Bliss

by Renee Field

  Her hands itched to touch him. He was a myth come to life. She had watched mesmerized as his body began to blur and then a blinding white mist had taken over him. When next she looked, he stood before her in all his glory. The only word to describe him was magnificent.

  As if he had read her thoughts, his body moved toward hers. His powerful tail circled her body and even through the wet suit she felt his heat. Then it dawned on her. She had felt that once before. Just before Darius had left her treading water for what had felt like hours, she had felt his tail touch her skin. He had changed then and didn’t tell her. Why was he letting her see him now?

  One of her father’s myths popped into her mind. The story of Nana, daughter to the river god Sangarius, who was also the mother of Attis. Nana fell in love with a male human and her father cast her out of the sea for betraying their race, but not before killing her lover and almost succeeding in killing the child she bore. In the end, Nana was forced into exile on land and ended up begging for food for her child, who later vowed revenge for his father.

  Darius’ warm hands grabbed her, forcing her daydream to come to a complete halt.

  “Kassandra I know you can hear me, so I’m going to explain a bit of what I am. I’m a Titan belonging to the north seas. For the past decade, while I was trapped in that book, a plague has been slowly killing my family and friends. Now, it’s up to me to find a way to stop it. I have two days to find a relic, and it isn’t going to be easy. I know you have lots of questions. I’ll try to answer them when we are able to communicate together. Oh, and prepare yourself for a wild ride.”

  His thoughts were loud and clear in her head. In the next second she felt his powerful tail swoop up forcing them down fast toward the ocean floor.

  “Take a breath, Kassandra,” prompted Darius, sounding amused. The feel of oxygen filling up her lungs was a welcome relief.

  Where are we going? she wondered for the umpteenth time as they hurtled even faster toward the ocean floor. Closing her eyes in panic, she heard Darius calmly say, “Keep your eyes closed. This is going to feel like one hell of a roller coaster ride.”

  Kassandra wasn’t sure what bothered her more. The fact that she could now telepathically speak to him, or the notion of a roller coaster ride. Then in the next instant she felt her body plunge into something so cold it caused her to hold her breath again as every cell in her body fought against the extreme assault.

  Just as quickly, warmth rushed back through her as they descended into what could only be described as a tunnel that twisted and turned and went uphill and down for what seemed like an eternity.

  “We’re almost there. You’re doing great.” His voice was a soft, reassuring caress in her mind. The rightness of hearing his voice in her head made her smile. Then it made her mad. How come he gets to communicate...? Oh, yeah, he’s a Titan. A mythological creature who doesn’t exist, she thought, just as they existed the tunnel with one whoosh.

  “Can we do that again? Can we? That was the best. The best! The absolute wildest ride I’ve ever been on,” prattled Rylan, practically dancing around them in his wet suit.

  Kassandra was able to hear him loud and clear because the two wet suits were equipped with microphones so they could talk to each other.

  “Hopefully not and stop moving around so much,” said Darius.

  “Okay, Darius. You know, you take all the fun out of things,” said Rylan.

  Obviously Darius could comminute with the teenager. Momentarily, she wondered why the kid wasn’t freaking out about what had transpired. Before she could even make a hand motion, Darius forced them behind two large boulders.

  Her nose immediately wrinkled as a pungent, sour odor like rotten eggs wafted over her.

  “Oh my gawd, what is that smell?” asked Rylan, who sounded like he was trying to hold his nose.

  “That is something we are going to avoid at all costs,” said Darius, motioning for Kassandra and Rylan to stay still.

  Kassandra watched in disbelief as the weirdest sea creature she’d ever seen swam past her. Since they were only separated by the distance of about two car lengths, she marveled the creature didn’t spot them. It had the body of a large eel and three menacing-looking dog heads. It had to be the most ferocious creature she’d ever seen or heard about. A black leather leash dangled from its collar. Just as she was about to take another peak at it, Darius pushed her further into the ocean floor.

  Great, just what I need. Tartahounds! What could be better? Darius motioned again for both Rylan and Kassandra to stay absolutely still. The last thing he wanted was to be spotted by the unleashed Tartahound, which was a mystery in itself. He remembered his twin telling him that more and more of Hades’ demon dogs were roaming the seas without their masters - Hades’ legionnaires. But, this Tartahound still had a leash dangling wildly from its collar, and that unnerved Darius.

