Chapter Six.
Poseidon/Jase
B ugger off. Was she kidding him? The King of the Oceans and Seas did not simply bugger off! Poseidon’s gaze narrowed as he took in the defiant shape of the human rat before him. Willow’s chin jutted out, and her eyes stared at him with fire almost leaping from them. Her entire stance was defensive, and Poseidon reared out of the water.
“You have one chance; come with me and break this wretched bond,” he said heatedly.
“Not happening.”
Willow had no idea who she was messing with, but Poseidon had always been fair, unless at war.
“Human, come freely, or I shall take you,” he warned.
“Like to see you try,” Willow sneered and hit a nerve.
Poseidon reared out of the water with a wordless battle cry, his fin showing its full length. In his hand appeared his golden trident, and Willow’s jaw dropped open. She stared at him for several moments before scrambling to the wheelhouse and starting her engines. But it was too late; Poseidon’s anger had been truly ignited.
A cruel smile crossed his lips as The Swallow’s Nest started moving away, but the wind began to pick up around him. A king’s temper was fearful, and when riled, it was hard to control. Poseidon had no intention of controlling himself.
A wave hit the boat, and Willow gave a defiant shout.
Poseidon pointed his trident at the water, and the waves grew, the sky darkened, and rain fell. The water grew bigger and tossed the yacht back towards him. Nobody told him no! Willow kept gunning the yacht, but it was a losing battle. As she came closer, Poseidon twirled his weapon in the sea in a circular manner, causing a deep, wide maelstrom.
Willow screamed as The Swallow’s Nest got caught in the waters and dragged down. Poseidon sank down beside her as the whirlpool reached towards the ocean bed. Gently, the ship landed on the sea floor as Willow shrieked insults at Poseidon. But he hadn’t finished. He wanted this damned bond gone, and he’d hold her hostage until it broke.
Moving his trident, the water-free area began to expand, and then overhead, the water closed in a dome. His pain-in-the-ass human pest was now trapped in the ocean’s version of a snow dome. Water confined her in a circular spot of dry land with a small vortex leading to the surface for fresh air. Killing Willow might solve his issues, but with a bond supposedly formed, he had no idea what would happen. Would he lose his powers, too? He knew those who had bonds usually suffered at the death of a mate, but as he didn’t feel for her, would he be okay?
“This won’t keep me trapped forever,” Willow shrieked at him from her yacht.
Poseidon could already see her searching for her allies. He slammed his trident down on the ground as he hovered above her.
“I forbid all sea life and creatures to give you aid. Should they disobey, consider it treason,” he said and allowed the waves to carry his voice across the seas and oceans. Poseidon felt his subjects draw back in horror, including those who were Willow’s court. They’d been heading straight for her and now pulled away in confusion and distress. They let his words sink in; they were law.
“I’d rather drown than stay here for you to take my abilities away,” Willow screeched and rushed for her ladder.
Poseidon watched, bemused, as she stumbled down it and jumped the final way onto the seabed. Incensed, Willow didn’t bother to look around. She headed straight for the whirling walls of water, and Poseidon allowed her. Willow craned her neck to glare at him and stepped into the sea. No sooner had she done so than a great white appeared from nowhere and, hitting her with its blunt nose, shoved her inside the prison he’d created.
Willow shrieked in anger, raced across to a different area, and tried again. Once more, a shark pushed her in, and Willow crashed on her backside. Rubbing it as she stood up, Willow glowered at Poseidon, who looked smug.
“To break this supposed mate bond, you need my permission. Screw you. You’ll never have it, and I hope it grows stronger every day,” Willow hissed at him in pure envy.
She headed back to her yacht and slammed inside it.
Poseidon grinned. Good, with her hate, she was also on her way to breaking the bond. Let the games begin.
Jase/Poseidon – one week later.
That stubborn, infuriating wench! She needed to be drowned. Willow had not only ignored his entire existence for seven whole days, but she’d also corrupted his guards. That sneaky, two-faced, emotionally swindling human… rat! Poseidon had checked on her just before dawn and discovered her swimming with the great whites.
As he stared, furious, he’d listened to how she praised them and worked their damn egos. And sharks were certainly egotistical. Poseidon unleashed a scolding they’d never forget and shoved Willow back into her prison.
This time he had surrounded it with Jelly Fish.
The Portuguese Man of War were simple creatures who’d only obey him.
Willow pouted, but he saw her quick mind working to find a way around them. Meanwhile, her court stayed just out of her reach but hovered nearby in case she needed them. Jase had to admit, had she not been human, her wilfulness and determination would have attracted him. However, both qualities appeared ugly on a human. Willow had to be shown he was boss, and what he said goes.
