Ocean's Birth

by Carlton, Demelza

  "Shall we go to the drawing room and leave the men to their whisky?" Sarah asked, throwing her napkin on the table before rising. Her eyes were filled with concern.

  I nodded and waddled out after her, but detoured to the bathroom instead. On my way back, I peeped into the dining room, only to find it empty. Perhaps they'd not bothered with whisky after all. I trudged to the drawing room, where Sarah waited, leafing through a book.

  "Where are they?" I asked in alarm.

  "They went for a walk, they said. Something about a wager. William said not to wait up for him." She smiled. "I agree. You don't look well today and some extra rest should do you good."

  I tried to keep my face blank as I nodded and turned to head for my bedroom. I had no intention of sleeping, though. I intended to stop this fight before Warwick could harm William any more.

  I pulled on my riding pants, letting them hang low on my hips because there was no way they'd stretch over my belly. I donned one of William's loose shirts to cover the rest of me and shrugged on a leather jacket, though I couldn't close it around Apalala. Her father should know better.

  Luckily, my feet were not so swollen that they couldn't fit into my boots. I crammed on a hat as I tried to move soundlessly through the house. Amah and Cook were clearing the plates, so I hoped their clinking covered any noise I made.

  My Triumph stood beside William's, ready to go. I didn't bother igniting the front light as my night vision was more than good enough to see the road ahead, not to mention the controls that I knew almost as well as William now. Kicking the motorcycle into life, I waited a few moments for it to reach a steady chug before I set off for the padang. Surely William and Warwick wouldn't have gone far...

  But the padang was dark and empty. The only lights visible were in houses or in the port. Sibilant waves licked the beach, their muted crash the loudest sound in Flying Fish Cove. No, there was no fight here tonight. That meant...the Grotto. Where Mother waited, unpredictable and deadly.

  I unleashed a spray of sand as I yanked the Triumph into a tight turn, back the way I'd come. With the throttle open full, I leaned over, pressing my belly against the fuel tank as I hunched over to coax greater speed out of it. I had to reach them before Mother harmed William.

  If I didn't...I didn't even want to contemplate the consequences.

  Seventeen

  I turned the engine off when I hit the downhill slope, knowing I could coast to the Grotto on my Triumph just as easily as I'd done with my bicycle in Fremantle. Over the quiet crunch of my tyres rolling through the mud, I heard the crowd long before I saw them. Shouts of encouragement and disappointment melded together in a maelstrom of noise. Of course they wouldn't hear my approach.

  I stood the Triumph on its stand, just out of sight of the clearing, and padded across the trampled grass to join them. Miners, all of them – Malay and Chinese, mostly, with a couple of Sikh turbans bobbing among the crowd. They pushed and shoved, waving their arms and pumping their fists so I couldn't see over the top of them to the combatants. Not that I needed to. It was William and Warwick, I was certain of it.

  Shielding my belly with my arms, I shouldered my way through the crowd. Once I'd created a parting in the wave of humanity, the gap spread as men stared. So much for a secret meeting. Secret from Jackson and the other Europeans; secret from the womenfolk back at Settlement. My presence here sent all their secrecy up in smoke.

  I broke through the crush of onlookers into the ring and my eyes met Warwick's. Instead of finishing the kick he was poised to deliver, he overbalanced and William's well-placed block caught him in the midsection, forcing the air out of his lungs as it sent him to land on his backside several feet away. Warwick just sat there, not rising or tearing his eyes away from me.

  I wondered if there was ice cream on my chin that I'd missed. I glanced down. Ah, no. My belly had popped open some of the buttons on William's shirt, a problem I quickly rectified.

  William spun clumsily on the spot. He was tired and out of breath, sweat gleaming on his body, but when his eyes widened at the sight of me, he straightened as if I'd imagined his exhaustion. "Lass, a fight is no place for a lady."

  I drew myself up. "It's no place for any of you or you'd be doing this on the padang in daylight instead of meeting in the jungle in the dark."

