Santianna will take your soul
The Inspiration:
Many legends come out of the Caribbean, with many that still
believe in spirits, evil mermaids, voodoo, and other local tales. Living on the
island of Grand Cayman for nine years, I have heard many of these, which
sparked my interest, and most of all, listening firsthand about a paranormal
experience from a woman who was renting a condo in the same complex my husband
and I had rented for a year.
Not many would listen to her accounts of a strange entity taking possession of her body and soul. She found me, and I was one she seemed to trust. I had made recordings of her incidents and many notes, knowing that I would someday write a story that had been based on some of these accounts.
Santianna:
This exotic beauty is a legend among the people of Jamaica
and the Caymans, yet some would only get to know her when they were fighting
for their lives or happened to be victims of her next feeding.
Having been scorned many years ago by her fiancé, a seaman who jilted her, Santianna threw herself into the sea but was rescued by a family of Mer People who saved her life only to transform her into an evil mermaid who would become immortal by taking the souls of males. Right after Hurricane Ivan hit Grand Cayman in 2004, the waters unearthed her presence, and with her powers intensified, she set her sights on a small resort on the east end of Grand Cayman.
The Rescue of Tessa Malone:
Tessa and her husband had booked a suite at Paradise Palms
in Grand Cayman for their honeymoon and were snorkeling out by the reef when
Tessa lost sight of her husband and hit her head on the reef. Beginning to
drown, she found herself being saved by Santianna—or at least she thought she
was.
An Excerpt from Night Mistress of Paradise Palms:
She could see a faint white mist in the distance and feel a
slight breeze picking up. Hearing what sounded like someone humming a tune
caused her to muster enough energy to raise her head to see if it was a storm.
The white mist took on the form of a waterspout and moved at a steady speed
toward her. The humming became clearer but was subtle—one that reminded her of
a lullaby she remembered hearing when she was a child. As the mist came closer,
Tessa could see it emerge into the transparent form of a woman encased in a
golden aura. “Don’t fear my lady. I am here to save you.” The apparition seemed
to float on the water as she was now about two feet from Tessa.
“Who... who are you?”
“I am Santianna,” answered the apparition. I was in the
water when your husband drowned you.” Her body wavered as she spoke, her long
dark locks moved like serpentine snakes in the breeze. “I’m so sorry what
happened to you.”
“No! He couldn’t! Not my Joe! And why didn’t you try to save
me if you were there?”
“I could not. I couldn’t change your destiny, my dear. All I
can do is promise to keep your spirit alive until you have found a way to cross
over. You have unfinished business here; your life was taken too soon.”
“Are you an angel?” Tessa asked.
“You may have heard of me. I’m more of an enigma. I am a Sea
Goddess. I hail from Jamaica. It’s been eons ago that I was murdered in these
same waters, by a man, whom I thought loved me too. Now I help souls in need
who meet an untimely death. I’m not sure you’ve heard the legends.”
Santianna positioned herself next to Tessa. Her body had now
solidified into a full female figure, but one far from normal. Her bluish skin
and radiant golden eyes belonged to that of a creature not of this earthly
realm. Santianna moved her long slender hands over Tessa’s body while golden
sparks shot off from her heavy bronze cuff bracelets on each arm. She hummed
that same calming tune Tessa was familiar with. It was haunting, yet
comforting. “You should be feeling the vibrations now, my lady. Relax, and let
them come. Accept this gift.”
Tessa was too weak yet to comment but closed her eyes and
succumbed to Santianna’s commands. What felt like piercing needles under her
skin soon turned to a radiant heat that ran from her head down through her
toes. Her pale skin began to take on some color. She found herself strong
enough to sit up fully, taking in more of her surroundings and trying to
comprehend what was happening. She glared at this apparition trying to figure
out what kind of spirit she was. “You... you are doing this for me because...”
“Because I have been wronged long ago, just as you have my
dear. You will join me in reclaiming justice.”
“But if I’m dead, I want to cross over! When will that be?”
Tessa locked eyes with Santianna. Her mind was still a blur over what had
happened.
“Once you have captured the souls of seven males. This will
be your fuel to enable you to pass on. During that time, you will be bound to
this area and will cleanse this place of years of wrongdoings. It’s the only
way.”
“But if I’m dead, I want to cross over! When will that be?”
Tessa locked eyes with Santianna. Her mind was still a blur over what had
happened.
“Once you have captured the souls of seven males. This will
be your fuel to enable you to pass on. During that time, you will be bound to
this area and will cleanse this place of years of wrongdoings. It’s the only
way.”
Tessa gave Santianna an incredulous look. “Just how long
will that take?”
“It’s up to you. There are many guests at the Trade Winds.
You can steal one each night or take as long as you need.”
“And how do I go about this?”
“It will come naturally. You are now in spirit form and a
sexual enchantress. Your victims will view you as a transparent being whom
they will desire to have their bodies ravished. You will
find this to be rejuvenating for you. With each soul capture, you will gain
more strength which will help you cross over more easily. Your power has been
gifted through me.”
“And what about Joe? He needs to suffer. What will happen to
him?” Tessa voiced concern.
“That my dear will be taken care of. Justice will come,
trust me.”
“So, I’ll remain out here at sea for all this time?”
“Yes, just as foam on the water until darkness falls and you
will find your nourishment in the night off a living male. You will come to
enjoy it—you will see.”
“And where shall you be? Will I see you again?”
“I will be here, but you will not see me until your journey is done. I’ll be the one who will be escorting you to the other side. Until then, my sister, find solace in the sleep you so need to begin your journey. Praise be the goddess!”
Read this story in its entirety in the Supernatural Thriller Night Mistress of Paradise Palms. Available in eBook and print.
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