  His senses didn’t detect any legionnaires, but something clearly wasn’t right. From his personal experience dealing with the deadly hounds, any that had lost their masters went directly back to Hades’ lair. However, this Tartahound was scouting for something. It was the something that worried him.

  I don’t have time for this. He eyed where they had exited from the undersea portal. The pull of the sea dragon ran like ice through his veins. Relying on its skill more than his own Titan senses, his infra-rayed eyesight spotted the Fad’hal cave in which he hoped were stashed some of the relics he’d found years ago. His one hope was that one of the other relics might give him a clue to where to find the particular relic he needed.

  Ten years ago, he’d made a hasty trip to the cave renowned throughout the undersea kingdoms for its special properties. It was there that he’d hidden the sacred celestial globe that belonged to Urania. He had found it stashed in the main foyer of the Duc’alle Palace in Venice. How was I to know the globe belonged in the safe keeping of the Arctic waters?

  Darius didn’t want to go back into the Fad’hal cave. He had forced himself a decade ago to not look into the torks that hung like stalactites from the ceiling of the cave. The tork crystals that grew in this cave were sacred and held the special power to show someone seeking their soulmate, their Sokhan, a reflection of that person. The idea had terrified him then and more so, now. However, he didn’t have a choice.

  Making sure one last time that the Tartahound was gone, he instructed Rylan to guard Kassandra and instructed Kassandra to stay put. Then he swam to the cave armed with a large canvas net bag.

  Part of him yearned to talk to Kassandra. He knew she must have a million questions jumping around in her head, but again he had underestimated her. Instead of panicking, she’d laughed at him. That wasn’t the reaction he’d been expecting at all. Shaking his head, he forced himself to pay attention to the mission.

  Entering the cave he kept his gaze away from the hanging torks. Remembering where he had stashed the globe, he moved a few boulders out of the way. Just as he finished placing the globe in the bag the hairs on his body stood on end. Grabbing the bag he swam like a tiger shark for the entrance.

  “Going somewhere, are we?”

  Darius groaned loudly.

  “I don’t have time for this Muroka. Get out of my way.” Darius slowed down as he took in the number of Tartahounds flanking the chief slave driver.

  “I think you have all the time in the universe,” said Muroka, as he patted the nearest Tartahound with adoration. “Have you met my latest pets? This is Bertha. She’s the baby of the litter. This one I call Pinky because after she eats Titans, her tongue gets all pink, and over there,” he said, pointing to the largest Tartahound Darius had ever seen, “is Bull. They are very special pets, aren’t you pretties? Daddy’s got a special treat for you after you take care of our little problem. That’s right, cuties, a special treat.”

  While he spoke Muroka patted the two Tartahounds nearest to him. The beasts had slobbering green drool dripping from their mouths. Worse, Darius could have sworn they were also purring, or
maybe growling. While Muroka talked, Darius tried to think of a quick means of escape.

  “Oh don’t even think of it. You see, Bertha here has been enhanced. Wherever you go, she will scent you. Only you. And the same goes for Pinky and Bull. You see, after your last escape, which I once again had to explain myself to Hera, I realized that I needed help. So, I approached Rajheb and yes, I can see recognition is dawning on you. You see he’s developed this new vaccine that not only enhances an animal’s natural instincts, but if that vaccine is coated with another Titan’s what did he call it...ah, yes, DNA, then those two elements combined well, let’s say they make for an interesting hunt. I have been tracking you the minute your body came into contact with the sea. And I have to say this has been the easiest hunting party I’ve ever undertaken.” Muroka grinned and Darius wished he hadn’t. The slave master only had two remaining teeth in his rotten mouth.

  “Are you done, Muroka? Let’s get on with it. I’m leaving so you’re going to have to stop me.” Darius didn’t wait for Muroka to speak. Instead he charged with all the force he could muster while holding onto the bag.

  The entire time Muroka had been talking, Darius had issued orders to Rylan to get Kassandra to safety, vowing to kill the teenager with his own hands if he dared to disobey.

