CHAPTER FORTY

She walks down a crowded street with Tina. People lightly bump her as they pass. She says, "I'm sorry." but they don't say anything or even look at her. She and Tina glance at each other but continue to walk.

Arianna senses something and says, "Hold on to your purse, someone has their eyes on it.

As they round a corner, a man in his twenties grabs Tina's purse but she holds on tight. The man yanks, Tina yanks back. Arianna stares at the man, he stops. "Let go of her purse, tell her you're sorry."

The man lets go, says, "I'm very sorry ma'am, that won't happen again." The man ambles away.

Arianna lectures Tina as they start to walk. "This is as I feared. The people here have no morals, they will steal from you, even hurt you. It seems there is always someone out there who wants what you have. I don't like it Tina."

"And are they any worse than the pirates we had back home? They would not only take this purse, they would take everything we have, then burn whatever was left. Please mother, remember the evil we had back home."

"I suppose you're right honey, it just seems there are so many more, uhhh, 'pirates', for lack of a better word, in this world."

"I mean, I need you here to protect me, to protect my child...to protect Finley. Everyone needs your strength, your experience, your wisdom. But most of all we just need you."

Tina stops walking, places her hands on Arianna's shoulders, hugs her and whispers, "We need to be on that boat in the morning mother."

Arianna sits in a restaurant, alone. She twirls a glass of wine, sips it, smiles. Thanos sits down across from her, smiles. She's too shocked to say anything. He picks up the bottle of wine, inspects the label.

"I see why you ordered a half bottle. Mondavi, Opus One, 2011, you have excellent taste Arianna." he holds out his wine glass. "May I?" she coldly stares at him but says nothing. "Thank you, that's very kind."

He pours a small amount, twirls his glass, sniffs the wine. He sips a small amount, swishes it in his mouth and swallows.

"Arianna, I'm shocked. That is such ugly talk from a woman who has such, uhhh, exquisite taste."

"It seems to me you are. You've had two chances and failed with both of them. That's why you burn to this day."

She remains calm, sips her wine, stares at Thanos. "Be off with you, go back where you came from."

Thanos immediately bursts into flames. They spread to the table then flicker over to Arianna. She bursts into a ball of flames and screams!

She jerks up in bed, her face moist with sweat. She sits on the edge of the cot, drops her hands into her face. A few moments pass as she regains her composure.

Tables are set up in Brandon's patio area near the pool. Sitting at the tables are Brandon, Treena, Finley, Derek, Sean, Tina, Joshua, Treena, Kyle, Arianna, Jessa, and Lou. Everyone munches on seafood appetizers along with wine.

Treena checks her watch. "They should be here anytime. They always seem to be late."

Arianna drops a scallop onto her plate and cuts it in half. Jessa watches her, curious to see what she's doing. Arianna unscrews a small jar of peanut butter, spreads some onto her scallop.

"Okay, I'm not going to eat this." Arianna replies as she pops it into her mouth. "Mmmm, sand dabs never tasted so good."

"You have no room to talk, you're the one who got me hooked on this wonderful peanut butter. Besides, you put it on banana's, if you really want to know what's nasty."

Brandon stands. "I have a few announcements I'd like to make. Seeing as how this is our first get together since we all got back, I'd like to welcome Arianna, Tina and Sean back into our world. You all make this place a better place to be." he raises his glass. "A toast to our newest family members." Everyone raises their glass, clinks them with the one next to them.

A nervous Kyle stands. "Well, uuhh, Trista and I, with the approval of Joshua, we're, uhh, we are officially engaged. Honey, stand up and show them the ring."

A shy Trista stands, holds her ring hand out, which is covered by a huge diamond ring. Everyone claps. Trista curtsey's and sits back down.

"Not set yet...but soon. Trust me, I'll let you all know." Kyle grins and sits down.

Brandon stands back up. "Our next announcement will be made by Lou. Lou, the floor is yours."

Lou stands. "Thank you Brandon. I have three announcements to make. The first one is that Jessa and I are moving back to Atargatis Island and anyone who wants to come with us is welcome."

Arianna turns to Jessa. "Jessa, how can you do this, how can you leave us all back here without you? I mean..."

"I am serious son. The second announcement is that the first announcement is not true...I was just kidding."

Various people at the table yell, "Booo, boooo." and throw their cloth napkins at Lou.

"The third announcement is the most important. I have asked Jessa to be my wife. She turned me down, but at least I asked."

Everyone claps as Lou kisses Jessa and sits back down. Brandon stands back up. "I had no idea you were such a funny guy Lou."

Brandon continues, "I now have my own announcement to make. Treena, are you listening?"

"Sometimes, in the middle of your mundane lives, a fairy tale is born. You may not recognize it as a fairy tale but, never the less, it is. Before I met Treena, my life was far from a fairy tale...in fact, it was a nightmare. I had nothing to live for, I didn't care if I lived or died. I actually went on our cruise, I went into the mystic, thinking, I might never return. But then I met Treena."

"Treena, ever since we met, nothing has been easy. We've had to escape sharks, fight pirates, underwater battles...I mean, our road has been tough, much tougher than I ever could have imagined."

"Don't forget getting electrocuted in the pool, killing our son and fighting shark-face." adds Treena as she grins.

