As dark descended, she entered. Candles lit all the corners and glowed in the center of the room.
Thorne met her at the door. “Please come in.” He bowed.
Wait. What? He bowed to me. She tried out a tentative smile. “What’s this?”
With a wave of his hand, inviting her in, he said, “It’s for you. I hope you like it.”
Delicious scents wafted to her. She peered at the platters on the table. Grouper grilled with onions, potatoes, and zucchini. Warm pineapple topped with brown sugar. Fresh Cuban bread spread with butter. Her mouth watered and her stomach growled.
“Me?” Her heart sped up. Then she chuckled. “Good one. Who’s coming over?”
He led her to the table and pulled back a chair. “Please, sit. I did this for you.”
Head spinning from the honor, she sat. “I don’t deserve it.” If he knew about today...
He took a seat opposite her. “You do. I’ve wanted to do something special for you for some time. Tonight, I managed to pull it together.”
Tears filled her eyes and thickened her voice. “I thought you were mad at me.”
“More like upset with myself. I’m sorry I sent you mixed messages.” He offered her a platter. “Please, try some.”
She sampled the fish which melted on her tongue. “Delicious.”
Thorne pulled a bottle of chardonnay from an ice bucket beside him, opened it, and filled two goblets.
She raised hers for a toast. “What are we celebrating?”
He smiled and clinked with her. “To you, for all the progress you’ve made.”
A stab of guilt pierced her. I should tell him.
After they each took a sip, they set their glasses on the table.
Thorne passed the other dishes to Athenia.
For a few minutes, they ate in silence. The dinner is probably delicious, but everything tastes like sand and ashes. What should I do? I don’t want to spoil this evening. He went to so much trouble.
Athenia lifted her drink again. “Another toast.”
Thorne raised his.
“To you, for being the best mentor anyone could ask for and an incredibly forgiving and patient friend. I don’t deserve you.”
Thorne said, “And to us. We’re still finding our way, but in the end, we’ll be stronger for all we’ve been through.”
Her throat tightened, and her sip went down wrong. Coughing, she put down her wine. I can’t do it. If I tell him, I’ll lose him again, right when things are improving between us.
He came around the table and patted her back. “Are you all right? Can you talk?”
She coughed again. “I’m fine.”
Thorne sat back down. “Good. I thought you needed the Heimlich. That would ruin the dinner party.”
She cocked her head. “Him Lick?”
“You do it when someone has food stuck in their airway and can’t breathe.”
“I never heard of it.”
“Hmm... I forget sometimes you don’t know all our customs. Don’t Nerei ever choke?”
“Hardly ever. Our digestive systems are different.”
“It’s a way to save a life. Dislodges the obstruction. We humans are always in a hurry. We slurp down our food and try to breathe at the same time, but we’re not good at multitasking.”
“Well, Nerei eat underwater, and our gills work continuously while we chew and swallow, so we don’t inhale.”
He took a second helping of fish. “Would you like more?”
“I’m full. How do you do this procedure? It sounds like a good skill.”
“It’s not hard. You hold the person from behind, lock your hands, and pull up. The food pops right out.”
“Kind of gross, but if it helps...”
“Here, I’ll show you.” He came around the table again. “Stand with your back to me.”
She stood.
He put his arms around her. “Like this.” He gave a slight thrust from below her diaphragm and then held her, his mouth beside her ear. “You have to do it a lot harder to make the food come out.” His breath tickled her neck.
She shivered. How I wish we could stay like this forever. She went still, not wanting to do or say anything to ruin the moment.
Thorne kissed her throat and tightened his hold on her.
A thrill ran to her toes. “Oh. That feels incredible.”
He turned her around in his arms, so she faced him, then grazed her lips with his.
His lips were so soft and sweet, she trembled. She wanted more but was afraid to push.
He rested his forehead against hers. “I missed you. I hated leaving you alone so much this week, but I’m done now.”
“Were the meetings about Bo?”
“How did you find out?” He stepped back and looked into her eyes.
“I ate lunch with Deme today.”
“Is she all right?”
“She’s devastated, but she’ll hold herself together for the clan. Although Bo thought he did it for the greater good, she may never trust him again.”
Thorne crossed his arms over his chest. “The end rarely justifies the means.”
She frowned. “What does that mean?”
“A motto. Doing the wrong thing for a good reason doesn’t make it right.”
She chewed her lip, considering. “So, Bo hurting Deme and her family to try to stop the duel was bad, even if he did it because he cares about her and didn’t want her to fight.”
“Right. He should have found another way.”
“What if he couldn’t? Would it be better not to do anything and let them die?”
He tilted his hand from side to side. “Sometimes it’s a difficult call. Our mage philosophy is not to interfere in someone else’s business, even if we think what they’re doing is a bad idea.”
“But if the consequences are terrible, do you still stay neutral?”
“As much as possible. We finally stopped the duel because we couldn’t let Kyril kill Nik, but if we’d stepped in earlier, his sister might not have died.”
“So, you don’t possess all the answers?”
