Siren Descending Read online

  She paid for her selections and bundled everything together, except for the dress, which she left separate. I wouldn’t want the alkanet root to stain such a lovely gown. She went back to the park, launched, and paddled back toward the cabin.

  About halfway there, her stomach rumbled. I forgot to eat today. She stared longingly at the water. Wish I could transform and take a quick dip to catch some fish. She couldn’t risk losing the kayak, though. I need it for transportation for my purchases.

  She quit paddling and allowed the boat to glide to a stop. How else can I capture something to eat?

  A mullet leapt high right next to her, landing back in the water with a loud splash. If only he would jump in. Hmm, I think I can make that happen.

  She voiced her captivating aria, luring fish to the area, drawing them to her. As a carp surged up, she focused on it, pulling it to her with her song and a net made of air. It landed right in the kayak. It works.

  She repeated the process and caught a sea bass. These will make a delicious dinner for us tonight.

  However, when she reached the cabin, a note from Thorne said he’d gone to another meeting.

  Fine with me. It’s the full moon, and high tide will be at midnight, the perfect time to invoke the goddess.

  She ate both the fish raw the way she liked them. If they hadn’t sat in the kayak so long, they would taste better though.

  A hollow ache built inside her although her stomach was full. He’s gone a lot these days.

  She pressed her lips together. I’m accustomed to being on my own. Now, it’s time to begin my project.

  She bathed quickly from a rooftop cistern connected to a gravity shower. Thank the goddess Thorne keeps a small supply of magically heated water. She cleansed her body with patchouli-scented olive oil soap and washed her hair with a natural shampoo concocted from aloe, chamomile and rosemary. Within a few minutes, the warm water ran out. Yuk. Emphasis on small amount. She shivered. If I could control fire, I’d heat all the water I need. Resentment surged.

  She toweled dry, threw on a light caftan, and combed out her hair.

  The next several hours she spent meditating and preparing herself mentally for the task ahead.

  ΨΨΨ

  At eleven, she donned the gorgeous red dress, clasped the beads around her neck, and gathered the rest of her materials.

  Leaving her feet bare, she went outside and through the woods to her special spot by the bayou. A narrow spit of sugar sand beach glowed under the full moon. The water reflected the silvery orb, so it appeared two moons intersected and joined water to sky. Tree frogs sang, and a mullet splashed out in the water. A sweet fragrance wafted to her. Mmm. Night blooming jasmine. One of my favorite scents. And orange blossoms from the groves nearby.

  She lit the first incense. Mastic, resinous and mossy, to intensify my psychic faculties and call the spirit of the goddess Bia to me. She personifies strength and energy, the only one of all the gods and goddesses strong enough to capture and hold Prometheus until Hephaestus bound him by chains.

  She shuddered. Note to self. Pissing off the gods is a bad idea. Being chained to a rock and having your liver eaten out by an eagle every day, after growing it anew at night, truly is a fate worse than death. All for stealing fire from heaven and giving it to humans. She shook her head. I wouldn’t make such a sacrifice for them. What do they ever do for anyone else?

  Next, she struck a match and held the flame to the vervain. To exorcise any evil spirits. This one’s for you, Gelion. Whatever you are, I don’t need you ruining this for me.

  She ignited the cypress. The sweet, peppery odor of this will help my confidence, physical stamina, and will.

  With the incense scenting the air, she took several deep breaths, releasing them and allowing her lungs to deflate before inhaling again.

  The cranberries soaked in a carved wooden basin filled with a solution of water and alkanet root powder. She raised the container, and the berries bobbed up and down. They had absorbed the dye from the herb and were a deep scarlet, almost black. She presented the bowl to the four corners of the compass, north, south, east, and west. She set it back down, careful not to spill any of the water.

  She gripped her athame. It fit her hand, an old friend she’d missed for the last few months while it sat hidden under her clothing. Thorne doesn’t approve of me using this. He says I should stay away from blood magic, but I’m not hurting anyone.