He left the castle and stepped into the bright, warm sunlight. Usually, the sun would cheer him up, but all it did was taunt him that Willow couldn’t see this glorious day. Well, that was her problem, he rationalised. Willow could easily partake in this wonderful sunshine if she agreed to work with him on breaking the mate bond. It was all her fault!
Happy in his deduction, Jase began walking down to the rose gardens. They were Frankenstein’s domain and beautiful with a riot of colour. They never failed to stun Jase with their bold and delicate colours, nor could he understand how Frankenstein achieved such perfect blooms. The air down here was filled with various scents.
“Jase,” Frankie De Silvia, Frankenstein’s human side, greeted him.
“The gardens appear even more wonderful than usual.”
“Yes, with one or two surprises. That’s why you are here, isn’t it?” Frankie asked, and Jase looked puzzled.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jase admitted, and Frankie shifted on his feet.
“Oh. I did inform Vladimir, and then I consulted Lilith and Pandora. They said everything was fine, but you haven’t come until now,” Frankie explained, and Jase’s puzzlement grew even deeper.
“Brother, I’ve no idea what you mean.”
“Follow me,” Frankie ordered with a sigh.
Jase’s eyes narrowed on how Frankie seemed suddenly defensive, and his gut sunk. It was related to the mating bond. Jase followed Frankie down to a high wall, and then Frankie opened a wooden gate and entered what was known as the Secret Garden. Four tall walls enclosed the garden with ivy growing up them. Nobody had seen inside it apart from Frankie and Pandora. But everyone knew nothing grew there, and it distressed Frankenstein to no end.
Today, when Jase followed through, he stopped dead. Laid out in front of him was dirt. But there were raised beds in the shapes of squares that Frankenstein had clearly tried to plant in. However, there was no sign of growth here, and Jase felt sadness enter his heart until Frankenstein turned him around, and Jase’s eyes widened.
The flower bed nearest to him held a rose with white petals inside and blood-red on the outer layers. It was stunningly beautiful, and Jase sensed the contentment coming from it. He shook his head in wonder.
“It is Vladimir’s and Emmaline’s. It grew one day without any help from me or my counterpart. As their relationship bloomed, so did their rose. The white represents Emmaline’s innocence and the red Bloodlust. Innocence has calmed Bloodlust, and Bloodlust wants to protect his host’s mate no matter what,” Frankie explained and then beckoned Jase towards a far corner.
There, another rose vine grew. It had yet to flower, but there were several buds already present. Their outer leaves were coarse green, protecting the delicate ones beneath.
“This, I believe, is yours and that one, Manfreds,” Frankie added, pointing to a rose climbing the brick walls.
“Mummy has met his mate?” Jase gasped.
“Yeah. I can communicate with them; they only speak basic, water, food, air, shade, and names. That gave me yours and Manfred’s name. But Jase, they told me your original names,” Frankie said, wide-eyed.
“What?” Jase murmured.
“Yes. Or’lan DiMitra for you and Caspious Sodan for Manfred. The plants whisper to Frankenstein, and he listens,” Frankie stated.
“They represent the mating bond?” Jase asked, but for once, he couldn’t find the anger at the thought.
“Yes, no other explanation comes to mind. I’ve tried for years to get plants to grow here. They wither and die. One day, this will be full of blooms for us and our mates. You’re lucky you found yours. Even though you deny her, you have someone who, should you stop being a raving lunatic, will cherish you forever. I crave that and don’t have it. Who knows if there is somebody who can adore Frankenstein’s Monster? I made mistakes, Jase, but I also want love,” Frankie said, touching a gentle finger to Vladimir and Emmaline’s rose.
“You think I’m being a fool and selfish?”
“Does it matter what I believe? When you make up your mind, nothing will change it, and you stick to your chosen path. You’re set on destroying the most beautiful thing in your life. A gift that’ll never be surpassed. And why? Because of Harpy. How she died was truly awful. None of us deny that. But neither Emmaline nor Willow were guilty of that crime.”
“No.”
“But you managed to accept Emmaline, and yet fight Willow… why? That is the question you must ask yourself. Why battle so hard against the mate bond? It is not because she is human; I bet most of our mates will be. There are so few races left,” Frankie noted.
That was one thing Jase couldn’t argue with. The other races had faded under the human onslaught. Despite their existence, they were concealed by magic and elusive to find. Like the Legendary Shifters, the others pulled away from the threat of humanity and hid.
“You have given me much to think about,” Jase admitted.
