As I expected, the blue-hulled yacht came into view as we rounded the point and Psarou Bay widened out to greet us. We were fast approaching this unbelievably large and luxurious ship as i held Kleio's arm to keep her steady while we seemed to fly over the swells. Our captors said nothing more to us and obviously were working carefully to bringing us up to the mega-yacht. I was fully aware this all had to do with something Melina was in control of.

            I looked into Kleio's face. While hers was an expression of terror, she also kept asking with her expressive eyes if I had any idea about this whole abduction. I could only nod to her in some hopes to calm her and to express that I might know something, hopefully to tell her when we had an opportunity to be alone. Meanwhile Giorgi and Frankenstein were now keeping focused on bringing the boat up to the back docking platform of the ship which dwarfed the craft we were on. When we were bumping up against this landing dock at the stern of the yacht, another man, whom I remember seeing at the dinner party—the younger of the two others, was there to receive us. He was shirtless and wearing a Hawaiian pattern bathing suit as he tied up our boat. 

            It was as if we entered a five-star hotel when Kleio and I were marched inside the large observation room near the back of the amazing pleasure ship. Were were told by our new host to sit on what seemed to be white leather couches surrounded by tinted glass windows. There was a stairs in the corner leading to an upper deck, and next to it a wet bar. There was also what looked like a small wooden dance floor in the roomy space, designed for people to gather. I noticed above us the ceilings were mirrors. This newer man walked up took a seat across from us. He had a kinder face and smiled. Both Kleio and I just waited for what he possibly would say.

            "I hope Giogri and Nicolai were not to rough with you both in Chora. These guys look tough but actually . . . they're just  big pussy cats."

            We remained silent.

            "So . . . this little trip you've made to the Selene was at the request of Melina. Now Bryce, I understand you've had the pleasure of meeting her already."

            Kleio looked at me in disbelief.

            "Well, yes," I said defensively. "But I never thought she would kidnap me. . . or my totally innocent friend here." I looked back at Kleio to see if that had any affect upon allayed her fears.

            It didn't.

            "And young lady . . . your name is . . .?"

            "Look. she's a friend. And I 'm asking you to let her go back to Chora right away."

            "Well, Bryce, I'm afraid that can't happen. Too many things have already been set in motion."

            "Look. man!" I said boldly, taking a huge chance of raising his ire. "This girl has nothing to do with any of this. Or anything I've gotten myself into with Melina."

            "Fine. Relax. By the way, let me introduce myself. I am Dusek. My name means 'soul' or 'spirit' in the Czech language. I am from the city of Prague and I have known Melina for . . . let's say many. many years. You will meet my wife Anezka soon and perhaps she will comfort your young friend . . . So, I'm sorry, your name my dear . . .?"         He looked at Kleio patiently.

            I interjected angrily again. "I really don't think you need to know her . . ."

            "My name is Kleio." She said almost in a whisper.

            "Wonderful. Kleio it is. And I assume you are Greek?

            "Nai. Emai Ellenida. Greek."

            "And your name comes from one of the muses, right? Let's see now . . . I believe Kleio  was the mythological muse of . . . ."

            "Historia." Kleio said quietly and proudly.

            "Oh yes. Yes, that's right. Lovely. Well I'm going to take you now to Melina's suite. She will inform you about this evening's events. I'm sure that all of your questions will be answered as to why you are here with us. So . . . shall we?"

            Dusek stood and held his hand out cordially again, directing us up the stairway. Reaching the next level of the ship, we were soon walking down a long, carpeted corridor with doors on each side. I assumed these were rooms for guests and crew. At the end of this hall, another stairway led up to a smaller,  shorter section of the ship but with large observation windows to see the view panoramically while streaming across virtually any body of water in the world.

            When Dusek brought us to the door at the end of the passageway, he simply motioned for me to push the doorbell. Strangely, he turned and left as soon as I had touched the button. And after several moments the door opened and I had a feeling of déjà vu, once again entering Melina's world. Seated in a cream-colored wing back chair, with a backdrop of only a blue sea and sky behind her was the elegant lady I had seen only the night before--there in her equally impressive residence back on the island.

            Melina was dressed on this occasion in jade green pants suit, looking to be silk once more. She wore no jewelry and her hair was as before pulled back lightly, emphasizing those striking Mediterranean features—the high cheekbones of a model and a flawless, symmetrical face. I could tell Kleio was  extremely nervous as we stepped in to her large living area and the door closed automatically behind us.

            "Hello Bryce." she said, cordially smiling. "Well I'm sure you didn't expect to see me again so soon." Her tan hands folded peacefully in front of her. "But for me, it's a pleasure."            

        Without getting up, she motioned for us to take the comfortable-looking chairs across from her, which we reluctantly did. I could feel the ship was now moving and there was a sensation that deep below us powerful engines were being brought up to full capacity.

            "You and your beautiful friend here will serve us well this evening," Melina said in a cooler tone. while looking over Kleio carefully. It was a look something akin to envy.

            Kleio's eyes widened again in fear, but she did not move or speak.

            "Well, in our discussion last night," I said bravely, "we never did cover exactly what this evening on Delos will be like." I tried to maintain my composure and embolden Kleio in her worsening circumstances.

            "Yes. And as I remember telling you, Bryce . . . it would remain a secret. One which now it seems,  you will discover for yourself . . . You and your lovely siren here."

            It was obvious that Melina, in the presence of Kleio, was different. She was dispassionate and even ironic—the way I'd seen mortal women act when feeling jealousy.

            "So. . . are there any hints about what we can expect  . . .under the full moon tonight?"

            "Only that you are both very fortunate."  

