Goddess of the Sea (12 page)

“Tell me what I need to do.”

“I will cast the spell. You must simply find the man who can accept and love you.”

“Wait! Shouldn't that be easy in this world? You said gods and goddesses live here. Aren't people used to magical things?” CC asked.

“At one time, perhaps.” Gaea hesitated, as if weighing her words. “You have priests in your world.”

Gaea hadn't made it sound like a question, but CC nodded anyway. “They are here, too. And many of them are good men who serve their God with love and devotion.” She paused, and when she spoke again her voice sounded disgusted. “But not all of them are honorable. There has begun a new sect of priest that has infected parts of their religion. They preach that all magic is evil, and that there is only one way to believe—their way. They believe beauty, especially that of the female body, is sinful and evil.” Gaea's laugh was dry and humorless. “They are fools, afraid of their own desires. But of course they want people shut away from beauty. It is easier to control people who lack hope.” She shook her head sadly. “Unfortunately, too many listen to their poison.”

“I wouldn't want to be with a man who believed that anyway,” CC said.

“Do not judge too harshly. Even good men can be misled. Be wise in your choice and all will be well in the end.”

“Ha! My choice? I haven't even had a date in six months.” CC felt her cheeks color at that admission.

“My daughter,” the goddess smiled indulgently. “I promise you that men will desire you.”

CC glanced down at her sexy curves. “Oh! I get to keep
her
body?”

Gaea's laughter rang throughout the cove. “What was hers is yours,
Undine
.”

“Ooooh.” CC's mouth rounded in wonder. She was going to be beautiful. Incredibly, amazingly, as-gorgeous-as-Marilyn-Monroe beautiful.

“You must appear to be a princess who has survived a shipwreck.” Gaea's words were coming quickly now that the decision was made.

“But—”

Gaea held up her hand, cutting off CC's question. “I am afraid I must create a storm.” She looked narrowly at CC. “You can swim?”

“Yes, but not very—”

Again, the goddess cut her off.

“Good.” Gaea paced while she spoke to CC in a matter-of-fact, instructional tone. “Feign loss of memory. You should even appear desperate to find your family . . .”

CC wanted to ask how she was supposed to find true love based on lies, and amnesia, but there was no interrupting the goddess.

“. . . that desperation is why you must insist on staying near the ocean—so that messages can be more easily sent and received. And I will be certain that you come to shore in a place surrounded by water.” Gaea's gaze was piercing. “But do not forget that in truth you must stay near the water or you will perish.” Then the goddess softened. “But you will already know that, child. You will ache for the water. Just be wise when you change your form. Do not let yourself be seen, and always stay close to the shore where you will be under my protection. If Sarpedon traps you away from my shores, I cannot aid you.”

“But you will be with me when I'm on the land?” CC's voice sounded panicky.

“I will be watching you.” The goddess smiled softly. “Remember to wear your amulet. I will always be there when you truly have need of me, but you must choose your own path, Undine. Be sure to choose wisely.”

Before doubts could overwhelm her, CC said, “I'll try my best.”

“Are you ready, Undine?” The goddess asked.

CC fought back the nervousness that threatened to overwhelm her. She almost changed her mind and begged the goddess to let her stay in the protected cove where she knew she would be safe and loved. But she wasn't a fish in a bowl, and she'd already left one life that had been too small to contain her when she joined the air force. Was this really so different?

“I'm ready, Mother,” she said resolutely.

“Then know my blessing as well as my love goes with you.”

The goddess stepped away from the water and walked back to the greenery that lined the sandy shore. Once surrounded in living plants, she turned and faced the ocean. Lifting her arms over her head she began to speak, and CC shivered as the power of the goddess's words filled the cove.

As the air around Gaea started to glow, CC could feel the lower half of her body begin to tingle.

The glow that had been surrounding Gaea exploded, hurling its brightness outward and directly at CC. She closed her eyes and threw her hands over her face just before she was enveloped in a blinding flash of color and sensation. She could tell she was being pulled into the air, and her body felt as if it was on fire. CC could see nothing and she was deafened by a cacophony of shrieking wind.

Time had no meaning. She tried to scream Gaea's name, but the words were ripped from her mouth, lost in an unnatural gale of noise and light.

And then she was plunged back into the water. Only her body didn't obey her with the awesome power of a mermaid. This time she could feel her human legs kicking feebly against the angry current as she struggled for the surface. She couldn't breathe and her lungs screamed. Finally, she broke through the surface and gulped air.

The sky was black and bruised looking. Waves crashed over her head making her sputter and choke. The peaceful cove was nowhere in sight, nor was her dolphin friend or the goddess. She could see an unfamiliar shoreline a daunting distance away from her. Trying to keep a growing sense of panic at bay, she started swimming for land.

The skies opened and rain began to pelt her. A white-capped wave hit her, and CC was slammed under the water. She clawed for the surface and realized that in the liquid blackness she couldn't tell which direction was up. All rational thought fled her mind and panic surged through her as she flailed helplessly in the drowning darkness.

Strong hands gripped her by the waist and lifted her, holding her above the seething water so that she could suck air into her burning lungs. She coughed and gagged, vomiting the seawater she had been unable to keep herself from swallowing. Her body shook uncontrollably. She could feel hands holding her waist securely. Her naked back was pressed firmly against the hard muscles of a man's chest—she could feel his deep, even breathing. She thought that he had to be standing on firm ground to be able to support her so well. With shaking hands she rubbed her eyes clear of saltwater, expecting to see the shore close before her. Instead, it was still a too distant line of darkness.