“We’re imperfect humans, like everyone else, only more powerful and therefore have more responsibility to act in as ethical a manner as possible.”
“I’m Nerei.” She backed away from him.
He pulled her to him again. “Physically, you’re different, but Nerei hearts and minds are the same as ours. We’re much more alike than you realize.”
He lowered his mouth to hers again.
Her body responded with a liquid rush of heat. She moaned. “You’re a fantastic kisser, Thorne Sanderson, but this isn’t fair if you’re going to suddenly decide it’s improper.”
He met her gaze. “I’m sorry. This is probably a bad idea…”
Disappointment sent shards of ice through her. “I understand.” She drew a shaky hand across her mouth.
He touched his lips to her forehead, then each cheek. “The others won’t approve, but they’re wrong. We’re good together, and this is right for us.”
She went weak from desire. He does want me. Thank you, goddess.
He trailed burning kisses down to her shoulder and caressed her back with his palm. Then he squeezed her butt and drew her hard against him.
She molded her body to his, rubbing against his erection. “I want you. Make love to me, please.”
He led her to his bed.
They sat side by side, kissing again, exploring each other’s bodies as if for the first time. It might as well be. As much as he thrilled me before, I seduced him for the wrong reason. I had a hidden agenda, and he was a stranger. Now, I realize what an extraordinary man he truly is, and I want to share this with him.
Athenia pulled her top over her head and threw it on the floor.
Thorne’s eyes widened. He took off his shirt.
She closed her eyes, waiting for him to reach for her again. At that moment, air surrounded her in a whirling tunnel. The candles went out, and the room w
ent black. “Thorne, what are you doing”
His voice came from a distance. “Nothing. It’s you.”
“What do I do? How do I stop it? Help!”
Thorne seemed to be moving farther away. “You blew right through the roof and now you’re flying over the trees. I’m trying to catch you, but you’re way ahead of me. Open your eyes.”
She gaped around her. She floated higher than the tallest pine. Still rising, she whirled in a mini tornado, which gathered dust, leaves, and pinecones, and swirled them around her. A cone smacked her in the face, and blood ran from a cut on her cheek from its sharp spikes. The whirling made her dizzy, and her stomach lurched.
She held her arms in front of her face to shield it from the debris. Calling on all her training, she managed to slow her ascent. After a minute, she stopped going up and hung in midair. Goddess please protect me. A fall from here would kill me. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she flailed for something to hold on to.
Thorne came alongside her and reached out. “I’ve got you.”
She grabbed his hand with both of hers and clung to it.
As he pulled her to him, her perception of time stretched. Seconds became hours while she fought to keep from falling and reach him.
He caught her. They descended a little at a time until her feet touched solid ground.
When her lungs screamed for oxygen, she gulped in air. “Oh, my goddess, Thorne, how did this happen? What should I do?”
He held her and patted her back. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
ΨΨΨ
After the nightmarish flight and Thorne’s inability to explain, Athenia couldn’t sleep. She arose from her hammock, slipped her feet into comfortable walking shoes, and tiptoed outside, not wanting to disturb Thorne. The T-shirt and shorts she slept in provided plenty of coverage for the warm night, but she wished for something to make the bugs stay away. Thorne says the commercial sprays are bad for the environment.
Mosquitos and gnats buzzed around her and landed on her arms. Yuk, this is awful. All right. No insect repellent, but I can keep them away using a little bit of power. At least, I hope that will be all right. Thorne thought she’d lost control due to the two of them almost making love. Therefore, he decided, they should maintain their distance, and she shouldn’t employ her abilities until they figured out how to solve the problem. A unilateral decision--I didn’t get a vote.
She channeled a tiny breeze which flowed around her and followed her. The bugs disappeared. They can’t fly into the moving air. She sighed in relief. Much better.
Not too concerned about snakes, she moved through the woods to her special spot. Cold-blooded creatures should all be in for the night. Though I’m probably too big for coyotes to consider prey, just in case... She hefted a stick. With this, I shouldn’t need to use unreliable supernatural talents if a pack does show up.
An idea about how to deal with Gelion had occurred to her while she’d lain sleepless in her hammock. Should I do it? Delphie refused to include this one in our grimoire, and she made me promise never to attempt the dark magic. Besides, I’m not sure I can manage. The spell was meant for two.
A lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it. No more crying. Guilt churned her gut. Black arts stain the soul, which was why Delphie didn’t want any part of this, but sometimes, you need the dark to fight evil. Besides, I can’t think of anything else. The siren song won’t be enough by itself. Although I don’t trust my abilities, I’ll need them since I’m doing this alone.
Leaving the stick on the ground, she took off her clothes and shoes and waded into the water. When she reached waist depth, she transformed and swam. She didn’t stop until she’d traveled miles out into the Gulf of Mexico. This should be far enough.
Treading water with small movements of her flukes and arms, she attuned her senses to the world around her. The water caressed her body like silk. Only the murmuring waves made any sounds. The waning moon cast a narrow golden path along the water as if pointing the way to a secret hideaway. Dear goddess, I wish I could sneak away and leave all these problems behind me. She shook her head to rid her mind of the hopeless desire to run away. I can do this.
