Ambient light

Chapter 1

A spray of salty sea shot like an arrow up over the rocky cliff. Screams rang out again, panic overcoming some, while others went numb watching the horror playing out before them. Children cried, mothers wept; the sea was here to claim the land that she had lost long ago, the beautiful isle of Cimera. No one would stand in her way.

Pergia, sweat glistening on his form, ran among the townspeople, commanding some to stay down, others to help where they could. Another quaking roar from the depths of hell rumbled the earth below their feet and Pergia could see his people giving up their hope.

"No, please," he begged. "Not my people."

The sea screamed back at him and he knew all was lost, dropping to his knees on the hard ground, he wept. Turning, he glanced once more at his wife, cowering among the rocks, holding his little girls tight in her strong arms. He saw that she knew, her face revealed her pain.

"Pergia" she cried, her eyes widening in fear, "Pergia!"

He howled his anguish, as he watched the sea breach the high cliff walls and rush along the cold, brush lands. He glimpsed a stunning woman riding the waves, willing them on and he knew that his mind was deceiving him during his last moments of grief. A warrior was silenced, as the waters swarmed over the once mighty isle of Cimera. Somewhere near, a squeal of delight ripped from the heavens.

Chapter 2

A booming voice raged, "she has not? Surely she would never do something like this!"

Laurel giggled to herself, listening to her two brothers quarrel among themselves. She had nothing to fear from them now. They could not interfere in her plans. It was done, she had her way already. Blowing a kiss, she conjured the wind to bear her proud warrior, lying unconscious on an uprooted tree, across the seas to a distant land. Smirking to herself, as his little tree sped at an unnatural speed, she turned an ear back to her brothers' arguments.

"Look at the lives lost. We have to punish her this time." exclaimed Bode, trying to regain his composure.

Surpressing her mirthful laughter, Laurel padded across the floor, her bare feet making no noise, creeping closer to her brothers' conversation. The familiar talk of punishment by her eldest brother Bode gave her no cause for alarm, it was his favorite suggestion. Bode was quick to anger, but he valued his younger brother Orion's opinion and Orion would not risk losing his sisters affection.

Orion was weak when it came to his little sister Laurel. He always forgave her cruelty and selfishness as a curse of being a god, even though he would never hurt or bring pain to the mortals he adored. Below the gods' realm in the skies, the mortals scurried about their lives, and Orion's heart ached for the one's who would never walk again. Brave, kind people had been wiped out, all because his sister fancied a warrior on Cimera.

"I agree Bode. She must be punished," sighed Orion. He felt his heart breaking as he said this, but could see no other way. Images of the children's bodies being washed away by the sea, all because of his beloved Laurel, was too much to bare. Too many of the innocent had died, so he saw no other way.

Bode, his mouth open to argue against his brother's leniency , was stunned, "Orion, you agree? Punished? You know what I will ask. Are you prepared to do it?"

Orion felt the tears running down his cheeks, settling in his golden beard and could not form the words to explain why he would do this, so he only replied "yes."

"Banishment," Bode's dark eyes bore into Orion, trying to find a hint of deception in his tear streaked face, but he could find none."Only you can do this brother" the elder brother stated.

Orion sobbed, but nodded meekly, because he knew already. He was the only one who could strip Laurel of her powers. None of the siblings knew why, but Orion alone had the power to take away her immortality, making her walk the earth among the mortals. Bode had tried, out of anger, to cast Laurel from their domain in the skies, but she, being his equal, had defeated him every time. They did not possess Orion's abilities, making him the only one that could break the balance and cast one of them from the fold.

"Bring her to me, " Orion said, his voice finally cracking.

A feeling of dread washed over Laurel. She cast about widely, trying to spot an escape, but there would be no hope for her.She knew he could find her wherever she hid. How could this happen, she thought. Her brother, Orion, loved her beyond his own happiness, surely he would not send her away. She had always been so sure of herself, but now self doubt crept through her mind. Still listening for some sign that he changed his mind, Laurel heard Bode's heavy footsteps approaching.

With a scowl stretching Bode's face, he marched toward Laurel's bed chambers, a short distance down the marbled hall. Laurel scurried to her bed and lay back seductively on the pillows.

Even the young gods loved the palaces the mortals made and they mimicked the designs, down to the extravagant bed dressings. Laurel's room was the lush colors of the grasses of mother earth, deep green of the rolling hills and burnt tan of the sun drenched summer months. She stretched lazily across the blankets, feigning indifference when Bode strode through the doorway.

"Well Laurel, I think you may want to hear what your brothers have planned for you," sneered Bode.

Her heart thumping against her chest, she smiled slyly, "what do you mean?" Inside she desperately searched for a way out, something to save her. She rolled on her stomach and looking back over her shoulder toward her dark brother she purred "Is Bode upset about my games? He usually likes the games I play with him, doesn't he?"

Bode's eyebrows met, his face infused with anger, "It will not work this time Laurel. You killed the innocent again, for your own amusement. Orion agrees you should be punished. I've talked to him just now." He smiled with his last proclamation, revenge in his grasp. She would not torture him anymore, he thought to himself. She will be gone and I will be free of my own thoughts.

Almost if she read his thoughts, she sat up on her knees, her bottom resting on her heels. "Do you really want me to go Bode? I think a part of you wishes I would stay," she said, slipping off the edge of the bed. With practiced sways of the hips, she approached Bode's rigid form.

"Stay away from me sister." The last word spit with such hate it almost sounded like an insult.

"Oh Bode, we are gods. We can do as we please; there is no one who could judge us."

A scent wafted to his nostrils, lavender, Laurel. She was close now, only inches from him and he could see she was afraid. Even behind the carefully planned seduction, her eyes betrayed her fear and Bode felt himself weakening.

"NO!" he roared, seizing her shoulders with his boulder like hands.

"You must go. I can't Laurel. You control me. Orion would never consent, it is wrong and I will not let him see it."

He let go over her and she felt the sky fall from her feet, her mind plummeting in despair. Her only thought was how much she was going to lose. She jumped on Bode, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissed him hard, forcing his mouth open with her tongue. I must stay, she thought, lacing her legs around his hips.

Bode mind raced as he devoured Laurel's mouth, feeling her legs lock around his hips.
"Not again," he moaned, but he felt out of control. His arms pulled her closer,cradling her buttocks in his hands. He felt her grind against him and gasped into her mouth.

She bounced slightly in his stong arms, pushing him farther into her grip. This was something she knew and something she was good at, but she would have to be better then ever before because she saw that he had meant business.

Suddenly, as quickly as it had started, it was over. Bode pulled her away, throwing her roughly on the bed. His breath rattled from his throat as he told her, "Follow me. Orion is waiting for you." The image of his younger brother's pain for his mortals burned in Bode's mind and he would not let Laurel's trick persuade him. She was going to leave this time.

Laurel began to storm, throwing herself flat on her bed, screaming and sobbing. Her only chance left was Orion, so she leaped back up and darted from the room to plead to her gentle brother. She howled her misery as she ran into the main hall where Orion was slumped in a cushioned thrown. His face was stark white and she could tell he had been weeping.

"Brother, Bode tell lies," she accused. "He says that you, my own brother, whom I love is banishing me, but I know you could not be that cruel." She prostrated herself on the floor in front of him.

STILL IN PROGRESS....ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOMED