focused on holding Clifton as we were sucked down deeper and deeper until we hit something solid.
When I opened my eyes the glowing whirlpool was dissipating, leaving nothing but crystal clear water in its place. Fuchsia and Mandarin colored fish were flitting through the nearby water. It was a beautiful and familiar sight.
Keeping my legs wrapped tightly around Clifton, I loosened my arms to make sure that he was all right. He was fine, and, he was breathing. I kissed him with the relief that I hadn’t lost him just yet. He pushed off the ocean floor and swam to the surface, taking me with him.
********************
I took a moment to look around my home. Kortis was as it had ever been. The ever-changing sky was a bright, yet light, shade of red and the intense orange sun was just peeking over the horizon. Time ran a little behind here. We were close enough to the shore to see the beautiful landscape. The sand was pearly white and a large stone castle stood alone in the distance. There were many tropical trees and plants blocking the other homes from view, but I knew they were there. The sight brought tears to my eyes. You never really know how homesick you are until you go back.
Clifton was looking around with amazement in his eyes. “So you are really Quartessa, princess of this extraordinary place?”
“Yes. I see that you can breathe underwater.”
“I thought you told me to hold my breath for another reason.” He stared loving into my eyes. “I will always do whatever you ask of me.” His lips found mine as I embraced him, and for a moment I forgot where I was.
“Ahem.”
Kafkus was looking pissy. I hadn’t even heard him break the surface.
“If you are quite finished, Princess, we need to be going.” A lone vein was throbbing on his neck.
“Don’t be jealous, Kafkus, it doesn’t flatter you.”
“I am not jealous. I just think that you deserve to be with a real man, one with an untarnished bloodline.” He started swimming towards the shore without another word.
Though a few retorts were brooding in my head, I didn’t voice them. It wasn’t worth it. I just motioned for Clifton to follow him.
The sand sparkled beneath my feet like millions of tiny opals. I dug my toes into it, relishing in its warmth on my bare feet.
“AHHHH!”
I spun around to see Clifton sinking deep into the sand. His legs had already been swallowed. The ground had just reached his stomach when I grabbed his arms and pulled with all my strength. I was too weak. “Help him!”
“There is nothing I can do.”
“You knew this would happen, didn’t you?”
“Your father had a curse placed upon the land some time ago.” He laughed. “Any Boru that comes in contact with it will be swallowed.”
I focused all of my energy on keeping Clifton from being sucked up by the sand. But just as soon as the sand had reached his neck, it stopped. His arms had been raised, leaving the two appendages and his head sticking out of the sand.
“It appears that Kortis knows that he is Zolera as well.”
“That’s good to know and all, but how do I get out of here?” Clifton asked while struggling to free himself.
“Kafkus, go get my father!”
“Why don’t you go get him?”
“And leave the two of you alone so that you can finish the job? I don’t think so. You will get my father. If he dies, I will make sure that you do not live another day.”
His smile faltered but it didn’t disappear. “I am not afraid of you.”
I knew that he wasn’t afraid of me, but I also knew that he wouldn’t dare hurt me. If I challenged him to a duel, I would win. Not because I was stronger, but because my father would kill him if he killed me. I held my ground, staring him down. After a minute or so of this, he skulked off towards the castle muttering something incoherent under his breath. I didn’t care what he said as long as he did as I
When I opened my eyes the glowing whirlpool was dissipating, leaving nothing but crystal clear water in its place. Fuchsia and Mandarin colored fish were flitting through the nearby water. It was a beautiful and familiar sight.
Keeping my legs wrapped tightly around Clifton, I loosened my arms to make sure that he was all right. He was fine, and, he was breathing. I kissed him with the relief that I hadn’t lost him just yet. He pushed off the ocean floor and swam to the surface, taking me with him.
********************
I took a moment to look around my home. Kortis was as it had ever been. The ever-changing sky was a bright, yet light, shade of red and the intense orange sun was just peeking over the horizon. Time ran a little behind here. We were close enough to the shore to see the beautiful landscape. The sand was pearly white and a large stone castle stood alone in the distance. There were many tropical trees and plants blocking the other homes from view, but I knew they were there. The sight brought tears to my eyes. You never really know how homesick you are until you go back.
Clifton was looking around with amazement in his eyes. “So you are really Quartessa, princess of this extraordinary place?”
“Yes. I see that you can breathe underwater.”
“I thought you told me to hold my breath for another reason.” He stared loving into my eyes. “I will always do whatever you ask of me.” His lips found mine as I embraced him, and for a moment I forgot where I was.
“Ahem.”
Kafkus was looking pissy. I hadn’t even heard him break the surface.
“If you are quite finished, Princess, we need to be going.” A lone vein was throbbing on his neck.
“Don’t be jealous, Kafkus, it doesn’t flatter you.”
“I am not jealous. I just think that you deserve to be with a real man, one with an untarnished bloodline.” He started swimming towards the shore without another word.
Though a few retorts were brooding in my head, I didn’t voice them. It wasn’t worth it. I just motioned for Clifton to follow him.
The sand sparkled beneath my feet like millions of tiny opals. I dug my toes into it, relishing in its warmth on my bare feet.
“AHHHH!”
I spun around to see Clifton sinking deep into the sand. His legs had already been swallowed. The ground had just reached his stomach when I grabbed his arms and pulled with all my strength. I was too weak. “Help him!”
“There is nothing I can do.”
“You knew this would happen, didn’t you?”
“Your father had a curse placed upon the land some time ago.” He laughed. “Any Boru that comes in contact with it will be swallowed.”
I focused all of my energy on keeping Clifton from being sucked up by the sand. But just as soon as the sand had reached his neck, it stopped. His arms had been raised, leaving the two appendages and his head sticking out of the sand.
“It appears that Kortis knows that he is Zolera as well.”
“That’s good to know and all, but how do I get out of here?” Clifton asked while struggling to free himself.
“Kafkus, go get my father!”
“Why don’t you go get him?”
“And leave the two of you alone so that you can finish the job? I don’t think so. You will get my father. If he dies, I will make sure that you do not live another day.”
His smile faltered but it didn’t disappear. “I am not afraid of you.”
I knew that he wasn’t afraid of me, but I also knew that he wouldn’t dare hurt me. If I challenged him to a duel, I would win. Not because I was stronger, but because my father would kill him if he killed me. I held my ground, staring him down. After a minute or so of this, he skulked off towards the castle muttering something incoherent under his breath. I didn’t care what he said as long as he did as I
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