  As she raised her arms in supplication, she invoked the incantation to call the spirit of Bia to her, projecting her voice as loud as possible.

  “Oh, Goddess fair,

  Daughter of Pallas and Styx,

  Who reigns through utmost darkness,

  Hear my prayer.

  I offer my body

  For you to share.

  Inhabit me,

  Claim me,

  Take me to possess.

  As I will

  So, shall it be.”

  As the last words echoed through the night, she slashed the athame across her palm. Hissing from the pain, she held her hand over the container. Blood fell from the cut into the cranberries and alkanet root water.

  When the drops hit the fruit, the concoction sizzled and steamed. The rising vapor formed a cloud in the shape of a woman. A voice emanated from the figure. “Daughter of my daughters, whose heritage comes from the nereids, are you certain this is what you wish?”

  Athenia’s heart sped up. It’s happening. She bowed her head. “Yes, Majestic One. I need your strength to defend myself. Please help me.”

  The goddess asked, “You request this freely and of your own volition?”

  Through a mouth gone desert dry, Athenia replied in as steady a voice as she could muster. “Yes, Immortal Mother. This is my own idea.”

  The mist moved toward her. “Repeat your desire again to invoke the might of three.”

  Athenia said, “I wish for you to possess part of me. In return, I will do anything you ask.” A dangerous promise to make a goddess, but I need her. Surely, she won’t demand anything I can’t do.

  “It is done.” The haze settled around Athenia’s head, melting into her body. Dizziness caused her to stumble, so she leaned against an oak for support. In a few seconds, the groggy sensation went away, and she stood straight.

  She wiped the cut with a cotton cloth. Immediately, the bleeding stopped, and the wound healed. She flexed her fingers. No pain. No scar. She studied her palm. No marks from past sacrifices either. Impressive.

  She dug a hole, dumped the cranberries in it, and covered them with dirt, then tamped the mound down with her feet. After she packed it as hard as she could, she sprinkled the area with pine needles and Spanish moss. Can’t let a bird or animal eat this. There’s no telling what it would do to them, but I’m sure it wouldn’t be good.

  She pinched out the incense sticks, stored them in a bag, and set it next to the athame to take back inside. I can use them again.

  I hope this worked. I can’t sense her, or hear her thoughts, or anything. Maybe I wasted a lot of money and effort on nothing.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  A week later, as Athenia walked through the woods, she considered going for a swim. At least with Thorne gone all the time, I can rejuvenate whenever I want. However, for once, the water didn’t call to her. I wish Thorne would return. If he would confide in me, I’d help him with whatever is wrong, but he doesn’t trust me enough.

  She stopped to admire bluish purple flowers on a vine that twined around a stump and sent shoots out across the path. Thorne calls them Morning Glory.

  As thunder heads built on the horizon, the wind picked up. The clouds billowed in her direction. Uh oh. Time to go back inside.

  Palmetto fronds rustled. The wind or something else? She whirled around.

  Gelion stepped out of the bushes, sophisticated in expensive suit and shiny shoes.

  She frowned. “Don’t you ever wear weather-appropriate clothing? You look ridiculous.”

 
He adjusted the cuffs of his crisp white shirt. “This is quite fashionable.”

  “Yeah, for Monte Carlo. We’re in Florida. Think bathing trunks and crocs.”

  “Hmm... All right.” He moved in a lightning fast blur. “How’s this?” He spread his arms.

  Oh, My Goddess.

  He wore a Hawaiian shirt and a turquoise swim brief. The thin strip of fabric adhered to his body like a second skin and didn’t conceal anything.

  Puffs of smoke spurted from the Morning Glory vines under her feet. Heat travelled from her legs to her core, burning, but this time in a good way. She squirmed and took a step back. “Um. Yes. Well. Now you’re more casual.” She swallowed.

  He approached her.

  She backed away more.

  When she tried to take another step, a solid but invisible wall stopped her.

  He closed the distance between them. “You’re beautiful.”

  She shut her eyes. If only he’d go away.

  His soft breathing tickled her ear.

