Christine

Posted Sunday, September 7, 2025

3mo

INTJ

8

7

Thoughts

So I’m currently working on a book that I’ve titled whispers of the tide. Here’s an excerpt from it and a possible cover concept it’s a mermaid fantasy and I’m working to get it published, but I’m not sure how good it actually is but I hope you enjoy it. (I have made the chapters kind of episodic) Chrissy jolted awake, breath sharp, pulse hammering in her ears. Something's wrong. The certainty clamped down on her chest like a vice—heavy, suffocating, undeniable.  She grabbed her phone, hands shaking as she opened the group chat.  Chrissy: Do you guys feel that? Something's wrong.  A few moments passed.  Thalassa: Now that you mention it... yeah.  Kai: The tide feels off.  Nick: What are you talking about?  Kyle: Chrissy, it's the middle of the night.  That didn't matter. She was already moving, throwing on clothes, heart pounding with urgency she couldn't explain.  Chrissy: We need to get to the cave. Now.  Minutes later, they reached the shore. The moon's glow shimmered against the waves, illuminating the sand beneath the surface in ghostly silver. The ocean looked calm, but Chrissy felt it—an eerie charge twisting through the water, something beneath the waves coiled and waiting.  She dove first.  Nick, Kyle, and Lacy struggled to keep up, lungs burning, limbs fighting the pull of the current. But Maddie, Thalassa, and Kai? They moved effortlessly, slicing through the water like it welcomed them, carrying them forward rather than resisting.  Chrissy didn't notice. She didn't care. She was already breaking the surface in the cavern, dragging herself onto the stone floor, breathless, dripping, but driven.  She ran.  The hidden chamber loomed ahead, her heart hammering harder with every step. The moment she entered, her stomach dropped.  The rocks—moved.  Stones that had concealed her hiding place were shoved aside, scattered in careless disarray.  Chrissy fell to her knees, scrambling to check the hollow where she had kept the Gems. Her fingers scraped against emptiness.  Gone.  The weight of it crushed her chest, sinking deep into the pit of her stomach.  "So much for that being a piece of cake," she muttered, bitterness lacing her words.  Silence.  Kyle stiffened, jaw tightening, but before he could say anything, Nick cut in. "Let's not all blow our tops." He exhaled sharply, scanning the chamber before turning to Lacy—the one who always had a plan. "So... what do we do now?"  Before she could answer, Chrissy turned.  She walked out of the hidden chamber, feet silent against the stone. The weight of everything pressed down on her, unbearable, suffocating, twisting her insides into knots. She reached the edge of the cavern, staring down at the water.  Then—she sank down.  Her fingers curled against the stone, pressing into the cold surface as the first tear spilled over. Then another. Then more.  The dam broke.  Everything—everything—came crashing down. The stolen Gems. The war she wanted nothing to do with. The truth about her parents. The lighthouse. The weight of being the chosen one. All she had ever wanted was to fit in, to be normal, but the world refused to let her have that.  The air shifted.  Wind coiled through the cavern, sharp and unnatural. The water darkened. Pressure mounted, thick and heavy, as the first tremors of the storm stirred.  Kai was the first to move.  He knelt in front of her, hands bracing against the ground, eyes searching hers. "Chrissy, breathe." His voice was firm, steady, grounding—but it wasn't enough.  She was slipping.  The storm churned, waves thrashing against the cavern walls, wind howling through the air. Her emotions twisted in her chest, tangled in fear, in exhaustion, in everything.  And then—she dove.  Without warning, without hesitation, she vanished beneath the surface. The water swallowed her whole, leaving only ripples in her wake.  Silence.  Maddie was the first to speak. "Shouldn't one of us go after her?"  Nick shook his head, eyes locked on the water. "I wouldn't do that. You'd probably get eaten by the dragon."  Every head whipped around.  "What?"  Nick sighed, running a hand through his soaked hair. "You guys know how I feel about her, but yeah. She now has a dragon—an actual in-the-sea dragon. Surprise she didn't mention that before she went to bed, but... yeah, there's a dragon now."  Thalassa and Kai stared at him, unimpressed.  "Those don't exist," Thalassa said flatly.  Nick let out a short laugh. "Well. Yesterday, when we were looking for the next stone—which, turns out, is called the Leviathan's Eye—Chrissy ran into two dragons in a sea trench, almost died, and then this actual silvery dragon just... saved her and now follows her around like a puppy. But not a puppy."  Silence.  