Derrolyn Anderson - [Marinas Tales #1] - Between The Land And The Sea (26 page)

I sheared the back evenly, thinking what a shame it was to see his sun-streaked hair fall to the floor. I left the top just a bit longer and blended it all in evenly, stepping back to admire my work. Not bad at all, I thought. It was a pretty good version of a military style crew cut and I thought it suited him. He rubbed the top of his head and looked up at me.

“Well?” He asked.

“You look like a soldier,” I said, and he did. A really handsome one, I thought. He got up and brushed some hair off his shoulders. He went out the front door and peeled off his shirt to shake the hair out. I didn’t want to get caught staring, so I busied myself kneeling down to gather up the hair from the floor.

“I’ll get that,” he said, heading to the bathroom to take a look at himself.

He came out with a smile, satisfied. “Thanks, it looks good. Do you cut your dad’s hair or something?” he asked as he swept up the remaining hair clippings. I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.

“No, I’ve only ever cut Pierre and Fifi’s before.”

“Who?” he asked, looking suspicious.

“Evie’s toy poodles,” I confessed, “They like me better than the groomer.” I was relieved when he chuckled.

“I’m honored to be your first human,” he said with a wry smile, “And I like you better than the groomer too.”

“You were a whole lot easier than a squirmy little dog,” I laughed, “Plus, a nice round head beats teeny little poodle paws.”

He started laughing, “So, do you want to go somewhere?”

“How are you feeling?” I asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be taking it easy?”

“I’m fine, I feel better than ever.” He looked thoughtful, “Let me take you for a drive.”

“You just wanna get your hands on my Jaguar,” I said teasingly.

“Among other things,” he said, making me blush.

We went out to the car and I handed him the keys. He got on the freeway heading north of town and took the college exit. We climbed up a steep winding road and parked in a lot at the top of a hill. Ethan took my hand and led me down a series of gravel paths that wound through a beautiful terraced garden. He explained that this was the university’s botanical collection and that he would be attending here next fall. The garden was divided into sections featuring specimens from different continents, and as we walked along he pointed out some of his favorite plants and areas in the garden.

I liked Ethan like this, full of enthusiasm and plans. I felt like he was showing me a side of himself that no one else saw, and it made me feel special. We hiked around the hill, taking in the spectacular views of the ocean in the distance. He led me to a bench that looked out over the whole campus, and he pointed out some of the different buildings and told me what schools they housed.

“I hear they have a really good art department here,” he said casually, “Are you sure you want to go to school in the city?”

“I don’t know,” I said, scuffing my shoes in the gravel, “I don’t know what I should do. It’s funny, I see you and my dad, Cruz and Megan, and you all know what you’re supposed to do. I mean, I like art, but I’m not really sure what I’m good at.”

“You don’t see yourself at all, do you? It seems to me that you’re good at everything you try,” said Ethan sincerely.

“I had a dream I could breathe underwater,” I said flippantly, “Maybe I’ll go swim with the mermaids.”

Ethan turned to look at me with shock in his eyes.

“Just kidding,” I said, alarmed at his reaction.

He sighed, “That’s not funny Marina, don’t even joke about it.” He suddenly looked pale and tired. I felt like I had spoiled a perfect day, and worried that he wasn’t feeling well.

“I talked to Lue Khang this morning,” I said, trying to change the subject. “I think everything’s going to be fine...”

He looked surprised, “Is that why you were in such a good mood this morning?” I smiled encouragingly, “Yeah, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”

“Really?” he asked hopefully.

“Yes,” I said, “It’s all up to me.”

His eyes narrowed, “What exactly did he say?”

“He thinks they want something from me, but I get to decide what to do about it.”

“What do you mean?” he looked too serious.

I took his hand, wanting him to relax, “They won’t just take something... I mean, it has to be something I give up.”

“Give up?” his eyes widened.

I set my jaw, “Sacrifice... trade– whatever! I can handle it. I’m not afraid of them.”

“Marina,” Ethan said solemnly, “I’m afraid for you.”

“It’s okay. I just need to make some sort of... deal… with them. Even the fortune teller said that.”

