Sofronia said, tutting as they walked.
They all sat on whatever was available. The elderly ladies took the squashy sofas, while Hermandine took her usual easy chair. Amaranda and Eban had hard chairs, while the sailors managed with the floor.
“So where does he hang out?” one of the sailors enquired.
“Aitan, I don’t think that’s quite what the God of the Sea does,” admonished Rechavia, his shipmate.
“Sorry,” Aitan conceded. “I mean, where do we find him?”
Solon huffed impatiently.
“He could be anywhere in the vast ocean which surrounds us,” Hermandine stated, unhelpful as ever.
Eban and Amaranda sighed to each other. This was hopeless!
Melantho appeared with a tray of hot coffee and griddle scones, which she placed on the table before them. Hermandine nodded her acknowledgment, while Amaranda smiled gratefully at her. The maid flushed and scurried out.
“He is a fisherman,” offered Pallas, “he will be in the best fishing grounds.”
“We saw lots of trawlers heading out toward the southeast on our way here,” Rechavia said eagerly, taking a wooden cup from the tray. “Is it possible he would have gone there?”
“Very possible,” nodded Minerva hopefully.
“But it is a long way and you will need a ship, as well as supplies,” Hermandine scoffed, her eyes narrowing.
“Our ship has just sunk to the bottom of the sea—there’s no chance of repairing her,” moaned Aitan, munching on his third griddle scone.
“But you have a ship, don’t you, Hermandine?” Amaranda pointed out. “And it’s always well-maintained for your trips to Eastland, so surely it would be suitable for this?”
Hermandine glared at the young woman.
“Of course,” interrupted Pallas, “there are some sort of charts and maps on board if you need them, too. We don’t understand them ourselves, but we know they are important so we have kept them. You’re welcome to look at them if it’s of any help?”
Hermandine turned her evil eyes to Pallas. “And just who gives permission for them to use our belongings?” she demanded, outraged.
“The committee,” replied Pallas, looking around at the elders.
“Yes, of course we do.” Minerva nodded. “This is for the benefit of the whole island. How could we refuse?”
“That sounds sensible to me,” Sofronia agreed.
“Well yes, I suppose so,” conceded Solon, a little hesitantly.
“But Ophelie doesn’t agree!” Hermandine snapped. “Surely we all need to agree to such things?”
“No, dear, I’m sure a majority vote would suffice.” Minerva shrugged. “And besides, Ophelie hasn’t expressed an opinion yet.”
Sofronia nudged the old dear next to her. “Say you agree, Ophelie, for goodness sake.”
“Sorry, dear. I didn’t quite catch it,” the old lady said, putting a hand to her ear.
“Never mind, just say you agree,” said her poor-sighted friend, directly into her other ear.
“Oh yes, all right, dear, I agree with you, whatever it is, most definitely.” The old lady nodded decisively.
“Ha-ha! Most deaf-initely—I like it!” chortled Aitan, amused at the interchange.
Rechavia kicked him on the ankle, and shot him a warning look. Aitan stifled his giggle.
“That’s settled then,” Eban said eventually. “If one of you ladies would kindly tell us where to find the maps, we can chart our course tonight and leave first thing in the morning.”
Hermandine glowered but didn’t speak. Minerva and Pallas rose to show the sailors where everything was kept onboard the ship. It didn’t take long before the rest of the women fell fast asleep. It had been a very long day!
* * * *
Eban shook Amaranda gently. She had curled up into a tight ball to sleep on the floor while the sailors talked in hushed tones and the elderly ladies snored on the comfortable furniture.
“Is it time to go?” Amaranda whispered, stretching from her slumber.
“Almost, sweetheart, we just need to get your things.”
“I’m coming with you?” she asked, staring up at him.
He laughed gently. “Of course,” he said, “you don’t think I’d leave you here, do you?”
Amaranda flushed nervously.
“But I thought…”
“I’m never letting you out of my sight again, sweetheart,” he promised, stroking her hair. “It might be dangerous at sea, but it’s got to be safer than leaving you here.”
