Heart of the Kraken (Tales from Darjee)

by Exley, A. W.

  "Just as I thought." Nancy winked and then chortled. "And of course I am going to tell you where he is hiding. There's a cave on the western side of the island. You need to swim back through the tunnel you followed to come here and half way along is a branch, take that. It's the one that runs under my office and out the other side." He reached into the battered pouch at his side and drew out a stick. He gave it a sharp shake and it emitted a soft green glow, then he handed it to Ailin. "You'll need this, it will light the way so you don't miss the other tunnel. Plus you can wave it at Fenton to get a good gander at him because he'll be hiding in the dark, no doubt."

  "Thank you." She blew him a kiss.

  He caught the kiss and held it over his heart. "I do love happy endings."

  With the glow stick in her hand, she dived under the water and headed to the bottom of the pool. The wide entrance beckoned now she knew it would lead to Fenton. On and on she swam until the little light picked out the tunnel off to one side. Nancy was right, she would have missed it in the pitch black. This tunnel was narrower and would never take the strange vessel Sahara, but did a half kraken half landwalker fit?

  The Isle of Illusions lived up to its name. The landwalkers were unaware of the passages and caverns running underneath that Nancy bent and curved to his command. Ailin avoided the ships moored in the harbour by swimming through the middle of the island. She emerged on the west side where the volcano ran almost vertical down to the ocean.

  She surfaced among the white peaks of a rough ocean and the waves buffeted her back and forth as she took stock of her position. Mist shrouded the top of the mountain, lush black vegetation tumbled down the side and clung to the sheer face. There was no beach here, only cliffs where the sea slammed against the rock. No people lingered or explored as the rough terrain was only suited to birds, goats or fish. This side of the island was primal and given over completely to aquatic and flying creatures.

  With a flick of her tail she dived under the frosted tips, deeper and closer to the rocks, careful to avoid swimming too close least the rip and pull of the ocean dash her against the side. Then she sighted the opening, dark and cavernous like a demon creature. Jagged edges of rock hung like enormous canine teeth ready to rip apart those who ventured too near. She had to find Fenton and so pushing down her fear of what she would face, she journeyed into the cave.

  She held the small stick close to her heart but even it could cast only a tiny circle of green light. The temperature of the water dropped and chilled her body as darkness claimed her. She called his name as she moved, peering into the gloom, waving the light to keep from dashing against the rough walls.

  "Stop, Ailin," his voice called, deeper than she remembered but still Fenton. "Put away the light, I do not want you to see me."

  There within the ink stain darkness came a movement, the shadow of tentacles drifting through the water. A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered Nancy's words. He is both and neither at the same time. But she loved him. Fenton. Whatever shape he inhabited.

  "All right, if you will talk to me." She looked around and found a crevice. She wedged the light into the gap and then turned to swim away from its comforting glow. The shadow appeared before her and her eyes adjusted to the dull light.

  Both yet neither.

  "You shouldn't have come here," he said and then turned his face away.

  "I needed to know you were safe," she said, peering into the haze.

  His top half still resembled Fenton but a larger and more powerful version. His sandy hair flowed free of its strap and curled around his face. His strong features were still the landwalker she knew, the same square jaw and high cheekbones. The tattoo had vanished from his skin but his arms and chest rippled with muscle. Her gaze drifted downward. Across his side lay a jagged gash with tiny neat stitches holding the edges together. Was that where Reis' sword plunged into the kraken?

  Relief washed through her body on seeing the wound sewn shut and it appeared Nancy had a fine hand with a needle. "I thought they would kill you."

  "Kraken hide makes me hard to kill." He still kept his face averted and would not meet her gaze.

  Ailin continued her inspection. Her gaze swept past the injury, down to where his torso split into tentacles that undulated on the movement of the ocean. They were covered in tiny scales like eel skin. The grey broken by a pattern of swirls and knots that reminded her of the tattoo he once bore. The underside of each bore pale pinkish-grey suckers and the appendage ended in a razor sharp nail.

  She moved closer but he swam backwards until he butted the wall. He turned his face away from her and spoke to the rock. "I am a monster. You have seen I am alive, now you should leave. Go back to your merfolk."

  She laughed and inched toward him again. "I am not leaving. You are Fenton and I love you." She closed the gap and laid a hand on his arm.

  "You deserve better. One of your own kind." His voice dropped to a whisper, floating on the current past her ears.

  She smiled. "I want you. If I went back in time, I would jump into that net again, knowing it would lead me to you."

  He laid one large hand over hers and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. "I never desired anyone until I laid eyes on you."

  She let the ebb of water push her body closer to his new form. "Nancy has given us a way to be together. This is the real Fenton before me, the being who I would give myself to."

  He raised his head and met her gaze and such pain simmered in the depths that she drew in a sharp gasp.

  "I'm sorry it came to this, I only wanted to save you," he said.

