Читать книгу Tane - Sheonna Hill - Страница 7

Chapter 1

Leia

“Father! Father!” I cry, looking around frantically.

“I’m here, Leia,” my father calls out from his study. I rush into the (large? small?) room and see my father sitting behind his (describe) desk. He is writing correspondence and seems to be cool and calm. Nothing ever seems to faze him.

“I just heard the rumors! Why haven’t you told me? What are we going to do?” My breath is short from running across the palace looking for my father, and worry is running through me. I see him glance up momentarily, but he returns to his writing as if there isn’t a major issue happening. I frown, exasperated at his unconcerned approach to these nasty rumors that have come from some of the myr-families returning from their travels.

“There is nothing to worry about, Leia,” he replies without looking up.

“Are you serious? Of course there is!”

“This is not the first time someone has tried to start a war, and certainly not the first between gods.”

“Yeah, I know that, but it’s the first time a band of gods are coming together against you.”

“You should not concern yourself with this. I can take care of it. It will end as swiftly as they start it.”

“Father, you cannot take care of this on your own. I know you’re the mighty Poseidon, god of all the seven seas, but this is even more worrisome because you think you can take care of this yourself. You are only one god trying to go up against several gods and goddesses. You are not invincible, and you will need help to fight against them.”

“No!” my father roars, slamming his hand to the desk so hard that everything shakes. A few items fall to the floor as he continues. “This is my battle and I will wage it myself. I know you are concerned, but you have no reason to be. I can handle this, and I will.”

I calm myself, knowing I will get nowhere with him if we are both aggravated. So, I go with the daughter plea.

“I could not imagine my life without you in it. I worry because you are the only parent I know. You have always been there for me. Is it wrong for me to make sure nothing happens to you?”

“Sweet Leia, there is nothing to fear. I can dispatch these pissants myself, and there is no reason to worry others with our troubles. You worry too much, daughter. It is I who will make sure nothing happens to you.”

Sometimes it’s like beating your head against stone trying to get him to understand. “I’m not worried about me, Father. I am worried about you. Please, message some of our friends and allies. Let them help us to protect the realm.”

“There is no need, sweetling, I can tell when someone enters my realm. If these gods want to start a war, they will have to be a lot smarter than to come to me. Since I do not have a reason to leave, I will protect the myr-families here. So please, don’t worry yourself over this matter. I will be fine. There is nothing for you or anyone else to fear.”

You can hear the patronizing tone in his voice through that whole spiel.

Ares’s balls, I want to jump up and down and scream at him, throw the gold sculpture that’s on his desk at his head just so he can see the danger. Maybe if I hit his head hard enough it will knock some sense into that thick overbearing brain. He is only one god; he may be one of the oldest of the twelve, but still only one.

He stands and walks to the front of his desk, grasping my shoulders in both hands.

“I can see that you are still worried, but do not be. I will take care of this and all will be well.”

He leans forward and kisses my forehead. “Now go on, little one, if something comes up I will deal with it. You should know I will always protect you.”

I swear the fires of Hades are burning through my veins. He still sees me as a myr-babe instead of the goddess I am. I’m shocked he didn’t pat me on my head or see if I need changing with that arrogant comment.

Fine then, it is time for me to take action for his stubborn ass. I fume, turning to leave as I try to formulate a plan to get help.

Immortality is not all that it’s cracked up to be! Living without an end date like mortals do can seem exhausting, especially with a father like mine. As a goddess, I look to the mortals with a measure of respect. They know they only have a certain amount of time to live their lives. They take chances and do wonderful, adventurous things in their short lifespan. Some astound me with the extremes they go to just to feel alive. It amazes me and makes me a little envious, especially since I feel that I haven’t done anything spontaneous, or been on a grand adventure, or done something outside my comfort in my whole existence. My father is way too overprotective, and would not approve of me trying some of the things mortals do. Even though I am two hundred and forty-three years old, I am still young compared to most gods, so I always feel as if I am still a myr-babe instead of a grown goddess.