Lacy crossed her arms, glancing at Thalassa and Kai. "As the designated researcher here, let's review, shall we? In the Bible, there are mentions of underwater sea monsters called the Leviathan, which look a whole lot like dragons. Mermaids didn't exist—except, here you are. Kai's kind supposedly didn't exist in the human world, and even in the mermaid world, we thought your people died out thousands of years ago in a battle against the Ocean Giants. So before we automatically assume dragons don't exist, maybe let's crack open some books and see what we can find before brushing off the idea. At this point, anything is possible. Honestly, I'd believe aliens were real if somebody told me."  Maddie shrugged. "We also didn't know about Nereids, and here I am."  Kyle sighed. "Okay, but should someone go after Chrissy?"  Nick exhaled, shaking his head. "I think she needs time. We started this looking for magic and mermaids, and now she's found out she's the chosen one—the one who will either keep the balance between the land and sea or be the reason the world spins into chaos. You may not believe me about the dragon, but I know what I saw. And I believe it'll protect her if there's anything out there that might harm her."  His gaze dropped to the water, voice quieter. "Losing those stones when we were just figuring out what the artifact is? That's devastating for her. She'll be back. We just need to give her space."  Maddie giggled. "Yeah, 'cause you giving Chrissy space is so normal."  That cracked the tension wide open—laughter spilled into the cavern, sharp, short, and needed.  Lacy sighed, surveying them all. "All right, let's head to the Book Nook. We'll leave Chrissy and this supposed dragon to each other like Nick suggests, and we'll drink coffee, eat something, and do what we do best—figure things out. She probably feels like she's alone right now, but she's not. Every single one of us is here because we care about her, because we care about what's happening, and because we believe in that prophecy. If what she needs is to blow off steam in some dark, undiscovered part of the ocean, then that's what we're gonna let her do—because she will be back."  She met their eyes, firm. "Now let's get cracking. We need every book we can find on dragons, and I have notes on the artifact, but there's a lot we still need to piece together. Standing in a cave arguing isn't going to help Chrissy. So let's move."  And just like that, the next battle began. — The bell above the door chimed softly as they stepped into the warm glow of the shop, the scent of parchment, wood, and fresh coffee wrapping around them. Shelves stretched toward the ceiling, packed with books brimming with myth, history, and secrets waiting to be unraveled. This wasn't just a bookstore—it was Lacy's domain, her family's legacy, and now, their war room. She walked briskly toward the central reading space. "Alright," she said, voice sharp, decisive. "We're splitting up. We need everything—deep-sea mythology, lost artifacts, prophecies, legends of dragons, anything remotely tied to the Leviathan's Eye." Her gaze flickered over them, assigning tasks. "Kai, Thalassa—anything on deep-sea mythology. Maddie, artifacts and relics tied to oceanic magic. Kyle, folklore on ancient oceanic battles. Nick—" A hesitation. Then—"Ancient texts that mention creatures of the abyss. If a book even looks like it might have something useful, grab it." No time for questions. No time for debate. The group scattered, bookshelves creaking as they pulled texts from aged corners, flipping pages, scanning passages. Lacy moved with practiced ease, stepping behind the counter, pouring coffee with steady hands. Six cups. Extra caffeine. No cream for Nick. Double shot for herself. Her fingers worked fast, stacking food onto a tray, thoughts racing just as fast. This wasn't just research. It was about Chrissy. And something told her they were running out of time. --- The table was cluttered with books, pages flipped, notes scattered, the scent of coffee curling into the air. Lacy set down the tray, sliding drinks toward their rightful owners. The others were buried in research—but the tension hadn't disappeared. And that was when the arguing started. "I'm telling you, I saw it!" Nick snapped, rubbing his temple, frustration bleeding into his voice. "It wasn't some weird reflection, it wasn't an eel, it was a full-sized, scaly, very real dragon." "Nick," Kai sighed, closing his book, "come on. You really think—" "Neither do you guys," Nick interrupted sharply, gesturing toward Kai and Thalassa, "but here we are. Sitting at a table, talking." That shut them up. For a moment. Thalassa crossed her arms, unimpressed. "The difference is, we have records. We're a species. Dragons aren't." Nick exhaled sharply, ready to fight back— SLAM. Lacy's book hit the table hard, rattling their cups. "Say something related to the research or shut up before I take this book and clock you all with it." Silence. Then—Maddie laughed. Not loud, just a