Chapter Nineteen

Dim, Whit, and Fluffy the Near-sighted Sea Monster

Fluffy wished he had better eyesight. He wanted to see the love of his life a little clearer so he could save her from the storm. Unfortunately, his sea monster health insurance did not cover vision.

Fluffy suspected sorcery to be the cause of the sudden storm. Having once been the pet of Queen Hillary, he knew all about sorcery. If it hadn’t been for her sweet daughters, Abigail and Elizabeth, he would still be suffering from the evil antics of the Queen and her other daughters.

Fluffy rushed to the object of his affection as a huge wave threatened to smash against her. She was infested with those fragile, bad tasting humans again. Standing on the top of the future girlfriend was a small child. No, Fluffy cursed his bad eyesight. It looked like- it WAS Elizabeth, his childhood playmate, and rescuer. He blinked once, twice, but it was her. “It’s amazing; she hadn’t aged a day since she rescued me when she was 13. She must be a very powerful sorceress.” This left Fluffy with a terrible dilemma. Should he save his dearest love from the storm, or should he save the person that had saved him from the terrible fate the Queen and her twin daughters had planned for him?

“Shiver me timbers, mates. This be one nasty storm. All ye landlubbers best be tying yourself up to anything that’s taped down, we will be riding this storm out. Pray to the powers that we don’t get crushed by the….” Percy stopped giving his distress orders as he looked towards Sara, actually behind her, his face eschewed in fear and terror. “Avast, Sara me hearty, don’t look behind ye, looks as if we have company.” Clammy tentacles rose from the churning ocean. Sara’s eyes widened only moments before the ten-foot, slimy tentacle wrapped around her midsection tightly. She tried everything humanly possible to wrench free from her captor, but there was nothing she could do. The tentacles wrapped tighter and refused to let her go. Pleading for help with her eyes and with a despairing look on her face, she managed a weak wave good-bye with her pinky finger as she was pulled into the briny deep and to her impending doom. Banned from crying by the pirate code, the water flowing from Percy’s eyes was merely rain from the storm.

Cedric, duct taped to the mast, watched in horror as his meal ticket disappeared into the abyss of the ocean, clutched by those horrific tentacles. He would have been paid handsomely when he presented Sara to them, but his dreams of fame and fortune had just vanished into the ocean. He had managed to steal a small article from her backpack. If he survived this cursed storm, he would rush to his employers with the stolen article. Hopefully, it would convince them of Sara’s untimely demise, and he would still get a healthy compensation for his troubles.

Chase screamed as he saw Sara sink beneath the waves, remembering the time he had nearly drowned at the age of eight. Aware he was about to die, he thought of the day he came home from a job and found his wife and five-year-old daughter gone. His eyes welled up with tears. Chase didn’t know about the pirate code forbidding tears.

She was a goner. All her hopes and dreams for saving her mother vanished when the tentacles wrapped around her. Her only remaining question was whether she would die from drowning or as the sea monster’s dinner. She wiggled and writhed and tried to free herself, finally stopping her struggle as she gazed into the gentle, affectionate, puppy-like eyes of the sea monster.

The sea monster was not eating her. He was talking with a couple of brightly colored dolphins

Sara had seen dolphins before, at Sea World. They were charming and brilliant, but none of the ones she had seen were red or midnight blue as these dolphins were. The red dolphin looked at Sara and then continued his conference with the monster. Finally, the chatter ceased, and the Dolphins turned to look at Sara.

The midnight blue dolphin looked at her and said, “He tells me you're Elizabeth. He is sure about it.”

Surprised the dolphin could talk and that she could understand him, Sara was speechless for one of the few times in her life. She could only stare at the dolphin and hope it would not be considered rude.

“Pardon my friend’s impoliteness. I am Dim,” said the red dolphin. “My rude friend here is Whit, and this big galoot standing next to us is Fluffy. Please allow me to continue where Mr. Rudeness here left off. Fluffy had mistaken you for a young girl he used to play with when he was a young chap, at least twenty years ago. We have been attempting to convince him that you could not be the same girl because you would have aged in twenty years.”