  Darius had to twist his body this way and that to avoid one of the large gaping jaws of Pinky, who was wearing a bright pink collar. Another few inches and his right arm would have been bitten off.

  Muroka hung on to Bull’s leash, but barely. The Tartahound was hell bent on having a Darius meal.

  Bull plowed into him. Darius felt as if a dozen sea boulders had fallen onto him. Catching his breath, he forced his body to move, barely avoiding Bertha’s snapping three heads. What he wouldn’t give for a weapon, even something as small as a jackknife.

  And then he did have a weapon as Rylan, who had obviously been eavesdropping, popped a large double-edged Triton neatly into his hand.

  “Thanks, kid,” muttered Darius, charging into his nearest opponent. With years of fighting experience he set to work, hacking away at the three Tartahounds, forcing them back, away from the entrance of the cave. It was hard work.

  As Bull gathered speed for another frontal attack, Darius managed to swing the triton up, slicing off two of Pinky’s heads. He quickly spun into a somersault to avoid the deadly blood that spewed forth. During that moment of hesitation, one of Bertha’s heads clamped down hard on his arm. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he swung the weapon again, managing to force the blade up into the hound’s body. He prayed he’d hit a vital organ that would force the hound to release its hold.

  “No!” screamed Muroka, as he gathered speed with Bull.

  Plunging the blade in further, Darius felt the moment when the Triton finally found its mark. In one heartbeat the Tartahound released its grip on his arm. Black ooze poured from its body. Swearing, Darius used his powerful tail to propel him out of the way as the deadly toxins from the dead Tartahound caught fire.

  Eyeing the now free entrance, he didn’t hesitate. Hot, blinding pain poured into every cell in his body, but still he swam forward, away from Bull and Muroka.

  The loss of Bertha had had a profound impact on the slave trader who was now vowing to make him pay for what he had done. That was a joke. He was already paying for it. Darius knew the bite from Bertha had been lethal. The deadly toxins in the Tartahounds salvia were slowly killing him.

  “Darius, what can I do?”

  Darius forced himself to keep moving while paying attention to Rylan.

  “Get Kassandra to safety. I told you. Go!” commanded Darius, angrier than a shark at Rylan for disobeying him. They should have been a hundred miles from here. Then he realized that they couldn’t be a hundred miles from here. Not while he and Kassandra were still bound by that damned book.

  A powerful spasm wracked through his entire body, and he forced his teeth together to stop the scream that threatened to wrench itself free from his body. Then he collapsed as the poisonous venom made its way to his heart. Failure never felt so deadly, he thought, shutting down his system before it was too late.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kassandra didn’t think her eyes could get any bigger. First the strange eel-like dog with three heads which resembled something straight out of a Harry Pottery movie. Then after managing to wrestle free from Rylan, who seemed intent on moving her away from all the action, Darius emerging from the cave’s entrance looking like death-washed over.

  Her heart lurched madly and she had to bite the insides of her cheek to stop screaming – not that it would do any good since no one would be able to hear her through the diving mask.

  She ordered Rylan to go to Darius, and the teenager didn’t hesitate. Now, however, what was she to do?

  “What’s wrong with him?” she asked, talking into the diving mask’s microphone. She hoped against hope that the seemingly brainless Rylan would know what was causing Darius’ body to slowly turn green.

  “I’m not sure. I think he got bitten by one of those...those...I have no idea what those things are called, but let’s just call it one Hell of an evil-looking devil dog. I’m thinking their bite must be toxic. I honestly don’t know what to do. Do you?”

  Kassandra shook her head. Cradling Darius’ body in her arms as the three of them nestled together behind a large outcropping of dead coral, she wished more than anything that she could feel his skin with her own hand. Instead, she had to make do with the wet suit gloves she was forced to wear.

  Then a piercing scream rent the air. The next thing she knew two more of those devil dogs emerged from the cave along with the scariest Titan she’d ever dreamt of.

  “Okay, that’s not good. We’ve got to get out of here and fast. That’s Muroka and he’s got it in big time for our friend, Darius. I vote we run,” said Rylan.