breath of amusement—until every glare landed on her. She grinned quietly, raised her hands in surrender, and went back to flipping through her book. For a few moments, they actually focused—pages turned, notes scribbled, tension simmering beneath their concentration. Then—Maddie froze. Eyes locked onto the text in front of her. Something stood out. She flipped back a page, then forward again, breath catching. "Uh—" Before she could speak—the arguing started again. Nick and Thalassa were already back at it, frustration curling into their voices, Kai jumping in with exasperated logic. Maddie tried again. "Guys—" Nothing. She sighed, reached for her phone, scrolled down— And blasted the loudest siren noise she could find. Chaos. Coffee spilled, chairs scraped, Lacy nearly jumped, looking ready to commit actual murder. Maddie smiled, sweetly. "Finally. Can I read to you what I found, or are you guys going to keep fighting and continue not helping Chrissy at all?" Nick groaned, rubbing his temples. "Fine. What did you find?" Maddie cleared her throat, scanning the passage again. "Deep down, in the darkest parts of the ocean, farther than any known thing has ever gone, there lives what the Bible calls the Leviathan, and what the world calls sea dragons. Many sailors claim to have seen these creatures, saying they tore their boats apart. Scientists dismiss them as exaggerations—stories built on sightings of giant squids or other deep-sea creatures. But true sailors—those who have spent their lives on the water—they know the secrets better than any scientist ever could. Those myths—those legends—hold more truth than the world realizes. The sea dragons go by many names. But in the deepest depths, there lies a stone. One of its kind. Called the Leviathan's Eye. Myth, or legend, or fact—only one will be able to wield this. For defense or destruction of the world." Silence. Kyle swallowed. "Well. That just escalated." Then—Nick froze. Eyes scanning his book. Fingers clenched around the pages, breath uneven. His grip tightened. And then—he grabbed the table hard enough to shake it. Mugs rattled. Books jumped. Coffee spilled. Nick didn't notice. Didn't react. Didn't even seem aware of the chaos. Just panic. "Nick?" Lacy's voice cut through the tension. He didn't answer. "I let her go alone," he whispered. Then again—sharper. Angrier. "I let her go alone." Lacy barely hesitated before grabbing the book, flipping to what had caused him to spiral. Her eyes scanned the passage. And then—she read aloud. "There's a legend that states two sea dragons—one many call the Tide Sentinel, and another believed to be named the Abyss Warden—will rise at an appointed time when a war will decide the fate of the world. The Tide Sentinel—the one sworn to protect the one who heeds it's calling. Its scales glow white, shimmering with bioluminescent light, its fiery blue eyes burning with unnatural intensity. The Abyss Warden—the one who wields the power to kill the chosen one, for its very presence drains their strength. Its scales are black, swirling with depths of violet and silver. Its eyes burn red—a predator's gaze, meant to consume, meant to devour." Nick suddenly sat bolt upright. "I saw the Tide Sentinel," he murmured, voice tight with realization. "That's the one that came out of the water with Chrissy. That's the exact description." Then—he snapped his head toward Kai and Thalassa. "I told you." Kai's face was rigid, unreadable—until he exhaled sharply, conflicted, shaking his head. "My kind has been around for thousands of years. We've lived all over the ocean, places humans have never even touched. We've never found a single trace of dragons." Thalassa placed a hand on his arm, voice quiet, steady. "The Deep Ones aren't the only ones who have lived in the ocean, Kai. My kind doesn't live in the abyss, but we've listened to the currents, followed the tides, and carried the stories of sailors and the ones who dared to venture too far. These legends weren't pulled from nowhere. They came from someone. And right now, Chrissy is out there, caught in the middle of it—alone." Nick cursed under his breath. Lacy stood fast, chair scraping against the floor, voice sharp. "We need to find Chrissy. And we need to find her fast." --- The ocean stretched infinitely around her, vast and dark, but never empty. It was the one place she could think, where the noise of the world above couldn't touch her, where she could move without expectations—without the weight of everything pressing in. She dove deeper, muscles steady, the water cool against her skin, wrapping around her like a silent refuge. Until—she felt it. A shift. A presence. She slowed, scanning the depths. For half a second, she thought it was Kai or Thalassa—maybe one of them had followed her. But when she turned— Nothing. Just the shimmer of fractured light filtering through the waves. She exhaled, pushing