As we approached the rock, I quickly explained that we needed to swim under water to the cave opening.
“The entrance is almost at the sea floor. You’ll need to hold your breath for more than three minutes,” I instructed. “Can you do that?”
Luke nodded, thankful for his swimming habit and questioning the depth of the bay if it took me three minutes to enter the cave.
I counted to three before we plunged below the surface and I towed him to the hollow. I moved a group of small rocks and a few larger ones without trouble. Turning to check on him occasionally, I felt reassured by his thumbs up signs. We entered the cave slowly. Luke didn’t know what I looked for as I searched the cavern, but my apprehension was obvious.
Eventually satisfied, I brought him through the opening. We surged to the surface once inside and Luke repeatedly swallowed air, feeding his lungs. He noticed the water, compressed and still flowing, churned violently. He also noticed no way out.
“How, how are we getting out of here?” he asked.
“This cave is one in a sequence. We move through three altogether before we get to the island. Each gets larger and is filled with more air than the one before. It allows my tail and gills a chance to transition for land. The entrances are near the bottom just like this one. Ready?”
He gulped air and felt me pull him under again. We entered the second cave and as promised, it held more air than the last. Our rest there equaled a fraction of the time spent in the first cave, and we dove for the third opening.
The third held only a few feet of water and Luke noticed the vestiges of my tail, the scales joining my legs, vanish. They transformed from the shining surface of my fin to the smooth, tan skin of my legs. The scales dissolved, almost blending into each other and paling quickly. My gills did the same, but while my tail left no visible trace behind, my gills remained, although closed. A soft, white line reminiscent of a scar lingered.
With my legs fully formed, we exited the cave and walked onto a sand beach. The rock formations behind us blocked what he had seen as the only entrance to the island. The beach where we stood appeared tropical and lush, and probably the opposite of what the crew noticed from the boat. With the rocky shoreline behind us, I led him to a fallen palm and forced him to sit. While it seemed he wouldn’t have asked for the rest, he appreciated it all the same.
“Are you well?” I asked, my concern apparent on my face and in my voice.
“I’m not worse,” he answered. “But I do have more questions.”
“I figured you would. We can rest here a minute, but then we need to get your cleaned up. I’ll answer what I can then.”
“Can I at least know your name?” he quizzed.
“Oh, yes. That is time we can spare,” I laughedsaid with a smile. “I’m Anya, and you are?” I figured there was no reason to let him know I already had that information. Best we start on even ground, so to speak.
“Luke. Luke McAllister. My friends are on the ship about five miles past the reef. Our boat, it’s a research vessel, needs fixing, so I tried to swim in for help.”
“Well, Luke,” .” I smiled, disarming him somewhat. “I have friends who can help with that. But rest a minute first. I’m just going over there to put on some clothes.”
He nodded, in no shape to argue with me about anything, an injured stranger on an unmapped island. I walked a few feet away and reached for a guava hanging ripe and full on a low branch. He watched me, nude and unashamed, stretch my legs. He noticed the neat footprints I left in the sand. Returning to him, I handed him my harvest and encouraged him to begin eating.
“You could use the water,” I mentioned. “And this one is ripe and sweet. You’ll love it.”
He bit into the plump, green fruit. Juice dripped from his chin, and he wiped at it with the back of his hand. I noticed him flinch in pain after raising his arm and encouraged him to finish the snack before putting on my sundress.
“We need to clean out that gash. Coral cuts can harbor bacteria. They’re quick to get infected, you know.”
“Okay, but where. Is there a doctor close?”
I gestured to the tree line and the small path that led to a clapboard house with a red roof. We walked through the vegetation and into the house. Lualla, an older mermaid, stood inside and looked up in surprise. Her eyes went straight to Luke.
“Alavay. And who is this, Anya?” Lualla asked coolly.
I remained stoic, not acknowledging her discomfort. “This is Luke. His boat had some trouble and he needs help,” I retorted unapologetically.
