Sea Witch: Children of the Waves Read online

  Each child of the waves has a gift, to some degree. Sienna came from a line of witches, those who could cast spells as well as possessing some of Poseidon’s other gifts. Hers was that of foresight and guidance. She could call upon the forces of the ocean itself. She was known simply as the Sea Witch, both name and title, amongst her people, few knew her birth name.

  She could also cast spells of illusion, which allowed her to control some of the denizens of the depths, and to some extent, she could control the weather. Yet, the dolphins were the only ones she could communicate with and they to her. So, they were her closest companions. They let her know of everything happening in the depths, as well as the going-ons on land, for some could communicate with other mammals.

  Glancing away from the water mirror, she waited for the person who approached her dwelling to get closer before she moved over to the entrance of her home. From the outside, it looked as though you were approaching a crystal blue waterfall, but you could not see through it. The water churned at the bottom and rippled into the sea. In truth, it was merely the doorway to her home. Once you crossed the entryway, you walked upon dry ground of cool tiles with etchings of underwater life. If you turned around, it appeared as though you were looking through a curtain waterfall into the depths of the sea beyond.

  “Sea Witch,” the young girl greeted her and bowed.

  “Aurora. I’m glad you came.” Smiling, Sienna watched her best friend.

  Aurora’s pale pearl-colored hair curled around her waist in the water. Her skin glowed like the pink of the coral surrounding most of their homes.

  In fact, the walls of Sienna’s dwelling were coral beds in shades of orange, red, pink and pearl.

  Aurora stepped over to her and gave her a hug. All long limbs and the grace of youth. While neither of them were ‘young girls’ they both appeared as adolescents in human age. For their people, it simply meant neither had found their mate yet. However, in Sienna’s case, she merely created an illusion. One that she found harder to bear.

  While she might look as though she were anywhere from thirteen to fifteen, she was not. Using her powers, she had kept her true appearance hidden these last twenty-five years or so. Ever since the day on the rocks, when she finally allowed herself to come face to face with her mate. Oh yes, she knew who he was, had known far longer than he. When he had come for her, she told him he could not claim her and why, it had been one of the hardest things she ever had to do. They’d only seen each other once since then, when his friend and their king came to her for advice about his bride.

  She shock off her forlorn thoughts to turn to her friend.

  Aurora was the youngest of the king’s direct line. “Have you heard?” she asked, but answered her own question in the next breath and laughed. “Of course, you have. Zek has found his bride, and Xav and Cori are back.”

  Nodding, she laughed. “Yes, I think all in the depths know.” However, they didn’t know Xavior and Cori had been attacked on their way to see Zek on land. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Tabatha has gotten bolder and much more dangerous since Xavior was now king. She had managed to open a gateway to the dark depths, allowing high demons of Hades loose and access to their world. May Poseidon preserve them. Then again, they need help themselves. The sea father had long gone from this existence.

  “I’m trying to talk Xav into letting me go visit with Zek for a while and meet his new bride. Did you know she was Cori’s best friend?”

  “I do now. What did Xav say when you asked him about going to stay with Zek for a while?”

  She pouted as only the young sometimes can, even at over a hundred years old. “He said now is not a good time to travel far from the city. But I thought if he sent some warriors with me and you watched over my path, you’d be able to satisfy him that no harm would come to me.”

  “Not to mention, you want to search for your mate on land. You think because your brothers’ mates are landwalkers yours might be, too.”

  “Yes.” She waved her hand in front of her face. “Yes, yes. I know you told me you didn’t see that, but you didn’t really see him of the sea either and lord knows, I’ve searched the depths. There isn’t a male I haven’t gotten close enough to, to trigger my aging and look at me.” She tugged at her top wrap and sighed. “Still flat chested. I don’t know; it won’t hurt to try. Besides, I want to meet Des. I love Cori and she’s told me a little about Des.”