Whit chimed in, “Fluffy will not be swayed. He is convinced you are Elizabeth. He is very stubborn, as are most sea creatures- except dolphins of course.”

“Well, my mother’s name is Elizabeth, but she never mentioned playing with a sea monster when she was a child. Come to think of it. She never mentioned anything about her childhood.”

Whit and Dim returned to Fluffy to confer, both of them glancing over their dorsal fins at Sara.

“We are sorry, but if you don’t mind us prying into your background, we really can’t find another way around it. Fluffy is insistent. Is your mother, Elizabeth, any relationship to that evil Queen Hillary?” asked Dim.

 “I regret to say. I am Queen Hillary’s granddaughter.” Whit and Dim moved away from her. “My mother is the Queen’s daughter, but she isn’t mean like the Queen. Neither am I.”

Dim and Whit conferred with Fluffy again. Fluffy came up to Sara and rubbed his tentacles in her hair. “Fluffy is very happy to meet you if you can tell.”

As a sea horse the size of a refrigerator swam by, Sara smiled at Fluffy. “I’m happy to meet him too. Do you know why I can breathe underwater? I’ve never done it before.”

Dim answered, “All sea creatures can breathe underwater.”

“I am not a sea creature, see, no webbing,” she said as she held up her hands.

Dim and Whit swam around her, “You are right, you are not a sea creature.”

“What is that on your palm, Sara?”

She hid her hands behind her back, “It’s nothing, just a scar.”

“Please let me see your palm again, Sara,” asked Dim. She reluctantly showed him her palm. Dim peered at her palm with great interest. He turned her palm over and over with his dorsal fin. “Whit, come here and see this, come get a load of the star on her palm.”

“Come on Dim. It’s not as if we haven’t seen a starfish before.”

“Not starfish, you dim-whit. I said star. I swear you never pay attention to me.”

“Ok, don’t get your flippers in a tizzy. May I please see your palm, Sara, before Dim gets all upset? He overreacts to the simplest of things.” Sara placed her palm straight out so Whit could see it. “Oh, my, it’s true, she is the one.” Fluffy continued stroking her with his tentacle.

“What’s wrong with the star on my palm?” She looked at her palm. “It’s red. I’ve never seen it red before, what does red mean?”

“There are stars, and there are STARS. Technically there is nothing wrong with your palm, your grace. Whit and I are humbled to be in your presence, that’s all.”

Sara exclaimed, “Okay, so now you know the truth, but I’m not bad, I promise.”

 “Dim, you should explain to Her Majesty about the prophecy,” said Whit, “I never paid attention to Sea Creature Prophecy Class 101.”

“Yes, Sara, you see all of us sea creatures are under a curse, an evil spell. We used to be able to breathe on land and in the sea. Many had homes on land, and a few were close friends to the royal family. When Queen Amelia married Count Doldunt all that ended. The Count, being very evil and jealous of the friendships between Amelia and the sea creatures, convinced our dear Queen to turn against us, her loyal subjects, and faithful friends. An ancient prophecy suggests, let me think, oh yes, ‘Two thousand years alone in the Sea, but a scarlet star will make them free.’”

“We are so honored to be here Your Majesty and witness this momentous occasion.” Whit bowed to Sara.

“Well, that is all cool. But, I’m not the person you think.”

“It would explain why you can breathe underwater.”

 “Well, even if I were the prophecy person, which I don’t believe, what I need right now is to get to Tenebrae. My mother was kidnapped, and they are holding her there. Can Fluffy take me there? That is where the ship was headed when Fluffy rescued me.”

The Dolphins spoke with Fluffy.

“Fluffy refuses to take you to the Queen’s land. He is afraid the Queen will capture him again. The Queen’s law prohibits sea creatures from nearing her lands.

