Shearwater: Ocean Depths Book One (FULL)

by D. S. Murphy

  I nodded, leaning forward and nearly holding my breath. Sebastian squeezed my hand under the table.

  “When I was a young man, I worked in fishing. I was down on the water a lot, scavenging, selling junk. Sometimes we’d go out for a haul. One day, early morning, I found a woman on the beach. She was naked, and injured. She seemed terrified of what I’d do to her. But I wrapped her in my coat, picked her up and brought her home with me. Somebody had hurt her. I could tell she had secrets, but I didn’t press. I told her she could stay as long as she liked, and not to worry about anything.”

  “She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, but she was restless. Sometimes at night she’d go up to the cliffs and just stand there, looking at the moon and the sea. I expected her to leave, or fall in love with someone in town. I never thought it would be me.”

  “When Branna was born, she told me what she was. I wasn’t all that surprised by it, truth be told. There’d always been something magical about her. Sometimes I felt I’d stumbled into a fairy tale and married a pixie. You should have seen the way the blokes looked at her, especially when she sang. She told me about her life under the sea, and that she would always long to go back. But she had enemies, she said. So we had to be careful.”

  Sebastian’s brow furled at this, but I was elated. Phyllis had been a full merrow—100% raised in the sea. I’d suspected as much, but now I knew for sure.

  “She wrote a letter for Branna, just in case something happened to her, and told me to give it to her when she was sixteen. She said that’s when merfolk start to mature, and she might show signs of her heritage.”

  “And something did happen to her,” I coaxed.

  “She left,” Aedan said gruffly, “And I was alone.”

  That’s it? What about the rumors? What about Father Murphy?

  “I didn’t know how to raise a little girl,” Aedan continued. “When Branna turned sixteen, I could see the changes in her and I knew she was confused. I told her what she was, and what I knew about Phyllis. I gave her the letter, but she didn’t believe me. Got angry. A few days later, she was gone. Run off to America.”

  “But that wasn’t your fault,” I blurted. “It was because of Colin Blake, right?”

  Aedan looked up at me, surprised. “Well, I don’t know much about that. It’s true I heard what happened to the Blake boy around the same time, but…”

  “They were dating. Something happened, and he died. That’s when my mom left for America.”

  “That may be true, but I don’t think Branna had anything to do with it. She’d never—”

  “You still have the letter?” Sebastian interrupted. “The one Phyllis gave you?”

  I nodded eagerly, hoping Phyllis had left some information or some clue. An instruction manual or something. Maybe it would help me discover what was going on and who was after me.

  “In my room, in the desk, top drawer. She left a journal as well. I was going to give it to you for your birthday. But it was so soon after you’d arrived, I didn’t think you’d believe me.”

  “I probably wouldn’t have,” I said.

  “It was silly, both of us knowing, and not talking to each other about it. I thought I could protect you. I was afraid telling you might drive you away.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” I said, giving him a hug. Then I went to get the journal from his desk. It was a simple spiral bound notebook, not a fancy journal like I was expecting. The paper was slightly yellowed but it had aged well. I flipped through the first few pages; it looked like she’d started it at the beginning of the school year.

  Sebastian started doing the dishes while I sunk into the easy chair next to the couch. I turned on the standing lamp in the corner and started reading in the yellow light. It was all pretty boring stuff. Guys she liked, complaining about teachers. Until this:

  December 20th

  Today I threw out all my girly mags. I used to obsess about my hair and clothes and makeup, trying to get boys to notice me. Suddenly I’m a magnet; either I’m blooming into a woman quicker than normal, or something very weird is going on. Not that I’m complaining, I look amazing.

  I’m pretty sure Colin Blake was giving me the eye today as well. I thought he was with Olivia. Liam told me to stay away from him but there’s something about him, his dark eyes…

  December 22nd

  My whole life has been a lie. I woke this morning and found a letter and a small jewelry box on my desk. A late birthday gift, I supposed and I was right, but from my mother! Dad said he had to explain some things to me, and that my mother had written the letter on my first birthday, and made him promise to deliver it, with the box, on my 16th. And then he right out told me that my mother was a mermaid.

