Seaweed (17 page)

Then the unbelievable happened.

Tor!
I shouted. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a body drop past us. Tor stopped and watched as Crazy Jim sank, his arms flailing, weighed down by all his clothing and heavy boots. He must’ve slid off the slippery deck when his boat lurched.

Tor swam rapidly, scooped him up under his arms and headed up to the surface. He was saving Crazy Jim’s life? After he’d just tried to kill us?

I had no choice but to follow, since I couldn’t take the chance of getting separated from Tor.

Tor broke the surface with Crazy Jim in his arms. Crazy Jim coughed and gurgled as Tor wrestled to put him on the lower ledge at the boat’s stern.

I gulped air with my lungs, just glad to surface again. We waited until Crazy Jim got his footing and climbed back into his boat.

His expression was wild and crazed, like he couldn’t believe he’d just been rescued by a merman. I could only imagine the stories he would tell now when he got back to Eastcove. My heart collapsed. Now that Crazy Jim had spotted more merfolk, and in fact had made contact with one, he would never let this story die. Tor and Dex were never coming back.

We’d waited too long.

Crazy Jim wasn’t about to let his proof get away. He raised his gun again.

Searing pain ripped through my tail. A stream of red floated around me–a crimson ribbon.

I’d been shot by Crazy Jim. I felt myself slipping, and then I was gone.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

I was screaming when I came to.

I was also dry. Lying on something hard. Breathing with my lungs.

It was all coming into focus, slowly like an old Polaroid picture.

I cried out again.

“Dori.” Tor’s face flashed in front of mine. “You’re going to be okay, it’s almost over.”

The pain struck my legs again; my left leg was in particular misery.

I held on to Tor, breathing through the pain. Then I did something I hadn’t done in over twenty-four hours. I wiggled my toes.

“Where are we?” I croaked.

“On the rock by the cave.”

I dared to look around. The sky was still dark with the impending storm, the wind whipping my hair across my face. Tor sat beside me wearing the clothes he had on yesterday, the ones he’d tucked away in the rocks before we left.

I gasped with the sudden knowledge that I was lying on the rock, nude. I glanced down at my lower body and breathed. Tor had draped the sweat pants I’d discarded over my nakedness.

My left leg stuck out, with a piece of cloth tied above an angry red wound. That was when I saw the t-shirt I was wearing was torn.

Tor saw me analyzing it. “I had to tear a strip off your shirt to cut off the flow of blood.”

“How come you’re already dressed?”

“I transformed more quickly than you.” He frowned. “Maybe because I’m not injured.”

I tried to move my leg and groaned. “How bad?”

“It’s only a flesh wound,” Tor said. “No severed arteries or shredded muscle groups.” Tor ripped a section from the t-shirt he had on and gently applied it like a bandage. I tried not to moan too loudly.

“Dori, it’s going to pour rain soon. We should go in.”

I sat up, blocking out the pain, and wondered how I was going to get into the sweat pants. I wished I wasn’t so modest. Tor was every bit the gentleman and, it turned out, a capable nurse.

“I’ll help you, and I promise I won’t look.”

I almost laughed at that. He was true to his word, and then he gently carried me up the rocks to his former home.

I thought the cave would be empty, but Uncle Dex had left just enough stuff, like he thought one of them might return. I supposed he totally expected Tor to return with me. He had been right. One day.

A cot, a blanket, a box of crackers and a bottle of water. If anyone did happen to come upon this cave accidentally, and I couldn’t imagine it, it would just look like campers abandoning some of their stuff. Same with the clothing we left behind on the rocks.

Still it was dry and Tor drew me in close to him as we lay together on the cot. His body heat kept me warm.

“I’m sorry you were injured.” He couldn’t look me in the eye when he said this, and I knew he felt remorseful.

“It’s okay.”

He looked hard at me, then. “No, it’s not. You could’ve been killed.”

“But I wasn’t.” I pulled him closer, hoping to comfort him.

I had to ask. “Tor, why’d you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Rescue Crazy Jim. You do realize he was trying to kill us?”

“We’re taught in the clan of Rai from a very young age to do the right thing, even if others around us are doing the wrong thing.”

“Like the clan of Lars?”

“Yeah, but not just them. Also humans.”

That answer surprised me. “What do you mean?”

“Humankind is responsible for many ecological hazards and disasters. Our transient nature in many ways is due to the fact that humans are ruining our home.”

I remembered the list of shame. “Over fishing, pollution, oil spills?”

“To name a few. Hypothetically, the clan of Rai could use its powers to live on land as a means to extract revenge, but because of our principles and beliefs, we don’t.”

I’d never thought of that.

“It’s the main reason why it’s imperative that the clan of Lars never finds a way on shore.”

“They wouldn’t do the right thing?”

“Some might, but most wouldn’t, especially not Prince Mol.”

The state of actual danger I was in under the ocean was growing clearer.

“Why did you let me go with you, then? Despite my extreme obstinacy?”

“I guess I didn’t think the danger would be so imminent. And I was selfish. I wanted you with me.”

His words flooded me with warm fuzzy feelings, and I snuggled in closer. I loved the feel of his arms wrapped around me. And I loved him. I did. I was sorry he couldn’t read my mind now, because, I was too afraid to say it aloud.

I turned my face up to see his and he stared steadily into my eyes, his filled with emotion. I thought maybe he loved me, too. He leaned down and I was sure of it. His kisses were urgent and passionate. I melted into him, wishing that this moment would never end.

We listened to the wind whistling through the cracks, and watched as the darkened sky flashed with lightening. I clung to Tor, thankful for the shelter of the cave.

