S. Welles - To Ocean's End

Dyne stopped walking and they all came to a halt. “Fair warning: none of us stand a chance against her. If she wants something, she will get it. Don’t pick a fight with her. You will lose.” He faced them, his face dead serious. “The will of us mere mortals can’t contend with the will of a god. I know I explained that you’re all here to help me fight transforming, but if she really wants me to, there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Keep that in mind if any stupid ideas pop into your heads.”

“That’s bullshit,” Jacobi said.

“Yep.” Dyne adjusted his grip on his lantern and resumed walking. They traversed a few more turns and the path suddenly opened up into a vaulted chamber big enough to encase the Pertinacious . The path wound through a long strip of uneven rock to a smooth shore cradling the lip of a huge pool of undisturbed water. The chamber was lit from an underwater source, casting a shimmering spiderweb of light lines all over the walls and ceiling. The shimmering light bounced off spaced mirrors, guiding light beams all along the ceiling and to one large dome at the apex, bathing the massive pool in ample light. Thousands of fireflies danced near the water’s surface.

“Well this cave looks rather normal,” Ed whispered.

“Minus the light coming from underwater,” Ted added.

Dyne said, “Don’t complain or you’ll get more than you bargained for. Now stay behind me.” He waved for them to keep some distance, then approached the water’s edge and told them to stand in row on the shore. They lined up, facing the water, and Jessie’s heart began to pound. The cave looked deserted but her gut insisted they weren’t alone. She took Mido’s hand for comfort.

Dyne held up his hands like a musical conductor, then spread his arms and raised them. The fireflies retreated to the pool’s fringes as the water began to swirl like a whirlpool. Two opposing bands of water twirled and rose high over their heads like hair caught in a sudden wind. He lowered his arms and the bands fell back into the stilling water, yet the fireflies remained along the edges.

The pond’s surface began to swell in the center. A column of water rose up and up, almost all the way to the ceiling, then morphed into a head, shoulders, the outline of arms, hips, and the length of a toga. Skin tones and white cloth colored the water, along with dark curls of hair that fell to the hips. Dark eyes just like Jessie’s, but probably just as big as her if she curled into a ball, looked down at them with interest. Full lips curled into a smile, a gold band crowned her head, and a bigger matching band cinching her toga just under her breasts, which were barely contained inside her toga. She had to be at least a hundred feet tall, yet gorgeous, intimidating, and dangerous.

Amphitrite’s sensual voice filled the entire chamber. “Welcome back, Dyne Lavere. It has most certainly been too long.”

“Madam.” Dyne bowed politely with his arms glued to his sides. “I’ve returned in hopes that you’ll lift my curse.”

She let out a playful laugh. “So direct. We will get to that soon enough. Let us dine together so we may discuss such things on a full stomach. And please, have your friends join us.”

Jessie and the others looked at each other with worry. The fact that they’d just eaten meant nothing. They were supposed to remain quiet observes; not participants.

Dyne glanced over his shoulder and spoke in a low voice. “Do. Not. Refuse.”

Amphitrite closed her eyes and tilted her head back, showing a beautiful swan neck. Her giant form shimmered and became water, then splashed into the pool. In its place stood a smaller goddess, but still larger than life. She spread her slender arms and the water stilled and flattened, then walked across the surface as if it was solid, her hips swaying with sex appeal, and sweet toes peeking out with every step. Jessie felt like an ugly, clumsy duckling in the goddess’s presence. She couldn’t manage a strut like that, at least not in boots. Amphitrite stopped a few feet from short, towering over them at, Jessie guessed, ten feet tall. The matching gold bands were carved into the likeness of leaping dolphins.

Amphitrite studied Jessie with interest before addressing Dyne. “I think you and your friends will find my accommodations exquisite.” She held out a perfect arm towards the pool’s center. A round table with curved legs, made either out of glass or pure ice, rose out of the water, along with seven matching chairs, one of them twice as big as the rest. “Come. Sit.” Amphitrite clasped her hands together over her flat stomach.

Dyne turned to his crew and gestured with his head towards the impossible-to-reach table. He began heading towards it but Amphitrite’s voice stopped him mid-stride.

“But not you,” she said casually. “You will wait on all of us.”

His shoulders tensed as he absorbed her words, and then his posture deflated. “Yes, madam.” She frowned and he wrapped his arms over his stomach with a grunt. It was the same posture from when he’s fought off transforming in Revivre.

Jessie wanted to run over and hold him, and whisper words of encouragement.

“What are you doing to him?” Jacobi yelled, taking a step forward.

His back to them, Dyne spoke in a tight voice. “What did I say about talking out of turn?”

A whisper of a “but” escaped Jacobi’s lips but he fell silent and stepped back.

Amphitrite stepped ashore and crossed to Jacobi. Even though he was a mountain of bronzed muscle, he looked like a bulky child next to her. Ed and Ted shied away as Jacobi bravely held his ground. She said, “Your decision to bring this one is questionable.”

Dyne said, “He insisted on coming. I wasn’t gonna argue. Besides, you like the feisty type.” He grunted again and doubled over as the goddess’s frown deepened.

“Captain!” Ed and Ted exclaimed, then clamped their hands over their mouths. They went wide-eyed and backed away as they gave the goddess pleading looks.

She only smiled at them, but frowned when she faced Jacobi again. “You have a lot of gall showing up here, Jacobi Momoa. I will give you a chance to redeem yourself later.” She headed to the table with sensual grace and stopped behind the largest chair, facing them.

Dyne slowly straightened up, taking a few deep, rejuvenating breaths, then turned around. “Jacobi, what the hell did you do to piss her off?” Jacobi shrugged. The captain gave him a hard look, conveying that he didn’t believe him, then waved for all of them to follow. He marched across the water without hesitation, the water holding him up as if it was solid. When he realized no one was following, he turned back around. “You’re not gonna sink. Now hurry up.”

Jessie and the others approached the shore, she with a death grip on Mido’s hand. They tentatively touched the water with their toes. It felt like a stone floor, yet the water rippled as if a raindrop had touched its surface. The six of them headed for the table, slowly at first, then built up to a normal walk as confidence in the terrain grew. Jessie’s fears eased until she noticed the sea creatures teeming below them.

There had to be hundreds circling the depths like a school of sharks. They swam like lizards and frogs, and many rose close to the surface to investigate her. She clung to Mido’s arm, wanting to jump onto his back so her feet wouldn’t be touching the water. “Go away,” she whispered. The ones nearest her left, only to be replaced by a dozen more. “You, too.” The second wave left, only to be replaced by even more. Her eyes stung with tears.

“Don’t fear them, child,” Amphitrite said in a soothing voice. “They’re harmless.”

Jessie waited for the goddess to add “for now” but the words never came. She didn’t like this one bit. She could clearly commune with them but her powers felt useless in the face of so many monsters. If their hostess decided to lift whatever spell making it possible to walk on water, they were all dead. The table was in the middle of the infested pool.