Confused, CC twisted around to find that she was being held in the arms of an oddly familiar stranger. His wild black hair hung in runnels around his shoulders. He didn't speak, but his sable-colored eyes were fixed intently on her.

Questions surged through CC's mind. How could he look familiar to her? Hadn't Gaea sent her to a medieval world? Had the goddess made a mistake?

And then realization hit her with a rush of dizzy wonder. He looked familiar because he reminded her of the man from her dream! The one who had called to her so desperately the night she had summoned the goddess and danced in the rain.

Fascinated, CC stared at him. His broad chest was bare and smooth and felt hard and warm against her naked breasts. The corded muscles of his arms flexed with the effort of holding her above the surface. But instead of being able to feel the muscles of a man's legs against her own bare legs, the lower half of her body was pressed firmly against a single expanse of slick, warm flesh that flexed and beat steadily against the current. She glanced down. Even through the swirling water she could see the orange and gold brilliance of his thick, banded tail.

CHAPTER EIGHT

CC gasped with shock. The thought that flooded her mind was that she had to escape, and she pushed violently against his chest, kicking her way free of his arms. Instantly another wave battered her, pulling her under the water again. When she felt his hands on her, she forced herself to be calm and to quell the overwhelming urge to fight. She allowed him to lift her back to the surface.

This time, instead of holding her securely against his chest, he grasped her waist and held his arms straight out from his body, keeping her as far from him as he could. CC could see his thick tail beating hard against the water below, keeping them afloat.

“If you do not allow me to help you, you will drown.” His deep voice sounded surprisingly gentle. “Your new body cannot breathe under the water.”

“Who are you?” she asked breathlessly, pulling her water-soaked hair forward to cover her naked breasts.

“I am called Dylan.”

“I won't go back to Sarpedon.”

The merman's brows came together, and he shook his head. “I am no friend to the son of Lir.”

“He didn't send you here?” She couldn't stop shivering.

“No.” The word was clipped.

“Did Gaea?”

He shook his head.

“How—” she started to ask, but he broke in urgently.

“Undine, I must get you to land.” He paused and looked deeply into her eyes. “It would be best if you would put your arms around my shoulders. I . . .” He hesitated again, trying to catch his breath, then he continued with an apologetic shrug. “I do not have the strength to carry you to shore as I am holding you now.”

And he obviously didn't. His breath was coming in gasps, and the muscles in his arms were tight and quivering. CC could see the effort it was costing him to keep them afloat in the choppy waters. She looked at him more carefully. If he had been human, he would have been a tall man. The merman's torso was well defined; his arms were powerful and his flat abdomen rippled with strength. But he didn't have the bulky cords of muscles that had packed Sarpedon's frame, nor did he have the other merman's overwhelming size. Obviously, mer-creatures came in different shapes and strengths, just like people.

“I give you my oath that I will not harm you, Undine.” Dylan spoke the words slowly and clearly, enunciating carefully around his ragged breathing. “Look—” He shifted one hand from her waist, causing her to slip a little way down in the water. He grasped her arm, still keeping her head and shoulders above the water, and with his other hand, he reached toward her breasts.

“Stop!” CC jerked back.

“You misunderstand,” he assured her quickly. “I wish only to touch the amulet of the goddess. If it does not burn me, you will see that I have no desire to harm you.”

CC held very still as the merman's hand moved slowly between her breasts. He cupped the amber teardrop in his palm.

Nothing happened. Dylan let the amulet fall from his hand and held his palm open for her inspection. It was unmarked.

“Do you believe me now, Princess Undine?” he asked.

She nodded. “What do you want me to do?”

“Hold onto my shoulders and rest your body against my back. Then I can swim under the water while you remain above the surface.”

“Okay,” she said, fighting back her fear.

“Come, then.”

Still holding her securely by the arm, he pulled her toward him and turned so that she was facing his broad back. His skin was tan and flawless. His hair fell thick and heavy past his shoulders. It was wet and it glistened like a raven's wing. He slipped down in the water so that she could easily reach his shoulders.

She hesitated, afraid to touch him. He's just trying to help me, she told herself and forced her hands to grasp the rounded tops of his shoulders.

“You must hold tightly.” He turned his head and spoke over his shoulder.

“I'm trying,” CC said. Her hands felt numb and they didn't seem to want to obey her. Her lips were cold and the skin on her arms looked unnaturally pale.

Dylan reached around and with his forearm held her firmly against him. The length of CC's naked body was pressed to the back of the merman. She could feel his muscles tensing against her. His breathing was rough, and his skin felt incredibly warm against her chilled flesh. He turned his head again and their eyes met. Hers were wide with shock; his were dark with unspoken emotion.

“You have nothing to fear. I will not let you fall,” he said simply.

A strong thrust of his tail sent the merman forward. He ducked his head under the water and began swimming just below the surface. CC clung to his back, struggling to breathe as waves slapped her face. Against her body she could feel the rhythmic beat of the merman's tail as it propelled them toward the shoreline.

As they neared the shore, the rain stopped. The sky began to clear and the waves quieted. Within minutes it was as if there had never been a raging storm. Dylan swam around jutting clumps of coral and rocks until CC could see that the shoreline was just a few yards from them. With a graceful flick of his tail he lifted his torso out of the water. CC still clung, gasping, to his back. Hesitantly, as if he didn't want to stop touching her, he unwrapped his arm from around CC. Her feet found the sandy bottom, and she let go of his shoulders.

The instant her feet met land, she felt an electric tingling throughout her body, and there was a burst of incredible light. Threads of brightness obscured her vision, like she had been trapped in a glowing spider's web. Then, as abruptly as it had begun, the light show ended.