ELEMENTS: Acquiesce

by Kathryn Andrews

  “Is that right?” asked Connal. “Sounds to me like you’re hiding something.”

  “Wants to keep it all for himself,” said William.

  “All the more reason to send you lads along,” said Mr Kelly. “Keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn’t pocket any for himself. The treasures that come out of that bog are gonna change this family’s lives.”

  Keeva was leaning against the wall with her arms folded as the young men left the tavern. She looked at Breck sternly, raising her eyebrows when he looked in her direction.

  “You wouldn’t do anything daft, would ye Breck?” she said, bitingly.

  Breck chose to ignore his cousin’s comment. Ducking under the door frame he placed his flat cap on his head and stepped into the yard. As he prepared the horse and wagon, Breck couldn’t help but wonder about Cordelia and silently prayed that he wouldn’t see her at the rock pools.

  “What’s wrong with you?” asked Connal. “You’ve a face like a slapped arse. You’d think you’d be grateful for the company.”

  “He’s right,” said William, “it must get lonely back there in solitude all day.”

  “I dunno, I like it that way.”

  Breck climbed onto the cart. “Are you getting on or what?”

  The three young men rode through the town and along the seafront. The air was cool but the sun shone gloriously in the blue sky.

  “I don’t like the look of that storm coming in,” said William as they approached the bog.

  Behind them the town was bathed in sunlight so bright that the light bouncing off the buildings caused them to squint. Ahead of them, dark clouds loomed across the bay and thick, mysterious fog covered the rock pools.

  “I can see why folk don’t come back here,” said William.

  “Would you listen to yourself,” said Connal. “Come on, we’ve work to do.”

  Breck led the way into the bog. “You can dig anywhere but here,” he said, pointing to the mound of turf beneath which two bodies lay.

  Breck passed his cousins a shovel each and they began to dig.

  Shielded from the outside world, Cordelia perched on a ledge, hair dripping wet and her tail tucked up to her chest. She had only stayed in the water long enough to transform. Feeling apprehensive about Flynn, she watched his every move, every breath, every jitter. He looked sorrowful. The mirror pool was the only thing stopping her from rushing to the island alone but she knew in her heart that for Flynn to have the best chance, she needed support from her friends. She waited all day for lessons to be over, never once taking her eyes off Flynn and pushing Breck to the back of her mind.

  Breck had been on edge all day, praying that his cousins wouldn’t catch a glimpse of Cordelia. The dense fog that had arisen so mysteriously across the reef had aroused his suspicion that she must be there.

  Mid afternoon, Connal threw his spade in a temper. “This is ridiculous!” he groaned. “We’ve been breaking our backs all day and what do we have to show for it? Are you sure we’re digging in the right place?”

  “Do you think I’d be doing this on a daily basis if I’d found treasure here?” asked Breck.

  Connal scratched his head. “Father’s gonna go mad.”

  “You can’t take him what isn’t here,” said Breck.

  “You don’t know him like we do,” said William, “he’s relyin’ on those gems to pay for all the booze he’s ordered.”

  “He shouldn’t be ordering what he can’t afford,” said Breck.

  “We should have stayed with the relief work,” said William, staring at the ground.

  Feeling bad about the impending wrath of their father, Breck took the single gemstone from his pocket. When he was certain neither of his cousins were looking, he tossed it on the ground near William.

  “What’s that?” asked Breck.

  Connal and William looked at him.

  “There, beside you,” said Breck, pointing at the ground.

  William’s eyes lit up and he fell to his knees, his dirty, bony fingers scrambling in the mud to retrieve the shiny stone.

  Connal rushed over to his brother, “What is it?!” he asked. “Show me!”

  William held out an aquamarine gemstone that shimmered in the light. The brothers laughed and hugged, slapping each other on the back.

  “This is it!” shouted Connal, taking the gem from William and shoving it in his pocket. “We’re gonna be rich! Come on, we have to keep diggin’.”

  Breck screwed his face up at the thought of more digging.

  “Don’t just stand there,” said William. “Do as Connal says, we’ve to keep diggin’.”

