My eyes stung with tears. This whole process seemed so unfair. Why did everyone else get to decide my future except for me?
“What if I don’t want to have kids with either of them? What if I refuse to go to Honeymoon Island?”
“No one can force you, Bug,” Mom said.
“Why does all this matter so much?”
“Because of what you and Mom found in the scrolls,” Dad said. “When the Atlantis Twins are born, they will open the Five Gates. The hope is that one of you bears twins.”
“But what about Shianne?” I asked. Mayor Marlow’s wife had been gone for years. According to Marlow one day she’d return with a key to unlock all the scroll’s secrets.
Mom and Dad shared a dark look between them. “Marlow hopes she will. But I’m afraid Shianne may have taken a wrong turn somewhere. She might not be able to come back,” Mom said.
“Ever?”
“Maybe not. Best not to repeat this to anyone…” her voice trailed off.
“I don’t want this. I want none of this!” I shouted. “I want things to stay the way they were. I’m not gonna be bound with Ethan. There has to be something I can do.”
Mom sighed. “You could talk to Marlow…”
“Do you think he might switch me with someone? Or let me stay single?”
“Sweetheart,” Dad warned Mom. “Don’t go getting her hopes up, Marlow is…”
“You’re right,” Mom said to him. “It’s best to let this alone, Marei.”
“No. I need to at least try! You don’t understand…Chloe—” I almost gave away her plan, but a promise was a promise and I kept my mouth shut.
“Fine, if you want to talk to him, but don’t expect him to agree,” Dad said.
“Yes, I have to. That’s what I’ll do,” I said. I hoped Chloe wouldn’t do anything drastic before then. Somehow I would convince him. Although I wasn’t sure how.
“Chloe is upset I’m sure. And it would be a change for you and Ethan…but he’s a handsome kid, a smart boy and…”
“Listen Mom, you don’t understand. It’s like you're talking about my brother. And I can’t do that to Chloe. It's not right.” I stood up. “I’m going to talk to Marlow now, before I lose my nerve.”
“Over the ridge at night? No. It’s not safe. Wait until morning. Give yourself at least a good night’s sleep to mull it over,” Dad said.
The path to Mayor Marlow’s was a difficult route. Plus if I caught him half asleep he might be less likely to help. And I’d need to pass the area where I’d seen the mermaid. She’d given no reason for fear…except for her eyes. Filled with anger at my comment.
“Dad—” I tried to tell him about her but my head became wooly and confused. I slumped back into the chair. “Fine, I’ll go first thing tomorrow.”
Mom smiled. “When you go to Marlow’s in the morning, would you mind bringing him a sack of mangoes?”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
If I slept two hours that would be a generous estimate. Just after dawn, I tried to find Chloe to tell her my plan. But I couldn’t locate her and no one knew where she’d gone. My gut churned. What if her and Ethan had drunk the poison? What then?
The mangoes lay heavy and sticky against my back even through the double burlap sack Mom packed them in. At first I hurried but soon my legs grew tired and doubts weighed as burdensome as the ripening fruit pressed against my back. I trudged up over the ridge that separated one half of the island from the other. “The Island’s spine” Mom called it. As I descended, the weather changed.
Even though Alabaster Island was small, it had two distinct climates. On the main side of the island, rains often came in the afternoons, passing quickly. Whereas on Marlow’s side it rained frequently. Today a thick fog clung to the vegetation. Each step I took was an angry stomp. Gravel crunched beneath my feet like pulverized bone.
Near Marlow’s house, I came across Kassandra. She sat by the old wishing well, massaging her feet. Kassandra and Marlow had an odd relationship. Shortly after Marlow’s first wife, Shianne, disappeared they became intimate. Kassandra had even lived with Marlow up until Daniel drowned. Marlow became consumed with grief after his son’s death. His personality changed, and not for the better. Kassandra moved out. Even still, I’d spotted Kassandra heading up over the ridge on many occasions and doubted it was just to check supplies.
