Beneath

by Maureen A. Miller

  There was no one to care.

  Stella caught the sheen in Colin’s eyes as he blinked angrily and tilted his head, prompting her outside. With one final glance at Frederic’s forlorn expression, she followed, eager to leave.

  Colin was ahead a few steps, marching with little focus. Stella jogged to catch up to him. She reached for his shoulder and felt the muscles bunch under her touch.

  “Are you okay?”

  He halted and whirled, and for a second she caught the tumult of emotions there. Under her tolerant gaze he settled some, and finally warmth returned to the eyes that still stole the ground from beneath her feet.

  “Another minute and I was gonna lose it in there,” he admitted with a listless grin.

  Stella smiled. “Another minute and I would have kneed the dude between the legs. I was getting so frustrated.”

  To her relief a real laugh poured from Colin’s lips and the edge left his expression.

  “That was all bullshit in there.” He pointed towards the infirmary from their spot near the bungalows. “I’m at the point that I don’t really care what his explanations are. Everything is supposition. I’m just going to go by what I see from here on out.”

  “I agree. At least we know what we’re up against inside these caves.” She glanced at the empty windows of her wheelhouse. “I want to warn Jill. She needs to know–”

  Colin nodded. “And Dad. I’m worried about him.”

  “They’ll be getting up soon.”

  Intense eyes took her breath. “Come here,” he urged in a soft voice.

  She stepped into his arms. His palm guided her head to rest on his shoulder and his fingers remained in her hair. She could feel his breath tickle her forehead. For this precious moment she was anywhere other than this crazy crypt at the bottom of the ocean. She was in his embrace as they stood on a pier, overlooking the Atlantic. She was in his embrace as he sat on the bumper of his Jeep and she stood between his legs. She was in his embrace as they cheered at a football game on his campus. She was in his embrace as he tipped her chin up and touched his lips to hers.

  All these fantasy embraces–and none came close to this feeling–to this moment. The beating of his heart tapping against her own. The warmth of his skin. The peace of knowing that it wasn’t just her who had fantasies.

  “You feel right, Stel.”

  Maybe she murmured something against his shoulder. She didn’t dare move and chance this moment would end.

  “Of all the things I’ve done in the past few years, you’re the only thing that feels right.”

  His arms constricted and she welcomed the additional heat.

  “I could go on trying to be polite–trying to pretend that I’m not attracted to you. That’s the mature thing for me to do. Right now you need that big brother to watch out for you. You don’t need a guy that’s–”

  Frustration rumbled out of her throat as she drew her head back and reached up to cup his face in both her hands.

  “I need this,” she demanded, pulling him down until she could kiss him.

  Colin hesitated for a second and then he was kissing her back, his arms closing around her as he murmured her name against her lips.

  Maybe the timing for this wasn’t perfect, but as Col had said, it felt right.

  Finally, his head drew back enough that he could look into her eyes. His pupils were wide and dark, like the black depths of the pools.

  “Demanding little wench,” he teased.

  Stella smiled, resisting the temptation to run her fingertips along his bottom lip. Insecurities surfaced, as they usually do. Colin read the brief shadow that passed over her face.

  “What is it?”

  She kept her eyes averted, feeling foolish, but craving reassurance.

  “This isn’t–” she hesitated, “–this isn’t just convenient, is it? I mean, I’m not just a diversion?”

  Colin massaged his forehead. He drew in a deep breath.

  “I could ask the same thing, couldn’t I?”

  Stella stiffened. “Of course it’s not.”

  “This–” he tapped his hand on his chest and then tapped hers. “–this is new, and we’ve both got a lot of crap going on around us right now. It’s not the way I wanted to–” He stopped, thinking about his words. “If I hadn’t been a coward on land. If I had said something to you sooner–” his hand waved between them again, “this would have been something really special.”

  “It’s not special?” she nearly hiccupped.

  “It’s damn special,” he grinned. “But on land I would have been able to take you out to dinner. I could have walked along the beach and watched the sun set with you.”

