50

Forget about Brice putting me in a trance. His dick puts me to bed and knocks me out until the next day. If I wasn't walking funny before, I certainly am now.

After freshening up, I make my way to the kitchen. I'm starving. I'd only eaten a sandwich and a few pieces of meat the day before, then Brice came along and distracted me with other activities.

I help myself to the usual breakfast spread and try to act cool in front of the girls who are the only ones in the kitchen this morning.

"I thought I told you to be mindful," says Antonella.

I look up and see only her at the table. A sense of relief washes over me. For some reason or other, Hailey and Jessica make me uncomfortable. They haven't said or done anything in particular during my stay, but it's awkward around them nonetheless.

"What are you talking about?" I reply, taking a seat at the table they just vacated with my full plate.

"You and Brice were all over each other at the beach during the game. Then he throws you over his shoulder, you disappear for a few hours, and when he comes back you're missing, but your clothes are in his hands."

First of all, Brice was all over me. I get what she's insinuating happened, but the part about my clothes stumps me.

"What do you mean?"

"I have a passion for fashion and yes, there are some clothes that need to be burned. However, that yellow bikini you were wearing was so cute, and the colouring against your skin..." she kisses her fingers. "Did you get into a fight or something?"

"He burnt my bikini?"

"Not just the bikini amica, there were a few other items that went in as well. He just whoosh tossed them into the bonfire."

Under any other circumstances, I would find Antonella's gestures and onomatopoeia hilarious. It's not funny though because she's talking about my shit.

"He did what?" I ask around a mouthful, etiquette forgotten.

"Tossed them into the fire like kindle to a flame," she elaborates.

The question was rhetorical. I cover my face in mortification. What is wrong Brice?

"What are you going to wear to the yacht party?"

I'm still trying to process her previous revelation. What is Antonella going on about now? I swallow down my food and start picking at what's on my plate.

"What are you talking about? What party?"

"The guys rented a yacht for the group that we're to board this afternoon. Didn't Brice tell you about it?"

No, Brice doesn't tell me much if anything. So much has happened over these past few days, hell, over these past few months. I feel tired. My mind is all over the place and my body is exhausted which makes absolutely no sense because I just woke up.

"No... I don't know."

My mind is racing. I feel disoriented. Something is off with me, but I can't put my finger on what it is.

"Non preocccuparti. We can go shopping for new swimsuits. I could use some retail therapy. Looks like you could too." Don't worry about it.

Just then Brice walks into the kitchen with his boys. When our eyes connect, he looks at me all smug. I get up and take my plate with me because I'm mad at him, but I don't want to start a fight in front of all these people.

He moves to stand in front of me and leans in for a kiss.

Can he not take a hint?

I turn away and the kiss lands on my cheek. The lopsided grin on his face falls.

"What's wrong?"

"Did you burn my clothes?"

His lips stretch into a thin line, but he doesn't deny it. I take that as confirmation and walk away. He follows me back into the pool house.

I set my plate on the kitchen counter and make my way into the closet. I can account for most of my clothes. I brought so many things I'm not even sure what's missing. Then I notice I can't find it.

"Where's my dress Brice?"

"Which one?"

I take out the phone from my back pocket, open Instagram and show him the pic I took on the night of MD.

"Let me see that?" he says, taking the phone out of my hand.

When he starts tapping on the screen, I try to take my phone back, but he holds it out of my reach. Why is he so tall? Even at 5'5 he easily towers over me.

After a few, he finally gives it back. I scroll through my page and notice he's deleted the photo of me in the black dress as well as the picture of me and Mark.

"What the fuck Brice!?"

I'm beyond pissed at this point.

"I don't want other guys seeing what's mine and I definitely don't want pictures of you with other guys."

"Those were not just pictures, they were memories. And Mark is not some guy, he was my date." I try to explain.

"I don't care!" he raises his voice.

This man-child is giving me a headache. I need to sit down.

I get out of the closet, perch myself on the edge of the bed, and hold my head in my hands exasperated. I hear his footsteps pad over to me on the soft carpet.

"Here."

I look up to see him holding his phone out to me.

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

"Delete what you don't like."

Is he serious? I take his phone and scroll through his account. I'm not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

There are hundreds of pictures all of which I've seen. What can I say? He was my crush so it's safe to assume I've stalked him on the socials.

I delete the pictures of him and Hailey looking a little too close for my liking as well as pictures of him with other girls kissing on him or touching him inappropriately. It takes me much longer than it took him. He even takes a seat beside me. When I'm done, I hand him back his phone.

"Happy?" Brice asks me.

