Romantically Enchanted: A Twisted Fairytale Collection Page 14

  "What happened to his hand? Shark?" Triton summoned a large conch shell out of thin air and held it in both hands while he leaned down to examine the injury. "It looks recent. Good thinking to burn it though. Probably saved his life."

  Ione gestured to the water. "He might have been thrown overboard, or maybe he jumped, from a boat not too far in that direction." With his state, she was beginning to suspect his companions on the boat had been trying to murder him, though why they had kept him from bleeding out really didn't make a lot of sense. Was it to make him hurt more? To see if he could survive? She'd ask him about it when he was feeling better and they were alone.

  Triton nodded. "Shouldn't be too difficult to find out what the fishfolk know. Pardon me." With that, he flashed away, back into the ocean. Sometimes, she wished she had the power to vanish and reappear elsewhere like the gods. Technically, she was a demigod by the standards of having a god as a father, but her mother had been an immortal ocean nymph, a mermaid like her. Daughters of nymphs became nymphs themselves.

  "Are you really sure you want to do this?" Poseidon's question pulled her out of her musings.

  Ione nodded. "I've been discontent for a while now."

  "That doesn't mean you should tie yourself to the first human you find appealing," he said in a disapproving tone. "If I grant you mortality, you can't undo it later."

  Ione understood his caution. "He is pleasant to the eye, but that's not why I am doing this. He's an opportunity. A chance to learn and see this world. For change." Though, looking at James now, her fingers itched to push the hair from his eyes. She longed to taste his lips once again, this time for pleasure rather than to save his life…she couldn't help but cling to the hope that he could love her despite her flawed coloring and the empathy that kept her from her true nature.

  "Can you not spend a day or two above the waves to see if that's what you desire? If I do as you ask, and you don't like it, you're stuck above with legs forever. No gills. No fins. No immunity from aging." While his tone was harsh, his eyes were warm.

  "Then I'll move on, live my mortal days to the fullest, and my soul will travel to Hades while my body returns to the sea." Nereids, even those with Oceanids as mothers, were drawn to the seas rather than the wide expanse of oceans. When they died, their bodies became seafoam.

  "I hope you know what you're doing," Poseidon said as Triton reappeared, though he didn't sound convinced. He regarded his messenger. "What did you learn?"

  Triton nodded toward James and tossed a severed hand at Poseidon, who caught it. "His name is James Harlow, and he captains the Poseidon's Mercy. As you can see, his hand was removed before he was dropped overboard." He continued on with a dry tone, "I have come to conclude that he wasn't cooperating with the demands of a few young men who wished to take his ship and his sister. He was a brandy smuggler, with other goods on occasion, but treated his crew fairly. Other than fishing for meals, he doesn't disrespect the ocean or wildlife that I could determine. The fishfolk cannot turn up anything negative."

  Ione breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't a villain after all, yet someone had hurt him, and they wouldn't get away with it. If she was in human form, and mortal, her nymph magic would still be hers to wield. A huge wave crashed violently on shore, and Triton and Poseidon turned to her. She winced. When a Nereid became emotional, the sea often responded. "Apologies. I don't like thinking about someone hurting him."

  Triton gave her a polite smile and produced a small net from a satchel buckled to the side of his armor, then put the hand inside. The netting was woven from magic and preserved whatever it held. His pinched expression showed he didn't approve despite his efforts to remain impartial. After he returned the netting to his satchel, he came closer to James and peered at him again. "None of my sons appeal to you, child?" He shot a speculative glance her way.

  She shook her head. "I would like him whole though." She raised an eyebrow and shot a pointed look at Poseidon. Even without the hand, she'd be happy to see where fate took the two of them, but the god could restore it if he felt compelled to do so. Why not try to see it accomplished?

  Before Poseidon could get a word out, a dark blur shot past her and ended in the forming of a man with dark hair and vivid green eyes. He floated above the ground between her and the other gods, dressed in pearly Olympian robes. White wings fluttered rapidly at his ankles.