“Good day, brother,” Frankie said, ushering Jase from his garden.
Jase masked a smile as the Secret Garden’s gate slammed shut behind him.
Willow
She hated that insufferable fish face! She had been making inroads with her guards when Poseidon had caught her and swapped them around. The great whites had been easy to handle once she’d realised they were egotistical. A lot of flattery and compliments, and they’d been putty in her hands. These jellyfish, however, didn’t respond the same way. And all they kept telling her was ‘Guard’. It was beyond frustrating.
Poseidon needed an ass-kicking, and she would love to give him one. As she contemplated his demise, a dark shadow passed over her, and she shivered as she looked up. Circling her was a humongous form. Willow tilted her head as she tried to figure out what she was seeing. It was the same size as Segory but a completely different shape.
Willow blinked her eyes because she could not be seeing what she thought she was. A long, sinuous neck, a bulky body, a serpentine tail and two wings. A dragon. Willow shook her head and then thumped herself on the forehead.
Standing on it, was a poor imitation of Poseidon’s mermonster as she’d taken to calling it.
It wasn’t as tall or muscled and didn’t have his tentacles. His skin was a motley colour of different greens, yellows, and blues, which Willow thought would work as camouflage. His complexion also appeared rough and knobbly. And below his waist, he had one huge tail or fin.
Willow wondered what to call it. She peered at him as she clocked further differences.
“Come to me,” a squelchy voice demanded.
“I can’t; I am trapped by the jellyfish,” Willow called.
Her mind worked furiously. Were these friends or foes? And a sea dragon? What the ever-living hell?
“We can help,” he replied.
“Don’t hurt them!” Willow said, alarmed. She wished to escape without causing any harm.
A wet, almost evil laugh drifted to her. “Stupid human,” the merman stated.
The sea dragon launched downwards, and the Portuguese Man of Wars leapt backwards as the dragon attacked. It extended its legs and tore into the jellyfish with a loud growl.
Determined to destroy her guards, the merman and dragon ignored Willow’s shouts to stop. The dragon released several cries as tentacles wrapped around it and clearly burned it. Willow flinched at the pained screeches from the jellyfish and the dragon. She covered her eyes even while she forced herself to watch.
Finally, nothing was left but carnage, and Willow allowed tears to fall. Those beautiful creatures were gone, torn apart. For what? Willow had no idea why.
“Come human, The Atlantis wishes to talk to you,” the merman ordered.
“I don’t wish to speak with The Atlantis. You’re murderers,” Willow spat.
“You will obey,” the merman insisted.
Willow shook her head. “Over my dead body.”
“That’ll happen too. The Atlantis won’t allow you to live. Now hurry, or he shall die,” Merman demanded, pointing at something in one of the sea dragon’s claws.
“Chatter!” Willow cried and, without considering anything further, scrambled off her boat and dashed towards her dolphin.
As soon as she entered the water, the merman dived off the sea dragon and swam swiftly toward her as she headed for Chatter. He grabbed her roughly and tied her hands behind her back before forcing a gold chain with a pearl over her head.
Willow’s gills fluttered into life, and she began to breathe easily. Her hair covered them, and the merman didn’t notice as he dragged her to the dragon. Willow struggled all the way, but the wide-eyed fear of Chatter made her stop.
“Let him go; you have me,” she demanded.
“Human scum, shut up. His life depends on your good behaviour. If you want him to live, then quit fighting,” the merman slurped as he threw her over the back of the dragon. The dragon sent her a baleful look, and Willow noted the heavy gold chain around his neck with a large pearl nestled against his chest. She got a sick feeling and searched the dragon’s eyes.
“You’re a hostage too, aren’t you?” she murmured, and the dragon blinked.
The merman hit her head, and Willow flinched back as he climbed on the dragon and took the reins. Standing over her like a conqueror, he slapped the reins, and the dragon swam away from her prison and yacht.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a darting figure and realised Warrior was speeding away.
The merman let out a wet-sounding cackle but didn’t send the sea dragon after him.
“What can one fish do?” The merman chuckled, and Willow shook her head. Even here, there was ignorance and prejudice.
Willow was rather amazed at her calmness. After all, she was being kidnapped by a sea dragon and a merman.
Willow acknowledged the existence of mythical creatures beyond Poseidon, his mermonster, and the mummy. A sea dragon and merperson weren’t as frightening as Poseidon’s monster.
“Where are you taking me?” Willow demanded and was ignored. “If you were rescuing me from Poseidon, you can let me go now.”
“You’re going to see The Atlantis. She will deal with your punishment,” the merman replied.
“For what?”
