Chapter Twenty-nine: The Beach Fort

With the threat of Noforl gone, Tark collapsed on the black-sanded beach. Hekin, Thorn, and I emerged from his body, but we weren't ourselves. My red claws were gone, replaced by emerald green hands. My body wasn't in shadows. It was my forest nymph body that I had lost when I became a demon. My bright orange and yellow flowers bloomed on my vine-covered arms and legs.

Thorn also regained his wind nymph body. His light blue hands and silky hair almost blended into the sky as he flew high, laughing the whole time.

Hekin's human body had long dark hair and amber eyes. He shivered with no clothes, and I made a suit of leaves for him.

"Thanks, Jopp," he beamed. He breathed in the salty sea air and gazed at Tark.

I kneeled by Tark's sleeping figure and made a pillow of seed pods for him. I covered him in his fur blanket and sighed.

"Where are the others?" Hekin wondered.

"They aren't far," I responded as I stroked Tark's face, wiping his tears.

"Her real name was Mayzel, Tark," I whispered to his sad dreams. "I'm sure she'd be honored if you made that part of your name."

"Mayzel," Tark mumbled.

I chuckled as I stroked his hair that was now streaked with silver and dark blue.

"I have a cock again!" Hekin shouted with glee. "Woohoo!"

"Be quiet!" I demanded. "We just saved the world, and Tark needs his rest!" To make sure no one could bother him, I enclosed him in a sound proof barrier that resembled a fibrous cocoon.

"He'll be fine," Hekin assured.

"Thorn! Bring everyone else here," I commanded.

Thorn circled around me as he stirred up the sand. "Sure thing, Jopp!" He flew towards the forest behind us.

The sun was at its zenith when everyone else arrived with Thorn's wind magic and the trekkers. I didn't think he'd bring the survivors of the human race from around the whole damn planet!

Women of all colors, shapes, and sizes were glancing at each other and speaking in their different tongues. I gulped as I linked their emotions with ours.

"Are you sure there's no one else?" I asked Thorn. I hadn't expected so many women to be survivors. Not a single male stood among them.

"Unless they're hidden with magic like the witches, I don't sense anyone else," Thorn shrugged.

"Damn!" I blurted. "The immortal witches . . ." I sighed as I focused my thoughts. "All right, everyone! We've brought you here to let you know the Prince of Darkness, Noforl, has been defeated. That means the world isn't in danger from his demon attacks. His witches, however, are still alive and roaming the land. We will have a fort built here, and if you are interested in staying with us for safety and two men to procreate--"

"Three men!" Thorn interrupted. "I have a cock, too!"

"Shut up!" I spat as I glared daggers at him. I cleared my throat and continued. "As I was saying, if you wish to join us, please raise your hand."

Most of the women stared at us in disbelief. I figured a show of our new magic was in order. With the powers over the forest, huge trees grew around us while smaller trees intertwined, resembling the tree houses I had seen humans build. Spiraling wooden staircases led to the spacious houses that had large openings for doors and windows. The refreshing breeze of the ocean swayed the hammocks made of flower petals. When I noticed their reaction of amazement and awe to the orange and yellow flowers, I let small ones bloom at the handrail of the staircase, leading them to the tree houses. I added different colors to them and placed them in their hair in the form of tiaras. Some of the women didn't care for the flowers, but they gasped at the view from the canopy.

The calming ocean waves were a wonderful sight. I signaled at Thorn to clean the beach, and he made the black sands shift to white, glittering the colors of the rainbow like diamonds. Most of the women squealed with delight. Some, however, had stayed on the ground and trembled. They were deathly afraid of heights.

I smiled as the rows of vines flattened and hardened like bark close to the ground. With layers and planning, they erected a house that resembled Tark's. The patio opened to the ocean, and a swimming pool shimmered beside it. A large oak's leaves rustled as it provided shade to the women that liked their space and quiet. I placed sound proof pods for them to explore with the trekkers.

I sighed when Tark still didn't wake up. He would've enjoyed this, I was sure.

"Why aren't you having fun like the rest of them?" Mil queried as she took my hand.

I gazed at her for a moment and glanced at Tark's sleeping cocoon. "I'm afraid he'll never wake up."

Mil squeezed my hand and kissed my cheek before resting her head on my shoulder. "I have a feeling he'll be fine. It'll take some time, but he'll be all right."

"You always know how to cheer a nymph up, huh?" I smirked.

Mil giggled as Golir and Rif jumped into the pool. They captured the hearts of the women and trekkers. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. How long could this peace last? The harsh reality was Mayzel and Noforl had a father, and he wouldn't be too pleased with the people that killed his son. I was determined to protect this place, and I knew I couldn't do it alone. I glanced at Thorn and Hekin. Their serious expressions meant they were ready to handle anything that stood in our way. The solemnity vanished when a group of women ran to them and took their hands. They laughed as they ran along the beach and kicked up the diamond sands.

I covered my eyes in dismay when Thorn hadn't bothered to wear anything. His jiggling butt cheeks would forever haunt me. "How did you put up with him, Ezrin?" I gritted through clenched teeth.

"He seems quite popular to some of them," Mil beamed.

"I have a mind to knock his block off," I muttered.

"There's no one that will stop you," Mil reminded with a snicker.

"Have my demonic ways rubbed off on you?" I asked with a smile.

Mil laughed as she playfully punched my arm. Her merriment must've awoken the jealousy in Golir and Rif.

"She's mine!" Golir declared as he tried to tackle me. I kept him away with a vine that wrapped around his head. "Hey! That's not fair!"

"She's mine!" Rif added. He leapt at my face, surprising me for a second at how agile he was.

Mil caught him in midair and twirled him around before setting him on the ground. "Behave! The next person that attacks Jopp will be punished!"

Golir and Rif stared at me and laughed.

"Nice try! That's not Jopp!" Golir protested. "Jopp is an ugly shadow and this girl is pretty!"

"Ugly?" I growled. "Girl?"

Mil burst into giggles as she held her stomach.

"She doesn't look pretty anymore," Rif blurted as I scowled at them.

"Meddling, confused twits," I grumbled.

Golir's eyes widened in surprise. "Hey! Jopp said that, too! Are you his sister?"

"I am Jopp!" I blasted. "I'm just greener and less cursed."

"You look . . . different," Golir admitted with a firm nod.

"It's better," Rif offered as he blushed.

"You stay away from me," I told Rif. "I better not catch you humping my leg. Now, both of you go away and go play. I feel like I might be sick." Dizziness washed over me as I stumbled to the patio while Mil held me steady.

"Did you use too much energy?" she queried.

"Feels like it," I groaned. My pounding headache subsided once Mil and I sat on a couch together. She rested my head on her lap and stroked the small leaves and flowers that resembled hair. Her warm body seemed to melt away the pain as I fell asleep. My curious mind wondered if she liked this new fort.