  Her skin prickled from pressure so light she couldn’t distinguish between him and her own goose bumps. Warm wisps twined around her legs and quested into her core, teasing and stimulating her.

  With a quick, silent prayer, she invoked Bia. Might borrowed from the goddess filled her, and she tingled all over as if electricity ran through her.

  She focused, channeling the electric surge into a protective shield around her body, hardening it until a power shell hard as steel surrounded her. Try to break through that.

  Gelion reached for her. When he touched her, the current surrounding her knocked him back. He landed about two feet from her, on his ass, his perfect hairdo a mess with half of his hair sticking straight up and the other half hanging in his eyes.

  Brushing his hair back off his face, he stood. “Fascinating. What did you do to me? I haven’t felt anything so stimulating in centuries.”

  As he stretched his hand out to within a centimeter of her, then pulled it back before he touched her, he paced around her. His snakelike tongue darted out and in several times. “This force tastes different. Is it your own?”

  She kept a stone face, but she trembled inside. What will I do if invocation of the goddess can’t stop him?

  He circled her again, not touching her, but his energy thrust toward her, testing and feinting, trying to find a vulnerable spot. He stopped and stared at her. “Goddess strength. How did you manage that?”

  Athenia’s knees unlocked as her rigid muscles relaxed a fraction. He can’t reach me. I’m safe in here. Thank you, Bia.

  Gelion raised both hands and placed them on her shoulders. Though the electric current arced between them, sending sparks shooting into the air, he didn’t jump back. He held on and turned the power back on her, lighting her with it until her skin incandesced, and she shook with the force of it.

  Goddess help me, this may kill me. Please, make it stop. Athenia silently begged Bia to deliver her from the agony.

  Still holding Athenia, Gelion threw back his head and bellowed out a lunatic laugh. “Go ahead, little witch. Give it to me, and I’ll send it back to you. We’ll see if you can withstand your own defense mechanism.”

  With tears streaming down her face, she swayed like eel grass bending before the tide. “Let me go. Please. Let me go.”

  Gelion took a step back.

  She fell to her knees, gasping. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t fight you. Please leave me alone. You’re so much stronger than me, I can’t possibly possess anything you need.”

  He pulled her to her feet. “You’re wrong. There’s much I want from you, especially the entertainment you’re providing me. I haven’t had so much fun in ages.”

  This time when he touched her, she felt no electricity. As if a circuit broke, she couldn’t contact the goddess. She probably abandoned me. Like everyone else in my life.”

  Athenia backed away from Gelion. “All right, I lost. What happens next?”

  He blurred. When he came back into focus, he again sported the elegant suit and shiny shoes. His hair was combed and styled. “This has been lovely, but unfortunately I need to take care of other business. I still want your agreement to the deal I offered. After a little more time to think about it, you’ll realize I’m your best option. So, I’ll say goodbye for now, but I’ll visit you again soon.”

  In a blink, she was alone in the woods. She leaned back against a tree. What am I going to do now? He took everything I obtained from the goddess and laughed at me. I’m in big trouble.

  ΨΨΨ

  Throughout a restless night, Athenia tossed in her hammock. While wishing for Thorne’s return, she worried. Obviously, he can take care of himself. What could hurt him around here? Well, besides Gelion. Since I failed at dealing with him myself, should I tell Thorne about him now? I don’t want Thorne to be mad at me for keeping things from him, but he’s not here, so I couldn’t tell him if I wanted to. Anyway, he has a lot on his mind. This situation must be serious because he’s never been gone this long before. Of course, he’s all right, he must be.

  As the room around her lightened, she got up. Weak rays filtered in through a cloudy sky. A spatter of drops clinked on the tin roof. Bad weather coming. Though Thorne can keep rain off him with mage control, I can’t. As much as I’m at home in the water, I don’t like getting wet on land. Clothes get so sticky.

  Not caring how she looked, she threw on some old sweatpants and a washed-out, blue T-shirt. No sense bothering when I’m alone.

