My Heaven

-My Best Cruise-

By Michael James

Part 1

Alone on the deck

On a planet,

on an ocean cruise...

“Oh come on man, you will meet some girl this trip. All you have got to do is lower your standards a bit.” He looked at his drunk friend and said he wanted a woman with class. Not some bimbo hooker. “I knew bringing you here was a mistake. I should have brought my little brother. He's 12 and would still party better than you.” He left his friend outside on the deck to go in to the party.

“Some friend you are.” He looked down at his feet, sighed and started to his room. As he walked around the ship, passing his room twice. He caught an unfamiliar scent. It smelled like a woman's perfume. He raised his head and saw a sight to remember. A woman in a dress, looking out on the ocean from the railing. Her beauty was beyond imagination to him and she was all alone. “Excuse me...”

“Yes?” When she looked at him he froze with fear. “Will you come be with me, I'd like some company.” He walked up to her then saw jellyfish tentacles coming off her arms. He was a clown fish man. Something her species would eat.

“I'm sorry to bother you. Its been a long time since I've seen another race.” She told him she didn't sting, it was alright to approach. “Okay, how long have you been on this planet?” A couple hours. She used a water gateway to arrive. When she looked up, there was a cruise ship. “Are you one of those legendary warriors, that I heard about as a child?” No she was a goddess, her name was Velvet. He started to laugh and she laughed with him. Then she walked up to him and put her hands on his hip. “Do you want to get a drink?”

“I'd love one...”

Back at the party,

“I'm telling you he's at the bar with some foreign chick.” He looked at the guy and didn't believe a word. The guy couldn't get lucky if he fished it out of the sea.

At the bar...

“What will it be?” Velvet requested something with a lot of bite. “Yes ma'am, and you sir?” Ice tea. He looked ashamed, until she grabbed his arm softly.

“What do I call you?” His name was Armand. “Don't look depressed, a lot of guys don't drink.” She had a really strong cocktail and him with his tea. They clinked their glasses and drank. When his friend came up to them. He rudely asked her what her name was? “Not interested. Now I'm trying to have a conversation here.”

“Armand, don't let this one get away...”

The next morning...

“Oh man, what a dream?” He said and opened his eyes to a bare woman in bed with him. Her jellyfish arms were around his torso. The tentacles were on his body, but not stinging him. She asked if he was up? “Oh holy lord, I'm actually in bed with a woman.”

“I hate to tell you this. But I got to jump back into the sea, two days max.” He was to shocked to say a word when she sat up and he saw her. “Vodka is not your friend, by the way.”Armand asked what? “You tried to show off by drinking a glass of the stuff. Boy it made you loopy.” Then there was a knock on the door.

“Dude wake up, who was that incredibly hot chick you were with!?” He got up and put his boxers on. Wandered over to his door. When he opened it he told his friend she was in his bed. “I cant tell you how proud I am of you. Even if you got dead drunk. Ah, breakfast ends in an 20, and its 4 hours to lunch.” He closed the door and turned to her.

“You want to go get some food? I hate to miss an opportunity to be with you Velvet.” She smiled, telling him they could always get into bed after. “You really mean that?” Sure, why not.

At the buffet...

“Wow you really like the fish meat don't you?” Velvet claimed she hadn't had food in a long time. And this was high grade gourmet stuff.

Part 2

Stalker

After 3 plates...

“I suppose I should go to the shop and find a swimsuit.” Armand asked if they weren't still going back to his room? “Oh no, we are, I just think we should be prepared.”

“Who are you again?” She was a moon jellyfish goddess. “No seriously, who are you?” Her cheeks puffed up in annoyance. Telling him that she was who said she was. “Okay, you probably have a good reason to not be honest. I'll let it be for now.” Her face looked angry at this point. The tension was broken when his friend walked up to them.

“Holy unfreaken shi... man, how... how did a shut in like you. Score such a beautiful girl!?” Velvet told him it was love at first sight. “And, what do you see when you look at me?” A player. Armand started laughing and told her she hit the nail with the hammer. The other guy was feeling as if he got emotionally murdered.

