Kymopoleia’s Assignment

*This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.*

This night, like every other, was exactly the same.  I stood idly on the edge of the sand, watching the waves as they connected with the shoreline.  Each crash comforted me, encouraging me.

Don’t leave.  Not yet.

Another wave lapped upon around my ankles, shooting chills up and down my tired body.  More reassurance.

It’s nearly time.

It wasn’t like us to meet in this manner.  If I had it my way, we’d have found ourselves a table at Maggie’s Cafe and Bookstore down the street, ordered some cappuccinos, and spent a couple of hours talking about what we needed to.  But it wasn’t up to me. It never was, actually.

The sea rose higher with another push, meeting the middle of my calves.  I froze, staring out to the water. Not a soul gazed back at me, but the ocean spoke again to me.

Come, dear child.  

Normally, I’d ignore the requests of unknown and unseen voices, but I didn’t hesitate.  That was my signal. It was now or never. And I definitely didn’t want to see the look on her face if I chose never.

Marching from my place in the sand out to the water, I swung my arms as I paced as far as I could, feeling the brisk saltwater rise further and further around my body.  The undertow was tugging with more force and the waves seemed angrier, more alive than when I was just watching them. She knew I was coming.

Taking a deep, unnecessary breath, I dove beneath the water with my eyes wide open.  I was used to the fact that my eyes never burned, even in saltwater. None of my friends knew this.  If they did, I’d have a better label than freak at school.

As usual, the water assisted me as I kicked and paddled along.  The undertow that was present before had temporarily halted its usual pattern in favor of moving me towards my destination.  What would have easily been a ten minute swim was cut in half.

Thanks, undertow, I thought to myself, sensing a strong push in response that told me the sea had heard my gratitude.

It hadn’t occurred to me how long I’d been underwater until I found the surface again, this time at least two stories above me.  The fish scattered around on the ocean floor as I approached a kelp forest, slithering my way through the strands of evergreen. It felt oddly comfortable, even though slimy things were never my favorite on land.

Finally I saw it.  A shiny, glimmering gold beacon on the other side of the kelp forest.

Come on, just a little further!

The water answered a little faster than I expected, and with a little too much strength.  My body was propelled through the kelp. If I was on land, I would have screamed out loud, but I was in the water, where my screams would have been nothing but bubbles up above.

Turning end over end, I barreled into the center of the ball of light, at first totally bewildered by my abrupt entrance.  Water disappeared and I was on a flat, wet surface. I could hear the sea, but sat on my hands and knees, inhaling salty, humid air.  Opening my eyes, the entire room glowed like I was in heaven, except I knew I wasn’t.

“Well, you finally arrive,” a familiar female voice on the other side of the room called over to me.  Coughing and getting to my feet, I scurried over to her, probably looking like a real, soggy mess. Avoiding her gaze and bowing, I cleared my throat.

“My lady, I didn’t intend on my tardiness, I–”

“Oh yes, I am well aware,” the lady said, still staring at me with her vibrant blue eyes that reminded me of the intercoastal waters on the sunniest of days.  She grinned at me, but it wasn’t in a friendly manner. It was more of a sneer. “You encountered some trouble, didn’t you?”

“I’m afraid it may only get worse if something isn’t done, my lady,” I sputtered out, finally looking up to her, expecting some sympathy, but saw none, as per usual.

She was the same as she always was, sneering and scheming.  Her blonde hair was braided, with seaweed weaved in and no matter the day or the mood of the sea, she wore her reflective silver dress that masked her when she patrolled the reefs.  

“Then I think we need to move onto the next step,” she told me, clearing her throat and standing up, wobbling just a little bit.  The only time she ever was weaker than any other creature we’d ever encountered in the seven seas.

“The next step?”  I echoed. Without hesitation, she adjusted her dress and nodded to me.  She put a hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze before she glared right into my eyes.

“Yes.  The next step: bring the girl to me,” she commanded, not waiting for any protest before she stepped past me, diving headfirst into the sea.  

And there I was, all alone on the wet rock floor with nothing but the whispers of the waves.  Lady Kymopoleia had vanished, and so had my hopes of being anything other than her messenger.  

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