Sea of Secrets Anthology Read online

  “Where’s Bill?” Hugh yelled as he pulled on Todd’s arm. The winter winds blew fierce, making it hard to hear. “We have to get out of here.”

  “No way! I’m not about to miss this. Do you understand this fight is a thing of legends?” Jeffery lifted his hand to the Leviathan. “Never in a thousand years did I ever expect to be witnessing this!”

  “It’s not worth it if you’re dead,” Hugh said in a sarcastic tone. “I’m just suggesting we move out of the battlefield.”

  Hedad’s arms wrapped around the snake’s neck. The beast flung its snout to strike the god off-balance. But he squeezed tighter. As Leviathan coiled the muscles in its body, he launched himself into the air, sweeping the giant off his feet. Swinging his leg, Hedad tried to get behind the sea snake’s head, much like a jockey on a horse. The creature thrashed about, finally beating the side of its head down on top of the giant.

  “Help,” a faint voice called from the other side of the fight. Todd was on his feet now, but raised his head to the sound. Bill waved his arms in the air at them. A large snake shadow loomed over him.

  “Watch out!” Hugh yelled. Todd quickly covered his mouth.

  The three men watched Bill run toward him. A lump stuck in Todd’s throat when he knew he wouldn’t make it.

  “Guys! I’m over here,” Bill screamed. His eyes remained focused on them and not the danger that slithered closer to him.

  Hugh shrugged him off. “What are you doing? Bill is in trouble. We have to…”

  “You idiot,” Todd said pulling his hand away. “Haven’t you notice Leviathan is only reacting to sound. Stay quiet or we all will be…”

  The sound of deathly screams came from Bill as his skin melted upon contact from the fire breath the monster let loose.

  Todd covered his mouth when the smell reached them. He heard both men next to him spew the contents of the stomach onto the snow and ice. But they remained quiet, forcing their reactions down deep. A scorch mark remained on the ground.

  Bill continued to advance in their direction although much slower now he was in flames. He eventually crashed to the ground. Tears fell from Todd’s eyes at the thought of being so helpless.

  The god of thunderstorms slid into the snow, covering Bill’ body and dousing the flames. Holding up his club, he intercepted Leviathan’s mouth as it came down where the charred body lay. He pushed the beast back. As he swung his weapon, Todd noticed blue blood soaked the right side of the god’s gray tunic. Hedad’s blow landed on the top corner of the creature’s head. It screeched its reaction.

  A muffled cough came from Bill and Todd dropped his jaw when he realized his friend was still alive. He had never been a hero, but instincts launched him forward.

  “Where are you going?” Jeffery asked, grabbing the sleeve of his coat.

  “I don’t know. But from the looks of this, we are all going to die here. I can’t just stand here and do nothing. Bill’s still alive.” Todd pulled himself out of the man’s grasp. He ran to the hole.

  Leviathan and Hedad exchanged blow after blow, but the god was slowing in his movements. His blood pooled next to him. The snake had his tail wrapped around the giant, its fangs exposed to rip into his flesh. Todd looked down, the opening was getting smaller by the minute. He doubted the snake would be able to fit back in at this point.

  “Hey, rattlesnake,” Todd called out. A large piece of the ice launched from his hand and hit the monster in the side of the head. “It looks like your mother was a garden snake.”

  The sea creature jolted its attention in Todd’s direction, abandoning the out of breath god as it slithered away.

  “I’ve eaten rattlesnake before,” a voice called from beside him. More chunks of ice flew towards the beast. Todd turned to see Hugh standing beside him. “I wonder if it were your sister.”

  “There’s no way we were going to let you have all the fun,” Jeffery announced as he threw a chunk of earth. “If they are writing stories about this, we want to be included.” He flashed a smile at Todd before returning his gaze to the advancing enemy.

  A blue firework display flashed from behind Leviathan. The three men yelled as loudly as possible and continued to throw anything they could to keep his attention. The reptile stopped at the edge of the hole, rearing its head back to strike. A streak of blue landed down on the snake as it toppled into the opening. Flashes of lightning bolts continued to push the beast down.