            Melina rose out of her chair and walked over closer to us. She smiled subtly.

        "You see, Bryce . . . I had chosen from the island this year another young couple which we would have brought here . Where you both sit right now. But after our little heart-to heart last night, you charmed me into not abducting them, but instead you . . . and of course, your friend? Lover?

            This time Kleio did not offer her name.

            "Her name is Kleio. And Melina, she knows nothing of who or what you are. I ask you with great respect . . . just release her back to her parents. You can do whatever you wish with me tonight."

            She smiled more fully and stepped even nearer.

            "You see, Bryce . . . it's not really that simple. We need Kleio to complete this event. To bring another year to closure and anoint a new one for all of us."

             Kleio just kept looking down at the carpeted floor.  

             "You and she will give us that power we must have . . .  Sustenance to maintain our long lives for yet another yea. Bryce, you know. It is simply the way with those who are damned like me."

            "Yes. But please tell me the process. What you expect of us!"

            "No. And you will not know that process until it happens! You see, it is an ancient practice One that has exited before any of us came into the world. And one which has gone on after my own death . . . so long ago. Technical advances have occurred. But not the ritual itself and what you two must ultimately give to us."

            Kleio was breathing harder.  Her deep fear was now obvious. She remained too frightened and confused to look up at either Melina or myself. as I glanced out the large window behind Melina, I could see we had sailed to the westerly side of the island. Directly between the Chora and Delos.

            "You see, Bryce . . . Kleio . . . There will be a grand quid pro quo this evening. Do you know what that means? It's Latin."

            "Something for something." I said solemnly. "But what?"

            "Well, I think you know what my friends and I need from you. What we will carry back as a life-giver to our clan abroad."

            I closed my eyes. Praying that Kleio, in all her ignorance of this, was not becoming totally   aware of what we were about to endure that night.

            "Yes . . . I know. . . and let's just not mention details of that,  please . . ."

            "Very well, Bryce.  But in return . . . you and your lovely nymph will have what possibly everyone wants. Or at least so they think."

        She said this last phrase under her breath. And I remembered well what Melina had told me in her moment of candor about being tired of her long life, even as it now progressed in such tranquility and seemingly here on Mykonos, such a paradise.

            "So. An eternal life?"

            "Yes, Bryce. That is built into the sacred covenant of Delos. A very old convention you will son follow with us. Do you see?"

            "Yes. Unfortunately, I do see Melina."

           Looking once more at the helpless Kleio, my mind went immediately into escape mode. I looked out the tinted windows of Melina's room. The distance back to Chora, and the blue sea around us. I began to   frantically think: Would there be any opportunity to get off the yacht when our security was more relaxed?

            Melina turned and looked as I had done, toward the little island approaching in the distance. "If you remember Bryce, I received both my curse and my gift of eternity there."  Delos seemed only hundreds of meters away.

            "Yes," I said quietly. "I do remember your story. How you became cursed there."

            "And so shall you two, my beautiful ones. Tonight . . . under the sacred full moon of the goddess Selene."

            "But Melina!"

            "No Bryce. There is no stopping this. The  events here are already in motion. The moon is rising steadily on the other side of the Earth and will show her bright face to all here in a few hours. You and your beautiful nymph are as big a part of this as I am. We will together benefit the worldwide society of who we are.  And you will join that community tonight."

            Kleio suddenly put both hands to her face and began to sob, quietly.

            "Melina!  Please. Is there any way you can . . ."

            "No! Perhaps this is more about your own fate, Bryce. For seeking me out. For being so curios as to find yourself here. Now with me. You have found yourself near Delos from the other side of the world. And now near the haunting hour. It is the epicenter of our condition."

            At that moment I too was looking down at the floor, feeling helpless to stop an event which was  undoubtedly the mother of all glimpses into the mysteries of the "undead." Melina was so right. It was a phenomenon I had brought myself to. And through my own volition studied it copiously for the past three years. And yes. It did seem I  chased trouble to find myself here. Perhaps this was indeed my curse.

            "Tonight, after you two have been kept in separate rooms on the Selene, you will accompany us to the island and perform a very simple task really. But from that moment forward you will be anointed with a power to remain, as I do, and my friends do here. Alive after your death . . . when ever it shall occur in your future."

            "You mean. . . you won't . . . kill us, Melina?

            I saw Kleio's shoulders jerk from the corner of my eye when I asked that compelling question.

            "No Bryce. There is no need to kill anymore. But you will supply us . . . and I will supply you with the element we will exchange on that holy ground tonight."

            Kleio looked over at me in disbelief of what she was hearing. There were tears streaming down her cheeks.

            Melina stepped back, closer to the window. Indicating our debriefing was over.

            "You and Kleio will go to rest now. In the comfort of this most beautiful ship. A sumptuous meal will be brought to your rooms in a few hours. I would love to let you be together, but that is only more dangerous to our plan. Trust me, you shall have a long . . . long time to be together in the future, if you so wish it. Tough it has been my observation that no relationship of love can truly maintain its excitement for more than a couple hundred years."

            She smiled at the absurdity and perhaps truth of this statement.            

         "For both of you . . . no mater where you go to live on this Earth . . . will certainly be one of us. For me, when this ship returns to Mykonos, it will be where I remain, and have remained as guardian and guide of this curse.

            Melina then walked over to the wall and pushed a button. In moments, our 'pussycat' friends Giorgi and Nicolai were there to show us to our separate rooms. I looked once more out the window from Melina's sumptuous suite. Delos was the nearest I had seen it. Its coffee-colored hills, black rock shores, and white sandy coves were all gleaming in the afternoon sun. 

                                                              *     *     *