  “No, it does not hurt to try. But Des and Zek will be here soon for a visit. However, you know very well, the other reason he does not want you on land. Your coloring is not natural, what is considered normal for landwalkers. You know this.”

  “Yes, but it’s been years since we’ve talked about this, things have changed. The landwalkers would just think I’m what is it again? Emo. Yeah, Emo.”

  Sienna smiled, she could not help it. Aurora might be emotional, but Emo, no. She shook her head. “That might apply more toward your sister’s coloring, yet even she would have trouble with her sky blue skin.”

  “Is there nothing you can do, Sienna? You are the most powerful witch among us, well other than your sister, who no one can trust, but you have to help me.” The girl grabbed her hands and squeezed them. “You’re my only hope. You must know of a potion or spell. I’m desperate! I’ll try anything. I’m tired of looking like a child, existing in a child’s body. I want my mate. I want to grow up.”

  Sienna sighed and stroked Aurora’s hair. Such was the way of their people. The way they aged, both curse and blessing. She had heard this plea many times, for much the same reason. While she could not necessarily change the aging process, at least for anyone other than herself. The way people saw her was nothing more than a mere illusion, a grimore, but she could help her younger friend. “There is something you can take, a potion that will temporarily…emphasis on temporarily, change the color of your skin, so it is not quite so pink. Merely pale with a perhaps a look of too much sun, and we can make your hair blonde instead of that pearl color.”

  “No. Can’t I keep my hair color? Landwalkers dye their hair in all manner of colors.”

  “True enough. Very well. Just your skin then, but mind you, the effect is only temporary.”

  “How long would it last?”

  “A week and you can take a second dose at the end of the first week, but two is all you will be able to have.”

  “What happens if I take more?”

  “It can make you very ill, but it would no longer change your skin color and you’d have to return to the depths.”

  “Is it harmful?”

  “If you take more than you should, it would hurt like Hades once it wore off, if you weren’t back in the depths. But you don’t have to worry about that. I will only give you enough for you to have one other dose.”

  “All right! It’s a deal!”

  “Promise me, Aurora. At the end of the two weeks, you must return to the depths. I will also let Xavior know, I will send the dolphins to bring you home if you do not.”

  “I promise. Can I have this potion now? And will you let Xav know it’s perfectly safe for me to travel to the surface.”

  “First, I have to gather what I need and yes, I’ll also talk to Xavior. Come back and see me again, tomorrow. I should have it ready for you by then. And let your brother know I will also be able to answer his question then too.” She knew he wanted to ask her about the portal, but she needed to find it first and confirm what she suspected.

  “Oh, thank you, Sienna, and I’ll tell him. I promise.” Aurora hugged her. “You are my best friend. I just wish you could come with me, perhaps you can find your mate on land, too.”

  “There is no guarantee your mate is on land, Aurora, nor even if he is, you would find him during this visit. Besides, you know I cannot leave the sea.” Partially true, her powers were bound to the oceans. Her very life, yet while everyone thought she would die if she left the sea, to leave the waters for a significant time really meant losing all of her powers. To someone
like her, it would be like losing all your limbs as well as your sight. However, the more important reason, it would strip away her illusion—showing she had aged.

  Then Tabatha would want to know if she’d found her mate, why had she not claimed him. She rarely saw her sister. There was no love lost between them, there never had been. Tabatha had no love in her for anyone or anything other than power. Blood or not, if Tabatha knew what she had done, she would kill her.

  Aurora hugged her. “I just want you to be happy. I’ll be back tomorrow and don’t forget to talk to Xav.”

  “Before you ask, let us deal with the issue of Aurora first.” After glancing at an impatient Aurora, Sienna spoke first to stop Xavior from asking the questions everyone knew were foremost in his mind. “Then we can discuss all of your concerns.”

  Xavior frowned. “Very well. Are you sure this is safe for her to take, Sea Witch?” Xav asked, while Cori stood beside him.