Closing her eyes, she concentrated on building a detailed mental picture of Ceto, goddess of all the dangers of the deep. As the image formed, she fed the vision until it encompassed her inner being. It overshadowed her sense of self. She couldn’t differentiate between herself and the deity.
After a moment, she raised her arms above her head and twirled them around in a circular motion, sending the air into colossal currents. Clouds formed, covering the moon and turning the night obsidian. A sheet of rain hit her. A sudden wind piled the water into enormous, opaque breakers. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed.
Athenia added a rhythmic chant to the building energy of the storm-tossed ocean. She sang of her pain and fear and her desperate desire for the ocean to protect her. No creature can overcome the mighty sea. She invoked the spell.
“Ceto, goddess of the sea,
Mother of monsters,
Come to me.
Give me your power,
And do not let me fail.
I require your force
To stay the course.
Please help me prevail.
Only you can keep me free.
As I will, so shall it be.”
When her song ended, the water swirled around her faster and faster. A gigantic whirlpool opened beneath her and sucked her into its depths.
Around and around and down she sank. The turbulence threw her, bruising and battering her until it deposited her on the ocean floor.
Athenia peered through the swirling water. She lay at the center of a liquid whorl which towered above her, leaving the area around her devoid of water, except for a few puddles here and there. Though the churning mass surrounded her, not a drop touched her. A sound like the eruption of an underwater volcano boomed around her. She held her hands over her head and rocked back and forth. When the noise finally stopped, profound silence remained, and she rubbed her ears. Please goddess, don’t let me be permanently deaf.
An eerie green light filtered from so far above her she couldn’t guess how far she was from the surface. Doesn’t matter. If this thing collapses and so much water lands on me, I’ll be crushed.
A female voice echoed around her. “I hear and grant your petition. Remember, favors from the gods are not free.”
“I understand, I’ll do whatever you ask of me.” Why not? I owe one goddess an unnamed favor. Might as well make it two.
The voice answered. “The debt was settled, though not by you. However, you will carry the stain until you redeem what you owe.”
“What? Wait. What do you mean?” Athenia peered around. The swirling pool pulsed around her, but the goddess did not reply.
A few inches at a time, the vortex spread away from her, the whirling motion coming to a stop. The walls sank and reabsorbed, leaving her floating at the top of the water.
The storm had ended, the clouds blown away. In the east, the sunrise sent rosy streaks across the water. As the sun climbed, she rocked on gentle waves. Every muscle in her body ached. Purple bruises stood out like tattoos against her skin. Though she watched for them to fade, they stayed, contrasting starkly with her pale flesh. Guess it’s going to take some time to rejuvenate after this experience.
Triumph sang in her veins. I succeeded, I persuaded Ceto to help me, and I don’t owe her a favor either. This is perfect.
Allowing the water to cradle her, she drifted on her back. So tired, need to rest a little while. What did Ceto mean? Who paid, and why would someone else settle my debt?
With eyes too heavy to keep open, she allowed the Gulf to rock her to sleep.
When she opened her eyes, she believed only a minute or two had elapsed. The sun is still rising, painting the water scarlet with its dawn rays. However, midday heat poured over her. This doesn
’t make sense. The hour is too early for this high temperature.
What she saw added to her confusion. The sun is all the way up, but the water is still ruddy. How can that be?
A dead fish floated belly up a few yards away. Another drifted lifelessly beside her. As she inhaled, her chest hurt, and her eyes and nose dripped. More fish popped to the surface from all directions, hundreds of them, their eyes blank and staring. The color isn’t coming from the sun. Oh, my goddess. This is red tide, and it stretches as far as I can see.
ΨΨΨ
By noon, thousands of dead creatures littered the shore. More bobbed toward the cabin. The odor of decay was overwhelming.
Athenia stood at the window gazing out. The bodies of an osprey and a turtle washed by with the current.
As he entered, Thorne coughed. “This red tide is one of the most extensive in history.”
Shoulders slumped from carrying the weight of all those lost lives., she turned and faced him. “Millions of sea dwellers will die.” Sorrow dragged her down.
Thorne came to her and pulled her away from the window. “Don’t grieve. This is a natural phenomenon, a shame, but something that happens. More and more nowadays, though. Probably due to pollution.”
Unable to speak, she shook her head.
He hugged her. “Everything will be all right.” As he inhaled, he wheezed. “However, we’re leaving for a while.”
She pulled away. “Why?”
“The algae bloom affects me. Some humans react to it. Though I never did before, I’m bothered by it now. I’m having a hard time breathing.”
“Can’t you filter the air with your powers?”
He tilted his head. “For a time, but not while I’m sleeping, and the power use would drain me. Better to find somewhere else to stay.”
“Away from the coast?”
“Yeah, I need the fresh air inland.”
“But I need to be near water.”
“When it’s time to rejuvenate, you’ll still be able to reach the water. Trust me, this cabin won’t be habitable for months. Once the red tide ends, we’ll come back and clean up, but the stench and fumes will be too much until then.”
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