I wake up drenched in sweat. Taking in deep breaths to calm myself I remember something from long ago. A storm that happened the day my mother passed away. I remember all that lightning. The loud thunder which shook me to my very core. I was very afraid. I have always been afraid of the storm since.
But two red arms slowly come towards me. They caress me and bring me closer to him. With his gentle embrace my worries disappear. I stop shivering and somehow pass into a deep sleep.
I wake up next morning refreshed. Like that nightmare had never happened. But as I look outside and feel the storm approaching I start getting anxious again. I feel unsafe. I feel scared. I long to find myself in his strong arms again.
But as I look around, he is not here. Where has he gone...
"Aaahn....aaan...nnn...aaah.." I look above.
"Seriously..the roof!" I sigh. I don't like doing it on the roof very much. But right now I need him. I want to feel his warmth.
"The roof ...hehehe...let's go." But the other two beat me to it.
"No fair Merope....you know I don't like the roof..." I say as I grab his hands. Ah his strong hands. The ones I feel safe in.
Merope's face is filled with happiness. I want that happiness too. I guide his hands between my legs. I shudder as his fingers touch me and then enter inside.
Yes! This is the warmth I desired. I am not scared anymore. Not of the wildly shaking roof. Nor of the wildly blowing winds. Even the storm does not scare me anymore.
"My turn now..." I can't keep my desire from leaking out. He looks at me with his cute eyes and his hands pull me closer like I was a feather. He plunges in deep and a lightning strikes within me.
"Aaaaahn!" I can't help it. He keeps going sometimes slow and gentle, sometimes strong and hard. I can feel his desire flowing into me.
Ah...I end up drenched again.
That day a storm came. With it came many memories. Some good, some bad and some with my Red Beet. Yeah that's what we call him. Because he is red as a beet. Isn't he just cute?
We have shared a long history with the Red Beets. So old that even nymphs don't remember when it started. And nymphs have long memories. No, it's not because we live long. Unlike the Red Beets, we only live till a hundred and even then only if we are so lucky.
Nymphs give their memories to their children when they die. I guess this is our way of learning about the world and the creatures who inhabit it. So I hold the memories of all my foremothers. But memories are living things. As they get old, they also fade away. I share many memories of the storm. Not all my own, but I can always tell whose memories they are.
These memories teach us many things. Like what role do we, as nymphs, play in this world. And of our true Mother, Nature. Nymphs are also called Nature's daughters in many tongues for this reason. We are the balancers and harbingers of life. Our true Mother is the giver and taker of all life and as such deserves our respect. Therefore we love life in all it's forms. And we are the keepers of her secrets.
Our legends say that nymphs are the mother of all creatures of this world. All were born from our wombs. I don't know how old that legend is or whether it is true. But it is true that nymphs can couple with most creatures. But we only give birth to nymphs. We do not even have the ability to change our characteristics. Like a dryad will birth a dryad and so on.
Only when bonding with Red Beets, we give birth to a Red Beet. So maybe the legends are true. But as the world changed we have changed as well. That's what most nymphs choose to believe. I believe that too. But whether it is true or not, our role remains unchanged. It is we, who understand and protect the secrets of our Mother. Like the legendary unicorn or the white whale of the deep.
Or that of the Red Beet. We can clearly say that we know more about them than they know themselves. And we understand their power the best. For we are also their partners and their mothers. Their power is also a part of us. A Red Beet's power is simply the power of abundant life.
Many do not understand what it means. It means the natural energy which makes your life possible is so much greater in them. We call it life energy. Everything a Red Beet does enhances the power of life in others. The areas where they choose to live are the most lively. It is because they make it so. Plants, creatures and people, all benefit greatly. Their great life energy also makes them extremely vigorous.
"Oh dear~..what did I start thinking about..."
Just then lightning flashes again. My heart gets anxious. Is he alright? He does not realize but we watch him wherever he is. It is one of our pleasures in life to watch him play. And we have done so his entire life.
Just then he comes in, dripping wet. Oh he's got that look in his eyes again. He may have lived longer than us but his mentality is still that of a child. A really selfish child.
"Aaaahn....no ....wait..mmmmhmmm...my lord~" He never listens.
"Hah...hah...wait...not so soon.." He does not stop.
"Noooo....please...Aaan! aaaaaaahnnn!" And he goes on and on.
I don't remember how big the storm was. I do remember how big he was. All the time! Mother, help us!
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After the storm the ships came near our island. We can tell. We are sensitive to change. Naiads can tell changes in water. Aeriads do the same thing with air. I, as a dryad can sense changes in the earth and the trees. But nymphs share one ability. The power to share their senses. So we know that fifty ships were approaching the island.
