Hanging from her wrists by the long chain, the cliff face at her back, Marisa stared, bewildered, as the statuesque, feminine figure slowly emerged from the waves.
The water was almost at her waist, now, rising further and further up her body, but she barely realized it, so enraptured she was by this apparition. For surely that was all it could be, a figment of her exhausted mind.
The realization that she was not hallucinating, that she was, in fact, faced by the most beautiful creature she'd ever seen, came slowly, then all at once, her mouth dropping open in shock.
The woman, for that was what she seemed to be, rose in the water from the waist up. She was naked, save for several necklaces she wore made of various shells and sea glass beads, which gave the approximation of some type of modesty. Her hair was long and very pale blonde, flowing freely, and her skin was dark and tanned, as if she spent a great deal of time in the sun.
Her curvaceous figure towered over Marisa, who didn't quite believe what she was seeing until the strange woman reached out one long finger, and rested it on her chin.
"You'd best close this," she said in a melodic voice, "else I'll find something to put in it."
Marisa closed her mouth.
"Who -- who are you?" she asked, voice hoarse from shouting and a lack of water. She at least had the sense not to ask, what are you? which seemed like it would be both rude and foolish.
This woman could be her only hope. It would be best not to offend her.
"My name is Nahnai," she said, her melodious voice low and sultry, as she stroked down Marisa's cheek. "You called for me."
"I - I did?"
"Yes. With blood and salt you called, with promises on your sweet lips you called. Anything, you said, anything to live."
"I - yes," Marisa breathed. "Yes, anything."
And she found she was speaking the truth. She wasn't ready to die, not yet.
Not like this.
"Good," Nahnai purred. "Then you will bargain with me. My terms are very simple. You will serve me, obey my every whim, and act as my legs and my voice on land. In return, I will free you, give you powers you have never imagined, and tie your life to mine."
Marisa should ask.
She should question this woman, this sea goddess, for surely that's what she was.
She should ask for details, for some kind of explanation.
But as the metal dug into her wrists, as every breath she took ached, she knew there was no point. It was agree -- or die.
"Yes," she said softly, knowing she was signing her life away. "Anything."
The woman smiled, and Marisa's eyes widened. Her teeth were pointed, razor sharp. They reminded Marisa of the sharks that would sometimes wash up on the shore of the village. No, this woman was nothing human.
"You have questions," she murmured. "And they will be answered. But first, you must make your oath. You have bled for me, shed tears for me, now you must swear to me."
"I swear --"
"Yes, I know," Nahnai crooned, ever so gently, running her fingers through Marisa's damp red hair. "I know you are desperate, but it will just be a moment longer. Now, do you swear to serve me?"
"Yes."
"Do you swear to obey my every command?"
"Yes."
"Do you swear to uphold my word, and return to the sea everlasting?"
"Yes, I swear," Marisa almost sobbed, the promise of relief making the pain all the worse.
Nahnai leaned forward, pressing her lips to Marisa's.
"Then find true freedom in my embrace," she whispered, and Marisa felt something that wasn't a hand wrap around her legs, creeping up her thighs. She gasped, and Nahnai took the opportunity to slip her tongue into her mouth, giving her a deep kiss.
Whatever it was on her thighs suddenly lifted her into the air, relieving the pressure on her wrists. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around Nahnai's waist, steadying herself and relieving the pressure on her shoulders.
Nahnai laughed.
"Eager, are you?" she said, pulling back slightly, a smirk on her face. "I'm going to fuck you now, sweet thing."