Ashes on the Waves (26 page)

“Surely someone will come looking for you,” Liam said.

She shook her head and took another huge bite.

“There’s nothing wrong with her appetite,” Francine said with a grin.

Her Liam laughed. “Apparently not.”

Something about his eyes was not right. They were rimmed in red. This troubled Muireann. “You have shed tears,” she said. “Why?”

He looked into her eyes, then down at his plate, saying nothing.

The rules of the human world were obviously different from her own. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I must have misspoken.”

Liam stood. “Excuse me, please. I’m almost finished with the bins.” And then he left without touching his sandwich.

“How long will you be on Dòchas?” Francine asked.

Her heart hammered. What an odd question. “I don’t know.”

“Why are you here?”

She knew. Muireann tucked her hands in her lap to keep from fidgeting. “I have no idea.”

Francine leaned very close. “Let me tell you something. If you have been sent to do him harm, you’d better just collect your little pelt and dive right back into that sea. I’ll not be tolerating it. Are we clear?”

Muireann nodded.

Slowly, she repeated her earlier question. “Why are you here?”

“I’m here to help him. I . . . I want to help him. I would never hurt him.”

Francine pulled her chair very close and grabbed Muireann’s chair when she tried to scoot away. “Who sent you?”

Tears stung her eyes. “I can’t say. They will hurt my family. Please. I promise you, I won’you, I wt hurt him.”

“I’m going to make sure of that. Where is your pelt?”

“I . . . I . . .”

Francine yanked her up by the arm. “Tell me now, or I’ll toss you back in the sea without it.”

“It’s under the stairs to the pier,” Muireann sobbed. “Please don’t destroy it.”

“I’m o
nly going to hold it for safekeeping. You don’t harm him and I’ll give it right back and you can go your way. How long will you be here?”

“Until sunset tomorrow. Please don’t tell him. They will hurt my family if you do.”

“Who will?”

“I can’t say.” The tears burned her human skin.

Francine released her and she slumped back into the chair. “Listen to me, little Selkie. You keep your hands and every other part of your body off him. Are we clear?”

“Yes.”

“I love that boy and so does Anna. You’ll not be messing this up.”

Muireann trembled. This woman meant business and it was terrifying. Terrifying and wonderful. They were on the same side, even if Francine didn’t know it yet.

Francine nodded as if satisfied, then picked up an envelope from the top of the counter. She pulled out the paper inside and skimmed the contents. “Oh, God,” she said under her breath. She shoved the letter in her pocket. “I have a job for you, Selkie.”

Misery is manifold. The wretchedness of earth
is multiform. Overreaching the wide horizon as the rainbow, its
hues are as various as the hues of that arch—as distinct too, yet as intimately blended.

—Edgar Allan Poe,
from “Berenice,” 1835

S
taying in Anna’s room was a mixed blessing. The sheets smelled of lilies and her very essence filled my senses, making it impossible to sleep. I could almost hear her voice at times. The Bean Sidhes had mercy and gave me peace, but so entwined was her soul with mine, I could find no rest.

Today was her brother’s wedding day and she would return to me tomorrow, I realized with joy as the sunrise shone spectacularly through the stained-glass window. Only one more night without her.

“Come in,” I called to whoever was rapping on the door.

Deirdre stuck her head in. “Miss Ronan is off today. Do you need anything?”

“No. Thank you.”

She nodded and pulled the door closed. Giggles erupted outside in the hallway.

Another set of raps.

“Yes?”

The door cracked open again. “Are you going to come down to breakfast soon?” Deirdre asked. Over her shoulder I could see Muireann waiting in the hallway.

“Yes.”

Again, the door closed, followed by giggles. What a change it was to hear laughter in this dismal place. Perhaps the evil would be warded off by such joy.

I threw off the covers, showered, dressed, and went in search of Deirdre and our new houseguest.

“Good morning,” I said, finding them in the kitchen. Every available surface was covered with pots, pans, and various foods.

“I am making breakfast,” Muireann announced.

“More like she’s making a mess,” Deirdre added with a grin.

“What exactly are you making?” I asked.

“Everything!” Muireann said.

I picked up a roll and cut off a piece of cheese, trying not to laugh at her utter enthusiasm. She was a delightful change of pace. Even Deirdre was brightening in her light.

“Deirdre says you paint people. Your female showed her lots of pictures you made. Will you paint me?” Muireann asked. She still wore Francine’s floral cotton nightgown and no shoes. Getting her to Taibhreamh had been a challenge. She refused to wear the shoes Francine had given her because she said she liked the way her feet looked and she didn’t want to cover them up.

I smiled. “Yes. After work.”

She pouted. “Francine said you didn’t need to come in until after lunch today since the boat came yesterday. Can’t you paint me now?”

She ate like an animal and pouted like a child—such a strange and fascinating creature. “Okay. Meet me at the fountain outside.”

Armed with my sketch pad, I found her alone sitting on the edge of the fountain, dipping her fingers in, just as Anna had done. My heart ached. “This isn’t a good idea,” I said. I had never painted any girl other than Anna. It felt wrong.

“Why?” Her reactions were so innocent and childlike, it was disarming.

I shook my head and sat on a bench across from her. “Just sit still for a moment.”

“Can I have it to take with me when I go away?” she asked.

I started with the general shape of her face. “Are you leaving soon?”

“I don’t know.” She shifted.