“For attempting to steal The Atlantis’s husband.”
“Hey, hold on! I’ve done no such thing,” Willow exclaimed, outraged.
“You claim no mate bond with King of the Oceans and Seas?” the merman sneered.
“There is none!” Willow shouted, annoyed.
“No, because The Atlantis will chop your head off and end all lies.”
“Screw you, buddy. Nobody’s chopping anything. And isn’t Atlantis a city?”
“Home.”
“The city’s going to decapitate me?” Willow questioned, thoroughly confused.
“Foolish, ignorant. The Atlantis rules Atlantis.”
“The Atlantis is the ruler of Atlantis?” Willow asked and felt a sharp kick in her side.
“Shut up,” the merman slurped, steering the dragon deeper.
“Hey, isn’t that the Marianna Trench? I can’t go that deep,” Willow gasped.
“Then die and save The Atlantis the problem.”
Willow struggled to get off the dragon. She’d never tested her gills in such profound water, and fear coursed through her veins. And what about the pressure? She could breathe, but would the rest of her body survive it?
The merman placed a foot on her back to keep her in place.
“The necklace will help you breathe,” he explained, annoyed.
“Screw you, let me go!” Willow shrieked as they swam over the side of the Trench and started descending downwards.
A large shadow shot towards them and knocked them backwards and over the ledge of the Trench.
Willow cried out and began wriggling as she recognised the figure heading for them quickly.
The merman turned the sea dragon to face their attacker. He was no match for the speed and size of the blue whale that hit it straight in the side and sent him spinning.
“Segory!” Willow screamed as she flew backwards over the Trench and began sinking again. She kicked her feet frantically, but the Trench pulled her down.
A fast-swimming, darting shape swam under her, and her legs settled on either side of a sleek body. With her hands still tied, Willow could not hold on, but she leaned low over Chatter’s body and clenched her thighs tightly.
A trident shot past her face, and Willow shrieked, but Chatter kept going. They were headed upwards, Willow noted with relief. Surrounding them, one on either side, were Luna and Segory. Chatter was slowing his speed to match theirs. Segory would probably be able to keep up with Chatter, but the slower Luna couldn’t.
War cries echoed behind them.
Willow glanced over her shoulder and saw the merman, once again on the dragon’s back, chasing them.
“Chatter, he’s going to catch us,” she cried.
“Not,” Chatter responded as Luna cut across the rear of them and slapped the dragon with her tail.
The dragon screamed and reared to one side, and Willow noticed its wing had been damaged. The dragon twisted away as they approached the surface.
Luna and Segory breached the water first, leaping high into the sky before falling with tremendous splashes. Chatter followed suit as he leapt and landed, knocking Willow off his back.
Willow kicked to the surface and managed to drag her legs through her tied-up arms, and she brought her bound wrist to her face as she broke the water. Luna slid under her as Segory began swimming in large circles, keeping the sea dragon and merman away.
Warrior and Giddy arrived, both chirping and warning her to get onto Luna’s back. Willow hauled herself up onto Luna until she was centred near her blow hole.
Using her teeth, Willow tore the bonds that held her prisoner until she managed to tear her wrists free.
Cautiously getting to her feet, Willow checked she wasn’t hurting Luna and then gazed across at the merman who’d surfaced a safe distance away.
“Give her back,” he shrieked.
“No,” Giddy replied.
“She belongs to The Atlantis; you betray your queen!” he yelled.
“The Atlantis, not queen. Yours. Not mine. She is my queen. She is Saviour of Babes,” Chatter challenged, racing at the sea dragon, which swam backwards before Chatter broke off his attack.
“You answer to The Atlantis!”
Chatter rudely blew a spout of water and made a rude noise.
The water exploded as two large turtles surfaced, their gazes firmly on the merman and sea dragon. Beside Bert and Beau, Fish Diver, a sleek seal appeared.
“Leave. She belongs to us,” Fish Diver stated.
“The Atlantis wants her!” the merman insisted, and he seemed almost out of his head in rage. “The Atlantis will kill you all for this betrayal. Who are you to deny her queenness? The Atlantis controls these waters; she rules the ocean. You are nobody to reject her!”
“And who am I?” roared a man.
Everyone turned and saw Poseidon in his merman form.
“You, trouble, now!” Chatter squeed loudly with glee at the merman, who flinched at the look on Poseidon’s face.
“Yeah, you deep in doo doo,” Fish Diver agreed happily.
“Well, what am I?” Poseidon demanded again.
“A pain in my ass,” Willow complained.
Poseidon turned to her and let out a wicked smile, and Willow glared. She seriously hated him!