  “That’s who?”

  “Muroka. Trust me, not someone you need to know about. Look, I promised Darius I wouldn’t do any popping about as he calls it, so we’ve got to move and move now,” said Rylan, attempting to grab Kassandra by the arm.

  Pulling Darius’ body closer to hers, Kassandra briskly pushed Rylan away. “I’m not leaving without him.” Thinking fast for more options, she noticed a brown sinkhole in the ocean floor. It was they type of sinkhole that had propelled them here.

  “Let’s make a run for that sinkhole. With any luck, that…thing…and those creatures won’t be able to follow.” She sounded for a second like she knew what she was talking about. She hoped she did.

  “I’ll take the bag,” said Rylan. “It’s what he was looking for.”

  Kassandra numbly nodded. “I’ll carry him,” she said, with more confidence than she felt. Rylan’s eyebrow’s lifted in disbelief. “Trust me, I can carry him. Plus the water will give him more buoyancy.”

  “Sure, whatever you say. I’ll take the lightweight bag and you take the almost two-hundred pound Titan. Yeah, that sounds fair to me.”

  Rylan picked up the bag, and for a second Kassandra swore the kid was about to juggle it. “Don’t even think about it,” she said, panting over the microphone while trying to hook Darius’ body over her shoulder.

  “How about I help you with that?”

  “Okay. If you just push his upper torso over my shoulders, I’m sure I can make it.”

  “I’m sure you will,” said Rylan.

  There was an odd twinkle in Rylan’s eyes that gave her pause. And how does he know Darius is a Titan. I think it’s time Rylan and I had a chat. As soon as we get back to the boat.

  Another guttural scream caused her to strain her neck for a look.

  “I think our time is up. We’ve got to go. And now!” said Rylan, all but running for the sinkhole. He seemed to move with perfect ease in his wet suit and tank…and did she ever hate him for that.

  Praying she was right, Kassandra forced her flippers to move. Realizing that they wouldn’t give her enough momentum she reached down to unbuc
kle them. With her feet clad only in diving slippers she pushed herself forward, attempting to run while holding onto Darius for all he was worth. It was hard and slow going. Her feet dug deep into the sandy bottom floor. But at least Darius had no weight to him. He was bulky, which made him difficult to manage, but he wasn’t heavy.

  A terrible stench filled her nose, causing her to gag.

  “Don’t look behind you...just run,” shouted Rylan, as his body disappeared into the sinkhole.

  Kassandra had to force herself not to give into the temptation to look over her shoulder.

  The rotten sulfur smell almost caused her to throw-up. Why isn’t Darius heavy? Her feet finally found the brown spot on the ocean floor. As that thought penetrated her brain, her feet and body were sucked into the sinkhole, and she prayed with all her might that the beasts wouldn’t follow.

  After another horrifying roller coaster ride, she landed with a loud thud. She hit the ocean floor hard and rolled, which finally caused her to let go of Darius. His body, so still, scared her. Warm water washed over her as she forced herself to look around.

  Just where are we? She took in the rich colors of the ocean floor. The sea was awash with red coral. Blue iridescent flowers lined what could only be described as a pathway. Angelfish and seahorses darted all around her.

  Welcome, Kassandra, to the Red Sea. We will take care of the Prince, said the most sensuous, sultry female voice Kassandra had ever heard before. The fact that the voice had come into her head no longer startled Kassandra. Darting her eyes around, she tried to find the source of the voice. It was then she noticed that the angelfish had departed and she couldn’t help but gasp as the loveliest creature she could ever imagine glided towards her.

  I am Queen Ny'ula from the Royal House of the First Hu’lan. We will take care of the prince. You must leave.

  There was a tense note in her voice that gave Kassandra pause as she forced her eyes to blink. The Siren who glided toward her had skin as dark as ebony dusted with a light gold shimmer. Her hair was as red as the surrounding coral and it flowed around her in brilliance. Her tail, yes, tail, thought Kassandra, fighting the urge to stroke it, looked like a mirage of a thousand different colors. But, by far the most striking feature was her eyes. They were honey-yellow and the soft, reassuring look made Kassandra feel safe.