  As coffee perked on the propane stove, she paced. I tried something so dangerous neither Delphie nor I ever invoked it before, and it didn’t stop him. Now the goddess is gone, but I still owe her. No doubt the debt will come back to haunt me at the worst possible time. The woody, nutty aroma of fresh roasted coffee calmed her at the same time as the fog from fatigue cleared.

  After she poured herself some brew, she perched on a chair and blew on the liquid to cool it off. Cradling the mug, she took comfort from its warmth. What I need is more power so I can protect myself from Gelion and anyone else who threatens me in the future. Where can I obtain it? The mages access unlimited energy from the elements, but if my master won’t teach me to use that power, what am I supposed to do? None of the others will either, I’m sure. Resentment rose.

  She sipped the bittersweet beverage. Then, she set the mug on the table. The only sorcerer stronger than me and Delphie combined was Merlindrake. When he captured her for his hideous experiments, I couldn’t do anything to save her, not even give her the release of death, because he kept rejuvenating her in the water. Then, he tried a new “experiment”, starting the horrible process all over again. Then, Merlindrake almost got me, too. I can never repay Thorne for saving me from the same fate Delphie suffered.

  Gulping the rest of her coffee, she jumped up and strode back and forth. A tiny part of her whispered that hiding things and trying to deal with them herself was not the way to make amends. Maybe I’m making another mistake, because he hates lying. An uneasy twinge twisted her gut. Should I tell him? She stuffed the thought under righteous indignation. I’m doing all this for him. Besides, I don’t want to add to the stress he’s under right now.

  As she walked, she ran her hands through her hair. Wait a minute. She stopped and stared out at the water. Merlindrake was the most powerful Nerei wizard ever, but he’s dead now, smashed by the rocks Thorne and I rained down on him when we destroyed his lair. Since we were the only ones who knew his location, and the mages aren’t interested in his dark arts, his book of magic is probably still in his cave.

  She took her coffee cup to the sink. Merlindrake practiced sorcery since before I was born. While Thorne and I were chained in his cave, I caught a glimpse of his grimoire. It was twice the size of mine, so I’m sure I’ll discover something in it to defeat Gelion. All right, I’ll retrieve Merlindrake’s book.

  She glanced again at the slate gray sky. There will be storms today. If there isn’t too much lightning, I should be o
kay in the water, but if it gets bad, I’ll go deep and wait it out.

  Rushing to her alcove, she pulled out a waterproof storage pouch for her clothes. She carried it outside and waded in. When the water reached her waist, she transformed. After hanging the bag around her neck, she dove under and headed toward Merlindrake’s lair.

  ΨΨΨ

  Athenia traveled at top speed for several hours to Merlindrake’s island in the Atlantic. It was a long distance from Florida, but Nerei could swim faster than dolphins, and she streaked through the water like the hounds of Hell were after her.

  She arrived in the middle of a storm, transformed, and ran inside the cave. As soon as she dried off, she threw on the T-shirt and sweatpants. Not strictly necessary on this abandoned atoll. She shivered. However, with the chill from this rain, clothing makes sense. Plus, this place is creepy.

  She scanned the area. The broken links from the enchanted chains Merlindrake had bound Thorne with were scattered on the floor. When the practitioner is gone, sorcery usually fades. Why didn’t they disappear when Merlindrake died? Maybe the grimoire will explain how he managed that, too. Might not be something that will stop Gelion, but the extra strength might bolster my defenses against the bastard.

  She picked up the severed iron links. They resonate with his magnetism. What incredible force of will he must have possessed for these to still exist.

  When the cold iron vibrated, she threw down the chains. Those things are infused with Merlindrake’s evil.

  At a high-pitched whine, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. What’s that? She tiptoed in the direction of the sound. When she reached a side opening, she peeked outside and her muscles went limp with relief. Only some seals resting on the rocks. For some reason, I didn’t recognize their voices. Guess I’m on edge.

  A few feet further along, she found Merlindrake’s table. She rushed over. Where’s the grimoire? This is where he kept it.