Neptune's Ring

by Ali Spooner

  “Have a great night then,” he said and watched her drive up the hill.

  Levi parked the cart and plugged it up and sat on the front porch as she watched the men board one of the flat keel boats for their journeys home. She followed the progress of the boat across the water and watched the boat disappear from view.

  Levi sat looking across the water and had lost all track of time when her eyes caught the movement of a boat moving toward the island. She was surprised to see someone heading toward the island as the sun began to set. She strained to see then lifted the camera to use its telephoto lens to find that it was Codi coming toward the island.

  Levi took the camera and the rest of her gear inside and placed it on the kitchen counter and then walked back outside to step onto the golf cart and headed down the hill. She reached the boat house just as Codi was pulling up alongside of the pier. She reached for a mooring line and tied the boat off as Codi killed the engine.

  “I am surprised to see you this late in the day,” Levi said.

  “Well, I was excited about the proposal and could not wait another day to present it,” Codi said. “I hope I am not intruding.”

  “Not at all,” Levi assured her. Would you like to come up to the house for a beer while I look this over?”

  Codi looked up at the house, the sun beginning to set behind it. “A cold beer would be nice after a long day,” she said.

  “Come with me then,” Levi said as they walked toward the golf cart.

  They drove up to the house and Levi pointed to the chairs on the front porch. “I will be right back so make yourself at home.”

  “Thanks,” Codi said as she watched Levi disappear inside the house. She looked around, her nerves a bit uncomfortable and was relieved when Levi returned carrying two beers.

  “Here you go,” Levi said as she handed a frosted bottle to Codi. “Let’s see what you have here,” she said as she picked up the thin package Codi had brought.

  Codi sipped her beer as Levi read through her proposal. The expression on Levi’s face did not change as she read through the proposal, preventing Codi from gauging Levi’s response. Levi calmly placed the proposal on the table and looked up to see Codi watching her closely for any sign of a response.

  “This looks good to me,” she said. “I have already mentioned your idea to Nat one of my other partners and she asked that I fax it to her for review once I get it.”

  “Would you like me to fax it for you?” Codi asked.

  “No, I have to go back into town tomorrow, so I will get Cat to fax it for me then. I will read over it again tonight as well,” Levi said.

  “I look forward to hearing back from you,” she said.

  “Will you need to make any purchases to accommodate the extra business?” Levi asked.

  “I will probably upgrade some of the equipment, but I had already planned on doing that,” Codi said.

  “We hope to be open in two months,” Levi said.

  “That gives me plenty of time then,” Codi said. “Would you like to take a dive with me later this week to take a look at the beauty you have surrounding you?”

  “I would like that yes,” Levi said with a soft smile. “When did you have in mind?”

  “Fridays are usually slow, so how about Friday morning?” she asked.

  “Friday would be perfect,” Levi said.

  Codi looked around at the growing darkness and Levi could tell she was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. Codi finished off the bottle of beer and placed it on the small table.

  “I will come over around nine then on Friday,” Codi said as she stood to leave.

  Levi started to rise also. “Keep your seat,” Codi said. “I can make my way down the hill just fine.”

  “Alright then, I will see you on Friday, if not before,” Levi said as Codi stepped off the front porch.

  “I look forward to it,” Codi said and with a nervous smile she turned away and started down the hill.

  Levi watched as she walked down to the boat and smiled at the thought of Codi being uncomfortable on the island after dark. The history of the island had become fully ingrained in the minds of the locals and Levi reckoned it would take some doing to overcome the image. Little did Levi understand the role she would play in overcoming the fear that plagued the residents of the mainland.

  Levi sipped her beer as the shadows grew long, surrounding the house in darkness.

  Codi walked briskly, down the hill, eager to leave the island before the sun set. She had nearly made it to the bottom of the hill when she heard a rustling in the brush beside the path and it took great restraint to keep from breaking out in a run. The hackles were raised on her neck as she felt she was being watched by someone other than the adorable Levi and she picked up the pace of her steps.

