Mythos

by Heather McLaren

  * * *

  They never realized their lives were in danger. The mers never saw Suri and Zavian floating nearby. Although the sea demons were human from the waist up, their lower-half bore a strong resemblance to their jellyfish cousin. The deep blue scales starting at their hips bled upward until they joined their knobby collarbones. The creatures’ lower halves were pale blue and oozed clear sticky mucus.

  Suri watched the mers with obvious disdain. “So, the question we need to ask ourselves is why a mer is protecting a human.”

  “You’re right,” Zavian said. “I barely escaped the attack with my life.”

  Suri furrowed her brow. “If the mers and humans are joining forces, we’ll find out soon enough.”

  “We should storm the cities now.”

  “No, Furia still slumbers, but we won’t have to wait much longer.” Suri grinned, her mind stirring with images of death. “The mers are as good as dead.”

  Chapter 2

  Kindred Spirits

  SHRILL SCREAMS WOKE DAVID THE NEXT morning. A young woman stood by the edge of the surf a hundred yards down the beach. She was staring at something bobbing in the water. A man ran to her aid, and as soon as he joined her, she collapsed against him sobbing. He escorted his companion back to the house, glancing over his shoulder before going inside.

  David jumped from the sand and walked over with great caution. His friends met him halfway, just as curious as he was.

  “We heard screams,” Bryce called out. He and Ryan rushed over, their faces revealing their alarm. “What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know,” David said.

  The friends edged toward the floating object. David was unprepared for what he saw.

  The decomposing body clashed with the surrounding sand. It was obvious that the young man’s remains had been drifting for many days undetected. His arms and legs were missing, and his gray swim trunks were torn and bloody.

  David put his hands over his nose and mouth, doing his best to block out the smell. The stench was horrible; it stung his nostrils.

  Onlookers gathered, and the police arrived to erect a barricade and herd everyone behind it. This was quite a feat for a crowd of over two hundred. Bad news spread fast.

  The parents of a missing local boy arrived a short time later. David could see the fear written on their faces. He could not imagine the horror they must have experienced during that long walk to the surf.

  Right before his eyes, their worst fears became reality. The boy’s mother fell to her knees, inconsolable. She wailed sobs David had never heard before, and never wanted to hear again. The boy’s father did what he could to comfort his wife, but he was also on the verge of breaking down. David could see how difficult it was for him to keep his emotions under wraps.

  “Do you think he was killed?” Ryan asked.

  “He probably drowned,” Bryce said.

  David had to admit that murder was the first thing he thought of too. Bryce had a point, though. It could have been accidental. They were on an island after all. Anything was possible.

  Just as David expected, it didn’t take long for the reporters to arrive. They swarmed the resting place of the young boy, eager to be the first to break the story. As David watched, the men and women stampeding the area erupted with questions concerning the teenager’s death. How did it happen? Who found the body? How was the family dealing with the tragedy? That last question made David want to laugh. He never understood why reporters asked that. How did they think the family was dealing with the tragedy?

  The woman closest to them, a reporter in her mid-twenties, was the first to bring the morbid scene into the living rooms scattered across the island.

  “This is Laura Duncan with Channel Twenty-Two News, and I’m here at Bimini Sands Resort and Marina. A week-long hunt for eighteen-year-old Timothy Albry ended in tragedy today. According to the Bimini P.D., Timothy vanished while walking on the beach near his home Tuesday night. His parents claim he was hunting for seashells.”

  David could see the pain in the woman’s face as she informed the public of the boy’s death. Low and behold, reporters have souls after all.

  They watched the police tape off the area. A chubby officer stepped forward and addressed the saddened mob of onlookers. “We need you to clear out. We’re bringing in officials to proceed with a proper investigation into this matter. Anyone with information needs to step forward at this time. Thank you for your concern.” He turned and walked back to the scene.

  The crowd obeyed the police officer, respecting the investigation. They murmured their disbelief and sympathy, leaving the dead boy behind to resume their vacations.