“We can take you to an island. From there you can continue your journey.”

 “I’m not sure how I will do what you ask, but if the opportunity ever arises, I will certainly release you. However, I’m not sure you are right about me being the prophecy child, though.”

“Well, we are convinced. Are you ready Your Majesty?”

“Yes, I am.” She put one arm around Dim’s dorsal fin and the other arm around Whit’s. The two dolphins were speeding towards the southwest. Sara’s exhaustion finally overcame her, and she was fast asleep before they had traveled a few hundred feet.

She woke up as Dim prodded her with his bottle shaped nose.

“Sara, we have arrived. The beach is only a bit further. You must swim the rest of the way.”

 “We have tried to keep your pouch dry,” chimed in Whit as he handed her the backpack, which had been transported inside a giant clam.

Chapter Eighteen

The North wind doesn’t Play Fair with Others

Sara looked over the rest of the crew. Cedric was there. She wasn’t sure if she should trust him. He seemed harmless enough, and he wasn’t an amphibian, but still, he gave her the creeps.

Standing on the other side of the pier was an enormous man with a tattoo of a dragon on his arm. He was looking down at the water and didn’t look like he felt too well. He said his name was Chase. Sara stared at the dragon tattoo. Dragons are evil in all the stories I’ve read so he must be evil too. Besides, he gave her the creeps too.

Sara thought to herself, “I have developed a case of creepydudesaphobia.”

Chase was pacing up and down the pier and occasionally, looking in Sara’s direction and shaking his head in disgust and mumbling under his breath. Sara had no idea what she had done to offend him. Cedric, on the other hand, was trying his best to get on Sara’s good side. Sara imagined him as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He was trying too hard.

“Isn’t that a grand ship, Sara? Think about it Sara, the two of us sailing the ocean blue together. I believe that we will become the best of friends.”

Sara thought of her real best friend, Tiffani. The last time she had seen her, she was in the garden at the White Star Manor. It seemed so long ago, but it had only been two days. “I am sorry Cedric, I wasn’t paying attention, and what did you say?” Sara, of course, heard every word he said but hoped he would take the hint and go away. She turned her head away from Cedric.

“That’s okay Sara. It don’t matter. I was saying I was glad to meet you.”

“Sorry Cedric, I wasn’t paying attention again.”

Chase stopped pacing long enough to give Sara a sly smile. He didn’t like Cedric very much either. The smile shocked Sara. Chase was creepy but, when he smiled, he reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t recall who.

“Here comes Percy and Bill,” exclaimed the lizard.

“It’s about time,” Sara thought to herself, as she turned to look in the direction the pirate was coming from. Sara’s jaw dropped, Percy was indeed walking towards them, but Sara couldn’t see anyone named Bill. All she could see was the large ogre with the greasy apron.

“Ahoy me, mates,” said Percy.

Sara noticed Chase was now standing next to her. She tried moving over, but Cedric was standing on the other side.

“We ready to go?” asked Chase, gruffly, “Staying in one place for too long gives me the willies. What’s with the ogre?”

Sara turned her head and gave Chase a harsh stare. He was certainly not being very polite, and the ogre looked like he could eat Chase in only one or two bites.

“Hey sis, don’t look at me that way. I don’ care for ogres. I don’ care for wizards. I care even less for baby wizards.”

Sara turned red, not from embarrassment, but from anger.

Chase continued, “Hey fancy schmancy pirate, that ship of yours looks to be in bad shape. Are you sure it can take us all the way to Tenebrae?”

“Avast ye scurvy dog that ye be. It will be respect ye be paying this ol’ Cap'n. If ye show disrespect to me again, I’ll be throwin’ ye overboard. Is that clear to ye, lily-livered landlubber?”

Chase answered, “I mean no disrespect Captain. I meant I am ready to leave, that’s all.” Sara turned to Chase and smiled. He glared at her.

Turning to Bill, the ogre, Percy exclaimed, “Aarrghh me hearty, looks as if we have one scallywag, one sprog and one fine young lass that be going on this voyage with us.”