  She was relieved to step on her boat and head out to the open water. She looked back at the house but could not see anything other than the outline of the house in the setting sun. Chills were raised on her arms, but this time it was from the cool breeze blowing across her bare skin. She tore her eyes away from the house and concentrated on making it across the water to her home.

  Levi watched Codi disappear from sight as she sat on the porch. The night air was turning cool and she enjoyed the feel of it brushing across her skin. Thoughts of Vanessa churned in her head and she found herself doing something completely uncharacteristic of herself. Levi was crying.

  Levi was confused by this storm of emotion. She did not feel sad or hurt, but she could not staunch the tears from rolling down her cheeks. She must be missing Vanessa even more than she realized. Levi lifted her hand to her chest where her fingers located the light house charm Vanessa had given her as a smile broke through her tears. “I feel you with me baby,” Levi whispered into the breeze.

  The curtains were pulled aside as the misty figure gazed out upon the crying woman and she wondered what has caused such great sadness in someone so young and beautiful. Then she remembered how her own young life had been taken so cruelly, when there was so much promise ahead for her and a single tear rolled down her right cheek. She wished she could reach out and place a comforting arm around the young woman, but her physical limits in this realm were so limited, so she sent all the positive energy she could muster to the young woman drowning in torment.

  Vanessa was working in the control room with Killian, when she was overwhelmed with a need to call Levi. For some unknown reason, she felt compelled to call Levi and she prayed that her love was not in danger as a knot formed in her stomach.

  She lifted her cell phone from the console and found that she had missed a call from Levi. She listened to the message and smiled as she stepped outside to return her call.

  Levi jumped when the cell phone rang in her pocket and clumsily fished it out by the third ring. She hoped she could get it open in time to catch the call.

  Vanessa was about to end the call when she heard Levi’s voice. “Hello, baby, are you there?” Levi asked.

  “Yes, Levi I am, are you ok?” Vanessa asked.

  “I am fine, Vanessa, why do you ask?” Levi said.

  “Because I just had the most uncontrollable urge to call you,” Vanessa said.

  “I was thinking about you and how much I missed you baby,” Levi said. “I am sitting out on the porch with a cool breeze blowing and it reminded me of you.”

  “I miss you too, darling, and enjoyed getting your email and voicemail today,” Vanessa said. “Did you have a good day?”

  “It was fantastic,” Levi said. “The construction is moving along nicely and the weather today has been simply perfect.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” Vanessa said. “We have been busy here too and Killian sends her love.”

  “Be sure to give her a big hug from me,” Levi said. “Baby, it is so good to hear your voice.”

  “You must be missing me just a bit,” Vanessa said.

  Levi laughed loudly, a sound that made Vanessa smile. “More than just a bit, baby. I mis
s you something terrible.”

  “Hopefully the time will pass quickly,” Vanessa said. “I look forward to sharing the island with you and holding you in my arms again.”

  “I can almost taste your sweet kisses,” Levi said, as she closed her eyes and remembered the last kiss they had shared before Vanessa left the port.

  “I will have many of those just for you, my baby,” Vanessa promised.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too, Levi,” Vanessa said. “Will you call me before you go to bed tonight?”

  “Yes, love I will.”

  “I will be waiting for you,” Vanessa said. “Goodbye for now, my love.”

  “Goodbye, my sweet,” Levi said and closed the phone.

  Levi looked up toward the house and could have sworn she saw the curtains move. Surely it was her imagination, yet again playing tricks on her as the house was sealed up tight. She stood and picked up the bottles and the proposal from Codi and walked inside.

  Levi built a sandwich and sat at the breakfast bar to eat as she read over Codi’s proposal. The more times she read over it, the more she thought it would be a good idea and she hoped she could convince the other’s to use her services.