“It was great talking to you, but I'd like to talk alone with Armand now.” She said grabbing his arm and pulling him away. The guy watched them walk away, paralyzed. Until someone tapped him on the shoulder. Who wanted to know about his friend.

After the meal, they went to the clothing shop. She picked out a modest black bikini. Armand's opinion was she would look great in just about anything.

They went to a hot tub on the far side of the ship. It was empty and privet. She was served a alcohol cocktail and he had a soda. She could tell he was uncomfortable, as if it were written on his face. She broke the tension wanting to know about him.

I don't live a very interesting life. I work as a clerk in a grocery store.” Did he have any hobbies? “Yes actually, he was often going on uncomfortable trips with his wealthy friend.” He stuttered as he talked from being nervous. How could she make him more at ease, she asked? “It's just you are so gorgeous. Never in a million years would I think I'd be sipping drinks with you.”

“Let me tell you a little secret. I am attracted to nervous men. I hate men like your friend. Who could tell a woman he owned a coral reef, with a strait face. I ask again, how can I make you feel more at ease?” Kissing? Velvet backed up for a minute. Then asked “are you trying to con a kiss out of me?” Na... no.

She set her drink down and leaned in for a kiss. When their lips met, he got excited. She noticed immediately of his issue. One thing led to another, and there was romance.

Watching from a far...

“Well, I guess my fiancee, thinks she can be a slut again.” A jelly fish god said as he crushed a glass of alcohol. This guys name was Undersea, the giant phantom jellyfish god. He looked to his two henchmen across the ship and nodded.

“Look man, whatever problem you have with your girl. Just don't hurt my friend okay.” Undersea put his hand on his shoulder. “What?” If he ever told him what to do again. He would strangle him to death. Undersea let him go and walked away.

That night...

Velvet was changing into a dress, for a firework event. Purchased with her own money. Armand was wearing a suit waiting outside the bathroom. When she came out, she looked stunning. Between then and now, his friend was trying to warn him. But Armand wouldn't give him a chance, because he was to mesmerized.

During the fireworks, Velvet felt a cold chill on her neck. She knew he was there watching her. She just knew it from instinct. Her gaze went from up above, to the crowds left. Undersea was in plain sight watching her. She looked angrily at him and he smiled.

“Darling, I'll be right back. I'm feeling a bit sick, just save my seat okay.” Armand didn't think anything of, as she got up and left. His friend took her seat without delay and warned him. Armand didn't think to back off, he wanted to protect her.

On the deck,

closest to the bottom...

“Why are you here Undersea..?”

Part 3

An evil tactic

With a sly face,

he said...

“I will allow your little romance to continue if you promise to be mine.” Velvet smacked him across the face. She told him they were no longer engaged and he would leave! “If you don't agree to be mine. I will kill him just like I killed the others.”

“Have you no shame, you act more like a devil than a god.” Perhaps there isn't much difference between the two. “I will call on the moon guard to deal with you. Just like they always have.” Why did she need her knights, couldn't she just kill him now. Oh wait, she swore never to kill another god or goddess. “I wont kill you, but I will, hurt or cripple you.” Her tentacles on her arms started to move.

“HEY! Leave her alone, I'm her man, not you!” Armand walked right up to him and punched him in the face. At the cost of seriously hurting his hand. Undersea didn't back off because of him. He was afraid Velvet would hurt him.

“You are mine, and if you will continue to not listen to reason. I will find new ways to make you obedient. Mark my words goddess, I will have you love me.” Undersea flipped backwards off the ship. A couple dozen saw him go overboard. They called out to the crew and rushed to the starboard side. Armand was looking for him too. He was nowhere in sight. All night a rescue attempt was made. The ship stopped and everyone helped, everyone except two.

In his room...

“I cant believe this, I actually bedded a goddess!” Velvet sat on the bed telling him it wasn't a big deal, but he didn't hear her. “You told me you were a goddess and I refused to believe it.” Would he just shut up for a moment and let her talk! “Okay.”