  “We’ve been digging all day and we’ve found one gem,” said Breck. “Why don’t we try again tomorrow?”

  “And let father down? There must be more where that one came from,” said Connal.

  “Seriously, I’m done for the day,” said Breck and he began loading turf onto the cart.

  “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that Breck, now get yourself back over here,” said Connal. He knelt on the ground with William and they sifted dirt through their fingers.

  Breck felt his arms tense and a tingling sensation ran through them to his fingertips.

  “Here,” said Connal, standing. He threw a shovel in Breck’s direction and then looked away.

  Breck reached out to grab the shovel to save it from hitting him and as he did, lightening bolts flew from his fingers and scorched the ground where William was digging. William fell back and scrambled to his feet.

  “Did you see that?!” he asked, alarmed.

  “There must be a storm coming in,” said Connal.

  “I say we get back before it strikes again,” said William.

  “I’m with you there,” said Breck.

  The three men packed up and Misty took them back to the tavern.

  ELEVEN

  THE PERILS OF SLATE ISLAND

  “Well lads? What’ve you got for me?” grinned Mr Kelly, rubbing his hands together.

  “It’s been a bit of a slow start,” said William.

  “No bother, Rome wasn’t built in a day now, was it?” said Mr Kelly, smiling at two punters who propped the bar. “Important work takes time.”

  Connal nervously put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the aquamarine gemstone.

  “That’s the stuff laddie!” said Mr Kelly, grinning widely. He leaned across the bar and grabbed Connal by the cheeks. “I knew my Connal wouldn’t let me down.”

  Connal didn’t smile.

  “What’s the matter with you?” asked Mr Kelly, laughing. “Come on then, show me the rest.”

  Connal cleared his throat. “That’s all we found.”

  Mr Kelly’s expression became serious, his face flushed red and then he smiled. “They’re messin’ with me,” he said to the punters.

  “We’re not messin’ with you,” said William. “That’s all we found.”

  Mr Kelly studied their glum faces. “Out the back, now.”

  Breck braced himself for what was coming.

  “Are you serious?! You’ve been out all day and you’ve found one lousy stone?! What’ve you been doin’? Are you tryin’ to make me look stupid in front of the punters?!”

  Mr Kelly’s face turned crimson, his glazed eyes bulged from his head and spit flew out of his mouth as he yelled.

  “We tried…” began William.

  “Quiet!” shouted Mr Kelly. “Don’t interrupt me.”

  Mr Kelly stood quietly for a moment before erupting again. “It was yourself wasn’t it?” he said, pointing a wavering finger at Breck. “You stopped ‘em didn’t you?” Then he turned to Connal. “Did himself tell you where to dig, and where not to dig?”

  Connal hesitated.

  “Answer me!” shouted Mr Kelly.

  “Yes!” shouted Connal.

  William gulped, his wide eyes glanced at Breck, then back at his father who marched over to the fire and pulled out a hot poker.

  “What are you doing?” asked
William.

  “Don’t question me boy. I’m in charge around here. My house, my rules.” He charged towards Breck.

  “Father, no!” shouted Connal.

  Keeva burst through the door and stood between her father and Breck who had his back against the wall.

  “Out the way girl!” shouted Mr Kelly.

  “Stop it!” cried Keeva. “You’re drunk!”

  Mr Kelly struck Keeva across the face with the back of his hand. She gasped and cradled her face. Breck pushed her out of the way and Mr Kelly lurched towards him, brandishing the poker.

  “No!” cried Keeva. “The gems aren’t in the ground!”

  The men looked at her, stunned.

  “Oh?” said Mr Kelly, turning his attention to Keeva. “If they’re not in the ground, where are they?”

  Keeva trembled as tears fell from her eyes.

  “Keeva, we’re about to lose everything!” exclaimed Mr Kelly. “We’re drowning in debt! Unless you want to go to the workhouse, you’d better tell me where they are!”

  Keeva looked at Breck who subtly shook his head.

  “Tell him,” said Connal.

