S. Welles - To Ocean's End

She tried to gasp but she couldn’t take a breath. She first thought she was looking at Amphitrite, but then she realized this woman had wavier hair and a friendlier complexion, and a more petite figure. She had to be Rhode.

Sweet child , came Rhode’s gentle voice, you have harnessed your communal powers at last. I send aid to you. Heed their instruction.

Before Jessie could even say hi, her head snapped back and she saw the cloudless sky. She looked around to make sure she really was back on the ship. The crew was watching her with open wonder, Jacobi with open dislike.

Rammus said, “Well that was an interesting ten minutes.”

“Ten minutes?” The whole trip had felt like seconds, no more than a minute.

“Yeah. So what happened?”

Rhode’s words echoed in her mind. “They’re coming to help.”

“Who’s they?” Scully said.

Jessie shrugged.

Something meaty slapped against the boat’s hull.

Jessie peered over the side. She couldn’t see straight down. What sounded like large rats scurrying up the side made chills run up her spine. She backed away but stopped so she stood between the crew and the railing, just in case she was the only one that could keep everyone alive. Her first impression of Rhode was that the goddess was friendly and genuinely wanted to help, but whatever was crawling up the side of the boat triggered her need for caution. Four creatures climbed on top of the railing and perched there. She took another step back, then forced herself to hold her ground. These were the croco-frog things, except they looked like female versions. They had frog-shaped bodies, bulbous eyes, and croc-like teeth and tails.

Mido appeared beside her, sword held protectively in front of them both. Jessie lowered his sword arm. “Get back. Just trust me.” He gave her a worried frown. “Do it,” she said in her own “don’t argue” voice. He reluctantly backed away and returned to his spot next to Sauna. The water creatures watched Mido with open interest but redirected their attention to Jessie when she faced them. “Rhode sent you to help us.”

The one in front of Jessie said, “Sweet Dyne in trouble. You help.” The creature had a feminine, high-pitched voice.

“How? We don’t know where he is.”

“We do,” another said. “We take you.” The others echoed its words.

Rammus said, “How do we know they aren’t trying to pull a fast one?”

A creature on the end tilted its head. “Fast one? We fast. Swim fast.”

Jessie said, “How do we know you’re here to help us?”

The first one said, “Sweet Dyne in trouble. Need your help. You come.”

“All of us?” she asked skeptically.

“No. Just you.”

“And one other,” a second added.

“I’m going,” Mido said.

The four creatures looked at him. The lead one said, “Can’t. You hers.” It pointed to Jessie. “Mistress said so.”

“He come,” another said, a webbed finger pointing at Jacobi.

Jessie’s stomach dropped. “Why him?”

“Mistress will want trade,” the leader said. “Or she get angry. Very angry.”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘trade’?” She had a feeling she already knew.

“Take something and no give something else is bad. Very bad. Very dangerous. Trade safer.”

“I’m not going anywhere with her or those freaks,” Jacobi said. Cancer elbowed him and snapped at him to shut up.

“Pleasing creature,” one of the monsters said.

“What happens to Jacobi if I trade him for Dyne?”

“You bitch!” He lunged at her but Cancer, Scully, and Sam held him back. He struggled as Scully wrested his sword from him.

The lead creature said, “Dyne sneak away. That one become new prisoner.”

Scully said, “Jessie, you wouldn’t really go through with that, would you?”

She ignored Scully. “New prisoner? Why is he being held prisoner?”

“Mistress angry. Dangerous to take without giving.”

“But you don’t just trade people like that. How long would he stay prisoner?”

One of the creatures dropped onto the deck with a watery thud and tilted its head at Jacobi. “Forever,” it said as if it was no big deal.

Jacobi stopped struggling and his bronzed face paled. He surged backwards and tore out of everyone’s grip. “No. No way in hell I’m going to become anyone’s prisoner.” The other two subordinate creatures dropped onto the deck.

Jessie angled herself between Jacobi and the creatures, and held out her arms. “I can’t let you take him like that. It’s not fair to him.”

Something huge and serpentine rose out of the ocean, dripping water from its eel-like head. It had a slimy, olive-green hide, black eyes, and gill slits behind its massive jaws. The head loomed high over all of them, its jaws parted slightly, revealing fangs as thick as Jessie’s arms. She and the entire crew backed up.

The lead creature hopped onto the deck, unconcerned with their new company. “Make trade. Safe. Come save sweet Dyne.”

The water serpent drew closer to Jacobi. Jessie ran over and stood in the path of the jaws more than big enough to swallow her whole. It could probably fit four adults in its mouth at once. “Stop!” The serpent halted, as did the creatures. “You are not taking him. This isn’t up for discussion or debate. You are going to take just me to Dyne and help me help him escape.” Rhode had told her to heed their advice, but she couldn’t bring herself to listen. It wouldn’t be right.

“No,” the leader creature said. The others kept their eyes on Jacobi, eager for the go ahead to snatch him up.

“What do you mean? I thought you wanted to help him.”

“Yes. With trade. But you say no trade.”

“There has to be another way.”

The creature studied her a moment. “Risky.” It began to fidget. So did the others.

Jessie took a step closer. “Tell me.”

It bowed its head respectfully. “We take you there. No trade. Very risky. You get selves out. We can’t help with escape. No power.” It looked up. “But you have power. You avatar of mistress. You can escape. But risky.”

“Don’t go, Jessie,” Mido said, almost begged.

She ignored him. “Do I have any other options?”

“Just the trade.”

Jessie waved for the creatures to return to the railing. They wordlessly complied. “Wait there.” She went over and stood before Rammus. “Just stay on the shipping schedule. Once I free Captain, he can get us back.”

“Jessie, you don’t have to do this. It’s—”

“Yes I do. He’s a prisoner. He doesn’t have the power to escape, but I do. You heard them.”

“Please don’t, Jessie,” Mido said.

She went over to him and planted a long kiss on his lips. He returned it fervently, as if he feared he was never going to see her again. “Trust me.”

“I trust you but I don’t trust them.”

“I have to take this risk. I’ll be back sooner or later.”

“Why do you feel so strongly about doing this?”

“If you were told you had the power to save him, wouldn’t you?”

He thought a moment. “I would.”

“I’d tell you not to worry but I’d be scared out of my mind if I was in your place and you mine. So… try not to worry too much. I promise I’ll be back.”

Mido took her face in both hands and brought his face close to hers. “I’m holding you to it.” They kissed again, short and sweet. He let go, worry etched all over his face.

She caressed his cheek, then headed over to Jacobi, who was shielding himself behind Cancer, Scully, Sam, and Rammus. All five of them looked tensed for fight-or-flight. They tore their eyes from the water serpent as she approached and she gestured for them to step aside. They parted and she stood before Jacobi, who regarded her with fear and hate. “Never forget: it’s the garbage bitch you threatened to rape who saved you from getting turned into Amphitrite’s prisoner. You owe me a thank you when Captain and I get back.” She expected him to get all narrow-eyed and start spewing insults, but he kept quiet and still, like a prey animal trying to avoid triggering a predator’s pounce reflex. He also looked like he was at a loss for what to think. After all he’d said and done to her, she was sticking out her neck for him. He glanced at the serpent, then fixed her with a terrified yet confused stare.