“OK,” she said, smiling, “I’ll get my things.”
It didn’t take long to load up the boat with supplies, including a good store of Elmwood leaves, and the young couple, along with the two sailors, jumped aboard.
Amaranda looked over to Destiny Rock, astounded to see so many people lying there, mostly still sleeping after all the ale they consumed the night before. Many of them had coupled up, and lay snuggled together. She had never seen men and women together like this before. She smiled to herself. Hermandine is going to hate this!
Her thoughts were intercepted when the old lady herself suddenly appeared on the jetty.
“And just where do you think you’re going?” she yelled, pointing a crooked finger at Amaranda.
She, and some of the other elders had woken shortly after Eban and Amaranda had left the big house.
“She’s coming with us!” Eban shouted back, daring the old woman to object.
“I think it’s for the best, dear,” Minerva cooed, trotting quickly behind her.
Pallas, who had been helping them load the ship, earnestly gestured to Rechavia to start the engine. The piercing cacophony drowned out the squalls of the old crone, who could be seen waving her bony fists in the air angrily as the ship pulled away from the beautiful island.
Rechavia and Aitan proved to be very proficient sailors, and soon they were sailing far out into the ocean.
“This is so beautiful,” Amaranda said, holding onto the side of the ship as she gazed out to sea.
Eban walked up behind her and put an arm around her waist. She flinched.
“It’s OK, sweetheart, it’s only me,” he said soothingly into her ear.
He felt her relax, and his heart ached again. That bastard is going to take a lot of getting over!
“I can actually see the fish swimming!” she said, gleefully pointing into the water. “Do you think Poseidon is near here?”
“He’ll be a long way off yet, pretty maid,” said Rechavia, chuckling. “You should make yourself comfortable, we’ve got quite a voyage ahead of us!”
He was behind the ship’s wheel, studying the sea before them.
“I don’t mind. This is lovely! I’ve never felt so free!” she said smiling.
Eban looked down at the beauty in his arms. How could I have ever touched Kalliope! He was wracked with self-condemnation. He sighed, tightening his hold on her.
“I never said thank you for saving me yesterday,” she whispered, looking up at him with big, brown, loving eyes.
He felt his heart wrench a little more.
“I’m just glad I was in time, sweetheart,” he said, and planted a kiss on her head.
“I really thought he was going to…” she said, then gulped back a sob.
“I know, sweetheart,” he said simply, as tears
threatened his eyes.
He held her tighter.
“Thank you,” she said with a deep breath as she snuggled into him.
They stood in silent thought, as the ship swayed gently on the waves. The briny sea occasionally splashed over the bow, spitting down at them as they clung to the side rail, reveling in the wind flowing over their faces.
“I hope you’re a good cook, Amaranda,” Aitan shouted over cheekily, as time went on.
“Um—well I can made fruit griddle scones,” Amaranda stammered, blushing slightly. “But we don’t usually cook much on Refrainia.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, we’ll manage,” Eban chirped. “Let’s go and see what we can find.”
They went below decks to where the little galley had been filled with supplies.
Some preserved meat had been retrieved from the wreck earlier, so Eban taught Amaranda how to use the small cooker. She happily prepared vegetables, and arranged some fresh fruit. They all ate a hearty meal, and Amaranda smiled to see the men sit back, sighing and rubbing their full bellies.
The ship sailed on into the night, and Amaranda slept in a small bunk while the sailors took turns to keep watch and get some sleep in the bunks at the other end of the cabin. The waves were quite choppy and it became colder. Suddenly a loud cry split the night.
“Aaaahh look at that!”
The ship pitched heavily to her starboard, starting to roll as she went.
“What on earth…?” Rechavia’s low voice boomed through the darkness.
Eban flew onto the deck, and Amaranda grabbed a shawl and followed him.
“There’s something out there!” Aitan yelled, pointing.
