by Kelly Risser
David clasped the chain around his neck. The metal felt smooth and warm against his skin. Grandma? he tried tentatively.
Oh, David. Her voice came through clearly, as if she were standing next to him. Be careful, my love, and check in often.
I will. Aloud to his grandfather, David asked. “Does this mean we’ll be able to read each other’s thoughts?” There were definitely things he didn’t want his grandmother to hear him thinking.
“No.” Marvin chuckled. “That might be awkward at best. This allows you to send a message through only when you purposefully choose to.”
“Well, thank God for that.”
“David!”
David!
Scolded from both grandparents, all he could do was shrug and say, “Oops!”
Transforming into a seal, David dove into the icy Atlantic waters, although they felt refreshing to him. He tried to go for a long swim at least once per day. If he didn’t, he started to feel itchy and restless. It was all part of being a Selkie and tied to the water.
His first thought was to check Halifax, because it was the largest city in Nova Scotia and with the dense population, would be the easiest to hide in. He scoped along the shore, but didn’t pick up the scent. Continuing down the coast, he was about to give up and circle back when a putrid smell filled his nose. It made him sneeze and coated his tongue. He fought the urge to retch. Whatever vermin this was, it was a nasty one.
As he neared the shore, he blinked in surprise. This was no metropolitan area. The homes dotting the shoreline were small cottages with peeling paint and sparse flowerbeds. Rows of piers adorned with fishing boats crowded along the edge of the land. It was a simple fishing village, and certainly not the spot to house a killer.
He found a small outcropping that would protect him from being seen and transformed back to his human form, visualizing a pair of jeans and a polo shirt, along with Nike running shoes. It was warm enough he didn’t need to wear his seal skin, which took the form of a leather jacket, so David also visualized a backpack and put it inside. The pack would add the effect that he was traveling lightly. Since he could create clothes with his magic whenever he needed them, he didn’t really need to pack, but humans would ask questions otherwise. It was best to stay under their radar and blend in.
A trail to the main road wound up the side of the hill. It was overgrown, but easy to follow. Once on the road, David headed towards the main street in town. It wasn’t hard to find. There wasn’t much else there. One of the first buildings he came to had a carved wooden sign out front designating it as The Cove Inn. Larger than the houses in the area, it was welcoming with its smart blue siding, white shutters, and brightly colored flowerbeds.
He didn’t like creating money out of magic; it seemed dishonest. Luckily, the treasures Selkies uncovered in the sea meant they didn’t have to counterfeit; they had plenty of their own wealth. He could transport objects from small distances quite easily, and his grandparents had a safe deposit box in Halifax stocked with bills. He knew the location and box numbers, so he just had to picture it in his mind and determine the amount he wanted. Before he opened his eyes, he felt their bulk in his back pocket. Ten hundred-dollar bills should last for a while, he hoped. This place looked nice, but it didn’t seem like it would be too expensive.
Now that he had money, David headed up the front steps to the main door and rang the bell.
“Yeah?” A young girl with long, straight blonde hair opened the door. For a moment, she looked annoyed, but then she hid it behind a tired smile. “May I help you?”
“I’m looking for a room. Do you have one available?”
“Sure.” She stepped back to let him in. “How long are you looking to stay?”
“I’d like to rent the room for the next two months.” When her eyes widened, he asked, “Will that be a problem?”
She checked the appointment book in front of her, popping her gum in the process. Her fingers twisted her hair into blonde strands. After flipping a few pages with her free hand, she looked up at me and smiled. “Looks like we have a room for you.”
“Great.” It was a relief that he didn’t need to keep looking. He imagined that this town only had one or two more of these. He didn’t see any large hotels, and the best part was, this one smelled clean, no trace of the oily stench. While he was tracking the killer, he didn’t want to be sleeping beside him.
She held out a slim hand with round nails painted pink. “That’ll be $325 for the first week.”
He counted out four hundred-dollar bills and watched her eyes widen. To her credit, she didn’t comment on them, just made change and handed it back. Stepping around the podium, she motioned for David to follow. “I’ll take you there now.”
The room was modest, but adequate. It had its own bathroom, which was nice, and it was on the second floor. The height wasn’t stellar, but it did give him a clear view of the main street into town, and if he stuck his head out, he would be able to see the coast in the other direction. “This is perfect. Thank you.”
She nodded. “This is the only guest room upstairs, so it should be quiet. The rest of the floor is reserved for our family.”
He nodded, but he didn’t reply. After fiddling for a moment, she gave a brief smile and inclined her head. “Let us know if you need anything. Otherwise, enjoy your stay.” She turned and scurried out, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
Now he knew why the girl looked so exhausted. As she turned, he caught the slight swell of her belly. She was expecting, and while he was no expert on humans, he guessed her to be about halfway through her pregnancy. He assumed she knew and the baby was welcomed, if the simple gold and diamond band on her finger was any indication. No matter, that was her business and certainly none of his.