“Fortune teller?”

“Evie took us to her psychic yesterday for a reading. I thought it was a bunch of– well, I didn’t expect anything to come of it. Evie always has a spiritualist of one kind or another lurking around... But she said pretty much everything Lue did.” I tried to read his expression, but he leaned back on the bench with his eyes closed, “That’s why I decided to go see Lue,” I added,

“just in case there was something to it.”

He sighed, and turned to look at me with a weary attempt at a smile, “What am I going to do with you?”

“How about you get something to eat with me?” I said, pulling him off the bench by both hands. “I’ll drive and you can critique me.”

I drove us back into town, watching him out of the corner of my eye.
I came upon a little restaurant that looked good and parked. His face was averted, his eyes remote. He looked a little sad.

“Do you like Chinese?” I asked hopefully.

We discovered that we both liked spicy food, and ordered Szechuan style. The food was good, and we stayed a long time drinking tea and talking. I asked more questions about the university and his mood improved.

“I guess your dad probably wants you to go to school in the city,” he said morosely.

“I have no idea… it depends where his next project takes him,” I said, realizing that I probably wouldn’t be traveling with him anymore when I started college.

“Why not stay here?” he asked.

“I used to live here,” I said, “I found out that I lived in that house with Abby for the first nine months of my life. Maybe that’s why I feel so at home there.” I told him about the day Cruz found out about his father, and my conversation with Abby.

He was surprised to hear the story of Cruz’s father, and sorry to hear what happened to my mother. Talking about it made me uncomfortable, so I didn’t go into much detail.

“Poor Abby,” said Ethan, “She’s always been so nice to everybody.”

“I think your dad likes her,” I said.

“You noticed,” he said with a smile.

“Abby said she thought he was cute,” I grinned. I probably shouldn’t have betrayed her confidence but I had a feeling Dutch might like hearing that.

“
Really,
” Ethan said, “I don’t think Dad’s even gone on a date since my mom took off.” It was the first time he mentioned his mom to me and I didn’t know what to say. He didn’t elaborate.

“Um, excuse me.” I headed towards the ladies room and paid the bill on the way to keep Ethan from trying to get it. He could have the next one. I hoped there would be a next one. When we got up to leave Ethan protested that he owed me for my hair cutting services, and we both found that equally funny. He looked drawn and tired, so I drove him home.

“Are you going to take some time off school?” I asked.

“I probably shouldn’t,” he said. “I need to keep my grades up for my scholarship. Besides, I always enjoy seeing what you come up with in art class.” I snorted, casting a cynical look at him.

“My turn to walk you to your door,” I said. I got out with him and when we got to the top of the stairs he hugged me first, pulling me close.

“Marina,” he whispered in my ear, “Promise me you’ll stay away from them...” I reached up and stroked the back of his fuzzy head, “If I can.”

“No!” he said hoarsely, “Promise me!” he gripped me a little too tightly.

“Look,” I said soothingly, “I’ll tell you before I do anything... okay?” I owed him that much after everything he’d done for me.

“Swear to me,” he insisted.

“I swear,” I said.

The door opened and I think Dutch was surprised to see us there.

“You’re back,” he said, and we awkwardly parted.

“Hello,” I said to Dutch.

“Nice haircut,” he said, looking at Ethan with a smile.

“Bye guys, get some sleep,” I hurried down the stairs to the Jag.

I drove home slowly, thinking about what I should do. Nobody wanted me to have any contact with the mermaids. I could understand their point of view, but no one could see mine. I needed resolution; I was compelled by forces I couldn’t explain. I knew in my heart that Lue and Fatima were right, and that I needed to settle some unknown issue.

Evie always said that we possess the power to decide whether to simply be victims of fate or masters of our own destiny. I wondered how much control I really had, since I sensed that it was inevitable– I was going to be forced to make a choice. I could feel a confrontation coming, looming just offshore like a tempest blowing in from the sea. It was steadily advancing, and I knew it would be visited upon me whether I liked it or not.

I was happy after spending the day with Ethan, hopeful that things would work out okay one way or the other. I pulled up to Abby’s cozy little house and a whisper of tranquility passed through me.