Living in the very depths of the sea in my father’s kingdom, the years feel more like days and I feel as if I have yet to really experience life. Most immortals are seeking more power and control. They do not appreciate what we already have. I have seen beauty on the mortals’ realm, though I have also seen destruction. Mortal men throughout history have tried to gain power over people and countries. It never lasts. They decimate some of the most beautiful places humans have created, and even those they love, with their greed.

Immortals start wars because they are bored. A sad reason to start something with side effects that can cause destruction not only to the gods’ realm but also the realm of mortals.

Currently, there is talk of an uprising. There are other water gods that wish to wage war with my father Poseidon for his throne and kingdom. I haven’t heard exact details on who is trying to start this war, and as stubborn as my father is, I know he won’t ask for help. “I can handle my own problems and those who bring them to my doorstep.” My father and his stubborn-ass thinking.

I, however, know he can’t do everything on his own. Hearing the rumors of war from across the kingdom, I know I need to reach out for help, and the one person that I know will help me is my best friend Natal. She’s like a sister to me and has always had my back. She helps me out when I get into trouble, although the trouble I get into is usually because of her. We’ve grown up together in my father’s kingdom since her parents entrusted her to Poseidon’s realm for protection against those who coveted her.

I enter her room but don’t immediately see her, so I walk through to the water chamber. Each of the rooms in my father’s palace has one. Water gods have two forms, sometimes three depending on their water spirit and heritage. I only have two myr-forms, one where I have a myr-tale, and the other legs like any mortal has, which I consider unfair since I am the daughter of Poseidon. You would think I’d have more, but sadly I am lacking majorly in that category. Instead I have been the sweet and innocent Leia in the eyes of everyone.

Gods and goddesses need to stay close to our affinity, water in our case. My father is one of the Original Twelve Gods, so he can be away from water longer than the rest of us, but the water chamber is something my father created throughout his kingdom for all his devoted followers. We have living quarters like anyone else, and beds to rest in even though we do not require much of it, yet most myr-creatures spend most of their time in the water chambers. Our water chambers look like domes, or large bubbles as most mortals would call them if they could ever see them, that have a water pool at the bottom so we can swim out to the ocean. Everyone decorates their water chamber differently. You can swim by on the outside and see into each one throughout the kingdom. My best friend Natal is the biggest flirt and loves to be admired by myr-men. She lies out on a large stone by her water pool and hangs her emerald green myr-fin into the water, always looking to be admired. Her beauty is so distracting that she has caused fights between mortals and immortals for her attention. She has long, natural, wavy, bright red hair with gold entwined throughout it flowing down to her hips. Her skin is pale white and flawless, her eyes are a bright green that sparkles like emeralds under light, and her fin is three different shades of green with gold edging on it. I would be jealous of her beauty if I didn’t know her all my life. I know she has the most loyal nature and honest heart to those she loves, and yet never lets anyone get close to her heart. At times I think she has siren in her gene pool somewhere.

“Leia, there you are! Where have you been?” she asks me.

“Natal, I need your help!” I get straight to the point. “I need you to find someone you trust to get a message to Delphine for me, and I don’t want my father to know I am sending it!”

She smiles at me. “I have the perfect person for that task. Do you have the letter prepared?”

“Hold on, let me write it down, it’ll only take a moment!” I rush to grab parchment and write out my letter.

Delphine,

I am writing to you without my father knowing. You have been his most loyal servant all my life and I know you must have heard of the rumors that are going around of a war coming to my father’s doorstep. He is too proud and stubborn to ever ask for help, so I will on his behalf. Please find those that you know and trust that will stand with my father before it’s too late. I trust your judgment. Maybe you can hear more than we have on what we are expecting and who may be behind it. You know my father thinks he can stand against multiple gods on his own. He is only one god, even powerful as he is, it will not be enough. I know the value of having others that will back him. So please, send help. Spread the word and I will await your arrival.

