“A physical manifestation of my magic.” He held it out to me. “Take it.”
“Wait.” I processed what he was saying. This was far more than a coin if he was telling the truth. “How can you make this?”
“I can’t use magic the way I used to. But I can create magical objects by imbuing my magic into them. Maybe this will help amplify the powers you already have.”
I caught Cad’s eyes; thankfully he wasn’t giving me an I-told-you-so look.
“Thank you.” I accepted the coin.
“Don’t thank me. You’re the one who deserves to be thanked. And Cad.”
“We’re going to get her back.” Cad’s hand tightened on the one of mine he held. “This is going to work.”
“It is.” Dad nodded.
“You sure about it?” I eyed him warily.
“Yes. I can feel it.” He smiled before disappearing back out the front door.
“So that was interesting.” I examined the coin.
“I bet it’s going to help. We can use any extra magic we can find.”
“Shall we try to make a net?” I kept my hand wrapped around the coin as Cad enveloped my hand with his own.
“Yes.” He took my other hand. “Let’s make this net.”
I closed my eyes and everything went blank. This was so much harder than fire or ice. It was a specific object. But then I thought of the way Cad always pulled me in. The way he always caught me when I fell. In some ways Cad was a net—the good kind of net. I felt a tightening in my stomach—then my chest—then my hands. I opened my eyes. We were holding the very edge of a large brown fishing net.
“It looks like a normal net to me.” I examined the coarse rope.
“But it can’t be normal. It wasn’t there a few minutes ago.”
I opened my hand and took a look at the silver coin. It was slightly dulled in color but still bright. “We shouldn’t waste anymore of this.”
“Maybe it’s a sign we need to stop practicing. We need to go ahead and get this over with.”
“I think you’re right.” I clutched the coin tightly. I didn’t have any pockets, and I probably wouldn’t have let go of it even if I’d had them.
“It’s going to be okay, Delpha.” He cradled my head in his hands. “I promise.”
“That’s a pretty big promise to make.”
“I’m well aware, but I’m also completely confident making it.”
“Ok. Then let’s go before I chicken out.”
“You’d never chicken out.” He took my free hand in his. “And even if you wanted to, I wouldn’t let you. You want this too much.”
“I do.” He was right as always. Getting my mom back was a dream I could barely imagine. Even if it didn’t work, I needed to protect the town from the dark ones. It was my fault they’d showed up anyway. Sure Jackson had been messed up with them, but I was positive it had been my birth that lured them in. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but I did. Kind of how I knew that no matter what happened with our net, things would never really go back to being the same again. Things might be amazing after this, but they definitely wouldn’t be the same. So much had changed in the space of a few hours.
Cad and I led the group down to the beach. I’d begged Mattie to stay back. If our plan backfired I didn’t want her to get hurt, but arguing didn’t usually get far with her. This time was no exception.
“You think I’m missing this?” She walked right by my side as we reached the sand.
“It would be safer for you if you watched from the boardwalk.”
“No place is truly safe. Besides, I might be useful. You never know when you could use the help of a completely powerless human.”
“You’re not completely powerless.”
“I know, but you don’t seem to. Stop worrying about me. Focus on the task at hand.”
“I’m focusing.”
“You’re going to do great.” My father caught up just as my feet reached the water. “You are so powerful, and you have Cad.”
“And I have you.” I held up the coin.
“I only wish I could do more.” There was a deep sadness in my eyes, and I knew I couldn’t go through with the plan until I got a few things off my chest.
“I’m not angry with you anymore. I’m hurt. I think that hurt is always going to be there. Nothing can completely erase your absence in my life.”
He nodded, his eyes downcast.
“But I’m glad you’re here. And maybe if we give it enough time that hurt will fade until it’s only a faint memory. And maybe we can develop a new relationship that moves us beyond our past.”
He reached out for me and pulled me into his arms. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you.” I hugged him back for a moment before stepping back. “Coming back here couldn’t be easy. I’m glad Cad convinced you. I hope you don’t wait too long to come back again.”
“I’m not leaving this time.” He released me but stayed close. “We’ve wasted enough time apart already. And I’m not going to worry about protecting you. You’ve done a pretty darn good job of doing that yourself.”
I blinked back some tears and stepped back. “I’m glad.”
“You ready?” Cad held out his hand.
“Yes. Let’s do this.”
We gave the others time to move further away from us before we joined hands and walked toward the water.
This wasn’t practice. This was the real deal. It was time to rid Willow Harbor of the dark ones once and for all.
Eighteen
Cad
This time would be different. Even if neither of us spoke it out loud, we were each holding back before. We couldn’t afford to hold back this time. We were only going to get one chance to make this work. The water seemed to part for us as we headed directly for the dark patch beneath the surface. What had been invisible to us before, had now become a blackness that changed the color of the water. Just as Vicky had predicted.
We clasped hands together, the coin finding it’s place between our entwined fingers. I closed my eyes and thought about Delpha, the way she always pulled me in. Like a net. The girl who captured my heart and would never let it go.
The wind picked up and water lapped around our ankles. I kept my eyes closed tight. I couldn’t afford to open them up and lose hold of the magic.
