Arpia de Playa
By a k edmonds
Copyright 2004
Zane Emery wanted nothing more than for this vacation to end. Thus far, nothing had gone according to plan. San Merida had turned to San Mierda.
“So much for brochures.” She smirked.
The hot little number that had accompanied her to this romantic vacation spot had ran off with the ex-lover the moment they had arrived. It was the same little number that talked her into coming here in the first place.
The airlines were still searching for Zane’s luggage. The food in San Merida tasted as though someone had scraped it from the inside of garbage cans. Then there were the private bungalows, beautifully decorated to match
any mood. Any mood from Hell could have matched.
Zane leaned back in the large wicker chair and sipped her exotic cocktail. The drink supposedly made from pulpy berries found on the passionflower, called passion fruit. A generic mix containing sour coconut better described the
taste. She would order a Scotch next time.
Sitting out on a tropical veranda that boasted a radiant ocean view, according to the brochure, should have humored Zane. The radiance was limited to a few rays of light that flickered in between the row of hotels that lined the
beach. The only way the Zane could see the ocean at all was if she leaned sideways in the chair, ducked her head, and peered between two hotels.
Zane knew she should be laughing. This trip had been so ridiculous that her friends back home would never believe it.
There were still five days remaining. Five fabulous fun filled days! Zane just couldn’t laugh. Nothing had been funny to her.
The beach was calling her name. She decided to quit drinking for the time being, although there seemed nothing left to do, but to get soused.
A stroll on the beach is just what she needed.
****
Growing up in California had provided Zane with all the time in the world on the beach. She thought of the times in high school when she and her girlfriend made love in the sand. So many girlfriends, and so many times of passion on the beach, she recalled. Oh, how she wished she were sharing times like that with someone now.
She stood at the water’s edge and dug her feet deep into the sand. The ocean was fantastic. She had to admit the crystal clarity of the water proved the most beautiful spot on the island. Zane stood there for several minutes brooding
over the negative outcome of the vacation of a lifetime.
She had planned weeks for this time, made sure that everything would be perfect for her beautifully sensual new girlfriend. Zane had arranged and paid for everything. How would she have known that Teresa’s ex lived on the
island? She thought about what a sucker she had been, providing anything and everything for the sexy woman.
Filled with self-pity, she wandered back to the hotel. She thought about packing it all in and getting out, except that she had nothing to pack. The clothes on her back and an overnight case were all that she possessed until the airline got off its butt and found her luggage. Angrily, she kicked the trashcan that sat outside the door of her bungalow. She went inside and lay down on the cot described in the advertisement as a luxurious queen-sized bed.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound at her door. Zane looked up to see the most beautiful dark skinned woman peeking inside and smiling at her. She could only speculate that the woman was a native of the island.
“Excuse me,” she said in the sweetest tone, “I think I am lost.”
So much for being a native, Zane thought as she jumped from the bed and ran to aid the helpless creature.
“Maybe I can help you. Are you looking for someone?”
“Oh yes,” she mused, “I am always looking for someone.”
Zane gulped hard and then cleared her throat. “How can I help?”
“We could dine together tonight.”
Zane felt the blood rush to her head. Was this gorgeous woman asking her out? Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
“Certainly. I would love to have dinner with you. Have you somewhere in mind?”
“Here, at this hotel. I will meet you at eight.” Then quickly, the woman was gone.
Zane had no idea how the woman could have vanished right before her eyes.
The dinner hour came quickly for Zane. It seemed she flew through the remainder of the day with buying clothes, visiting the manicurist, and having a full massage. She wanted tonight to be perfect. She deserved to enjoy the
company of that beautiful creature.
The trip was finally going to pay off. When all felt lost, a sexually arousing woman just fell in her lap. What more could she have asked for? This night would make up for her disastrous vacation.
It was eight o’clock on the nose when Zane ordered champagne. She had arrived a half hour early to ensure drinks and appetizers would be ready for her mysterious date. She sat in a high-back cane chair at a fully decorated table. The ambiance was perfectly fit for the occasion. She rubbed her hands together in anticipation for the arrival of the mystery woman.
Suddenly she heard someone close behind her clear her throat. She looked back to see a very plain woman sitting at the next table. The woman had mousy brown hair that was thin and straight. She wore horned rim glasses and was clad in a flowery summer dress. She was as plain as the vacation had been long. Nothing about the woman was attractive. She had dull hair, dull eyes, thin lips, and fashion that would compliment Daisy Duck. Zane snickered at the sight of the woman. After all, Daisy Duke was much more her style.