Be safe,

Cympolelia

“All done, so who will you be sending for?” I ask Natal, letter in hand.

“Do you see that young myr that swims by every few minutes? The blond one that drools all over the dome each time.”

I look up and sure enough I see a myr-man swimming by with stars in his eyes. He has blond hair and couldn’t be a hundred yet, and possibly has drool coming out the corner of his mouth as he looks at Natal. I nod my head to her.

“He’s the one that I will give this to. I know he will do whatever I ask of him.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Oh, Leia, you should know by now that I can get most men to do whatever I want. I just snap my fingers and they rush to do my bidding. Especially one so young as him and so full of lust that he can’t help but want to please me!” She laughs.

I can’t help but shake my head. I know she’s right; every single myr-man would do anything for her. I grab a bottle, stuff the note inside, and seal it with a cork.

“All right, he should be making another pass soon. I will just do a come-hither with my finger and get your message passed along.”

Only a minute passes and I see blond hair come into view. “See? Right on time,” she says, leaning back on her rock to look up through the dome. She is propped up with both hands, but when her target is close enough she pulls one hand up and curls her finger to the young myr, asking him to come to her. I swear his eyes about popped out of his head. I see his fin beat rapidly as he dashes to the bottom of the dome to enter her pool.

He pops out of the water right next to Natal.

“Yes, my goddess?”

He sounds so anxious to have been given the opportunity to be close to her. I have to bite my bottom lip so I don’t burst out laughing at the enthusiasm that is pouring from him.

“What is your name?” Natal asks in a sultry voice.

“Liam! My name is Liam, Goddess!”

I watch as Natal leans close to Liam’s face and traces a finger down his cheek. I swear his eyes are about to roll into the back of his head.

“Liam, can you do me a big favor?”

“Yes, anything!” he replies before Natal can even finish her question.

“I need you to deliver a message for me, one that must go straight to Delphine and no one else. I need someone that I can trust with this important message. Can you do that for me? Are you the one I can rely on and trust?”

“I am! I will swim to the ends of the world for you, Goddess, and personally make sure only he gets this.”

“You must be careful, Liam. There are rumors of other gods planning a war. I am sure you’ve heard. This could be dangerous,” she says with mock concern on her face.

We both know that Delphine is closer to the Caribbean islands with his dolphins. It’s too close to mortals for most water gods, but since Delphine can take the shape of a dolphin as well as myr and human, even if his dolphin form is three times the size of an average dolphin, he can blend easier. There is no real danger where Delphine is, but Natal is laying it on thick.

“No need to worry, my goddess, I can handle whomever tries to stop me,” he says as he puffs out his chest. I almost lost it then and laughed out loud. I turn my head so he cannot see me shaking from holding back my laugh. It would spoil Natal’s dramatic speech and performance if I did.

“I know you could handle anything, and that is why I’ve asked you and only you to do this favor for me.” Natal continues to flatter him.

“I am honored that you chose me, Goddess. I will not fail you.”

I watch Natal lean down and kiss Liam’s cheek. His eyes close and his face turns bright red. She pulls back with a sweet-looking smile and I pass her the bottle to give to him.

“Be safe, Liam,” she says in a sweet voice.

“I will protect this message with my life and get it to Delphine for you, my goddess.” He holds the note as if it’s a sacred object that could fall apart at the slightest movement. Oh, brother. Get this over with already, I think to myself. I look to Natal with the hope that I can convey this to her.

“I know you will, Liam. Be careful and be safe.”

He nods once, reaches for Natal’s hand, and kisses the back of it. He nods to her once more and disappears into the depths.

I look to her and just shake my head.

“What? I can’t help that most of them want to worship me.”

I burst out laughing then, unable to hold back from the scene I just witnessed and the look on her face as she simply shrugged off another one of her admirers like it’s no big deal.

“You like to perform, and I have to say that was an amazing performance you just put on.”

“Thank you, I try to polish up the speeches and sincerity as much as I can.” She smiles at me since I am still laughing at her.