  "Hermes, what are you doing here?" Poseidon eyed the messenger god with contempt. The sea god had set up a system where Zeus' messenger must speak to Triton and not him directly because Hermes tended to grate his nerves. The last time they had spoken to each other, Poseidon had become so irritated that he'd unleashed a tidal wave and wrecked some unsuspecting island.

  "I was looking for Triton, so don't try to drown the messenger if you're standing right next to him." Poseidon rolled his eyes at that comment, and before he could reply, Hermes turned his back to him and regarded Triton. "I've come with a message from Zeus to be delivered to Poseidon."

  A bemused expression crossed Triton's face as he flicked a glance at Poseidon. "Which is?"

  "Zeus demands him to release the kraken."

  Silence, except for the waves hitting the beach behind them, met that statement.

  And then Poseidon exploded into a long line of curses in the ancient tongue. "Zeus has his own way of smiting things, tell him to stay away from my kraken, or I'll—"

  Hermes kept eye contact with Triton and pretended not to hear any of the rant. "The Fates have informed Zeus that the kraken squeezed itself into the one entrance to the flooded city and cannot seem to find its way back out again. That if it continues banging around, there will be a collapse so large the reports of the earthquakes and location will make the discovery of Atlantis in the somewhat-near future imminent. So, unless Poseidon wishes to share his summer home with humans in the twentieth century, someone needs to go…release…the kraken."

  With that, Hermes glanced down at James as though just realizing a human was amongst them. "I don't even want to ask." He flew away so fast, it was like he'd never been there.

  Poseidon shook a fist at the sky in the direction Hermes had gone. "Tell Zeus to worry about Olympus and keep his nose out of my oceans!" Then he turned to Triton, "Summon your sons to help assess the damage and situation. And tell the kraken to make sure he can fit his beak into wherever he's trying to fit through."

  Triton nodded and raised the conch shell to his lips. The sound released was only discernable to those who lived below the waves. "See you shortly." He disappeared again, having flashed away.

  Ione released a frustrated breath. "And James. Can we worry about him now?"

  Poseidon rubbed the bridge of his nose between a finger and thumb. "I understand you have plans and good intentions, but you need to consider it carefully. You have three days of prolonged human form to decide if this is what you really want. Use this time wisely, and decide if this is the choice you really want to make."

  Her heart fluttered. It was a start. "And James? His hand…"

  Poseidon waved his trident over the mortal, and a silver hook appeared in place of the appendage he'd lost. The color of his skin started to improve as his blood began replenishing. Likewise, the bruising started to fade as wounds healed and bones mended on his face and where his shirt had ridden up over broken ribs. "To judge his character."

  "I don't understand." Triton had retrieved James' hand. It could have been replaced easily.

  "You're part fish, in his mind. Humans catch fish on hooks. Will he be the man you want him to be despite the hook, or will he live up to my expectations—drawing you in with the bait of his good looks, then taking your virginity for his pleasure before tossing you back into the ocean when the sport loses its luster?"

  She was positive fisherman didn't take the maidenhead of their catches before throwing them back, but she supposed his convoluted opinion of how men treated mortal women made sense…somehow. "Most humans use hooks to easily catch their dinner and abate
their hunger," she said, confused why Poseidon would care so much about this issue.

  "And that is exactly why he will have the hook for these three days. To remind you of that. At the end of this…experiment, you decide if he deserves his hand back or not. The hook can stay as punishment if he treats you ill. If you wish to remain with him, the replacement of his hand will be done in exchange for your immortality, and you'll become a mortal nymph." Sadness crossed his expression. Poseidon was a decent and fair god—when his wrath wasn't provoked.

  "Thank you." Ione rushed over and threw her arms around her cousin's neck. The sea god hesitated a second before he embraced her in return.

  "I only wish to see my people happy. Your parents were fools for abandoning their children, but they'd be proud of the woman you've become, even if your big heart may lean toward foolishness. For your sake, I hope this is what you need to make your life more pleasing. I'll see you in three days. Find a safe place on this shore when you summon me again."