“Hiya!” she said. Kassandra came from a country in the Outlands called Australia. Among all of us and our various family accents, hers was the most attractive to my ear.
“Hiya,” I replied without enthusiasm. As custom required, I found a smooth, white stone from the ground. I opened the small blue, wooden gate that enclosed the well. The well extended six feet across. It was made of gray and brown stones haphazardly stuck together like Mom’s rice crispy squares.
I tossed the stone over the edge and held my breath. Please let Marlow agree to my request. Then I paused and counted the seconds. One, two, three, four, five…I peered into the blackness, waiting for the splash, or thud, but neither came. It never did. The answer to my wish stayed as silent as the stone. Falling. Falling. Falling. Forever.
“Off to see Marlow then, are we?” Kassandra put on her shoe and stood. “Silly shoes always letting stones in,” she said. “But good for wishes.”
It seemed she spoke to herself. Or perhaps the shoe. I couldn't tell. She spent hours alone in the storehouse counting supplies and making purchase lists that got sent back with the pilot every two months.
“Is he home?” I asked, worry in my voice.
“Can’t say yet, on my way myself. Fancy a walk together?”
We continued on the path. I hadn’t meant to tell Kassandra anything but somehow it came out. Maybe it was because she was the quiet type, but I always ended up blabbing around her.
“Well now, if I were you I’d start with an apology,” she advised.
“An apology?” I hadn't considered that Marlow might be angry. So many emotions had swept through me since The Binding that I wasn’t thinking straight.
“Oh yes, he was very peeved that you and Chloe interrupted the ceremony. Quite annoyed indeed.”
“Yeah. I’ll apologize.”
“And mean it.”
I nodded. Even though it felt like he owed me and Chloe an apology.
Marlow’s home had been the first house on the island not counting the lighthouse. It was the only building that didn’t appear to be designed by a soldier. Made of brick to last a lifetime Marlow reminded everyone. His home existed before all the others. Mom and Shianne had lived there by themselves when they first came to the island. But even Mom didn’t know who built it or why. She wondered why whoever built it chose the rainy, cloudy side of the island and I agreed. But the area had rich soil and Marlow didn’t mind the rain or the solitude.
“I’m here to count the supplies,” Kassandra said. “I’ll leave you to continue on your own.” Two main supply buildings lay on the island. The large one where Kassandra lived sat near the docks. On this side was a smaller one behind Marlow’s house where various root vegetables and preserves were stored.
“Good luck, mate.” Kassandra patted me on the back and entered the supply house.
Smoke rose from Marlow’s chimney and the scent of sticky buns filled the air. Bag of mangoes resting at my feet, I lifted the brass knocker on Marlow’s door and rapped it three times. It was meant to be a duck with a beak but the duck's bill was misshaped as if it had been formed hastily or left to melt in the sun.
Marlow answered, wiping flour covered hands against a worn, red apron. He looked surprised to see me.
“I brought mangoes,” I said. Marlow nodded but didn’t otherwise acknowledge me. Kassandra had been right. He looked furious. Lifting the bag, he tested its weight. “More than I expected,” he grumbled. “Hope they’re ripe. I’ll go get your sticky buns.” He slammed the door in my face.
I reminded myself I hadn’t only come to give him mangoes or get sticky buns. I had a mi
ssion. Marlow maintained a look of unapproachability that made people uneasy. In that way he was the ideal leader. Even covered in flour and wearing an old red apron he radiated authority. That made it more difficult to make my request.
The door opened again and Marlow held a basket of sticky buns. “The three wrapped in wax paper are the nettle cheese dumplings for your father.”
Nettle cheese? I found the sticky green, garlicky cheese revolting but my father loved it. Marlow started to shut the door.
“Wait, I also came to talk to you.”
“Is that so?” he said wiping flour from one of his eyelids.
“About the ceremony,” I said and my voice trembled, “I’m sorry for causing such a commotion.” Kassandra had suggested I start with an apology and she had been right. Some of the rigidity left his body. Rather than inviting me in, he stepped out into the mist.
