“Shit! Does this mean Tabatha knows who she is?”
“She may not know yet, but we won’t have much time.”
“Are you all right?” Cori stepped into the water and took Sienna’s hand as soon as they were near enough to shore.
“Yes. I am fine.”
“What happened? Why the subterfuge?” Xav asked, straight to the point.
“Did you have a vision, witch?” Zek stared at her frowning.
“Yes. And I am sorry, my king, for the subterfuge, but no one could know of my true state.”
“Come on everyone. Let’s go inside and get comfortable, and then we can talk. Let Sienna rest a minute,” Des suggested.
Sienna shook her head. “No. Thank you, but there is not much time, and I need to stay near the water now. It will revive me fastest of all.”
“This may take a minute. We have some explaining to do,” Aaron said. At last, he would be able to tell his king everything, as much of it as he knew. “Shall we.” He and Sienna still held hands, which neither the king nor Zek missed, since they both raised their eyebrows at him. Plus, the fact Sienna was a woman in her prime. No one could miss that now, and perhaps connect the dots.
Sitting down right where they’d been standing, they remained partially in the warm water. Sienna sat next to him and wrapped her arm around his elbow. If that wasn’t a clear sign of ownership, he didn’t know what else would be.
“Hmmm,” Xav said. “I can see there is a long story behind this.” He sat and the other women sat down near each other. “Go ahead.”
“Sienna, who you know as the Sea Witch, is my bride,” Aaron stated firmly, proud to be able to claim her publically at last.
“That much I believe we got.” Zek grinned.
“How wonderful!” Cori cried. Both women offered congratulations.
“But that’s not all,” Xav prompted. “Why the illusion?”
Aaron shook his head. “I’m afraid there’s a lot more. You see, Sienna and I knew we were mated for a long time, twenty-five years to be exact.”
“What! How? You didn’t begin to age until I did, and that has been less time than that.”
“I created that illusion,” Sienna spoke up. “As I created the one that kept me with the appearance of youth.”
“Go on,” Xav encouraged. “You have my complete attention.”
Chapter Ten
“More than twenty-five years ago, I had a vision Tabatha was with child.”
“What!” the king exclaimed.
“Yes. I waited for her to come to me, to tell me. Because I knew, she would need help with the birth. But there was no way I could allow Tabatha to birth this babe.”
“By Poseidon’s balls,” Zek said.
“I turned to Aaron for help, help to keep my secret.”
Aaron squeezed her hand, silently lending her his support to continue.
They gazed at each other for a moment. “We were always fated. But what I had to do, no one else could know. Tabatha could not suspect how powerful I would become as I aged, and I didn’t want anyone wondering who Aaron’s mate was, if he began to age too soon.”
“All right, but I still don’t understand,” Xavior interjected. “I don’t like the fact Tabatha had a child. Something you withheld from me, but what does that mean for the Children and why couldn’t she have the child? What am I missing?”
“I am sorry, my king, but no one could know about the pregnancy. You would have wanted the babe to remain in the sea. My sister could not be allowed access to her offspring in any way. The child Tabatha had was destined to be a powerful witch, much more so than her mother or myself. Tabatha planned to offer the child in a ritual slaying to the dark powers, in exchange for the life essence, the powers of the child.”
“What?” Both Cori and Des cried.
“I could not let her have the child. My plan, at first, was as soon as the child was born, to destroy it. But I could not bring myself to destroy an innocent, who unlike her mother was an innocent. Tabatha had been born with a dark soul. This child was destined for the light. I could not destroy her. So, I hid her among the humans, the landwalkers, so my sister would never know. I told Tabatha the child had died at birth and showed her what she thought was her dead babe. After a few months, when I thought the child would survive on land and I was able to bind her powers, I took her to the surface and hid her.”
“Wow!” Zek exclaimed.
“So, a child of the waves has been raised as a human. A powerful witch. Does she know what she is?” Xav asked.
Sienna shook her head, thankful her king didn’t sound angry. “I’m sorry, my king, no. I couldn’t take the chance of her mother finding her, or her trying to find her mother. She believes she’s human.”
Xavior frowned. “But how can she? How old is she?”
“Twenty-five.”
“Are you that powerful, witch? Ahh Sienna, you can caste an illusion so strong it can extend onto land, so it looks as though she ages. Even to herself?”
“No. I wish this could have been easier. While I bound my niece’s powers, she still has a lot of natural abilities I could not bind, only mute and as she grew, so did her powers. I knew she would need them all to defend herself against her mother. I viewed for her long ago and found her mate. Making sure, they met at the appropriate time, so she never stopped aging. So recently, she hit her prime. When you told me about the dark demons and I viewed for the portal, I knew it was time to find the child. You will need her. Tabatha opened something that should have never been opened. The only way to close it would be by someone of her blood.”
“Why not you?” Zek asked.
“It will take myself as well as my niece and the power of the Trident, in order to accomplish that. As it is, if Tabatha puts a dark army against us, it will take all of us to defeat it.”
“What does this have to do with why you fainted? Something tells me it does,” Zek said.
Sienna turned her gaze on Des. “Yes, when I touched Des, I realized something. She’s tied to Shawnah.”
