Current Impressions (12 page)

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Meara,” he
said. “I wish it could’ve been sooner, but we had a few things to
take care of before we could make this visit.”

“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m glad you’re here
now. How long are you staying?”

“We’ll leave on the Dispute Moon.”

“What is that?”

He pulled back to look down at me. His eyes
narrowed. “You are not familiar with the moons?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Why did it seem like every time I learned something new about being
a Selkie, I realized how much more I had to learn?

“It’s the full moon in the eighth month,” he
explained.

Okay, now I understood him. “So you’re
leaving in August.”

“Yes, August.”

“You could’ve just said that,” I muttered.
He chuckled and twirled us around. As we danced, he told me about
Atiya’s clan. Her parents ruled now. Someday, they would take over.
He seemed curious about my human life, and he seemed especially
interested when I summarized the last year with my mom and dad,
their marriage, and Mom’s ultimate death. It was easy to talk to
him.

When the song ended, he pulled me into a
bear hug.

“I do like you, niece.”

“Thanks,” I said as I fought to breathe. “I
like you, too.”

Uncle Ren excused himself to join my aunt
and little Nico on the dance floor. I looked for Ula, but I didn’t
see her. I did spot refreshments on a long table against the far
wall of the cavern. Brightly colored liquid filled large, crystal
bowls. Fancy glasses sat nearby. No red Solo cups for the Selkies.
I assumed the bowls contained punch, and I was thirsty. I filled a
glass with lime-green liquid.

“I wouldn’t drink that if I were you,” spoke
a voice near my right shoulder. “Horrible stuff.”

“What is it?” I asked automatically. I
turned and met the gray eyes of a male Selkie. This one, however,
was much younger than my uncle was. He looked my age, which meant
that he was still older than I was in Selkie years.

“Seaweed Swill?” he guessed. “I haven’t the
slightest idea really, but it’s gross. Go ahead and try it if you
don’t believe me.”

“It’s not that I don’t—” I took a small sip
and made a face. “That’s nasty!”

He laughed. “I told you. I don’t know why
Paddy insists on serving it. I think he’s trying to make us eat
healthy or something. Sneak in more vegetables.” He pointed to
another bowl. “Try the pink. It’s sweet.”

I held up my glass. “What should I do with
this?”

“Set it on that tray. Someone will clean it
up.”

I sipped the pink punch. It tasted like
vanilla and strawberries. “Mmmm. This is good.”

“It’s the best one,” he said, holding out
his hand. “I’m Arren, by the way.”

“Meara.” I shook his hand.

“Oh, I know who you are,” he said. “We all
do. My friends want to meet you. Unlike me, they’re too shy to come
over.”

“Where are they?” I looked around. A group
of teenagers sat at a corner table. Arren waved in their direction,
confirming they were his friends. “Well, let’s go over so I can
meet them.”

“Really?” He seemed surprised that I offered
to meet them.

“Why not?” I didn’t have anything else to do
at the moment. It wouldn’t hurt to make friends my own age, well,
at least, friends that appeared to be my age.

“Follow me.” He turned and strode away.

Mouths dropped open as we approached the
table. Arren ran through their names. They recovered quickly,
nodding or raising a hand as he introduced them.

“Nice to meet you,” I said. “Mind if I
sit?”

“Please.” The girl closest to me with the
short, blond hair scooted over to make room. She was the first
blonde I met at Ronac. Most of the Selkies had dark or red hair. I
sat and removed my heels. They were beautiful, but they were
killing my feet. As I rubbed my sore toes, I skimmed from one face
to the next. No one said anything. It was so awkward. I was about
to excuse myself when Arren elbowed the boy next to him. I thought
his name was Lyle.

“What was it like?” Lyle asked. They looked
at me expectantly.

“What was what like?” I had no idea what he
was asking me.

“Being human,” Lyle clarified. “What was it
like?”

