WIP Wednesday: For the Oceans Sample

 

Free-use image by Reimund Bertrams on Pixabay

For the Oceans

I

Daniel Clifford’s smile was euphoric as he emerged from the warm Cerenarian Sea onto the small, rocky atoll marking the spot where the waters of the Cerenarian Sea and the Twilight Sea met. He was happy to leave London and his troubles behind. He hoped to find the beautiful sirens whom he met as his body dozed in his childhood bedroom while his mother and sister argued, his brother-in-law tried to play peacemaker, and his poor, befuddled father was caught in the middle of the maelstrom.

“Lovely maidens of the sea, thy bonny Prince Daniel has returned to thee,” Daniel called to the waves. “I’m here, my darlings, here ready to serve at your pleasure.”

Daniel watched as something swam towards the atoll. His heart fluttered in anticipation. He had been near to knowing bliss at the talented hands of the lovely mermaids. He smiled and ran his hands through his honey-colored locks, hoping to appear more the suave swain than the overeager thirty-three-year-old virgin bubbling over with anticipation at the prospect of finally ending his virginity with the assistance of the delightful denizens of the deep.

“Here I am, me darlings,” Daniel cried, holding out his arms. “I told you I’d be back. Now, how about we pick up where we…crikey!”

Instead of a seductive siren, Daniel found himself looking into the unblinking gray-green eyes and fishy face of a Deep One hybrid. This Deep One was known to Daniel. Her name was Eleanor Varela. She had once owned Ellie’s Rag Bin, a Crouch End consignment shop that Daniel’s sister Amber and his cousin Alice frequented. She was a delightful soul who enjoyed providing gratis culinary creations to her clientele.

Daniel had been sad when Eleanor’s transformation became complete three years ago and she returned to the sea. He missed taking tea with her, his cousin Donovan, and his brothers-in-law, Vance and Tamar, while Alice and Amber went wild, outfitting themselves with unique finery. Although Eleanor was eighty-seven years old, she had a spry spirit and was always able to coax joy from the depths of Daniel’s brooding soul.

“I take it ‘twas not a venerable fish-woman that ye were expecting, Danny me boy,” Eleanor teased as Daniel threw his arms around her.

“It wasn’t, Eleanor, but I’m so happy to see you. I’ve missed you awfully.”

“I’ve missed you too, Dan. I treasure the moments I spent with you and your family. I am so very saddened to hear of your father’s illness. I watched him and your Uncle Paul growing up together, thick as thieves always. I comforted your aunt Lotus as she struggled to understand why that terrible man robbed her of her innocence and, I hope, I helped your Uncle Kane to embrace who he is. Your family is dear to me, and I hope I can aid you now.”

Acknowledgments

Earth’s Dreamlands, its various locations, including the Cerenarian Sea and the Twilight Sea, and the Deep Ones are the creations of H.P. Lovecraft, appearing in several of his works.

This chapter was written for https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/ utilizing the Write a fantasy story about water gods or spirits prompt and the Start your story with someone emerging from the sea and end it with them looking up at the stars prompt. It was submitted to the weekly competition on 3 March 2021.

Notes

This is the first segment of a new chapter in my WIP, Daniel’s Song, which is part of the Tales from the Dreamlands and Yadira Chronicles series. The entire chapter is available on LBRY for 15 LBC (approximately $0.45).

https://lbry.tv/@naughtynetherworldpress:d/the-realm-of-the-annegare:2

If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider picking up a copy of Ketil and Yitzy's Adventures in the Xura Dream House, which is the first book in the Tales from the Dreamlands Series.


The book is free from Kindle Unlimited, or you can purchase it for $3.99  https://bit.ly/KetilandYitzyAz 

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2 comments:

  1. I would like to know more about Eleanor. Please.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I liked what you did with the prompt. Very creative. Obviously Eleanor has some wonderful powers and is willing to use them to benefit others.

    ReplyDelete

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