Bliss

by Renee Field

  You must leave, immediately. No human can enter the Red Sea. You don’t have much time, whispered the queen, her voice a light brush inside Kassandra’s head.

  “Where is Rylan? And, I’m not leaving without Darius. What’s wrong with him?” mouthed Kassandra, hoping the Queen understood her.

  “I can read your thoughts. But, again, you don’t have much time. Trust me; we will take care of him. You must leave.” With that statement, Kassandra watched as the Queen made a motion with her tail. Immediately an entourage of six Sirens surrounded Darius.

  “Hey, lady. I’m not going anywhere without him.” Jealously washed over her as the Sirens, who all of whom were spectacular in their own right, touched Darius’ body in awe. Not that I’m madly in love with him or anything, but heck, I didn’t go through everything in the last few days just to give him up to...up to...oh my, he’s a Titan, these are Sirens, and I’m a human. He can’t ever be with me. What was I thinking? I was thinking he was my prince in shining armor, a fantasy come to life, but that’s not real.

  Without a word, the Sirens picked up Darius and carried him away. While the rational part of her brain reasoned they might be able to help him, another more feminine part of her brain screamed at them to back off. As if they could hear her, and maybe they could, all six Sirens stopped.

  “Where he goes, I go. And just where is Rylan?” Kassandra asked again, hoping for a straight answer.

  In a language Kassandra couldn’t understand, but which sounded a lot like Persian, the Queen gave an order and made a motion with her hand, gesturing for everyone to leave.

  You must come with us, quickly, said the Queen, speaking in English inside her head. Kassandra felt bone weary. Her head was beginning to hurt and her legs felt like they were lead.

  What’s happening to me? All the adrenaline that had flooded through her to get Darius here was evaporating.

  Then it dawned on her. She was still bound to Darius and that blasted book, which luckily was still sealed tight inside the plastic bag which also now housed the globe. All of which were being carried by Rylan when last Kassandra had seen him.

  As if on cue, the teenager appeared, except he wasn’t wearing a diving mask or suit anymore. In fact, he wore ripped jeans, a white t-shirt and no shoes. Okay, I’ve got the bends. I’ve gone loony from the lack of oxygen. Tapping the dial to make sure it was working she took a deep breath of oxygen. Okay, that felt like oxygen, but it can’t be real. Oh my, I’ve gone completely delusional, that’s it. I must be locked up somewhere and I know they’re injecting me with drugs. Yeah, that’s it.

  Rylan motioned to the Queen to come to his side. Judging by the Queen’s body language she wasn’t one bit happy. Rylan shrugged and then walked away, now armed with two beautiful sirens on either side of him.

  You are bound to the Prince. This is not good. You must come with me, said that sultry voice inside her head.

  Kassandra nodded her ascent. She was still so mystified about Rylan’s transformation that she was incapable of forming a coherent sentence.

  Two hands grasped her as two sirens flanked her sides, helping her move through the water at a faster pace.

  You only have one of your human hours left. We must move quickly. There is only one remedy that might help the Prince.

  A groan from Darius caused a chill to reverberate through her body.

  He doesn’t have much time. There is little hope for him, but we will try to heal him. The toxins in his body are slowly killing him. You will not be able to help him, and he would want you to leave. For your own safety you should leave him to his kind. You are human and without skill in this matter. As much as Rylan told me of you, I know you care deeply for him, but the Prince is a Titan and you are a mere human. Again, I must warn you that your safety remains precarious. That breathing apparatus you are wearing has little oxygen let. After which time you will expire, and I will not be able to intervene. It would go against our sea law. Do you understand me?

  There was no mistaking the Queen’s harsh tone. Kassandra knew she was being told the stark truth, but she didn’t care. There was no way she was going to leave Darius. There was no way she could leave Darius.

  “I will stay out of your way, please...please just make him better and then I’ll leave,” said Kassandra, over and over again in her head.

  The slight royal nod from the Queen was her cue. Forcing her body to move and follow the group which, for her benefit, had slowed down, she prayed Darius would be healed.