forward, shaking off the unease. Light refractions. Ocean currents. Nothing weird. But then—the water shifted again. Not naturally. Not like the tide adjusting. This was intentional. A vibration rippled through the ocean, pressing against her skin, sharp and unnatural. Chrissy froze, turning abruptly—again, nothing. Until—a flicker. A flash of fiery blue, just for an instant—before it vanished. Her pulse picked up, fingers curling slightly—but she refused to retreat. She stayed still, treading water, waiting. She knew something was out there. She couldn't see it—but it was watching. A shimmer in the water appeared again, faint but deliberate, hovering just beyond reach. Chrissy didn't flinch. She didn't run. Instead, she spoke. "I'm not afraid of you." The shimmer brightened. And then—the water stirred, shifting, curling outward—until the Tide Sentinel appeared. Its massive form unfurled, white scales glowing like living fire, its bioluminescence pulsing, fiery blue eyes locked onto her with a quiet certainty. Chrissy inhaled—not in fear, but in recognition. "I wondered if I was going to see you again." She didn't move. She knew—this creature had saved her once before. And now, it was here again. She exhaled, shoulders loosening. "Thank you... for what you did yesterday." The Tide Sentinel remained steady, unwavering, listening. And suddenly—everything spilled out. "I don't know why. I don't know why anything happens anymore. I wanted to be normal. I wanted to fit in. And now it feels like everything is falling apart." Her voice wavered. "The stones are missing. We have no answers, and every time we think we understand something, it just gets worse. And now—" The water changed again. A pull—sharp, wrong. Not the Sentinel. Something else. Chrissy felt it instantly—and so did the Tide Sentinel. Its massive body coiled, glow intensifying, muscles tensing like it was preparing for battle. A pulse rolled through the ocean, deep and heavy, like the very waters had shifted to make room for whatever had just entered. And then—it struck. A black blur tore through the depths, sudden and violent, slamming into the Tide Sentinel with brutal force. The impact shook the water—Chrissy felt it in her bones, like a shockwave rippling through the deep. The Sentinel reeled back, recovering, but it was hurt. And that's when she saw it. The Abyss Warden. Its ink-black scales twisted in the currents, shadows clinging to its form, fiery red eyes burning in the depths. Chrissy barely had time to react—before it turned on her. She reached for her necklace—but she was too slow. The force hit her, dragging her downward, pulling her into the abyss. The water pressed in, suffocating—not physically, but deeper. A draining sensation spread through her instantly. Not just exhaustion. Not just pain. Something was being pulled away. Her muscles felt heavy, her mind blurred, thoughts slipping into nothing—like she was sinking into a void too deep to claw her way back from. She wanted to close her eyes. She wanted to forget. For a fraction of a second, she thought about letting go. Until—a voice. Sharp, commanding—cutting through the haze like fire through ice. "Wake up. Fight back." It wasn't hers. It wasn't the Abyss Warden. But it pulled her out. Her fingers reached, grasping her necklace, clutching the stone as something surged from within her. The transformation hit. The ocean answered her call. And then—the Tide Sentinel roared back. Its bioluminescence flared, burning through the water like white-hot fire, its blue eyes locked onto the Abyss Warden with a fury that shook the deep. And Chrissy felt it—the connection. The instant her power activated, the Tide Sentinel's energy surged, feeding into hers, amplifying beyond anything she'd ever felt. Their eyes glowed, even brighter, the blue fire wrapping around them, radiating outward, pulsing through the ocean itself. And the Abyss Warden felt it. It hesitated, instincts screaming warning. The blue fire wasn't just power. It was dangerous. To it. It watched them, body coiled, gaze calculating—before it finally retreated, shadows curling around its form as it pulled back. But it didn't leave in defeat. It lingered, staring them down, its red eyes burning. It gave them a single, wordless promise. "I'm coming back. And I won't be alone." Chrissy watched it disappear, her breath shaky. Then—her body gave in. She fainted, the edges of the world flickering out, darkness swallowing her whole. --- ### The Shore—Chrissy's Realization The scent of salt woke her first. The sound of waves followed. Chrissy blinked, vision blurring, damp sand rough beneath her skin. She was alive. And then—she realized. She was here because the Tide Sentinel had brought her back. She exhaled sharply, struggling to sit up—until pain lanced through her side. She winced, pressing a hand against it— And froze. The wound was worse. Not just black volcanic