  The three men scrambled back since the hole grew to accommodate the size of Leviathan and Hedad. The god punched with blue electricity as they fell deeper into the cave. Todd leaned over the pit and locked eyes with the thunderstorm god.

  “Let it be told that Hedad defeated Leviathan once more to save mankind.” The giant wrapped the snout of the snake in his arm then lifted his club to the sky. With a victory cry, lightning struck the ground around the hole, filling it in with earth and ice. The shouts from the god could no longer be heard.

  “No!” Todd shuffled forward, plopping on his knees. Snow flew from his hands as he dug.

  The harsh wind stopped blowing and he turned his gaze from the small hole he dug to the giant of a woman floating down from the heavens. The dark-haired beauty’s skin shimmered and complimented her flowing cream-colored dress that flowed around her like clouds. A crown of golden wheat sat perfectly on her wavy locks. In her hand she carried a scimitar embellished with a lion’s head.

  “Where is Hedad?” Her musical voice sang out as her bare feet landed softly in the snow. She took a step toward Todd and looked down at him. “I heard his call come from here.”

  Todd looked around for his companions, but they were hunched over Bill, staring at the lovely goddess.

  “He’s… he’s…” Todd stuttered. His gaze fell back to the hole he had dug. “Hedad has defeated the Leviathan once more to save mankind. He’s trapped,” he finished. It’s not the words he wanted to say, but the only thing he could think of in the moment. Gloved hands moved vigorously in the snow, battling the ice to get through. His guilt for demanding they investigate this cave stung his heart and cold tears dripped from his eyes.

  She inhaled a shaky breath. “The Leviathan… Did you remove the God Stone from the temple? It was put in place to keep the beast trapped here.” Her soft lovely face was replaced with a look of concern as she bent down and gently picked up Todd in her hand. Setting him down by the other men, she let out a loud whistle.

  “We did not touch the Eye of Hedad, if that’s what you mean. But we fear the blast of our explosives might have knocked it from its resting place. Hedad replaced it.” Todd scooted closer to where Bill laid, his breathing labored and difficult.

  Out of the blowing snow appeared a ginormous lioness wearing an elaborate jeweled and gold headdress. She bowed to the goddess and the woman nodded in return.

  With a strike from her scimitar to the icy ground, it shook. Large cracks ripped through the sealed hole again. Walking over to the lioness, the giant goddess mounted and wrapped her arms around the cat’s neck.

  “Kranya, are you ready?” She leaned into her mount’s muscled body. In a flash, they leaped into the opening.

  Loud booms and yelling could be heard coming from where they entered. Todd tried to find the courage to approach the opening. But he used up all his courage when he faced the sea creature.

  Several moments passed before the familiar blue lightning shot out of the cave and into the sky. Groans came from his injured friend, but Todd refused to look at him. He could not stomach the suffering Bill endured and the smell of burnt flesh, so he focused his full attention on the fight.

  The god and goddess exited the ground. Hedad floated in lightning and the woman was mounted on the back of the lioness. With a point of his club, blue electricity erupted around the hole again, closing it for good.

  Hedad ran to the woman who had just finished dismounting. Kranya, the giant lioness faded into the blizzard once more. The two large gods embraced and nuzzled noses before turning th
eir attention back to Todd and his friends.

  With large strides, they arrived at the men in just a few steps. The goddess leaned down and planted a kiss on Todd’s head.

  “Thank you,” she whispered to him.

  “You are Shala, goddess of fertility?” Todd blushed as the words came out.

  “I am Shala, goddess of fertility and crops, consort to Hedad, Ba’al of the Heavens.” She wrapped her arms around her husband’s. “You have shown bravery, human. The gods shall reward you.”

  “I was there too,” Jeffery raised his hand. “I faced the Leviathan.”

  “…me too,” Hugh added.

  Shala let out a laugh before smiling down at the men. “And so you were. Now tell me, gentlemen. What wishes can I grant you?”