I focused harder. I still didn’t feel the tightening sensation I’d felt last time. My lungs burned as if I was under water again. Water assaulted at us from all sides, as if we were stuck on a boat in the middle of a brutal storm. I was pretty sure Delpha had something to do with that.
I knew she wouldn’t lose her nerve. And neither would I. I focused harder, picturing the way it felt lying with Delpha in my arms. I focused on the feeling of her hands inside mine. She was so close. I could feel her moving closer to me, and I was nearly positive if I opened my eyes I’d find her within kissing reach. But now wasn’t the time for that. It was time to create a net.
The tightening sensation started. First in my stomach. Then in my chest. The water’s attack grew stronger, and my eyes and mouth stung from the salty water. I held onto Delpha’s hands. I refused to let her get washed away. I didn’t know how much was her and how much was the ocean acting on its own accord, but I truly hoped the ocean was on our side.
I felt a tugging. It was as if someone was trying to yank off my hands. I held onto Delpha tighter, somehow knowing that was the only way we’d end this experience in one piece. The wind howled, the waves crashed upon us with more force with every passing wave, and the tugging continued. The tide surged, building all around us. The very ground beneath us shook, and I struggled to stay upwards. I held onto Delpha as tightly as I could. Pain seared through me until all at once everything stopped. The wind grew silent, and all I could hear was the gently ebb and flow of the tide.
I dared to open my eyes. Delpha was just as close as I imagined. We stood staring at one another for a moment before we looked down at our hands. They were empty as
ide from a now dull and tarnished coin.
Disappointment gutted me. I’d thought for sure the tugging at the end had meant something. I’d thought we’d pulled it off. “It didn’t work?” I didn’t want to admit defeat. I refused to give up.
“I think it did.” Delpha’s brow furrowed “I felt the net. I felt us cast it. Didn’t you?”
“I felt something, but why can’t we see it? Why didn’t something physical show up like last time?” I’d wanted to see the net. To know for sure we’d created it. “Wait.” I looked down. “Look at the water. It’s back to normal.” Relief surged through me.
“The ocean stepped in to help.” Billy walked toward us. “Never doubt that you are an Oceanid, Delpha.”
“I’m not.” Delpha shook her head. “My place is on land. Not under the waves.” She eyed me as she spoke as if trying to convince me of the truth in her words.
She didn’t need to worry about convincing me. “The choice has always been yours.” I looked deep into her eyes. “And even if you were 100% Oceanid I believe that would be the truth.”
She took my hands in hers again. “Did you see her too? My mom?”
“See her? My eyes were closed. Weren’t yours?”
She nodded. “They were, but I saw her. Maybe it was only in my head.”
“I don’t think it was in her head. This whole situation is new for us. Seeing an image with your eyes closed is pretty normal compared to the other things.”
“So it’s over?” Mattie asked from her place a ways down the sand. “The net worked? I didn’t see anything, but it feels like a weight has been lifted. Of course that might just be me being weird.”
“That reaction is normal. It means your body is in tuned to the natural balance of things.” Vicky wiped sweat from her brow. “I saw the net. It was invisible to most, but you know I can see what others can’t. It was far larger than I imagined. I don’t believe the dark ones will be returning to our harbor for a long time.”
“And I still don’t get why you could see it while the rest of us couldn’t.” Mattie shifted her weight from foot to foot.
Vicky shrugged. “One day I’ll explain.”
Mattie gave her a pointed look. “I’m holding you to that.”
“But my mom.” Delpha stared out at the water. “I saw her for a split second, but where is she? Does this mean it didn’t work? She’s really gone.” Her eyes were wide and full of a pain and despair that broke my heart.
“We don’t know that for sure.” I would have done anything to remove the pain from her voice.
“Then where is she?” Delpha turned to me, heavy tears streaming down her face. “If it worked, where’s my mom? I swore I saw her. I saw her image right at the end.”
“Maybe it’s a delayed kind of thing,” Mattie suggested. “If you saw her, she has to be around somewhere.”
“How?” Delpha wiped her tears with the heel of her hand. “Let’s be realistic for a second.”
Vicky sighed. “Delpha.”
“What?” Delpha frowned. “Why should we pretend otherwise? I suppose you’re going to argue it was all worth it to get the dark ones far away?”
“No.” Vicky gritted her teeth. “I’m going to tell you to have a little faith.”
I wasn’t sure what to say or do, so instead I pulled Delpha into my arms. “It’s going to be okay.” She rested her head on my chest, and I gently patted her back.
“Is it?” she mumbled against my chest.
“Yes.” I couldn’t know that for sure, but I would do anything to make it so.
She shuddered. I couldn’t keep trying to reassure her. She had every right to be upset, I just wanted things to have turned out differently. I wanted her mom to appear, proving to her that in the end things could work out.
Then I saw a flash of light. “Delpha.” I said her name softly.
She looked up, and I turned us so she could see what I was seeing.
