Chapter 6 – Keto
KETO
My mind races. These men don’t know who or what I am. That means that for now, I’m safe with them. As long as I stay out of the ocean and away from anything that can give me away to my brother. If he catches sight of me, he’ll know I escaped the dragons, and he’ll make me pay.
I stiffen in the gargoyle’s arms at the realization. As of right now, Phorcys probably thinks I’m dead.
The feeling is like a light going off inside of me. He won’t command me through the collar if he doesn’t know I’m still living. On top of that, his sea spies might not know what happened in the battle because of what my little creature did.
He took the dragons’ abilities.
I’m still in awe of its magic. I’ve never seen it use it at that scale before.
I hoped it was possible, but I wasn’t sure.
Now I’m left with new worries. The sea dragons looked like nothing more than humans in the water after their powers were taken, but something had to absorb them, and I’m pretty sure it was the gargoyles.
I have powerless enemies who can’t even communicate with the sea animals, a brother who thinks I’m dead, and a gargoyle that has pledged that he’ll keep me safe from anything.
Am I… am I free for a little while? My thoughts turn over each other. This mess could blow up very easily, but for now, everything is actually better than it has been for a long time.
All I need to do is make sure the gargoyles don’t discover who I am.
“We’re almost there,” the man holding me says.
I look ahead of us to see a peaceful looking island, and then back at the man’s serious face. “You never told me your name.”
He glances at me and smiles. “Max.”
“Max,” I repeat, tasting the name on my tongue.
“And what’s yours?”
Oh fuck! Of course he was going to ask my name! “I’m… I’m…Sirena.”
He smiles. “Well, Sirena, let’s get you dressed and fed, and you can tell us your story.”
My heart races. Oh yes, I’ll need a story. A convincing one. One that will make it so these men don’t kill me, kidnap me, or toss me aside.
This will take some thought.
“And the other males in my Brotherhood of gargoyles are Arthur, my twin, Steven, and Clark.”
I don’t remember the other men well, but I’m sure I’ll be able to identify them after I officially meet them. “Are they all as nice as you?”
He flashes me a smile. “Everyone thinks Arthur is funny. Steven can be very sweet. And Clark, well, he grows on you.”
I’m not sure if what he’s telling me is good or bad, but after everything I’ve been through, I hope I can handle these four gargoyles. It can’t be too hard, right?
Despite myself, I feel tense the rest of our flight.
We arrive at the island, landing gently outside of a tent and a lake with a waterfall. Immediately, I feel the pull of the water. I already know it’s fresh water, and that it holds no intelligent sea animals, just some fish and tiny creatures. My brother won’t know I’m there.
I'm still longing for the water when one of the gargoyles surfaces, no longer wearing clothes. His bare chest is covered in muscles and he has big, thick arms. Dark tattoos curl along his chest and one of his arms.
I’m a mermaid. Nudity means nothing to me. I’ve seen naked mermen, even shifted into human-form naked, and felt nothing.
But something stirs inside of me as he pushes back his dark hair and the water slides down his chest. Am I attracted to this man? The notion leaves me confused.
He starts walking out of the water, not yet noticing us. I can't look away, and my eyes are glued to his stomach as the water sinks lower. When his cock is suddenly exposed, I’m left staring. It’s… huge! Is that what a gargoyle penis looks like?
“Arthur!” Max shouts.
The gargoyle looks up, still partially in the water. He spots us, and his cheeks grow red. He immediately crosses his hands in front of his dick.
“Sorry,” Max says, his voice stern. “Apparently, my brother didn’t remember we had a guest. Arthur, meet Sirena.”
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “Can you put me down?”
He does so, very gently, like I’m something fragile, something that matters. His soft touch surprises me. For a gargoyle whose goal is to kill my kind, he’s kind of sweet.
My legs shake as I walk toward his brother…
this Arthur. I step into the water and move until we’re just feet from each other.
This gargoyle looks strikingly similar to the other one.
His face has the same strong lines. His eyes are the same pale grey.
But his hair is a little longer, and his lips seem permanently curled into a smile.
Unfortunately, beneath his smiles, I sense sadness.