  As the ensemble entered a large cave, Kassandra noticed it wasn’t dark. There was a neon yellow glow illuminating the entire dwelling. As they moved to the back of the cave, she marveled at the array of crystals that lined the ceiling. The Sirens stopped and gently laid Darius down in a scallop-shaped bed. His body, as a Titan, fit perfectly into it as his tail curled around the outer ridges.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, as the Queen placed three crystals, one bright blue, one flaming orange, and the last blood red inside Darius’ mouth.

  The Queen sat down. Now we wait. Once again, she ushered everyone out.

  Kassandra looked around for a place to sit. What she really wanted to do was crawl into the strange bed and lay her body down next to Darius’ body. Then she’d cuddle him. But that was impossible in a diving suit equipped with a large oxygen tank on her back.

  Hot searing pain caused her to gasp at the exact moment that Darius’ body started to convulse. Her eyes felt as if they were on fire and if the diving mask hadn’t been in her way, she would have scratched at them frantically. As it was, she had to fight the desire to rip the mask off.

  “What’s happening to me?” Another flash of pain traveled from her toes to her midsection.

  It was then that she felt a pull on her arm. The Queen was trying to get her to sit, but any movement felt impossible as she tried hard to control the pain slicing through her entire system. She fought the urge to rip the entire diving suit off.

  “Rylan, did you find it?” she heard the Queen ask inside her head and then in popped the teenager, still clad in his casual attire.

  “I did. I did. Darius won’t believe it. He’s going to be so pleased that I finally figured out a way to get him unbound! I know for sure he’ll let me help him on this mission now. Heck, I bet he’ll make me an honoree captain. Think of all the fun we’ll get into,” babbled Rylan, as he waved the ancient book around like it was a piece of loose leaf.

  “You must finish it now. The human is running out of time.”

  “Oh, yeah, sorry about that, Kassandra. Okay, on the count of one, and a two, and a three...or is that one, two, three, and then you do it?”

  “Rylan, now!” commanded the Queen.

  Kassandra could only watch through one eye. The other burned so intently she had to fight not to scream.

  “Okay... ‘into the mists of time you dwell, until love conquers this spell, but you are bound together forever if opened without thought, for your actions cannot atone for what was sown by the seeds of time, so you must choose to lose your heart’s desire for in three blinks…’ this is where you blink three times Kassandra,” said Rylan, as he held open the ancient book, “’the chain will be broken, your fate unsealed, unbound you will remain to claim your own destiny.’ Ta-dah! It’s done.”

  A gush of cold current swept through the cave causing everyone to look at the entrance. In a whoosh, Kassandra felt as if a part of her were free. She felt lightheaded and dizzy. And instantly she felt a calming relief. Gone was the pain. In its place was a feeling of euphoria that she had someone managed to live through it.

  Kassandra ached to use her real voice. It was hard keeping her thoughts straight. And, before she could even begin to question what exactly Rylan really was, the kid proceeded to groan loudly.

  “I just don’t believe it. I’ve been called back by my Uncle. Have to go. Tell Darius I’ll see him soon. It was nice to meet you, Kassandra. Bye.”

  Without another word, he was go
ne. One minute there and another gone. How? She wondered.

  The touch of the Queen’s satiny smooth hand on her arm broke into her thoughts, Are you feeling any better?

  She wet her lips, “Yes. I think I am. What about him?” She moved closer to Darius.

  We will know shortly if the crystals worked, but you must leave. Now, said the Queen, practically dragging Kassandra toward the entrance of the cave.

  “But I can’t leave until I know he’ll be okay.”

  If you don’t leave you will die. That’s reality.

  “Wait, what about Rylan? I take it he’s not exactly your average teenager. What exactly is he?” asked Kassandra burning to discover his true identity.

  That question is best not answered. You need to leave, said the Queen, propelling Kassandra to the cave’s entrance. I promise we will take care of the Prince. You have less than fifteen minutes. You cannot surface here. You must go back to that sink hole you came in and then return to the surface.

