His Bride From The Sea (The Sea King Book 1) Read online

  " You disappear inside yourself again, Po?"

  " Yes. I'm afraid that I did. Please forgive me for making you have to repeat yourself."

  She smiled, " I am used to it. I asked you if the woman was truly human."

  " She was." He confirmed, " She looked to be contemplating on jumping from the cliffs, but then choose not too."

  " Then how did you save her?"

  " She slipped off of the cliffs."

  " How so?" She asked confused.

  " Hera. She startled the woman and she slipped. WHAT?"

  Chapter 5

  Meanwhile, Ori had taken Haddie to his tribe in the woods. They now stood on the edge of the woods as he gave her time to take in the scene before her. There was an open field clear of trees and sticks, tons of half human and half horse all around. The tribe of centaurs were made mostly of men, but a few women were there. They were smaller and a lighter color, but the difference in the two was not missed.

  She stood in absolute awe. The women were smaller and lighter, but they were just as perfect in their form as any of the men. They wore tops to cover them and their manes were longer. Each a lovely shade of blonde, brown and red. These women were warriors as well as their men. The men stood taller and prouder. They were each darker shades of black and brown. Each had broad shoulders and looked fierce. They all made her a little nervous.

  " Do not be afraid. We look fierce, but I promise you, we aren't. Come Haddie, let me introduce you around."

  She hesitated briefly before he saw her draw herself to her full height

  and walk proudly beside him. He smiled at this show of bravery. That is when he noticed that her limp was fading and he wondered why. She had been badly hurt. He saw it for himself, but then a sudden sound of squealing caught his attention. He looked up in time to see his sisters head his way and he couldn't help but to groan.

  ' Dang!' He thought to himself.

  Haddie seemed to sense his discomfort so she moved closer and laid a hand on his arm before whispering, " Are you alright Ori?"

  Before he could answer, a sharp, " Get your hands off." Rang through the air.

  Haddie kept her hand where it was and turned in the voices direction. She saw a female centaur standing before her. Her mane was blonde, eyes blue and body was a golden blonde in color. She seemed to vibrate with anger.

  " If I choose not too?" Haddie asked.

  " Then I will rip you apart human." She fairly spit the word.

  " Well then I guess you would be unwise to try." Haddie said simply.

  Ori looked at the woman next to him and wondered what game she was playing. Didn't she know how dangerous a centaur was?

  " Haddie." He murmured to her.

  He felt a gentle squeeze up on his arm before he heard her say, "You have any idea who I am?"

  " I care not for who you are!" Roared the female.

  A smile touched her lips and she said, " You just might. You see, I am Hera's daughter."

  A sharp gasp filled the air and was followed quickly by rapid murmurs throughout the camp.

  " No you’re not. She has no more daughters and besides that, you are mortal." Cried the female in front of her.

  Haddie nodded and opened her mouth to speak when suddenly a great rainbow appeared between them.

  The rainbow vanished and in its wake stood Iris, the God and Goddess' messenger. She stood proud and beautiful in her full white gown. It fit to her like a glove until it reached her waist where it had a small flare so that it flowed to her ankles. On her feet were a pair of strapped flat sandals, tan in color. A gold headband blended with her lovely blonde curls and they stopped just a little below her shoulders.

  "Greetings everyone. " Her voice was soft almost musical when she spoke. She turned toward Haddie and Ori,

  "You are right, Haddie. You are Heras daughter. How did you know?"

  Haddie hesitated a moment, but then she felt Ori's hand touch her gently on her shoulder, " I just had a vision." She whispered.

  "Will you please share your vision so I may help clear a few things?" Iris asked with an encouraging smile.

  "Well," again she hesitated.

  "It's alright Haddie. No one here will harm you." Promised Ori as he looked around at everyone closely.

  "Everyone started chattering at me and I stepped closer to Ori when the

  vision appeared. I've never had one before so I wasn't sure what was going on. I still don't. " She took a deep breath and continued, " I saw a woman, you, standing next to the woman I saw on the cliffs. She had given birth. She told you to take the ugly creature and dispose of it. You nodded and said, 'Yes, Hera.' Then suddenly you appeared before me like you were looking down at me and whispered, 'You are Heras daughter too and just because you are different doesn't mean you need to die. ' Then I blinked and here we are again." She finished sagging back against her friend who gave her a little squeeze.

  Iris smiled brightly, "I did say that to you the night you were born. You also had a sister. A twin. Hera kept her and disposed of you."

  "Why?" Asked the centaur that had been hassling her.

  Iris turned and looked at her, "She thought that Hadassah was fully human. Therefore, she would expose the fact that Hera cheated with a human."

  There was a collective gasp among the centaurs.

  "Are you saying that she is a demi-god?" Asked Ori.

  Iris nodded.

  Ori and the others quickly bowed before Haddie, " No. Please. Stand."

