Page 8 of A Love Tethered to the Sun

Pryde Magers

Weeks had passed since my first date with Creek.

It was the best first date ever, and we had a blast. It went so well that I even got a few goodnight kisses, which led to me getting kissed all day and night, and I couldn’t be happier.

Creek simply made my day. After all the years of roaming this world, and now, I had finally found my reason for living.

As I sat in our four-by-four, black-on-black Hummer truck, I prayed to the Sun God that we made it back in time for her surfing competition today.

My crew and I drove through the swamps of Louisiana’s bayou because our sources relayed that this was Rik’s last seen whereabouts.

“Let’s get out and park. We need to be on foot the rest of the way,” I voiced.

Linx pulled over and parked the truck. We climbed out and trekked through the marsh, trying to get to the other side of the swamps without alerting Rik and his army.

“I hate doing jobs in the damn swamps,” Dax cried.

“We know. Soft-ass lil’ baby,” Linx replied, pulling laughs from us all.

“Fuck you, man! Yo ass hate this shit too. Last time, you bitched about all the insect bites you had,” Dax expressed, making us snicker a little more.

“Maybe, but you’re whining all by your damn self today!” We all chuckled some more because those two always annoyed each other on missions. They were brothers-in-arms but acted as if they were biological brothers.

“Alright, boys. Let's look alive and focus. Watch each other’s back, and don't be on no hero shit. Period. Let's roll.”

“Yes, sir,” my crew announced in unison as we moved as one. As soon as we made out of the marshes, we sprinted straight through the woods. “Places, everyone. Hit the trees now, archers. Everyone else… stay close and keep your eyes open.”

Vampires could see things miles away, so the archers were hidden almost a mile away.

As soon as trouble surfaced, our poisonous flora arrows would start flying.

A tree branch snapped on the ground, and quickly, we turned in unison.

Our movements were in sync, and we dressed in military green to blend in with our surroundings.

There was nothing behind us at first until another twig snapped, and we faced the other direction.

Shadows whizzed by, jumping through the trees, and I smelled the bloodthirsty newborn vampires running out.

“Attack! Archers now!” I commanded loudly.

Mud was kicked up as leaves and trees fell around us, all while we commenced in battle.

Dax, Linx, and I did hand-to-hand combat against the new vamps as my other brothers-in-arms joined us on the ground, being just as ferocious.

My archers fired off arrow after arrow, releasing the poisoning flora into their bodies.

Quite a few of the newborns fell to the ground and screamed in agony as the poison coursed through their bodies.

It was already a task killing newborns because they were stronger as fresh vampires and more bloodthirsty.

Our poisonous flora arrows definitely took a lot of the physical work away from us.

I zoomed around, breaking necks and brutally snatching their limbs off.

Linx wasn’t sparing any of those new vamps any remorse either.

He slashed through their bodies with his large, serrated knife with a vengeance.

Dax ripped through their flesh as he wielded his machete to show no mercy.

I heard a whistle and looked in that direction.

There was a familiar face aiding Rik in fleeing the compound.

What in the hell is he doing here? I thought before shouting to my brothers, “Rik’s getting away. I’m going after him!”

“Go ahead… we’re right behind you!” Linx rushed out before he sliced off the head of one of those newborns.

I raced through the woods after them. Rik super-sprinted for his life as I jumped from tree to tree to land on his ass.

In my haze of jumping down on Rik, I was knocked out of the tree.

I rolled in the dirt and quickly got to my feet.

When I looked up, my opponent had to be seven feet even, with the weight and look of television’s first Hulk, portrayed by Lou Ferrigno.

“Let’s dance, bitch!” the new vampire roared.

“Say less,” I replied.

I sailed through the air and chopped his big ass right in the throat.

He gasped for air while I swiftly ran around him in a flash, slicing his body with my knife.

I cut his calves and lower back, then punctured his organs deeply with haste.

He hollered out in pain as I flipped over him with his head in the headlock and ripped his head from his body.

My opponent collapsed on the ground as his head rolled in the dirt.

I removed my hunting lighter and lit his dumb ass on fire. Dax and Linx ran up to me.

“Remind me to never get on your bad side,” Dax declared. Linx shook his head, and I humped my shoulders.

