During my period of grief last night, I succumbed to the inevitable. Life was full of changes, and I could either accept them or wallow in self-pity when things didn’t turn out as I wanted. If I learned anything from my dad’s death and my mom’s stroke, it was that there was no way to predict what would happen next. Being a mermaid was a part of my journey, and I’d decided to try to make the best of it. One baby step at a time.
I was the first one in Homeroom, arriving even before Mr. Clarke, so I decided to spend the time studying for an English test I had this afternoon. A little while later, Belva came in, and before I could stop her, she sat down beside me. “That’s Katie’s seat.”
“I know. I just wanted to talk to you for a minute while we’re alone.”
I didn’t want to hear anything that she had to say, but I didn’t want to provoke a fight either. “Okay,” I replied solemnly.
“I’m sorry for what we did to you yesterday.” Biting her lip, she lowered her eyes to avoid meeting mine.
To say I was shocked was an understatement. And I found it hard to believe. “Really? Then why did you do it?”
Awkwardly, she cleared her throat. “Because Dabria needed a smart, pretty girl, and you seemed perfect. Of course, that was before we learned that you didn’t know how to swim. If we had, we would have chosen someone else. Having you sent to the black hole was never on the agenda. Luckily, Sasha arrived when he did…” Her voice trailed off, and she honestly seemed upset.
I didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t like Belva to apologize for anything. “You put me in jeopardy, and I’m not out of it yet. I still have to learn to swim and please that sea witch, so I hope you won’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not ready to accept your apology.”
Something flickered far back in her eyes, and I couldn’t tell if it was anger or something else. She waited a moment to respond, and when she did, her voice was carefully controlled. “That’s understandable. This is all still very new for you, but one day soon, you’ll come to see that being a mermaid isn’t so bad. I was once in your position, as were Adel and Calista. Well, we weren’t threatened with the black hole, but we all served Dabria. You’ll be fine. I’m certain of it.”
I wish I had her optimism, or maybe she was just trying to ease her guilt. Whatever it was, I knew it was in my best interest to have her on my side. “Thanks. I hope you’re right.”
A small smile brightened her face. “Maybe someday we can be friends. Us mermaids need to stick together.”
Friends? I doubted that. I still didn’t trust her. But I was willing to give her credit for coming over to talk to me.
Belva had just stood up when Katie came into the room. Her face dropped when she spotted the Popular Girl Posse member beside me.
“What was she doing in my seat?” Katie asked once Belva took her usual place in the row in front of us. “I didn’t know you two were chummy,” she added glumly.
“We’re not. She wanted to say she was sorry for yesterday.” My statement was true, I just neglected to clarify that it wasn’t about the episode in Homeroom.
“Hmmm, I wouldn’t have expected that from her. Wonder what made her decide to be human for once?” she replied softly.
If you only knew. Instead of saying anything, though, I simply shrugged, and that seemed to satisfy Katie. “Hey, my mom really wants to meet you. How about coming over for dinner one night next week?”
She grinned. “That would be nice. I’d love to.”
The rest of the students had begun to come in. A few minutes later, Mr. Clarke arrived, took attendance, and then told us about the school assembly that was being held in the auditorium during first period. My heart sunk. That meant no Biology today, and no seeing Sasha. How was I going to find out where and when my swim lesson would be?
I waited as long as I could before going into the assembly, searching the crowd of students for his handsome face, but I wasn’t able to spot him. For the rest of the day, I scanned the halls between classes, hoping to see him, but with no luck.
After school, I headed home with a heavy heart, wondering what to do now. Tonight, like it or not, I would enter a new world…a merworld deep beneath the ocean’s surface, and without being able to swim or have anyone help me navigate the water, I might not survive.
Chapter 8
When I got home, my mom and Mary were in the living room watching TV. “We didn’t expect you until later,” Raya said. “No swim lessons today?”
I tried not to look upset, despite the panic that rioted within me. “Not today, Mom. Actually, I’m not feeling that well, so I’m gonna go upstairs for a while.”
Neither woman said anything, but I could tell they knew there was more to it than that. Thankfully, they were well aware that it was useless to push when I didn’t want to talk.
My stomach was clenched tight as I flopped down onto my bed. I wanted to curl up into a ball and fall asleep, blocking out the disturbing thoughts that ravaged my mind. In a few hours, I was going to have to go down to the beach, walk into the water, and wait for my legs to turn into a tail. Was I strong enough to do that? Worry and doubt gnawed away at my confidence. I’d always considered myself strong. I was my father’s daughter, after all. But I’d never been up against something like this before. My fear of the water made me pant in terror, and it felt as if a hand had closed around my throat.
I gasped for breath while reaching for the inhaler on my nightstand. Relief came quickly, bringing with it a resolve to hold my emotions in check. You can do this! Those were my dad’s words, whispered in my ear whenever I was afraid of something. They resonated loudly now, forcing me off the bed and downstairs, to spend what time I had left with my mom.