  She caressed his arm and up to his shoulder. Silly male. They really could be dense at times, she needed to try a different tact. "How did Nancy save you?"

  "He has a gigantic metal wyrm, it deposited him on the deck and plucked me to safety. Then it held down Reis." One tentacle crept closer to her and bumped against her tail.

  A shiver ran through her form at the contact and she closed her eyes and savoured the moment. "How did he free you from Reis' grip?"

  "Have you ever seen an ore-mancer work?" he asked.

  She shook her head and opened her eyes to drink him in. His new hybrid state was much smaller than the kraken, but he emanated power and strength. He could smash her in his arms or pull her into a tight embrace and keep her safe from the world.

  "Solid metal becomes water under their touch. He reached out and his fingers melted into the gauntlet. He curled a fist around the switch and pulled it out. The device solidified again but Nancy dangled wires from his hand while Reis screamed in agony. The ore-mancers had fused it to the nerves in his arm," he said.

  The tentacle stroked her scales and she wondered if he were aware of the motion. Despite the cool temperature, her body heated. His gentle touch a brand that left a trail of fire dancing over her tail. "You were the one who needed saving, Fenton, not me."

  A frown drew his brows together. His tentacles swirled around and caged her close to him, but still only the one kept in contact with her. Each sucker left soft kisses as it moved up her body. "What do you mean?"

  "Think about how Nancy saved you. He could have taken me off the ship whenever he wanted, but you needed to break free of the chains Reis wrapped around your mind, and you could only do that by seeking to free me." She swept her tail against two more tentacles and held a smile inside when they embraced her. She sought his touch and dared his form to continue to awaken her desire.

  "You risked your life for me." He slid his hand around her waist.

  Her lips parted in a smile. Arms and tentacles could do so much more than either could do alone. Her nerves flared everywhere he reached and a new ache settled low in her body. One that demanded more. "Merfolk mate for life I would have done anything to free you. You longed for escape as much as I did."

  "You think I am your mate? But I am not a merman." The frown still lined his forehead.

  She tapped his muscular arm. "I love you, I knew it the moment I saw y
ou. And you really are being foolish, look at you. You are an aquatic creature, now we can be together, unless you do not love me?" She never considered that he might regret his words. She pulled back, had he changed his mind? Did he not want to be bound to her?

  His grip tightened on her body and his gaze never left hers. "I love you, Ailin," he spoke the words slow and deliberate. "If you would accept the heart of a kraken."

  "I will take you however I find you." Mischief quivered at the corners of her lips. "And I do hope you plan to take me?"

  He growled and the sound shot through her body to the tip of her tail and she shivered. The pain in his eyes disappeared to be replaced by love and lust. He drew her into his arms and pressed her close to his chest. Her breasts flattened against the hard muscle. With gentle care, his tentacles wrapped around her tail and held her willing hostage. Another stroked the dorsal line that ran from her lower back to fin. A shudder ran through her at the erotic touch, one no landwalker would know to give. Why would she ever want a merman when Fenton had an extra eight limbs to lavish attention on her body?

  Her mind flared with desire as her body opened for him and a sigh escaped her lips. His head lowered and he claimed her mouth. Their bodies entwined and drifted to the sway of the tide as they shared their passion.

  About A. W. Exley

  Books and writing have always been an enormous part of Anita's life. She survived school by hiding out in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At university, she overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.

  Today, Anita writes historical novels with a steampunk twist. She lives in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.

  Web http://www.awexley.com/

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  Artifact Hunters 1: Nefertiti's Heart

  Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

  London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father - sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumoured to hold the key to immortality.

  Her Majesty's Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid Nefertiti's Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.

  Self-preservation fuels Cara's search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.

  The series in available now

  Artifact Hunters book 1: NEFERTITI'S HEART

  Artifact Hunters book 2: HATSHEPSUT'S COLLAR

  Artifact Hunters book 2.5: THE UNICORN'S TAIL

  Artifact Hunters book 3: NERO'S FIDDLE

  Artifact Hunters book 4: MOSEH'S STAFF

  Tales from Darjee 2: Alise

  The Lady Alise has ruled the Darjee Empire for over a hundred years… until an assassin takes aim. And fails.

  Damn it.

  Ephraim is marked by a white feather tattoo, a permanent reminder of his cowardice. Ironic for a man who draws a soldier's pay, but he survives by keeping his head down and following orders. Until there's another failed attempt to end Lady Alise's reign and the petulant ruler delivers her latest retaliatory edict. One hundred healthy children are to be torn from their mothers and delivered to the ore-mancers. The wizards of metallurgy will turn young minds and bodies into monstrous automatons.

  Ephraim has hit his tipping point and maybe a broken coward can end a cruel regime where trained warriors have failed. But if he falters the children will be lost and his head will adorn a spike over the city gate. And that's his best case scenario….

  Coming 2016