Moonless Night

Moonless Night

Cornelia Amiri

MOONLESS NIGHT

Copyright © 2018 CORNELIA AMIRI

Cover art by Kyra Starr

Edited by Michelle Levigne

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or business establishments, events or locales is coincidental. All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews

I dedicate this book to all survivors of childhood physical and sexual abuse. May you stay safe and rediscover your true self.

Contents

Introduction

Glossary

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Bonus Short Story: Selkie Warrior

Selkie Warrior

Bonus: Excerpt from Hostage

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Also by Cornelia Amiri

Introduction

Hope Swims in the Darkest Seas

 Vevay can’t escape her parents or see her future ending any other way than dying by their hands. Then hope swims up to her in the form of a seaman. His legs extended in normal fashion from his body, but he has two small fishtails instead of feet, and his forearms are covered in silver scales.

But Dylan’s more than a seaman…he’s a god. He understands the pain of not having a mother’s love. Born an unwanted child and a sea creature, his mother, goddess Arianrhod dropped him into the ocean to survive on his own.

By helping Vevay face the truth that she bears no responsibility for her parent’s crimes and cruelty, they both have a chance to heal through love, hope, and freedom.  

But Vevay’s mortal and can’t live with Dylan in the depths of the ocean. And she can’t stay on earth with her parents. The only place he knows where they can be together is Annwn. But what dangers await a lonely sea god and a scared human girl in the home of the gods?

Glossary

Tinged – The Welsh equivalent of the Irish geis, it’s like placing a curse on someone

Annwn - (Ahn’ noon): The Otherworld in Welsh Mythology

Caer Sidi - (Kay-yer See-dee): A revolving castle in Annwn for the Welsh Gods

Braies – A type of plaid or checkered woolen trousers worn by the Celts

Roundhouse – A circular Celtic house with a conical thatched roof.

Main Characters:

Dylan - (Means: Son of the Wave): Welsh Sea God, a bit like a merman, who rescues and falls in love with Vevay.

Vevay - (Means: White Wave): A Welsh girl who is abused by her family and is rescued by and falls in love with Dylan

The Gods

Blodeuwedd - (Blythe-ed): Welsh Goddess of spring who was created by gods Math and Gwydion to be god Lleu's mate, since his mother put a curse or tinged on him that he shall have no wife of the race that is now on the earth.

Math - (Mott):  Welsh god of sorcery

Gronw Peb - (Growen Perev): Gronw the Radiant mortal Lord of Penllyn, and the lover of Blodeuwedd 

Lleu- (Leuk ): Welsh Sun God or God of Light, Dylan’s brother, one of Arianrhod's two sons.

Gwydion - (gwi-dee-on): Welsh god of sorcery and druid to the other gods. The brother of Arianrhod and father of Lleu and Dylan

Arianrhod - (ah-ree-AHN-rhohd): Welsh Moon-Mother Goddess of fertility, rebirth and the silver-wheel, a symbol of the ever-turning wheel of the year. She’s the sister of Gwydion and Govannon, and the mother of Lleu and Dylan.

Govannon - (gov'ɑnn-on): Welsh god of Blacksmiths. The brother of Arianrhod and Gwydion and Dylan and Lleu’s uncle

1

Beckoning her toward freedom, the soft roar and tranquil flow of the foamy waves pulled Vevay from a dark, melancholy mood. She dug her toes into the sand and rested her chin on her drawn up knees. With the sea as her only solace, she had long ago given up any real hope of escaping.

No one ever visited her roundhouse and she wasn’t allowed to go anywhere except the beach to tend the flock. Without a husband, she would never be free of her parents.

Nibbling on her lower lip, she scanned the shore. Sheep flounced across a field of wild, red strawberries, skirting a large wolfhound who romped and played. No one else was there to see her.

Shedding her baggy undyed tunic, she drew out a pair of old braies and a sleeveless tunic from a hole in the nearby tree where she kept them hidden to wear when she swam.

She slipped them on and ran into the sea. Brisk, salty waves splashed at her bruised skin, rejuvenating her. Waist deep in the sea, she dove into the teal sanctuary and swam with spirit, alive with a freedom she never had on land. Vevay broke through the surface for a big gulp of air and then let the waves carry her along with a rolling tug. Imagining herself a beautiful mermaid, she giggled when a huge wave tossed her up into the air. She landed back in the soft water. Here, her mind floated as gently as her body. Here, she could laugh.

Here, she could be free. Only here.

Sensing another’s presence, but seeing no one, she instinctively jerked in fear. A warm, glowing feeling rose within her. No longer afraid, she played pretend like she did as a little girl and whispered, Is it you, my patron god, come to rescue me?

With a huge splash, a white-foamed wave washed over her. Vevay laughed. Yet, when she rubbed the sea spray from her eyes, she gasped at what she saw—a man stood before her.

Only his chest, arms, and head were above water. The sun glistened off his pale, muscular chest, brightening his skin to a silver, otherworldly tinge. His hair was the lightest shade of blond she’d ever seen, the color of the sand. The moment his deep, dark eyes met hers, a wave of magical energy rushed through her core.

I did not mean to startle you. His smooth, sensual voice flowed through her like a ripple of heat.

Even as she felt the warmth of his being, fear coursed through her veins. She’d learned to not trust people. I haven’t seen you before. Where are you from?

He smiled and eased forward. I am of the sea. You trust the sea, do you not?

You are a man. I take comfort in the sea, albeit I know you not. She shook her head. You are of the land, not the sea.

He quirked one brow. People are not always what they seem.

True. Vevay turned her head toward the sound of loud barking coming from the shore. Not warning growls from the wolfhound, but animated, playful sounds, happy and excited at this man’s presence.

