The Kiss That Killed Me (The Tidal Kiss Trilogy Book 1)

by Kristy Nicolle

  We journey through the water, the light turning a bloody orange from the setting sun lowering toward the horizon, shutting the door on another Californian day.

  Shoals of fish cut through the water, enjoying the lowering light and warmth. The ocean sparkles with clarity, something which I took for granted. I was lucky I hadn’t been turned into a mermaid in murkier depths. I imagine the terror of knowing there are demons in water that is foggy with debris, hindering my eyesight.

  “Are we going back to the beach where I …” I’m about to say the word died but I hold it back, afraid of the impact it will have if spoken aloud. I still don’t want to admit to the irreversibility of this change I am going through, don’t want to admit I will never walk to my locker at school again, that I’ll never be sat in home room with my friends.

  “No, we are going to the Lunar Sanctum; you can drive us from there.” Orion reveals his plan for the evening and I breathe out.

  “Drive us in what?” I ask, wondering which cars mer have at their disposal. I flex my tail behind me, motoring myself forward past a shoal of shiny silver fish.

  “Your red convertible of course.” he smiles at me, looking as though this should please me. Instead I’m confused.

  “But isn’t that at the beach? That’s where I left it parked.” I insist, enjoying the feeling of silken fluid coursing across my skin.

  “No, we had it retrieved. It’s in the underground parking lot at the Sanctum for now.” He acknowledges and I stutter.

  “Retrieved … by whom?” I want to know who’s had their hands on my little red vintage and how they started it without the keys.

  “By our retrieval team. You had the keys on you the night you turned. I wasn’t going to leave it standing there for the police, or even worse, some thief to find.” he replies and though I’m glad my car has been kept safe, I want to know more about the logistics of the team.

  “Team? What else do they retrieve?” I want to know so badly, the hope of understanding more of this topsy-turvy world urging me on.

  “We have people in this world, well paid people who know of our importance. Who help us logistically, keeping the Sanctums running, being our legs when we cannot walk on land.” He speaks this as though it is boring, common knowledge. But I am enthralled.

  “What else do they do?”

  “Anything you can think of, from making the beds at the Sanctum to leaving us packages of clothes on random beaches.” He answers with a wave of his hand, dismissing my curiosity.

  “So that’s where you got your jeans!” I mutter.

  “Yes and where I have gotten our clothes for tonight too. One of the team, Georgia, is my personal assistant I suppose. She tends to my personal needs.”

  “I bet she does.” I mutter.

  “What was that?” Orion asks with a hand cupped to one ear, I wonder if he’s giving me the opportunity to have out with my jealousy, knowing full well what I said. I change the subject fear rising in my chest.

  “Nothing. Is everyone assigned an assistant?” I ask, looking at him from under hooded lids, wanting him to feel my possession through the water between us. His royal blue scales sparkle like stars in the dying light of day.

  “No, just another perk of being me.” he sighs, as though the extra help is rather an added burden.

  “Ah I see, son of the crowned ruler and all that jazz.”

  “Exactly. I’ll introduce you, and if you need anything you can call on Georgia, she’ll attend you.”

  “I don’t need attending to. I can take care of myself.” I correct, puzzled by his lack of ability to see my capable mind. I refuse to be resigned to a damsel in distress.

  “Please yourself.” He doesn’t look angry, rather tired. We catch a riptide, which has formed to our left, pushing ourselves toward the shore. Toward the Lunar Sanctum.

  Up in our room I hear a knock at the door. I am perched in only a robe and lingerie, which I found in the wardrobe, in the middle of white sheets looking down at my legs. The robe is aqua silk and has kimono sleeves, contrasting starkly to the white and cream of the room, the label reads ‘VW’, and we all know what that means. I get up from the mahogany four-poster bed, letting my heels sink into the plush, fibrous carpet. Taking steps toward the door, I hear Orion bustling in the bathroom. I know he is listening in, but I lack caring as I turn the golden polished door handle and swing it open haphazardly. The absence of dark wood reveals a meek looking girl, her face a spattering of freckles. Her hair is dark and wispy, tied back into a French plait that falls down her left shoulder. Her eyes are a baby blue, innocent and doe like. Holy crap she’s beautiful! My own eyes narrow. Suspicion and fear rising in my gut.