I reach down and push his hands to the side; I’m surprised when he lets his hands drop. “It’s okay,” I say. “My kind doesn’t mind nudity.”
Glancing down, my eyes widen. Has he gotten bigger? He has. His cock has risen, hardening and lengthening so much that it nearly touches me.
I study it. “You’re even bigger,” I say.
His hands go to cover his cock once more. “Sorry, it’s been awhile since I… since I saw a woman naked.”
I kneel down and push his hands aside again. “So, this is what happens when you see a woman naked?”
He lets loose a string of curses. “You’ve got to stand up!”
I look up at him. His eyes are wild. “Why?”
The big gargoyle glances at his brother, looking strangely helpless. “Tell her!”
I hear Max laugh behind me. “You’re the one strutting around naked. You fix this mess.”
Reaching up, I run my hand along his erection. “I don’t understand the problem.”
He throws his hands in the air and takes several steps back, stumbling through the water. “I’m taking a long dip! You… better get dressed.”
I stand, frowning. “I don’t like clothes.”
He groans. “You need clothes.”
“Why?” I ask.
His gaze goes to my breasts, then lower. Again, I feel that unexpected warmth spreading through my body. If I truly find this man attractive, I should explore it to see if this warm feeling gets better. Doesn’t he feel the same way?
“You just need clothes!” he says, then turns and dives into the water.
I look back at his brother. “What’s wrong with him?”
Max looks like he’s just won some prize, grinning ear to ear. “He’s learning a lesson, that’s all.”
Shrugging, I sink into the water and sigh. It’s warm and rushes pleasantly against my skin, easing some of the pain from my wounds.
“So, uh,” Max clears his throat. “Are you taking a bath then?”
He draws closer, looking strangely nervous.
I study him. “Is your cock hard too?”
Both his brows rise. “I’m sorry?”
“Is your cock hard too?”
To my surprise, he looks even more nervous. “No.”
“Then you can join me without running away like your brother.”
The other brother has surfaced near the other side of the lake, near the bottom of the waterfall. “I didn’t run away!”
I regard him. “Then come back here.”
He doesn’t answer me for a long minute. “I’d feel more comfortable over here.”
I frown and look back at Max. “I don’t understand.”
The gargoyle sighs and shifts. I watch transfixed as his wings melt away and his skin changes from a stunning grey to a tan color. Then, standing before me, is a gargoyle who looks like a man. Like Arthur.
“Here’s the thing. Our Brotherhood has taken a vow of celibacy. That means we can’t have sex. So, having a beautiful naked woman running around might be a bit of a challenge for us.”
Celibacy? No sex? Mermaids love sex. Well, most of them other than me.
I’ve never really understood it, but they can fuck anywhere at any time.
Usually they surface on beaches and go at it like any other animal.
The women seem to prefer strong men with large cocks, so I’m shocked that these three are refraining.
“How long have you gone without sex?”
Max looks to the sky as if it might have the answers. “Twenty years.”
“Wow!” I stare at him. “Is that why he got hard so easily?”
He shakes his head and laughs. “Uh, yeah, plus the whole naked woman thing.”
“So does he find me attractive specifically, or would he find any woman attractive right now?”
Max stares for a long second. “Well, you’re extremely beautiful, so I’m afraid it’s you he finds attractive.”
I nod and slip beneath the water, letting it run through my hair. I stare up at the surface, lit by the sun. In my human form, I’ll need to surface for air soon. But I don’t mind. I just enjoy the peace and quiet that comes in this moment.
Closing my eyes, an idea begins to form in my mind.
These gargoyles find me attractive but won’t have sex with me.
They’re looking for a “monster” in the ocean who just happens to be me.
Perhaps I can offer them my help and hope they’re too distracted by their attraction to see behind my lies.
I’m not a deceitful siren, but I believe I can become one.
My life depends on it.
My eyes pop open, and I smile. It’s not a permanent solution to my dilemma, but it should buy me some time!
Surfacing, I gasp in fresh air, then turn to Max.
As soon as our eyes meet, his cheeks turn red, and he turns away.
“Gargoyle?”
He glances back, looking uncomfortable. “Yes.”
Be brave, Keto. You can do this.
“I think I might be able to help you find your monster.”