“That asshole got away!” I exclaimed.

“It’s okay, brother. We’ll get him next time,” Linx stated.

I nodded in agreement. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s just… the freer time he has, the more time he has to create more newborns.”

“And we'll handle it like we always have,” Dax responded.

“Real shit,” Linx added.

“Yeah, y'all right. I had that man in the palm of my hand and let him get away. I'll get over it, though. Are the other newborn vampires burning?” I asked, wiping my bloody knife on my pants.

“Of course,” Dax responded.

“Alright, cool. Let’s get out of here before the smoke builds up and alerts law enforcement.”

We all hopped into the three awaiting Hummers and sped out of there.

We made it back with time to spare, and I quickly hopped into the shower, dressed, and headed to Creek’s competition meet.

Now, here I was, waiting for her name to be called so she could compete in the surfing tournament.

I rubbed down her arms as she watched her female opponent surf.

I stepped back as she stretched her arms high above her head, then out in front of her one at a time. Her dad and mom walked over to us.

“Pryde, how are you, man?” her dad questioned with his hand extended.

I grabbed onto it, and we gave each other a bro hug. We separated, and I gently pecked her mom's cheek before I responded. “I can’t complain at all. How are you guys?” I queried.

“I'm doing well, sweetie. Thanks for asking,” her mom replied.

“Same here, man,” her dad responded.

I knew the Kanes before they became Creek’s parents.

I allowed local businesses to advertise in my hotel’s lobby and the Kanes were one of those businesses.

They had a one-stop shop for last-minute travel items, quick food, and more.

The Kanes had a great reputation in the community, so in every room of my hotel, you could find one of their flyers.

Mr. Kane turned to Creek, who had now stretched her legs. “Alright, baby girl… are you ready?”

“I’m as ready as I can be, Dad,” she commented before he helped her up from the sand.

“You’re going to do great, my love. Embrace your nerves, but don't let them overpower you. You’re an amazing surfer. It's in your blood,” her mom voiced. She kissed Creek on the forehead and then hugged her tightly.

“Thank you, Mom and Dad,” Creek stated as she gave them one more big hug.

“We’re going to take our seats now, baby girl. Good luck, and you got this,” her mom drawled. Creek nodded and watched them walk away.

“Alright, sweetness. It’s time for me to take my seat. Don’t worry about nothing. Just focus on your energy, and you’re going to crush this tournament,” I offered my own encouraging words.

“Thank you, baby. I appreciate those words of encouragement,” she replied.

I kissed her lips passionately before I walked up the stairs and sat next to her parents in the stands.

We all watched as the other female surfer’s scores were displayed on the screen, and she did a pretty good job, but I knew Creek would crush her.

The applause had died down, but when the announcer called Creek’s name, the crowd went wild.

I saw her say a quick prayer, and then she swam out into the water with her yellow one-piece spandex suit on.

My eyes were glued to her ass in those short suits she loved so much.

Creek swam until she swiftly jumped up on her surfboard and made those waves her bitch.

I don’t know how some weak men didn’t like to see their woman in her element and succeeding.

That wasn’t a club I wanted to be a part of.

I appreciated claiming the baddest as mine.

My baby literally had me on the edge of my seat as I watched her.

Watching Creek surf was like watching a prima ballerina perform.

My baby was doing her thang. Her surfboard zigzagged over those waves in a uniform way.

As soon as a huge wave came her way again, she quickly rode it out and made it back to shore with the crowd going bananas.

She dropped to one knee and said another quick prayer, then jogged the rest of the way with her board.

Her parents and I stood up and hollered just as loud.

When her scores popped on the screen, more yelling took place.

Her picture and scores showed up next to legendary Eddie Aikau’s scores, and she broke two of his records in one tournament.

Creek’s hands covered her face as she cried.

She was in total disbelief. I walked down the stairs and made it to my baby.

Creek laid her head on my chest as she cried, and I wrapped my arms around her tightly.

“I told you, beautiful, that you were going to win. You’re absolutely amazing. Not only do you have trophies and checks to prove it, but you also now have records to show. I’m so proud of you, girl. You are all that and so much more,” I stated as I rubbed her back and rocked her.