Somewhere at sea. . .1687 A.D.
The clouds rolled thick over the darkening skies. Jonathan Wright studied them. His blue eyes taking in the size as well as the menacing color. It would be a strong storm, one that would take down several ships. Many were at sea this night and many would perish. He was not going to be one of them. He touched the amber stone on his right hand, twirling the ring counter-clockwise until it warmed under his command. A soft wave of heat ran through from his ring finger to his palm. Staring in awe, he watched the haze of glimmering gray appear. The tendrils formed into Laresa, the woman that had made him who he was.
She turned to face him and he was lost in her beauty. The pale violet eyes glimmered and he saw she was happy to see him. He'd not visited her since the trip began, worried that another would see her beauty and discover their secret. "You've called, Master."
"There is a storm, Laresa," Jonathan stated solemnly. He looked out the small slit that served as a window for his private cabin. "This ship must see its way through it."
"Yes, Sir," Laresa said, her voice gave Jonathan no worry that his desire would not be met. "Laresa, when it is safe, come to me."
"Sir?" she asked. He could tell she was questioning him, something he had given her free reign to do.
"It is time Laresa. You have served me for several years now." Jonathan lay down on his bed and waved her toward the window. "Calm the storm and then come to me. My life is ending and it is with you I wish to please, before I go."
He watched her gaze shift from his old, frail body to the ocean that pounded at the ship. He felt the wind settle and the rolling cease and knew the waters were calm and the clouds no longer gray and black. He felt the bed shift and opened his eyes to gaze at the beautiful woman that was crawling toward him.
He pushed his fingers into her long silvery tresses. "Will you do something for me?"
"Sir, you're not gone yet. You've only to ask," she told him.
"I know. You have saved me many times, but I am ready. You know my Rebecca, remember her from the painting?" Jonathan asked.
"Yes," Laresa said. Once he asked her she became his Rebecca. Her features became those of a young woman, just reaching twenty years and he whispered for her to take him back. Jonathan watched in wonder as his hand, now free of age spots, stroked the raven locks of his long dead wife.
"Thank you, Laresa."
Jonathan passed that night, with the name of his wife on his lips. His aged body was found the next morning by a young cabin boy, named Seth. Seth sighed and muttered that it was about time the strange man passed away. He'd been caught talking to himself several times and it was apparent to many that he was sick in the head. As the young lad, turned away, intent on telling the Captain of their passenger's death, his eyes spotted the ring worn on the frail finger. He smiled, and walked over to the stiffened corpse. "What have we here," he whispered.
His fingers gripped the hardened hand and he pulled the ring off the dead man. "This will fetch a fine price." He tucked the ring into his breast pocket and left the room, in search of the Captain. Seth found him, delivered the news and then gathered up the supplies to wrap and secure the man's body in linen. It took no time at all for the ship to drop their passenger into the water, a prayer was offered up and Jonathan Wright, slipped into his dark watery grave. Seth whistled a tune and began his duties.
When the
Shadowy Dog
sailed into the Port of Royal, it was with a new lease on life, one he could only thank to the beautiful woman in his pocket. He thought of Laresa and how he'd discovered her. He'd taken the ring from his pocket the same night the old man had dropped into the sea. He felt the weight of it all day, so slipping it onto his dirty finger was bound to happen, but when he made move to take it off, fearful of being caught with the trinket, he found it stuck. He'd twisted it left, than right, several times, but stopped when it started to warm his palm. Fear shot through him as smoke lifted from the stone and took shape into a woman.
Seth dropped to the ground and muttered prayers to the Saints, hoping that the witch would make his death swift and easy. The voice of an angel came forth and her words changed the young Cabin Boy's life. "Good evening Master, how may I serve you?" the melodious sounding vision spoke quietly to the trembling boy.
His eyes grew wide and he looked around, fully expecting to see the Captain of the ship barreling down on him. When nothing happened Seth looked up and studied the woman. Her hair, a silvery shade, hung down her back in curls that flowed like a waterfall. Seth stared at her gown, one of sheer blue, and then green, then pink. It changed as the wind pushed it over her trim figure and full breasts. Her eyes were the color of the deepest ocean he'd traveled upon, then they shimmered to another color, one of the brightest grasses he'd played on as a child. "Master?" he whispered, not sure who or what would hear him.
"Yes, Master, what is it you wish of me. I am here to please you."
The vision did talk and this gave Seth a shiver that ran down the length of his spine. "Please me? What foolishness is this? What witchcraft do you practice?" Seth stood up on shaky legs and looked down on the ring he still wore. The stone was cold, as was the band and Seth saw the brightness of the jewel was now dull, its color stale.
"I am not a witch, but a genie. My name is Laresa and I am yours to command." The woman smiled warmly. Her gaze focused on the young man at her feet. She lowered herself and allowed her feet to touch the ships deck.
"You were in here?" Seth asked, pointing to the ring.
"Ah, yes. That is my home. I have lived thousands of years in that ring and have traveled to many places because of it. Is there a place you'd like to travel?" she asked, her eyes flickered between green and gold.