  “You must be Georgia.” I say, I know my introduction is curt, but I’m tired.

  “Y … Y … Yes. You must be Callie. It’s lovely to meet you. Orion has told me ssss … so much about you.” she stutters; her voice no more than a mouse squeak.

  “I am.” I hold out a hand and shake hers briskly, the aqua silk of my robe brushing against my sensitive flesh.

  “I have this for you.” She looks up at me; for once, I’m not the shortest person here. She must be only four foot nine, petite and slender. In her arms, I see what she is holding out to me; a garment bag, white in colour with the same VW initials in a swirly font.

  “Vivienne Westwood …” I breathe the words like a prayer under my lips. I’d always had money; my father had left quite a reasonable amount to me before he died in a trust fund in my name. I was around fourteen when my mom let me in on this little secret. However, I’d always planned on using it for college, before the whole having a tail thing had kicked in. My Mom and particularly Carl had been pretty strict on keeping it locked up tight until I left for higher education. I’d made my gas money by babysitting and had never even set foot in a designer store with the kind of price tags Miss Westwood was used to dishing out.

  “Yes. I was on strict instructions with this dress. He picked it from the catalogue himself.” She says this, looking down at the floor and I wonder what this girl has seen. She probably knows Orion better than I do.

  “I’m sure he has excellent taste.” I say with conviction.

  “He does. Though … I’ve never seen him take so long over a single garment before.” I warm to her unwillingly as she is clearly trying to point out how much he cares. I bite down my jealousy. What I’m feeling is terrifying me. I’m envious of Georgia and her relationship with Orion. Did she have to be so goddamn attractive? But more than that, I’m scared of the thought that Orion still had women in his life that could take him away. I don’t think I could do this alone. I need him. I’d always known I wasn’t ugly but I wonder as I look over Georgia if I quite stand up to the calibre of women he has been with in the past. It wasn’t about Georgia. It was about me. I was insecure. It was me who needed to address my behaviour, not her. It wasn’t logical for me to feel this way, but then again I wasn’t logical when it came to Orion. Not a drop.

  “Open it.” She suggests; the excited anticipation on her sweet face evident. Orion comes out of the bathroom looking cautious, as he has slipped on a white button up shirt over pale faded jeans. The white shirt makes me smile to myself, remembering the fun I had stealing one just like it on my last trip here, and the pleasure I had endured watching him take it off me later that night. I notice Georgia’s expression as she turns to my other half. Her eyes survey him, leisurely taking him in, her pupils widen and she takes in a shallow breath. I’m hardly surprised, but a lump still forms in my throat. I ignore it breathing deep.

  “Georgia was just telling me you picked this out specially. Thank you.” His eyes light up with pride and he can’t wipe the grin off his face.

  “Well I …”

  “Don’t be modest.” I unzip the garment bag and pull out a lilac satin, flounced cocktail dress. The bodice is a bustier and laces in a corset at the back. Silver silk lines the inside of the whole dress, making ruffles that cause the skirt to poof
outwards. I gasp a little, taking it in. I can guarantee that it will fit like a glove and as I picture myself stepping into it, I have an idea as I picture Orion taking me out of it.

  “It’s beautiful.” I exclaim, reaching up on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek.

  “I’m glad you like it.” He smiles and Georgia shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot.

  “I think I’m all done here. As you requested, the red convertible is in the basement level garage. You’ll find the keys in the ignition. But I should warn you, there was police tape all over that thing when we found it. It wouldn’t surprise me if you had some serious questions heading your way.” Georgia, as she leaves with this statement, makes my face drain of blood. The police? How stupid could I be? I’d gone missing for two whole days. My mother was probably a nervous wreck and the police were probably all over the beach where I’d left my car searching for me. As well as that, now my car was gone. Would they start looking for a car thief? Could they tie it back to Lunar Sanctum and to the mer? Had I exposed them all?

