This story is by Jasmine Gillard and was part of our 2023 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
Amina and The Sea Demon
When Amina awoke, naked by the edge of the river, the sun had set and her lover was gone. She looked out at the inky waters scintillating under the low moon. So low, she could reach up and pluck it from the night sky, like a mango from the palace gardens.
‘Femi, where have you gone, my love?’ She called.
‘Be still, Princess, the guard’s head this way. They cannot find you here.’
‘Kashi, quick help me find my clothes,’ said Amina.
The faithful firefly flew around as fast as he could, lighting the way. Amina’s clothes were nowhere to be found.
‘Princess, if the guards find you like this; you will disgrace your parents and the entire kingdom. They will banish you or put you to death. There’s no time, hide.’
The pounding of the guards’ boots drew closer. With bare feet, it was impossible to make it through the dense forest. When the fire torches appeared through the trees, Amina ran to the water’s edge and slipped under the surface. The orange flicker of a torch hovered almost above her; she pinched her nostrils, not wanting a single bubble to give away her position. Her feet sunk into the silt as she crouched down.
‘Look, footprints.’ The Commander’s gruff voice was unmistakable. Her lungs protested as she waited for the Commanders’ voice to drift further away, before poking her head above the water, to check it was safe to return to the riverbank. As she stood, the silt beneath her feet slipped away. Something like river weeds tightened around her ankles. She kicked hard to free herself, but the surface moved further away. Dragged by her legs, she plummeted to depths beyond the riverbed. A prickling sensation over her thighs forced her eyes open. A tentacled beast the size of a whale thrust her into its gelatinous body. Before she could catch her breath, it cocooned her in a slimy membrane and squeezed her until her bones threatened to snap. When she could bear the pain no more, she closed her eyes and prayed for it to end.
The smell of sulphur drifted up her nose and thumped her brain. She was lying in a dank cave with distant echoes of anguish.
‘You’re awake,’ said Mbuzi, a grey goat like creature. Only two feet tall, it had webbed feet and spoke her language with a twang she had never heard before.
‘Where am I?’ said Amina. She hugged her knees to hide her nakedness from the creature’s disdainful intrigue.
‘Welcome to the Mukarak, gateway to the Underworld. Thulu, the Sea Demon has been waiting for your arrival,’ said Mbuzi.
‘I shouldn’t be here,’ said Amina. ‘I want to go home.’
Mbuzi slapped his feet on the ground. Dozens of green beetles the size of house cats emerged, carrying a red gown with a gold pattern that looked like simmering scales.
‘Did you hear me? I said I want to go home.’
‘Thulu does not like to be kept waiting. We made clothes especially for you. Dress and come with me.’
Amina looked around. There was only one way out. She grabbed the garment from the beetles. It had a high collar; flowed to her feet with an opening at the side that ran up to her thigh. The creature gave a nod of approval. She elongated her neck as her hands smoothed the gown.
‘I’m ready. Take me to this Thulu,’ said Amina.
Mbuzi led them through a series of dimly lit tunnels. Amina ran her hands along the cragged rocks, searching for a way to remember where he was taking her. They reached an opening with an underground lake. A yellow-bellied serpent twelve feet tall sat coiled on a gold throne. When he laid eyes on Amina, he hissed, stretching out his forked tongue to taste the surrounding air. Amina froze, desperate not to recoil with disgust.
‘Finally, you are here.’
‘What do you want with me, and where is Femi?’ Said Amina.
‘Ah, the giant I sent to bring you to me. He has disappeared, but I’m sure he’ll be back for payment,’ said Thulu.
‘You lie. Femi would never do such a thing.’
‘I love that fire in your belly. You will make a great queen; but my dear, you are mistaken. Femi knew if he failed, he would die. He did what he had to, to survive.’
‘That can’t be true,’ sobbed Amina. ‘Why bring me here?’
‘Only a virgin of royal blood, can give me human children who will free me from this hellish prison. Then I can return to the sea, and roam all the waters of this earth once more.’
Amina looked at the serpent’s humanoid face. She could feel his breath on her as he circled. She pictured lying beside Femi as he stroked her face. How could she believe what Thulu was saying? She had searched Femi’s eyes; memorised the words he whispered. I will go to the ends of the earth for you. She had never felt safer. Now, as Thulu hissed into her ear, revulsion turned to anger.
‘I will never be your queen. I demand you release me at once.’
‘Spoilt, little princess. Your demands won’t work with me. You will be my queen and bear my offspring.’
‘You can’t make me,’ said Amina.
‘I have ways. You have a choice; either you become my queen or I will dry the river that flows through your father’s kingdom,’ said Thulu.
‘Without that water, the crops and cattle will die. My people will suffer.’
Amina dropped to her knees. Unlike her sisters, she battled against her father’s desires for her, determined to choose her own path. One afternoon, roaming through the forest, she met Femi, a man like none she had ever known. She gave herself to him and would walk away from all the riches to be with him. Now he was nowhere to be found, and she was at the mercy of this devil’s lecherous demands.
‘If I agree, will I be able to return to my home to see my family?’
‘As soon as you have given me a child,’ said Thulu. If she made it home, she would never return. ‘In that case, I agree.’
Thulu hissed with glee as he coiled himself around her. His tongue flickered close to her lips. He stared into her eyes, charmed by her radiance. Amina ran to the furthers corners of her mind, desperate to escape, when Thulu let out a piercing shriek. Amina opened her eyes, his yellow fangs as thick as tusks were inches from her neck.
‘Deception! You are no virgin. You are with child’
‘That is impossible,’ said Amina.
‘I can smell it. Who defiled my bride?’ Said Thulu.
‘I am not yours, and no one has defiled me. I gave myself freely to a man I love, Femi.’
Thulu’s eyes glowed red as he bellowed. ‘That giant. He betrayed me. He took you for himself. I will kill him. Be gone. I have no use for you now.’
Hundreds of beetles charged towards her from every direction. They lifted Amina off her feet and carried her towards the underground lake.
‘Where are you taking me?’ said Amina.
Rising before her was the tentacled beast that grabbed her before. Its arms enveloped her, which stung like a thousand paper cuts. Thulu’s cries faded as it plunged her crushed body under water. All around fell silent.
The pain ceased as the weeds brushed over her and the silt beneath her feet soothed Amina’s skin. Was she still in the river? She began kicking and didn’t stop until her head broke the surface of the water. Amina sucked in air and water as she clambered onto the riverbank. She would have believed it was a dream, if not for the red gown weighing her down. Crawling on her hands, a searing pain shot through her stomach. At the sight of her swollen belly, Amina let out a scream that tore the night sky open. For a moment, it was as bright as the mid-day sun. There, by the river, Amina birthed her baby.
She held the shivering infant to her bosom. How could this be? She kissed the baby girl. ‘I will call you Oshun.’
The earth quaked, and the baby cried. Waves bashed the riverbank as Thulu emerged from the water, rising to his full height. He lunged at Amina, grabbing the infant with his tentacles.
‘Bring me Femi and you can have your child.’
‘No,’ cried Amina, as Thulu dived under water, taking the screaming infant.
Amina dived into the water and thrashed around, but it was too late. Filled with a new fury. She tore the gown from her body.
‘Princess, is that you?’ Said Kashi.
‘Princess Amina is dead; I am Amina the warrior and I am going to wring the neck of the snake that stole my child.’
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