  She put away her dishes and walked into the bedroom and stripped out of her clothes. She took a shower and sat on the bed as she turned the television on and switched through the channels. Nothing captured her attention, so Levi turned on the sound system and filled the room with the soothing sounds of a pan flute player. She leaned back against the pillows and picked up her cell phone.

  “Hey baby,” she said when Vanessa answered the phone.

  “Hi, my love, how are you?” she asked.

  “I am good sweetie, just missing you,” Levi said.

  “Is that a soft little purr I hear in your voice?” she asked.

  “Yes, baby it is. I am lying here on this big old bed thinking of my sweet baby,” Levi said.

  “What are you wearing, my love?” Vanessa asked.

  “A robe and nothing more,” Levi said.

  “Oh baby, that sounds so nice. Can you feel me lying next to you on the bed baby?”

  “Oh, yes, Vanessa,” Levi said as her hand slowly opened her robe.

  “Can you feel my fingers stroking up your side Levi and over your sleeping nipple?” Vanessa asked.

  Levi closed her eyes and imagined her fingers were Vanessa’s as her fingers caressed her body. “Uh hmm baby, but my nipples are wide awake now,” Levi said.

  “Yes, I can feel them now, so nice and hard, baby,” Vanessa whispered. “They feel so good under my tongue,” she said.

  Levi gasped as her nipples grew so hard they ached, as she listened to Vanessa’s voice in her ears. “Oh dear goodness, Vanessa,” Levi groaned as her fingers toyed with her nipples. “I want you so badly.”

  “Come with me, Levi,” Vanessa whispered into the phone.

  “Oh yes, baby,” Levi said.

  “Can you feel my hand sliding down your body, my fingers playing in your soft curls?”

  Levi’s right hand moved between her legs to find her body soaked with excitement as her fingers slipped between her trembling lips.

  “Sliding slowly in and out of you as my teeth nibble your nipple,” Vanessa whispered.

  She could hear Levi’s breathing growing more rapid as her fingers penetrated her body and her excitement grew.

  “Oh yes, baby, that’s it, stroke it nice and slow,” Vanessa said. “Make it feel so good.”

  “Vanessa,” Levi breathed. “I’m coming baby,” she moaned.

  “Yes, Levi, let me feel you coming, my love,” Vanessa said as her own arousal took over and she felt her spasms begin deep in her body.

  “Oh yes, Vanessa,” Levi groaned loudly and then went silent as she dropped the phone beside her on the bed.

  Vanessa could hear soft moans as Levi’s pleasure continued for several more seconds, and then she heard Levi fumbling for the phone.

  “Oh my god, that was intense, Vanessa,” Levi said still short of breath.

  “It sounded wonderful.”

  “It felt incredible,” Levi said, and Vanessa could hear the grin in her voice.

  “Now imagine I am holding you in my arms, cradling your body into mine as we drift off to sleep, baby,” Vanessa said.

  “Sweet dreams, my love,” Levi said.

  “I will call you tomorrow,” Vanessa said.

  “Goodnight, Vanessa, I love you.”

  “I love you too,” Levi said as she closed the phone and held Vanessa close in her dreams.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Celeste watched over Levi until she was sure she was sleeping. She smiled at the change she had seen come over Levi from the earlier evening when her tears flowed uncontrollably. In her sleep and her dreams Celeste watched as she clutched her imaginary lover, with a smile on her face.

  Celeste saw the gold light house lying on Levi’s neck and her hand went to her chest. There shimmering in the moonlight was the St. Christopher medallion Roberto had given her on her fourteenth birthday. It was her most prized possession during her life and now in her death, she would use the medallion to help her distraught spirit reach a final peace. It was time Celeste allowed Levi to know her spirit was still present in the house and that she would be bound forever on the island without her help.