His voice trembled, and his body shook. “I saw it! It was massive! At first, I thought it was just flotsam, but it suddenly moved and headed straight for us!”
As he spoke, the bow of the ship rose clean out of the water. Amaranda clung to Eban’s shirt as they huddled with the two sailors who gripped the ship’s wheel. Through the thick darkness, they could see a gigantic figure holding the front of the ship, evil, yellow eyes gleaming at them, its massive, scaly head parting to bare its enormous portcullis teeth. It seemed to be tormenting them, showing them its strength, but cruelly holding them on the pinnacle of fear. Suddenly it thrust the ship’s bow back into the sea with a massive roar.
“Hold on, Amaranda,” Eban cried, as the young girl was flung into a stack of lobster pots at the edge of the stern.
She lay panting on the sodden deck for a few seconds before sliding into a pile of nets, as the ship crashed down again onto the waves. There was nothing to hold on to. Tangling the nets in her hands, she only took them with her as she slid helplessly about the flooded deck.
The creature sluggishly reared up its hideous, wrinkled body at the side of the ship and roared again as it spouted freezing water over them. It stretched up, higher than the crow’s nest on the main mast, and roared again stretching open its gigantic cavernous mouth.
“Amaranda!” Eban screamed as the merciless creature swiped her with its large fin.
She flew toward the centre of the ship, crashing into the mast before falling lifeless onto the deck. Blood poured from her head. Eban furiously grabbed a pole from the cradle on the port side and jabbed at the loathsome monster. Its hard scales were impenetrable and it shrugged off his attempts. Rechavia pulled a knife from his boot, the blade glinting in the meager moonlight. He tried to stab the unrelenting beast, but it was hopeless. The monster merely lifted its ugly head and roared ferociously into the cold night air.
As the barrage of waves continued to bombard the ship, Aitan slid toward the main mast. He grabbed Amaranda, whose languid body glided like a rag doll on the saturated deck, her eyes closed.
He stared down at her—“She’s dead!”
Chapter 13
Eban froze. She can’t be! He threw down the pole and stealthily slid down the edge of the ship, holding onto the side as he went. His legs felt like lead. His heart was in his boots. He felt as if he were in a dream—a nightmare! Nothing was real.
“Amaranda!”
He leaned into the middle of the ship and reached out for her. She lay in Aitan’s arms, ashen and cold. Her limp body hung over his arm. Eban gently stroked her face. Aitan offered her up into his strong, trembling arms, and he felt her soft body on his skin.
“Aaahhh!”
Rechavia fell back onto the deck as the creature struck out again.
“Go help him!” Eban barked, instantly coming to his senses.
Aitan obliged and made his way over to his shipmate. He took up the discarded pole and furiously thrust it toward the massive creature. The beast gave a shriek and darted back.
“I got him!” Aitan cried as Rechavia returned to his side. “He’s bleeding!”
Eban laid Amaranda on the hard deck. He turned her face to one side, as she had once done for him, and water trickled from her mouth. He tore a sleeve from his shirt and wiped blood from her beautiful face. Had her eyelids fluttered? He couldn’t be sure, but hope welled inside him. He rubbed her back soothingly, encouraging more water to ooze from her mouth, and he rubbed her cold body, wrapping her long, drenched scarf tightly around her.
With bated breath he felt for her pulse. A very faint beat rippled through her wrist. He stroked her hair, his heart thudding. He wrapped his other arm around her, trying to afford her some warmth. Although she was in his arms, it felt like she were a million miles from him right now.
The ship pitched to port again, as the grotesque creature hit out in desperation. Thick blood exuded from its heaving chest, appearing as tar in the dark night.
“Aim between the scales!” Aitan urged, as he and Rechavia continued to plunge their weapons into its thick hide.
More and more of the congealed gore spewed from the flailing beast. The two sailors leaned as far as they could over the side of the ship, thrusting with all their might at the massive monster.
Elation gripped Eban as Amaranda eventually spluttered and coughed, her breathing heavy and rapid.
