S. Welles - To Ocean's End

“The vote’s unanimous. Fire up the engine and throw the lines. Our next stop is New Zealand.” He balled up the paper and hurled it overboard—well tried to. The steady wind knocked it onto the deck by Scully’s feet, just shy of the railing. Scully gave it a kick and sent it out of sight.

Jacobi broke into a relieved grin.

Sam said, “C’mon, blockhead, let’s go organize the next shipment.” He and the rest of the cargo pushers headed for the stern as a group, all of them taking a turn to slap Jacobi on the back. He slapped them back individually.

Ed and Ted ran up to him from behind and each grabbed an ass cheek, making him jump and cry in alarm.

“I’m not the only one!” Sauna cried triumphantly, pumping a fist in the air.

Jacobi tried to glare at them but he was too busy smiling. “You two are a riot.”

“You bet!” Ed said. He, Ted, and Sauna took the first hatch down to the engine room.

Mido kissed Jessie on the lips then, holding his broken ribs, jogged up to Jacobi and firmly punched him in the side.

Jacobi flinched and grabbed his side. “Hey, man. How’s your ribs? And sorry about that. It was kind of reflexive.”

“They’ll heal,” Mido said offhandedly, “but you’re getting nothing but knuckle sandwiches for a week.”

“I’ll just have to chase ‘em down with every last digestion pill in the med kid. Hope Cancer won’t mind.”

“Bon appétit,” Scully said.

“See you in the galley around lunch.” Mido playfully punched Jacobi one more time, then doubled back to Jessie and leaned beside her on the railing. He threaded a hand in hers, looking completely content.

She glanced at the cargo pushers walking together and chatting animatedly. “How are you all so casual all of the sudden?”

“What do you mean?”

“We just had a very serious discussion and now you’re all acting like it never happened.” She was still trying to figure out how she would handle things if she and Jacobi crossed paths one on one again.

“I dunno. Maybe it’s a guy thing.”

“Must be. I don’t get how you went back to being friends just like that.”

He shrugged. “It’s just easier that way.”

“Yeah, definitely a guy thing. I believe he’ll leave me alone, so long as nothing bad happens, and so long as Captain finds us soon.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll be keeping an eye on him for signs of stupid. We’ve all got your back, Jessie.” He gave her another kiss on the lips and let it linger.

“Get a room, you two!” came Rammus’s voice over the sound system, startling them apart and making Mido grab his ribs. They popped guilty grins, then waved at the wheelhouse and headed for the galley to prepare lunch.

However many days or weeks later, I finally woke up feeling more like my normal self. No more lustful haze. No more powerlessness to resist. Just me still in demon form, curled up in Amphitrite’s bed like a dog, alone.

So I had a crazy goddess who was madly in love with me, and had once again forced me into having sex with her. Just great. On top of that, I was more interested in her daughter, who was out of my league and beyond my reach. Just plain great. What was I supposed to do now?

Lifting my head, I scanned the room. Nothing but me and the water bed inside a domed room, its walls glowing with an orange-ish light emanating from a crevasse overhead. The room was warm and devoid of any other furniture. I uncurled and slinked off the bed, and padded towards the double doors, then paused. The floor was made of water dark enough to pose as a mirror. My reflection looked up at me, radiating injured pride. At least I looked like a bipedal water dragon that could kick ass. I flexed my arms, chest and abs, studying the bulk and raw power of so much muscle. I had a modest build in human form. I could lift heavy things, but my human strength was such a joke compared to a fifty foot ketos. I heaved my scaly shoulders with a sigh. My demon form was Amphitrite’s pompous mark all over me, sculpted body and everything. I hated it and myself even more for not being able to deny how intoxicating it was to feel this powerful. As much as I wanted to revert to human, I probably needed to stay this way so I could leave. I couldn’t count on Rhode to help me this time.

I pushed the doors open and headed for the pool leading to the exit. I remembered that much from my trip here. For half a second, I’d feared the doors might not yield and Amphitrite was secretly holding me captive, but the carved doors swung inward and I marched down the hall, all alone. No guards or other divine company. Just demon me and the bioluminescent fish swimming along the water veins in the walls and pillars. No clue what gods did while us mere mortals weren’t looking. Didn’t care. I didn’t want anything to do with any of them at the moment. For now I’d just suck up my curse, then visit Amphitrite in her cave sometime within the next few decades. Hopefully next time I’d keep my temper and bitterness to myself. That would be easier if she’d stop feeding me reasons to despise her.

Come to think of it, what was the point of a next time? This recent visit had been a disaster. I wasn’t any closer to lifting my curse or knowing how to lift. Did I have to say yes to her misplaced emotions or something? That was as appealing as making Jacobi and Jessie date each other. Sure, Amphitrite was gorgeous, but everything she did made me hate her, including her saving my life so long ago.

I’m sorry, but not everyone you love is going to love you back. It’s just the way life is.

I crossed the gargantuan chamber, glancing over at the empty throne that dwarfed even my demon form. It looked like a mountain of rock with a chair back and armrests carved into it with care. A simple throne that emanated masculine power. Greater amounts of artwork had been poured into the rest of the palace. I had to admit the place was stunning. Maybe that’s what gods did with all their free time: create works of breathtaking art. I couldn’t help but admire and respect their skills.

I reached the end of the other hall and paused at the pool, looking over a shoulder, just in case. No one was there. I was free to leave, just as I’d hoped. Giving her pleasures of the flesh must’ve been equally satisfying for her as it was humiliating for me. I jumped out over the water, fused my legs with my tail and dived. My face bashed the unyielding surface and I fell in a heap, sliding to a halt. I coiled my serpentine body and clutched my pounding head as I tried to catch my breath from having the wind knocked out of me.

I should’ve expected something like this. I’d had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to simply up and leave as I pleased but I’d expected… I don’t know. A self-inflicted headache was pretty humiliating, something that would only please her. I reformed my legs and walked off the water with what dignity I could muster, clutching my face and filling with dread. I was suddenly a prisoner.

Mocking laughter emanated from the stupid pool.

“Leaving so soon?” Amphitrite rose out of the pool’s edge, hands folded over her abdomen. At least she was fully clothed.

“I don’t want anything to do with you right now. Just let me go.”

“No.” She lost her smile. “I am going to bend you until you break. You shouldn’t have lashed out at me with more than words.”

“I’m not ever going to be your lover. Now let me go.”

She stepped ashore and stood tantalizingly close, her lips almost brushing my snout. I took a step back. “You have quite thoroughly crushed my heart. Our recent bout of love-making was… was not as enjoyable as anticipated. It felt strangely hollow, and for that I’m hurt even deeper. You have only begun to see the extent of my scorn, Dyne Lavere. It only gets worse for you the more you hurt me, and you have a knack for that.”