This story is the sequel to Shadows of the Island. Even if you haven't read the other one, you will (hopefully) still find this one enjoyable. But… check out the prequel, too. I loved writing it so much, that I am writing this one to go along with it. Yay!

"Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook?" Job 41:1a

Chapter One

"So… if you win, you get to choose what we do next. And if I win, I choose what we do," announced Clytie Seline Seaborne Englehorn.

"You might as well give up and do what I want to do, because I'm going to win," her husband, Captain Eric Englehorn, replied.

"And what might that be, dearest Captain?" asked Clytie, free hand on her hip, while the other swung a rifle at her side.

He smiled slowly, shouldering his rifle and taking aim at the driftwood on the shore, nearly fifty yards away. "Do you have to ask?" he muttered, peering down the barrel.

Clytie shook her head. "What does it matter who wins if we both want to do the same thing?"

He glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. "It matters who wins," he said.

Clytie grinned crookedly, shaking her head again. Men.

Eric squeezed the trigger. BAM! A piece of driftwood exploded on the beach. Husband turned to wife with a smug smile on his face. "Your turn, my love."

Clytie sighed and lifted her rifle to her shoulder, taking aim, trying to keep her arms steady.

"You look beautiful."

Clytie lowered the rifle and glared at her husband. "You're trying to distract me."

He wore a straight face, his blue eye serious. "You are beautiful." He reached to brush a strand of her strawberry blonde hair from her face.

His touch made her shiver pleasantly, as it usually did. "And you are very handsome, my love. Now kindly step back from me so that I can shoot that driftwood." Once again, she settled the rifle against her shoulder.

"What? You can't concentrate on anything else with me this close?" He came up to stand close behind her, settling his hands on her shoulders, rubbing her collarbone with his thumbs. He loved it when she wore the blue shirt that she was wearing…

"Eric!" Clytie exclaimed. It was annoying her that he insisted on this contest, then interfered when she tried to participate. But… She could hardly stay mad at him for long when he was treating her like this, practically adoring her.

"All right. I'll let you shoot." He stepped back from her and stood silently, watching her every move. He knew from the twitch of her expressive hands on the rifle that she was fighting to stay annoyed with him. He smiled slowly. He knew just how to charm her, just as she was an expert on charming him.

Clytie took aim. BAM! Her bullet barely scraped the edge of a piece of driftwood. She let out a long breath and lowered her rifle, narrowing her eyes on the barely scratched target. "You distracted me, Captain," she said flatly. "My mind… was not on the target."

Eric took the rifle from her and leaned it beside his own, then took his wife's hands in his. "I'm sorry, Clytie," he said quietly.

She glared at him. "You look anything but sorry."

He raised his eyebrows innocently.

Clytie fought hard not to smile, but lost. "Gosh, Eric! I can never stay mad at you!"

"Well that's a good thing," her husband replied, drawing her into his arms. "Because I just won, and now we have to do whatever I want to do."

"Mercy! What would that be?" Clytie asked teasingly.

He kissed her lips warmly. "The same thing you would have chosen." He swept her up into his arms, carrying her off across the deck of the ship.

(LINE)

They had been married for one week, the ship's captain and the marine biologist. For their honeymoon, they had rented a small boat and set sail from Charleston, South Carolina, where Clytie's deceased parents had been born. The weather had so far been perfect, warm with a cool breeze, and Clytie and her captain were extremely pleased with each other and life in general.

Clytie was very happy with her new role in life as a wife. Now she understood why Ann and Jack were so happy, why they looked at each other the way they did, why Ann's eyes lit up around Jack. She guessed it was the kind of relationship that only sprung up between two well-matched individuals, like Jack and Ann, or herself and Eric.

"What are you thinking about?" Eric asked her quietly as they laid lazily and comfortably on the bed in the little cabin. The window was opened, and a cool breeze lifted the gauzy white curtains and played with Clytie's long red-gold hair.

"Us." Clytie smiled at the word.

"Us…" Her husband repeated. He studied her intently with those brilliant blue eyes of his. "And what do you think of us, dearest Clytie?" He took one of her hands in his, playing with her fingers.

"I like us," Clytie said with a little laugh. "I like us together. We're very well suited."

He kissed her hand and grinned crookedly. "Are we now?"