I smiled, even though I pretty much knew it was only the calm before the storm.

No sunlight could penetrate this deep. There was only a black void surrounding a circle of
glowing mermaids. The eerie light they cast illuminated the grotesquely formed deep sea fish
that occasionally swam lazily past us. My feet were tingling and I looked down, relieved to see
they were still there.

I opened my eyes to a blackness so complete I thought I was still dreaming. The damp and chill of the night air brought me fully awake, and I almost lost my balance, waving my hands in the pitch black void. I took a step and felt the sting of pine needles under my feet.

Shuffling along and groping in the darkness, I felt a wooden rail and was shocked when I realized where I was. I was on the path down to the stairs, aiming straight for the beach. I made my way back up, clinging to the rail, heart pounding through my chest.

When I cleared the forbidding shadows of the trees the streetlights illuminated the misty moonless night. I hurried home, praying nobody would see me. I was outside, half dressed, a block from my house in the middle of the night. Why was this happening again?

This time I’d closed the front door, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief to find it unlocked. I couldn’t imagine what Cruz and Abby would think if I had to wake them up to let me in. I was in no mood to try and explain what I was doing when I couldn’t figure it out myself.

It was three o’clock in the morning.

I spent the rest of the night trying to reason out what was going on. I knew I was headed for the beach, but what then? Was I just going to walk into the water and drown like a lemming?

Maybe I’d be dreaming I could breathe, and not even try to swim. It wouldn’t even matter, I thought morbidly, the cold would kill me anyway.

The sleepwalking just confirmed my suspicions. I had to try and find Lorelei as soon as I possibly could. Maybe she could tell me what they wanted from me.

Ethan was already at school when we got there the next morning, and I could see the gang of surfers flocking around him, asking him about what happened. They wanted to find the guy who caused the accident and beat him up, but I heard Ethan tell them to let it go. I was happy to hear it; there was plenty of trouble to be had without going looking for it. I heard them compliment him on his haircut and bit my lip to keep from laughing out loud. He spotted me and Cruz, and headed our way.

“Nice haircut,” said Cruz.

Ethan’s smiling eyes met my tired ones.

“How’s the head?” Cruz asked him, eying the bandage.

“I’ll live,” he said, looking at me critically. I hadn’t been able to get back to sleep after my nocturnal stroll; I was worried, and it must have showed.

“How are you this morning?” he asked.

“I was just going to ask you that,” I dodged the question. Cruz and I hurried to class, and I managed to avoid Ethan until after lunch.

“Where have you been hiding?” he asked, as he caught up with me on the way to art class.

I made up a story about needing to use the library, and hurried into class. I tried to avoid eye contact with him as we sat side by side, afraid he’d see right through me and realize what I’d already resolved to do. I was going to find Lorelei no matter what; it was imperative that I speak to her. She was the only one who could shed some light on what was happening to me, and now I was pretty sure that my life depended on it.

I knew Ethan would get upset and do his best to talk me out of it; he thought Lorelei was dangerous and believed she was better left alone. I was certain she would never hurt me... at least not intentionally, and I was resolved not to involve anyone else in my quest for the truth. I had no control over the strange dreams and mysterious forces that were luring me towards what was starting to look like a suicidal walk into the sea. All I could think to do was try to meet them on my terms.

After school I hustled Cruz out to the parking lot and we sped away before Ethan got out to his truck. Cruz was so preoccupied with the tweaking of his design for Evie’s dress that he didn’t notice my unusual haste.

“How does Evie feel about asymmetry?” Cruz brainstormed as he drove us home.

“Uh huh,” I replied, thinking about what I would ask Lorelei.

“Would a beaded sash be too much?” he frowned.

“Sounds beautiful.”

“Yeah,” he said, “I think tea length would work.”

“Absolutely,” I replied.

When we got home I slipped out of the house and hurried down to the cement boat. It was cold and gray at the shore; the deepening gloom seemed to echo my desperation. A stiff breeze whipped my hair around and stung my eyes. There wasn’t a soul around as I made my way down the pier to the chain link fence.