The room was decorated neutrally, bordering on masculine, which David appreciated. He placed the backpack on the bed and took out his skin. Since it looked like a leather jacket, he assumed it was safe to hang it in the closet, and then he placed the empty backpack on the closet floor. What he really wanted was a shower. Ocean water was relaxing, but it left a residue. If he was planning to spend significant time on land, it was best to wash off the salt.
After locking the room door—one could never be too safe, especially with a murderer on the loose—he headed to the bathroom. It was also small, but it had all the necessities like a toilet, sink, and shower stall. The water ran hot and the showerhead produced a thick stream. He allowed the bathroom to fill with steam as he visualized away his clothes. The minute the hot water hit his tired muscles, he sighed. Putting on a good face for his grandparents had been difficult. He was exhausted. Before he continued the search, he planned to get a solid eight to ten hours of sleep. In fact, he was looking forward to it.
David didn’t know how long he stood under the stream of water, but the heat gave way to lukewarm, and he knew it was time to get out. The towels were big and fluffy in a pure, snow white. He dried off and hung the damp towel loosely around his waist. His only thought was making it to the bed and crawling in.
The shriek of surprise had him clutching the towel, his eyes darting around until he spotted her. She was a pretty thing—young—with curly, brown hair and big, brown eyes. The spatter of freckles that bridged her nose stood out against her pale skin that was quickly turning red. “I-I’m s-sorry.” She stumbled over her words. “Lydia didn’t tell me someone was in here. I was just going to restock these.”
On the bed was a stack of fresh towels, which she thrust at him, and then pulled back to her just as quickly. “Oh! Your hand is full. Let me put these away for you.” She hurried past, averting her eyes, although David turned to watch her with amusement. He was rewarded when she bent to put the towels in the cabinet below the sink and her pants stretched over her lovely behind. She was adorable, even more so because she was nervous.
“Thank you,” he said, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice. He realized he was thanking her more for the view a
nd less for the towels.
She turned and nodded, her eyes on his bare feet. “I’ll leave you to get dressed.”
“What’s your name?” he asked.
When she looked up, she didn’t just meet his eyes. Her eyes traveled slowly up his body and he felt her gaze like a caress. While he managed to hide his reaction to her, her reaction to him was clear on her flaming face. Still, he couldn’t help but be impressed as she straightened her spine and lifted her chin. “Sharon,” she said. “And yours?”
“David.” He held out his free hand. Humans introduced themselves this way, although he was really just looking for an excuse to touch her. Her hand was soft, her fingers slim. He felt the spark of recognition. He didn’t know this girl, but his soul did. While humans often led with their heads, for Selkies, it was always the heart. This girl was going to be important to him, he just didn’t know how yet. Maybe she was going to help him track the killer. She seemed too young and innocent to be of much assistance, but looks could be deceiving.
“Well…” She tugged a little and he released her hand, which he didn’t even realize he was still holding. “I’ll be going then. I’m sure Lydia told you to let us know if you need anything.”
“She did.”
Sharon stepped back, teetering a little. It pleased him to see how evident her nerves were. That told him he affected her as much as she did him.
“Bye, David.”
“I’ll see you soon, Sharon,” he said. And that’s a promise.
He slept surprisingly well, considering it was the first time he had ever stayed in a human residence. The bed was comfortable, the room dark and quiet. In the morning, he heard whispers and giggles in the hall. It didn’t take much speculating to determine it was Lydia and Sharon. Their soft footsteps moved away from his room and toward the family quarters, but his hearing was especially acute. He listened to their whispering as though they were talking in a normal voice right in front of him.
“He’s hot, right?” This was Lydia.
“Smokin’,” answered Sharon. “I saw him in a towel. Can you believe it? He has the body of a god, hotter than Brad Pitt.”
“No way!”
“Yes!”
A smile crept across David’s face. He didn’t know who this Brad Pitt was, but it sounded like a favorable comparison, not to mention the comparison to a god. These girls might be good for his ego. Then again, he couldn’t get Sharon’s image out of his mind. He never paid attention to humans before, but she was hard to miss. Her eyes were a warm brown, like a dark caramel, and her hair, though curly, looked like it would feel silky in his hands. He wanted to run a finger over the sprinkle of freckles on her nose, and breathe in her heady scent, which reminded him of gardenias.
With a groan, he dropped his head into his hands. He was supposed to be concentrating on finding his parents’ murderer, not developing a crush on a human female. What was wrong with him? Coffee. He needed coffee.
Yesterday, Lydia mentioned that breakfast was served in the dining room from six until ten in the morning. The digital clock said he had about an hour to go. He slept in later than he intended, and eavesdropping had eaten up even more time.
With a quick blink of his eyes, he dressed in a gray polo and dark blue jeans. The shoes were still on the floor from yesterday, so he put them on again and hurried out the door.
“Oomph!” He ran straight into a small, curvy body.
Sharon fell backward, landing on her butt. Luckily, she was only carrying sheets, so nothing was broken or damaged, maybe just a little rumpled. She stared up at him, dumbfounded. “I thought you left for the day.”
He bit back a smile and raised his eyebrow. “You seem to be under the impression that I don’t spend much time in my room.” His words reminded her of their encounter yesterday if her brilliant blush gave anything away. “I’m off to breakfast now. Are those for me?”