"Yes."

"Despite our differences?"

"Despite our differences."

"And despite our similarities?"

"Yes, and despite those as well."

And it was true. Despite everything that could possibly come between them, Clytie was glad that they were together. They were so different, yet so very alike. She came from a wealthy American family, and he was German, and none too wealthy. Her job was respectable, scientific, a bit high-brow. And he was the captain of a rusty tramp steamer, who occasionally took jobs that weren't quite legal. But they were both intelligent, both quiet, both brave, and they both enjoyed shooting guns and sailing the ocean.

They had been thrown together in a rescue attempt to save her brother David, who had been stranded on Skull Island. And ever since their first meeting on the New York City docks, there had been a powerful attraction between them, which had never faded.

"What are you thinking of now?" Eric asked, still studying her.

Clytie met his blue gaze with her green one. It still unsettled her how blue and intense his eyes were. And it was not altogether an unpleasant unsettling. She kissed him softly. "I was thinking of when we first met on the docks."

"Ah, yes." He sighed. "I cannot imagine what my life would be without you, Clytie Englehorn." He caught her up in his arms and kissed her strongly on the lips, and she kissed him back with just as much passion.

Then, suddenly, there was a loud shout. "Captain and Mrs. Englehorn! Are you in there?"

Eric groaned. "Who is it?" he yelled back.

Clytie laid back on the pillow and sighed, annoyed at having her quality time with Eric cut short.

"This is Peter Nelson. I'm with the telegraph service at the harbor. There's a message for you," came the reply.

The Englehorns were instantly on their feet, getting dressed in decent clothing.

"We'll be out right away!" Eric called.

(LINE)

"Guys, I've got some news," announced David Seaborne, walking into the restaurant where his three friends were eating.

"Good or bad?" asked Preston nervously.

"You tell me." David plopped down in a chair. "Here. Read this." He handed Preston a piece of paper.

Preston took the paper, adjusted his glasses, and read quietly.

"So… While he's reading… Status report on the bride search," said David. He, Preston, Jimmy, and Bruce Baxter were currently on a mission to find brides--or at least steady girlfriends--in New York City.

"Bruce has all the girls--again!" Jimmy exclaimed, shaking his head.

"Well what about that girl I saw you walking with the other night, Jimmy? That pretty little redhead?" asked David, his handsome hazel eyes twinkling.

Jimmy blushed and muttered something about David being nosy.

Bruce slapped Jimmy on the back. "Looks like our friend here has struck gold!" he exclaimed. "That young lady just happens to go by the name of Rebecca Bradley, daughter of a very rich family."

"I don't care how rich she is," Jimmy muttered, glancing darkly at the actor. "She's very nice."

"Of course she is," Bruce replied absently. "Now let me tell you fellas about these twin sisters I met yesterday at the theater…" He smoothly launched into yet another tale of his expertise with the ladies.

Jimmy gave David a pleading look.

"So, Preston," David spoke up quickly. "What do you think of that message?"

(LINE)

"Ann!"

"Clytie!"

The two young women ran toward each other, arms spread wide. Then Clytie slowed down. "Should I be easy? You are pregnant, you know."

Ann stopped running and gave her friend a hug. "Yes, I know. Isn't it wonderful?" Her beautiful blue eyes were sparkling. "And you are married."

"Yes. I am." Clytie looked over her shoulder at Eric, who was coming up behind her.

Ann studied the other young woman carefully, taking in the pink in her cheeks, the light in her eyes, that special smile… Yes, the married life agree with Clytie Seaborne Englehorn. Good for her. Good for Englehorn. They deserve it, after all they went through on that voyage… Both Clytie and the captain had been through some very dangerous situations during their mission to rescue David. Eric had even been shot by a mutinous crewman, taking the bullet meant for Clytie. It was a wonder the man was still alive.

"Good to see you again Jack, Ann," Eric said, standing behind his wife and placing his hands on her shoulders.

Ann smiled at him. Obviously, from the way he looked at Clytie, from the way he touched her, he was enjoying being married as well.

"Shall we get down to business?" Eric asked, his blue eyes serious.

"An excellent idea," said Jack, coming up behind Ann. "Come on up to the apartment."

"Jack… Is this whole thing… real? Legitimate?" asked Clytie hesitantly.