"Maybe," is my reply. It's not something that's ever bothered me. Brice is attractive, rich and popular. All those pictures happened before we were together. "I guess we're even now. So what's this I'm hearing about a yacht party ?" I ask, ready to move on to better things.

"You wanna go?"

"What am I gonna wear? You're becoming a nuisance and more of an expense than I budgeted for."

"Amore, why would you say such a thing?" asks Brice, looking all offended.

"First, you donate my winnings then you burn my clothes. What next? Do you think money grows on trees or did your parents never teach you the value of hard-earned cash?"

"I was taught the true value of money."

Brice stands up and walks toward the mounted TV in his bedroom. He unplugs the wires and easily settles it on the floor revealing a safe.

When he opens it, I can see that it's filled with money. To my surprise, there are varying denominations: rands, euros, dollars, and pounds which he takes out by the band. There are even gold and silver bars.

"There are two laws that govern the world; The Law of the Land and The Law of the Sea. Money, by law, is water which is why it's referred to as liquidity. It falls under Maritime Admiralty Law."

"I don't understand what you're saying, let alone what this has to do with you squandering my money."

"Let me try again."

Brice focuses on the glass of water on his side of the bed and the liquid rises, forms into a stream, and flows over to him mid air.  I sit up, watching in wonder.

"Where is money stored?" he asks me.

"A bank?"

"Yes, and where do you find banks in nature?"

"Alongside a river?"

"Very good. A riverbank is created by the flow of the current sea. Different currents, different seas, different banks, hence the various currencies around the world."

He tosses one of the stacks of cash in his hand at me. I catch the rack of orange Madibas.

I understand the play on words and can see what he's alluding to, however, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this.

"How much is this?" I inquire flipping through the notes.

"200 x 100"

"R20 000" I answer my own question

"Just as a river flows so does money. It passes through our hands like water. Some never have enough while others are swimming in it. That's why it's valuable. It's the ebb and flow of the tide. It goes out and comes back in - such is the nature of cash flow."

I look at him perplexed. I'd never realised there was such a strong connection between money and water.

"Is that enough to cover the cost of my damages?"

It's more than enough but that doesn't give him the right to take such liberties.

"Aren't you going to apologize?"

"No. For what? I would do it all over again. If you need something, ask me. No other man is going to give my girl money."

I roll my eyes. One minute, he sounds intelligent and the next he's a caveman.

"I earned that money," I retort.

"That's not your responsibility as a woman - especially mine."

"What do you mean?"

The water that has been floating at his side returns back to the glass without a single drop spilling.

"I'll refer to a source material you understand - the Bible. You've read the story of Adam and Eve, right?" I nod my head. The church just loved harping on about Eve and that damn fruit. "Then you should understand that Adam was cursed to work and Eve was cursed in child bearing. Me Adam; you Eve."

"Okay Tarzan. Then why did you pay me to tutor you for exams? I was putting in some serious work considering who I was working with."

"I paid to ensure you would give me the time of day not necessarily for the work you did. I would never let you work. Just let me spoil you, okay?"

He kisses my cheek and heads into the bathroom.

I flop back onto the bed confounded by his reasoning.

*

I take Antonella up on her offer to go shopping and we stop by a few stores she swears by. We're currently at a high-end boutique on a commercial street that overlooks the beach. I've never been to Plett before so I trust her judgement. However, I'm suspicious of this new found friendship. Hailey and Jessica are still her friends after all, not me.

As we walk around the store, I voice my thoughts to her. "Why are you here with me instead of your friends?"

Antonella rolls her eyes dramatically.

"I don't think they appreciate me or my opinions." I look at her in askance waiting for her to elaborate. "Hailey wants Brice back as a lover despite being a part of his family now and Jessica is acting like it will happen knowing very well he's is not that kind of guy."

"What do you mean by that? About Brice?"

"He has the money and the looks. Over and above that he comes from the right family. That's the trifecta of power. Men like that are hard to manipulate. They take what they want and do what they want, no offence."

I know exactly what she means. Brice has been bulldozing over me for the past few months and I'm powerless to stop him. He's beyond human.

"Why would I be offended?"

"He's doing you, isn't he?" she winks at me conspiratorially. "Mio Dio, men like that are notorious for the pump and dumb."

"Pump and  dump?" I ask, a little distracted as I look through the various bathing suits on display.

"They spread their wild oats until it's time to settle down. You could just be an exploratory phase - no offense."

"None taken, I guess."

I'm not about to defend my relationship with Brice especially with the way he's been behaving. I can only hope his possessiveness is a phase, that he'll eventually calm down and let me live a little.

