The Portal Hunter: October 2012

Aaaaaarrrrgh. So I can't seem to ever write a short story good enough to get picked up by publishing companies. Arrrgh. Anywho's, here's the rest of the story. Please enjoy! :D

The silence that filled the air was unbearable, but not as unbearable as the icy glares from Emerald. The ride on the airplane had been a nightmare, filled with screaming children and yelling parents and a really pissed off Jewel who did not want to believe that any of this was true. After what Sea Blade, my apparent father, had told me, I didn’t rush into his arms and we didn’t hug and we didn’t have a happy reunion. I don’t know what I was supposed to feel but at that moment I was just merely overwhelmed. I had asked what happened next and Emerald had blown up at me, going on and on about how I was supposed to be grateful that I was being rescued and how I should act like a princess. Suddenly he stopped his prima donna tirade and left the room. Now we were in a small van together, actually sitting next to each other. If looks could kill I would have been dead a million times over. I was pretty sure that he was plotting ways to murder me in my sleep. I looked out the window and saw the ocean lapping against the beach. A sudden chill went through my body and I shivered. California is so different from Nebraska, I thought to myself, as the van moved along a winding highway running parallel to beaches with half-naked people skating, jogging, bicycling, or just standing by or sitting and chatting on the sidewalks and the cement boardwalks lined with palm trees. Every place we passed by seemed crowded and alien. I would rather be sitting at my favorite restaurant corner in the Old Market of Omaha, sipping on my wine glass, eating cheese and warm bread and watching the shoppers walk across the old brick road while I read an old classic book or worked on a drawing. “So, where are we and what are we doing?” I asked again as I bit into a giant apple.

“We are in Long Beach where our kind have been living while searching for you, princess.” Emerald snaps sarcastically. “Our kind can’t live without salt water. In the small amount of time we have been here your father was able to purchase a small island where we are currently staying. If you are to be the leader of our people we need to make sure you can return to being a water creature, especially after so long living among dry land.”

“You mean like a mermaid? And why am I the princess? You seem royal enough, especially since you’ve been a royal pain in my butt. Why don’t you be the princess? Or, prince, if you prefer.” I was surprised as he smiled at me instead of giving me the usual glare.

“It doesn’t work like that, buttercup. Besides, I don’t want to be the prince. It doesn’t suit me.”

“Huh.” I replied. “And, excuse me, Sea Blade, how is it that you’re able to afford an island? And what’s with this Gerald Johnson crap?”

“The real Gerald Johnson is currently, um, permitting us to use his identity while he attends to other affairs.”

“Is identify theft then part of being a princess, repo man?”

We had to take a giant boat to the island, which proved that Meurkhounians are not immune to sea-sickness, as I vomited up many food items I had happily consumed earlier that day. But despite how much I was now wishing Emerald would just put me out of my misery, I loved the colors of the Pacific Ocean. Near the shore the water was a bright light aqua that changed to dark blue farther out, and the giant waves swelled proudly with the wind into glorious white tops. Bottlenose and Spotted Dolphins rode on our wake and seagulls circled overhead. When we approached the island I was surprised at how massive it was. The sand seemed to glow as brightly as the mansion that rested on a giant rock cliff on the southwest side of the island. As we neared the docks that stretched out from the land I was taken aback by the eight people who were standing on the dock. Four were girls and four were guys, all about my age. The girls, unlike those I had seen in the city, were dressed in modest long dresses the color of the ocean. The guys, unlike the girls, were topless in swim trunks. They seemed to be excited. One of the shorter girls was actually bouncing up and down. When I got off the boat the bouncy one quickly made her way over to me and gave me a tight hug. She spoke a form of greeting in the most exotic language I had ever heard in my entire life. She kissed me on the forehead before pulling away, standing slightly on her tip toes to be close to eye level with me. She was a bit plumper than the other girls, but she had curves to die for. Her hair was long and brown and straight and her eyes sparkled brightly like sunlight reflected off the ocean surface “Princess Ocean Jewel, it is an honor to finally meet you.” She smiled in a way that seemed both unearthly and beautiful. I didn’t know it was possible to be jealous of a smile. “I am called Singing Flower.” She stepped away and the taller of the girls approached me in a more reserved manner. Her hair was even longer than Singing Flower's, flowing down the entire length of her body and reaching down to her feet. Unlike the others, who were pale, her skin was tan. Her eyes were green like Emerald Undertow's and she gave me a look of caution. There was a small gap between her teeth visible as she smiled thinly. I couldn’t help but feel slightly glad to know that even perfection had its problems.

“Greetings Princess,” She said formally. “I am known as Orcinus Rose. I am the eldest of my four sisters.” She bowed stiffly before stepping back. The second tallest was the palest of the four and had beautiful red hair flowing down her shoulders and tossed about by the wind. Her eyes were a bright light amber but she looked at me with a slight indifference.

“Hello, I am known as Fiery Radiance. An honor to meet you.”