Jack nodded. "I believe it is."

(LINE)

"A sea monster. A real, live sea monster." David Seaborne grinned broadly. "This sounds like fun."

"It could be dangerous," said Preston quietly. "And do we really want to abandon the bride search for a… sea monster?"

"I don't think so," Bruce spoke up, standing up from where he sat in the Driscolls' living room. "Count me out."

"The more the merrier, Bruce," Jimmy said. "Why don't you come along? It will help your hero image, won't it?"

The actor sat back down.

"Am I supposed to attempt to capture this animal?" asked Eric, frowning. I've only been married for a week. I don't intend to end our married lives anytime soon…

"I don't think so," Jack replied. "From what Higgins told me, he wants us to study the animal, not capture it. He wants you to take us out to its last location and to provide protection. Clytie and David will be hired to study the animal. Preston will try to film it. And I will write about it."

Eric raised his eyebrows. "Doesn't sound too dangerous…" Then he sighed. "But it always is, isn't it?" He shook his head. "I don't know about this…"

"John Higgins is a top scientist," Jack explained. "He's very eager to find out whether or not these sea monster reports are true. You can verify it with him, if you want. He's out there now, near Iceland, looking for the creature, so you'd have to send him a telegram…"

"I trust you, Driscoll, but still…"

"There is a lot of money involved," Jack said quietly.

Eric gritted his teeth. He had done unwise things for money before--and paid dearly for it. "No money is worth the life of my wife."

"Of course not," Jack agreed sincerely. "That's why I called all of you here to discuss this. We need to weigh the costs, then decide what to do. I say either we all go, or none of us go."

They were all quiet for a moment, remembering previous voyages on Eric's ship, the Venture.

Then Clytie thought, A sea monster… What marine biologist would pass up an offer like this? It would be so much fun! And with Eric by my side, it would be just another part of the honeymoon… That made her smile. "I'm in," she said.

Eric started to refuse, started to tell her that it was too dangerous, that they wouldn't go. Then he smiled crookedly at her, his beautiful, adventurous wife. "Of course you are, which means I am as well."

"We're all going, aren't we?" Ann asked with a slight smile.

"Ann, you're pregnant," said Jack, frowning.

She kissed him on the cheek. "Our baby had better get used to adventure early, Jack."

"So it's settled then," said Preston with a sigh.

"It's settled," Jack replied. "Any further discussion?"

There was a brief discussion on when the expedition would leave, what kind of equipment to take, and the like, then, when David, Jimmy, Preston, and Bruce began telling bride search stories, Eric pulled his wife aside and whispered to her, "There's something I have to tell you."

"What?" she whispered back with a smile.

"Come on." He took her hand and lead her into the kitchen, which was dark and empty.

"What is it, Eric?" Clytie asked, concerned by the look in his brilliant blue eyes.

"Clytie, I don't want to lose you," he said quietly, his voice intense. "Maybe we shouldn't go…"

"If you don't want to, we don't have to," Clytie replied, frowning and taking his hands. "We don't have to, Eric."

"But you want to."

"Not if you don't."

They were both quiet.

Clytie smiled suddenly. "You do want to go, don't you?"

Eric sighed. "Yes. But not if it means danger to you."

"Danger? Ha!" Clytie released his hands and began to drum her fingers on his chest. "This is Clytie Englehorn, darling! I've survived Skull Island!"

"All right." He was smiling now. "So we both want to go." He grabbed her suddenly, pulling her close. "I'll take care of you. I won't let anything happen to you."

"I know," she whispered. "And I'll do the same for you."

He leaned down to kiss her passionately on the lips, breaking quickly apart from her when David called to them from the other room.

"This kiss isn't over," Eric whispered to his wife as they walked innocently back into the living room.

"Of course not," she replied, winking at him.

(A/N: I hope you guys like this story as well as the first one! And I hope you don't mind that I call Englehorn "Eric." Typing Englehorn over and over is a chore, and his first name was established as Eric in Shadows of the Island, so I thought it would be convenient to call him Eric. And don't worry. It's not all going to be talk. Next chapter will start the hunt for the sea monster (a.k.a. Leviathan). Anyways, you know I love an encouraging review! So give me reviews, and I give you updates! Yay!)