  “But, when we left, there were these weird looking eel-dogs...”

  Tartahounds. I am sorry, but with any luck they should be long gone by now. It is your only chance. Don’t worry about the Prince. If he survives we will take care of him; if not his body will once again belong to the sea, said the Queen.

  A dozen questions swam around in Kassandra’s head. She wished she had more time, but she could sense the unease in the Queen. At the entrance, she was surprised when the Queen warmly embraced her. She felt an odd sense of comfort, but that was short lived, as a groan from Darius rippled to the entrance.

  “Is he really a Prince?” The answer to that terrified her.

  Yes, my dear, I am afraid he is very much a Prince. Follow that path back the way you came and don’t hesitate. My thoughts will be of you. Now go.

  Kassandra couldn’t argue with that. She had her answer. An answer that caused her to question her own sanity again. While she trudged back down the path she prayed for Darius to make a speedy recovery. Knowing she’d never see him again, she fought the onslaught of tears.

  Now is not the time, Kas, get your ass in high gear. Worry about him once you’re safe, breathing that sweet oxygen...the essence of life, once again.

  Eyeing the brown sink hole she jumped on the spot. Instantly, her entire body was swallowed up again. This time she closed her eyes tight, hoping when she finally landed back in the cold Atlantic Ocean there wouldn’t be any sight or worse, smell, of those Tartahounds. Then the origin of the word Tarta as in Tartarus, being from Hell, jumped into her mind. It’s times like this that being a librarian of antiquity sucks...I really didn’t need to figure that one out!

  Darius’ tongue felt like it was three times its normal size. His eyelids felt like molten lead and every cell in his body screamed in agony.

  “My Prince, it is good to see you again,” said the seductive voice in his right ear. His senses jumped wildly.

  Opening one eye, he took in his surroundings. First things first, he knew he was no longer in the Atlantic Ocean. The warmth of the water alone could attest to that fact but it was the smell, a sweet combination of roses and lilacs, which told him where he really was.

  “Queen Ny’ula, why am I here?”

  The Queen leaned in closer to him. Her tongue darted out to gently lick the inside of his ear. “The human is gone. She was a very brave thing. But, Darius, what do you mean bringing Zeus’ nephew to our realm? You know the rules. No gods, or semi-gods in our kingdom. I’m thinking of reporting you.” She gave his ear another playful flick of her tongue.

  Abruptly sitting up, he cut her off. “Look, Ny’ula, who brought me here?”

  “I just told you that. That ridiculous woman. She carried you here and then Rylan muttered some words that broke that ludicrous spell, and now she is gone. Come, let me see if you are one hundred per cent better,” she purred the words as she attempted to sit on his lap.

  Carried me here. What by...? Then clarity washed over him. I found the globe, got bitten by a Tartahound and Kassandra brought me here. The notion seemed so far fetched that he couldn’t believe it. But, the reality of where he was slammed into him. And, as much as he’d like to think Rylan had helped, he knew the kid would never leave Kassandra, too afraid to face his wrath if something were to happen to her. Then the other portion of what Ny’ula said jolted him. He was finally free of that blasted book and Kassandra. Why, however, wasn’t he pleased about that?

  He pushed the Queen off his lap. “How long have I been out?” he asked, hoping it wouldn’t be a repeat of the last time.

  “Not long. Only about two crests,” she said.

  Two crests. That’s only about twenty human minutes. Kassandra couldn’t have gotten far. He grabbed the nearby bag with the globe.

  “She has left you, Darius. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

  “Well, yes, of course, but you see...” he paused. “It’s complicated. I have to go. Look, Ny’ula thank you for healing me. I’m not sure what you used. I thought Tartahound bites were fatal.”

  She gracefully moved away. “They usually are. Lucky for you I have recently discovered a cure.”

  “How recent?”

  “You were my first specimen. So now I know it works,” she smiled smugly up at him.

