Page 52 of Bewitched

“Brother, I think we’re going to need that super strength of yours really soon,” mumbled Darium.

“Not now,” spat Rhys, still struggling with Medea. But when he heard the women scream, he turned his head to see a sea serpent rising up from the creek. The fae were out of their cottages, and running around in confusion, not knowing how to stop it. “Damn it, you didn’t, Medea,” he said with a deep sigh, realizing she’d just conjured up the monster to get him to release her. He had no other choice then to do just that, or risk someone being hurt or even killed.

As soon as he released Medea, she stood up, glaring at him again with black eyes.

“I’ll have everything for myself that you supposedly turned down, and even more,” she said, laughing wickedly now. She seemed so evil. It was just like everyone had been warning him about her. Rhys didn’t like seeing her this way. This wasn’t her. It was a dark magic she inherited at birth from her mother controlling her. She didn’t have a choice. If Medea truly couldn’t control it, like he’d been told, then he realized she might be consumed by the darkness. That is the worst thing he could ever think could happen to her.

“Medea, stop this,” he pleaded. “You don’t mean to be this way.”

“Oh, I do mean it, and so much more.”

Rhys felt that if he could just get through to her, mayhap he could help her to fight the darkness. He wanted to touch that loving, caring side of her, so he brought up their night together, hoping to spur it.

“We spent a wonderful time together in the lippenbur lilies last night.”

“Don’t even mention that,” she snapped, only seeming to cause more anger from her.

“I meant every word I said, and I hope that you did too. You said you never felt so special or loved.”

She stopped talking and seemed to be remembering their time together. “Yes,” she admitted.

“I think you deserve more of that, Medea, and I want to be the one to give it to you.”

“You do?” she asked, almost calming down for a moment.

“We belong together.” He slowly walked toward her, hoping to grab her again. “If we talk about this, I’m sure we can come up with a solution to your little problem.”

Her head snapped upward and a scowl washed across her face. “My little problem?”

“Uh oh,” he said, realizing he shouldn’t have referred to her dark magic as a problem.

“You’re the one with a problem, because I am going to get everything you ever wanted in life, and you will be nothing when I am done. Just you wait and see.”

“Wait,” he said, lunging for her, but with a swish of her arm, she disappeared, and he grabbed on to nothing but air. “Damn!” he spat, angered that he wasn’t able to stop her.

“Rhys, are you coming?” yelled Zann, as he and Darium both tried to fight off the beast with their swords, even though it was having little effect.

“I don’t have time for this,” spat Rhys, running over and jumping on to the back of the sea serpent, gripping it tightly around the neck. The serpent hissed and flipped around, its long tail slashing out at everyone, causing a frenzy. “Get out of the way, everyone,” Rhys yelled, using his strength to strangle the sea serpent before it killed someone. A few more flips and struggles, and finally, the monster stilled, dropping dead back into the water.

“You did it!” cried Rapunzel. “Thank you for saving us, Rhys.”

“No trouble,” he said, sloshing his way out of the creek, shaking water from his hands. The fae folk all gathered around, staring at the dead beast in their creek. Sea serpents seemed to be common on this side of the mountain, but where Rhys lived, they never seemed to see a one.

“What will we do with it?” asked one of the women.

“How can we move it? It’s too big and heavy,” said another.

“I think I can help.” Darium sheathed his sword and stepped forward, holding his hands out. “I’m not sure yet how to actually use my new elemental powers, but I can try.” He was able to levitate the sea serpent from the water, but not being used to his newfound powers yet, he couldn’t hold it there for long. The beast dropped back down into the creek, causing the fae folk to gasp and cry out as water splashed up on them. “I guess I need a little more practice,” said Darium, studying his hands.

“Darium, allow me,” said Alaina, stepping forward. “Your elemental power of the air will get stronger in time, but right now, Son, don’t overexert yourself. You’ll need your strength when you encounter the dragon. You all will, if you’re going to be successful in capturing it.”

Alaina easily called upon the air to help them, since she was able to control the weather. A whirlwind spun around above the sea serpent, picking it up in a funnel.

“I’ll send it into the Masked Sea,” she told them, swishing her hands and sending the funnel out to the sea where it deposited the dead sea serpent. Then the cloud of swirling air dissipated.

“Thanks, Mother,” said Rhys with a sigh of frustration. “I only wish I had been able to make Medea realize how much she really means to me.”

“It’s a dragon!” screamed one of the fae, pointing to the sky.