“Excuse us please. Anya, a moment.” Lualla walked away from Luke, and not wanting to meet her gaze, I followed.
In a hushed tone, Lualla asked, “And who is this?”
“He’s a researcher, and his boat had some trouble out past the reef,” I said, trying to sound confident. “He was swimming in for help and had an issue with the sharks.”
“And what do you plan to do with him?” her tone sounding more clipped as she spoke.
There was plenty I considered doing, but I didn’t mention that to Lualla.
“I planned to send a boat out to help his crew, and maybe —”. This is where Lualla began to lose her patience.
“You plan to do what? This is not acceptable, Anya, and you of all mer should know better.”
“But he’s researching the trench. The same trench that I’m working with right now. The energy source.” I could hear myself pleading with her to understand.
“Does Nishan know? Or Jinsen?”
“No one knows but you, right now. And I think your attitude toward the human could really help me smooth things over with the rest.”
“I don’t like this, Anya. I think it’s a mistake.”
“I know and I understand, but please, please help me out. If you accept him and his crew, at least for now, others will too.”
Lualla had influence with the tribe due not only to her age but to reserved demeanor and practicality. She was a lovely mer with a kind heart and a grandmotherly attitude toward most of us.
“How many of them are coming?” she asked already planning for their housing needs.
“I think the team is six in all, including Luke.”
“Six humans. All running around the island during the festival? This will be a hard sell, Anya. Get ready to be convincing,” she said. “Use the main guest house, I suppose.”
Surprised by her willingness to offer up such a beautiful cottage to the crew, I asked, “Are you sure? What if we have embassy visitors?”
“We shouldn’t. Everyone coming here is here, we can hope,” she said nodding towards Luke.
She turned to Luke, showing me the conversation was over. I followed.
“Welcome, Luke,” she said brightly. “Let’s get him set up.” Suddenly she was smiles and warmth.
“Thanks, Lualla. I’ll head into the other room. I need some med supplies. You’re in good hands Luke. Just call when he’s all set,” and I slipped away to another room, leaving Luke with the soft-spoken mermaid.
Lualla reached for a soft cotton t-shirt, a pair of cargo shorts, and leather flip-flop sandals.
“Here you go, dear. There is a changing room in there, but don’t put the shirt on until you have that cut looked at.”
He moved to the curtained alcove and changed from his wet swimsuit into the dry clothing, thankful for the opportunity. Emerging from the changing room, he looked around for me. I had changed out of the sand-covered dress and came around the corner wearing a tank top and skirt, my hair pulled into a loose bun on the top of my head.
“You look like those girls who made my head swim in college. You’re all long, golden legs and arms and sun-streaked hair,” he accidentally said aloud. Immediately blushing, he looked around embarrassed.
I smiled, letting myself be excited by his appreciation. That one moment made it clear that last night and Gregorio were a mistake. I wanted my head to swim because of Luke’s compliment, not too many glasses
of rum punch.
“You’re the best, Lualla,” I called back over my shoulder, taking Luke’s hand and leading him outside. “Now let’s get your cut fixed up.”
Twelve: Luke
THE CREW OF the Sea Star reached Orotava by fishing boat.
As the crew disembarked the rescue vessel, the uneven pier creaked and the group worked to regain their land legs. Each held a few bags, except Amir who struggled under the computers and other equipment we used often. The dock felt longer under the hot island sun and heavy-handed humidity.
I walked out to meet my friends. My newly stitched and bandaged side hobbled me enough to strain my gait. Ambling towards them, I called out with a smile, “Nice of you to show up. Been waiting a while.”
“Hey, man. Whatcha got there?” Brandon asked, pointing towards my side.
“Oh, just a few stitches. Caught my side on coral. Burns like a son-of-a-gun.”
“That’d be 32 stitches,” Anya added, coming up behind me.
The crew stared at the beautiful blond.
“Oh, this is Anya,” I said, motioning to the woman. “Her friends brought you in. And she brought me in.”
