by Anne Bourne
At last the tunnel opened into a large cavernous space. Strange worms glided over the walls and small, eyeless fish that looked like glass sifted through the sandy bottom. Ephyra looked around at the oblong obsidian structures that sat, three across in the middle of the space. They pulsed with a purple glow and there were sigils written all over them.
The mirror reflected the three stones and then Ephyra saw again the darkened sun. The mirror heated in her hand and urgently she felt it pull toward the stones. Ephyra saw a small hole opening up at the base of the middle stone, the tallest. Purple and green symbols began to glow brighter as she took the mirror toward them. The opening was a perfect fit for the handle of the mirror and called to it, pulling the mirror toward it like a siren.
A blast like thunder with no sound made her dart back. The stone began to hum, the pressure increased in the chamber. Ephyra saw the mirror spinning in the hole, its gold light sparking like a jellyfish.
The mirror stopped spinning and in its glass, she saw Scyllane’s peaceful face, restored to her former glory. The mermaid smiled faintly.
“Destroy the runes, princess. Under a blue moon is the only time you will have the power to set him free.” The sea witch disappeared.
Ephyra experimentally grabbed the mirror to see if she could pull it out. However, when she tried the stone began to crack. Ephyra let out a breath. Destroy the stones. She placed both hands on the mirror and cranked it every way, making the stone tremble and groan as pieces fell apart. The sigils gave a scream that sounded almost human as their light faded from them. Ephyra gasped and pulled harder, the mirror grew hot. Finally, the stone broke into dust and the two on either side fell to rubble.
She floated back and watched the mirror explode into thousands of sparkling fragments. The eyeless fish ate the particles as they got in their way. The walls of the chamber went dark and Ephyra was lost in it. She only heard the faint scrabbling of the fish and crabs and her erratic breathing. Ephyra groped blindly in the dark for the opening she’d come through.
There was a huge, piercing shaft of white and purple light that suddenly erupted from the black stones. Ephyra saw the opening and darted in to it just as the rocks began to quiver. The magic shot out of the chamber like javelins and shattered the stones. Ephyra swam quickly, scraping her hands and tail on the rocks as she made for the end of the tunnel.
The opening was close and Ephyra pushed hard to get out. She shot away from the crumbling tunnels and only stopped to glance back. White light was spiraling up to the surface in a funnel of bubbles and what looked like ancient shapes, old merfolk. Ephyra swam away, feeling an immense relief but tinged with sadness. She could let Gabriel go now but she found she didn’t want to.
• • •
Jake cocked his head at the distant white light that blasted from the foaming waters and lit up the dark clouds like reverse lightning.
“Did you do that?”
“No,” Gabriel said, staring at the column of light that seared through the cloud bank. Lightning seemed to be attracted to it and the whole thing went up in a blaze of fire.
“What was that about? Did he come back?” Gabriel half joked.
“I don’t think so,” Jake said uncertainly.
Ephyra’s head popped up above the waves and they both gasped in happiness. Gabriel found his feet and plunged into the water to encircle her in his arms. She returned his hug as they fell into the waves.
“You won, you did it,” she said hardly able to speak. Gabriel didn’t have words either, so he took her face in his hands and plunged down to kiss her. Then, he drew back quickly.
“We can’t do this anymore, can we?” he said bitterly and let his hands fall away.
Ephyra bit her lip. She smiled through her tears.
“I released you. You’re free.” She tried to sound happy.
Gabriel regarded her for a tense moment.
“What do you mean, released me?”
“The sun,” she motioned to the blackened orb. “It’s now blue. A blue moon. The one time when the runes could be destroyed. You won’t be a slave or a merman,” Ephyra told him and gave him a playful shove.
Gabriel let it move him back. He wasn’t sure why his heart was tearing and why he wasn’t happy he was keeping his legs. He searched Ephyra’s eyes to see if this was what she wanted but she had turned to Jake for distraction.
“Jake!” Ephyra exclaimed and went to embrace her friend. The merman hugged her tightly and flopped his way into the deeper water. Gabriel felt waves slapping his thighs, but he was frozen in place.
“Thank you more than you know, Gabriel,” Ephyra turned to him and he sank down into the water so he was eye level with her. The mist sprayed his hair black and Ephyra had to swallow hard at his chiseled, familiar face. She had to resist the urge to give him the stone again and come with her. He belonged here.
“I wish I could repay you,” she started, but he cut into her gratitude angrily.
“I didn’t do this for anyone but you. And now you want nothing to do with me?”
Gabriel saw she was trying hard not to cry and somehow he didn’t care at the moment. “I thought you’d be happier where you belong and not with me,” she said softly. Jake quietly slipped under the water.
“You have to take care of Marcus and your mother. I have too much responsibility here. I just thought it was the best solution and you wouldn’t be bound to me.”
Gabriel’s lips thinned. His anger fueled all the energy he had left. I am bound to you by more than a simple law, I thought you felt the same, he thought but banished it. She was right though, they had no life together. A realm needed its ruler. He couldn’t smile but he didn’t want to leave with like this.