May I swim with you?

Her gaze jerked back to him. Friends were one of the many things she wasn’t allowed. At the thought of going against her parents, her skin crawled and all the muscles in her body tensed. A frightening image of her father’s livid features as his hand came down on her relentlessly flashed across her memory. An acute pain shot through her inner thighs where he always pummeled her. She dare not disobey him. He would kill her.

She couldn’t turn her gaze from the stranger or she would have swum back to shore. His eyes were brighter than the sunlight that glistened on the waves as he flashed her a whole-hearted smile. Without warning, he ducked headfirst into the water. His long, muscular legs shot up, splashing her.

She clasped her hand against her chest. Her breath caught in her throat and she gasped. She’d never expected this. She blinked her eyes, then looked again.

By the gods, the man had no feet, no ankles, no heels, no toes. His legs extended in normal fashion from his body, but two small fishtails took the place of his feet. When he came up for air, she noticed that his forearms were covered in what looked like silver bangles. Scales. He leapt from the water and into the air like a flying fish. The sea-creature was bare, except for an unusually large merman’s pouch, which hung between his legs like a loincloth.

She must be daydreaming again. That explained what she thought she saw. The tightness in her neck and shoulders eased as her muscles relaxed, stretched slightly. Her mind must have drifted off to her fondest wish, for her patron god, Dylan of the sea, to come to her rescue. It seemed so real, it always did. But this isn’t Dylan. It couldn’t be. Why would a god want anything to do with me?

Something pushed her from behind, and Vevay shrieked. She turned around, shaking, and she saw a seal. The sleek, dark animal was barking at the seaman as if speaking to him. Laughter spilled out of Vevay. Taking a deep breath, she mustered her courage and slid her head underwater. Pushing off with her feet, she swam as fast as she could to catch up to him.

Pulling her arms through the water and gently kicking her feet, she glided through the sea. Her lungs strained with the effort, she needed air. She opened her eyes, and the salty water stung. Where had he gone? Her lungs burned and she pushed off of the ocean floor.

Vevay broke through the surface and took a satisfying gulp of air. The seaman’s tail fins hit the surface with a large splash. She slipped below the water’s surface and swam in that direction until she reached his side. The seal swam up, gliding beside her.

Gently, the seaman grasped her shoulders. She jerked away from the contact, inwardly filled with an icy chill. She cringed and shivered in fear, reliving her most recent memory of her father’s treatment. Then, she instantly felt different. A warm, soothing sensation flowed through her as the merman cupped her shoulders. Swimming with him to the surface, she broke through and took a deep breath. He smiled at her, and she forgot about her father.

Who are you?

He gazed back at her with wide eyes, open-mouthed, hesitating as if lost in thought. It is not yet the time for names.

The words, ugly, foolish, No one will want you. You belong in a cage, resounded in Vevay’s mind in the voice of her mother. She turned her head away as the sting of tears pricked her eyes.

As if he could read her thoughts, he cupped the side of her face. But she flinched at his touch. The feel of a man’s touch made her cringe. Touch was pain, violence, and punishment—in her family.

Maiden, you are beauty itself. Your skin is white as sea foam and your tri-colored eyes, of blue, green, and amber, glisten like a thousand precious gems.

Her scalp tingled as he wrapped a lock of her hair around his finger.

Your hair, in contrast to your skin, is black as a raven’s wing. He paused as his eyes twinkled. Though it is not time to tell you mine, might I know your name? His voice was deep and melodic.

Vevay.

He smiled, and her heart skipped a beat.

White wave, it is a good name.

It is thought to be a fitting name reflecting my behavior. My mother says I loved to wade into the sea and play in the water as a child. She still blames me for that, for she would have to get up all the time and pull me back to shore. Then I would run toward the waves again. So, it is what I’m called.

His lips curled up into a sad, half smile. Concern showed in his eyes, but her first thought was that she had misread it. No one else cared about her. Was it concern or judgment in his gaze? Still, his smile bespoke kindness, it radiated warmth and hope.

I suppose I was a bad child.

You have never been bad. You are nothing but good. You have done no wrongs, neither to me nor anyone else. You are pure of heart. I am honored that you swam with me.

She felt less alone than she ever had.

His lips lifted into a smile, as the corners of his eyes crinkled, and his eyes twinkled. Grab my shoulders and ride on my back to the depth of the sea so I can show you things you’ve never seen before.

Held in fear’s grip, as always, she ached to go with him but faltered. I cannot, I will drown.

She trod water for a moment, reminded of her mother’s stern warnings that merfolk took girls like her to the bottom of the sea and drowned them. Still, her mother lied about most things. Everything, really.

Vevay had listened to the druid's stories and thought of those tales all the time. From them she’d developed a keen sense of good and bad. Though no one in the village would believe it, her parents wanted only bad things for her. She knew with every fiber of her being this merman was good, because he had no characteristics that reminded her of her parents.

He invited her with his open palm and curled fingers to continue swimming with him. Whenever you need to take a breath, tap my shoulder and we will share my air.

The seal whipped its head back repeatedly, as if beckoning her to accept the merman’s invitation. Instinctively, before fear took over, she grasped the seaman’s shoulders and hung on as he dove under the surface. Swiftly he swam far out to sea. Even on horseback, she had never gone that fast. Her lungs ached for air. With her arms wrapped around his neck, she released one of her hands and tapped his shoulder.

He turned his face to hers. His white blond hair rippled above his head in the low gravity of the sea. Pressing his lips to hers, he gently caressed them as air entered her mouth. Small bubbles rose in the water around her head as life-giving air filled her lungs.

Though her stomach had