  A freaking mermaid! I thought he’d gone daft, obviously. The strain of her leaving must have been too much for him. I kicked him out before he’d finished. But then I opened the box. Inside was a lovely necklace, with a filigree pendant holding some kind of blue stone. Pure silver I think, with Greek characters and a symbol that looks like a trident. It looks ancient.

  Then I opened the letter. I’ll copy it here.

  Dearest child, whom dearly I love,

  I long to be with you and watch you grow, but there is a deeper yearning within me still. I will ignore it for as long as I can… but as much as it breaks my heart, I know someday I will leave you. Please forgive my selfishness. Perhaps when you’re older, you will have some inkling of the trials I’ve faced. I love your father but there is no land on earth where I can feel truly at peace. I’m giving you my greatest possession. This necklace holds immense power, and you must protect it with your life.

  The necklace is pretty, but it doesn’t make up for the past twelve years of growing up without a mother.

  December 25th

  Something strange happened this evening. My mother’s amulet was on my desk where I’d left it. I could have sworn it was glowing in the moonlight. Then it started… vibrating. Or pulsing maybe. But it must have been my eyes.

  Also, Colin and I have been hanging out. A lot. We seem drawn to each other, connected in a way neither of us can understand. He told me some of his family’s history. He says they can do things. Things I can only describe as magic.

  I told Colin about the letter and the pendant, and he freaked out. There’s something he’s not telling me. Something about the merrow and his people.

  Pages were missing from the back, but there was one more note, scrawled across the last page.

  Someone is after me. Colin wants to run away together.

  “Who was after her?” I asked.

  “Not sure,” Aedan said. “But I assumed it was the merrow. Phyllis always said it was her own people that were after her.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense,” Sebastian said, frowning. “Merrow don’t go around killing other merrow. There’d be no reason for it. I mean, maybe if it was a territory war or something, but just one isolated merrow?”

  “You said there was punishment for being with humans,” I said. “Maybe someone found out?”

  “Maybe,” Sebastian admitted, “but it wouldn’t be like that. They would have taken her back to the sea and given her a trial at least.”

  “Maybe that’s what happened to Phyllis. Maybe she didn’t leave, maybe she was taken. If mixed-race relations were illegal, maybe the merrow returned and tried to take my mother as well—maybe that’s why she ran away.”

  “It’s unlikely,” Sebastian said, rubbing his chin. “Seems a lot more plausible it was Colin’s people. Merrow wouldn’t have anything to gain from one half breed. But for the Tuatha Dé, every drop of merrow blood is precious.”

  “Do you know what happened to the necklace?” Sebastian asked.

  “I never saw it again,” Aedan admitted. “It has given me more than a little grief over the years. When Phyllis pressed it into my hand, she had trouble letting it go. Told me to put it somewhere safe. To protect it, always. Knowing Branna, she could have chuck
ed it into the ocean. Or taken it with her to America. I’m sorry but I have no idea what happened to it.”

  My heart sank. I was glad Aedan and I had things out in the open now, but I was hoping my mother’s journal would be more helpful. It was getting late, so I told Sebastian I’d see him soon and walked him out, then collapsed on my bed.

  What had we learned? Nothing. The necklace sounded like something really important, a family heirloom of sorts. Mom probably brought it to America, and it was sold along with the other stuff in our house. I wished I’d grabbed her jewelry box before I left. Now it was probably gone forever. I was so frustrated I could cry. I reached for my typewriter and let my fingers drift for a moment above the polished keys.

  I’m a merrow, I wrote. Which makes me pretty, and unstable, and way too aware of other people’s emotions. And people hate me, because of what the merrow did centuries ago; and they want to kill me for my blood because it’s powerful. I’m in danger, and so is Sebastian if he stays here trying to protect me. It sounds like Colin knew more about the merrow than my mother ever had.

