drops of sparkling clear liquid began to seep up from my skin, forming a small puddle in the middle of my palm. When Nemertes opened her eyes, the sparkling puddle detached itself from my palm, formed a small droplet that hovered precariously in the air for several seconds, then burst and disappeared.
When I jumped in surprise at the mini explosion, Nemertes snickered softly and kissed my forehead. She paused for several seconds as she met my eyes once more. In a soft but firm voice she spoke in Greek.
“Echete Epilexei.”
Before I could ask her what that meant in English, or how glittering water had percolated in my perfectly dry palm, she strode gracefully to the edge of the courtyard and chose a spot to stand. Not knowing what else to do, I inspected my hand; finding only the same skin and nails that were there ten seconds ago. I didn’t feel any different, but maybe I wouldn’t until all of the Nereids Chose me? I’d also like to ask Nemertes if Keto was included in the ‘all Nereids’ comment. I had a feeling the only thing she’d want to ‘Choose’ me for was a punching bag.
A new storm of nerves erupted in my stomach as a striking woman dressed in the same traditional dress, but donning a bronze swath of fabric floated into the courtyard. Her sandy brown hair and sparkling caramel eyes were almost muted by the energy that her smile radiated. She breezed to a stop in front of me and clasped her hands together. I noticed her bronzed skin had tiny freckles that cascaded down her arms and dusted her nose.
“I am Psamanthe,” she announced with a simple dignity. “Nereid and goddess of sand.” Phoebe was her descendent! She definitely shared Psamanthe’s unique energy and innocence, which had a way of ridding the world of its harshness. She smiled once more and held out her hand without another word. I placed mine in hers, palm up, and she followed the same steps that Nemertes had a couple minutes earlier. Another small drop of sparkling liquid pooled in my palm. A light breeze blew up around Psamanthe and lifted my hair, bringing the wholesome aroma of sea oats with it. Just as before, the droplet of liquid hovered briefly and then burst.
“Echete Epilexei” she proclaimed, tilting her head towards me respectfully. “Please tell Phoebe I am extremely proud of the young woman she has become.”
“She will be overjoyed to hear that,” I answered in an effort to sound as equally dignified and poised. I’m pretty sure I failed miserably, being that I was neither dignified nor poised. I inspected her warm, caramel eyes and found more of the same contagious energy swirling from within. Apparently she was doing the same.
“You have a strong connection to the sand as well,” she stated with a child-like grin.
“I do,” I confirmed.
“I can sense its presence within you,” she said as she tilted her head in fascination. She stepped forward; her eyes darting back and forth and then whispered, “Try talking to the ghost crabs and see what happens.”
“Ghost crabs…?” I began to say, but she was already walking away with an impish grin.
As she took her place next to Nemertes, a third woman materialized inches away from me. I let out a light yelp and my hand went to my heart in surprise. I heard a light tinkle of laughter from Nemertes and Psamanthe. So much for the strong front I was trying to keep up. The newcomer wore a lavender swathe secured with dark purple jewels. As I met her enchanting violet eyes, a twisting wind whipped up around us. Her hair, with every tone of purple represented, swirled around her heart-shaped
When I jumped in surprise at the mini explosion, Nemertes snickered softly and kissed my forehead. She paused for several seconds as she met my eyes once more. In a soft but firm voice she spoke in Greek.
“Echete Epilexei.”
Before I could ask her what that meant in English, or how glittering water had percolated in my perfectly dry palm, she strode gracefully to the edge of the courtyard and chose a spot to stand. Not knowing what else to do, I inspected my hand; finding only the same skin and nails that were there ten seconds ago. I didn’t feel any different, but maybe I wouldn’t until all of the Nereids Chose me? I’d also like to ask Nemertes if Keto was included in the ‘all Nereids’ comment. I had a feeling the only thing she’d want to ‘Choose’ me for was a punching bag.
A new storm of nerves erupted in my stomach as a striking woman dressed in the same traditional dress, but donning a bronze swath of fabric floated into the courtyard. Her sandy brown hair and sparkling caramel eyes were almost muted by the energy that her smile radiated. She breezed to a stop in front of me and clasped her hands together. I noticed her bronzed skin had tiny freckles that cascaded down her arms and dusted her nose.
“I am Psamanthe,” she announced with a simple dignity. “Nereid and goddess of sand.” Phoebe was her descendent! She definitely shared Psamanthe’s unique energy and innocence, which had a way of ridding the world of its harshness. She smiled once more and held out her hand without another word. I placed mine in hers, palm up, and she followed the same steps that Nemertes had a couple minutes earlier. Another small drop of sparkling liquid pooled in my palm. A light breeze blew up around Psamanthe and lifted my hair, bringing the wholesome aroma of sea oats with it. Just as before, the droplet of liquid hovered briefly and then burst.
“Echete Epilexei” she proclaimed, tilting her head towards me respectfully. “Please tell Phoebe I am extremely proud of the young woman she has become.”
“She will be overjoyed to hear that,” I answered in an effort to sound as equally dignified and poised. I’m pretty sure I failed miserably, being that I was neither dignified nor poised. I inspected her warm, caramel eyes and found more of the same contagious energy swirling from within. Apparently she was doing the same.
“You have a strong connection to the sand as well,” she stated with a child-like grin.
“I do,” I confirmed.
“I can sense its presence within you,” she said as she tilted her head in fascination. She stepped forward; her eyes darting back and forth and then whispered, “Try talking to the ghost crabs and see what happens.”
“Ghost crabs…?” I began to say, but she was already walking away with an impish grin.
As she took her place next to Nemertes, a third woman materialized inches away from me. I let out a light yelp and my hand went to my heart in surprise. I heard a light tinkle of laughter from Nemertes and Psamanthe. So much for the strong front I was trying to keep up. The newcomer wore a lavender swathe secured with dark purple jewels. As I met her enchanting violet eyes, a twisting wind whipped up around us. Her hair, with every tone of purple represented, swirled around her heart-shaped
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