  Stella swallowed, picturing an image that could have been plucked from her own daydreams.

  A grating sound nearby yanked them apart. Colin looked alert. Stay here, he mouthed. Inching past her he peered out from their shadowed nook and returned with a somber expression.

  “Take a look for yourself,” he murmured.

  Stella peered out and noticed Donald Wexler stumbling from his boat dwelling. There was a bottle clutched in his hand and his bleary eyes hinted at the contents.

  “Where’d he get that?” Colin asked, looking over her shoulder.

  “Margie was stacking up the supplies for the upcoming New Year’s party. I saw several bottles on the café shelves.”

  Her heart broke at the sight of Colin’s bleak profile. His shoulders rose and fell as he took a deep breath.

  “All right. I’ll go talk to Dad. You’re going to talk with Jill?”

  Stella nodded.

  “Then get some rest, Stel.” He touched her arm. “You could have been seriously hurt tonight. You’re acting so strong, but don’t. It’s not necessary. It’s okay to be scared, and to admit that you are exhausted.”

  This simple acknowledgement allowed the symptoms to manifest. Her body trembled and ached. She feared sleep because if she closed her eyes the creature would return.

  “I’ll be right next-door,” he assured. “Just holler, and I’ll be there.”

  She knew that he would. It was one of the traits that had first attracted her to Jill’s older brother. During her sophomore year, she was stuck after school one day, working on the school newspaper. Running through the halls, she threw open the front door just in time to see the late bus ride off. Neither her mother nor Jill’s mother answered the phone. She had no cash to hire a ride, and the walk home was about ten miles. Preparing to start that long trek, hoping someone would eventually pick up the phone, she suddenly remembered that Colin had football practice. She stopped along the fence to watch the seniors practicing their running routes and noticed Col launch into the air for a skilled catch. He jogged back to the bench and glimpsed her standing there.

  “Hey,” he called. “Looking for an interview?” His grin teased her in more ways than she could register.

  A few other jersey-clad players looked up and then away in disinterest.

  Stella forced herself to wave Colin over. He trotted to the fence, his dark hair stuck to his forehead, and his face flush from effort.

  “Uh,” she fumbled, “I missed my bus. Is there any way–”

  “Yeah, sure. I’m done here. I just need a quick shower. I’ll meet you out front in ten minutes?”

  No questions asked. No ribbing. Just, I’ll meet you out front in ten minutes.

  “If you need help with your Dad–” She returned to the moment. “Same thing. Just holler.”

  She turned to head to her bungalow when there was a slight tug on her arm. Colin dipped and kissed her, his thumbs brushing her cheeks when he pulled back.

  “That’s so you can have some sweet dreams tonight,” he whispered.

  With that he was gone, and Stella stood, hugging herself, missing his warmth already. She tilted her head and searched the dark recesses of the Underworld. The ceiling gaped overhead, black and mysterious. Twin red pillars of rock, each several stories high stood like two giant c
anine teeth in this yawning mouth. In the distance Margie and Jordan were singing Christmas carols, humming unintelligible words when the lyrics failed them. Their rowdy voices tuned out the constant churn of the waterfall in the distance. That liquid curtain was out of view, but it was still too close for her liking. Just beyond that flowing veil stalked the nocturnal beasts. Creatures that were evolving, slowly transitioning into the deep sea monsters that would one day rule this subterranean land.

  CHAPTER 16

  “I saw you.”

  Stella stepped inside the wheelhouse to find Jill sitting on the hammock with her legs dangling off.

  “Saw me?” she felt her stomach dip.

  “Yeah, I saw you and Col.”

  Stella crossed over to the desk and sat on the chair, fidgeting with the bandage on her palm.

  “Jill, I–”

  “Chill, girl.” Jill’s white teeth gleamed in the dim light. “Like, if you haven’t seen the way my brother has looked at you for the past couple of years–well, yeah, you probably haven’t seen it.”

  Stella reeled at the notion.

  “But,” Stella stuttered, “he was in college. He had college babes.”

  “So?” Jill shrugged. “Maybe he was waiting for the right time.” She stood up and peered outside.