  “Well,” Bryce said, rubbing the back of his neck, “do you guys want to get out of here for a while? I’d like to get as far from here as possible.”

  Ryan agreed. “Yeah, I think Bryce’s right. Let’s let these men do their job.”

  With his mind still occupied by the tragedy, David followed Bryce and Ryan back to their villa.

  “I rented transportation,” Bryce said, pointing at the black bicycles leaning against the side of the house. “I figured we could take a ride and see some of the countryside.”

  “I’m up for anything as long as it’s far away from here,” Ryan said.

  David walked to the back door. “Let me take a quick shower, and I’ll be right out.” He hurried inside, eager to escape the madness.

  * * *

  Half an hour later David met his friends outside, ready to start the day. It was warm and humid, but the overcast sky threatened rain.

  Clad in a pair of bright, tropical shorts and white tank top, Bryce signaled for Ryan and David to follow him. “I talked to a couple of locals this morning. They say there’s a more secluded trail in this direction,” he said. They pedaled away from the beach into the nearby woods.

  With the sun hiding behind surrounding clouds, everything appeared blanketed in the dim light of dusk, rather than late morning. The trail was rugged and more difficult to ride than David had assumed it would be. There were significant bumps and ruts dug deep into the soil, almost knocking them from their bicycles a few times. Everywhere they looked there were branches and small tree limbs sticking out in the middle of the path. In some places, the obstacles completely covered the route they took.

  All about them, wildlife roamed free. Lizards lay on nearby rocks, trying to absorb as much sunlight as they could. As if to warn others of incoming intruders, the birds situated atop the branches high overhead squawked and cawed to each other. The only animal unaffected by the boys’ presence was the boa lying on the trail up ahead. It didn’t seem to mind their sudden invasion.

  Twenty minutes into their nature adventure, they spotted a small group of hikers following a pretty, blonde tour guide through the woods. David listened to her explain the wilderness surrounding them. The tourists acted interested in hearing about the animals inhabiting the island. He could still hear them oohing and aahing.

  David could have cared less. He wasn’t in the Bahamas to play in the dirt with reptiles. He could see snakes and lizards at home any time he wanted.

  “Now, if you look to your right you’ll see one of the reptiles indigenous to the Bimini islands, the Bimini Ameiva. You can find…” The woman’s voice trailed off as they rode past.

  “Did you see the legs on her?” Ryan shouted.

  David was waiting for his friend to break his neck or run into a tree every time a female walked by. He shook his head, not at all surprised. Ryan’s womanizing stripes would never change.

  The trio traveled until they came to a fork in the trail. They veered to the right, leaving the narrow footpath behind to follow the wider route leading to the beach. As they drew closer to the ocean, distant laughter mixed with the roar of the surf. The ever-increasing echoes of splashing and spraying water enveloped the area with an incredible, natural melody.

  When the coastline appeared, they came to a stop. Clad in bikinis and swim trunks, a ha
ndful of people down by the water talked and laughed. Some of the couples played in the surf and walked together hand in hand near the incoming waves. A group of boys threw a football around, doing their best to antagonize a small gathering of girls sitting close by.

  “Go long!” a tall boy hollered. He purposely led his fellow player into the center of the female flock.

  An eruption of screams and curses shouted their disapproval at the chubby boy still trying to fight his way out from behind enemy lines. “And stay away!” one of the girls shouted, shoving him to the sand. The stout kid fell flat on his face.

  “Looks like you won them over. Go, Romeo!” a tough-looking senior yelled. He high-fived the boy standing next to him before returning his attention to his other friends gathered around the crudely made fire pit. It was obvious to anyone looking on spring break was in full swing.

  As David and his friends watched the party, a small group of girls made their way up the path behind them. Their high-pitched giggles echoed through the forest. When the red-head walked by, she gestured for the boys to follow them.