The woman sitting behind her looked a little like the receptionist her business partner had hired for the office. Zane could have died the day she walked in to find Jay had hired that woman. As she thought, she couldn’t remember the receptionist’s name. It started with an O, Opal, Ophelia, or something like it. Opie was more like it. Zane hadn’t said more than ten words to the employee since hire date. She had said plenty to Jay about it. She remembered being furious with Jay’s choice of women. Jay had aptly put her in her place with, ‘Get off that arrogant horse and find humility before this world destroys you’. Zane acknowledged a certain haughty attitude accompanied her personality, but it was nothing serious. One shouldn’t call her arrogant.
It was nine o’clock before Zane admitted the woman had stood her up. Why would a sexy babe who seemed so hot for her just not show up? It didn’t make sense.
She had finished the champagne and thought about ordering a Scotch. She was already woozy and bordering on drunk. With nothing better to do and the place nearly empty except for a few romantic couples and Opie sitting behind
her, she decided in favor of the drink.
She so hated this vacation.
Zane heard the woman clear her throat again, and this time when she looked back, the woman asked, “Would you like some company? You look lonely.”
Dear Goddess… not her! She could put away twenty more drinks and still, that woman would be unappealing.
“No thanks,” Zane answered. She then stood, forgetting the drink, threw money on the table and left the hotel.
Zane walked back down to the water’s edge. Moonlight glowed across the beach and flickered its way through the small water caps. Zane marveled at the tranquil beauty of the night. Gazing upward, she delighted in the stars twinkling through patches of clouds. Even as dismal as she was feeling, the night brought a sense of calm and splendor. She sat in the sand and began slowly covering herself with the sparkling white crystals. Opie had been right. She was lonely. Her well-planned glorious night of ecstasy was ending up a desolate nightmare.
Suddenly, she felt hot breath on the back of her neck and then a light tap on her shoulder. The touch caused her to jump high enough that the sand she had covered herself with seemed to explode from her legs.
Strong hands pulled on her shoulders until she was lying flat on her back. Zane was terrified. Her heart pounded against her chest. Then the beautiful dark skinned woman was peering over her.
“Hello,” the woman said. Her voice was smooth, its tone glib.
“My sweet Goddess, where have you been?” An amorous heartbeat replaced the fear that had just thumped Zane’s chest. She felt a soothing adoration wash across her body from head to toes.
“You were leaving as I walked in, so I thought I would follow you. I am very late. How can I make it up to you?”
“Any way you see fit, darlin’.”
The woman smiled and leaned over. She brushed her lips across Zane’s, and then kissed both her cheeks and forehead. Zane reached up, wrapped her arms around the woman, and pulled her tight.
Their lips met in a deep kiss. Suddenly, as if she transported from behind Zane to above her, she instantaneously straddled Zane’s hips still fully locked in the kiss. Zane felt the heat and passion quickly swell up inside her, and let the swift change of position go unnoticed. With brute strength, Zane rolled the woman over onto her back and began caressing every inch of the tanned flesh. She opened the loose fitting shirt and buried her head between the two ripemounds. Zane licked and sucked the nipples as she reached between the woman’s thighs.
With smooth accuracy, she rubbed and caressed the small mound. It felt warm and soft.
The woman moaned. Then again, and again until her voice sounded deep and harsh.
“Yes… yes…” she cried. “Yessssssssssssss,” she hissed. The deep raspy voice startled Zane. She lifted her head to see the woman’s blood rushing from her face and leaving it pasty. She was changing into something ugly and grotesque.
Zane screamed and pushed the woman away. She struggled to get up, but found she was helpless in the clutch of what was becoming a monster. She could do nothing but scream. Feeling paralyzed to escape the monster’s grip,
Zane kicked, and screamed louder.
Then, the monster began to sink into the sand. It was taking Zane with her. Zane screamed one last time for her life, but continued to sink. She was terrified, struggling against all madness to free herself, until the sand reached her neck. Zane stopped screaming, closed her eyes, and prayed.
Suddenly, she felt a strong grip on her arm, and then a hand clutched hers. Someone was pulling her up. She felt the tiny grains of sand scrape her face as she surfaced. Finally, she could breathe again. When she opened her eyes, she
was standing upright and looking into the face of Opie.
“My God, are you alright?” the woman exclaimed.
“I… I… don’t know,” Zane replied, “There was a mons… a thing… I thought…” she trailed off.
“It’s gone,” the woman consoled.