"Clearly, he's into you. But, there have been others... I'm a realist. A man like that can have any woman he wants. Why you? Why Hailey, for that matter? She's a little delusional if you ask me and all Jessica is doing is indulging her fantasies. A bit of a yes man, if you ask me." Antonella continues to ramble as she flicks through the racks of hangers and clothing. "Have you found anything?"

No, I haven't. I spaced out a little at her words. What would I do if Brice decided to dump me and move onto the next one?

Shit! I've even had sex with him twice in as many days without protection.

I'm an idiot.

"Can I help you?" asks, the shop assistant.

"Yes!" I reply, thankful for the interruption. "I'm looking for good swimwear."

"Right this way."

The petite lady leads me to a corner of the store where there is a selection of cute swimsuit choices. Brice comes to mind and the thought of him burning these items makes me hesitant to even buy one.

"Don't you like what you see?" the lady asks, noting my reluctance.

"I do. I'm just not sure if my boyfriend would like them."

She raises a questioning eyebrow and my cheeks warm in embarrassment. I wonder what she must think of me. I know for a fact I'm whipped.

"A woman should dress for herself not a man. Is he your husband?"

"No, but – "

"No buts. Until he puts a ring on it, you're free to do as you please."

She's right. I can't be submitting to his every whim especially this early on in our relationship.

"I'm going to a yacht party. What would you recommend?" I try to steer the conversation back on track.

"Hmmm, we do have some new arrivals. Give me a minute."

She heads to the back and comes out with a few splendid pieces. However, I'm not sure you are meant to swim in them.

"OMG! These are spectacular! You have to try them on," encourages Antonella, looking like a kid at Christmas as she picks up the various items from the rack and inspects them.

I head into the change room with a few.

I'm not sold until I learn that they come with accessories. My favourite are the green and pink bathing suits. The green one comes with a kimono cover-up and the pink one comes with a crocheted skirt. I can't decide which I like best so I buy them both and hope for the best.

I pay for them in cash using half the money that Brice gave me. I don't think I've ever spent 10 grand on a couple of costumes. Then I remember his little lecture about ebb and flow so I throw in a hat and a pair of sunglasses if he insists on spoiling me.

***

OSIMIRI

The Queen of the Coast sat in what looked like a meditative state. There was not much she could do while they waited for the Thrones to come back with their verdict. She couldn't communicate with her worshipers, but she could watch through the eyes of those that bore her mark or wore her charms.

She focused her gaze on the southern tip of the African continent and was surprised to see Soleil and another girl enter one of her shops. She'd bought some sexy outfits that were sure to turn heads. The girl was quite the beauty.

Osimiri was curious to know where the young woman was going to and what she'd be doing after she left the store.

How had Thierry failed to recognise her? Then again, Osimiri didn't know about her either. They may have been gods among men, but they were not omniscient. They relied on their networks for intel.

A few months ago when Soleil had made a wish, the Master of Time notified Osimiri of Soleil and the prince in exchange for an extension in one of her lands. The Merovingian had bound them through time. One could not return without the other.

Osimiri's sight shifted to her new recruit – Ariel.

Thierry had banished her for whatever reason. It didn't matter to the goddess. What mattered was that the young mermaid was angry and wanted retribution. They had struck a deal. She would give Ariel a new skin in exchange for weakening Thierry's precious son. If everything worked in her favour, the little prince would die during his crossing of the North Sea.

She couldn't communicate with Ariel from this realm as there was a break between the Thrones and the World of Man. However, she could use her powers to tap into her consciousness and survey what she'd been up to.

Osimiri watched as Ariel had fun both on land and in the sea which is where she initially made contact with Brice. She'd asked him to retrieve her original skin in exchange for information.

That stupid double-crossing fish. Does she think she can renege her deal with me?

Osimiri, now annoyed, continued her glimpse through the mind of the mermaid and watched as she made contact with him again on the beach. He'd denied her request and this time she asked for his seed which is what she should have done in the first place.

The Queen of the Coast wondered why Ariel hadn't used her powers of seduction. Was she stupid? It would have made things so much easier. Being on land for so long must have made the mermaid stupid.

There was nothing Osimiri could do about it from the heavenly plane but wait. If Ariel knew what was good for her, she'd uphold her end of the bargain. If she failed to deliver, The Queen swore to feed her to the ravenous demons who hadn't tasted a mermaid in decades.

2024 / 06 / 15

WC: 3 062

We're coming to the end of this story season soon...

Shout out to mitruworld! I love your stories girl 🤩

Check out one of her many paranormal/supernatural books. Currently reading Ms Understood