  Keeva’s chin wobbled as she spoke, “There are mermaids in Kilfearagh. The gems are from the mermaids.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!” shouted Mr Kelly. “What nonsense has your mother been fillin’ your head with now?!”

  “It’s true!” cried Keeva.

  “Keeva, stop it,” said Connal, placing his hands on her arms.

  “It’s the truth! Ask him!” Keeva glared at Breck and pulled her arms free of Connal.

  “I don’t know what she’s talking about.”

  “Liar!” shouted Keeva. “He’s in love with a mermaid named Cordelia. I’ve seen them with my own eyes, out on the reef. You wonder why he doesn’t bring any money home? It’s because he spends all his time with her.”

  A drunken Mr Kelly took a few moments to process the information before speaking again. “Mermaid or not, you’re telling me you’ve seen a girl at the reef and she has the gems?”

  Keeva nodded.

  “Then what are we doin’ here? Get the torches lads, and rope. If Keeva’s right we’ll make a fortune if we catch her.”

  While his cousins gathered hunting gear and Mr Kelly closed the tavern, Breck wasted no time in escaping through the back door and jumping on Misty’s back.

  Misty galloped down the street so fast that people jumped out of the way. With her hooves barely touching the ground, Misty raced along the sea front towards the reef. Adrenalin pulsed through Breck’s veins as he hurried to warn Keeva of the imminent danger she was in, but when he arrived at the reef, she was not there. The fog had lifted and there was no sign of the mermaids as far as the eye could see. Breck continued riding across the cliff top in the direction that Cordelia always walked when they parted.

  While Breck continued his search, Cordelia was anxiously waiting for her friends at the cove. It was almost dusk and the light was fading fast.

  “This isn’t going to be easy,” said Lana, arriving at the cove with the twins.

  “I know,” said Cordelia, unbuttoning her shirt.

  In the half-light the mermaids swam silently along the coast, gliding through the sapphire sea. Cordelia’s friends were so preoccupied with their mission they hadn’t noticed the colour of her tail. Eventually they arrived unscathed at the base of Slate Island where heaps of dead men’s bones were lying all around, their souls forever lost in the waves.

  “This must be the home of a monster,” whispered Nerissa, turning to the others with a terrified look in her eyes.

  “They’re Sirens,” said Masika, “what d’you expect?”

  “Shhh!” said Lana.

  They could hear the ravens whispering in the wind but at the setting of the sun, the island became mysteriously quiet, just as Nerissa had said. The silence was strangely unnerving. In the moonlight, Lana and Cordelia swam around the island and out to sea to get a better view. They could see the hole in the side of the cliff, just as Cordelia had seen in the mirror pool.

  “That must be where Flynn is,” whispered Cordelia.

  It took every ounce of self-control for Cordelia to stop herself from calling out. They swam back to Masika and Nerissa.

  “What did you see?” asked Nerissa.

  “We think we know where Flynn is,” said Cordelia. “There’s a hole at the top of the cliff round the far side.”

  “If we’re careful we can climb up the slope over there,” said Lana.

  “Listen,” whispered Masika.

  The Sirens were singing, their haunting voices sent shivers through Cordelia’s body.

  “Something’s not right,” said Lana.

  The mermaids retreated as far back into the base of the rock as they could while the Sirens loomed overhead. Waterfalls poured over their heads as the sea swell slopped into the crevices of the rocks and spewed back out again.

  On the mainland, Breck had reached the lighthouse. All was quiet except for the dozen white horses feeding on the luscious green grass that blanketed the cliff top. A small fire burned by the horse shed where Rafe and Max were spreading new hay and he made his way over.

  “Can we help you?” asked Rafe.

  “Is Cordelia here?”

  Rafe raised an inquisitive eyebrow and puffed out his chest. “Who’s asking?”

  “A friend.” Breck glanced over his shoulder to see torch lights near the reef. “We don’t have much time.”

  “You’re intruding,” said Max.

  “Listen,” said Breck, “they know about Cordelia, they know what she is.”

  Rafe squared up to Breck.