  I’m stripped down, standing in lingerie as I let the dress fall over my head and around my body in a short cascade of silk.

  “Come tie me up?” I ask, pulling my hair up, ready to tie it into a ponytail.

  “Don’t.” He murmurs moving behind me and lacing quickly.

  “What?” I ask as I feel his lips caress the back of my neck.

  “Put your hair up. I love it like this. It’s so soft.” He whispers and I shiver at the brush of his lips.

  “Down it is.” I sigh as he finishes lacing me into the back of my dress.

  “We have to go.”

  “Or what?” I sense the urgency in his tone.

  “Or I won’t let you leave this room because I’ll be enjoying you naked too much.”

  “I don’t think you’d stop me leaving.” I acknowledge, kissing his lips chastely, he stops me in the middle of the gesture.

  “You don’t know the half of what I’d do to be alone with you Callie. I went easy on you last time. You’re new to all this. But when you’re ready and I can have you rough, I will.” He makes the dark promise, running his lips across my knuckles and kissing each one softly, sucking.

  “Mmm.” is all I can manage, feeling tickles wander leisurely up my spine.

  “Now get some shoes on, and let’s go before Miss Westwood did all that work fitting that dress to you for nothing.” He is bossy today, but I placate him, slipping on some white silk-strapped heels from the bottom of the wardrobe. I stand; ready to leave.

  “Ready?” He enquires, slinging a satchel over one shoulder. I eye it curiously.

  “Ready.” I say and he places his hand around my waist, leading me from the room.

  “I can’t wait to see you drive this thing.” Orion admits, looking as though he feels slightly cheeky for making the statement.

  “Like a woman in control, do you?” I tease, the usual click of my stilettos lost in the soft jade runner of the corridor as the door slams behind us.

  “I’m realising I don’t have much choice in that.” I roll my eyes at his response and we carry on towards the main entrance, where we descend the double staircase. The Sanctum is quiet and I take in the architecture so before I know it, I’m behind the wheel of my old friend. The little red vintage, which was there for me when my mother wasn’t. The car that took me, however unknowingly, towards my destiny and Orion, and that made my escapes possible, that even now was still there for me, taking me home.

  As we approach the familiar sidewalk that is crowded by trees, Orion turns to me with a look of instant curiousness playing on the rose pink lips that are set in his angular jaw.

  “You okay?” He whispers as I stare out into the darkness, looking at the house in which I grew up.

  “No. I’m scared of what’s gonna happen.” I say honestly.

  “I know.”

  “What do you say to someone in this situation … how do you deliver this kind of news.” I confess my naivety, bowing my head.

  “You just tell the truth.” He looks at me and strokes my cheek.

  “What if the truth isn’t enough?”

  “Enough?” Orion looks confused.

  “Enough to make her let go.” I sigh and he looks at me sympathetically.

  “Just take things a minute at a time. It’s going to be okay.” He smiles at me, trying to be supportive but I feel alone, it’s clear he doesn’t have an answer. I am the only one who can deliver this news and I am the only one who can sever the relationship with my mom. I feel like throwing up at the fact that I have to go inside the home I left two days ago and tell my mother that I am no longer fit to be her daughter. I shake and he looks me deeply in the eyes, anchoring me.

  “Ready?” Orion asks squeezing my hand tightly. I look up into his stunningly light blue eyes and take a deep breath, I trace the lines of his sculptured face, perfect, flawless in its beauty and I feel my lip upturn unwillingly.

  “As I’ll ever be.” I admit and I know it’s true, tension builds in my bloodstream until I can hear my pulse thumping in my head. Together Orion and I step out of the car and pass the willow tree that aided my escape over one month ago. He raises a clenched fist to the door. Knock, knock … knock.