  William sighed. "It's one fight, lass. A friendly bout between Warwick and I. A lot of men have placed wagers and we must finish it, for Ong won't return their money if the match is forfeit."

  Across the rough ring, Ong, the Chinese man who loved monster movies, grinned.

  William extended a hand to Warwick. "Get up, man. That round doesn't count because there were more than two of us in the ring. We start again."

  Warwick nodded and clambered to his feet.

  "Lass, please. I don't want you to get hurt."

  I scanned the crowd, but I saw no sign of another woman. That meant Mother was still in the Grotto, if she was here at all. I allowed William to guide me to the edge of the ring. The fight began again and men quickly moved in front of me, blocking my view of the combatants. I edged toward the cave, thinking to stand guard between the men and Mother.

  I heard the smack of flesh on flesh, followed by William's cry of pain.

  Men risked their money, knowing they could lose it all. What did it matter to me? I didn't want William hurt, either. Mother wasn't the only danger here.

  "I won't let this happen!" I roared, shoving through the crowd. I shot into the ring and stumbled between the two men, just in time to see Warwick's foot headed for my face.

  "NO!" William shouted, grabbing me and turning us both so Warwick's kick thumped against his side. I felt William's body jerk as he grunted in pain.

  "Let me go!" I insisted, struggling in his grasp, but still he tried to shield me.

  A cold, wet hand closed on my wrist.

  "Human, no man touches the ocean's gift without her permission," Mother purred, fixing her imperious gaze on William. Her fingers caressed my belly, leaving a trail of damp cotton in their wake. "Not even if she granted you the honour of siring her child."

  "Mother, this man is mine," I said through gritted teeth.

  Behind me, I heard William whisper, "Mother?"

  I'd spoken English. Mother hadn't understood a word of it, but William had. And so had most of the other humans. I whirled to meet his eyes and found his gaze darting from her to me and back again. From the naked, blonde woman who looked young enough to be my sister to his dragon wife.

  "Dragon," he mumbled, as if he'd read my thoughts through my eyes.

  "They are a threat to our people. They must die," Mother said, her mouth curving into a smile. She started to sing the notes of a song of command.

  "No," I whispered as I felt William's grip on me slacken. "NO!" His eyes grew dull as my mother enslaved his mind.

  I stepped forward and grabbed Mother by her shoulders. "I said no. These people are mine, not yours."

  "Then you do it, child."

  Reluctantly, I raised my voice to sing the same melody as Mother had. That's where the similarity ended, though. My song was richer and more powerful, rolling over them as I desired them to forget all that had happened here tonight. The fight, the wagers, me and most of all, my misguided mother. I wept, knowing what I was taking from William with every note. Better me than my mother.

  Eyes turned to me, somnolent yet wide open. "Mine," I repeated.

  "For only a moment," she scoffed, then commanded them to walk to the cliff and throw themselves over.

  For all my confidence, I still felt a frisson of fear. Yet not a man moved. I dominated them completely. Including – my heart sank to see such a powerful man brought low – William.

  Mother looked furious. This was the second time I'd thwarted her control over a human, but this time her fury was tainted with something that looked like lust. "Kill them already," she commanded.

  Lust for power, violence or both? I would give her neither.

&nbs
p; I regarded her coldly. "I don't have to." I sang again, weaving words into the melody in our language, as I willed the men to obey my desires. "Forget. Cease fighting. Return to your homes and never speak of this night again, for you will not remember in the morning." William's words from this afternoon rang in my head. They were men and it was their nature to fight one another. Why couldn't they dispel their aggressive energies without hurting each other, like the boys playing football on the padang? I struggled not to laugh, forcing myself to think of what I needed them to do – to forget, cease fighting, return home and play football.

  They marched out of the clearing, headed for Settlement.

  I stuffed my fist in my mouth, but I burst out laughing anyway.

  "You have allowed humans to live when they should die." Mother's disapproving voice sobered me instantly.

  I sighed. "No, Mother. Just because you cannot command humans like I can, does not mean they have to die."

  "You have also left it too late to swim to Cocos. You will give birth here in the Grotto, as my mother did. And I will assist you, as my father Dubhan did her, before we return home."

