Chapter Three #2
Xida came out and said, “Are you going to open a little tea shop? Something with local treats where folks who like things at a more relaxed pace can come in and sit and watch the island go by.”
Eden paused and said, “I don’t have the funds for that.”
Xida smiled. “Then ask for investment. Some of these ladies need a mate-free day now and then. They would toss in some funds. You have elves and mages here. Spoiled for choice.”
Vine smiled. “I can throw in half a million, and I can find enchantments and assistance on keeping it upright once you get it built.”
Xida grinned. “See? There are people with funds in the islands. Use them. Now, once the shop is built, Vine would have a place to sit and relax, possibly while watching the octopus in the harbour. Meeda could learn to breathe again, Eden could think about starting her own family this time, and Faline could look at the water and calculate where she was fished out. Elves and mages, and so much to think about. Plus, with Mia working on the swimwear and new activewear line, stress testing suits is definitely a way to spend time.”
Meeda cleared her throat, but Vine beat her to the question. “What are you?”
“Inspiration. That’s all.” Xida smiled.
Vine stared. “Oh, holy fuck.”
“Yes, I know, Ivy is luck, but this is different. This is internal and not external factors. It is also why I don’t get upset when folks grab me and use me to fulfill a need. No, not sex. But things like today’s race. The inspiration is an aura. I can’t focus it or rein it in.”
Vine nodded. “Right. Shit. I think of a problem in a spell I have been having, and it suddenly unravels and makes sense.”
Meeda was about to speak when her phone went off. It was the search-and-rescue desk. “Hello?”
“We have a stranded visitor on a rented boat. Can you run location?”
“Sure. I am in town. Have my suit ready. Be there in three minutes.” Meeda smiled. “Gotta go. I have to disappoint another tourist.”
Xida nodded. “I am staying at the hotel, so I will be around.”
Eden paused. “What do you see for a teahouse?”
Xida moved to sit next to her, and Moira provided a tablet while they went over menus, designs, and minimum and maximum requirements. Getting a deck with a storm rating that was accessible was difficult but manageable.
Meeda grinned, nodded to everyone, and left.
* * * *
Wearing a sports suit that had been specially designed by Mia, Meeda flew in the direction of the distress call. It was, surprisingly, a male, and he had been floating for a few days before he managed to get a distress call out.
Meeda had locators and beacons on her waist, and she used altitude to see the speck on the horizon that was her target.
She picked up speed and had her emergency kit handy.
When she got closer, she could see definite damage caused by something with teeth. The motor was trashed. She called out, “Ahoy, the boat!”
A figure moved from belowdecks, and he looked at her. “Fuck me, a pixie.”
“Couldn’t you teleport somewhere safe?”
“Nope. Not in my skill set.”
She landed and said, “Can I offer you water, a sports drink, or some food?”
“Yes, to all three.”
She handed him the pack and smiled as he grabbed for the water.
She spoke into her com. “I am on the ship; it isn’t mobile. We need a tow.”
Skaay Daring spoke. “Activate a beacon, and we are on the way.”
She took a beacon off her belt and slammed it to the hull. Then she repeated it. “Beacons up.”
“We can see you on our scans. On our way. Estimated arrival in about ninety minutes.”
Meeda sighed. “Acknowledged. We will wait unless he needs medical attention.”
The man, drinking and stuffing his face, said, “I am weak but otherwise fine.”
She looked at him. “Do you have the means to cook fish, or can you eat it raw?”
“I can eat it raw. Why?”
She removed her belt. “If they contact you, tell them I went fishing. Oh, do you have a speargun?”
He shook his head. “No. What are you going to do?”
“I am going fishing.” Wings snapped in, she sat on the edge of the vessel, and the tail came out.
She fell off the boat and went shopping.
They were in the deep and looking around.
She couldn’t see many creatures. There was a flash of silver, and she headed off to see if she could grab some tuna.
She picked a small one and slammed her hand into it with a sonic burst that didn’t leave blood but let her haul the heavy creature back to the waiting boat.
She had just boosted the tuna onto the vessel when she turned and saw something that was familiar and strange at the same time.
She smiled and swam to greet Akervel. His pike-like features with a body that extended far into the deep also had plenty of tentacles around it. He was a true monster in matte black.
He nudged her with his nose, and she swam along him, trailing her fingers on his slightly slimy skin.
He transformed into his merman form and swam to her, pulling her into his arms.
