Ana of Antilia

Chapter One

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. There weren't elves, fae, or mermaids either, but that all changed when the door to Antilia was once again opened. The world had all but forgotten about these creatures. They were just the things of fairytales told to children before they went to sleep. Far to the west of Portugal and Spain there lay a doorway, a passage to a forgotten world. Analynn found the door to this mystical world and opened it.

* * * * *

The sunset on the horizon painted deep shades of crimson and amethyst across the Atlantic Ocean. The colors bled into the ocean like watercolors on canvas. The view from the helm was breathtaking and Analynn sighed deeply, steadying the large, wooden steering wheel. She loved sailing. Chasing the wind out in the deep, turquoise waters made her feel free, made her feel like she was finally home.

"Ana, the wind is picking up. Do you want me to take over?" Carter's deep voice called from the door to the cabin.

"No. I'm fine." she replied, her long dark curls whipping wildly around her tan face.

"Babe, it's getting rough out here. Maybe we should head towards land. I've been hearing reports about a bad storm all afternoon. Matteo can take over for you for a little while." he was right behind her now, putting his hands on either side of her hips causing goosebumps to form on her arms despite the warm evening. "I made dinner. You need to eat." he said directly into her ear, sending her heart racing.

Even after two years, they were still so very much in love. She turned and smiled at him, her hands still steady on the wheel.

"Okay, love. I'll come in." she kissed him softly on the lips and motioned for Matteo, their helmsman, to come take the wheel.

When she stepped down into the elegant cabin the rich smell of steak and vegetables filled the air. Her stomach growled. She hadn't realized how hungry she was. She often lost track of time helming the boat. She quickly washed her hands and sat on the plush couch that surrounded her large dining table.

The sailing yacht had been her graduation gift from her father 10 years ago. It was expansive and luxurious and allowed Analynn to live on it fulltime. She was a writer and traveling the seas allowed for her to work where she felt most inspired. Most of the inside of the cabin was outfitted in beautiful shades of white and light wood with accents of bright blue and green.

Carter placed a plate of food in front of her and then poured her a tall glass of wine. Analynn watched as it sloshed around in her glass, feeling the waves beneath them crash against the hull. The storm was coming fast and it looked like they might have to ride it out. Analynn ate quickly, wanting to start writing since she spent most of the day manning the helm. She was behind and knew she needed to focus on her novel and she loved writing during a storm.

"This is delicious." she said to Carter, a mouth full of food.

"Thanks. I'm glad you like it." he smiled. His green eyes narrowed as he looked at her. "You're going to ignore me tonight, aren't you?"

"I'm sorry. I have so much writing to do." she downed her glass of wine and carried her plate to the sink. She felt Carter's hands around her waist again as he pulled her against him, kissing her neck and collarbone. Her stomach flipped, but it wasn't from excitement. They both had to brace themselves as the boat rocked violently from side to side. She could hear the rain start above deck.

"We need to help Matteo. This storm is going to be worse than I thought." she said, rushing to get above deck.

Matteo was struggling to control the wheel and Carter and Analynn hurried to lower the sails. They would have to lie ahull until the storm passes. The wind sprayed rain and ocean water all over the deck. It stung Analynn's eyes and she struggled to stay upright on the slippery deck. Her white shoes sliding underneath her and her wet hair plastered to her face as she held onto the halyard with dear life. She could hear Matteo and Carter yelling to each other behind her. As soon as she got her footing she grabbed one of the lifejackets and pulled it on over her white tank top.

She had been in storms before but you can never be fully prepared. The ocean is a living, breathing beast and it does what it wants. It takes no prisoners. Once the sails were down, she and the others made their way down to the cabin.

"My lord, that storm is going to be brutal." Carter said, handing a towel to Annalynn and taking one for himself. Matteo was already drying himself off and preparing to man the boat from the cabin. The lights flickered above and lightning lit up the sea around them. Annalynn could see the waves crashing against the hatches.

Her heart raced and a lump rose in her throat. This was not just any storm. The Coast Guard had not mentioned a hurricane but this was worse than anything Annalynn had been in. It happened so quickly. She looked at Matteo in the cockpit and she grew even more concerned. The look of worry that filled his face made her stomach drop.

"Matteo, are we going to be ok? Can we try to outrun it?"

"Ma'am, we are over a 100 miles from shore and I'm steering us further out into open water, but this storm is huge. I don't know. I just don't know." he said the last part much quieter, but Analynn heard him all the same.

Analynn went to the radio and turned it up. Crackles and pops filled the air before filling it with static. Nothing. No signal. The storm had knocked out their radio. The lights flickered again, but this time they didn't come back on.

"Noooo." she cried out in frustration. She fumbled inside one of the drawers and pulled out a couple of flashlights as Carter gathered a couple of lanterns and hung them from hooks on the ceiling.

Thunder rumbled so loudly outside that it shook the glass. Then lightning lit up the sky once more, but this time the flash of light got brighter.

"What is that?" Carter asked, staring out the window at the light.

"I....I don't know." Matteo replied. Another crash rattled the windows and Analynn was thrown against a table, banging her side hard and causing her to lose her balance. She hit the ground hard and cried out in pain.

"Analynn!" Carter yelled, scrambling to get to her. Another flash of light and then......nothing. Silence.

It was dark outside, but they couldn't hear the storm anymore and the water felt suddenly calm. Analynn, still on the ground, looked at Carter and then out the glass in front of her.

"What in the world....?" she said, pulling herself to her feet. Carter and Matteo appeared confused, neither knowing what to expect. Analynn hesitantly opened the door to the cabin, stepping out onto the deck. Darkness surrounded them and she squinted, trying to see. Just as her eyes adjusted to the dark something large flew overhead.

Analynn whipped her head around and searched the sky for whatever had just passed above them.

"What was that?" she asked Carter, who was now standing only a few feet from her on deck.

"I don't know. A plane?"

"No. There was flapping. Like a bird. A really big bird." she stated. "What happened to the storm? How did we ride through it so fast?"

Just as Carter was about to respond another large, dark object flew above them, this time lower in the sky. The moon finally moved from behind the clouds and Analynn could just make out the general shape of whatever kept flying above them.

"Is that a...a dragon?" she couldn't even believe the words coming out of her mouth.

"What!?" Carter exclaimed, his head still tilted towards the night sky.

"Umm...ma'am." Matteo said, and she turned to see what Matteo was looking at. Just in front of them was an island. She could see it clearly now in the moonlight. And circling above them was a creature that could only be described as a dragon.

"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore...." Carter quipped.