rock-like substance— But veins of burning red, like lava cascading down stone, pulsing beneath her skin. Her pulse spiked, fingers hovering over it, not comprehending. What did the Abyss Warden do to her? She had no answers. But she knew one thing. She needed help. Chrissy pushed herself to her feet, shaky, aching—but moving. And then, without hesitation, she headed for the Book Nook. --- Chrissy stepped toward the entrance of the Book Nook, exhaustion creeping into her limbs, the lingering heat in her side burning beneath her ribs. Her focus was simple—get inside, regroup, explain everything. She had no idea that, at the exact same moment—the others were rushing out to find her. Before she could process it—they collided. Nick was leading the charge, Maddie mid-step with a half-shouted word, Kai swinging the door open so fast it nearly hit her—and suddenly, Chrissy stumbled backwards, the impact forcing her back a few steps, wincing as pain lanced through her side. Nobody noticed. Not the way her fingers briefly brushed her ribs. Not the way her stance faltered for half a second before she straightened. Instead—Nick caught her first, eyes scanning her, rapid-fire questions flying instantly. "Are you okay?" "Where were you?" "Do you know how worried—" Chrissy lifted a hand in exhausted defense, exhaling through the ache in her ribs. "Inside. Everyone inside. I promise, I'll explain." The urgency in her tone shut them up just enough to listen. Lacy, ever the voice of reason, ushered everyone back inside, directing them toward the large table. Books were shuffled aside. Chairs scraped against wood. And then—Lacy placed a coffee and a chocolate muffin in front of Chrissy. A small, grounding thing, something normal amidst the chaos. Chrissy murmured a quiet thanks, wrapping her hands around the cup, taking a slow sip as the conversation shifted to dragons—what they had found, what was real, what was possible. She listened, taking small bites of the muffin, letting their words drift around her, waiting. And then—casually, almost too relaxed—she spoke. "Hypothetically... did anyone happen to read what happens to the chosen one if they get bit by the Abyss Warden?" Silence. Lacy paused mid-sip. Maddie blinked twice. Kai narrowed his eyes, like he was trying to decide whether or not she was joking. "Why?" Maddie finally asked, cautious. Chrissy took another sip of her coffee. "I may or may not have been bitten." And then—the room dropped into stunned silence. Nick registered it first. His spine straightened, fingers curling over the pages of an open book, his voice sharp. "Did you get bit?" Chrissy sighed, exhaling through the heat still burning in her side, before lifting the hem of her shirt— And revealing the wound. The volcanic blackness, twisted like rock, veined with fiery red, pulsing faintly beneath her skin like lava breaking through stone. The reaction was immediate. Nick cursed under his breath, already flipping through pages. Maddie grabbed a book, scanning rapidly without even knowing what she was looking for. Kai muttered something in frustration. Thalassa sat back, eyes sharp, like she was trying to put the pieces together faster than the others. And then—Chrissy turned to her. "Thank you, by the way. For the warning you sent me." Thalassa blinked, confused. "What warning?" Chrissy frowned slightly. "The one where you said to wake up and fight back when I was being dragged into the depths by the Abyss Warden. It gave me enough strength to push through. So... thanks." Thalassa set her book down, expression shifting—serious, calculating. "Chrissy... I didn't send that." The weight of those words settled fast. Chrissy's pulse picked up, something cold forming in the pit of her stomach. Nick, already processing the shift, glanced up, his voice lower. "Wait. So who the hell told you to fight back?" And nobody had an answer. Nick exhaled sharply, pushing his chair back, scanning the room like he was trying to reset his priorities in real-time. "Okay, first—we need to figure out what the hell this bite is actually doing to you. And then—" He runs a hand through his hair, eyes flicking between the books scattered across the table—"Then we figure out who sent you that warning." Maddie, still flipping pages, mutters, "Both sound equally terrifying." Kai leans forward, fingers pressing against the wood, his voice serious. "If the Abyss Warden left something behind, we need to know if it's... changing you." Thalassa is already scanning one of the larger texts, jaw tight, brows furrowed deep. "And I don't like that someone spoke to you while you were trapped down there. Someone we don't even know." Chrissy exhales, gripping her coffee, the warmth comforting even as the heat in her side worsens. She forces herself to stay steady, knowing the next few hours are about finding answers, before something changes in a way they can't fix. (edited)