I cautiously stepped over the first rose and continued along the hall. I passed pile after pile of four roses, five roses, six. I noticed the air beginning to cool, as the roar of waves swirled in my ears and tickled my heart. After a collection of eight roses, the hallway took a sharp right turn and I squinted to make sure that I was really seeing what my eyes thought I was seeing. Up ahead, the stone hallway opened up to the beach! Nine roses, ten roses, eleven, twelve. I reached the end of the passageway where the concrete met the sand, and inspected the inch gap between my feet and the beach. A cool breeze lifted my hair and I fought to run screaming to the arms of the ocean. If nothing else, I could hide out on the sea floor and wait until Nadia and Keto forgot about me. It would only be a couple of years. Five or six at the most.
Very carefully, I leaned around the stone wall and peered down the beach. All I could see were the sand dunes topped by sea grass, blowing in the wind as it came off of the ocean. The tide was low; creating a wide expanse of beach before the waves rolled into the picture. The view up the beach was much the same.
Frustration rattled my brain when I realized that I was cowering in the shadows like an injured puppy. Goddesses didn’t hide in the shadows! They commanded their presence and took control of the situation, no matter who or what was waiting for the opportunity to slaughter them.
Mom had seen a vision of her own death, but had certainly remained steady and courageous until she took her last breath. I had to get myself together and start acting like I deserved the title of Nereid. I had instinct, not one but four essences, and numerous abilities on my side. What did I have to be afraid of? Deciding that I was, in fact, strong enough and brave enough to carry the titles I was prophesized to, I stepped onto the beach with renewed confidence and determination. I centered my energy, lifted my chin, and shed the self-doubt that took pleasure in breaking me down at every chance.
The beach that sloped down to the ocean had been flattened by the tide’s gradual escape, and I zeroed in on something as it poked out of the sand. In the light of the moon and stars, I kicked off my shoes and dug my toes into the sand. The cool temperature counteracted the warmth of its energy as they both spread up my legs. Focusing my eyes on the object up ahead, I strode forward and dropped to my knees in a cloud of bewilderment lined with curiosity. The stem of a single black rose had been secured in the sand next to a weathered glass bottle about the size of a wine bottle, but with no label or writing to reveal its origin.
I wrapped my fingers around the neck of the bottle and extracted it from the soft sand. The glass beneath my skin was reminiscent of the sea glass that’s collected on beaches across the globe for its aged appearance and smooth texture. Sea glass was typically found as remnants of beer or soda bottles that the ocean had pulverized. The pieces of glass are smoothed to perfection by the powerful combination of sand and surf. This bottle was a small miracle, being that it was completely whole with no cracks or breaks.
A dingy cork ensured that nothing would get in or out of the bottle. I rolled it around in my hands, but the foggy glass wouldn’t give up its contents. With a part of the cork peeking out, I tried to free it from the bottle. Not having any luck, I tried the next most rational option; my teeth. Working like a charm, I spit the cork from my mouth, closed an eye and looked inside. Unfortunately, my eye and the moonlight weren’t able to both peer down inside the neck at the same time. I upended it and proceeded to hit the palm of my hand against the side like a Heinz Ketchup bottle that wouldn’t cooperate. After several minutes of hitting and shaking, a tightly rolled piece of paper slipped out and landed in the sand. Satisfied that nothing else was in the bottle; I set it down and focused on the paper.
Secured with a strip of white lace, I could tell that the crisp paper was very old. It crackled beneath my fingers and had been discolored by time and salt water. I tugged on the ribbon carefully, which gave way easier than I expected. Holding the end gently with one hand, I unrolled it with the other. My heart seized in my chest when the paper revealed handwritten stanzas, and it stopped beating altogether when I saw my triskellion trace displayed as a wax stamp at the top of the page.
The penmanship was elaborate, but the words had been written in English.
My breath hitched and continued to stutter, as the significance of the piece of paper in my shaking hands registered. A jolt of electricity surged through me with each line I read. My eyes forgot to blink while my jaw went slack and the sand beneath my legs quivered with energy. My heart began to seep out of my chest into a large puddle in the sand, while powerful tears seasoned with the taste of destiny splashed over onto my cheeks. After reading it three more times, I still couldn’t believe what I was looking at. My prophecy.
Our salient leader she shall be From shore, wind, and bastion sea Thy calling of a new born child Laid to rest for now, resides Her tendered soul from whence will grow Aft brazen chains a heart of woe If province warns of hallowed screams Her gifts revealed amongst her dreams When scornful deeds of power lies Death shall burn in Thetis’s eyes Her Fortunate Isle in slumber deep Lest Anastasia wake her keep From sea and brine thy secrets flow Setting ablaze her eyes to glow Her journey awaits, precluded by need Thy destiny weaving our goddess to bleed Bred wholly to lead an army of men Thy warrior claims great destine within Her sacrifice, forevermore Binds her soul to thy paramour.
Before I could read on, a clicking sound several feet away had me looking up. Blown away by the previously elusive prophecy that I now held in my hands, I was rendered utterly speechless by what happened next. Suddenly, hundreds of lanterns appeared on every piece of real estate on the beach. What started as a warm glow quickly brightened; burning away the silver light of the moon with its intensity. Next to catch fire was the ocean. Countless more lanterns came to life along the surface of the water, glowing as far as the eye could see. It was as if the top layer of water had caught fire, blazing with the warmth and power of a summer sunset. I stood slowly and soaked in the spectacle of so many lanterns flickering and dancing in every direction.
In the midst of the glowing inferno around me, a single flame appeared; hovering only feet in front of me. Something about it, besides the fact that it wasn’t attached to anything, held my focus. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. As it burned hotter it changed from canary yellow to a deep red-orange until it burned a brilliant blue; licking at the night air for fuel.
Entranced by the dancing flame my eyes burned with its energy, and without another thought, my legs brought me closer. My arm lifted slowly and I stretched my fingers out, wanting – needing -
to touch it.
“Don’t burn yourself,” a voice warned.
Chapter 38
So enamored with the flame, I hadn’t noticed the addition of the blue candle supporting it or the smoldering personification of darkness standing before me in all black. He blended in with the night; his presence a sweeping black hole that soaked up the brilliant gleam of the candles. The only part of him that reflected any light were his eyes; currently gazing into mine. They burned as blue as the flame; easily trapping me in their inferno.
“Finn?” I yanked my hand back in surprise. A smile pulled at his lips as my eyes drank him in. Bare feet partially covered by black slacks hung perfectly around his waist. The black button down shirt he wore was made casual by rolled up sleeves. His skull and crossbones trace shimmered next to the glow of the candle he held with both hands. “What are you doing here?”