  The idea of being Queen Ny’ula’ s goldfish didn’t sit well with him, but heck, it wasn’t like he could complain. “I need to go. I promise to come back sometime soon,” he said, gliding to the entrance, as he threw the bag carefully over his shoulder.

  “By the way, where is Rylan?” The Queen gathered her composure to follow him.

  Looking up at him with her iridescent eyes she blinked at him as if he were crazy for asking the obvious. “Gone. I banished him from this realm, of course. And, Darius?” said the Queen.

  “Yes,” he answered.

  “If you are not happy being unbound do something about it. You are, after all, a Prince of the north sea and a renowned warrior.” She taunted him with a provocative smile before she turned and disappeared back into the depths of the cave.

  I am happy about being free at last. Right? He recalled how Kassandra had handled every situation in a way that made him look at her twice. She wasn’t like ordinary women. And she certainly wasn’t like any Siren he’d ever known.

  Still, he should have been enthusiastic, jumping up and down about being unbound. That he wasn’t gave him pause. Wait a second.

  “Ny’ula, how many others know a human came to the Red Sea?” shouted Darius.

  Without bothering to show herself, Ny’ula answered. “I told her to leave the minute she entered our waters. And I told her that she didn’t have much time. I am sad to say that all of them...all of them know” her voice sounded weary.

  “Does that mean...?” he couldn’t finish the sentence. “You should have told me at once.”

  “Why? What is the life of one mere woman if she can put our entire existence at risk? You know the sea law, Darius. You knew the risks. What will be done, will be done,” she replied, her voice echoing off the walls.

  Without looking back Darius darted for the sinkhole, praying he wasn’t too late.

  Fear tighter than an eel wrapping its slippery body around him crushed his chest. He prayed to all the gods that Kassandra had made it safely to the surface, but deep down he knew how improbable that was.

  “They all know,” Queen Ny’ula had said. The “they” being all the rulers of the seven seas, which meant that if she had made it to the sink hole with enough oxygen left in her tank that she would once again emerge in the Atlantic, which just so happened to be ruled by his father, King Sadok.

  Things couldn’t get much worse. The last person he wanted to face was his father. While they had managed to patch their frayed relationship after his last slip, he knew that allowing a human female into their realm would not go unpunished.

  His father had been looking forward to stepping down as ruler, but the plague had made that impossible. When his twin, Seth, starte
d to show symptoms of the illness, it had forced his father to “hold off on retirement” as he had joked to Seth. Not that Seth would be any more lenient when faced with a human discovering their existence.

  However, being forced to deal with his father face-to-face over the life of a human woman was not going to put him back in his father’s good graces. If he’d ever been in them. Then his brother’s earlier joke flashed through him, making Darius feel nauseous. If something happened to Seth, he was next in line for the throne. A shudder passed through his body at that thought.

  Emerging headfirst from the sink hole he honed his body for battle, half expecting to see Muroka and his enhanced pets. Heck what else could top off this day? What he ended up seeing was his father along with two other Titans, warriors he had trained with for centuries. One was trying to remove the oxygen tank from Kassandra’s back.

  She fought them like a tiger shark and he couldn’t have been prouder. Not that it would do any good. He actually smiled when she managed to kick Balarius in the most sensitive spot on his body. He reasoned Balarius had always been a sore loser, so it didn’t pain him to see the Titan double over for a good reason. Then Galagan, the younger warrior, grasped her arms tight behind her back while his father, King Sadok moved in.

  Darius had to admit his father was a sight to behold—not that Kassandra would think that King Sadok gently pried off her diving mask to remove the regulator from her mouth.

  Why by Tethys isn’t she thrashing around or screaming? And why aren’t I rushing to her rescue? Kassandra calmly reached out and touched his father’s cheek. Okay, now I know I’ve seen it all. Then his father turned his way and eyed him.

  “Finally, you have decided to come back to us, Darius. It took you long enough,” said his father, in a reproachful tone that caused him to cringe. Steel green eyes, vivid with an intense emotion he couldn’t read, stared at him, waiting for an explanation.