  I felt sorry for my mother. She never had anybody to explain things to her—other than Colin, who probably thought she was a monster, based on the one-sided version he’d been told from the Tuatha Dé.

  Had Colin told his family what she really was? Maybe they tried to kill her and Colin intervened? Or maybe running away together was just a ruse to get her alone, and Colin attacked her. She could have killed him on accident, in self-defense.

  My head was spinning. I needed to know what really happened, so I’d know what kind of danger I was in and who was after me. It was obvious that the Tuatha Dé were dangerous. But they were also the only people who had answers. Which meant, I’d have to go and talk with Ethan’s family if I wanted to learn the truth about my mother. But they couldn’t know what I really was, or they might not let me leave.

  28

  “You’re out of your mind,” Sebastian said when I told him my plan the next day. He picked me up for school and we stopped for cinnamon rolls and coffee. Neither of us cared that we’d be late to first period.

  “Let me walk you through it. Let me know what I missed. Your mother was dating a boy and it was all going great, until she found out she was a mermaid, and he was Tuatha Dé. While she may not have believed it, he knew exactly what that meant: so he probably told his family, and they probably tried to kill her. Somehow, Colin died and she ran off to America. And now, knowing that the Tuatha Dé hunt merrow to steal their blood and replenish their magical abilities, you want to walk over to their house and introduce yourself? They’ll know what you are the second you step inside.”

  “Ethan’s after you, not me. He said his mom knew a lot about the history, the myths and legends. Maybe she knows something that could help us.”

  “You can’t see him again. Not alone anyway And going to his house is out of the question.”

  “You’re forbidding me?” I crossed my arms.

  “The more you hang out with Ethan, the sooner he’s going to figure out what you are. If you do anything out of the ordinary—move too quickly, or pull another stunt like what you did to Roisin...”

  “I didn’t do that on purpose.”

  “Exactly,” Sebastian said.

  “Maybe his family doesn’t even know. Maybe Colin tried to kill my mother, but she fought back and he died instead. Maybe no one else was involved.”

  “If that were true, your family’s secret would have died with him. But someone slashed your arm and nearly drowned you a few weeks ago, remember? Somebody already knows what you are. Someone with a knife just like the one you saw in Ethan’s bag. So let’s say it’s more than likely that someone in the Tuatha Dé knows about you.”

  “It’s strange though, right? If they know what I am, what are they waiting for?” Suddenly I had an awful thought. “What if they were watching me, and they saw you. I’m only a quarter merrow, my blood isn’t that strong. Maybe I’m just bait, but you’re the one they’re really after. You should leave. You aren’t safe here.”

  “I’m not going anywhere as long as you’re in danger.”

  “But they could kill you!”

  “I can take care of myself. You on the other hand…”

  Our conversation was going nowhere. Sebastian didn’t want me going to Ethan’s alone, but conceded that I could try and get something out of him at school, as long as there were other people around. It wasn’t much of a solution. I felt like we were both waiting for something to happen; stuck in a bad situation with no way to sort it out. Sebastian hadn’t mentioned resuming our swimming lessons, but I knew I’d need to get back into the water soon. I just wasn’t sure I was ready.

  Mrs. Geraghty gave us a pop quiz on African nations. I could only remember ten, and I’m sure I put half of those in the wrong place. Mr. Sadleir assigned us homework about the influence Beowulf had on heroic English Literature. It was violent story about a hero who vanquished a beast named Grendel, and then killed his mother as well when she came seeking revenge. I found myself sympathizing more with the monsters than Beowulf.

  I sat with Jackie and Patricia at lunch. Derry sauntered in late, wearing dark glasses. At first it looked like he was trying to be cool, but I felt his underlying mood. Fear. Depression. I reached up and yanked the sunglasses away from this face. Jackie gasped when she saw the dark purple bruises around his left eye.

  “What happened,” I demanded.

  “It’s nothing. I tripped and—”

  “Don’t you dare.” Patricia said. “Just tell us who hit you.”

  “It was the guy you were seeing. Trevor, right?” Jackie said.

