Page 5

Jessica’s dreams were good, they always had a tendency to be enjoyable, but this one was different.

She was on a beach, sunbathing and enjoying the feel of the sun on her skin, next to her a man.

A large male whose face she couldn't see as the sun was shining from behind.

But she knew this man cared for her, and the way his hand caressed up her bare leg made her stretch on the sand. Silently encouraging more touch.

But that touch wasn't gentle. In fact, the longer his hand stayed on her leg, the hotter her leg got until she sat up and shouted.

“Ouch, you mother fucker!”

“Told you that would wake her, works like a charm,” the smug voice of Edith broke Jessica out of her confused stated.

“What the hell, Edith? That hurt,” Jessica argued, looking at the little purple dragon, who stared back, a grin on the little sod’s face.

“You needed waking, I helped,” Edith stated before she nodded her head.

It was then Jessica realised that she was sprawled on a camp bed, on a beach, in a cove. Her head swam as she tried her best to recall what had happened before she hit the deck in what was probably the least lady-like swoon ever to have existed.

“What happened?” she asked, although she was already embarrassed enough.

“You fainted,” Edith stated dryly. “Ate sand quicker than a fly on shit.”

“I get that, but why did I faint?” Jessica was not a fainter, was never one to get dizzy or sick at the sight of blood. Or keel over if someone had gotten hurt.

“I'm afraid we should have forewarned you, but I assumed because you had worked with other mythical creatures, you would be fine,” Maeve answered. “We should have said that it was more than likely that a Kracken would be present.”

“Oh,” was all Jessica could answer. Was it the fact she had finally come almost face to face with the creature of her dreams? Had she done what she had sworn she would never do and fangirled a little too hard?

How embarrassing, she winced.

Typical.

“Where is the Kracken now?” she asked, ready to meet this creature of legend.

“Oh, he's popped away for a bit, just so you are able to get your breath.” Maeve smiled down at her and helped her get to her feet.

“Good, ‘cause he was fucking ugly,” Edith piped up.

“Edith!” Jessica lectured. “That’s not very nice.”

“It’s the truth.” Edith shrugged. “Big too.”

“Come, let us get you settled into your rooms and have dinner, then we can make a plan.”

Jessica nodded but looked back over the cove, hoping to get a glimpse of the Kracken. Regret and shame filled her, fangirling indeed . She had just let herself down and some.

As she turned away and let herself be followed back up the passageway, she missed the shadow that loomed at the edge of the cove as it changed from human to Kracken and delved into the sea, disappearing into its depths within seconds.

Dave felt almost relieved as the cool water hit his scaled skin, flowed over his bulk as he propelled himself forward. Had the new female fainted because she had seen him and thought him ugly? Was it his fault?

Shame washed over him as well as the water, he couldn't change what he was. Even if he could shift to human, it didn't change the fact, he was a Kracken.

And an ugly one at that.

It didn't take long for Dave to reach depths that only his kind and a few human vessels could reach. Down here was his world, his domain. Any predators would quickly disperse, knowing full well he could crush them.

Lost wrecks littered the stoney sea floor, underwater mountains rose up, catching the wrecks and the finds they had within their holds.

Lost relics from a time long forgotten. Treasures of every kind from statues to the glittering gems. It always marvelled Dave how humans would do anything for the things that sparkled and yet found it difficult to help their fellow humans.

But a Kracken could lose hours thinking about the whys and what nots as well as the ins and outs of the human race. At least those of the paranormal persuasion didn't want to hurt him on sight. That was always a bonus.

Humans confused him but there was one that intrigued him. But she didn't like Krackens, why else would she have fainted if not from the sight of him? Her familiar had only confirmed it.

Dave felt disappointed, there was something about her that he was curious about, and he couldn’t put a tentacle on it.

With a flick of his small tail, he turned.

Moving though the water to a specific wreck, one that had become his favourite since he had found it.

Not only was it nearly complete within only a singular hole to the bow, but it had his hoard inside.

He called it his home from home. The place he went to when he couldn't take the atmosphere back at the Hollow.

Sometimes seeing them all so loved up made him feel lonely.

So, he would go to his little hidden spot and rest. Letting the cleaner fish clean his skin as he thought about his next steps.

The idea of helping the female called Jessica both panicked and filled him with excitement.

With her reaction to his Kracken form he would have to maintain a human shift whilst in her presence, which would be hard.

Considering he had only managed about two hours maximum previously.

But as exciting as the prospect of learning more about her was, listening to her talk, and seeing how she dealt with the eggs, he still worried she hated him.

Closing his eyes Dave rested, he would need all the strength he had, he also would choose a few pieces of his hoard to go to his other on the beach, maybe see if Jessica liked them.

With that, Dave rested his eyes and let his dreams take him elsewhere.