“Amaranda, oh, Amaranda—I love you!” he blurted out, his voice hoarse.
Her eyelids flickered and opened a little. Her lips curled up into a shy smile.
“I love you, too,” she whispered.
Eban held her close in his arms as the waves crashed over the side of the pitching ship, which had now begun to roll heavily toward the stern. Moonlight peeped through the clouds, which lightened as dawn drew near. Suddenly, Aitan flew toward the couple, lashed by the monster’s thick tail as it struck the ship yet again.
“Aaahh!” he yelled, narrowly avoiding the main mast as he crashed onto the deck.
Eban reached over and grabbed his leg, pulling him toward them. Amaranda lifted her head slightly from Eban’s lap.
“You need to go help them,” she urged quietly. “I’ll be OK here.”
The determination in her weak face told Eban not to argue. There was no time. He lifted her and draped one of her arms around the mast to keep her from sliding on the wet deck.
“Come on!” he shouted, helping Aitan to his feet.
Aitan moaned. The two men made their way stealthily to where Rechavia was fiercely defending himself from the enormous fin, which the creature was attempting to bat him with. Rechavia stabbed at it with his knife, puncturing and splitting it where he could.
“The pole!” Eban yelled, pointing to their weapon, which was rolling toward the stern.
Aitan leapt on it and brought it back to him. Eban grabbed it in the centre, while Aitan caught the end. Sizing it up, Eban determined the most likely spot for where the monster’s heart was—if it had one! He pointed the end of the pole toward it.
“Now!” he yelled, and he and Aitan rammed the weapon into it with everything they had.
A fearful roar signaled their success, as the leviathan finally capitulated and flung itself into the ocean behind. The mass of blackness heaved itself away from the ship before being lost beneat
h the monstrous waves. The men gawped in silence, panting hard.
As the ship steadied itself on the calming waves, Eban quickly made his way over to Amaranda. She was now sitting up, clutching the mast while watching.
“That poor creature!” she whispered as he lifted her into his muscular arms.
He shook his head, smiling.
“I’m taking her below,” he called to the others, who were hugging each other in exhausted relief.
After drying her with a pile of leaves, Eban gave Amaranda an old shirt to wear, which would be warmer than her bikini.
She giggled as she pulled it on. “You’ll have me wearing boots next!”
Eban laughed as he tucked her into her warm bunk, adding a couple of extra Elmwood leaves for good measure. After tending to her head wound, he cuddled her until she slept.
With the sea much calmer, the ship made good time as it sliced through the deep, green waves. Once the sun rose it soon dried off the drenched deck, and Rechavia bathed on the bow as Eban took the wheel.
Aitan rustled up some food, being very careful not to wake Amaranda, and the three men basked in the heat above deck.
It was gone noon when Amaranda roused to find Eban snuggling next to her. His erection was unmistakable as it jabbed into her stomach, which made her giggle.
“You’re awake?” he said, looking down at her pretty face, “Do you feel any better?”
“My head’s a bit sore, but I’m OK,” she replied, stroking his bicep.
He smiled as he ran a finger down her face, her throat, and onto her breast.
“Whose stupid idea was it to cover you up?” he whispered, tugging at the shirt, giggling.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” she replied, sniggering.
She lifted her arms and he swiftly removed the offending item.
“That’s better,” he said, grinning at her beautiful body under the cover of the massive leaf.
She laughed and tipped her head back as he took a mouthful of her voluptuous, ripe bosom. His teeth grazed over the nipple, causing her to gasp, and he sucked and licked at her flesh. Amaranda groaned contentedly. He let his hands trail down her body, tickling slightly as they made their way over her stomach and hips, settling on her damp mound. He stroked her, as the moisture welled, and she bucked her hips up enticingly. His pre-cum ooze deliciously as his hard cock nudged her inner thigh, and she panted excitedly.
Last of the Sirens [Sirens and Sailors] (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 9