The Wish, short story submitted by Lyle Dagnen

by Lyle Dagnen

The haunting song of the Sea Witch filled the lagoon, melodic notes promised wishes to be granted, “They won't cost much, and you'll get exactly what you want.” The song she sings is lovely, peaceful, and most of all it brings joy to the listener. The sea witch holds out the bottle of wishes to the customer, her beautiful voice draws as the moon draws the sea. Thoughts of the payment disperse like moonbeams on a rolling sea.

"Come to me" she whispers, "I can make your wishes real. Just take a tiny sip, close your eyes and wish."

The alluring words drowned the warning "Be careful what you wish for". The darkness called to the broken woman, the longing to walk away disappeared, she wanted this wish like she wanted to take her next breath. Time began to swirl around her, all she had to do was take that tiny sip. The complexity of her wish was in her head; should she drink, should she walk to another reality? She was dizzy with want and need; the sea witch held her hand to the waiting woman smiling and singing her siren song.

He knew she was getting ready to drink so that her wish could become true. He knew that she refused to call on him, she was afraid of him. For the first time in a long time he would say something to her. He had sworn he never would again after he had seen what she had to suffer for him. She had defended him all those eons ago. She had been so lovely; she had been his; she spoke for him. For it, she was cast out, her glorious wings ripped from her back. Bleeding she fell to this damned earth. She had lived. He was always near her. The humans, how he detested them, had burned her, tortured her, she had paid over and over for her insolence and for her devotion to him. Now she was going to bind herself to this witch. She was so human this time, so injured, so tired. He walked in, raising his beautiful long fingered hand. Immediately the siren's song of enchantment stopped and she fell to the floor crying mourning the loss of the song and it's offered promise. He gathered her in his arms, holding her to him.

Regardless of the shell that held her soul, the one he loved was still there. He could feel everything that she felt. His chest tightened as she tucked her head against his neck. She was his; she had always been his. "You are safe" he whispered " Come with me" Gathering her in his arms he took her to a place more private, one that he used when he needed to be alone. He sat with her in his lap, his chin on the top of her head, holding her, allowing her to rest. His beautiful hands moved over her body, his eyes looked to the heavens, angry because of all the broken things about the fragile shell that she wore. He longed for her, he ached for the feel of her as she accepted him into her body. He could feel the power of the soul she had been given, the depth of the heart that beat in her chest. Wrapping his strong arms around her he held her for the first time since he had shoved that heart back into her as she fell from grace, from heaven, for him.

His lips rested against her temple, murmuring sweet tender words of which he was not even aware. Opening his mind to hers, he understood her wish, smiling

Odessa the Sea Witch by Belle Etoile on DeviantArt

Costume & make-up by Lillyxandra of Firefly-Path.net Photography by Greg De Stefano