Freyja

Freyja thought about it for many moons.

Then one night, she gave in...

"Your magicks are useless, mermaid," claimed the Serpent. "I'll provide you the spell you seek. However..." The Serpent loved to haggle.

Freyja hesitated, but the thought of resurrecting her dead lover was overwhelming. She looked about her, at the splintered remnants of her failed conjurings, the tortured statues of the once-dead...

"Name your price, Trickster."

Freyja refused a kiss. She balked at touching the Foul One no matter how much he persisted. But finally, a deal was struck.

The Serpent saw the ship.

"Bring their souls to me," he demanded.

And with that, Freyja released the fairy lights.

The ship turned toward the shore...


(All images used in this illustration are copyright 2007 Russ Horseman. No commercial stock photography used. Model image taken by the model herself, and she wishes to remain anonymous. Mermaids are like that.)