“I am goddess nobility, I was scheduled to marry Undersea, because he was a solo god. He belongs to a jellyfish race that has little or no family. When I broke off the engagement. I was told I couldn't marry into any other family. Yes, I am a goddess and this was supposed to be a fling. But I feel a connection to you now.”

“Then what happens now?”

“I don't know Armand, I never thought I would find my soulmate on a cruise ship.” He looked at her with such shock. Muttering... soulmate? “Being a goddess I have a sense for such things. I know I would love to spend the rest of your life together.” And what happens when he is old and gray. “You will have me for your nurse, until the end.” He asked again, what happens now?

“I need time to get you to safety. That is if you want to spend your life with me.” Was she serious? He lived a meaningless life, with only a friend who went through life with no future plans. Even if this ended a second later, he was hers. Because this was the best cruise of his life. “I will alert the moon guard and have you safely taken to my home planet. Until then you need to stay with me for protection.”

On the stern...

“Yes my lord, we will do as requested. Might we be allowed to handle it in our own way?” Undersea told them to make her suffer. She needed to learn her place. As if, a tiny creature marrying his giant self. She should consider it an honor. “Yes my lord, she does not know her place.” He let go of his necklace and talked to his friend.

“What happens if the moon guard does get involved?” They needed to hurry before that scenario plays out. “Well then lets burn the ship and sink it to the bottom of the sea.”

In Armand's room,

an hour later...

“I don't know what you ate today, but you are really feeling it bad.” Armand was trying to convince his friend of the situation. “You want me to believe she is a goddess and her stalker is an evil god?” Velvet started smelling smoke.

“We need to leave now.” Why? “We cant delay any longer.” After she spoke the fire alarms went off. The 3 of them rushed out the door. It was pure chaos because half the ship was on fire, rising from beneath. The clown fish people were bailing off the side. And were being attacked by Undersea's jellyfish.

“My friend I cant handle this.” He turned and ran away from them going for a life boat. Armand didn't blame him for running away, but there was a new problem.

“Armand... drop!”

He hit the deck as Undersea's men came at them.

Part 4

Taken

In the heat,

of battle...

The first man swung at her. When she evaded him, the tentacles on his arm grabbed her neck. The second guy grabbed her arms from behind. Armand got up and tried his best to help her. The first guy kicked him off the ship.

“You're coming with us.”

“You two don't know who you are dealing with.” A rim of blue fire covered her clothes and skin. Burning them worse than regular fire. It hurt their souls as well as their flesh. Her eyes turned to blue fireballs and she spoke in a deep voice. “What exactly was your plan, tie me down and take me to him?”

“Actually, we only needed to distract you.” Velvet turned to the edge and Armand was gone. Her body was blazing now. She turned to them and looked like an Orca, defending its injured young. Where was he? “We wont tell you.”

“Oh, I think I can change your mind.” She vanished in blue fire and appeared behind them in a shift. She grabbed the second guy and his body blew up like a stick of dynamite.

The first guy turned and ran below deck. He appeared to had lost her after a few minutes had gone by. When she found him he used a blinding weapon. The ship was sinking, but they could breath under water. Once her eyes cleared she looked around. He had many exits, and it was anyone's guess.

“Mommy... cough cough, mommy I'm scared!” Velvet followed the sounds of a child and saw a boy trapped under rubble. She was aware, that she would lose her prey. But the goddess in her chose to help the boy. She lifted the metal and got him out and took the 3 year old to the top deck. 7 minutes later the moon guard arrived.

8 days later,

on the oceans bottom...

“Milady, I don't think we are going to find him.” Velvet turned to her eelkshie and struck him down. He didn't even defend himself. Just took the hit and was knocked back.

“Milady!” Velvet grabbed her necklace telling her man to speak. “Milady I'm sorry, Undersea has him.” She didn't react with anger she just fell to the floor and cried.