  Stella watched her guardedly. “Are you–does it freak you out?”

  Jill looked back over her shoulder. “Does it freak you out if I tell you I’m kinda into Daniel?”

  Whoa. Okay, yeah, maybe that did freak her a bit, but after a moment’s consideration she got over it. As long as the guy was decent. If he hurt Jill in any way, he’d have to face Stella’s wrath.

  “I don’t really know him,” she hedged.

  “I can talk to him.” Jill explained with a frown. “I mean, it’s really easy to talk to him.”

  “You can talk to me,” Stella sulked.

  Jill hefted off the hammock and plopped down on the blanket. “I know that.”

  “So, talk to me, Jilly. I hurt and she wasn’t even my mom.”

  Jill looked up, her eyes red and brimming. “All girls are supposedly Daddy’s Girl. Not me. I was Mommy’s Girl. Mom adored me, Stel. She poured everything of herself into me.”

  True. And Colin had a father who rode him constantly. He wasn’t exactly Daddy’s Boy. Jill was definitely the chosen one in the family, but it wasn’t obnoxious to the point of being sickening.

  Stella walked over and dropped to her knees on the blanket. She reached forward and wrapped Jill in her arms and felt each tremor as Jill sobbed. Murmuring words of support, Stella hugged her tight.

  Finally, Jill gathered herself and sat back, wiping her eyes with the balls of her hands.

  “She’s at peace,” she sniffled. “I know that. Well, maybe not so much at peace. She’s probably worried about us. We could use all the angels looking down on us that we can get.”

  Stella kept her gaze averted. Troubling images hacked at the inside of her head.

  “What?” Jill probed. “What’s wrong?”

  It didn’t seem like the right moment to tell her, but she needed to be warned. She needed to practice caution if she was to strike out on her own. Stella wondered if Daniel was already aware of the Chimaera.

  “I need you to be careful,” she advised. “Promise never to go beyond the waterfall.”

  Jill sat up cross-legged, pulling her hair back into a ponytail as she pulled the scrungee from her wrist to cinch it.

  “Why, what’s back there? Is that where you and Col do the wild thing?” She wiggled her eyebrows and grinned.

  “Eh, as if!” Stella couldn’t help but to laugh. “Seriously, Jill.” She sobered. “There are things back there. Things that will hurt you.”

  “Things?”

  Stella began to chronicle the events, leaving out only the mass grave. There was the anticipated disbelief in Jill’s blue eyes, and then darker shades of horror. She hugged herself and rocked slightly.

  “I saw one,” she whispered.

  “What! Where?”

  “I didn’t actually see one, but I saw a drawing of what you’re describing. It was in the cave of pictures.”

  It was Jill’s turn to share her escapade with Daniel. When she was done they both sat quietly contemplating each other’s tales. Stella was the first to break from it.

  “Why don’t we go grab some lunch?”

  She wanted to get some food into her friend. She knew Jill wasn’t eating much.

  Jill blanched at the thought, but she curled her hands into fists and pushed up off the ground. “You’re right,” she said quietly. “I want my strength.”

  Stella beamed. “Atta girl!”

  The bell rang its solemn chord. The night was felt only by the silence that cloaked the Underworld. Peering out the wheelhouse window Stella reviewed the progress of Margie and Jordan’s decorating. Faded ribbons lined the heavy rope fences. Boxes of baubles sat out waiting to be strung up. Margie had already crafted a tree of sorts in the café. The center post of a coat rack had strands of frayed rope tied to it. Each strand was lined with shiny bits of metal and exotic shell fragments.

  After meeting Colin at lunch, it was agreed that tonight would be a night off to rest. Colin would watch over his father and she over Jill. Jill was making efforts not to spiral into depression. She helped Margie siphon through some of the boxes and even located a rusted trumpet which she tested putting her lips to. The sound was far from melodic, but it might do for a New Year’s celebration.