“You didn’t need me. You were fine, if bloody and broken doesn’t bother you,” she joked.
The group offered their thanks and Anya rewarded them with warm smiles and welcomes. Their rescuers waved their goodbyes and returned to their fishing, leaving us with Anya and our baggage.
“Luke said you might bring your equipment. We have a spot for all of you in the village, and Javier will head out to check on your boat if that’s alright.”
Norton spoke up. “That’d be fine, miss. I’ll head out with him whenever he’s ready. But I’d love to find some food first if that’s an option.”
“You must be Norton. Luke told me you wouldn’t allow anyone on your boat without you.”
“Yes, ma’am. She’s my girl,” he explained.
“That’s just fine. Javier will appreciate that. And we can find you some food right now. The Sword and Dagger has the best spread on the island.”
“The Sword and Dagger?” Lucy questioned.
“Orotava’s best tavern,” Anya announced with a grand smile. “My uncle runs it. The guest house, the one we’ve set up for you, is just behind it.”
Kate’s interest peaked. “A guest house? Already? How long have you been on the island, Luke?”
“Oh, just enough time to get cleaned up. Anya works quick. She knows everyone and they were all eager to help out.”
With a smile, Anya grabbed one of the boxes Amir carried. I attempted to grab one, but my stitches made it impossible. We followed her down the pier and into the quaint, cobblestoned village. The narrow streets resembled paths rather than roads and people milled about. Small buildings grouped together with businesses and cottages mixed throughout.
Anya led us to the guest house first, opening the door to the white-sided bungalow. Each of us entered the charming home with eyes wide. After setting her bags in the front room, Lucy walked straight through the cottage to the back porch.
“Get out here, guys,” she called. “Seriously, get out here!”
We jostled to get out back, haphazardly making it through the double French door to the porch. There we found a wide, covered porch complete with rocking chairs and a porch swing. The view sucked us in. Lucy gestured to the marina spotted with boats of all sizes from dinghies to catamarans.
“There’s a dolphin pod,” she exclaimed pointing with excitement.
“We have a few native pods,” Anya offered. “They come to and from the bay. It’s like their home base. Some even have names.”
Lucy shrieked with delight. “I can see them every day?”
“Yep, they’ll be here throughout the day. You’ll get to know them if you stick around a while.”
Not needing to hear any more, Lucy took off to the beach towards the pod.
“She’ll be fine, right?” Kate asked, concerned for the younger woman.
“Oh, there’s nothing here that’d hurt her,” Anya confirmed. “She’s absolutely safe. As long as she can swim that is,” she added with a sweet smile.
Turning to me, she suggested, “Perhaps your friends would like to rest or eat.”
Norton perked up suddenly. Not interested in dolphins or views, he laughed. “That’s exactly what I’d like to do. I don’t know about the rest of you. Hell, for that matter, I don’t care.”
“Perfect. You all get settled, unpacked, washed up, whatever you need. I’ll be back in about an hour and give you a tour. If you need anything in the meantime, you should find it inside.”
With that, Anya saw herself out, leaving us on the porch together.
Brandon finally tore his eyes off of the graceful woman as she exited. “Wow!” he breathed. “Who is she?”
“Anya? I told you, she met me on the rocks at the jetty. Said she’d seen me swimming and figured I could use some help.”
I’d have to remember that was now our story and fill her in on it later, just in case. I wasn’t about to explain that I’d been rescued by a shark-controlling mermaid who made a hell of a surgeon.
“That’s weird. We didn’t see anyone meet you.”
“Oh, well, she met me on the far side, on the rocks. You probably wouldn’t see her there.”
“I guess not,” Brandon agreed, too captivated to think it through more thoroughly.
“So, what’s her story?” Amir chimed in. “Pretty girl. Unmapped island. Kinda mysterious.”
