by Anna LaVerne
“My righteous daughter. I never expected Ares and I could create such a balanced creature as you. I am proud and will continue watching you.”
“I hope you enjoy the show.” After that, she smiles and is gone before I can blink.
If I am powerful, when will someone teach me to be able to travel anywhere with a thought? It would make this trip so much easier. I am certain she wants to keep my growth stunted to prolong the inevitable meeting between myself and Poseidon.
I decide to not to tell the guys. A large part of me worries they will take the side of Aphrodite and Amphitrite to protect my existence. What they won’t understand is, I don’t want to exist without them. They are my family, and I want to keep us together. If that means another god or goddess dying, then so be it. They have been here too long, anyways.
My eyes scan the water, and I notice a dorsal fin on the horizon. My heart swells with happiness, knowing that nature is supporting me. The ecosystem of the sea is of utmost importance. I will spend my life protecting it, but first, I have to guarantee my men will be there working by my side.
I push off the rail and go to visit Morgan. I find him standing over the radar. He gives me a fatigued smile, and I return the gesture by rubbing his shoulders.
“The sharks are following us,” he observes.
“I know.”
“Hopefully, they will back off when we go into port. They may stir up hysteria among the humans. Cayman Islands are a popular tourist destination.”
“I’m sure they will, they seem smart enough.” I am not really concerned.
“I never thought of sharks as being intelligent. They have always been instinct-driven creatures.”
“Like me,” I interject.
“Like you?” he asks.
“Yeah, everything I have done so far has been off of instinct. I don’t make any grand plans. You are the planner; when in battle or in a tight spot, I run solely off of instinct.” I think back to the moment I saved Lilly. If I had known, I probably would have still done it. I hate killing, even if I am bloodthirsty. It’s a shame that Poseidon doesn’t realize that it was all a big misunderstanding. Maybe he craves some action after years of being inactive. I sigh again.
“You okay?” Morgan asks.
“I will be once all of this is over. How much longer will it be before we arrive?”
“I am guessing at night. We are flying out tomorrow. It will be close to a twenty hour flight, so you should feed well before boarding the plane.”
“The idea of being in a plane is terrifying.”
“Laki hates flying, too,” Morgan smiles like it is a joke that flying scares a creature of the sea.
I smack him on his back, “I will send Aden up to take a shift. He has had a good rest.”
“We all heard,” Morgan says. Heat rushes to my face. I knew they would all hear me, but still don’t want to hear from them that they heard. If that makes any sense at all. I exit the room allowing the door to close behind me.
The rest of the afternoon goes on without a hitch. I find myself gravitating towards Laki, so he knows I care. The port comes into view right at dusk. I put on a nice red sundress I found in my small closet and pair it with the flip flops that came from Florida with me. It takes longer than I expected to get the the boat situated. I am itching with anticipation to step foot in a new place.
“Can we go off the boat to eat dinner tonight?” I ask Morgan, certain he will say yes.
“That is the plan,” Aden answers from behind me.
I can’t help but clap my hands in excitement. My life may be unique, but it has been sheltered.
“Charles is here,” Morgan states.
“Where?” I ask trying to look over the edge of the yacht for him.
“Over there,” Laki leans over my shoulder, pointing to a man in white shorts, sandals, and a loose short-sleeve blue button-up shirt, which is untucked.
“Oh,” I reply.
“Not impressed?” Laki questions.
“Well, I thought he would be wearing a suit. ‘Charles’ sounds so professional. Like a butler.”
“He is far more talented than a butler.” I turn to look at Laki with my eyebrows scrunching together, trying to understand.
“The last time I saw him he looked like a butler.”
“Think of him more as the guy on the land who gets things done. He was the one who found you for us.”
Charles is now climbing the stairs to the yacht. I follow Laki over to be formally introduced.
“Charles, you remember Meri, Key to Atlantis?” Morgan asks, gesturing to me.
“Y-yes I do. Nice to see you again, Meri.” He extends his hand and shakes mine. Charles is a handsome enough guy. Older in appearance than my four, but strong and capable with dark hair and dark eyes.
“These are for you.” He hands me a passport with my former name in it–Wendy McNamara.
I look at the picture, and it is like staring at a stranger. The person is me, but my eyes are empty and my hair is flat. I wasn’t myself during that time, and now I am going to forever be forced to play the part of Wendy McNamara on land.
“Thank you,” I force out through my lips with resentment. I suffered for twelve years, not even realizing I was suffering. Every part of my being wants to take out my frustration on Poseidon, but something is holding me back. I am aware that what happened was also partially my fault.
“Did you schedule the flights?” Morgan asks Charles, interrupting my thoughts.
“Yes, you all will leave tomorrow morning on a direct flight to Athens.”
“And twenty hours right?” I question them again, fear welling up inside of me, nearly making me crazy.
“You’re a goddess, you will be fine,” Laki reassures me in response to my near panicked state.
“Like you’re one to talk. We all know you are as scared as Meri is,” Breck counters.
“It will be fine,” Laki grinds out between clenched teeth. Breck must have hit a sore spot.