“Looks as if, Captain,” remarked Bill.

“Aye, let’s be runnin’ up the Jolly Roger and go on the account.”

Bill, Cedric, Chase, and Sara stared at Percy. Not one of them understood what the pirate had said.

“Arrgghhh, why be ye all a-standin' there. A black spot on ye all.”

“Sorry Percy, we don’t understand.”

“Shiver me timbers ye scurvy dogs. I said let’s be flyin’ the jack and be off. Arrrghhh ye landlubbers, let’s raise our flag and get on the ship. Now do ye understand?”

All three crew members nodded, and they walked over to the large dilapidated ship anchored in the harbor.

“Avast ye squiffy, that grand vessel be not mine. Mine be on the starboard side.”

The crew members scurried along the pier to get to the starboard side. To a man, they were all overjoyed that the dilapidated ship was not the ship they would be sailing on. After reaching the starboard side, they all wished the dilapidated ship was the ship they would be sailing on. There was no way that the ship they saw before they could be seaworthy. There were two by fours holding the back of the boat together. The mast was duct taped together. The sails had been repaired with staples and bailing wire. The rudder had been replaced with a hockey stick, and there were huge teeth marks on the steering wheel. The ship looked like it came from the reject pile at Ships R Us. There was no way this ship would make it out to sea, let alone Tenebrae.

Chase was concerned, he needed to get Sara to his employers in Tenebrae, and he was weighing other options inside his mind.

Cedric was in the same predicament. His employers were also waiting for Sara.

Bill, on the other hand, could only wish the person he had sold the Rusty Anchor to was hiring now.

Percy followed behind his crew. “Ta-Da,” he said as the crew got their first look at his not-so-grand ship. “Afore any of ye lily-livered landlubbers get the wrong idea about me ship. I be almost sure she be seaworthy.

Chase was the first to speak, “Captain, you can count me out. There is no way I would be caught dead in that heap of junk.”

Cedric started to speak when Percy retrieved papers from under his hat. “Avast ye scurvy dogs, need I be reminding ye of the fine print in the contracts ye all signed?” Percy pulled a magnifying glass out of his pocket and began to read the fine print. “Says here- ye all swore an oath to honor the pirate code of conduct. Soon as ye all signed your X on the contracts, ye scurvy dogs became pirates. I will not be goin’ over all the codes, twas your business to familiar yourself with them afore you made your mark. Ye all be pirates now, and as pirates, ye will all obey the code. If anyone of ye be thinkin’, ye can back out now ye would be sight fully wrong. Ye would be considered as mutineers. The punishment for mutiny be a black spot on ye. If ye not be a knowin’ what a black spot be, well it means a journey to Davey Jones' Locker. Also, mutineers will not be seeing Fiddlers Green, tis the locker for your souls. Do I make meself clear?” No member of the crew dared move. “Good, it be time to shove off. Ye be ready Lass?”

“I am ready Percy. How long will it take to get to Tenebrae?”

“Well Lass, with calm seas, and no sea monster, the journey would be about two days.”

“Two days,” said Sara, forlorn.

“Aye,” stated the pirate. Turning to his new crew, the pirate started barking instructions. “Navigator Cedric, take up position in what’s left of the crow’s nest, set a course due south. First-Mate what's your name, if ye be so kind as to untie us from the dock. After ye be finished, see to the riggings and the jib. Cookie, it’ll be awhile afore we can eat, so start rowing us out to sea. Avast ye scurvy dogs, snap to them chores, afore I be takin’ the cat-o-nine tails to ye.”

All members of the crew snapped to attention, then went about their chores. Of course, not one of them knew what their chore was.

“As for ye Lass, ye can come up an’ keep me company while I maneuver us out of the dock. Mind ye stay clear of me steering.”