“I told Mary she could leave,” Raya said when she saw me. “She needs to spend more time with Tom.”
“That was very thoughtful.”
“Don’t want her neglecting her husband.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Despite all she’d been through, my mom had maintained her sense of humor.
We had a nice dinner, and I was pleased to hear that she had made some progress on her painting. “See, I knew you could do it.”
“It’s your faith in me that’s kept me going,” she replied.
Tears stung my eyes and threatened to spill onto my cheeks when she lifted her right hand to show that it didn’t shake as bad as it had.
“Amazing.” I fought hard to keep my voice steady.
“Is everything okay, dear? You don’t seem like yourself tonight. You didn’t have a fight with your new boyfriend, did you?”
Normally, I’d be annoyed at her use of the word boyfriend, but not tonight. It seemed trivial and unimportant. “No. I didn’t have a fight with Sasha.”
“Good. It makes me happy knowing you have a young man in your life. I told Mary you were going to have him over for dinner, along with that other friend of yours. What’s her name?”
“Katie.”
“That’s right.”
“She said yes, by the way.”
“And what about Sasha?” she asked.
I swallowed hard, wondering if I’d ever see him again. “I haven’t had a chance to ask him.”
“Well, be sure to do it soon.”
“I will. Are you ready to get settled in your room?”
My mom put a hand over her mouth as she yawned. “Now that you mention it, I am awfully tired. Painting took a lot of effort.”
As I pushed her wheelchair into the spare room, the scent of jasmine wafted up from her soft, auburn curls. “Your hair smells nice. Mary must’ve washed it for you.”
“She used my favorite herbal shampoo.”
“We’re lucky to have her.”
She looked over her shoulder at me. “I’m blessed to have you both.”
My composure was a fragile shell about to crack at any moment. I swallowed with difficulty, yet somehow found my voice. “Would you like your book?”
“Not tonight, honey. I’ll be asleep a
s soon as my head hits the pillow.”
After helping her to bed, I kissed her cheek, noting its velvety softness. It was almost too much to bear, thinking this might be the last time I saw her. “Good night, Mom. Sleep well.”
A second later, her eyelids fluttered shut, and her breathing came out in short, little puffs.
“Love you,” I whispered before turning out the light.
Quietly, I went upstairs to write my mom a short note telling her how much she meant to me in case I didn’t come back. Grief and despair tore at my heart. My hands trembled as I wrote, but somehow I managed to get my feelings down on paper. When I was done, I folded the note in half, placed it on my pillow, and then crept out of the house.
Chapter 9
My trek to the beach was lit by a flood of moonlight and thousands of vibrant, twinkling stars. On my way, I passed swamps and lowlands full of a variety of frogs, whose mating calls were at a raucous pitch. Of the more than fifty varieties living in Florida, I quickly recognized the peep of the southern spring peeper, the high-pitched whistle of the bird-voiced tree frog, and the “quonk” of the green tree frog. Their night chorus made me feel less alone and kept me from turning back.
When I reached the sandy shore, I slipped off my shoes, pausing a moment before heading toward the water. My fear was like a steel weight, threatening to drag me down into the deepest depths of despair, but my inner voice rose up, urging me to be strong and pulled me toward the ocean.
With my stomach clenched tight, I slipped out of my clothes, shivering a little in my two-piece bathing suit despite the hot, humid air. I watched the waves roll upon the shore and the opalescent ripples wash over the sand. The rhythmic motion calmed my racing heart enough that I dipped my toes into the water.
“You can do this.” The voice was so soft that I wasn’t sure whether I’d heard it at all, or if it had been simply the wind whistling in my ears.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” This time it was louder, causing me to turn around.
My breath caught in my throat when I saw Sasha standing there. He was a glorious sight to behold, and I was acutely conscious of his tall, athletic physique. His arms and chest were bare, exposing his beautifully proportioned upper body. “I looked for you in school today,” I said awkwardly, embarrassed by how his gaze raked over me. I’d never worn a bathing suit in front of a guy before.
“I wasn’t there. Something happened last night that I needed time to digest.” His tone was low and serious. When he opened his fist, he revealed a shiny object in his palm. Sasha held the gold pendant out in front of me to give me a better look. A lion’s head was etched into the disc. “This belonged to my father.” There was a distinct hardening of his eyes. “The storm last night must’ve washed it ashore, but how was that possible when my parents have been dead for two years?”
Anxiety sputtered through me. “I don’t know. What do you think it means?”
“Maybe they’re not dead after all.”
I stared at him wordlessly.
“They went missing during a trip to Fiji. A few weeks later, the remains of two unidentified large fish washed up on the island’s south shore. What if it wasn’t them?”
“Where do you think they are then?”
He gritted his teeth. “Being held captive by Dabria.”
A gasp escaped me, and it was impossible to steady my erratic pulse.