“Did you go to the mole?” The blonde asked.
I must have looked bewildered because she added, “You know, to buy
things.”

“You mean the mall. The shopping mall. Yes,
I went there.”

“What kind of music did you listen to?”
Arren asked. He leaned on his elbows toward me. They all watched me
intently.

“Rock music, I guess.”

“Rocks make music?” The pretty brunette
wrinkled her brows in confusion.

“Um, no.” Were they serious? “Don’t you ever
leave the island? Haven’t you been around humans?”

The blonde’s eyebrows rose in surprise.
“Leave the island? You’re joking, right?”

The brunette shivered. “It’s so dangerous
out there. Humans have weapons that can kill us. Then there’s the
merpeople, kelpies, sirens—”

“They’re real?” I couldn’t believe the world
could hold so many creatures. Ones I never knew existed.

“Of course, they’re real. As real as you and
me,” she huffed. I didn’t mean to offend her, but apparently, I
had. We lapsed back into silence again.

“Well, this is a lively party.”

I didn’t have to turn around to know it was
Kieran. I hated that my pulse raced at the sound of his voice. I
wasn’t the only one affected. The girls primped and preened next to
me. Arren scowled at Kieran before glancing back at the blonde
girl. They didn’t seem to be together, but Arren obviously had
feelings.

Kieran’s eyes drifted over me. His mouth
rose in approval. “Nice dress.” He extended his hand. “Would you
like to dance?”

I hesitated. The last time we danced, it
went further than it should have. Sure, it was just a kiss, but I
wouldn’t like it if Evan kissed another girl. One time, forgivable.
Two times, not so much.

“It’s just a dance.” Kieran noticed my
hesitation. “I promise I won’t try anything. You clearly love your
human boy toy.”

“You have a human boyfriend?” the girls
squealed at the same time. Their reaction made me wince, although I
tried to hide it.

“I’m human too, you know.”

“But you aren’t,” Arren sputtered. “You’re
one of us.”

I caught Kieran’s smirk. He enjoyed this
exchange a bit too much. “Told you,” he said.

I stuck out my tongue. Childish, but I felt
better afterwards. I’d hung out with the teenagers long enough.
They were melodramatic and immature. Sheltered, like Ronac itself.
I felt bad for them. Would they ever get a taste of freedom?

“Sure,” I told Kieran. “I’ll dance with
you.”

For a moment he appeared genuinely surprised
that I agreed, but he quickly recovered. I left my shoes by the
table. Kieran led us to the middle of the room. The band slowed the
tempo. Around us, couples drew closer and swayed. He placed his
hands on my waist and pulled me close.

“Kieran—”

“Relax, Meara.”

My hands were on his arms, but I moved them
up to his shoulders. If I looked straight ahead, I was staring at
his white dress shirt and striped tie. I turned my head to the side
and watched the couples around us. They seemed closer to my
father’s age than to mine.

“Kieran?” I looked up at him. He was already
staring at me.

“Hmm?”

“How old does a Selkie have to be before
you’re considered an adult?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Arren and his friends.” I nodded toward
them. “They seemed to be my age, but they acted so much younger.
They’re really older than me, though, right?”

Kieran sighed. “Yes and no. They are if you
measure in human years. They’re younger if you measure by
Selkie.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You wouldn’t,” Kieran said, not unkindly.
He lifted my chin and forced me to look in his eyes. “Because
you’re trying to reason things as a human. We’re not human,
Meara.”

I jerked my head back, and he dropped his
hand. “I don’t know how to think like a Selkie,” I persisted, “Why
do you know so much about humans, and those kids know so
little?”

“I’m older—”

“That’s all?”

“You didn’t let me finish,” he scolded. “I’m
also more powerful. As are you.” When I rolled my eyes, he added,
“You
are
, whether you believe it or not. We can defend
ourselves against enemies. They cannot. They rely on us. Do you
understand?”

His dark eyes bore into mine, and I did
understand. Suddenly, I understood with great clarity. “They can’t
do magic, can they?”