  Wearily, I nodded, more to humour her than to agree with her plan. By the time I gave birth, I'd be in Fremantle far away, and I would sing to Sarah and William to make them forget that my child was born with a tail. I could swaddle her up in blankets like humans did and hide her fins until she could learn to control them. But Mother didn't need to know that.

  I dragged my feet to my Triumph. It took me several tries to kickstart it because I couldn't seem to summon the energy necessary to stomp my foot properly. It wasn't just weariness. It was the heart-numbing despair of knowing what I'd done to William.

  As I set off, I tried not to think about it, but my thoughts were full of nothing else.

  I'd saved his life, but to do so, I'd enslaved his very soul. The commanding nature of my song would wear off in a matter of hours, and William would wake with no memory of tonight's events or of my mother. Thank water for that. But the song's melody would lurk in his memory, leaving him more susceptible to my will and my song, as long as he lived.

  I swore never to sing in his hearing again. William was a leader among men who deserved his freedom: my husband was no one's slave. Least of all mine.

  Eighteen

  Wracked by guilt, I barely slept. It didn't help that William snored the night long as if he'd drunk a whole bottle of whisky. Such was the mind-dulling effect of siren song. I finally fell into a light doze when he left for work, but my dreams were filled with images of William as one of the mindless monsters from Mr Ong's horror films. Was life truly worth living in such a state? Was this why my people killed controlled humans – to save them from a life with vacant eyes as some siren's thrall? Would William ever be the same again?

  Listlessly, I slumped onto my chair at the breakfast table, barely tasting my tea as I nodded to all of Sarah's enquiries about my health. Even Apalala seemed sluggish this morning.

  "Will, stop staring and sit down."

  I blinked and turned to see William in the doorway. He shook himself at Sarah's admonishment and grinned.

  "Now, I was just mesmerised looking at my beautiful wife. Don't you think motherhood suits her, Sarah?" Warm arms encircled my shoulders as William's hand tilted my chin up so he could kiss me. With slow passion, his tongue awoke mine and they danced together far more gracefully than any other part of my body could today. "Mm, I'm the luckiest man alive. And I've had Warwick telling me so all morning as his phosphate ship docked. I think he's fair in love with you, lass." Another kiss, too brief this time. "But he can't have you, for you're mine." William winked as he took his seat.

  "What time did you boys return last night? I didn't hear you come home, yet you look more well-rested than your wife," Sarah observed, biting into a slice of toast.

  William gulped his tea and set the cup down with a clunk. "You know, I don't remember. I must've had too much of Warwick's lethal Japanese whisky. I don't even remember coming to bed." His hand landed on my wrist. "I'll make it up to you tonight, lass. Warwick's dining with the District Officer and the Jacksons tonight, but I made my excuses on account of your health. We'll have a quiet family dinner together instead." His eyes glinted with desire.

  I felt my cheeks flush, but that wasn't the only part of me heating up. Just the most visible. Perhaps I hadn't harmed William as much as I'd thought last night.

  "And you didn't even ask me what I planned on doing tonight? Watching you and your wife make sheep's eyes at one another across the table until you drag her off to bed and make enough noise to keep the whole household awake is hardly my idea of a pleasant evening," Sarah snapped. She lifted her coffee cup and drank deeply.

  William laughed. "No, I didn't. I told District Officer Males you'd be joining him and the Jacksons this evening, though you're welcome to send him your apologies and stay home with us instead. But don't expect sparkling after dinner conversation, for I'll want an early night alone with my wife."

  Sarah dropped her napkin beside her plate and rose. "Mother would be ashamed of you, Will. Such coarse conversation at the breakfast table. I'm surprised your wife tolerates it." Her head held high, she headed out.

  William's hand stroked my belly through my dress. "Sorry if I embarrassed you, lass. I'm just finding it harder and harder to resist you. Every time I look at you, that glow on your face as our child grows inside you, I fall deeper in love with you every day."