  "Your a goddess, Haddie. This is what we do." Stated the woman centaur.

  She shook her head, "No. Hera discarded me. Then she tried to kill me."

  "She's found you." Iris said mortified.

  Haddie nodded.

  "Please Iris, what can you tell us of Haddie's birth?" Ori asked as another centaur brought out a tub for her to sit on.

  "Thank you, Kingston." Iris said to the young centaur who looked taken back. She continued with a smile, " I was there the day you and your sister, Eris, was born and before you ask the answer is yes she is or rather was the Goddess of Chaos and Destruction."

  Haddie nodded and said, " Please continue."

  She nodded, " The both of you were the prettiest babies that I have ever seen. Eris was the first born and we could tell immediately that she had some power, but we were unsure of the power. We were looking at her and her us when suddenly her eyes changed from a bright blue to black as night. Your mother was so thrilled to see that because it meant that she could hide the fact that Eris was half human. Then she felt the labor pains as you were being born. When you came out, you were surrounded briefly with a light and so Hera thought that you were Zeus' daughter, but after a few moments, you didn't show the normal signs of power, she became angry. She ordered me to take you away and destroy you. You would be the reason she would lose everything she held dear if Zeus was to find out what she had done." Iris had stopped for a moment to catch her breath, " She wanted me to drowned you, but I knew if I did so then Poseidon, would know immediately."

  " So you hid her? With humans? How?" asked Ori.

  " I gave her to the woman that she calls Mom because she had just lost her sweet baby and I knew she would care for her and her husband too. They were excited and willing." She looked at Haddie, " I am sorry to hear that they past away recently. They were amazing people and I was so humbled to have known them."

  " They were amazing people and told such wonderful stories, but now I find that those stories were real."

  Taking a deep breath, Iris asks, " What do you want to do now that you know Haddie?"

  " I want to talk with Zeus. He needs to know that I exist and why."

  Chapter 6

  Ori watched as Iris disappeared in a flash of a rainbow and Haddie hug herself.

  " What are you thinking brother?" Asked the female who had caused Haddie uneasy at first.

  " I don't know, Viv. I just know that she is alone and I can't help but to feel responsible for her."

  She looked at her brother. She saw the lines of worry and the turned down frown. She knew he hadn't been the same since the lose of his family many moons back. She worried for him but she knew that if he was showing signs of worry that he was finally healing. She looked back at the woman and knew that if she was what her brother wanted to care for and protect then they would all be on board. He was their leader and they would all follow him anywhere because he never ventured to the unknown without back up. Now, the question would be, how long til he tells Poseidon?

  " I know what you are thinking, Viv. You know as well as I that it must be done. We must have them on our side before confronting Zeus or Hera." Ori said turning to look at her.

  She nodded, " Yes brother. I know. When are you going to meet with them?"

  " As soon as I know that she will be safe here." He said eyeing her.

  " I will protect her because she is bringing you friendship and hope. You only have to command it."

  " I shouldn't have to command it!" He thundered.

  She nodded and bowed her head, " I am sorry brother. I didn't mean to upset you."

  Haddie jumped when she heard Ori's voice boom out. She turned quickly to see that he was talking fervently with the centaur who cared not for her, She felt compelled to go to him. She did so immediately. Once near him, she reached out and touched his arm.

  " Ori? Are you alright?"

  He felt her touch and the immediate calm washed over him, " Haddie." He turned in her direction and saw a smile spread across her lips.

  " Are you alright? I feel like you are about to thunder at the seams."

  " He's what?" Asked Viv.

  " I'm sorry." She said with a blush, " That's what my Mom used to say to us. It means that we are angry."

  Viv laugh
ed, " I like that."

  Ori laid a hand on her shoulder, " I am fine. I just lost my temper."

  " That's alright. We are allowed too. It is what makes us who we are and the things we do, help define us not tell who we are. I just wanted to make sure you were alright and to let you know that I am sorry if I am the cause for this."

  Viv said, " No, Haddie. It's not you. It was something I said."

  She nodded.

  "Haddie?" Viv started to say but was cut off when Kingston came running.

  " Minori! I saw Hera. She's heading this way." He said a little out of breath.

  Before he could give the order to get ready, a great gust of wind blew through and in its wake stood Hera herself.

  Chapter 7

  There she was, the great Goddess. She had an aura of anger surrounding her and her laugh when she saw Haddie sounded like death its self. It was malicious and full of unspent anger. The aura around her vibrated and hummed. Her neatly done half bun almost had a life all its own, her dress swirled around her and in her hand she held a red flamed dagger.

  The dagger of death. That is what her human mother had called it as she told the stories of Hera and her unrelenting hatred of the demi-gods and humans.

  " You dare hid this creature, Minori?" Hera screamed.

  Ori tensed and replied, " She is an innocent Hera. It is wrong for you to try to murder her."