  Todd tuned out the conversation as he thought about what to ask for. Occasionally hearing mentions of a castle in Ireland, a house full of gold, and a lordship to a foreign land. When he was ready, he turned to the goddess who nodded her understanding at his friends.

  “I have two wishes,” he called out to her, “if that is not too much to ask for.” She looked him up and down, before closing her eyes slightly and bowing her head.

  “I will hear your two wishes,” she responded.

  “My first wish is to heal Bill.” His gaze turned to the blackened body of his friend for the first time. He choked on the sob that finally released from his throat. Todd fell to his knees next to his suffering friend.

  “A very noble and selfless wish,” Shala replied. “Unfortunately, I do not possess the gifts over life or death. And if I granted this wish, other gods would be angered, and the world’s balance would be interrupted. What is your other wish?”

  Todd leaned his head down in defeat and closed his eyes to the blinding shine from sun on the ice. What was the point of wishes granted by the gods if they couldn’t heal someone? He paused for a moment, wondering if he should even bother asking for his much bigger wish.

  “Well,” Shala asked a little impatiently, interrupting his thoughts.

  “I wish for this place to be hidden from humans so this never happens again.” Tears streaked down his face and he wiped his sniffling nose on his coat sleeve before looking up into her perfect face.

  She reached for his hand and squeezed it. “Thou must stop disturbing the resting places of the gods on earth if you want to win favors such as what you ask. The giant bones you seek belong to gods, not mortals and were used as a place of worship, but humans have long forgotten us.” With a nod, she removed the lion pendant with red ruby eyes from around her neck. She smiled at him as she placed it on his shoulders.

  Todd’s vision faded before everything went black.

  “Todd! Todd! Wake up. You’re going to be late for the shot.”

  He opened his eyes to find Bill standing above him. Sweat poured down his face as he jolted up. Still clutching the blankets in his hand, Todd let loose a scream. Bill returned his scream and jumped back.

  “What the hell is going on in here?” Hugh said, entering the room. He had his golden graying hair tucked behind his green ball cap.

  “But. But…you’re dead,” Todd stammered out while running his hand over his shaved head. He reached for his glasses on the side table, sliding the black frames on. With a head tilt, he looked out of the bottom of his lenses to ensure he was indeed looking at Bill and not his brother Jim. The two looked exactly alike, except Bill kept his hair long.

  “I’m not dead,” Bill protested. “Now get up. The film crew already left to go to the cave. They wanted to film a few promo shots before we arrive.”

  “Where are we?” Todd asked.

  “Did you bump your head or something? We’re in Goshen, Massachusetts to film at the mystery tunnels.” Todd’s blank stare encouraged him to go on. “To film an episode of The Search of Lost Giants…”

  “No! We shouldn’t be hunting for giant bones. Those are sacred and need to remain untouched.” Todd swung his legs over the bed as if he were going to bolt.

  “Calm down,” Bill said. He pushed his hand on his friend’s chest, preventing him for getting out of bed. “What the hell has gotten into you?”

  They stared at each other for a few long moments.

  “Must have just been a bad dream then. Let me get changed, then we can leave.” Todd nodded his head to the door to indicate he wanted privacy. The two men left.

  He sat on the edge of the bed, cursing himself a fool for the way he acted in front of the guys. How did he let a vivid dream like that get to him? He knew the teasing would start before they got into the SUV to head to the cave.

  Throwing the blanket onto the bed, a clanking sound pulled his gaze to the floor. He reached down and picked up the golden lion necklace with ruby eyes hanging from a long chain. A chain long enough to fit a giant.

  Shala had granted both of his wishes. Todd smiled to himself as he put the pendant into his pocket.

  No giant bones were found that day, or any day after.

  Stephen Herczeg

  Biography

  Stephen is an IT Geek, writer, actor and film maker based in Canberra Australia. He has been writing for over twenty years and has completed a couple of dodgy novels, sixteen feature length screenplays and dozens of short stories and scripts.

  Stephen’s scripts, TITAN, Dark are the Woods, Control and Death Spores have found success in the international screenwriting competitions with a win, two runner-up and two top ten finishes.