  “Are you guys having a good time watching everyone else having fun?” she asked. She and her friends laughed again.

  Ryan zoned in on the little red-head right away. He grinned and sauntered over to meet her, but the young woman made it obvious she had eyes for David. She never gave Ryan a second glance.

  “We’ll see you down there,” she said. She smiled at David and walked away.

  David ignored Ryan’s dirty looks. He could have cared less about his friend’s sensitive ego. He blocked Ryan from his mind, climbed from his bike and leaned it against a nearby tree. After slipping his shoes off and stepping out onto the sand, David stripped off his shirt and tossed it to the side. Bryce and Ryan followed him to the party.

  * * *

  A short time later, David stood talking to a boy he knew from school when the girl approached him again. Her hot pink bikini was scarce, revealing a fair amount of tanned skin.

  “Hi,” she said, tilting her head to the side innocently, “my name’s Kim.”

  David’s friend excused himself when she interrupted. “I’ll catch you later,” he said with a sly grin.

  “Let me guess,” Kim said without giving David the chance to tell her his name. “You’re here for spring break.”

  “Yep, and it will be the last vacation I take for a while. I leave for college right after I graduate high school.”

  Kim clapped her hands and giggled like a little girl. “Yeah, I was right,” she cooed. “I must be psycho.”

  Psycho–don’t you mean psychic?

  She laughed for no apparent reason and snatched David’s hand.

  No, she meant psycho.

  “Did you hear someone laugh?” she asked, looking around.

  Are you kidding? Please be kidding.

  Kim didn’t even blink an eye. She must have been serious.

  This girl’s crazy!

  David wanted to run. The one problem was Kim was not about to let him escape.

  “I can’t leave my friends,” David said. He was desperate to come up with any excuse he could to get away from her.

  Kim glanced back at Bryce and Ryan. They were standing at the fire pit with a couple of other guys. “It looks like they’re doing fine without you,” she whined. “Swim with me.”

  Despite his protests, the annoying twig of a girl continued to beg and plead. All the while, she dragged David toward her.

  “I’d rather not. You know what they say, don’t you?” When she shook her head, he had to stop himself from smiling. “Locals say the sharks out here can’t wait to take a bite out of someone.” He continued talking, hoping she was dumb enough to believe him. “I’m pretty sure someone told me they use this side of the island to hunt.”

  “That’s so gross,” Kim said, eying the water.

  To David’s disappointment, she made a quick recovery. Moments later, she was smiling again, happy as a clam.

  Damn!

  “Wait, I have an idea,” Kim said. “Let me get us a couple of drinks, and we can hang out here.” Her attitude shifted again, this time quieter, sexier. “Away from the crowd,” she added, running her well-manicured fingers down David’s chest.

  “Great.”

  You’re such a jerk! Just tell her you’re not interested.

  David’s conscience lost that battle. Before sneaking away, he watched Miss Annoying take off across the beach to fetch those drinks. He felt bad about running out on her, but he couldn’t help it. He could have waited for her to return and tossed her to the fictitious man-eating sharks, but with his second option, it was less likely his future would include a restraining order.

  David walked along the surf, glancing over his shoulder now and then to make sure Kim wasn’t following him. Thank goodness, some peace and quiet.

  That was when the most beautiful girl walked into his line of sight. David blinked once, twice to make sure she was real. Her hair fell to her waist like a dark waterfall, swaying back and forth with every step she took. The early afternoon sun shone down on her tanned body, radiating off her silver and blue skirt. The material blended into her hips, creating the illusion that it was a natural part of her and not a synthetic weave. Instead of a top made of cloth, she wore large seashells held together by seaweed.

  When their eyes met, it looked as if there was a hint of recognition on the girl’s face, but David couldn’t recall ever meeting her. They stared at each other a few moments before David made the first move.

  “Hello,” he called out, his eyes never leaving her face. All he received was a weak hello.

  David walked over to her, unable to break his gaze. “Why are you out here alone?” he asked.