Sara sat on a small bench to the right of Percy’s half-eaten steering wheel, staring blankly out to the open seas. The pier was fading into the background. She was finally heading towards Tenebrae and rescuing her mother.

The seas were calm, too quiet, and time dragged by. “Percy, why do you hate my grandmother?”

“Aye, Lass, that be a tale worth tellin’. See, me brother was Tenebrae’s best jester. There be none better, lass. One day he got a grand invitation for a command performance with the Queen. This be quite the honor, even if the Queen be an evil wench. The invitation also mentioned a grand bounty for the performance. Me brother had no choice, so he be acceptin’ Queen Hillary’s command. Mind ye Lass, I twernt there, I only heard the account of the performance from others. Hear tells that the performance was grand. The Queen be laughin’, and me brother be in rare form, that was up to the time your grandmother gave me brother a command.”

“What command did my grandmother give your brother?”

“Well, see, twasn’t the command that gave me brother the fits, twas what he done after the command.”

“I don’t understand, Percy.”

“Arrrgghhhh, lass, the command was for me brother to jump. The problem occurred when me brother came back down afore he was commanded. This brought the Queen great displeasure. Me brother was thrown into Doldunt Prison that instant. He be there still if he be not dead.”

“My grandmother is very evil, isn’t she?”

“Aye, she be all that.”

Sara sat in silence. The calm waters became hypnotic. Her eyes fluttered open and then closed and then open again. She was bored. She could barely keep her eyes open. “Excuse me, Percy,” Sara said, interrupting Percy’s thoughts, “Is there any way we can get the boat to go faster? I am sorry, but I don’t think I can wait one day to start my mission.”

“Aye Lass, if this be any other season, the north wind does blow, any season but this one. The north wind would blow us to Tenebrae in a few hours. If ye be here last month, Aye that be a north wind for the ages. Alas, lass, this taint the season.” Percy patted Sara on the top of her head and yelled up to Cedric. “Ahoy Cedric, keep a close eye out for any sea monsters, we be getting close to evil waters.”

Sara gazed at the calm, open water that surrounded the ship. Straining her eyes to see if she could see a glimpse of a sea monster, she thought, “If only I could use my magic to get a northern wind.” She shouted, “Iratus Aquilo.” She was startled. She still didn’t realize how she knew the magic words, but she was very proud of herself.

Sara turned to see Percy’s shocked look.

Percy shouted, “Avast ye lily-livered landlubbers, batten down the hatches, secure the main sails.” Percy motioned to Chase, “There be duct tape in the caboodle, bring as much as ye can bring. Double tape the mast. Cedric, ye best be a securin’ yourself best ye can. Bill, ye can stop rowin’, there be one doozie of a foul wind a-blowin' our way.” Percy turned to Sara. He was not happy.

“Won’t that help us, Percy?” I called for the north wind.”

“Aye, ye did at that. There be one small problem Lass. If I recollect, a north wind be just plain Aquilo. Ye just called for a fierce north wind and that there be a completely different wind.”

Sara looked around her. The sky had changed from a perfect blue to a dark grey and clouds appeared from out of nowhere. A storm was brewing on the horizon.

“Dontcha fret Lass, we be not a failin’ ye. For safekeepin’, ye should skedaddle below. Take your knapsack with ye. If me ship holds true, looks as if we will be in Tenebrae afore nightfall. Now, go on Lass, find something to hold onto below.”

A few hundred feet from the ship, a sea monster’s eyes widen. Fluffy was extremely nearsighted, but he could still see that a huge wave was about to swallow the odd-looking sea monster. The same sea monster which had been an object of his affection ever since he first saw her. He had to save his love. Fluffy remembered the last time he tried to save his love from the clutches of the humans. It had turned ugly. He had no intention of eating any people; after all, he was a vegetarian. But the humans just plopped into his mouth. There was nothing he could do about it. They tasted nasty.

Sara’s eyes widened as she saw the gigantic wave about to smash against the ship. She clasped her backpack tightly. She could not afford to lose her backpack.