by C C Morgen
“I don’t know her well,” I added. “I know she has children she doesn’t see.
“That is true.” She guided me into the hut and sat me in a rickety, wooden chair. “She did once have a family. Even an entire pack. From what I learned, Hades gave her a proposition she didn’t refuse. Power and strength, in exchange for her service. Hades turned her into a Hell Hound. The first and the only one of her kind. Her bite became lethal and can kill an immortal being. It’s why they fear her and most of all the Queen.”
“That I know firsthand,” I muttered.
“Luna is loyal to the Dark Queen and follows her every step.”
“I’ve noticed that Luna never leaves her side unless she orders to do other tasks.” I thought about how she looked at my mother's beauty to suggest there’s more between them.
“Some would even think over time Luna fell in love with her mistress. Although, those are only rumors from the other servants. I never can trust gossip around this island. But if it were true,” She paused for a moment. “It would be sad.”
“Why? May I ask?”
“Because a fully transitioned Harpy can no longer experience true love towards their companion. It would be like an unrequited love.”
“Huh. Why am I not surprised by that answer?” I responded softly over the sadness that clouded my heart, thinking about what's destined for my life.
“A Harpy can want and desire, but never truly feel love towards a significant other. And Luna is loyal to a fault. Her mistress is her life no matter what arises, but the pain is there from a love untouched.” Amphis’ tone became mellow and empathetic for Luna. “I can only imagine being with someone for so long and never loved in return, especially being an immortal where all there is, is time. And the loneliness can be hard.”
“Do you feel lonely sometimes?” I asked, meeting her eyes.
“Not really.” She heaved a sigh. “I’m at peace with the solitude. It’s better than losing my freedom in this world.
“I know what you mean.” I frowned, thinking about my entrapment to this fate my mother has placed me on.
Amphis circled around me and placed her hand on my forehead.
“Where were you from originally?” she asked, sending her energy into my body.
“I came from the north in the mundane world.”
“The north? The Norse people of the ice and cold?”
I could sense her surprise. “Yes. That was my home.”
“What was it like?” Amphis asked insinuating she wanted to learn more about me.
“It’s not always cold. But not as warm as here either. It was still nice to swim in the lakes and the forest was a vast green as far as the eye could see. There were tall mountain peaks that had everlasting snow that never melted even in the summers. The winters were cold; however, it didn’t matter when there was a fresh patch of snow on the ground. As the sun rose every morning, the light reflected off the snow, making it shimmer like a sea of diamonds.” I shut my eyes to live in the memory of watching the dawn and dusk of my home I longed to see again. “My family lived in the forest in isolation just as you live here in silence. We too stayed away from the villages.”
“Why did you and your family live so far away from everyone?” Amphis asked still healing me.
“Because my brothers’ are Demigods, and my mother was a northern Goddess.”
“Huh?” Amphis pulled away in curiosity. “Who’s your family?”
“My brothers’ are Thor and Loki. The sons of Odin. My mother Frigga.”
“Odin… Frigga. The Gods of the north.”
“Yes,” I exhaled over her amazed reaction.
Amphis mouth dropped open slightly.
“Thor's really strong with his father’s godly strength. Loki is a shapeshifter, but a trickster unlike any other. Our mother, Frigga, is not our real mother, but she loved us and took care of us as her own in the mountains.”
“Do you have a gift as well?” She asked.
“Yes. I can hear and understand nature. I can hear the trees as they speak and the animals. I can also understand any language of any being.”
“That’s an amazing gift. I have the same ability.”
My eyes widen.
“I can speak to the ocean life and understand when they talk. Where I am from, Mermaids were my closest friends. Beautiful sirens of the deep, but deadly to mortals, since they feed on the life energy of humans.” Amphis frowned for a sheer moment. “Good things only last so long,” her eyes held that faraway look as though her life in the past was a distant dream.
“Why did you have to leave?” I asked, noticing her despair.
“There was something I needed to get away from.” She turned her frown into a grin. “So, I escaped and came here like most of the females that needed sanctuary.” She paused for a moment. “Let’s go by the water. I want to show you something else today.”
We went back outside onto the sand. The air was still and there were no waves. Amphis stepped out into the sea.
“Come here.” She reached out wanting me to take her hand and go into the water. It was warm on my feet as I held her hand. We strolled out further until the water covered our legs and the sea was at our waist. She stood close while sending her energy into the water making it clear like before. I could see how white the sand was underneath our feet.
“Why were you brought here?” Amphis asked abruptly?
“They brought me here to serve the Queen just like everyone else,” I lied. I didn’t want her to know who I really was. I knew for certain she’d treat me differently if she knew.
“Even if you didn’t tell me your gift. I wanted to show you mine.” With her same hand in the water she manifested a widespread pulse that expanded out into the sea.
“What was that?” I saw it ripple out on the ocean surface.
Amphis clutched my hand tighter. “Wait and see.”
We waited for just a short while where I stole glimpses of her face. I wondered about what she meant by escaping, but all I wanted was to just be around her, which gave me the comfort I needed to forget about my hardship.