“It’s more urgent than ever that we discover what she’s doing with her secret society.” He gave me a dark, layered look indicating his use of we had been very much intentional, and that meant I had better learn to swim quickly. “Ready?”
When I nodded, he slipped the necklace over his head before reaching out to me. His hand was rough and strong and gave me a feeling of protection as we walked together into the water.
At about waist deep, our legs turned into tails, and his arms were around me, guiding me through the waves. I felt weightless and free.
He taught me how to float on my front and back, and then how to flip. Once I had that down, he had me press my chest into the water, then my hips. I learned to torpedo by clasping my arms together, one hand on top of the other while kicking. The mermaid kick was the most difficult for me, but when I discovered the secret was that it starts all the way up in the chest, I did much better. I was also able to pop out of the water by moving my hands back and forth to keep my body afloat.
Sasha was a patient coach, and by the time daybreak came, I was confident that soon, I’d be swimming on my own.
As we exited the water, he still had his arm around my waist, and when we reached the spot on the beach where I’d left my clothes, he swung me into the circle of his arms.
“I knew you’d be a quick learner, but you way exceeded my expectations.”
“That’s because I had a fabulous teacher.” I laughed.
“Seriously. You’re amazing.”
Before I knew what was happening, he dipped his head down and pressed his lips against mine, then gently covered my mouth. His kiss sent the pit of my stomach into a wild swirl.
“We’re going to make a great team,” he said when our lips parted, and I knew he wasn’t just referring to our quest to find out what happened to his parents.
“I’m having my friend Katie over for dinner one day next week. Would you like to come too?”
The warmth of his smile echoed in his voice. “I’d love to.”
“See you in Biology later,” I said as I scooped up my clothes.
“It’s a date.”
As I hurried home, I felt blissfully happy and fully alive.
Upon opening the front door, my ears were primed for any little sound, indicating my mom was awake. Luckily, all I heard was the ticking of the old grandfather clock in the hall, and I was able to sneak into my room undetected.
Since there was no need for the note that I’d left last night, I snatched it off my pillow and then stuck it in my desk drawer. Belva had been right when she told me being a mermaid wasn’t so bad. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this exhilarated. As I dressed for school, my thoughts were on all the wonderful things I could see and do underwater.
A little while later, when I went downstairs, Mary had arrived and was making breakfast. “Have time for some oatmeal?” she asked cheerfully.
“Sorry. Not today.” I grabbed a multi-grain bar to take with me instead. Turning to my mom, who was seated at the table, I said, “I talked to Sasha last night, and he’s a yes for dinner next week.”
“Ah, I thought you looked a lot more chipper this morning,” she replied with a wink. “Tell your boyfriend, I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
“I will.” I shot her a huge grin before heading out the door.
A warm glow flowed through me as I walked to Reef Ridge Academy. I finally fit in somewhere…and had friends. It might be too soon to actually call Sasha my boyfriend, but we were headed in that direction for sure. As I glanced over at the ocean, I exhaled a long sigh of contentment. There were plenty of unknowns awaiting me, but I was ready to take them on.
THE END
Touched by a Mermaid is the prequel to the Reef Ridge Academy Series. If you enjoyed this story and want to find out what happens next with Regan and Sasha, please visit www.RaineEnglish.com for information on additional books in the series.
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Raine English began her career as a journalist, but writing romance novels was her passion. Her stories have won many awards, including finalling in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart and winning the Daphne du Maurier Award. Along with sweet contemporary romance, Raine enjoys writing paranormal and Gothic romantic suspense. When not behind her computer, you can find her reading. She lives in New England with her family and her two French bulldogs, Dolly and Bailey.
Where to Find More of Raine English
Website: www.RaineEnglish.com
Additional Books in the Reef Ridge Academy Series:
; Captured by a Mermaid
Kissed by a Mermaid
Loved by a Mermaid
Fury: Crescent Moon Bay, Book Two
Merrie Destefano
Author’s Note:
You can read this story before or after the full-length novel, FATHOM. You can purchase FATHOM here: My Book or read it free on Kindle Unlimited.
Fury
To survive, she made a secret deal in the Underworld...
Riley discovers her true Selkie/human heritage at a young age, when a dreadful sea monster tries to kill her. She manages to escape, but her early years are spent bouncing around from one Selkie home to the next, where she’s treated like a slave. The small amount of royal blood that flows through her veins is not enough to get her a seat in the Selkie High Court, but it’s enough to make her feared and loathed.
At fifteen, she runs away to the far country of Scotland and the Shiant Islands, where she pleads for sanctuary among the blue-skinned Na Fir Ghorm, a dangerous race of mermaid-like sea creatures. Their King—Poseidon—agrees to let her in if she’ll make a pledge to him. She has no choice but to accept his terms, not knowing that Poseidon plans to use her for a dark, secret plan.
Mermaidia: A Limited Edition Anthology Page 19