  She looked around before answering. “I needed some quiet time to myself I guess.” She fidgeted with her coral and moonstone necklace.

  A dynamic charge hung thick in the air. It was like a magnet, pulling the two willing souls together. The immediate affection David felt for this girl was unbelievable. He needed to be around her and breathe in her sweet aroma of roses and lavender. Her eyes were as blue as deep ocean holes, and he felt that if he lingered for too long he could lose himself in their beauty. David took her hand in his, and they walked along the beach together.

  * * *

  Over the next few days, the couple spent every daylight hour together. They played on the beach, hiked in the woods, and hung out in David’s villa in the afternoons. Faren even got along with Ryan, ignoring his come-ons in silence. To anyone looking on, it would seem like the couple had been sweethearts for years. Faren hated leaving him every night–it was torture–but she considered the time they shared a blessing nonetheless.

  As the sun dipped over the horizon, and the sound of the waves hitting the shore grew louder, David and Faren relaxed in the sand deep in conversation.

  “So tell me about your parents. What are they like?” David asked.

  Faren picked up a shell and dug in the sand, scraping a small pile together. She had avoided this question since she’d met David. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel sorry for her.

  When he pushed the subject, she gave in. “My mother died when I was thirteen, and my father still hasn’t gotten over her death.” She stared out at the ocean, deep in thought. “We were visiting one of the other islands the day she fell from the cliff. I tried to save her, but I couldn’t get to her fast enough.”

  “Wow, I’m sorry.”

  Faren forced a small smile. “It was a long time ago.”

  “I’m sorry you had to go through that,” David said softly. “If I had my way you’d never feel pain again.” He kissed her cheek and then her lips.

  Being this close to David made Faren’s pulse race. When he kissed her, she felt as if she were melting. David laid her on the sand and ran his fingers down her face and over her shoulder. His gentle touch sent Faren’s mind on a roller coaster of sensuous emotions she had never felt before. It was a sensatio
n she never wanted to lose.

  The moon rising over the skyline pried her from David’s arms. Like clockwork, the old familiar pain began to set in. She knew this ache all too well. Her throat burned, and her skin felt tight; every pore was on fire and screamed for relief.

  “I have to go,” she declared, jumping to her feet.

  David got to his knees, refusing to let go of her hand. “Are you sure you have to leave?”

  “I do, I’m sorry.”

  Before she could walk away, David kissed her. The intensity of the kiss was comparable to that of a ravenous thirst.

  The steamy embrace didn’t last long. The pain soaring through Faren’s body won the battle, yanking her from the man of her dreams and the new and exciting feelings stirring within her. She pulled away from David, her lips burning for him. Her soul was still lost in the essence of him.

  “If you promise to meet me here tomorrow morning, I’ll wait for you,” she said. She kissed him again before running away.

  Once out of David’s sight, Faren hurried to the water’s edge, kicking up the sand as she ran. She looked back up the beach once more and dove beneath the surface of the water. The silky fabric clinging to her body dissolved, allowing her tail to come out from hiding. The terrible ache in the pit of her stomach was gone, replaced by a sense of immense relief. The gills sheltered beneath her ribcage broke through and sprang to life. Her silvery blue scales shimmered in the minute amount of moonlight that managed to break through the waves. With a heavy heart, she glided into darker water.

  Faren admired the coral lining of the seabed. The reds and yellows seemed to glow in the dull surroundings of the darkened ocean. The marine life that occupied the reef was on the prowl, searching for food.

  A giant crab and moray eel weren’t getting along so well. Faren watched them duel for a small fish cornered in a crack in the coral. So far, the crab had the upper hand, or claw so to speak.

  Faren dismissed the disagreement and turned her attention to a small school of stingrays. Their spotted bodies soared through the water with magnificent ease. No matter how many times she saw their flight, these wondrous creatures never ceased to amaze her. They looked so graceful–as if they were flying–like birds of the sea.