  Derry looked like he was going to deny it, but finally shrugged.

  “It’s fine, it’s really fine. He just gets a little excited sometimes.”

  “He hits you?” Jackie asked. “This is so not okay. And he’s older too. You should report him.”

  “It’s not exactly a typical case of domestic abuse,” Derry said with a half-smile. “We just let things get out of hand. Besides the bonfire is tonight, I’ll just be a skeleton and use a lot of face paint. Nobody will see it.”

  “The bonfire is tonight?” I asked.

  My friends stared at me blankly.

  “Um, yeah. We’ve been talking about it all week,” Patricia said. “Don’t tell you don’t have a costume.”

  “It’s fine,” Jackie said, squeezing my arm. “We’re all heading to Patricia’s after school to get ready. We’ll find something for you there. But don’t think we’re through talking about this,” Jackie said, pointing at Derry. “This isn’t over by a long shot.”

  I hadn’t mentioned the bonfire to Sebastian this morning and wasn’t sure if he remembered. I sent him a quick text telling him I was going with Patricia and Jackie, and to meet us there. I managed to get through foreign languages unscathed. Miss Lynch called on me to translate something on the board, but I got it right. She frowned like she was disappointed, but didn’t say anything. In gym class we had volleyball again. I was dreading it at first, after what happened last time, even though that seemed like ages ago now. However when the ball came to me I wasn’t as awkward as I’d been before, and it didn’t hurt as much. I focused on keeping my wrists together and aiming the ball over the net, and was successful most of the time. I seemed to react quicker and panic less. I wondered if it was another benefit of having merrow blood, or if the soft leather ball just seemed relatively harmless compared to the other challenges I’d been facing recently.

  After class I ran into Ethan in the hall. He slowed down and gave me a small smile. I had a feeling he wanted to talk so I stopped also.

  “Any news?” he asked.

  I thought of everything that had happened since we last spoke. Swimming in the deep sea with Sebastian. Talking with Aedan and getting my mother’s journal. I’d learned so much—but nothing about another merrow.

  “It’s only been a few days,” I said.

  “Ti
ck-tock,” he said.

  “Are you going to the Halloween party?” I asked, changing the subject.

  “Not sure. Samhain is kind of a big deal for us. I mean the real thing. Not the candy and cheap costumes. Still, hard to pass up a beach bonfire. Why, are you?”

  “I’m going with Jackie and Patricia.”

  “Are you going to dress up?”

  “I guess so.”

  “In that case,” he said with a sly grin, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  ***

  The bonfire was roaring by the time we arrived. We parked on the side of the road, on the bluff overlooking the ocean, and followed the music down the steep hill until our feet hit the sand. With a jean miniskirt and a tight red top, I was almost identifiable as Wonder Woman. Kyle’s little brother had volunteered a plastic shield and sword, and Jackie made me a tinfoil crown with a red star on the front to complete the outfit. That was my favorite part, it looked like a starfish.

  I was self-conscious with my bare legs. I’d already been getting too much attention even when I dressed casual; now the guys had trouble keeping their mouths shut when I passed. To be fair, Jackie and Patricia were smoking hot tonight, too. Patricia’s furry boots and tail made her look like a foxy stripper. Jackie was wearing a one-piece, sparkly fairy dress. She had a pair of delicate wings behind her shoulders and a plastic wand that lit up in the darkness.

  Most of the guys were in shorts, wearing plastic masks. The girls were in bikinis or sexy outfits, even though the weather was chilly. Patricia handed me small glass bottle of whiskey.

  “This’ll warm you right up,” she said.

  I took a deep swig, then coughed and sputtered as the liquid burned my mouth and throat. That’s when I saw Sebastian, cutting through the crowd towards us. He was wearing an old fashioned carnival mask with a long nose. It was painted in blue and gold and looked like something you’d pick up in Venice. I wondered if that’s where he’d gotten it. I tried to smile through the grimace I was wearing from the whiskey. He lifted his eyebrows at my costume.