She smiled, and her pixie teeth descended. She looked up at him and didn’t try anything. He smiled and put a hand on the back of her head to bring it to his neck.
She opened her mouth and bit, feeling his arms flex around her as he swam them toward the vessel that had a lot of bite marks on the rear end. Something had gotten it right in the aft.
She drank as Akervel propelled them out of the water, and when he landed with a thud, his wrap was on, and the other dark elf was face-first into the tuna.
Akervel chuckled, and it felt weird because she could feel him move against her as she drank.
“Syaln, still inventing?”
The other elf stared and laughed. “Akervel, you seem to have attracted something.”
“The wings make her hungry. She is of pixie descent.”
“Right. Wow, she’s really on there. Is she your mate?”
“Not yet. We are moving slow, but since I have obtained a house locally, we might proceed a little faster.”
She stopped the soft sucking, retracted her teeth, and licked his wounds closed. Meeda leaned back. “Salty.”
He grinned. “You are very tidy with that.”
“I wasn’t starving. It makes it easier to concentrate.” She dismissed her tail and landed on her feet when he set her down. “So you know him?”
“Syaln was a royal engineer, and he was enthralled with the idea of keeping to local technology levels. I am guessing he was out here with a new engine design.”
Meeda smiled. “And I am guessing the frequency drove the local turtle population insane.”
The dark elf in his human form and swim shorts looked at her. “How did you know?”
“The bite marks are specific to something with a beak. This vessel makes a noise like orcas or sharks. It drove them to attack.”
Syaln sighed. “It didn’t cause that response in trials.”
She cocked her head. “Did you try it with this boat? The hull would turn it into a giant speaker.”
He paused and sighed. “No, I used a fibreglass boat for initial trials. I wanted to take it deeper, so I used this one.”
She sighed. “Either change some of the parameters or find a new project.”
Syaln shrugged. “Do you think they would tow me back to the research station?”
“You can ask. It depends on if it’s Skaay’s turn to watch the pod’s baby for date night, but you can ask.”
Akervel sighed and walked to the front of the vessel. “If you call the Darings, I can tow you home.”
She smiled and picked up her com off her belt. She called the rescue and said, “A friend was swimming past and can tow him to the research station. I am guessing it’s on Breakridge?”
Syaln nodded. “Sixth island.”
“Sixth island of Breakridge.”
“Okay, call us if you need a lift. We can get Kimo to deliver you or Exeter if you don’t mind getting wet.”
“I have a ride.” She glanced at Akervel, and he inclined his head and smiled.
“Sweet. Let us know when you get in.”
“Yup.”
“And remember you have a chest cam on when you decide to grope a merman again.”
She blushed. “I did forget.”
“He’s your ride?”
“Yup.”
“Congratulations.” Skaay was laughing. “Heading home.”
Akervel walked up to her and pulled her by her waist into his embrace. “Will you buy me dinner when we get back?”
She snorted. “Yes.”
“How many courses?”
“Three. Max. If you need more, you can shift, and we can throw you the rest of the tuna.”
He laughed. “They are listening?”
“Yes.”
“You have a sonic attack?”
“Yes.”
He kissed her. “Take what you need, and throw the rest of the tuna overboard.”
She formed her claws and ripped chunks out for her to eat. Syaln pointed out a few spots he wanted, and then she nodded to Akervel. “We are burning daylight.”
He laughed and launched overboard. She felt it when he transformed, and that is when she hauled the tuna overboard. She looked down into his open maw and laughed as she dropped the fish in. He had been vertical.
He closed his mouth, and she went to the bow, making sure the line was tight before tossing it as far out as she could. He surfaced, grabbed the rope in his mouth, and the sudden tug as they got moving nearly knocked her on her ass.
She walked back to the meat, shifted to have scales on her legs, and started eating.
Syaln looked at her. “How did you meet Akervel?”
“I was hungry and underwater. I tried to eat him, and he took off.” She grinned and finished her portion of the tuna. “Tale as old as time.”
He snorted, and they finished the pile of meat. He got a bucket and offered it to her so she could wash the blood off. He washed next, dumped the blood off the back, and grinned. “He is a big fucker, isn’t he?”
Meeda looked at the tail thrashing a few hundred feet away. “Yes, he is.”
She headed forward and watched the broad head as they were hauled fast enough to create a foaming wake.
Syaln walked toward her and said, “You want to swim with him, don’t you?”
“Yup, but I have to save my energy.”
“Why?”
“Because I am going to chase him back to Wonder.” Meeda grinned.