The Lighthouse Siren

Chapter 6 Day #2

After suffering from major hangovers, they guys finally roused at the crack of 1 in the afternoon. I hadn't bothered waking them. I just took the helm and sailed, after the blaring sun hit me in the face at just about 6 am.

It was quiet and peaceful. No chatter, no traffic, no background clutter. But even against the calm of the sea, the insatiable drive to reach my destination pushed me forward. I can't stop. The call in my head echoes over and over... "Come find me." Sprinkled with the maddening touch of desire.

I won't be satisfied until I...

"Hey man, how long you been up?" Jordan drawls.

"A while," is my only reply.

"Dude, you look more hungover than Austin..."

"Huh?" I don't understand. I had a total of 2 beers yesterday and zero this morning.

"Jordan's right. You feelin' okay, dude?" asked Austin.

I rub my hand over my face and feel the scratch of the itchy beard just coming in, then push my hand through my short hair. I am exhausted, but what can I say? I haven't slept well in days.

"I'm fine. I just need some water," I insist.

Austin walks over to the cooler and grabs a water. "Are you sure you don't need some Aspirin to go with it? Maybe a sandwich? You look like death!" he stated.

"No, really, I'm good. Just need the wind in my face and clean water to drink," I try to smile, but I think it comes out as a grimace.

Austin saunters over, placing the water in my hand and gently ties to push me away. "Here, go sit, let me drive for a while," he says.

"Naw, I' good!" trying to play it off cool. I really didn't want them to know how badly I want to get to that lighthouse.

"Dave, it's my boat. You look like hell. Let me drive!" Austin insists and he pushes a little firmer.

Reluctantly I hand over the controls and go sit on a deck chair.

"So, what's all the rush anyway?" asks Jordan.

I twist the cap off my water and take a deep pull of the refreshing liquid, nice and slow to give me time to come up with a sane answer... One that didn't involve the truth!

"I'm just excited to get to go treasure hunting with you guys, of course!" was the best I could come up with.

"Aww, yeah! Do you think any one has found the treasure yet?" Austin whoops.

Not according to the article from 5 years ago. The treasure was supposed to be cursed. Maybe it was blood money or something like that," I try to laugh it off.

"You're not superstitious, now are you Dave?" jokes Jordan.

"I don't know man. With all my bad luck, can you blame me?" I ask.

"Yeah, okay. I'll give you that. You've had a hell of a year. You had the car accident back in February; Your apartment got broken into and you lost your entertainment center; And then the thing with Janet... I guess I won't blame you if start carrying around a horseshoe in your back pocket," Jordan concedes.

"I don't care if it's cursed money, drug money, or blood money! I can't wait to try to find it! Wouldn't it be awesome if we showed up at home, carrying a treasure that's been lost for 65 years, and with it's own legend to go with it?" Austin exclaims.

"Right man! Bragging rights for life! Then we have to figure out how to split it!" smirks Jordan. "I was thinkin' 25%/25%/50%! Obviously, I get the 50!" Jordan jokes.

"That's only if we can find it," Austin chimes in. "So far no one has been able to find it. But then again, no one has had us!" he crows.

At least they are confident we might find it. I wasn't so sure. But for some reason, I felt it was important, and it had everything to do with what happened at the lighthouse. It was a very small part of what was driving me. Not for the gold... But to protect her. I have a very strong feeling that it was lost in order to protect the bride.

Jordan shakes my shoulder. "Dave, you okay, man? You look a mess. You have black rings around your eyes. Your face is pale and almost green. It's not like you to be seasick when you spend half of your life of the ocean."

I guess I must have zoned out for a bit because when I look around, the sun is low on the horizon. How did it get so late? I must be losin' it.

"I just didn't sleep last night. I think I'm gonna head to my cabin and rest my eyes for a bit," I lie, guiltily.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll wake you up when chow is on," Jordan says, though he still has questions in his eyes... One's that will go unanswered as far as I am concerned.

Slowly I make my way below deck an into my cabin. My shaky legs drag my heavy body over to the bed. The second my head hits the pillow I'm out.

Janet walks into the room and shuts off the light. She stocks to the edge of the bed and sends me a sultry smile. Slowly she crawls up my body. There is something different about her tonight.

"Hey baby," she purrs low and sexy.

The only thing she is wearing is my old tee shirt. Normally that would turn me on.

"Janet, I thought you were visiting your parents tonight?" I ask confused.

I don't remember what's going on, but there is something wrong...

She slides her hands up my bare chest and straddles my hips. My normal reaction to this? For some reason it just ain't happenin' tonight. Not only that, but I'm repelled by her.

What's wrong with me?

I try to slide her off gently, "Sorry, I'm not in the mood tonight, Janet."

She digs her knees into my sides and sinks her red fingernails deep into my chest above my heart.

Storm clouds gather around her and lightning flashes in her eyes. Wind whips her long red curls around us. She sneers at me.

"Why David? Why don't you want me? I know you like it rough. Let me show you!" She shrieks like a banshee. "You belong to me! She can't have you!"

We are in the eye of a hurricane and everything freezes to the darkest depths of hell. I know she is going to kill me. When had she become this way? I try to remember her turning into the monster before me, but I can't remember just one instance. She had been building and building into this raging storm for years. Why hadn't I noticed it earlier?

A sudden low moonglow breaks through the pitch black clouds engulfing us.

"Come to me," she calls soft and sad.

Her body materializes next to mine. She places a gentle hand on my cheek. Her smile sweet and sexy.

Janet get's thrown back by the lightning into her own storm, and I don't even offer a second glance as she disappears.

Calm soothes my aching heart. Need and lust build in equal measures.

She leans in and nuzzles my cheek. She is so warm and smells like vanilla and strawberries. She sends a fire into me that will never be quenched.

"I've missed you," she sings sweetly in my ear.

"Elaine," I moan and cover her mouth with mine. I need to feel her now.

She pulls back and looks me in the eye. She places a chaste kiss on my forehead. With the simple feel of her lips on me, my body lights up like a live wire, causing every dirty little thing I've ever wanted to do coming to the front of my mind. I need to make her mine.

"Come find me, my love..." she whispers.

Her taunt leaving me begging for more. But she starts to drift into mist.

Someone is shaking me, but I ignore them. Nothing is more important than holding her in my arms at this very moment.

"Don't leave me," I beg.

"I'll be waiting for you," she sings.

Someone shakes me more insistently as I desperately try to cling to her, even as she turns to dust my hands.

My body aches at the sudden loss. I try to reach for her...

"Dave!" someone shouts my name. "Dude, it's time for chow, man," Jordan's voice finally reaches me through my lusty haze.

"I'll be there in a sec," I mumble.

I've never woken up so hard in my life. I have never wanted a woman as desperately as I've wanted her.

"Elaine," I whisper.