“Not like us,” he admitted. “They can change
forms, of course. Some can do minor things, like visualize, but
most have no powers beyond Changing.”

The burden of responsibility weighed on my
shoulders. Just as it was my father’s role, it was my job to
protect these people. Why hadn’t my dad told me? Why hadn’t Ula?
Why was Kieran the one looking at me with sympathy and
understanding?

“It’s the same for me, Meara,” he said.
“When I return to our clan, I will take my father’s place. He is
old and ready to step down. I am the oldest, so the responsibility
falls to me.”

A new song began. This one slower than the
last, if that was possible. Kieran tightened his hold and pulled me
closer. I gave in and wrapped my arms around his waist. It was more
comfortable than trying to put them on his incredibly high
shoulders. He was so tall. I rested my head against his chest and
soaked up his warmth. We could be friends. Our birthright made us
uniquely positioned to understand each other. I had so much to
learn, but he was teaching me more than anyone else was right now.
That mattered. It mattered a lot.

“I think I’m done for the evening,” I said
when the song ended.

“May I walk you back?” Kieran asked rather
formerly. “As friends, of course.”

“I came with Ula…” I scanned the room once
again for her coppery curls. Where had she gone?

“I saw her leave about an hour ago,” Kieran
said with a frown. “About the time I came, I suppose.”

“She still cares for you.” The words slipped
out before I thought about them. Ula would be mad if she knew I
told him, but he had a right to know.

“It’s been years,” he said.

“Love doesn’t just go away,” I replied.
“Look at my parents.”

His eyes grew distant and thoughtful.
Finally, he nodded. “Perhaps you’re right. Are you ready to
leave?”

“I need to get my shoes first.” I walked
back to the table in the corner. The teens were gone, but my shoes
were where I left them. I put them on and winced. At least it
wasn’t a long walk. Taking the arm Kieran offered, I tried not to
notice everyone staring as we left the cavern and headed into the
fortress. The halls were empty and quiet.

“I’m surprised my dad didn’t make an
appearance,” I said.

“I’m not.” Kieran glanced down at me. “Did
you notice Brigid and Angus were missing as well?”

“I suppose,” I said. “Why?”

“I’m not sure, but I think it might have to
do with your side trip to Scotland.”

Was he teasing me? He looked serious enough.
“But why?”

“We have enemies, Meara. David’s told you as
much.”

“He did,” I said. “But I don’t understand
why they’re worried about me. What kind of problems could my
actions cause? I only saw Evan.”

Suddenly, Kieran seemed angry. “Did nothing
sink in? Do you not understand the magnitude of your position? You
will someday rule this clan. You are their future protector, and
therefore, you must be protected. Any time you leave the island,
your father will risk almost anything to keep you safe, to protect
his lineage.”

“My aunts and uncles can rule instead —”

“No,” Kieran interrupted. “It is not their
responsibility. It’s
yours
.”

His words rocked me on my feet. Surely, I
couldn’t be that important? We walked the rest of the way in
silence. I considered everything I learned this evening. I had a
lot to consider. What was Kieran thinking? His emotions hid behind
a blank mask. He stopped abruptly. We were at my door.

Kieran broke the silence. “I care for you,
Meara.” His voice sounded husky. “I meant it when I said I’d very
much like to be your friend.”

He was serious, even a little sad. I kissed
his cheek and smiled. “I’d like that, too,” I said. “Goodnight,
Kieran.”

For a moment, he looked like he was fighting
something, but then he stepped away from me. “Goodnight,
Meara."

He didn’t return my smile.

Bits of blue flashed in the corridor as
she ran. The rest of her dress blended into the shadows. She’s
fast
,
Evan thought and struggled to keep up with
her.

“
Meara, wait!”

She turned a corner. When he lost sight of
her, the walls began to close in and pain pierced his brain. He
clasped his head and ran. She was here. He would find her.