  Once Jill had fallen asleep, Stella pulled her journal out and began catching up on the events of the past few days. There was plenty to write about. Enough to cramp her hand and strain her eyes in the faint light. She finally closed the binder and slipped it back into its hiding spot beneath her blankets. Settling into a comfortable position on the tattered fabric, fatigue finally claimed her.

  There was no telling what the time was, but something woke her. A soft knocking outside the bungalow–a persistent little tap like an annoying woodpecker.

  Stella scrambled onto her knees and crawled to the window. A shadow stood outside and she saw a pale wrist rap faintly against the wood. Poking her head out the window frame she was startled to see Loren standing there. Just as Loren was in mid-knock Stella called out softly, “Shh. You’ll wake Jill. I’ll come out.”

  Scrambling to think what Loren could possibly want from her, Stella tugged on her tank top and smoothed down her wild hair.

  Outside, Loren had backed into the shadows, her black hair and dark attire the perfect camouflage. She beckoned Stella with a haunting wave of the hand.

  When they were past Colin and Don’s shanty Loren continued around a mound of dirt and stopped once she was out of the range of the closest torch.

  “What the hell?” Stella asked in a whisper.

  “Sorry for the cloak and dagger treatment, but Colin said you were both probably under surveillance from the Brothers Grimm.”

  English, please.

  “Brothers Grimm,” Stella tested. “Ah, Etienne and Frederic. Appropriate.” She nodded.

  “Colin is trying to make a distraction right now and he’ll meet up with us here when he’s sure they’re appeased.”

  Stella scanned the grounds for any sign of a disruption. The torches leading up to Frederic’s office revealed nothing. The windows to that enclave glowed, but they always did. The man kept a torch going constantly. Given what she had witnessed last night, could she blame him?

  A scrape of rock nearby had her jumping out of her skin. She nearly hiccupped in relief when Colin appeared beside her.

  “Done,” he nodded at Loren.

  “What did you do?” Stella asked.

  “A lot of running around.” He grinned. “I went back behind the waterfall.”

  Stella gasped. “By yourself? Colin, don’t do that.”

  “You were worried about me?” He gave her a quick wink.

  Uneasy, Stella looked at Loren. “Did you go to
o?”

  “No, I came to get you.” Loren fidgeted with the zipper on her pullover.

  “It was no big deal,” Colin explained. “I just ducked behind the water and waited there for a while. I took a different route back. I don’t think they saw me return. Let them think I’m still deep in the caverns again.”

  “But why?” Stella looked back and forth between them. “What’s all this about?”

  “That is what Loren is about to tell us, right?” Colin shifted his gaze to her.

  The young woman looked uncomfortable under their scrutiny. Her furtive, sloe-eyed glances made Stella edgy. Loren shoved her fingers into the pockets of her jeans and cleared her throat a few times. When it seemed doubtful that she was going to speak, she finally uttered a few husky words.

  “When your mom–” she tossed a quick glance up at Colin, “when she passed–I don’t know. It kind of really hit me. I miss my mother so much.” Her breath caught. “And your dad,” she hesitated and glanced towards their bungalow even though it was out of view behind this rise. “Your dad is showing signs–they’re not positive signs.”

  “The place is getting to him,” Colin kept his voice controlled. “That’s all.”

  Loren looked doubtful, but discreetly tucked her head and nodded.

  “I’m just saying it would be a good idea to try and get you and your family out of here.”

  Colin snorted. “Sure, point me the way and I’ll get right on that.”

  A pale hand swept back the dark veil of hair so that one deep brown eye could study him.

  “That’s what I’m about to do.”

  Stella and Colin exchanged glances. She could see her own shock mirrored in his expression.

  Loren stood taller now, as if she was full of purpose. All the body gestures were there. Fingers that had been crammed defensively into her front pockets now hooked the back pockets of her jeans as she took a deep breath and lifted her chin. She really was beautiful and made Stella feel like an awkward oaf. But Colin’s interest in her right now seemed solely based on curiosity, not attraction.

  “I’m not going to lie,” she uttered in her husky murmur, “where I’m taking you is very dangerous. If you don’t want to go, I understand.”