Storm God Mapiya (special preview)

The cave opens up again, leading out into a great big pool. The pool is surrounded by columns. The ceiling is and open mouth where water rushes down from all sides. The bowls sing and chime, clinking to the steps behind the water.

“Die! Die! Die!” Gordon continues to sing.

“You’re going to!” I snap at him.

Then, I hear the most terrifying sound in the world. I heard someone laughing. I hold my breath and look around. Behind the waterfall someone steps out and into the bowl. The chiming bowls float away from them as they submerge into the water.

“My, my,” he whispers. “What present has been brought to me this day.”

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” Gordon screams.

The man, or what I assume is one, is extremely tall. He looks to be about seven feet, maybe even higher. His body is all earth red and there are hints of turquoise and onyx all over his body. His long black hair drapes down from his head and onto his chest. It floats in the water, creating swirls that look like storm clouds. His face is sharp and pointed, and large teeth jut up from the top and bottom of his mouth.

He reaches out, taking hold of Gordon and Gucci’s bowl. His massive hand looks more like a paw and it could easily fit more than the little bowl.

Gordon jumps up onto the strange creature’s arm, screaming and fluffing up his feathers.

“I can do that as well, little one.” Sudden, from the creatures back feathers fluff up and out. Gordon continues to scream and tries to fluff himself up more. All the while, Gucci and I are just shaking.

The creature laughs. “I like you,” he gently pets the top of Gordon’s head and he begins to calm down.

The creature then turns towards me and Sandy. He stretches out his hand and grabs my bowl, pulling it through the waterfall and to the shore.

Sandy jumps out but I don’t know what to do. I stay in the bowl until the creature comes through the waterfall. I get onto the stairs and stand with Sandy.

“Are you afraid?” The creature asks.

I step back from him as he walks up the stairs. His feathers trail down his back and drag onto the floor like a cape. His long legs go from clay red to pitch black and turn into bird feet with sharp talons.

“Tell me why I should be anything else,” I shiver.

“Because you already paid your respect to me,” he says. “You have nothing to fear from me at this moment.”

I take a deep breath and swallow my heart back down into my chest. “Who are you?”

He kneels down, setting Gucci beside me and Gordon hops off and starts prancing around.

“Mapiya! Mapiya! Mapiya!”

I had never heard Gordon say such words before but then I remember the word carved onto my grandfather’s bow that has stayed on my father’s ship. I look up at the creature as he smiles down at Godron.

“Mapiya?” I whisper.

He folds his arm across his stomach and bows. “At your service, young lady.” He then rises. “It has certainly been awhile since a woman has been on my shores. Well, at least one who has the ocean’s favor.”

“I uhm-” I hesitate as I glance over him. The gemstones imbedded in his body, the red clay texture and color of his skin. His strange features which are both bestial and birdlike. He’s strange but beautiful all in one glance.

“The waters brought you to me,” he says. Behind him the bowls are continuing to ring. “They must have ideas.” He lifts his head towards the chime of the bowls. “They say you belong here now.”