The light intensified, and a wave of water crashed onto the beach. Out of the water walked a woman draped in a blue flowing dress. She was surrounded by a bright light that was nearly blinding. It was Vanessa. Her hair was completely grey, but otherwise she looked just like the last time I saw her.
“Mom?” Delpha took a few hesitant steps toward her.
Her mom nodded and held out her hand. Delpha reached her and took her hand. Billy ran down the beach, and Vanessa held out her other hand to him. He kissed her hand, and she kissed his cheek before letting go of him and walking with Delpha directly into the water.
I forced myself to stay back even though watching them made me nervous. Hadn’t Vanessa just left the water? Why was she going back in?
The two dove under the water, and I prepared to run after them.
“No.” Vicky took my arm. “Let them have their time.”
“But why are they doing this? Why go back in the water?”
“You will understand when Delpha returns.” Vicky put an arm around me. “Give them time. Goodbyes are never easy.”
“Goodbyes?” I gasped. “This is a reunion.”
“A short lived one,” Vicky said under her breath.
“What do you mean?”
“Did you notice the light around Vanessa?”
“Yes. Of course. How could I miss it?” Was she kidding me?
“She’s taking her place in the ocean.”
“How do you know?” I blinked over and over. What was I missing?
“Because I’ve read enough books about Oceanids, and I’ve witnessed enough transformations in my life. The mortal life she chose to live with Billy is over. She gave that to help you. Remember what Delpha said? She saw her at the end. My guess is Vanessa gave her last bit of life to strengthen your net. She would do anything for her daughter.
“No.” I shook my head. “I saw her standing on the beach. She’s alive.”
“She’s not alive in the way you’re thinking. The ocean must have given her a gift—the chance to say goodbye. But even with her mortal life over, her nearly immortal lifetime in the ocean will carry on for as long as the waves crash against this shore.” There was a wistful tone to Vicky's voice.
“And Delpha?” Panic seized me. “She’s going to come back, isn’t she?”
“Her place has always been here, Cad.” Vicky patted my arm. “With you.”
I waited. I didn’t want to doubt Delpha, but I’d be destroyed if something happened to her. Just as I was about to run down the beach after her she emerged from the water.
Billy pulled her into a hug, and I ran toward them.
“Hey, you waited!” Delpha ran to me. I’d given her space with her father, even though the only thing I wanted was to keep her close. But I understood. I couldn’t imagine what she was going through. She’d had such a short time with her mom, yet that seemed to be enough for Delpha. Just looking at her made it clear that a weight had been removed from her shoulders.
I pulled her into my arms. “Of course I waited.” I kissed the top of her head. “Did you think I’d leave?”
“After the day we’ve had, yes.” She ran her fingers over my shirt.
“After the day I’ve had, staying to see you was even more important.”
“Thank you. For everything.” She looked up at me, her clear blue eyes full of love and happiness.
“You don’t have to thank me.” I’d have done everything for her no matter what. She gave me so much by being in my life even the way she’d been. And if she really meant what she said earlier…
“I do. After everything…”
“Delpha?” I had to ask even if it was going to spoil the moment. I needed certainty—or at least stability.
“Yes?” She pressed her palm into my chest.
“Earlier when we talked, you said—”
“Stop right there,” she interrupted. “I want to really try this. I want to really be together.” She tugged on my shirt to pull me closer. “And by try I don’t really mean try since we both know that we are
completely and utterly meant to be together.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
I stared down into her absolutely breathtaking face. I’d memorized her features years before, but there was something new about her now. A new glow, a new twinkle in her eyes. I’d make sure the glow and twinkle never disappeared. I crushed my lips into hers, hoping my lips could express what my words always failed to.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me closer. I could feel her heart beating, and the rhythm matched mine. We were perfectly in sync. I eagerly pushed into her mouth. I needed more of her, and from the way she responded, she needed more from me. Eventually we came up for air.
She grinned. “I have an idea.”
“Oh?” I struggled to calm my rapidly beating heart.
“You never went searching for those new ingredients.”
“No. I didn’t.” I smiled sheepishly.
“Want to do it now?”
I stared at her in disbelief. “You think I want to head out of town right when things are finally working out?”
“I didn’t mean alone.”
“Oh. Wait. You want to go?” Suddenly my view of her suggestion changed.
She nodded. “Doesn’t a road trip sound fun? You, me, the open road?”
“The you and me part always sounds good.” I put my hands on her hips.
“We both know we’re going to end up back in Willow Harbor, but first let’s see more of the world. I don’t want to erase the years of history between us, but I’d sure like to add something new to it.”
“That sounds amazing.”
She brushed her lips against mine. “When can we go?”
“Anytime you want.”
“Tonight?” She stood up on her toes.
“Don’t you want to spend more time with your dad?” I tried to be the considerate boyfriend.
“There will be time for that later.”
“He’s staying in Willow Harbor, isn’t he?”
“I think so.” She smiled. “I owe you so much.”
“You’ve already given me the greatest gift in the world. Your heart.”
“Well, I’ve got yours, so it looks like we’re even.” I pulled her into my arms. “But I may take a few more of those kisses if they’re on the table.”
[Willow Harbor 06.0] Warlock's Embrace Page 14