“I’m sitting next to Laki then,” I reply, taking his arm, thinking if we are both going to be scared, we can be scared together.
“Well, if you all are hungry, I found a nice seaside bar and grill within walking distance,” Charlie suggests, and I nearly jump out of my shoes in excitement. My life might be a crazy mess of god drama, but today is the first time I am going to get to experience land with my memories intact.
“That sounds perfect!” I say in my excitement. I take off to my room to pick up a small white cross-body bag I brought with me when I was found, only because I needed a safe place to keep my passport. When I open it up, I see that there is still sixty dollars of wadded up money in the bottom. It is pretty much worthless to me now. I throw it over my shoulder and head back on deck with the guys, “Okay, I am ready!”
They all laugh, and this time, Laki guides me with his hand on the small of my back just like Aden often does. I am left grinning ear to ear. Saving him was one of the best choices I have made. Unfortunately, his free will to leave me has been taken away with the consumption of my blood. However, I like to believe he was already bound to me through something even deeper. Our strands were woven together by the fates long before we even met. Now I just need to know the end game they are playing, but that can wait until after I experience my night out in the Cayman Islands.
29
The sun is setting, and the lights along the boardwalk are lit up. We saunter past store after store of little knick knacks. I pull Aden into one full of wind chimes. I am unable to resist running my fingers along each one, creating an entire store of discombobulated music. Aden smiles as he watches my wonder at things I know I have seen before but never really experienced.
The store after that is full of hand made beads and glass. Morgan sees me eyeing a large blue glass orb with red swirling within it. It reminds me of how the ocean mixes with blood. He picks it up to pay for it but I grab his arm to stop him, “I no longer have a place to keep things like this in.
”
“You will, even if it has to be on the yacht with us. You will have a home.”
I entwine my arm with his as he pays, and the cashier wraps the orb of glass in protective paper. Morgan then hands the bag to me to carry. The lights and atmosphere of the area are pure magic. I grew up in a magical place, but the fact that all of this is done with pure human ingenuity is impressive.
The only thing that keeps bothering me is seeing bits of trash on the ground, and the occasional cigarette butt. The earth feels as if it is hurting, and it makes me queasy. Soon, Charles is leading us into a restaurant that sits upon the pier.
The tables sit outside beneath the sky, surrounded by lights that stream in and out of surrounding light poles creating a jovial atmosphere. We are ushered to a large round table near the railing to the ocean below. My face is beginning to hurt from the smile stretched across it. Everyone orders a drink, and not knowing what to order Morgan steps in and places my drink order for me.
“She will take a frozen margarita and a glass of water.”
As soon as the waitress walks away I have to ask, “What is a margarita?”
I am certain I never had one while I lived on land. Depression ruled my life during that time, and the bits and pieces of what I do remember are either fantasies from books or what I garnered while at work. I don’t even remember having friends.
“It is an alcoholic beverage made with tequila. Most girls like them,” Charles answers.
“Most girls?” I ask, giving him the look. I am nothing like most girls, however, I am still excited to try one. I break the short tension that follows, “So, does this mean I am going to get drunk?” I bounce in my seat, excited for the possibility.
Laki laughs, and Aden answers, “I honestly don’t know. It is possible, but then again, I have never had a drink with a goddess before.”
“The gods drink heavily in Olympus, or so that is the rumor,” Charles answers making me wonder where all he has really been and why he is helping us.
“Do I want to be drunk?” I ask, feeling a little dumb.
Laki laughs again, and I hit him on his leg since he is sitting next to me. His hand goes over his heart like he is wounded by my actions.
“Some people like it too much,” Morgan warns. At least they are encouraging me to try something new.
When the waitress returns with our drinks, everyone orders food. Once again, Morgan takes the lead, ordering me crab legs. My tall glass of frozen margarita sits on the table before me. The glass has a blue tint, and the margarita, itself, is a pale green within. Tiny rocks line the edge of the glass in a single line.
I point to the little rocks and without even having to voice my question Laki answers, “Salt. Tequila and salt go well together.”
“I like salt.” Atlantis and the sea has an infinite supply of the seasoning in one form or another.
My hands tremble with a mix of anticipation and nerves as they carefully touch the wide portion of the glass. With one hand on each side, I carefully bring it to my mouth, but pause before taking a drink. All eyes are on me, waiting to see my reaction.
“You don’t have to try it, if you don’t want to. I only thought it would be a bit of a stress reliever,” Morgan says from across the table.
My eyes take him in. He has no idea how much of a stress reliever getting to visit a new place has been. Ever since stepping foot in the Cayman Islands, I feel like all my problems are 10,000 leagues beneath the sea. Without taking my eyes off of Morgan, I take my first ever sip of alcohol.
The salt is a bit of a shock, but the margarita, itself, is surprisingly pleasant. “This isn’t bad at all!”
The men all laugh, and the night continues on a good note. Our food arrives, and the crab legs are delectable. Everything about the evening is perfect. Morgan ends up ordering me more margaritas. I became lightheaded, and the world buzzes around me. Before I know it, I am laughing at everything, and my face is numb.
“Time to cut her off,” Aden remarks.
I pout, “No, just one more drink, then we can go.”