Then unexpectedly, three large white sharks swam into the clear pool. Their bodies large and wide enough to swallow me whole. Their teeth sharp enough to rip through flesh, and their eyes black as the dark abyss of the sea. I gasped with fear.
“Easy,” Amphis said pulling me close to her. “It will be ok.”
The sharks circled around us and I remained uneasy and threatened when I could hear them in my mind. “Fresh meat.”
“That’s not very nice to say to my friend.” Amphis was stern with the sharks and let them know how disappointed she was by their behavior.
“Friend? Not Food?” The sharks said together.
“No! She is not food. Friend! Please, be nice to my friend.”
They circled closer to us. One grazed my leg, which made me jump with fear. The other sharks went near Amphis and she petted them gracefully with her free hand.
Amphis nudged me. “Say something to them.”
“Are you sure,” I said hesitantly.
“Go on,” She nudged me again. “Don’t be rude.”
I saw them swimming closer, and I cleared my throat. “Um hello. “I mustered up to say.
“Hellooo.”
“Hellooo friend.”
“Hellooo.”
I snickered at how the sharks were speaking. They were funny to listen to and the fear in me slowly faded. I felt secure enough with Amphis to pet one shark that kept rubbing against my leg like a kitten I once had growing up.
“Ok, my friends,” Amphis called their attention to her. “Thank you for visiting. You can go back to what you were doing.” Amphis politely sent them off back into the sea and the clear pool disappeared.
I fully submerged my body in the water. My heart was still beating so fast from meeting sharks for the first time after hearing about them from sailors from the coastal villages back home. Sharks were dangerous creatur
es if you were helpless in the sea. It amazed me that Amphis could control them and not have them harm us. The sea water was cool on my face and the salt washed in my mouth, making all my insecurities wash away into this harmonious feeling of happiness.
“That was unworldly,” I finally expressed to Amphis.
She too dropped deeper until her face was near the water.
“It was great, right?”
“Yes, it was. Thank you. But next time tell me what you are summoning.” I laughed “I thought my heart would burst with how fast it was beating.”
“But then it wouldn’t be a surprise.” Amphis gazed deep into my eyes with sincerity. “You are safe with me. No ocean creature will ever harm you as long as I’m here.”
“So, you are an Oceanic Nymph. Well, at least that’s what I heard.”
“That is true,” Amphis answered. “I’m different from a water nymph, which I believe you may have come across them on this island. They just stay near small pools of water, and they are too ritualistic with their moonlight dancing. That’s something I don’t do.”
“Well then, what do you do instead?” I asked.
“I go swimming deep in the depths of the sea for extended periods at a time.”
“You can do that? Stay under?”
“I can breathe underwater, so yes it’s possible for me.” She looked happy, knowing I was interested in her abilities. “Being down there it’s a magical place. I love being in the sea. One day, if you want—I can show you”
“Really?”
“Yes really,” Amphis assured me it’s a promise. “But do something for me in return.”
“What is it?” I asked with hesitation; not knowing what she intended.
“I want you to try hard to get better at protecting yourself. Become strong enough to survive Luna in training.” She had a hint of sadness in her tone. “I want to help you. And I understand you miss home and you're distracted by it.” She wrapped her arms around me in a warm-hearted hug that released more burdens from my soul. I held her, feeling how tender and warm she was even under the water. “I've felt connected to you since yesterday. And since then, I’ve sensed your pain in both heart and body.” She whispered in my ear. “I’ve known how much it hurts. Please forgive me. I cannot disconnect from you.”
I didn’t understand what Amphis was telling me. However, then I realized when her heartbeat into mine as one, and her touch amplified as if she was an extended version of myself. It was invigorating and confusing. This is what it's like to create a link with someone and finally that passion I was looking for was there that I never had with Edon and Alucard. It ignited like a spark, blazing harmoniously within my soul.
CHAPTER VII
Love Is Acceptance
TIME HAD PASSED SINCE I PROMISED AMPHIS I’d become stronger. Our connection was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. Something linked our emotions and we could sense if the other was in pain. It was like no secrets could be hidden between us, which made me conscious of my efforts to make sure Amphis didn’t find out the dark secret I kept from her. I could sense how much she cared about me and our friendship became stronger with patience, but I couldn’t fully trust her with my true identity.
She shared negative thoughts about Harpys. When talking about my clan, there was nothing positive she could say about them. Some words that spilled from her mouth was heartless, dark, manipulators, feared. As Amphis spoke, her dislike for Harpys was evident, making my anxiety grow as I listened to her. To hear her speak about my true family with such disdain helped me with my decision to never reveal to her I was to become the thing she despised. My ascension was a surety, the longevity of my growing friendship with this beautiful being wasn’t.
I shared my gift with her one night in the forest near a pond where I knew Pixies had lived in the center of the island. Twinkling lights in the trees were like fireflies in the dark. The pond swirled in fluorescent colors from the Fairies enchanting the waters. I had asked them to help me impress someone special. Amphis’ eyes widened as the small lights floated around us.