“Yes.” She hugged the sheets tighter when he reached for them. “All the beds get changed on Sunday.”
“But I only slept in it one night, and I even showered first.” He grinned at her, unable to resist dropping another comment about the prior day. This time, she rolled her eyes. She was on to his tricks.
“Bosses’ orders,” she said and stepped around him into the open room. “Enjoy your breakfast. Better hurry. There’s probably not much left.”
He watched her for a moment, and then shrugged. While she was definitely a treat to look at, his stomach was being impatient and bossy. It was time to eat.
****
Three hours later, he’d scanned the entire town—there wasn’t much of it—and tracked the mysterious scent to the lighthouse, where it simply disappeared. That wasn’t too unusual. Although signs in the area warned humans from swimming, it would be safe for any sea creature to enter. If he weren’t working, he would dive in for a swim himself. Most aquatic beings preferred rough water, and that was what David thought he was dealing with anyway.
Now what?
He could go back to the inn and see if they put out any food for lunch. He knew breakfast was included with his stay, but he was fairly certain that was the only meal they offered. Maybe Lydia would take pity on him and make a sandwich. Then again, he hadn’t met her husband yet, but odds were the man wouldn’t appreciate his wife feeding another male.
There was a restaurant in town, a little diner. The smells emitting from the place were grease, smoke, and coffee. It was worth a shot, at least once. The walk back was quick, and when he stepped through the glass door covered in colorful flyers, he realized the lunch crowd was in session. The booths and tables were full, so was the counter. A small group of people was waiting for a seat and shot him a sympathetic look.
“I’d like a table,” he said to the older woman behind the podium.
She tucked her pen behind her left ear and grinned at him. “Wouldn’t we all, sweetheart. Busy lunch today. Yer lookin’ at a thirty-minute wait.”
He tried not to focus on her right eyetooth, which was dead and black. Instead, he looked into her watery blue eyes. “Is there anywhere else in town that serves lunch?”
“Not less you make it yerself.” She cackled as if she had told a funny joke. Then she jerked her thumb to her left. “The grocery store is about two blocks down.”
“Thank you. I may just do that.” He turned and stepped around two fishermen who had just come in, the smell of salt and sea ripe on their skin. It made David consider going for a swim himself, where he could catch his own lunch. Still, if he was trying to live amongst the humans, he had best act like one. The grocery store it was.
He spent at least an hour, if not longer, wandering the aisles of the store. The cans, jars, and boxes fascinated him. Uncle Angus occasionally shared human food with him. He mostly stocked potato chips and soda. His great uncle loved what he called junk food. Humans had so many ways to package food. The graphics and colors were distracting, and for any given item, there were at least four or five different packages. How would he choose? In his world, he typically ate his food in the package it came in—Mother Nature’s package.
“David?”
At the familiar voice, he spun and found Sharon looking at him in amusement. “Oh, hello,” he said. She wore a puffy, bright pink jacket, and her hair was no longer in a ponytail. “What are you doing here?”
She shrugged. “I’m done with work. My mom called and asked me to pick up a few things on my way home.” She looked at his cart, which was empty, and then back at him with a grin. “Do you need help?”
Her basket contained a few jars, two cans, and a box with an orange tiger on the front. He really had no idea what to buy, which was why he had been wandering the store for a while. Everything looked so foreign to him. “That would be great. Thanks.”
Nodding, she placed her basket in the front of his cart and nudged him aside so she could push. “What you need is easy-to-eat foods. You’re allowed to put a few things in the refrigerator—they make room for guests—but you
don’t want to spend all your time prepping meals.” She gave him a skeptical expression. “Can you cook?”
“Cook?” he repeated. That was completely out of his element.
Luckily, she just grinned again. “That’s what I thought. You’re like a lost puppy. C’mon. I have a pretty good idea of what you’re looking for.”
Within no time, she had filled the cart. As she added things, she called them out, “Cheese, beef sticks… I think these are a male staple—” Another quick smile that made his heart jump. “—crackers, granola bars, chips…” She paused and frowned. “What do you like to drink?”
Shrugging, he said, “Water, milk, and coffee mostly.”
“Okay, well, those you can get at the inn at any time, so we don’t need to buy them.” She inspected the cart, seeming satisfied. “I think this will last you for a few days at least. Let’s check out.”
They headed to the registers, and he insisted she go first. She probably assumed he was being polite, and he was, with ulterior motives. He needed to see how this process worked, having never been to a grocery store before. It seemed simple enough, and Sharon waited while he paid.
“Thank you again for your help,” he told her. “I would’ve been here all day if it weren’t for you.”
She laughed. “I can believe that.”
“Are you working tomorrow?” He was looking forward to seeing her again.
“No.” She made a face. “I have school.”
“School?” he repeated. Was she a child? In his world, only children were schooled, and the schooling stopped at age fifteen. They were considered an adult after that. She looked like a woman, but he knew age could be deceiving. He also knew Selkies and humans aged differently.
Tucking strands of her hair behind her ear, she straightened and said, “Yeah. It’s my last year. I’m seventeen.”