You may wonder what do we do with this shared vision. We watch what happens all around the world. When a nymph finds something happening, she relays her senses to others. Why? So that we can make it our memory. A nymph may die an unnatural death or before she could give birth. Which is what happened in that war. I also have memories of that war that happened long ago. From the nymphs who shared it to my foremothers.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
In the war, demons chose to become powerful by bringing in a corruption not of this world. A corruption which destroyed all life. The danger of extinction was also strong in us. Many nymphs lost their lives and their loved ones. And as the war drew to a close, they made a choice.
They gave away a certain secret of the Red Beets. The war ended and the Demon Lord was killed. But we failed. We mistook our enemy. It was not the demons but the corruption they had brought. Without getting the Red Beet's immense life energy, we could not fight off the corruption. Without us, nature died.
It took a thousand years before our Mother could gain enough strength to reclaim some. Ten of our lifetimes and the corruption is still there. There are very few places left in the five continents where nymphs still live. The rest died.
My Red Beet is the last in the world. And I love him with all my heart.
I merge into a tree and watch as he goes on his way fixing the houses. He always goes to repair them after a storm. He likes the houses, the way he spends his time caring for them. Not only for what's inside but I think he likes the houses themselves. I have also watched him go fishing. A naiad shared her vision. Fish is his favorite food. He is always happy when eating it. And after eating he always plops down to sleep. He is so cute.
"What do you think the ships mean?" Combe asked.
"I don't know. Who are they?" I ask.
"They are humans. Has something happened in their lands?" Daphne replies.
"I don't know. I don't think any nymphs now live in human lands." Combe says.
"Have they come to visit?" I ask.
"I don't think so. If they did, they wouldn't bring such a number." Merope replies.
"My lord...what do you intend to do? Combe asks.
"Me...hmm..." He says and then pulls me close.
He buries his face in my breasts and starts licking them.
"My lord...no...we...are..discussing...something important....aaah~.." I try to wriggle my way out but he holds me tight. He remembers my sensitive spots and attacks vehemently. I lose all power to resist. I can't help it. He knows me inside out.
"Aaaahnn..." I plead with my eyes to the others for help. Instead...
"""My Lord~""" they joined us.
He loves me and he loves the others. It is a privilege shared only by the four of us. Soon, I am drenched again. Ah this child never gives up...what will I do.
After the lovemaking, I lie down in his arms. I am the happiest. I also feel the saddest. It's been forty years since I first became his partner. And I have realized that it is not my destiny to bear his child. I will always love him and care for him for as long as I live. But I also have a duty to my foremothers and the true Mother. To bring a new life in this world. One, who will carry our memories into the future.
I have already lured a demon who works hard. I do not know whether I will be lucky. To bring new life we take the life offered. If his life energy is not sufficient, he may lose his life to me.
I wish I could have had the child of the one I love. But my role in his life will be another. Maybe it is a good thing we retain our youthful appearance till we die.
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We were hidden in the forest when the ships began firing. The demons on the beach are the first to be hit. Most of them died in one blast. And then they turned towards the island.
Fire rained down. Nymphs got caught and burned. Naiads worked hard to bring down the fire. But there are not enough of them. Aeriads try to control the wind. They are not that powerful. Their screams ring out both in my ears and in my head. They have activated their senses relaying their last moments.
I cry out in pain from the shared senses. Our screams reach him.
He comes down to the beach shouting and screaming.
"STOP! PLEASE STOP! You are killing everyone. I beg you STOP!"
"STOP! Everyone will die.....I beg you!"
"Stop the fire! Take me instead! STOP! PLEASE!" He shouts.
"Noooooooooo....don't do that!" I scream but it is drowned out.
No, I cannot let him die. I will not let him die. I move staggering, holding the trees, ignoring the shared senses. I am sorry, my sisters, but I have something more important to do.
"Merope...see this." I decided.
"Nooooo....please....stop! Rosalie..Combe..Daphne..Merope! They will die! Stop....please stop..." His screams are filled with tears.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Loud sounds resonate as he gets hit. "Please don't die..." I hurry for all I am worth.
"Kill ME! Make it so I cannot hear those screams anymore." He shouts out. He is still alive. Thank you Mother. I reach him and become his shield.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I got hit. Blood flows out from various wounds. My hands feel the flowing blood when I bring them close. I am going to die, aren't I? I am falling but two red arms wrap around me as if saving my soul.
"Noooo...why....noo please no..." Tears fall from his red eyes.
"Because you need to live..my lord..." I simply reply.
I smile as I see his horn turn red. That is the sign a Red Beet will use his power. I am glad. It is proof that he loves me. Because only for his own, will a Red Beet use his power. It has always been our privilege and our responsibility. Only we have the power to unlock it. The ones who partner with him. The ones who come closest.
Even at the end I couldn't help teasing him. 'My lord' was always our way of teasing him. Because the other demons called him that. He may be the Demon Lord but he will always be Red Beet to the nymphs.
See this Merope. Tell this to the world. I, Rosalie, have made my choice.