Eventually the storm passed. Fingers of sunlight streamed through the thinning clouds, until Eastcove was once again brightened by sunshine.

“We have to get you home,” Tor said with a sigh. “You need to see a doctor.”

My leg hurt like mad, and I couldn’t rest my full weight on it.

Tor helped me up, and put his arm under my left shoulder. I hopped out of the cave, cupping my eyes against the sunlight. Tor managed to lift me up and over the rocks, bit by bit, and I was once again amazed by his strength and agility.

“I don’t want to go down the boardwalk, or Main Street,” I said.

Tor was in agreement, and we took a back route, even though it was longer. It would be better not to be spotted like this. Plus, I wanted to drag the time Tor and I had together out for as long as possible.

Every hop was painful, but it was balanced out by the comfort I had holding Tor close to me.

When we reached our yard, I almost cried. Not because I was home, though I was really glad to be there. But because Tor was going to say good-bye, and I didn’t know when I’d see him again.

We stopped before anyone could spot us, hidden by the thick foliage that surrounded my house.

“Dori?” Tor’s voice caught and it scared me.

“Yes?”

“I’m saying good-bye now.”

“I know. How long until you come back?”

Tor let his head drop. “That’s the thing. I’m not coming back.”

My vision blurred, blackness forming at the corners of my eyes.

“Dori?” Tor caught me. I felt him guide me to a garden chair in our back yard.

“Why?” I whimpered.

“I shouldn’t have let myself get attached to you in the first place. But, at the time I thought there was a chance I could really make my home here, and when you showed signs of having merfolk traits, I let myself hope. After I researched your ancestry and discovered the possibility that you could be one of us, well, I was really, really happy about that.

“I didn’t anticipate that I would be taking you to meet my clan so soon, and in inopportune circumstances. But…I see now, it was a big mistake, and I’m so sorry for dragging you into this.”

“Tor, no, it wasn’t a mistake. It’s just a setback.”

“No, Dori. I have to go and you can’t come with me. Ever. It’s too dangerous. I could never live with myself if something happened to you. And Prince Mol would never give up trying to get you.”

Tor’s eyes glossed over with sadness. “I’m sorry, Dori. I can’t be with someone I can’t stay with.”

Like Shava. I remembered him saying the same thing about her.

We were startled by the creaking of the screen door.

“It’s your mother,” Tor whispered. He kissed me, softly, a little groan escaping before he disappeared into the bush. I knew he was running toward the ocean.

It all happened so fast. I didn’t have a chance to say what I really wanted to say. That I was in love with Tor Riley.

My heart shattered into a zillion little pieces.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

I leaned with a crutch against Tor’s rock. Our rock. I ended up getting nine stitches, but the prognosis was for a full recovery—physical, anyway.

Everything here looked exactly the same as before—the rocky beach, circling seagulls, sailboats dotting the horizon.

Sidney sat at my feet, panting contently.

I stared out at the ocean, searching for Tor. I knew it was crazy. He was gone, who knew where, and a part of me hoped that he was as crushed as I was.

I recalled the last kiss we shared in his cave, the one where I thought he was telling me he loved me. I knew now he was actually just saying goodbye.

He’d already decided by then.

I was so angry with him I wanted to spit. I forgot momentarily about my injury and kicked at the pebbles with my good leg. My wounded leg couldn’t hold my weight and I fell hard to the ground. I thrashed my body like a two-year-old having a tantrum, allowing gigantic tears to run amuck on my face.

The dampness of the sand seeped through my clothes. I reluctantly picked myself up and stumbled around awkwardly with my crutch, trying to get a grip in the moving sand. As much as I’d love to just let the tide sweep me out to the sea, I knew I couldn’t stay here forever.

“Come on, Sidney.” I propped myself up on the crutch and hobbled down the path. It was a cumbersome venture, and I had to be careful not to trip on twigs or root systems pushing through the earth.

There was a strange dirt bike—new— in the yard when I got home. The owner turned to face me.

Colby.

“Hey, Seaweed.”

We hadn’t seen each other since I’d been back and hadn’t spoken since that time on the dock when I’d shoved the letter declaring I was clean in his face.

He offered a cautious smile—a peace offering. I offered one back.

Then he stroked the side of the brand new glossy red bike. “What’d’ya think?”

“Is it yours?”

“Yup. My parents paid for half. Birthday present.”

Sometime between my becoming a mermaid and my nine stitches, Colby had had a birthday. I should’ve remembered. It was three days before mine.

“Happy Birthday,” I said.

“Happy Birthday to you, too.”

Today I was sixteen. I didn’t want to celebrate and no one dared to make me.

“I would rather have gotten a car,” Colby said, “but hey.” He produced a second helmet. A hopeful grin on his face. “Do you want to go for a ride?”

“I’m kind of injured here.”

“I’ll go easy.”

I wondered where Tiffany was, and why she wasn’t getting this offer. Then I realized I didn’t care.

“Consider it my birthday gift to you.”

“Okay.”

Colby helped me keep my balance as I lifted my gimpy leg over the bike seat. His grip on my waist felt good, almost like a hug.

His dark eyes held mine and I lifted my hand. He grinned, knowing what I wanted and leaned down so I could reach. His brush cut was soft and comforting and it shook off the residue of my recent tantrum.

He handed me my helmet, then slipped into place in front of me. I wrapped my arms tightly around him and pressed my face into his back. I could feel his chest expand as he breathed.

He pushed down on the kick-start and revved the engine. The jerk and vibration rattled my leg, and I winced with the pain.