“Wait, did you say Shawnah? Is that your niece’s name?” Zek asked.
Everyone turned to stare at him.
“Yes.”
“What’s going on Zek?” Des asked, tugging at his hand.
“Shawnah Linch is the name of the PI I hired to find you. Or rather Hali.”
“What?” Xav said.
“Yeah. Des’ real name is Hali. She and her family were placed in a witness protection program, something the landwalkers do to protect innocent people who give testimony, or can put a hurting on some really bad folks. These guys, a cartel, tried to kill her and her family when she was a teenager. They tried to kill her father, along with his family, so he wouldn’t testify against the bosses. So, when the boat the family had been vacationing on blew up, the FBI decided to go ahead and let the cartel believe they succeeded in killing them. But instead, they placed her entire family in protective custody. They still are, because while the man who led the cartel back then died in prison, he has a successor and those people do not forget.”
“So, she’s still in danger?” Cori asked. “Oh, my God, Des why didn’t you tell me?”
Des reached toward Cori and squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry. I could tell no one. I couldn’t risk it and put you in any kind of danger, too. The whole family is still in hiding. My parents cannot go back to their old lives. It’s easier for my brother and me, we were younger. As we grew, the new identities we established were real to us, and the names we’d been given became our own.”
Cori stood up and Des did too, as they hugged each other. Cori sat down by Des side.
“Is she still in danger, Sienna?” Zek asked. “Because Shawnah has been working on this case for me for about a year and recently, found a few things just about the time Des came into my life. Once I figured out who Des really was, I asked Shawnah to stop looking immediately, after Des confirmed her story. Shawnah told me she’d close out the case and send m
e a final invoice.”
“Do you think her investigation triggered a probe from someone interested in Des and her family? Sienna, what did you see?” Xav asked.
“Perhaps. This explains the link I saw between Des and Shawnah. Yes. This makes sense now. Some men took Shawnah earlier tonight, men who might be the ones also searching for Des. Those men you no longer have to worry about, they died in the depths and anything they may have known died with them, so I believe Des, both you and your family are safe.”
“What?” Des asked.
“You’re safe.”
“But what about Shawnah?” Des asked. “What happened to her?”
“A dark demon dragged the boat they were on into the depths. We tried to stop it, then chased it, but our powers had no effect, if any. It got away from us. But I know Shawnah would have survived. She was who the thing was after, and it has taken her to the dark depths. I can no longer sense her in the waters, but she lives. We do not have much time. Tabatha might not be aware of who she is yet, but that will not last long. My only hope is my sister is still too weak and still needs a lot of time to regain her strength, before she can use Shawnah’s powers.”
“So, Shawnah’s still in danger?” Xav spoke up.
“Yes. Shawnah’s powers have escaped my bindings. If her life were in danger, instinct might have taken over and unknowingly, she could have tried to use them to escape, but she is untrained. Perhaps the only thing buying us a little time is that and the fact, Tabatha is weak.”
Xav stood up and took two steps away from the group to stare out onto the ocean. The moon was still high in the sky, its light reflecting off the sea, illuminating the area around them. “All right, you said it would take you and Shawnah to destroy the portal. So, what do you need me to do?” He turned back around to face her.
“I will need to enter the dark depths, find the portal to Hades and bring Shawnah back.”
“What the fuck? NO!” Aaron roared. “You cannot go there.”
She smiled sadly at him and placed her palm on the side of his face. “I must. It is the only way. But do not worry, I will not venture there alone.”
“Damn right. I will go with you,” Aaron stated.
“As shall I,” Xavior said.
“Not fucking without me,” Zek chimed in.
Sienna shook her head. “No. You all…all of you will be needed here. The monster we saw tonight is not the only one loose in these waters. You will be needed to guard the entrance, once I am through.”
“You are not going there alone, Sienna,” Aaron said firmly.
“No beloved, I am not.”
“Good, then I go with you.”
Again, she shook her head. “No. Your duty is to stand at your king’s side…” She placed her fingers over his mouth when she saw he was going to continue to protest. “The only one, who will be able to help me, will be her mate. Only he will be able to free her from the darkness and give us a chance to come out alive. It is the only way.”
“No…”
“It must be as I have seen. What I viewed must be done for us to have a chance.”
“Very well,” Xav said. “Who is her mate?”
Sienna glanced around at all of them before resting her gaze on their king. “Your half human brother.”
“Cyrus!” Zek and Xav exclaimed together.
“Yes.”
“Holy fuck!” Zek said.
“He has been fated to be her mate from her birth. The same way I had seen what Tabatha would do with her babe, I knew who would be her salvation. Cyrus is her mate.”
“Wait,” Des interjected. “I thought you said she’s twenty-five and never stopped aging. So, if I understand this, Cyrus is what, almost a hundred. So, he never stopped aging until he was around twenty-two, how can she be his mate? I’m confused. Wouldn’t he have had to meet her, before Shawnah was even born, otherwise how could he age?”
“I believe because he is half human and was raised upon the land. If he had been raised in the ocean, perhaps he would have stopped at puberty,” Sienna explained.