“Aden is right, we need to head back soon. Our plane is leaving early in the morning,” Morgan says while opening his wallet and throwing a wad of cash down on the table.
I stand to follow but almost fall over. Laki reaches out, taking my arm to steady me. “You are so handsome,” I slur. “I love your dark eyes and how you’re black and red in the water.”
He smiles and leans in close to my ear, “Shh, you can’t talk like that in public. Don’t want people to know our secrets.”
I make a big show of covering my mouth and then responding with, “Oh right, shhhhhhhhh . . .”
After we finally make it outside, I can’t be quiet a moment longer, “Do y’all wanna hear a joke?”
“Yes, please tell us a joke, Meri,” Laki encourages.
“Don’t encourage her,” Aden chastises him.
“Don’t be such a manatee, Aden,” I spout back.
Everyone laughs. “A manatee? What?” Morgan asks, finally looking like the younger man I met in Atlantis.
“You know they are slow and boring,” I reply.
“Have you ever even seen a manatee?” Aden asks.
“Uh no, but I’m from the ocean, so I know these things.”
“If you say so.”
“Why don’t clams give to charity?” I blurt out the question. Every one of them stops in the middle of the boardwalk and turns to stare at me.
“Because they are shellfish!” I reply and burst out laughing. Best. Joke. Ever. Laki and Breck laugh with me, while the others just sigh and start walking again.
“Told you I was funny,” I say just before I start rambling on about the various things we walk past. Once we reach the yacht, Laki picks me up and carries me up the stairs. Most likely, it’s done out of the fear I’d fall down them, breaking my drunk neck.
Once aboard, I start up again, “Do you think it is Zeus watching us? Do you think he is concerned about which main god has to die for me to exist?”
“What did you say?” Morgan asks.
I repeat myself, “Do . . . you . . . think . . . Zeus . . . is watching me because a god has to die for me to continue to exist?” Laki puts me on my feet, helping me stabilize my alcohol induced wobble
Morgan opens the sliding glass door, I stride through, plopping myself down on the very soft white sofa. I put a pillow under my head and close my eyes. I swear the room is starting to spin.
Someone nudges me, “What do you mean a god has to die for you to exist?”
“Only so much energy for the gods, I have too much . . . something about balance, and yada yada yada. . . .”
Sleep is trying to claim me when another nudge taps my shoulder.
“Who told you that?” a voice asks.
“Aphrodite, now leave me alone, I’m tired,” I shoo them away with my hand.
Big arms wrap around me, lifting me from my comfortable position, “Hey!” I shout, trying to wiggle, “I was sleeping . . .,” I protest as darkness tries to claim me. Before I know it, I am being laid down in a big bed. I roll over, covering myself with a thick blanket. My last thoughts before the darkness are of flying and death.
30
The next morning, someone pushes my shoulder, causing me to groan, “Leave me alone.”
My head feels like it could split in two at any moment. I pull the blanket over my head to block any light from coming in.
“We have a plane to catch, and we need to talk with you a bit before we leave.” Aden pulls the cover off of me, prompting me to hiss like a creature of the night.
“What do we have to talk about? I drank for the first time last night, and I am reaping the consequences. I’m not really in the mood to talk.” I sit up in the bed, still wearing the dress from the night before. The sudden urge to pee forces me to my feet and into the bathroom.
After relieving myself, I fill a cup with water from the bathroom sink and down it in one gulp. I pull my
hair up into a messy ponytail. When I exit, I don’t bother changing clothing. Instead, I slip on my flip flops and go meet the guys. Aden follows me out, probably making sure I don’t make a beeline for the bed again.
I sit down on the white sofa, and Breck hands me a tall glass with red liquid and a stick of celery sticking out of it.
“What is this?”
“A Bloody Mary, It will make you feel better,” he says.
I sniff the glass getting a hint of liquor and zero blood, “Doesn’t smell like it will make me feel better,” I mutter.
“Just take a few drinks and trust me,” I shrug my shoulders and try, since I do trust Breck.
It wasn’t horrible, but I didn’t think it was pleasant, either. Charles walks around the couch with a big bag of blood. He opens the tab at the bottom of it and holds it out to me.
“I am told type O blood is sweeter. I may be wrong, though.” I look at Charles and back to the bag of blood. I salivate for it and hand the fake Bloody Mary back to Breck. He frowns, but surely he knows I can’t resist the real thing.
I take the bag from Charles, “Thank you.”
Taking a sip of it feels awkward, especially as my fangs pop free from my gums, and I have nothing to bite onto. It is like drinking blood from a glass, but instead of gulping, I am forced to sip like from a straw. It is cool, but smooth and non-clotting. Charles is right, the type O blood is very sweet. I savor each drop, lost in the moment of feeding. My headache fades away with each swallow. When the bag is empty, I feel like a new person.
I go to wipe the blood from my mouth, but there was none on my face. The bags of blood are cleaner than any other method I have ever used as well.
“Do you feel better now?” Aden asks, massaging my shoulders from behind.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Good, now we need to talk,” Morgan says from across the room, and all the men get a serious look on their faces.
“About what?” I ask.
