ELEMENTS: Acquiesce

by Kathryn Andrews

  Cordelia pulled away and looked into Flynn’s eyes. “Are you hurt?”

  “I’ll be fine,” said Flynn, putting on a brave face.

  “I thought I’d lost you.”

  “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

  Cordelia smiled with relief. “There’s something… a lot has changed… I’m not…”

  “It’s alright. I already know,” said Flynn.

  “You do?”

  Flynn nodded.

  “How long have you known?” asked Cordelia.

  “I’ve always known you were special, but officially, about two hours.”

  “And you don’t mind?”

  “Mind? Why would I mind? There is nothing about you that would stop me loving you.”

  “You know what people say about mermaids, and, well, you’re a sailor.”

  “I was a sailor. I’m not anymore.”

  “It’s not true what they say. We’re not the ones who…”

  “I know. It’s those crazy bird women, they need shooting, the lot of ‘em.”

  “If it wasn’t for Breck you’d still be their prisoner,” said Cordelia.

  “Breck?”

  “The man who got you off the island. He put you in the bubble to keep you safe.”

  Flynn looked blankly at Cordelia. “I don’t recall seeing anyone else.”

  “Then how did you…”

  “Are you saying you’ve seen something like that before?”

  Cordelia nodded. “Are you saying you created that bubble yourself?”

  “To tell you the truth I’m not sure how it happened. One minute I’m in the hole and the next minute blue sparks are flying from my fingers.”

  Cordelia’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Has this happened to you before?”

  Flynn closed his eyes briefly before responding. “A long time ago.”

  “I think you’re an energy carrier,” whispered Cordelia.

  “A what?” whispered Flynn.

  “An energy carrier. We have to get you out of here.”

  “Why? And why are we whispering?”

  Cordelia heard footsteps in the tunnel.

  “Shhhh! I’ll explain later. Just try to stay calm.”

  A gentle knock came at the door. It was Mazu and Amatheia with food and water for Flynn.

  “You’ve to keep your strength up,” said Amatheia, smiling.

  “Maybe afterwards I could take Flynn outside?” suggested Cordelia. “I think he’d benefit from the fresh air.”

  “Not tonight,” said Mazu, “the lighthouse is on lock-down. Zamira won’t give up that easily, an attack is almost certainly imminent.”

  “Besides, don’t you think Flynn’s had more than his share of fresh air of late?” asked Amatheia. “A good night’s sleep, that’s what he needs.”

  “Where’s Triton?” asked Cordelia.

  “In the lookout with Irvin. Lana’s gone to get changed, you’d do well to do the same. You’re dripping water everywhere.” Mazu’s tone was firm. She may have been speaking to royalty but Cordelia was still a child in her care who needed some form of order in all this madness.

  Cordelia kissed Flynn on the forehead. “I’ll be back soon.”

  After changing into dry clothes, Cordelia bumped into Nerissa and Masika in the tunnel.

  “Cordelia,” said Nerissa.

  “How’s Flynn?” asked Masika.

  “He’ll be fine with some rest and a hot meal. I can’t thank you enough for what you did. I’m forever in your debt.”

  “It was no trouble,” said Nerissa.

  Masika stood quietly.

  “Are you alright Masika?” asked Cordelia.

  Masika shrugged. Cordelia reached out and gently squeezed Masika’s arm.

  “It was scary for a while,” said Masika. “I felt a little out of my depth.”

  “But you did it,” said Cordelia. “You were nervous but you did it anyway, you saved Flynn.”

  “You were amazing,” said Nerissa.

  Masika smiled. “Where are you going now?” she asked.

  “To the lookout,” said Cordelia. “Lana’s up there with Irvin and Triton keeping watch incase of attack.”

  The three mermaids made their way to the lookout and when they arrived, instead of ravens flying across the sky, shooting stars were descending like fireworks, glowing brightly against the charcoal sky. While the merfolk watched from the lookout, Zamira watched from her perch on Slate Island with Orlenda and Branna by her side. As tears fell from her eyes, she sang her song of death. One after the other the stars continued to fall until sunrise wiped that spectacular display from the sky.