  His horror stories have featured in Sproutlings, Hells Bells, Below the Stairs, Trickster’s Treats #1 and #2, Shades of Santa, Behind the Mask, Beyond the Infinite, Beside the Seaside, The Body Horror Book, Anemone Enemy, Petrified Punks and Beginnings.

  His Sherlock Holmes stories have been published in Sherlock Holmes in the realms of H.G. Wells, Sherlock Holmes: Adventures beyond the Canon, The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes stories: Part XI and will soon be seen in Sherlock Holmes: Adventures in the realms of Steampunk, The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes stories: Part XIV & XVI.

  Later this year, Stephen will appear in A Tribute to H.G. Wells, and has had over twenty drabbles accepted for the Curses and Cauldrons, Blood and Bitemarks, Worlds, Angels and Monsters anthologies.

  Angels of the Deep

  Stephen Herczeg

  I’ve never been claustrophobic, never feared tight spaces, or the depths of the ocean. In fact, I’ve often welcomed the isolation from the world that it brings. At least I used to, until I lost Elena.

  This damn war has been hell for everybody, not just the soldiers.

  After I was conscripted, Elena stayed on our farm just north of Bryansk. She carried our first child, the child we had conceived weeks before, when those damn Germans had arrived.

  I only found out what happened when a neighbour’s letter arrived to tell me that our house was hit by a stray shell from an advancing Panzer. Elena, the child, and everything we owned, was gone.

  Since then, my life has taken many turns, all which have led me to being stranded at the bottom of the ocean in a ticking time bomb; a floating coffin for me and dozens of my comrades.

  “Dmitry?”

  The cry snapped me from my thoughts. I looked towards the voice. Captain Mokhov stared back with a mix of anger and fear in his eyes.

  “Well?” he prompted.

  I gaped at him. I had no idea what his command was. He bristled a little.

  “The radio? Do we have a signal?”

  Finally, it clicked. I turned back to the radio and put on my headphones. I twisted the frequency dial and raised the volume. I stopped it on the agreed emergency frequency and spoke into my mouthpiece.

  “Capricorn, this is Pisces. Do you read me?”

  I waited.

  “Aquarius, this is Pisces. Emergency assistance required. Please come in.”

  Nothing but static greeted me.

  I scanned across the entire range, listening intently for any radio communications. I heard nothing but static. I searched again, more s
lowly.

  Then I heard something. Stopping the dial, I strained to hear, concentrating only on the sound from outside. There it was. Faint singing. As I reached for the gain control, it stopped, but then it was replaced by howling static.

  It was nothing. I must have been mistaken.

  As I hit the end of the dial again, my shoulders slumped. I turned towards the captain.

  “Well?” he asked.

  I shook my head.

  “I thought there was something. Maybe I was just hoping.”

  I peered across, to the depth gauge. It pointed to the number fifty.

  The radio should work at this depth.

  I thought for a moment longer, then I leaned across and tapped the gauge. The needle moved to the three hundred mark.

  Stupid dial! And stupid me! I’m a stupid fool for putting faith in it.

  I turned back to the captain.

  “I’m sorry, Captain. We have sunk down too far for the radio to penetrate the water. It will only work at about fifty feet. We are six times deeper than that.”

  “Damn,” he said then turned towards Mikhail, “Sonar?”

  Mikhail shook his head.

  “I’m getting nothing, sir. I think the transmitter was damaged in the attack.”

  “Can you fix it?”

  “I don’t think so, sir.”

  The captain’s mood grew darker and his eyes narrowed.

  Mikhail piped up again and said, “But I can check the connections in the forward torpedo room, sir.”

  The captain frowned and fired off, “Well, what are you waiting for? Get going!”

  Mikhail dropped his headphones and bolted from the control room. We all watched as the connecting door slammed shut. I watched Mikhail’s face through the view port as he spun the locking wheel. He looked as terrified as any of us. I was unsure if it was because of the captain or the certainty of our death.

  An hour ago, we were heading home after a successful campaign, but now…