"What I'm saying is we made it through all of those things, we beat death and, we're still together. Not only did you give me a son, you gave me purpose in my life, you gave me back the will to live. I never want that to change."

He steps over to Treena, drops to one knee, pulls a giant diamond ring from his pocket, takes her hand. "Treena, will you be my wife for now...and always. Will you marry me?"

Tears fall as Treena cries. "Yes Brandon, I would love to be your wife." she stands, they hug as the crowd stands and claps.

Tears fall from Arianna as she hugs Jessa. "Thank the God's, I never thought I would see this day."

Sean raises his hand as Brandon says, "I guess someone wants to make another announcement. Sean is our next speaker. Sean is one of our three contestants here on the new game show 'Guess the Announcement'. Sean is from a small Atlantic Island..."

Sean stands, holds his hand out. "Very funny Brandon. I'd like to echo a few things Brandon pointed out. I've been with Chiron, err sorry, Tina, for a while now, in fact most of you know she carries our child. I never thought when I was washed overboard from the Mystic and captured by the Sirens, that my life would end up like this." He stares at Tina, she stares at him, not sure what to think.

"Oh hell, let me get to the point. Tina, will you marry me?" Sean pulls out a big diamond ring, holds it out. Tina holds her hand out as Sean slides the ring on. They hug.

Brandon stands back up. "This is way too weird. None of us has told the other what we were going to do here today yet, we all ask for our girl's hand in marriage. What does that mean?

The crowd chuckles, Brandon continues. "Yes, that is true, we are all wise. There's only one question that remains and Arianna, I'm going to address it to you. Since everyone at this table is getting married, you have two choices to pick from. They may be leftovers, but still, they represent two choices. Do you want to marry contestant number one, Derek, the young, suave, well-spoken man, or do you want to marry contestant number two, Joshua, the mature, handsome man with experience in all areas of life. You have thirty seconds to make your decision."

Brandon motions to the waiters. "Please, fill everyone's glass while we wait for a decision."

Belladine and Peter walk onto the patio from inside the house. Brandon jumps up to greet them. "We thought you weren't going to make it."

"We had an unexpected visitor." says Belladine. "I'm sorry Brandon, he insisted on coming."

Onto the patio walks Thomas, an exact image of Thanos. He's dressed like he's ready to go sailing.

The crowd gasps, some cover their mouth with their hand. All of them stare at him in shock. Thomas remains casual, relaxed.

"Relax everyone, I am not Thanos come back from the dead. In fact, he is still dead...well, not really dead, but he wishes he was. My name is Thomas, spelt like Thomas but pronounced 'Toe-mas'. I am Thanos' twin brother."

Thomas continues. "I am only here to deliver a message from the God's, then I shall leave." He steps over to Finley, rubs his cheek.

Brandon, cold, fires back, "Just give us your message and get the hell out of here."

Thomas grins. "The fact that Thanos failed in his mission does not change the fact that your son is still Kreios, the savior of our race. What does change the situation is when you killed your son, you took away our ability to take Kreios and train him for his mission in life, a mission he was born to fulfill."

"My son will never be involved in your mission...your mission for him to enslave the human race." Brandon replies.

"That is what remains to be seen. Since we cannot take him by force, we will try to take him by persuasion. We will convince him that his destiny will be fulfilled as Kreios, that he will be the one to rule this land."

"What sixteen-year old man would not want to be a ruler of nations, literally, a King. I don't think we'll have too much trouble convincing him of that."

"Mark my words, 'Toe-mas', you will never have that opportunity. He will know of your evil intentions long before you will ever have the chance to talk to him."

"He is still within you, he is in your body, in your mind. You can never rid yourself of your past. His blood still flows in your veins and we will prey upon your human weakness to bring Asclepius back. Then you shall see our mission is just, that Kreios was born and destined to rule over this land."

"One final thing. You don't know me, you don't know who I am, what I'm capable of. Do not take me lightly."

Arianna shuffles to Brandon, rubs his back. "It is over Brandon. You have the support of everyone here. We, all of us, will make sure Finley never listens to him or anyone else."

Belladine moves next to Brandon. "I'm so sorry Brandon, he just showed up. He left us with no choice, he said to bring him here or he was going to kill all of my fish...my children. He's as evil as that no good brother of his. We'll help you get through this. I, we, will all be here for you."

Treena pulls his head to hers, she kisses his cheek. "We made it through everything else, we'll make it through this."

Finley laughs, coos and gahs. He moves his arms, smacks them on the table, laughs some more.

AUTHORS NOTE: Thank you for reading my book. I'm working on getting it made into a movie, which would be quite a show. If you enjoyed it, please leave a positive review, that would be a huge help.

Belladine Ancient mermaid living in Miami,

girlfriend of Peter 500 years ago.

Finley Baby son of Brandon and Treena.

Glaukos a mortal fisherman who was transformed into a sea-god after eating a magical herb.

Isabel and

Alison Mermaid children.

Peter Boyfriend of Belladine who later becomes

The Pirates Captain Pardel, Marteen, Calico Jack, Red Legs, Diablo.

Tina Mermaid on Atargatis Island, daughter of Arianna. sister of Treena.

Treena Mermaid on Atargatis Island, daughter of Arianna.

Thanos An ancient Greek merman/human waiting for Kreios to be born.