“All right, so where is he?” Aaron asked, noticing for the first time really, Cyrus hadn’t come out to the beach to meet them. “Is he partying on the big island?”
“Shit no,” Zek said. “Ah, fuck!”
“What? What is it?” Xav asked.
“Cyrus is on a plane. He went to visit a friend. He won’t be landing for several hours.”
“Can we contact him as soon as he lands and have him return? Can he move through the water as fast as a child?” Sienna asked.
“Not quite,” Zek stated.
“Then if you can contact him as soon as he lands and let me know where the nearest body of water is, I can have one of my dolphins meet him and bring him to us at the portal.”
“That should work. But…” He glanced at Des as if for confirmation. “It will be another five hours before he’s in London. He called us earlier when he got to Miami. He should land at Heathrow about ten this morning. Then it’s about a half hour, maybe more, by car to the nearest body of water for the dolphins. Let’s go inside and look at a map, so you’ll know where to send them.”
“Meanwhile, we’re going to need to rest. We have a battle ahead of us,” Xav stated.
“Sienna and everyone, you are welcome to come in,” Des offered. “Zek’s got enough room in this place for everyone.”
“What about Aurora?” Xav asked. “I’d prefer to keep her out of this as much as possible. If we’re here when she wakes up, she’s going to ask questions.”
“Well, she’s not stupid, she’s going to know something’s going on,” Zek said.
“Yes, which is why I think it’s best Cori and I return to King’s City, and we will meet you at the portal, Zek.”
“All right. What about you?” he asked Aaron.
“Sienna and I will also return with Xav and Cori to the city, then meet you and Cyrus at the portal.”
“I think it might be faster if I go and meet Cyrus and bring him with me to the portal. You can send a couple of porpoises with us.”
“Okay,” Xav agreed.
“Before we leave, let me look at that map,” Sienna said.
Chapter Eleven
The swim back to King’s City was quiet. They had all said everything needed to be said. The sense of urgency was no greater than it had been hours ago when Shawnah was first taken. Zek showed Sienna his map, so she knew where to send her dolphins and be able to tell Zek and Cyrus where to meet them. This had to work. The pieces were now all in motion. She would need another viewing to be sure it unfolded to give them the best options.
At least, they had a little time before they had to face the demons. She and Aaron saw Xav and Cori back to the palace. Then she turned with Aaron and swam beside him. Not once, did she ask where he was going. She just followed, wherever he wanted to take her. She was in her element, but she could do a powerful viewing anywhere in these waters.
They continued beyond the palace grounds, toward some of the dwellings closest to the area. Aaron took her hand and led her right into one of the largest homes they had in the city, next to the palace. His home. She had watched from afar as he had built it. She knew he’d built it for her, but she had never been able to set foot in it. The reasons she could not before, no longer really mattered.
Stepping out of the pool entrance, Aaron turned to help her. Still, holding her hands, he raised them to his lips. “I’ve wanted to bring you here for so long. I’ll show you around later. For now, beloved, I only want to hold you in my arms, in our home.”
“I want that too, and more. But first, I need to do a viewing. I must be sure.”
He frowned. “Do you need to go back to your place?”
“No. I can do it here. I merely need to sit before a water mirror.”
“I don’t have one. So, we’ll go back to your place then.”
“Not necessary. Do you have a mirror you can remove? The larger the better and just pla
ce it in the water for me.”
“I think I can manage that. Be right back.” He moved out of sight down a hallway.
Sienna walked over to the row of windows, which overlooked the palace gardens. Purple seaweed rose about three feet high, swaying too and forth with the slow movement of the water. Tiny glowing red, green, yellow and black fish swam within the weeds, creating the impression of a garden of floating flowers in a multitude of color. A feast for the senses.
“Will this do?”
She spun around and saw Aaron holding a wrought ironed framed mirror about three feet high and two feet wide. “Yes, that will do just fine.”
He moved back over to the pool entrance of the house and stepped into the water, holding the mirror. “Should I immerse it in the water?”
“Yes, please.” She stepped into the pool with him and helped him to hold the mirror.
“Now what?” he asked.
“Now, I look into it and let it reveal to me what it will, what I need to know.” She stared into the surface of the mirror covered with water and concentrated, pushing her powers to reveal Shawnah’s location and Tabatha’s plan. She watched the water swirl and change as a picture unfolded within the mirror. Like a fuzzy television screen at first, then slowly from the center images formed, but around the edges of the vision remained in shadows. She pushed some more, needing to see what was yet to come and gathering the paths opening before her, pushed even more. Choosing first one, then the other. Scenes changed spreading out even more from the events of tomorrow into other tomorrows.
Suddenly, she dropped her end of the mirror.
If Aaron hadn’t had a good grip on the rest of it, it would have fallen onto the stone steps.
“I am sorry.” Her voice came out heavy, like a weight crushed her chest.
“Are you all right?” Aaron asked.
She sat on the steps and took a deep breath. “Yes. I just need a minute. It happens when I push my powers the way I just did here.”
“Do you still need the mirror?”
She shook her head. “No. I have seen all I need to.”
Sea Witch: Children of the Waves Page 7