“Fancy a walk?” he asked.
I followed him to the ocean. The shore looked different on this side. Alabaster Island was rocky, but here the rocks extended even further. We were lucky the entire island wasn’t like this. We sat together on a bench he’d fashioned out of driftwood. I didn’t know if he was waiting for me to speak and I was afraid I’d lose my nerve, so I started.
“Chloe needs to be with Ethan,” I blurted.
“Oh?” he raised one eyebrow. “You’d prefer be with Ben?”
“No!” I said.
He laughed scornfully. “Well, do you expect me to rearrange the entire group just to suit your fancy?”
I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. Of course this was the obvious outcome, but did it need to be?
“I’d rather be with no one,” I said.
Mayor Marlow puffed air out of his mouth and made an exasperated sound as he stood.
“See, I was right. You know Ben was my initial choice for you.”
“Why?” I said.
“He’s a regular knucklehead. And you, young lady, are just as much of one if you think I will change things to suit your whim!”
“But…this isn’t fair!”
Marlow smirked.
“Don't talk to me about unfair. Please. And you’ll have to pardon me if I’m not aware of the various emotional intrigues and peccadilloes that bedevil you young people.”
Heat crept up into my scalp.
“And why isn’t Chloe here if this is so important?”
“I couldn’t find her. So I came by myself,” I said through tears.
“Assuming Chloe is in agreement, you will switch. You will be bound with Ben. For good. And I never want to hear of this again under any circumstance. Understand?”
“Okay,” I said, my voice dull in my ears.
“Understand?” he said more loudly.
“I understand.”
“I’ll finalize the ceremony before the celebration tomorrow evening. That will make it complete. Now does all that suit your fancy? I have baking to finish and a supply plane to worry about.”
I nodded, head down, so he wouldn’t notice the tears falling.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
When I found Chloe she looked distressed, but not anywhere near to poisoning herself. It was unfair of me, but I felt disappointed. When I told her that Marlow had agreed to the switch, she threw her arms around me crying and kissing me until I had to force her to sit and relax.
“Are you sure?” she shrieked.
No. I thought. “Yes!” I said.
“Positive?”
Definitely not. I thought. “Of course!” I said.
And by the next evening it was done, just as Marlow promised. Ben was bound to me and Ethan to Chloe. There was no going back. And so we danced, all the newly bound couples while the whole island watched. Tonight we'd celebrate our Binding. As horrible as things were, I’d decided to smooth things over with Ben. We were both nearly adults, there was no reason not to be amicable. Wrong.
The celebration was something everyone looked forward to even if we'd dreaded The Binding. A celebration to end all celebrations. Well, that wasn’t saying much for our island. Many years later, I’d realize that our parties were tame compared to most. But with nothing else for comparison, this one at least on the surface seemed extraordinary. Or it could have been if the circumstance had been different.
The delicate scent of lianas wafted over us. Fairy lights powered by a distant generator illuminated the tarmac where we danced. Marlow had broken out the last of the wine and alcohol for the adults and they stood watching, red-cheeked and high in spirits.
“I will make your life a living hell,” Ben leaned in and whispered in my ear as we circled the floor with the other celebrating couples. “Forget having babies. I’ll make you wish you were never born.” His lips buzzed against my right earlobe like a bluebottle fly.
While the other couples celebrated their love, or if not love, hope, or if not even hope, merely clung to each other in mutual desperation, Ben celebrated his hate for me.
A big, yellow, full moon rose over the ocean. Eleanor played guitar. Palm fronds rustled in a tropical breeze. How lovely everything seemed, how strangely perfect. But that only made the entire situation feel worse.
I became embarrassed to notice my hand tremble on his damp, sweaty shoulder as we whirled around the other couples much too fast. Ben was clumsy and I was too. Not because I didn’t enjoy dancing. I actually loved it. But I was too upset to concentrate. I tried to catch Ethan’s gaze, but he avoided looking over. And Chloe only had eyes for Ethan.