  “They’re hunting for her,” said Breck, the nerves evident in his voice.

  “You’ve lost me,” said Rafe.

  “I know what you are,” said Breck, “I know what all of you are.”

  Rafe and Max stood uneasy, their eyes filled with rage like wild dogs ready to attack.

  “I knew she was trouble,” sniped Max.

  “I’m different too,” said Breck, his mind fraught with worry.

  Breck opened his clenched hand to reveal waves of bright blue electricity dancing through his fingers.

  “He’s an energy carrier,” said Max.

  Breck closed his fist and the blue glow disappeared.

  “Who are they?” asked Rafe.

  “I’m ashamed to admit I’m related to them,” revealed Breck. “My drunk uncle and his delightful offspring.”

  “And you told them about us?” asked Max.

  “No, not me. They don’t know about you. Will you help or not?”

  “What do you need help with, Breck?” asked Mr Kelly through gritted teeth.

  Breck lowered his head and squeezed his eyes tight. “You found me then.”

  “Wouldn’t take a genius,” said Connal. “Misty’s fresh hoof prints led us straight to you.”

  “I see you’ve got some fine horses of your own,” said Mr Kelly, looking at Rafe. “They must cost a small fortune.”

  “Is there something I can do for you?” asked Rafe.

  “We’re looking for a girl,” began Mr Kelly.

  Rafe shrugged, “No girls around here.”

  “What was her name Keeva?” asked Mr Kelly.

  “Cordelia. She has long grey hair. Can’t miss it.”

  “No, no one of that description around here,” said Rafe.

  “Is that so?” enquired Mr Kelly. “And what does your friend think? Does your friend believe in mermaids? Keeva here does. Reckons this young lass is a mermaid. There’d be a cut in it for you if you helped us catch her. Reckon we’d make a killin’ if we sold her in Dublin.”

  Mr Kelly grinned widely revealing his crooked, stained teeth.

  “I think you’re drunk,” said Max, “and clearly deluded, the lot of you. Now if you don’t mind, we’ve work to finish.”

  As Rafe and Max turned to walk back to the horse shed, Mr Kelly and his sons jumped on th
e backs of three white horses. Startled, the horses began to move light-foot-edly, their ears pinned back, their breathing heavy.

  “Get off the horses,” ordered Rafe, “you’re scaring them.”

  The horses began to dance restlessly as the men clung onto their manes with one hand and held their torches in the other.

  “Are you hard of hearing?” asked Max. “He said get off.”

  “Are you gonna make us?” asked Connal.

  The three men kicked the horses with their heels and the horses bolted.

  “Stop them!” cried Keeva.

  Breck climbed on Misty. “Are you coming?” he asked, reaching a hand out to Keeva.

  Breck pulled Keeva onto the back of his horse as Rafe and Max mounted theirs. Galloping through the darkness, across the rugged cliff tops, none of them knew what terror lie in store. As Mr Kelly and his sons neared Slate Island, the horses came to an abrupt halt, their hooves skidding on the wet grass. The horses began to snort and shy away.

  “Listen. Do you hear it?” asked Connal.

  “The angels are singing,” said Mr Kelly jumping down from the horse.

  “I have to see them,” said William.

  “What are they doing?!” shouted Keeva. She watched three flames move towards the cliff edge and her stomach flipped. “Make them stop!”

  The mermaids were still keeping watch from the base of the island.

  “Over there!” said Cordelia.

  The bright torch lights illuminated the cliff top in front of them, the flames dancing wildly in the breeze. The Sirens kept singing and the men kept walking. Cordelia and her friends watched in anguish as the three men walked straight off the cliff edge and fell one hundred and sixty feet into the freezing sea, their torches descending like flares under a starlit sky. One torch light remained on the cliff top but Keeva threw it to the ground and it fizzled out on the wet grass, plunging them into almost complete darkness as she let out a blood curdling scream. Only the moonlight could guide them now.

  Rafe and Max swiftly dismounted their horses.

  “Stay back!” shouted Rafe as he hurriedly removed his boots and shirt.