The last to approach me had long curled blonde hair and dark blue eyes. She grinned nervously at me, wrapping her finger around her curls as if she were afraid of me. “Hi, princess, I am Sun Dazzle. I am m-most pleased to meet you.”

While these introductions took place the guys walked back and forth from the boat to the beach house, shouting out their names as they passed by me. Sword Fin, Rock Crusher, Shark Tooth and Seaweed. The colors of their hair matched those of the girls except their hair was short and spiked. I could not keep their names straight as I was just trying to remember what my own name was. Much to my dismay the school of beautiful girls led me to the house to clean up and prepare myself for dinner. They tried to make me feel at home but I was tired and scared, so quite frankly I didn’t feel that guilty when I slammed my door in their faces. When I came down for dinner, I was surprised to see it was nothing but fruit platters. I had expected them to be gnawing on fish, but that goes to show how little I knew about my own culture. Apparently fruit was a rarity on our planet and they had been overjoyed to see that this was not the case for Earth and had eagerly made all sorts of dishes from the fruit offered here.

“So, who are you exactly and what are these guys to me again?” I asked between bites of a giant mango and papaya sandwich, popping kiwis cut into star shapes into my mouth followed by a swig of passion fruit juice. The Meurkhoun people really knew how to make their fruit dishes.

“We are your ladies-in- waiting and the guys are your protectors.” Orcinus Rose responded as she wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Even though you yourself are protected with your special blood, it is our duty to ensure your safety and well being.”

“Yeah, plus, it means we can always be together.” Singing Flower smiled sweetly. “We’re your friends.”

“Okay, um, we’re not friends, kiddo. I’ve just met you all.” I snap at her. I had hit the end of my chain here and everyone is going to hear about it. “Look, I don’t want to be your frickin’ princess. I never asked for any of this at all. I was content the way things were!”

“So what you’re trying to say is that you were content being a common dry land girl even though all you’ve ever felt is lonely and useless?” Emerald said as he leaned back in his chair and gazed intently at me, breaking through the silence. “Oh yeah, I creep on your blog.”

“If I tick you off so much why don’t you just get it off your chest and say it now, eh, Emerald-boy?” I snarl in his direction. His eyes turn cold with anger.

“Yeah, I will. I think it was a mistake to come looking for you. It would have been easier to do as you suggested and crown someone else because another ten years will pass before we can return to our own world, by which time who knows what we will be coming back too? Why was it that you were kidnapped in the first place? Is someone trying to start a war with our people? And even if we do make it back in time, you won’t have changed. You’re a self-centered jerk who would make a horrible ruler. You have no drive and no ambition. Hell, you’ve never even gone swimming before! I bet you can’t return to being a meurkhoun.” He said as he stood up, shaking his head in anger. “I know several other individuals who would make a fare superior ruler than you.”

“So why not get them to rule, because I sure don’t care! Oh, and while I’m on it, where were you the night of my kidnapping?”

“At home, taking care of my ill sister.” Emerald answers before leaving the room, slamming the door on his way out.

***

Goosebumps rise on my arms as I step out into the night air, the breeze slowly moving around my body as if it were an amazingly light liquid. Tears gather in my eyes. I feel ugly compared to those “ladies-in-waiting” of mine, and I can’t seem to force myself to get even remotely close to the man who is supposedly my father. And then Emerald is such a bastard … I pause as I find myself standing on the edge of the dock. The dark waters lap quietly against the wood. I hug my wool jacket closer to my body before looking around. Slowly my toe inches down until it dips into the water. A shiver of pure joy explodes through my body and before I can stop myself I plunge head first into the water. As I dive down and the bubbles wrapped around me I feel all my angers and fears vanishing as my legs merge into one giant shimmering tail and webbing forms between my fingers and scales grew over my skin. With each stroke I take I feel as if the song of the ocean is erupting from the very core of my heart. A profound joy I have never known before is now filling my soul. I suddenly feel as if I have a purpose in life, and I am eager to share it, this happiness that was too much for just me. I don’t even have to call out. Within moments Emerald’s flashing green scales appears next to me. He seems a bit angry still, as am I, but that could wait for the time being. It is time to swim.

When we pause to grant me a break after several hours, we both surface and I am amazed by the stars that fill the dark canvas of the night sky. I am surprised as Emerald Undertow wraps an arm around my scaled waist.

“You can lean on me until you are rested.” He says sternly, obviously trying to relay he is not making a move on me.

“Why do you hate me?” I blurt out.

“I don’t hate you. Well, not really. It’s just…to be a ruler, you must not think of yourself, but of our people, your subjects, who happen to be friends and family to me. I do not like to think of anyone being at risk. Being a ruler is filled with responsibility. Can you handle that?”

“I will try.” I whisper.

The End

The Portal Hunter

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Shakespeare Michigan Festival

Friday, October 19, 2012

That moment when...

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Rest of short story.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

SOLD SIX MORE BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!! And Kissing Dark Vadar, Luke Skywalker and a Storm Trooper.