  And with that, Poseidon flashed away.

  CHAPTER 4

  "IF POSEIDON really showed up and did what you said, why didn't he give you a magic gown like he gave me this magic hook?" James struggled to think about anything other than her nudity. On the one hand, he'd provided her with his shirt, which covered all her private parts. Unfortunately, the wet material hid nothing it covered, and he didn't have his jacket to afford her more modesty. His father's staff, if they saw her, would be scandalized. Her reputation was in shatters and she only just decided to be human.

  "Ssssh. You have to remember what happened to Odysseus when he wasn't grateful for Poseidon's assistance." She glared at him, but it looked more teasing than fierce. "I didn't think to ask for a gown. In the ocean, scales or armor is all we need. Material becomes heavy and burdensome when soaked throughout." Ione tugged at the shirt hem and stared up at him. "Am I so unpleasing to the eye that you wish to cover me up?"

  How could she think that? If she knew the true nature of his thoughts, she'd run screaming back into the water. Well, the proper ladies he was accustomed to in London might, anyway. Perhaps not the widows and innkeeper's daughters he'd been with on occasion. He wasn't quite sure what to make of her yet. Truth be told, he was so unused to such boldness from a beautiful woman outside of certain establishments. It actually made him wonder how much happier women in Society would be if they didn't have to fret over propriety.

  "I would rather not have to remove anyone's eyes for leering at you or determining that I am the worst sort of scoundrel." He glanced at the silver, steel hook that had been secured to his stumped wrist. His bruises and broken bones were healed, and he'd been left with this. He tugged at it gingerly. It was like it was seared to the bone. At least the pain was gone. Nonetheless, it had been a shock to find such an object affixed to his arm. Ione had quickly explained what had occurred while he'd been near death, her three-day limit to determine if she wished to remain human before meeting with the sea god a second time, and had to assure him that the Greek myths and legends he'd enjoyed reading as a boy were all true—mostly. It seemed some stories were greatly embellished while others were fairly accurate. Perhaps, should she decide to stay, he'd ask her which ones were true. Nevertheless, after he'd shed his shirt so she could cover up, and told her how he'd come to be in the water where she'd found him, they'd begun their trek to Summerfield Manor. He needed to find a seamstress, but one of his sister's old gowns might suffice.

  "Is the ground everywhere so…harsh?"

  James halted and stared down her long, slender, scandalously hairless legs to her bare feet. The ground was rocky and overgrown with roots on the path through the woods to the manor on the cliff above. "I owe you an apology. With all that happened, I didn't consider—"He had no excuse for his oversight.

  She opened her mouth to question him and he lifted her into his arms, careful not to scratch her with his hook when he used that arm to support her legs. Her body was light, but felt good against his chest. In his arms. Feels…right. Her damp hair brushed his face and she smelled like salt and sea. As someone who spent a lot of time on a ship, it was comforting and familiar to him.

  He gulped as she wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed. A man could get used to such a thing, but he had a mere three days to convince her to stay. She'd seemed less than thrilled by the idea of formal ties of marriage when he'd spoken of them. The most important issue regarded finding a way to explain her presence. He could possibly help her obtain a position in a household as a chamber maid or something. James quickly dispelled that notion. He wouldn't see her spend her three days as a human cleaning up behind him just to avoid scandal. There had to be a solution. First, he had to secure a gown and have her inside on her feet before he gave away how much having her against his bare chest affected him.

  As he exited the forest, Rollins came barreling out of the backdoor. "Captain! You're alive. They untied the maids and left them to attend to the rest of us." Anger washed over the man's face. "Those rapscallions—" he broke off, noticing Ione in James' arms. "I do beg your pardon, miss. It's been a trying night."

  Ione looked from Rollins to James and back again. "Oh, I don't mind."

  But James did. Not so much the man's anger, because it was justified, but he needed to take Ione inside before worrying about Underwood and his nefarious plans for his ship and his sister. "Rollins, have the maids prepare a guest room for the lady, and fetch some of Wendelin's gowns and a nightdress." Since he knew the man's mind was whirling, he added, "I rescued her from those upstarts. She's going to stay in my care until I can figure out how to salvage her reputation with the least amount of upheaval to her life." Adding hastily, "It's very important to me that the staff be discreet about what has occurred this night."