  " Innocent! Do you know what she is? She is a human and an imposter. She is claiming to be my daughter!" Hera's voice was filled with rage.

  " You claim to not like humans yet you search for this one. Why? Why is she so important to you that you have to personally destroy her?" Asked Viv as she moved closer to Haddie.

  Hera watched as these centaurs were preparing to stand against her. She saw Viv and Kingston move closer to the woman and Ori as if to protect her. This made Hera smile.

  " You think you can protect her?" Hera asked as she raised the dagger and before anyone knew what was going to happen, she aimed it at Haddie and threw.

  Ori had a split second before the dagger hit true. He managed to toss Haddie out of the way of the dagger, but found it imbedded in his chest. He went down. Hard. He heard Haddie cry out, Viv gasp and Hera scream as a swirl of wind took her away. He felt a shaky hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Haddie. Her face was a blur. He heard his name escape her lips as the darkness dragged him under. He knew this was it for him. Now there was no one to protect her from Hera. The darkness dragged him under and her name left his lips in a whisper.

  Haddie saw the dagger as it flew from Hera's hand, felt a hard shove and bumped into something solid. She looked back to see the dagger hit Ori and her heart gave a lunge. It was over in a flash. Hera disappeared with a scream of frustration, Viv gasped, Kingston gave a small huff as she landed

  against him and a cry came from her lips when she saw the dagger strike Ori. She shoved away from him and knelt quickly by Ori. She reached out with her hands shaking, he looked at her and she saw the light slowly leave his eyes as death took him from her.

  She cradled Ori against her and all the frustration, the sorrow and the struggle became too much. She lowered her head, buried in his neck and cried with all that was in her. Tears of sorrow raced down his neck and found their way to his wound, they covered him as she drained herself of all she had within her. She cried with her soul and suddenly a great light engulfed them and became as brilliant as the sun.

  Viv and Kingston watched as Haddie cried huge tears for their leader. It broke them. They fell to a knee as the sorrow of their loss overtook them. The rest of the clan also fell to their knees in dispair. They were all grieving for their leader and brother. Tears formed and flowed with the despair and grief they felt for his loss. Suddenly, a bright light appeared around Haddie and Ori. They were lifted off the ground and the light turned brilliant. It looked to be the sun enclosing them. They looked away for a moment and when the light disappeared, there stood Haddie and Ori. Haddie was craddled in Ori's arms. Ori stood tall and proud with an awed expression on his face.

  " ORI!" Cried Viv as she stood up.

  Kingston stepped forward, " Here Minori, let me take Haddie to rest in your hut."

  Ori's arms tightened about her and his voice was raw with emotion as he said, " I think she's dead. I hear no heartbeat."

  " No." Viv whispered shaking her head. She looked at Ori, " She sacrificed her life for yours?"

  Ori's heart grew sad and tears of true grief fell silently from his cheeks. The tears that he had for his family that he had refused to shed, spilled over and joined with the sorrow for Haddie.

  Chapter 8

  " Take her to the sea, Ori." Said Iris as she appeared by his side, " Hurry! I will meet you there." Then she was gone as fast as she had appeared.

  Ori rushed as fast as he could to the sea. Once there, he looked around for Iris. She appeared beside him once more.

  " What is happening?" Ori asked.

  Iris smiled, " Take her to the sea."She motioned to the sea and there stood Poseidon and Persephone.

  Ori did as he was told, but reluctant to release her to Poseidon.

  " I won't harm her my friend." Poseidon said with a gentle smile.

  " I know. I just...."

  A hand touched him and he looked down at Haddie in his arms, she

  whispered, " Just a moment Ori. I will be back." Then he felt her hand slide away as her eyes closed once more.

  He walked her out to Poseidon and Persephone.

  Persephone reached out for her and Ori handed her over gently. Persephone smiled, " Thank you Ori for taking care of her. She will be with you soon."

  Persephone dove under with her and Ori panicked. Iris and Poseidon grabbed his shoulders and held him in place.

  " She's not hurting her Ori." Said Poseidon, " She's giving her sea water that helps replenish her healing power."

  " What?"

  " Hadassah is the Goddess of Healing, Minori." Iris said.

  " But how?"

  " Her sister, Eris, was the Goddess of Chaos and Destruction, remember?"

  Iris asked and when he shook his head keeping his eyes on the sea, she continued with, " There has to be balance in the world, right?" Again he nodded, " She is the other side of the scale. She brings Healing and Health."

  This awed Ori and relieved him somewhat, " Tell me about Eris." Ori says quietly.

  Iris looks towards Poseidon. He nods in agreement.

  " She's the Goddess of Chaos and Destruction. She liked to put people against one another whether with a lie or truth. She is a lot like her mother. She hates humans and does her best to destroy them. She was killed recently. "