  "Me, too. Truly, it's fine William. I wouldn't want you any other way." Except naked in bed, and his eyes promised that he'd make it so.

  Nineteen

  Cook and Amah carried in dessert, the glass bowls already beading with condensation so I couldn't see their contents. Something cold, evidently.

  "Leave the tray. We won't need you any more tonight," William said, waving them away.

  I nodded my agreement and thanked them for dinner.

  William didn't say another word until they'd left, when he uncovered the bowls. "Ice cream, cold berries and chocolate sauce."

  I half rose in my seat to see. "What sort of berries?"

  He lifted one from the bowl. "Raspberries. Still frozen, too. These must be what Warwick was talking about when he said he'd brought us a gift – a shipment of frozen food he won in a wager with some Americans in Singapore. Have you ever tasted a fresh raspberry, lass?"

  I frowned at the small berry between his fingers. "No. Strawberries and mulberries, yes, but the only raspberries I've seen were in the jam on Captain Hughes' table on the Islander." He popped the berry into my mouth before I could close it. "Oh that's...mm, tart but still sweet." Gone was my distrust on the Trevessa, when I'd objected to him trying to feed me chocolate. Now I'd taste anything he had to offer.

  "Lass." William swallowed. "Do you really want dessert tonight? The longer we stay here, the more I fantasise about taking you right here on the table."

  My eyes met his and I toyed with the idea. I'd take William over chocolate any day.

  He grabbed the bowls and dumped them back on the tray, along with some spoons, and threw a spare tablecloth over his shoulder. "I'll carry it all to the bedroom and we can have a picnic on the floor afterwards. I need...you, lass."

  I nodded and rose, knowing that when I reached the bedroom, he followed just a step behind me.

  I heard the tray clatter onto the nightstand as I pulled my dress off, feeling William's arms slide around me to free me from my underwear. I set to work on his buttons – I wanted, no, needed to feel his skin against mine. Our clothes puddled to the floor and the dance began anew, from my toes curling beside his to our tangled tongues. We stepped sideways toward the bed, moving to the drumbeat of both our hearts, as William drew me down beside him. Even pressed together, my belly jutted between us, no match for even William's considerable length.

  He wasn't deterred, though. His fingers slipped between my thighs, caressing their way inside me. I arched my back, though the only sign was that my
breasts thrust forward toward William's waiting mouth. My breasts tingled at his touch, the nerves in my nipples so aroused I'm not sure I noticed his fingers at all until I tensed around them as William enticed me to the cusp of tonight's first climax. With every stroke of his tongue, he drew cries and gasps from me, growing more urgent as my orgasm built. I unleashed a cry of joy as the waves washed over me.

  When I opened my eyes, William was licking his fingers. "So sweet," he said. "Just like on our wedding night. Lass, I have to...have to taste..." He yanked at the bedclothes, wadding the linen and blankets into a small hillock on top of my pillows. After a moment, he spread the purloined tablecloth on top of the jumbled mess. "Lie back on this. Trust me, lass."

  Of course I trusted him. I moved without hesitation, though not as quickly as I wished. The piled-up bedclothes let me recline much like one of the Islander's deck chairs, though far more comfortably.

  Once again he dived between my thighs, his tongue licking at my insides. I moaned and he came up for air. "Who needs dessert when I have you?" His eyes sharpened as if a thought had struck him and he reached for the nightstand. I had no time to pay attention to his hands any more as his mouth returned to its ministrations.

  "William...oh, William!" I peaked again and lay panting, but my magnificent man was only getting started. His eyes met mine over the curve of my belly as his fingers thrust inside me. Cold – so cold, flooding my overheated body with a seductive chill. "What...are you doing?"

  "Your sweetness and the tart, frozen raspberries you liked...I'm going to devour you." He chuckled, the vibration travelling through my body. His tongue probed deep inside me, drawing out the cold and replacing it with a wave of warmth.

  "Oh, do that again. Please." My voice was so breathless with desire I barely recognised it. I didn't care. I was lost on a tide of pleasure and William was my moon, drawing me higher and higher until...

  "Damn. We're out of raspberries."