“I’m getting away from here!” Zane shouted as she began to run toward the hotel.
“She won’t be back. She’s done with you. She lost,” the woman called out.
Zane stopped in her tracks, “Huh? You know? What was it?”
The woman walked toward Zane as she began an explanation.
“She is a legend, a myth, an evil fairy tale, so they say. Some even call her a witch. She wants to have her way with anyone who desires anything at all.”
“Are you saying I’m desperate?”
“No, I’m telling you her story.”
“Go on.”
The natives call her ‘Arpia de Playa’, beach harpy, She has many appearances. She will present herself with your need, hoping to capture you, drag you down into the sand to her nest, and feed you to her young. If she succeeds, you become baby food, and your name put on a missing persons list. If she loses, she will never come for you again. She has one night every year to hunt. So, this year a few of her young will die, for her hunt was fruitless, and you will not become another Arpia de Playa statistic.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“No more ridiculous than seeing you struggling in the sand, fighting off a myth.”
Zane had to think a moment. Was what the woman saying true? Had Zane been fighting a monster or myth? Her mind started spinning as she thought. This is crazy! The moonlight flooded her eyesight and her head started spinning. Zane held her hands over her face as the rush of blood filled the top of her head. It felt as though it would burst. She stood there for what seemed an eternity, until the spinning stopped and she felt safe to uncover her face.
When Zane finally opened her eyes, she was lying on the cot in her bungalow. It must have been a dream, a horrible nightmare. She struggled to sit up. Her body felt as if it had been drug through the sand. She chuckled to herself thinking that she had punned her nightmare.
Zane lugged herself to the shower while undressing. She turned on the water, stepped inside, and began to relax in the coolness of the spray.
Afterwards, she decided some breakfast would do her good. The nightmare had been an ordeal and she had not eaten since sampling an appetizer last night. She was hungry.
While she tried to enjoy the island’s version of breakfast, she thought about the horrible monster in her dream. If Jay had been there, she would have immediately interpreted it for her. Jay had always been great at picking apart dreams and subconscious desires. Zane had to do this on her own, but she was without an idea. A beautiful woman, a monster, and Opie… what could it mean? If only Opie had been the monster and the sweet babe had saved me. The
nightmare would have been a wonderful dream. Go figure!
Later in the day, Zane found herself wandering toward the water’s edge again. It seemed to be her favorite place on the island. While she walked, she caught glimpse of Opie strolling in the distance. She stopped short and took another look. Then it hit her. The meaning of the dream flashed quickly and boldly through her mind.
She shouted at Opie. Almost calling her by the name, then thought that it probably wasn’t her name at all. Zane had made the name up in her head. She was embarrassed yelling at the woman, waving her arm around to get the
woman’s attention, but it worked. The woman turned and headed her way.
Zane ran to greet her without an inkling as to what she would say to her. When she arrived, she ran her hand through the black locks of her hair and strained for words.
“I, uh, just wanted to apologize for being rude last night in the restaurant.”
“Oh, not necessary, you weren’t at all rude.”
“Well, if you knew me, you’d know better. Please, forgive me.”
“Okay, all is forgiven.” As the woman answered Zane, she removed the sunglasses she had been wearing and revealed sparkling green eyes. Zane hadn’t noticed them the night before.
“My name is Zane,” she offered as she outstretched her arm.
“I’m Ruby,” the woman answered, meeting the handshake, “They call me Plain Ruby.”
“Ah…not so plain,” Zane replied.
Ruby blushed and thanked Zane for the compliment.
“So, Ruby, what do you do?”
Ruby smiled, “I collect rocks.”
“For a living?”
“Oh no, for fun. What I do for a living isn’t important to me.”
“So collecting rocks is important?”
“Very. I love rocks. They’re beautiful.”
It seemed strange for Zane to hear those words. Years ago, Zane collected rocks. She had quite a collection at home. She had never met anyone before who had enjoyed the same hobby.
“Do you have a favorite?”
“Of course, turritella agate, found in Wyoming.”
“You’re kidding! I went to Wyoming to get some of those fossils. I fell in love with them.”
“You’re a collector?”
“Indeed, I have an awesome collection.”
“Imagine that…”
The women spent the day together walking along the beach, having lunch, then walking along the beach again. They enjoyed each other’s company and found they had much in common. Zane was amazed at Ruby’s appeal. She was not at all the plain, dull woman that sat behind her in the restaurant. Zane felt ashamed, shallow, and yearned to make up for lost years.