When the first number finished, everyone clapped. Parents filtered onto the dance floor to join us. But Ben and I slunk off. Ben slumped down on a wooden chair, chin in his hands. My throat and mouth were parched and dry. I left to grab a drink of lemonade.
When Ben found out I’d agreed to swap his face went pale and his mouth opened and closed like one of his fish caught on a line. I almost felt bad for him. Almost. I’d considered telling him to relax while we danced. That I had a plan. But I didn’t dare. It might risk everything. So I kept it to myself.
The lemonade tasted far too sour. My lips puckered, and the juice constricted the back of my throat. Sugar was being rationed. I headed away from the celebration, if you could call it that, I sure couldn’t. Walking toward the dock, cicadas sung, and the air hung still and quiet. Not even the slightest breeze came in from the ocean. And the sky was clear and full of stars. I gazed up at the night sky and was trying to spot Gemini when Ben snuck up behind.
“I need to know why,” he said, voice tense and low.
I spun around. “Why what?” I said with more spite than I intended. Ben’s lip curled and his eyes narrowed.
“We’ve hated each other since we were little kids. Why did you swap for me when you could have stayed with Ethan?”
“Because Chloe is my best friend, that’s why. And her and Ethan belong together.”
Ben raised his palms and clapped slowly.
“How noble of you.” He dropped his hands into fists. “What a good, damn friend.” He took a step closer. Ben and I had scuffled many times in the past. For the first time I wondered if he was capable of true violence. My chest trembled and my breath caught but I stood my ground.
“I don’t feel so good about it either.”
“You’re stupid, you know that right? Naïve and downright stupid.”
“Ben, if you came just to throw insults around…” He moved toward me and gripped my wrists.
“Swap us back.”
“What?”
“Tell Mayor Marlow you made a mistake.”
“I can’t. You can only switch once!”
“No, I don’t believe that. Tell him you were wrong. That he didn't hear you right. Tell him any damn thing!”
“It’s too late,” I hissed. “And I won't do that to Chloe.”
Ben shook his head. “Think about it, Marei. Every morning I’ll wake up with a list of ways to make your life miserable. And I’ll enjoy doing it.”
My lip quivered. “T
hat’s not gonna help.”
“It’ll make me feel better!” he shouted. “You’ve just messed up my life forever, you know that?”
“I’m not happy either but there’s nothing we can do!” I shouted back. “Now. Leave. Me. Alone!” I screamed. All the disappointment and pent up rage that I’d experienced burst out. From deep in my gut. It left my throat raw.
I became conscious of the silent ocean. The sudden quiet that had fallen over the celebration further up. Marlow walked down with Kassandra.
“What’s going on?” he said. “Is someone hurt?”
Ben and I looked at the cracked asphalt beneath our feet. Marlow took Ben aside and Kassandra grabbed my elbow and we walked in the opposite directions down the pier.
“Not a Binding made in heaven, now 'tis it?” she said.
I shook my head, hot tears blinding my eyes. She took my hand, and we walked along by the water’s edge.
“Things will sort themselves out.”
“Not with my luck,” I spat. And I ran off into the night.
“Marei!” Kassandra called. “Get back here.”
But I ignored her. I would get in trouble, but I didn’t care. Luck had deserted me despite the pains I took to keep her happy. I had nothing left to lose.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Gravel and stones became dislodged beneath my heels. They bounced down the slope in the moonlight. Tonight, high tide prevented me from wading around by way of the ocean. Scrambling down, hands grabbing rock, I descended the steep incline. Two-hundred and thirty-two hand and footsteps. Lucky.
I arrived at the tiny inlet where the boat lay. Now I understood what I’d face to get the vessel out to sea. Even with the tide high, the water just barely lapped up against the boat's prow. However, the tide would be higher in a few days. Right around the time the ship would pass. If I was ever going to manage to get this boat out, it would be then.
Hands on hips, I surveyed the craft, allowing myself to take her in. “Okay, what do I need to do to get you seaworthy?” It felt good to have a boat of my own, even if she didn't float yet.
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