“Sit still, please.” Then I roughly sketched the hairline. She had gorgeous golden hair that cascaded past her waist. I formed the eyes. Those strange eyes that seemed incongruous with her face somehow—too large and dark.

Then to my astonishment, she unbuttoned her gown and let it fall to her waist. “I want you to draw me in my human skin.”

Before I could react, Brigid Ronan rounded the corner of the house. “Well, you work fast, Mr. MacGregor,” she said. “Have you painted a nude of Anna yet?”

“What? No, of course not. Wait! It’s not what it looks like.”

She looked from Muireann to me and back again. “Of course it’s not. It’s . . . What exactly is it?”

“It’s a mistake,” I said, yanking the gown back up over Muireann’s shoulders.

“It always is.” She gave me a menacing smirk and then walked away.

“Did I do something wrong?” Muireann asked in complete innocence. It was as if she truly didn’t understand.

I picked up my sketch pad. “No,” I said. “Not intentionally. This was completely my fault.” I should never have agreed to draw her. “I have to go now. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Can I come with you?”

“No.”

* * *

Muireann knew she had made a huge mistake, but she didn’t know what it was for sure. Obviously, humans had a strange notion about their skin. She found it beautiful, but they all kept it covered. Okay. Lesson learned.

She had to make this right. Francine had asked for her help and she would use the day to do just that. She would help her Liam. It would involve searching the room he was staying in, which would mean she would need to find the key.

For all their hang-ups, humans seemed friendly enough. Surely Deirdre would help her.

She stared out over the cliff at the water. Longing filled her from head to toe. She didn’t belong here. She needed to be with her family in the ocean. It was worth it, though. She was helping her Liam.

* * *

“God, lad. What have you done?” The look on Francine’s face said it all. Ronan had already been to the shop before I got there.

“Nothing. What did she tell you?”

She hung her dish towel over the oven handle. “She told me nothing. She called Anna. She told her all kinds of things and at first, Anna didn’t believe her, but then she put Deirdre on the phone. Deirdre told her about you painting the girl by a fountain, and then Anna asked to talk to Miss Ronan again. I don’t know what she said, but Ronan seemed pleased.”

Unable to stand, I slumped into a chair.

“I warned that girl. I’ll burn that pelt. I will!” She slapped her hand on the counter.

“What are you talking about?”

“She did this to you.”

“Are you talking about Muireann? She didn’t do anything. It was a big misunderstanding. She’s strange and impulsive, that’s all. Nothing happened. Ronan got it wrong.”

“Strange is right. You need to steer clear of her. She’s trouble.”

I buried my face in my hand. “She’s harmless.”

“She’s an Otherworlder, Liam. She’s dangerous even if she doesn’t intend to be.”

I stared at Francine. Surely she was kidding. “An Otherworlder? Come on, Francine.”

“She’s a Selkie. I know what I’m talking about. I’ve had dealings with them. Be careful.”

The phone rang and Francine left me alone with that shocking information bouncing around my head. The reasonable side of me knew this was nonsense, but were it true, all of Muireann’s bizarre behavior and naïveté made sense.

“It’s Anna,” Francine said. “You need to read something first before you talk to her.” She handed me the envelope Miss Ronan had left on the counter yesterday.

I slipped the letter out of the envelope. The writing was swirly and feminine. I had never seen Anna’s handwriting, but it was how I would have imagined it. But within those swirls was a horror so deep, I was left breathless as I read them.

Dear Nicky,

God, I’m miserable. I’m so bored. I can’t wait until my parents fina parentslly let me come home from this crappy place. I hope it’s soon.

And when they finally do, I’m never coming back here. I hate it.

You were right about Liam. Slumming is fun, but only for so long.

I can’t wait to see you again so we can make up for lost time.

Love,

Annie

Numb, I put the letter back in the envelope and dropped it on the table. I’d been played for a fool. All the things we’d done, the words she’d said, were nothing but pretense. She’d used me as a diversion to pass the time while I had hung my very soul on her every word, touch, and false promise.

“Now, lad. The timing on this is not right. Letters take time to arrive on the mainland. Why would she send a letter when she would beat it there?”

“Because when she gave it to Ronan, she didn’t know she was going home. Her parents made her think she wasn’t going to be allowed to attend the wedding.” How pleased Nicky must have been when she told him in person.

Like a condemned man walking to his execution, I stumbled to the phone. I’d never spoken to anyone on it before and had no idea what to expect. The clarity of Anna’s voice nearly drove me to my knees.

“So, I got a strange phone call today,” she said. “Deirdre filled me in on what you’ve been up to since I’ve been gone.”

I held my breath.

The acid in her voice burned through my heart. “Who’s the topless slut?”

I
wanted to scream and yank the phone console from the wall, but I kept my voice low instead. “The better question is who is the biggest fool? That would be me.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

At this point, confronting her about the letter would only exacerbate the situation. There was no desirable end goal. She had never wanted me, so I had nothing to win. I kept silent.

“I want her out of my house and you too.”

The line went dead. That was it. Just like that. My entire life went dead along with it.

If only the hanging had been successful, I’d have never known this agony. I’d have left the world happy under the foolish misconception that my love was reciprocated.

Never had I felt like this. As if all my insides would implode at once. I fell to my knees, too overwrought to even make a sound. Francine ran to me and pulled me against her like she had done when I was a child. She held me and rocked while I hurt too much to even cry. Why had I been left alive for this torment? Hopefully, the Cailleach would take me soon and end my miserable existence.