  There had been no sightings of the ravens all night, not at the lighthouse at least and when Irvin looked through his telescope that morning he could see no sign of them. Slate Island had been deserted. The only creatures he could see were the white horses grazing outside who had found their own way home. A feeling of relief spread amongst the merfolk and they quietly celebrated their victory. The town was full of hustle and bustle as people flocked to the beach to see for themselves if the gossip was true. Hundreds of ravens had washed up on the rippled, wind blown sand that morning, enough to feed the town for an entire week. Triton and Mazu put on their finest clothes and walked into town to see excited families gathering ravens like it was Christmas morning and flinging them over their shoulders to take home and cook.

  For a while at least there came a great calm and the sea became civilized once more. Through April the temperatures rose and the days grew longer. In the surrounding areas the potatoes grew and the hunger soon came to an end. For the town folk, their darkest days were over. It was the most stable time Cordelia had experienced in recent months and she spent it being studious, practising for the diving championships and helping Flynn to rebuild his strength. Keeping busy helped her to live a life without Breck but it was breaking her heart. She needed to see him for the pain was too much to bare.

  While Flynn was grateful for the hospitality he’d received at the lighthouse, living in a school for merfolk was not ideal. Cordelia had an idea.

  “Get dressed,” she said, pulling Flynn’s bedcovers back. “You’re coming with me.”

  “Where are we going?” asked Flynn, bemused.

  “Out.”

  “I don’t know about that,” said Flynn. “You know what this town’s like for gossip.”

  “There’s someone you need to meet. Someone like you.”

  Flynn looked curiously at Cordelia. “It’s really not something I’d like to explore.”

  “You have a unique gift, don’t you want to know more about it?”

  “Not really.”

  “At least talk to him. Wouldn’t it be something to know you’re not the only one?”

  Flynn didn’t respond.

  “If not for you then do it for him. He’s young, he has no father and frankly, he’s been through hell.”

  “Sounds like you’ve a soft spot for this boy.”

  Cordelia’s cheeks flushed red. “He’s been a good friend. He understood what it was like to lose your parents.”

  “How old is he?”

  “Eighteen.”

  Flynn’s eyes widened. “I told you, I’m not interested. Whatever it is, it’s dangerous.”

  “Dangerous? It got you off the island didn’t it? If anything, it saved you.”

  “This time perhaps.”

  “What d’you mean this time? Did something happen before?”

  “I’d rather not talk about it.”

  “You’re being stubborn,” said Cordelia, marching out of the chamber.

  Cordelia dithered outside the lighthouse, wondering whether to go to Breck or not. Anxious thoughts raced through her mind. Would he be pleased to see her? Would he have met someone else by now? Would Keeva be there? Would they be angry with her for what happened to the Kelly men? Was it her fault? After much deliberation, Cordelia walked briskly to the peat bog, inhaling the fresh sea air t
o calm her nerves. Walking down the hill towards the peat bog she could see Misty standing by the stone wall. She approached the bog with caution, unsure of the reception she would receive. Breck was not there. Cordelia turned and saw Breck sitting by the first rock pool. She walked across the rocks towards him.

  “It’s peaceful out here isn’t it,” she said.

  Taken by surprise, Breck flinched.

  “I’m probably the last person you want to see,” she said.

  Breck shook his head. “You’ve no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

  The sheer relief took Cordelia’s breath away.

  “Are you staying?” asked Breck.

  Cordelia sat beside him, her eyes wandering over every inch of him; his boots, his shirt, his soft, plump lips until her eyes finally met his.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “What for?”

  “Everything.”

  Breck put his arm around Cordelia and pulled her closer. “It wasn’t your fault,” he said, breathing in the sweet smell of her freshly washed hair. “I’ve really missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too,” she said.

