by T Stedman
“The Borge will be with the Bonaci. One will not come without the other.”
Marco stood and begun pacing impatiently. “Then surely it is in our interest to help the bid crumble and take our chances with the Human factions?”
Christian looked up at his son disgusted. “Humans? Never,” he spat. “No, everything is going according to what is written.”
All the brothers looked up, suddenly interested. “How so father?” Paulo said.
Christian sneered. “I doubt whether the Delissi brat has done his homework, but if he did he would know that when the Soul Breathers are amongst us at the time of the end, so is the Darkly Begotten.”
“What is the Darkly Begotten?” Marco asked, his eyes narrowed.
“It is a cancer that starts from within. It contaminates, it corrupts – it does the job for us.”
“What do you mean, time of the end?” Antonio asked warily.
Christian downed his drink, “When the Soul Breathers appear for the last time, the sky chariot will be on the move. Atlas will return, son. And when they do, they will find the Dubonnetti ready.”
Epilogue
Several months later
Jay had been in Barbados for three weeks taking a well-earned rest. After Tia had gone he’d thrown himself into his work. But recently he’d become exhausted. Dante had lent him his bungalow on the beach and told him to use it before he burned himself out.
The time off had allowed him to do much soul-searching for the first time. She’d been away for months, about ten in all. But every time he’d thought of cutting his losses and maybe trying to start a new relationship with someone, it was always an empty, hollow experience. It didn’t help when Dante reminded him that he could never really leave Tia as he was physically joined to her through the Siren’s bond, which was why he felt so tired. He still didn’t fully understand it.
Today he sat on a sun lounger reading a British newspaper on his veranda, which was only about fifty feet from the sea front. It was a glorious day.
His phone rang. It was Dante.
“Hey man. How ya doin?” Dante asked.
“Hey. I’m fine. Rested up … looking forward to coming back. Is that female voices I can hear in the background?”
Dante laughed, as if busted. “I’m sampling the pleasures of water nymphs. Two of them.”
“Water nymphs? What the bloody hell are they?”
“We are not the only water folk, you know … why don’t you come and join me?”
“No thanks man. I think my wingman days are over.”
“Good. Glad to hear it,” Dante said in mock seriousness. “I’m sending you something today, so don’t go out.”
“This had better be something good, Dante, and not one of your sick jokes.”
Dante laughed, and then sounded very preoccupied. “Look, I’ve got to go. Ring me when you get it, okay?” he said, through staccato breaths.
“Okay,” Jay said, smiling. “Later.” He clicked off his phone and looked out to sea.
He’d woken up thinking about her this morning. She was an ache in his chest that wouldn’t go away, and he rubbed it absently where it hurt.
He got up, went in to the kitchen and got himself another orange juice from the fridge and came back outside. He stood and looked out to sea while he drank it.
There weren’t that many people on the beach yet as it was still early; just locals single-line fishing and diving. He put his hands over his eyes like a visor … what was that?
It looked like six people swimming in over the reef. As they got closer he could see they were definitely people. Then four – one larger and three small – turned and waved to two other large people, who waved and turned and dove down and disappeared. Murrs?
His heart started to pump. Could it be? He put his orange down and took a step forward onto the sand from the deck. Then he ran to the edge of the sea. Still they came nearer. Yes, definitely one adult, he squinted, and three kids; one a lot younger compared to the other two.
The adult – a woman – reached shallower water and began to stand up and threw the little one on her back, who linked his arms around her neck. The two others swam along next to her.
As they got nearer Jay started to wade in, cautiously at first. He couldn’t be sure it was her, as she was still a way off. When the water was just half way up her legs she bent down and began rubbing the little one’s back, who appeared to be sick. She then did the same with the other two, who could now stand up.
He studied the children. The little one looked like a toddler and the other two he guessed to be around three or four years old; but then how would he know.
When he was close enough to witness her release the water from her lungs, he was in no doubt who she was and began to run into the water to meet her. As she finished coughing she stood up and saw him. She handed the baby to one of the others and began to run towards him.
As she reached him she threw her body weight at him and knocked him backwards into the water and kissed him for all she was worth.
She tasted cool and salty, but it was her. She kissed and kissed him and he kissed her back hungrily, forgetting to breathe in his desperation. She blew a little of her essence intermittently with her kisses and that wonderful warm familiar glow began to flood him. He’d tried to remember this feeling so many times but it had been too long. Now it was real and happening in the flesh.
Jay! Jay! I’ve missed you so much, she projected through her bond.
When he opened his eyes and she allowed him to take a gulp of air, he saw three new pairs of eyes staring down at him. Seeing that he’d spotted them, Tia got up slowly and allowed him to get up.
He looked down, studying the little ones one by one, who each looked up at him expectantly. “Aren’t you going to introduce me, Tia?”
Tia grinned and stood behind the bigger two. “This is Xavier and Alexia,” she said, putting a hand on each of their heads.
Jay decided they were obviously Dante’s; they couldn’t be anyone else’s. They had the tell-tale black stripes covering their bodies, Tia’s beautiful green eyes, and Dante’s olive skin and jet black long curly hair.
They say hello, Tia relayed to Jay. And this little one, taking the youngest one from the little girl’s arms, this is JJ. Jay Junior. He is a miracle.
Jay looked at the fair-skinned, fair-haired boy, with faint grey stripes and beautiful eyes the colour of aquamarine, and then back to Tia, then back to the boy again in confusion. His face must have been a picture.
She handed the baby to Jay, who immediately touched his mouth and tried to prise a little finger inside.
“How is this even possible?” Jay asked, looking over at Tia in wonder.
I know, crazy isn’t it? That’s why I’ve been so long. It’s a miracle he’s even alive.
“But you … you didn’t even look pregnant when you left?”
I know. On my wedding to Dante, all my mother said was that when I felt like I need to be in the water and it became all-consuming, then I must seek her out. I had no clue this was the reason. Well … till right near the time. Dante guessed I think. But I was scared that my being pregnant would hurt you, as it should have been impossible for us, as I should only be able to conceive under water. The doctors explained that my body just stored the foetuses until I could be in water. I think when I was held in the tank it must have set things off. It became urgent then…Then little JJ was born. And she tickled his face making him give a huge grin. Doctors had to get his little gills working, just like a Human premature baby. Then he needed help swimming and everything.
“How are they all so big, Tia?”
They told me Murr children grow really fast for the first five years. It’s a survival thing. These two are almost pure blood; that’s why the little guy is smaller. The doctors said Sirens could store more than one pregnancy, so hey presto – three.
Jay kissed the little fingers still trying to invade his mouth. He leant over and kissed Tia.
“I wasn’t expecting this, Tia … I need a drink. Let’s go inside.”
They all need to learn to speak as well. They’ve never used their vocal cords, Tia continued animatedly.
Jay put an arm around her whilst cuddling little JJ, who already clung to him. The other two ran in circles, bickering like kids do.
It’s going to be difficult with Dante and the kids and everything, Tia said when they got inside.
He pulled her to him. Little JJ squealed.
His first noise! Tia thought in surprise.
They both laughed.
Jay passed JJ to Tia, and bent and picked up the other two, and sat them both on the counter top so they weren’t left out. And when he pulled Tia in close for a hug, he put an arm around the little girl and little Xavier joined the hug as well. A little family.
“You never cease to amaze me, Tia.” And he kissed her again.
As their kiss ended, a distant voice echoed in his head, Congratulations brother!
Coming soon: DIABLO, The new standalone by T Stedman
To be the first to know more, visit:
www.tstedman.com
https://www.facebook.com/TStedman1author
https://twitter.com/AuthorTStedman