  Aaron remained toward the entrance of the room, letting his king and queen speak with the Sea Witch. Aurora sat on the back of a giant loggerhead sea turtle, Sienna’s pet. This one seemed to be an odd color, the back was purple instead of the more typical reddish brown, and the hide looked yellow like a noon day sun up above. It lazed against the wall. Aaron recognized her pet, fully grown now, because he had given it to her.

  Neither of them ever spoke to the other directly, not since that one day, so long ago on the rocks. He kept his distance, except for some years ago, he’d found the turtle, half dead on its back. Sharks had been attacking it. He’d driven them off, but it’d been hurt. He’d brought it to her and left it in front of her dwelling. Not trusting himself to stay and actually talk to her. Be that close to her. So, he remained hidden nearby then waited for her to come out and retrieve the reptile.

  He didn’t have long to wait. When she came out and found it, she raised her head, then looked right at him, toward his hiding spot.

  Still, he didn’t approach her.

  She bowed her head, picked up the turtle and took it inside.

  This was the first time he’d seen it or her again. The turtle weighed a good two hundred pounds now, and Sienna no longer had the body of a youth. No, she had the curves of a woman fully grown, but he was the only one who saw her as she truly was. The only one who knew her to be a woman in her prime. His bride. Whom he couldn’t touch. Couldn’t take. Could not claim. His soul suffered in torture, being so near her and yet…so far.

  Aaron now forced himself to stop staring at her bronzed beauty and pay attention to the questions being asked and answered.

  “Yes, my king. As I’ve explained to Aurora.” Sienna held up the blue glass bottle. “She will take the first dose, once she gets to shore. When she leaves the waters, the effect will be instantaneous. It will last exactly seven days of the sun on the surface. Then she can take the rest of it, but seven days after the last dose, she must return to the depths. If she doesn’t, her skin won’t revert back to her natural coral pink, but she will be in great pain until she does return to the depths.”

  “How much pain?” Cori asked.

  “The crippling kind.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Xav asked.

  “Nothing permanent, but she will need to return to the depths, so her skin can change back to its natural color. If she doesn’t, she’ll be in a world of hurt.”

  Xav turned to Cori. “Can she pass on land for a Caucasian, Cori, as she is?”

  Cori gazed over at Aurora.

  But they all knew her answer before she voiced it.

  “No. That’s not a normal shade of pink, not even for someone who maybe had a bad suntan or sunburn. Such a color is not natural on a human.” She frowned. “Unless it’s Halloween, that’s the only time she might be able to get away with it. Too bad, it’s not. While pretty much anything goes in my world, her coloring would get her attention.”

  “Then it’s settled,” Aurora spoke up.

  “Not quite,” Xav replied. “Does she even need it? She’s going to be staying with Zek and Des. As long as she remains on his island, she’ll be fine. No need for anything.”

  “Noooo,” Aurora cried standing up. “I don’t want to just stay on his island. I want to go to at least the big island. I want to see a little of the landwalker world. Look, you all have been allowed to travel. You’ve seen many things both beneath and above the waters. My world has always been the sea.”

  “No. It’s not safe for you. I will not risk it,” Xav insisted.

  “What!” She spread her arms out to her sides. “Look at me, brother. Really look at me. I am a woman in a child’s body. I search for my mate. It is my right. I am a daughter of Poseidon, and I demand it of my king, of my brother. Do I not deserve the same happiness as you, as Zek, as my sister? Is that not what we all seek? Brother.”

  Aaron’s gaze locked on Sienna’s. His chest rose and fell, the ache almost unbearable.

  A light flashed within the depths of Sienna’s gold green eyes.

  He hoped she could read the promise in his. He couldn’t take much more of this. In a room full of people, he dared to project his thoughts privately to Sienna. He did have the right, she was his mate, claimed or not, so he damned well used the privilege now. Soon.

  Soon…She responded.

  Thank fuck!

  Chapter Three

  “What about the White Witch?” Cori asked. “Is it safe for Aurora to travel there and back now?”