  She drifted into the office where Levi’s journal still lay open. She reached behind her neck to unclasp the medallion and placed it across the open pages of the journal. Celeste hoped that Levi would see the necklace as proof of her existence and would begin to put the pieces of her life’s mystery together. Using all of her might, Celeste picked up Levi’s pen and struggling against the strain of her limited existence wrote ‘Help’ on the empty page. She dropped the pen and watched it fall to the floor, but was unable to garner the strength to pick it up and place it back on the desk. She could only watch as it rolled across the room.

  Weary from her efforts, Celeste drifted back into the shadows.

  When Levi woke the next morning, she showered and grabbed a cup of coffee. She had planned to send Vanessa an email before going to the resort and when she walked into the office, she was surprised to find her pen on the floor, halfway across the room from the desk. Levi bent down and picked up the pen and walked the final steps to the desk.

  While Levi reached to place the pen by her journal, her eyes came to rest on the medallion and the coffee cup fell from her hand. Levi did not feel the splatter of the hot coffee that splashed against her ankle as her eyes were transfixed on her journal. She reached for the chair and sat down heavily, her eyes never leaving the medallion. She leaned forward and saw a single word scribbled on the page. The word “Help” was written on the page in large letters, written like the hand of a small child.

  There had been no one else in the house and the only other person that had been at the house was Codi and Levi had watched her leave the island. There was never an opportunity for Codi to enter the home unobserved during her visit. Curious, Levi reached forward and touched the gold medallion, expecting it to feel cold, but as she picked it up it was warm against the palm of her hand.

  “Celeste, are you here with me?” Levi said.

  Levi watched as the coffee mug she had dropped to the floor turned slightly on the floor. I know that can’t be my imagination, Levi thought as the cup moved again.

  “How can I help you?” Levi pleaded. “Can you tell me somehow?”

  Celeste was frustrated that Levi could not see her, even when she focused hard to move the cup. How could she tell the young woman what she needed her to do, when she had no voice in the spirit world.

  “I want to help you, but I need your guidance,” Levi said. “Can you help me?”

  Levi strained her eyes and ears for any sign or sound Celeste may be able to make, but the room was deadly silent. “Find a way if you can,” Levi said then walked into the kitchen to grab a paper towel to clean up the spilt coffee. She poured
a fresh cup and walked back to the computer, to send an email to Vanessa.

  The room remained quiet and when Levi finished sending her mail she left the computer turned on. She looked at the gold medallion and felt an urge to place the chain around her neck. She felt that it was an important clue, that would somehow help her solve the mystery she found herself involved in and she did not want to take any chance that it would disappear as mysteriously as it appeared.

  She placed the chain around her neck and fastened the clasp securely. The medallion rested just above the light house Vanessa had given her and was in plain sight, its gold shining brightly against her black shirt. Levi picked up her coffee and the camera and walked into the kitchen where she tucked Codi’s proposal under her arm.

  She left the house and drove down to the resort in search of Carlos. She was surprised to find two of the three walls of the pool bar were up and the crew was working diligently on the third as she walked toward the resort.

  She walked into the front lobby and was greeted by several of the workers.

  “Are you looking for Carlos?” one of the men asked.

  “Yes, please, do you know where I can find him?” she said.

  “He is in the second room on the right, Miss,” the man said.

  “Thank you,” Levi said and walked into the hallway.

  “Good morning, Levi,” Carlos said when she stepped inside the room. “Tell me, do you think this shade is too dark?” he asked.

  Levi looked at the wall where one of the painters had used a roller to paint a swath on a wall. “I don’t think it will be too dark, Carlos,” Levi said. “We have magnolia drapes ordered and the linens and light fixtures will be light colored as well, but if you think it is too dark, I will trust your judgment.”

  “I think we would do better to lighten it just a shade or two,” he said. “The beds and the floors will be dark, so I think we should go with a lighter shade of mocha.”

  “Make it happen then,” Levi said with a smile. “I need to go into town on some business this morning, is there anything you need?” she asked.