  “So what’s new?” asked Breck.

  “Flynn’s home. I mean, he’s off the island.”

  “That’s grand, you must be so relieved. Is he okay?”

  “He’s doing fine,” said Cordelia, gasping for air. The relief she felt still took her breath away. “He’s resting at the lighthouse. What about you? How are things at the tavern?”

  “Ah, well, things there aren’t so great.”

  “D’you want to talk about it?”

  “What’s to say? There’s no money coming in; I’m working all hours going and barely scraping by. Then I’ve the kids dumped on me at every opportunity ‘cos my aunt’s too depressed to look after them.”

  “What about Keeva? Does she help out?”

  “She was never the same after, you know. The doctors sent her to the asylum.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that,” said Cordelia, genuinely shocked.

  “That’s where my aunt will end up if she’s not careful, all because of those bloody birds.”

  Cordelia could hear the anger and sadness in his voice.

  “Would it help if you had an extra pair of hands?”

  “Are you offering?” he asked.

  “No, not me.”

  “We couldn’t afford to take anyone on.”

  “What if they worked for free? In exchange for a roof over their head?”

  “That could work. Do you have someone in mind?”

  “Flynn?”

  “He won’t want to be stuck behind a bar. He’ll want to get back out on the water, surely?”

  “Without a boat? Besides, I think he’s had enough of the sea for a while.”

  “D’you really think he’d be interested?”

  “He needs a roof over his head. The lighthouse isn’t the right place for him.”

  “And you’re sure the tavern is?”

  “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  The tone in Cordelia’s voice told Breck it was something serious and he wondered what else she could possibly tell him that he didn’t already know.

  “Go on.”

  “Flynn’s like you. He’s an energy carrier too.”

  Breck removed his arm from Cordelia’s shoulder in a temper and rose to his feet. “Is this the only reason you came down here because you need my help with something? There was me thinking you actually cared.”

  “I do care!” exclaimed Cordelia, standing also. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you.”

  “You’ve got a funny way of showing it.”

  “I didn’t know if you wanted to see me. I didn’t know if you blamed me for what happened. I’ve been worried sick about Flynn. You know, you could have come to see me but you didn’t. It works both ways.”

  “The last I saw, you were in the arms of a merman.”

  “He saved my life!”

  “That’s what you say.”

  “I love you! Not him.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I love you.”

  Cordelia was the only person who had ever said those words to Breck. He walked towards Cordelia, held her delicate face in his hands and pressed his lips against hers. Blue waves of energy weaved around them, caressing every curve. Cordelia rested her hands on Breck’s hips, she pulled at his shirt, her heart pounding beneath her chest. She had longed for this moment. They both had.

  “I love you too,” whispered Breck when their lips eventually unlocked. Then he hugged her, holding her close to his body.

  “It will be alright,” said Cordelia, resting her cheek against his soft cotton shirt, “as long as we have each other.”

  Breck kissed Cordelia on the forehead. “Always.”

  Cordelia returned to the lighthouse and told Flynn her plan.

  “I told you, I’m not interested,” said Flynn.

  “Do you want somewhere to live or not? You don’t want to live on a boat, you don’t want to live here, so tell me, where do you want to live?”

  Flynn shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

  “I know you prefer the quiet life but you’d really be making a difference. Breck could use someone like you right now.”

  Flynn thought for a moment before responding. “Okay, if it makes you happy I’ll meet him, but I’m not promising anything.”

  Cordelia smiled widely, “Great, let’s go.”

  “Now?”

  “Breck could really do with your help, the sooner the better,” said Cordelia, holding the door open.

  Flynn sighed as he stood up and slowly walked to the door.

  “What is it?” asked Cordelia. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “It’s nothing.”

  Cordelia and Flynn walked side by side across the grassy cliff top to the peat bog, the balmy breeze blowing their hair. Flynn chuckled.

  “What are you laughing at?” asked Cordelia.