“Thank you for my freedom,” Gabriel said tightly and brushed her hair from her face.
Ephyra pulled herself toward him but Gabriel didn’t move toward her.
“I can still see you, right? We can meet at night along the shore … I love you,” Ephyra blurted.
“Of course,” he lied. Gabriel felt his chest suffocating and he needed to get out of the water.
I love you, he thought but couldn’t say it.
Ephyra slipped under the waves and he saw her tail wave farewell. He stood, the water rushing around his legs and the sand swirling at his feet. Gabriel sluggishly made his way toward shore. He spread his toes on hard packed sand, remembering how it felt to have fins instead. He sighed as he heard the sound of a motor boat. Gabriel turned to see his brother waving and the white boat bouncing on calm waters. The rain was lessening even more.
Gabriel walked along the shore toward the docks. He couldn’t feel his feet, couldn’t feel his body. All he felt was loss and it consumed him like a drowning man.
Chapter Forty-Six
“This is amazing,” Marcus declared and lifted his margarita to toast Jane and Gabriel. They were sitting on Tortola, the sun shining on the wreckage of the coast but shining nonetheless. He’d bought two condos and he’d insisted Gabriel have the one with the best view. The white balcony overlooked the spectacular ocean, crescent white beach and the distant other islands.
The following two weeks after the storm, they’d laid low but discovered no one missed drug dealers too much. Marcus had gone back to the warehouse and club, declaring Sanchez’s operation over. The men disappeared into the grimy cracks of the city and Marcus was left with nearly a million dollars. After careful consideration. they’d decided no one would believe the money was left after Sanchez was killed by sea monsters and mermaids. Marcus had declared it his and offered to give Gabriel half. His brother, the enigma he was, declined except for a new car and airfare home.
“It’s been a trip all right,” Jane said, her blue eyes sparkling. She sipped her drink and cast a worried glance at Gabriel. He’d been sketchy on the details but told them the m
erfolk were safe. He hadn’t so much as mentioned Ephyra.
A day later, sitting in silence, Gabriel stared at the shifting blues of the water before him. He wondered if she were out there, wondering where he was.
Marcus came out to the balcony, cleared his throat and shoved the plate of food toward his brother. Jane followed him with margaritas.
“Better eat before you leave. You sure you don’t want to stay a while?”
Gabriel shifted his attention to his brother.
“I need to get back. Mom’s been going crazy,” he said, ignoring the chilled shrimp.
“I was thinking we should come up for Christmas this year.” Marcus smiled at Jane. She returned it with a giggle.
“She’d like that.”
Gabriel was glad his brother was maturing. He smiled as best he could. His thoughts of home led him to rethink his career. Gabriel didn’t want to go back to the classroom, the crowded halls, the academic headache or the grading. He leaned back and knew where he wanted to be but it was impossible.
“We’re going to take a walk tonight, if you want to come,” Marcus said and took a gulp of his margarita. “Turtles should be coming up or maybe we’ll hear the whales again.”
Gabriel smiled, again for appearance sake. He remembered a certain whale that’d saved his life. He wished he could talk to her again. The humid air suddenly seemed to close in his lungs. There would be no more beach walking for him.
Chapter Forty-Seven
The whales voices filled Gabriel’s head on the entire plane ride back, the car ride to his place, and even as he unpacked. The swell of the ocean seemed to follow him even in the whisper of the trees. The tow company had brought his car back and he was grateful to see it hadn’t been covered in vandalism. He’d sell it for as much as it was worth. The Lexus he had now more than sufficed.
The only thing that distracted him was Dag when he picked up the dog from the sitter. The yellow ball of fur licked him furiously and seemed determined not to let him out of his sight this time. Gabriel sat with the dog on the couch, listlessly watching TV for hours on end. He took him on long runs but even that didn’t deplete the energy in his mind. Gabriel found nights were the worst. He couldn’t find rest and his mind kept running the last week in his head as if it were his only memory.
The cold breeze of fall had settled over the city and already Christmas decorations were beginning to be sold in stores. Gabriel put in his notice to the college and didn’t feel any regret the next day. He felt a weight lifted from his chest, actually.
One sleepy, gray afternoon Gabriel woke to the sound of his cell phone. Sleep came to him in patches of time. He turned over and saw it was his mother’s number. He ignored it pulling the pillow over his head. Dag snored on the ground next to the bed.
Gabriel felt as if something dark had aimed for his heart but just missed it, keeping him alive to suffer. Instead the pain was all consuming and never ending. Erebos was just a shadow now in his dreams. Gabriel wondered if the circumstances hadn’t collided if he’d have beaten the dark lord. But the possibilities all resulted in the same outcome. Ephyra was gone.
Unable to fall back to sleep, Gabriel got up and did something he never did. He took a bath. He filled the tub with hot water and sank into the soapy warmth, letting it cover his head. He tried to feel gills on the back of his head, willing them to come. When his lungs burned and he was on the verge of passing out he came up for air. This was stupid and Gabriel cursed himself for the thought. He dried off and just as he was apathetically picking a shirt to wear, Dag barked.