  Sienna shook her head. “Yes, I see no danger toward Aurora. Her focus is still on King’s City and the king. She has been raising creatures from the dark depths and Hades help us, controlling them. But each time she brings one across to our world, it takes a drain on her powers and when one is destroyed, it takes a little more. She too has limits and will need time to recover. Weeks perhaps, but enough time for your sister to arrive safely to the island.”

  “Have you found the portal then?” Xav asked.

  “Yes. I know its location now.”

  “Can you close it?” he asked.

  “It is not that simple. There’s something I will require first,” Sienna replied.

  “Anything,” Xav offered.

  “It is not something you can grant, my king, it is something I must do.”

  “How long will you need?” he continued.

  “A few days.”

  “What about Aurora coming back in two weeks’ time?” Cori asked.

  “That is unclear to me, my queen. But I will keep watch. I would let no harm come to Aurora, she is more sister to me than the one who I share a sire with. When Tabatha is ready again, I will be too.”

  “Maybe this is the time to get rid of her once and for all,” Aaron said, staring at Sienna. This had to stop.

  Sienna shook her head. “No, that would not be wise. While she’s weak, she’s not defenseless. Only you stand a chance against her, my king. But she’s chosen her hiding place well. She dwells beyond the powers of the Trident in the dark realms. I cannot even venture there with my sight.”

  “She blocks you?” Xav asked.

  “Not so much her doing, as where she is. But sooner or later, she will move out of the dark. Once she does, I will know.”

  “Okay, so since all that’s settled, then I’m going.” Aurora moved over to the table where the potion sat on, grabbing it before anyone could stop her, not that anyone intended to. She placed it in the waterproof satchel she had slung across her shoulder.

  “Only half, once you reach shore,” Sienna reminded her.

  “Promise. I’m ready.”

  “Aaron and two of the guard will accompany you. I will let Zek know you’re coming.”

  “No need for the other guards. I will go, too,” Sienna declared. “Afterward, I will seek what we will need to close the portal.”

  All eyes swung around to stare at Sienna. Aaron couldn’t conceal his shock at the statement. His mouth still hung open—he snapped it shut. She never left the depths. Other than the day she called to him,
when they met for the first time. As far as he knew, she’d she never gone to the surface again. Everyone knew she didn’t go to the surface. Why now? What by Poseidon was going on?

  Aurora’s squeal of delight was the only sound heard, then she hugged Sienna. “We’re going to have so much fun,” Aurora all but gushed.

  “No, you misunderstand me. I will just accompany you to the surface. I shall not leave the sea.”

  The look of regret on Aurora’s face made Aaron school his own features into a neutral expression, lest he show disappointment, because he’d thought the same thing. At last perhaps, they might be able to spend some time together. Then again, maybe they still can.

  “I’m sorry. I only want to ensure you arrive safely and when it’s time for you to return, I will come back to get you to make sure nothing happens. But I won’t venture onto land. Not this time. I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you, Sienna,” Xav said touching her shoulder.

  “Then if you are ready,” Aaron announced, “No reason we can’t leave now.”

  “If you want to spend a few days with Zek,” Xav said speaking to him, “That’s fine.”

  “Perhaps, I will. We’ll see.” His gaze, however, rested on Sienna. Wherever he would be after seeing Aurora safely to the island, it would be with Sienna. Briefly, he wondered if this had been her plan all along. The thought shot heat through his blood. Right on its heels, another thing crossed his mind, it might finally be time to reveal the secret she’d kept and got his oath to keep from his king all of these years.

  By Poseidon’s blood, he hoped so. It wasn’t something he enjoyed withholding from Xav. If Xavior had known, he would’ve searched for the child. He wouldn’t have a choice, she was a child of the waves, but more importantly, she carried witch blood. Who knew what kind of powers the girl held. Or the kind of trouble could and would ensure if raised among humans while unaware of her powers. She came from a line of powerful witches. He shuddered thinking about it and prayed Sienna had made the right decision for them all.