  A spark of respect shone in the valet's eyes. "Very good, sir. We will do our best to see no further tarnish comes to her name, or yours. If you don't mind my saying so, but we were all victims of this together." With that, the outspoken valet marched into the house, pausing long enough to hold the door open for James and Ione before rushing off to find the maids.

  "I remember the series of events quite differently," Ione said with humor coloring her tone. "I rescued you."

  He chuckled at the faux indignation on her face that was given away by her smirk. "And I shall always be grateful. However, you said I must not tell the truth of how I came to know you, and Rollins is a traditional sort of fellow. He has a weak spot for helping those in need. Let him have this."

  "Him?" she asked and quirked an eyebrow. "Or you?"

  The blow to his pride was minor in the face of all that had occurred. He had no trouble with the fact she'd rescued him, but how could he explain propriety to a mermaid? "If I tell people you rescued me, they will wonder how you came to be there and why you had no clothing. In my world, women have reputations to uphold. I am trying to keep yours intact. Besides, in order to keep your secret, the best way of doing that is to give them the most uninteresting tale possible. Any variation from what they know and expect sends tongues wagging with gossip and speculation."

  She brushed his hair out of his eyes. "And to control the manner of how they view me?" her voice quivered.

  What had he said to upset her? "They won't have anything negative to think. Your saving me places you in a strange setting that will give them reason to question, and our being alone together at all makes it look like one of those young men, or even I, stole your virtue. Making your prospects for a good marriage suffer." He'd seen many a young lady fall prey to the rogues of the ton. Those men celebrated the downfall of a proper lady, relishing in the chaos they caused. No remorse for the lives ruined in their wake.

  "Stealing my virtue…" A wicked grin crossed her features. "You mean mating?"

  He gulped, blood coursing directly to his groin. "I—uh…" He had no words, making her giggle, pulling his focus to her lips. What would they taste like?

  A throat clearing interrupted his downward spiral into deprav
ity.

  Rollins stood in the doorway with a bashful maid, trying not to look directly at the spectacle James was making with Ione. Realizing he hadn't set his mermaid down yet, he did so, but realized too late that his hook had snagged the hem of the shirt he'd loaned her, and the fabric ripped in a horrific fashion. The maid and Rollins gasped, clearly scandalized, and Ione giggled again. James' cheeks were so hot he could probably fry an egg upon them.

  "I do beg your pardon, I-I—" He had no direction to his stammering and clamped his lips shut. Botheration. He glanced toward the maid. "Please see Miss…" Blast it if she didn't have a last name. "…Ione gets attired for bed and to a chamber, and Rollins, be a gem and fetch her some repast." In the meantime, he would down a glass of brandy, or five.

  When the women left the room, Rollins stayed put. James had a feeling he knew why. "It's not going to go unnoticed in Society, I wager." He raised the hook up and glanced at it.

  "Sir…" Rollins' voice held a mix of emotions, but he kept his expression blank. "I didn't want to vocalize it in front of the lady, but what did they do to you?"

  James thought it rather obvious, but he wouldn't take it out on the man for being concerned. He couldn't very well tell him the truth, as he'd promised Ione to keep her secret. Not to mention, stating that Poseidon replaced his missing hand with a hook and healed his injuries, allowing him to abscond with a mermaid who now had legs, would without a doubt land him in Bedlam. If he hadn't lived the pain and the wonder of meeting Ione himself, he would think he was mad for sure. Some things were too real to ignore. "Are you saying you don't like it? I think it will catch on. Every man will want one in order to make them fierce and deadly."

  "If you say so, sir." Rollins' tone didn't sound the least bit amused.

  "I'll be a proper pirate captain now. All that is missing is a piercing and a beard." He snapped his fingers. "I should purchase a parrot. What should we call it? What about Smee?"