  “It all makes sense now.”

  “What?”

  “How you wound up in my fishing net.”

  “Yes, I suppose it does.”

  “Life is full of surprises huh?”

  “It certainly is.”

  As they walked beneath the clear blue sky, Cordelia wondered how she might one day tell Flynn about Meren. Right now there wasn’t really anything to tell and she didn’t want to worry him. He was the one who raised her, that’s what mattered.

  Cordelia looped her arms around Flynn’s elbow and snuggled in to him. “I love you,” she said.

  “I love you too,” replied Flynn.

  “Oh good, he’s still here,” said Cordelia approaching the peat bog.

  “What d’you mean?” asked Flynn, “I thought he worked at the tavern.”

  “He does, but he digs the bog too. His parents left it to him when they died. The tavern is his aunt’s business.”

  “His parents died?”

  “During the hunger. Breck was the only member of his family to survive. Must have something to do with him being an energy carrier. That’s probably why you survived so long on the island too.”

  Flynn suddenly felt dizzy and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.

  “Here,” said Cordelia, passing him a lace handkerchief. “Are you alright?”

  “I’ll be fine,” said Flynn, leaning on the stone wall to steady himself.

  “Breck!” called Cordelia excitedly. “I’ve someone to meet you.”

  Breck stepped out of the hut and into the sunlight. He raised a hand to shield his eyes from the dazzling light and walked towards the track. Flynn did his best to compose himself as Breck approached. Breck removed his cap and reached out his hand to Flynn who hesitated. Their eyes met and they were drawn into each others’ souls like they had known each other in another life. Cordelia watched with great curiosity. As Flynn took Breck’s hand, an orb of light radiated from their hands. It wasn’t like anyth
ing either of them had experienced before. This was different. Flynn instantly felt the connection he had with Breck and pulled him in closer, hugging him tight.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “Forgive me.”

  FIFTEEN

  FAMILY

  “Forgive you?” asked Cordelia, “What for?”

  The men stood apart. Flynn’s eyes filled with tears.

  “I’m sorry,” said Flynn. “I wish things had been different, but I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I thought it was for the best. I thought you’d be safer with them.”

  “I don’t follow,” said Breck.

  “The people who raised you, your parents, they took you on as their own, out of kindness.”

  “You’ve lost me.” said Breck. “Look, I don’t know what being prisoner on that island has done to your mind but you’ve no business talking about my parents.”

  “I’m sorry son, it’s true.”

  “I’m not your son.” Breck turned to Cordelia. “Did you know about this?”

  Cordelia floundered, not quite knowing what to say. “No, I didn’t.”

  “Your mother died giving birth to you,” explained Flynn.

  “My mother died from fever only months ago,” said Breck, his eyes glazed and fierce.

  “I was overcome with grief,” continued Flynn. “I was angry and sparks started flying from my hands. I couldn’t control it. I was worried I’d hurt you. I wasn’t in a good place. Everything at home and in town reminded me of your mother. The sea calmed me. Out there I couldn’t hurt anyone.”

  “So you gave me up, you blamed me for her death.”

  “No, I’ve never blamed you but you weren’t safe with me.”

  “So what, you just left me to deal with the same thing on my own? No one to guide me or give me answers?”

  “I didn’t have any answers. I didn’t know I’d passed it on to you. I thought I was the only one.”

  “If you’re who you say you are, you should have been there for me.” With his hands resting on his hips, Breck looked up to the sky. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

  “Do you know any others like us?” asked Flynn. “The people who raised you, did you ever see electricity fly out of their fingers? Do you recall anything of that nature at all?”

  Cordelia had been studying both men closely throughout their conversation. She was astounded that she hadn’t noticed the similarity before. The brown windswept hair, the olive skin, the strong jaw line and those deep brown eyes. There was no question they were related. Cordelia wasn’t sure what to make of this revelation. She had cherished Flynn as her father but discovering he’d abandoned Breck didn’t sit easy with her.