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Scene #50
Island Girl
Prolouge ~~~~ Under the warm, clear waters of
the Caribbean Ocean, the persistent thrum of magic, to Queen
Amphitrite's frustration, refused to allow her another moment's
rest. Once again it was as it had always been; the Song of the Sea
called to her and she found herself helpless ignore it. In the
beginning she'd tried to resist the compulsion, but the longer she
refused her duty the louder the magical music became. She'd nearly
gone insane as the cacophony of melodies overwhelmed her mind,
drowning all other thoughts save one: find the soul calling out to
her. With a wave of her slender hand, delicately sprinkled
with iridescent white scales, Amphitrite wove a spell of privacy
over her chambers. Thick coral grew over the windows and doorways
of her chambers, intertwining upon itself until the portals were
sealed shut. Opening her mind to the magical music that flows
through all the world, she looked beyond the physical world into
the intangible. Glowing tendrils of magic floated in the
gentle currents of the ocean all around her. Her flowing white hair
danced in the playful currents as her mind followed the tendrils of
magic, sifting the threads of living energy as she tried to focus
on the one song that called out above the others. The song of the
sea would drive one mad if they weren't careful. The souls of every
living creature singing at once, like thousands orchestras playing
together, never repeating, never ending. The enchanted
seashell dangling from a delicate silver chain around her neck
pulsed in time with the rhythm of the song she searched for. As
others were discarded and faded into silence the melody soon rang
clear in her mind. She focused on the person's spirit, heard their
thoughts, felt their emotions. With a swish of her
powerful tail, Amphitrite swam across the room to the large crystal
oyster resting on pedestal carved into an alcove in the wall. The
shell opened when she approached revealing the enchanted water
within. Imbued with the power of the gods, the oyster along with
the crystal sea shell she wore, were given as gifts on her wedding
day. That day The Fates had forever changed her destiny.
Dipping her slender fingers into the pool, Amphitrite stirred the
silvery water, rippling the smooth surface. “Show me the
soul who calls to me this day,” she whispered. Murky
clouds swirled in the waters and the image of a beautiful dark
haired woman appeared. She walked through dense jungle, following a
trail grown with lush plants and hanging vines. She made her way
carefully, but often glanced over her shoulder. Amphitrite felt the
woman's trepidation. “Why so worried, Little One,” she
asked the watery image. Her lilting though still weary from her
disturbed sleep rang with the soothing laughter of a babbling
brook. She closed her eyes and light, pure and clear, shone
from the conch shell necklace at her throat, and for a moment the
world seemed to spin. Possibilities for the woman's future flowed
into her mind. Then Amphitrite knew what must be done. She'd seen
the path that lay ahead for this young woman. The choices would be
hers to make, but a little push in the right direction wouldn't
hurt. Amphitrite blew iridescent bubbles across her open
palm and a small replica of the conch shell she wore appeared in
her hand, only this shell looked as real as any you might find upon
the sand. She attached it to a delicate silver chain and it glowed
faintly. With a negligent wave toward at the doorway, she
released the spell upon the room. “Halia, come here
dearest.” A moment later a beautiful mermaid with blue
scales and long, bluish green hair swam into the chamber and bowed
gracefully. “My Queen.” “Halia, I have a task for
you. Please deliver this trinket to the maiden it is meant for.”
Amphitrite dangled the necklace before the mermaid and let it
fall into her outstretched hand. “The spell will guide you
to her, but you must hurry. There is not much time. Leave it for
her to find, then stay near to make sure she takes it. We don't
want everything to fall apart before it begins.” “Yes,
your highness.” Halia bowed to her queen and quickly swam away to
do as she was bid. Amphitrite returned to the image in the crystal
with a smile. “I don't envy you. Be brave.” ~~~
Turning his face to the cool, briny sea air, Cian watched a
gull soaring on the wind. Well fed and strong, it floated
effortlessly over the ocean, rising and falling with the air. This
was a good sign. “Ain't seen a hint of land in days!”
Loud enough to be heard from the helm, the complaint drew his
attention. Cian stamped down the intense urge to toss the bastard
over the siderail. If the man wanted land so badly he could swim to
it. To bold for his own good at times, patience had never
been one of Cian's virtues. But, for once he tried to ignore his
base desire for violence. Soon the disloyal among the crew would
all be dealt with. Growing discontent with the never-ending
hunt for treasure, some of the crew had begun to doubt it ever
existed. His assurances that the riches they'd all been dreaming of
were close, just waiting to be found, had worn thin. They'd
searched every uncharted island in the Caribbean with nothing to
show for their long months at sea but a few trinkets they'd
pilfered from the few merchant ships they'd run across. He
understood the men were weary and in need of a long rest, but
questioning his command would not be tolerated. He'd silenced those
who'd questioned him openly with quick and severe repercussions,
but if he didn't lead them to treasure soon things would go badly.
Conspiring with his first mate, he'd come up with a plan to
draw out the mutinous bastards plotting against him, a rouse that
was already set in motion. Now was not the time to let raw emotions
destroy all their careful planning. And if his charts were
correct they would reach the next island by sunrise. After 5 years
of searching, his journey was almost over. The treasure that had
haunted his dreams was finally within his reach.
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