The dog took off at a hopping run toward the door. Gabriel passed on a shirt and went to open the door. He was dismayed to see Kim, her blond hair fluffed and her sweater tight. She took in his bare chest with wide, hungry eyes and a smile.
“I thought you might like this,” she purred and held out a casserole. “Your mom has been worried about you.”
Gabriel saw a flash of red.
“You spoke with my mother?”
Kim seemed taken aback by his tone and nervously smoothed her sweater. It swelled over the nice curves of her body but she could have been naked and Gabriel wouldn’t have cared.
“Well, I had been worried since you’ve been gone so long and I called her,” Kim explained.
“I see. Thanks for this,” Gabriel said and took the dish. He walked to the kitchen to put it in the fridge. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kim sidle inside the door.
“So, I was thinking if you wanted to go out to dinner with me and some friends tonight you’re welcome. I mean, I know I made you dinner, but Sark’s is supposed to be better than a chicken casserole … ”
Gabriel listened with half an ear.
“I’m afraid he’s engaged tonight,” a commanding voice came from behind him and Gabriel froze. That voice reverberated through his core and he felt his throat choking.
“Who are you?” Kim asked.
Gabriel turned and his body started to shake. Ephyra stood in the doorway dressed in a long brown coat and boots. Her raven’s wing hair glistened and fell around luminous gold eyes. Kim was giving her a distinctive laser glare, sizing up the other woman. Gabriel barely registered Kim as he stared at Ephyra and her sweet, if a bit regal, smile. She was just the way he remembered her on two legs, a little unsure but seemed to float just the same.
“Can I come in?” Ephyra asked teasingly and Kim smirked.
“Yea,” Gabriel managed and then shook himself. “Kim, this isn’t a good time.” He couldn’t help the grin breaking out on his face as his neighbor exited, her nose in the air.
Ephyra came toward him and as if in a dream, he ran to her and picked her up in his exuberance. She smelled of the sweetness of the sea. Her hair tangled in his face and Gabriel crushed her in his arms. He finally set her down but didn’t release her.
“Do you need the champ already?” he joked and saw her smile. Her face was so familiar but it felt as if he hadn’t seen her in years.
Ephyra grinned and shook her head.
“I just love you.”
Gabriel circled her in his arms and kissed her head. He couldn’t stand not being closer to her but any closer and he’d squeeze the breath from her.
“I love you,” he whispered next to her ear. He felt her pull back and there were tears in her eyes.
“I want to live with you for as long as you’ll have me,” she said tremulously. “The weeks without you have been miserable and I’ve been no help to my people. I will stay human with you for as long as you need me.”
She opened her coat to reveal the blue moonstone hanging on a silver chain around her neck.
Gabriel also saw that she wore a tank top with no bra and shorts underneath it. That was his woman, no sense of human clothing at all.
“I would have you forever,” was all he said before descending on her mouth and touching her lips.
Ephyra melted into him as he held her, stripping off her coat and then leading her toward his room. She kicked the cumbersome boots off and moaned at his touch. Gabriel used every part of his body, his hands, his mouth, to let her know how much he loved her.
They loved each other for hours until at last they collapsed on the bed exhausted. Ephyra fingered the stone thoughtfully and sighed contentedly. Gabriel folded his hand over hers and the stone.
“What happens now? Who’s running your realm?” he asked with a wry smile.
“Jake and Muriel,” Ephyra giggled. “They were both more than happy to take over. I think the merfolk need to see humans aren’t the enemy we think they are. We’re hoping to set up an alliance, with your help of course.”
“Sounds like a job.” Gabriel kissed her swollen lips. He didn’t think he’d ever tire of feeling their softness.
“If we could work together maybe the oceans would thrive i
nstead of being depleted.”
“If anyone can get this done it’s you and a certain champion. I would still like to retain my title,” he teased and she kissed him to shut him up.
Gabriel cupped her face in his hands.
“Does this mean I can marry you?” he asked seriously.
“Well, I didn’t come back to be your mistress,” she said with a grin. He laughed and enfolded her in his arms.
“As long as the stone remains on me I’ll be human. After five years I will need to make a decision where I want to stay,” she explained and Gabriel nuzzled her ear.
“And what would I have to do to convince you to stay?” he asked huskily. Her kiss answered nothing but this for a lifetime.
About the Author
Emily Bourne is a pen name for the author who resides in the Midwest with her husband and a Lab/pit mix who likes to sit on her feet while she writes. She followed her love of words and art to a bachelor’s degree in English, a minor in art, and has always had a passion for story telling since she was old enough to write. She loves the natural world and likes to combine that with supernatural twists.
You can find her on Facebook or on her blog http://rainingpaint.wordpress.com/, she would love the company!
A Sneak Peek from Crimson Romance
(From The Gettysburg Vampire by Susan Blexrud)
November
Kyle Matson leaned close to Abby Potter. “That vampire is about as scary as a hand puppet,” he whispered in her ear, and then he jumped out of his director’s chair. He dismissed the cowering student actors with a quick wave. “Take five. No, take ten. Oh, hell, let’s just wrap for the day.”