The next two days Zane spent every waking minute with Ruby. They explored the island, took in the sites of the small town, and even went scuba diving. Zane was actually having the time of her life, and there had been no sex involved in their relationship, they simply enjoyed each other.
The night before Zane was to leave, while having dinner together, she expressed a serious side that was to be her downfall.
“I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”
“I know, I’m sad to see you go. I’ve enjoyed your company.”
“That’s just how I feel. I’ve been happier than ever these last two days. Being with you has opened my eyes, and my heart.”
“And so…”
“How about, we go back to my bungalow, sip some champagne, and talk about how and when we will see each other again.”
“I suppose we do need to talk.”
Once inside the bungalow, Zane broke out the champagne and poured each of them a glass. She admired Ruby much more than she ever thought possible. Jay would be proud! Zane sat beside the other woman and wrapped an arm
round her.
“Here’s a toast… to our friendship.”
They tipped glasses and sipped. Then, Zane relieved Ruby of her glass and sat both on a nearby table. She wrapped both arms around the woman and pulled her close. They locked in a kiss. Ruby’s earlier described thin lips grew full and demanding against Zane’s own. The all too familiar feeling of lust tugged at Zane.
Suddenly, Ruby pulled away.
“This is as far as I can go, Zane,” she explained.
“What? We've only just begun.”
“No,” Ruby said calmly, “We have finished.”
“But, I thought you said…”
Ruby interrupted her mid sentence. “I did say.”
“Then I don’t understand.”
“I don’t expect you to.”
“Ruby, what’s going on? I thought this was the beginning of a relationship.”
“It is the beginning.”
“And I want it to continue. Come home with me. Live with me. I love being with you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I’ll never leave this island, Zane.”
“What? You live here?”
“I belong here.”
With her announcement, Ruby stood and walked out of the bungalow. Zane was dazed and confused momentarily before she ran out the door to stop Ruby from leaving. Standing in front of her bungalow, Zane saw no sign of Ruby.
Looking in all directions, Zane could only surmise that the woman had vanished from sight. Zane’s last plea would go unheard.
****
Zane hadn’t slept the entire night. Twice, she had gone out into the night searching for Ruby, but to no avail. She sat on the cot the remainder of the night until it was daylight, when she searched again. Her search began on the beach and when it brought no results, Zane headed back to the hotel. Upon entering the lobby, she asked the hotel manager to check for Ruby’s name in the register. She didn’t know Ruby’s last name. She hadn’t even thought to ask her. The manager assured her that no one with the name Ruby was staying at the hotel.
Zane’s next thought was the restaurant. She and Ruby had been in the restaurant together several times. The headwaiter said no. He had never seen a woman of that description in the restaurant. Zane thought he was crazy. She
pointed to the table where Ruby had been sitting the first night. As she looked at the spot where the table had been, there was nothing but a small potted palm. What’s going on? Am I the one who’s crazy?
****
Two days later, Zane was on her way to the office. She had managed to put the vacation behind her, explaining it away as one huge nightmare. There was no other way to describe it. Upon entering the lobby, she immediately noticed the receptionist. She strolled right up to the desk and said good morning to the plain girl. Ah, not so plain after all. She noticed the bright green eyes and the brilliant smile that appeared when the woman answered.
“Good morning to you, Ms. Emery.”
“Please, call me Zane.” She lightly slapped the desktop then headed for her office.
“Hey, babe, it’s good to see you!” Jay jumped up from Zane’s desk and met her with a huge hug.
“Ditto, lady.”
“So, how was your vacation?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me.”
“For now, I can say this much, remember that high horse you told me to get off?”
“I do.”
“Well, let’s say I was dragged off...kicking and screaming.”
“That bad, huh?”
Zane patted Jay on the back, smiled, and sat down at her desk.
“Hey, what’s this on the internet?”
Jay leaned over her shoulder, “Just something I was reading about that island where you were. There’s some spooky legend there.”
As Zane read about the legend, she remembered every word of it from her dream. The exact story was displayed on the website for all to see. She scratched her head as she thought that she must have visited this site before. It
must have stayed in her subconscious. It surely explained the dream, but what about the rest of her days on the island.
“Look here, Zane,” Jay pointed over her shoulder to the left bottom corner of the screen, “It says there is a Goddess that protects the island, though no one has ever seen her. And a news flash… Nearly every year a person is reported
missing, never to be found. This year the natives are celebrating Ruby’s defeat of Arpia de Playa.
Before Jay could read another word… Zane fainted.
END