  The door opens slowly and waves of nostalgia hit me hard as the familiar engulfs my senses. My mother is standing in the doorway and her brow relaxes in relief as she steps forward and takes me into her arms.

  “Callie!” she gasps sounding a little breathless, her eyes glisten with tears.

  “Mom.” is all I can manage, as we stand motionless in the doorway, time stopped around us. Orion coughs behind me and my mother releases me taking a step back and turning to him, her eyes widening in awe of his stunning face. I knew I wasn’t imagining how gorgeous Orion was, but jeez, could my mom stop staring for like a second and pick up her jaw.

  “Hello Mrs. Pierce, my name is Orion; I think it would be wise to take this inside?” He suggests and she nods. He places his arm around my waist coyly as we step across the threshold and I smell the familiar scent of home. My eyes water and I suck in air deeply, trying to put one foot in front of the other. The second we are all seated in the living room I am thinking about Kayla, I wonder where she is as I see the array of teddies strewn across the floor, then I realise it is fairly late and she is probably asleep. I vow to see her before I leave this place, but first I realise I must concentrate on the task at hand, dealing with explaining all this to my mom. I look into her face and start to speak but she places a finger up at once, gliding from the chair in which she is perched and moving to the mahogany cabinet behind the leather armchair Carl used to occupy when reading his stupid fishing magazines. She bends and rustles around in the bottom drawer, before pulling out a large black box and placing it under one arm. Orion grabs my hand and runs his thumb across the back of my knuckles and I soothe, feeling my nerves dissipate slowly as my mom scurries back to the chair and places the box onto her lap.

  “So … I’m sorry I went missing, but I’m here to explain.” I say, gesticulating as though this will soften the blow to come.

  “It’s okay Callie, and I already know what you’ve come to say, I’ve known this day was coming for a while now.” My mother confesses, her face contorting in sadness and my mind goes blank … What the hell is she talking about? How could she possibly know what I’m about to reveal to her? “I’ve already handled the police.” She states, nodding. I look back at her, forehead creased, hands twisting together and my mouth slightly agape. Does she think I’ve committed a crime?

  “No, but mom you don’t understand …” I start to defend myself and she cuts me off, handing me the box. I look at her quizzically, stopped in my tracks, wondering what the hell this box could contain that would give a reasonable explanation as to my disappearance. I pull off the lid, it is not heavy as the box is made of a strong cardboard. Inside an array of papers and photographs are scattered. I pull out the first thing I see, which is a faded and cri
nkled photo. Within the white frame of the image, lies my mother in a bathing suit under the stars and a half moon with a stunning merman of her very own lying beside her, I blink slowly and look up, mouth agape … what … the … hell?

  “What …” I begin, but cannot finish. I look from the young starry eyes of the woman in the photo to those staring back at me in present time, and I can see a remarkable difference, in this photo, my mother looks ecstatically happy.

  “His name was Gideon.” She says and as the name plays on her lips, she cannot help but smile fondly as though remembering a favourite character from a book read long ago.

  “My father?” I ask and she nods as my heart begins to thrum heavily within my chest. I look deeper into the image and I see my own eyes looking back at me, and curly blonde hair, though shorter in this photograph, similar to my own. The tail of the mer is also similar to mine in shape, the crescent moon fin, the glistening sinew, but his scales lie snowy white against the sand. I turn to Orion.

  “Did you know about this?” I ask him and he shrugs looking as confused as I am.

  “We fell in love over the summer one year and continued our relationship up until you were about two. One day he just stopped coming ashore each full moon. After you were born. We had discussed it, thought it was best to protect you as best we could. I didn’t know when he was going to stop visiting. I just knew it wouldn’t last forever.” She reminisces, melancholy, and I feel stunned at this woman sitting across from me. Falling in love with a mer, losing him, raising me without him? It sounded so awful. New questions begin to plague me too. So I wasn’t born in Tulsa? I grew up right here until Gideon left us perhaps? I look to Orion again. How could he not know? He looks concerned, his eyes skimming over me like he’s seeing me for the first time.