“It’s like the stars had come down to meet us,” she said as she held my hand through the night.
Life became so much more fun with Amphis there to raise my spirits and to make me smile. Every day I met with her after training. I kept my promise to become strong. It seemed so long ago, yet the memory was fresh in my mind.
I trained increasingly after my lessons with Luna. I worked on becoming more agile, by running faster like the wind, and I had to become flexible like water. Amphis helped me to move like the water by approaching an attack passively, not to disarm with brute force.
She taught me how to swim for extended periods of time that worked every muscle in my body until it ached. It amazed me at how strong she was despite her fair appearance. Her endurance while swimming left me struggling to keep up. She had me feel the gravity underwater; to experience how the water slowed my movement. Her power was beyond imagination as she easily bended the water and moved it around like snakes; twisting and turning in the air. Then by using the force of her energy, she could cut through the ocean surface like a blade and split apart the water to move it aside in the cove; creating a path into the sea.
The ocean was peaceful with Amphis and I was safe with her; always in content when we were together. Without her, I would have run away long ago and try to find my friends and family again. Although, I wouldn’t have my freedom for too long. I knew my mother would find me as she peeked upon my life for so many years. I always feared my mother would already know what I’ve been doing all this time, but I wanted to act blinded by ignorance for as long as possible, before something made the truth known. As time passed, my body changed and became stronger. Muscles grew in places I never knew existed. My body leaned out and built definition like my mother’s collection of Greek and Roman sculptures of the ideal beauty.
Along with my body maturing further, training with Luna became easier over the years; working hard every day improving myself to something worthy of a fight. It was no longer easy for her to hit me. I’d became quick at dodging and running away. Luna would try to run after me in the woods, but even she had trouble matching my pace. I learned to run and glide through trees just like a Dark Elf. I gained the speed of a wolf; moving quickly and dodging Luna’s sword. The sharp curved blade would glide near me, but never touched me. I chose as my weapon, lightweight, double daggers to fend her off; my blades colliding with hers. However, she would always land a hit that would send me flying to the ground.
“Better,” Luna expressed with a grin. Even if it was one word, I took it to heart as a compliment.
I would end up in the cove afterwards for healing. Amphis always waited for me, knowing when exactly I’d arrive. Our connection grew stronger with every length of time we spent together to a point I read her thoughts. We’d lay on the beach sunbathing some days. Other days we would swim out to the coral reef. Then our relaxing days, we would sit in the forest near the pond where I once took her that starlit night.
She had always been open about her life; telling me stories of her home, when she experienced attraction, romance, and her first kiss. I sometimes forgot she is an immortal being that has lived for hundreds of years before me. It was awkward with how much she had lived through and I was only nineteen years of age.
Three years we have been friends, finding comfort in each other’s company. However; just like I’d sensed it before with Alucard and Edon, I was sensing a change in the way she now looked at me. It made my heart flutter. Her gazes became longer. She became bolder, flirting with me with stolen touches when we laid in the sand; she would have me rest my head on her lap. When I napped in the sand sunbathing, I felt her breath on my face like she wanted to kiss me.
If only she knew I wanted the same. There was still the fact she will never accept me as a Harpy. Then there was this strange hunger inside me. It grew stronger and my will to keep it locked away grew weaker. I never understood wha
t happened that time with Yuna, triggered by our sexual desire. Since then I kept my feelings under tight control; pulling back from what I wanted the most for the last three years. Amphis is what I wanted.
“Can you please tell me more about your life back in the north?” she asked.
I hadn’t opened up too much about my life, only because deep down inside I still held an ache in my heart from missing home.
“I miss my friends,” I longed over their faces in my mind. “I was friends with a Dark Elf and a Werewolf back home. Friends since childhood.”
“A Dark Elf and a Werewolf.” She looked at me puzzled. “Those are creatures of the Underworld and you were friends with them.”
“What’s with the look?” I asked.
“Dark Elves are not the friendliest of creatures in the dark forest. They keep to their own and do not let in outsiders. So, I’m surprised you made friends with one. You must have really captivated them.”
“My ability intrigued them. Apparently, it’s a rare gift among their people.
“It’s not a common ability to have. What were their names?” she asked.
“Alucard and Edon. They were my best friends.” I gave off a vibe by accident and Amphis realized it.
“I sense that there was something more to this dual friendship.” She sounded like my brother Loki, getting excited over secrets being revealed.
“It's complicated.” I tried to be vague.
“Complicated how?” She asked.
I stayed silent.
“Did they fall in love with you?”
I glanced at her with sad eyes. “Yeah, they did. Complicated.”
“I’m not surprised though.” She brushed strands of hair from my face behind my ear. “You’re enchanting. And you are kind. Even the island is mesmerized by you.”
I looked away. “Now you are just teasing me.”
“Tease not. Every breath I take, telling you this will be worth the smile on your face right now. So, now I want to hear the rest of the story.”
“Well, they wanted me to choose between them. To become their companion.”