I conceded. “The unmapped island is definitely mysterious. I haven’t had a chance to ask much about it yet. Maybe it’s just missing from our map. I mean you saw the infrastructure.”
“Haven’t had a chance?” Kate questioned.
“I wasn’t about to interrogate her as she stitched me up. ‘Hey, thanks for the help and all, but why don’t you guys show up on a map?’ Not exactly subtle.”
Kate agreed. “No, it’s not subtle. But it would make sense. I mean didn’t you ask her anything?”
“Yea, I asked things. Mostly stuff like ‘What’s your name? Where are we? Where are we going? Hey, do you know how to do that?’ You know, stuff I found important.”
Brandon interrupted, “Not exactly what I’d find important, man. More like ‘Are you single?’”
Shaking her head, Kate redirected the conversation. “And did she answer any of those questions?”
“Yes, Kate,” I sniped back at her defensively. “She did. The island is Orotava, we were headed to her cottage, and she stitched up her brothers plenty of times. That was good enough for me.”
“Well, as long as you did your research,” Kate scoffed and walked inside.
I motioned for the guys to hang on a second. I ran back to the kitchen and returned with four beers. One thing I did learn was that the Orotavans were hospitable.
“Now we can talk,” Amir agreed, grabbing a bottle from my hand and taking a long swig.
Thirteen: Anya
I SPENT MY hour at the lab, looking into the readings from the night before. Just as I suspected, the research vessel found itself caught in tectonic pulses. The oscillations fried their systems and left them without a GPS and without an engine.
The light began showing up about a year ago, but last night was the first time it left the sea. Not only that, but it was the first time a non-Obthalusian had dealt with any of it. That meant the energy wasn’t tribally specific as I once hypothesized. If it affected anyone, I had plenty of new questions to research.
I had no way to prove or disprove the hypothesis until now. But considering the energy interfered with a boat without an Obthalusian passenger meant it wasn’t focused on anything specific about the island or the tribe. This also meant that if we could reproduce the result, potentially anyone else would be able to do the same. And that meant the one hope we had that the energy could only be controlled by those from the Obthaluse tribe vanished.
Now I had a new reason to dive into
my research and Luke, a new distraction, to keep me from it. Beyond my fascination with the gorgeous man, there were humans on the island. I had to figure a way to handle my tribe’s reaction. No one in the tribe would be happy with the interference, but Nishan would be devastated. The issue that they were on the island could shake him quickly. My association with them, my being the reason they were on the island, promised to send him reeling.
My father never trusted humans, and he blamed them for my mother’s death. And there was no way he would settle into the idea of me being associated with them.
*****
I returned to the guest house a little more than an hour later, ready to get the crew some food and introduce them around the island. I didn’t have a plan of how I’d handle the tribe’s reactions to them, but I’d figure it out as we went.
Luke and the guys finished their beers and called to Lucy who was still on the beach. Kate joined us outside, fresh from the shower and toweling her wet hair. We stood beside each other looking like matching bookends. However, it seemed our faces held a distinct difference. I smiled, happy to meet these interesting humans so dedicated to studying our ocean even if their presence proved detrimental to me. However, Kate showed no expression. Her face remained void of any emotion as though she were playing poker. This skepticism made it obvious she still questioned my agenda and situation. I wondered if my concerns came across as clearly too.
“I knocked, but I figured you were all out here,” I said. “Are you ready to see the island or do you want to eat first?”
Since they had snacked on what they found in the kitchen, they agreed to a tour.
Together, we set out to explore Orotava. I led them away from the pier they’d seen earlier and towards the center of town.
“So where are we?” Kate asked.
“Orotava,” I answered.
“And what is Orotava?” Kate insisted, obviously frustrated with the lack of detail I offered.
“My family founded the island hundreds of years ago. We sit at about 28 longitude and -68 latitude, in the middle of the Atlantic. Southwest of Devil’s Isle, east of Florida, and Northwest of Puerto Rico.”
Falling in Deep Collection Box Set Page 38