The marble was beautiful—dark porous stone with white swirls like clouds in a midnight sky—but it was also charmed so that whatever was ground within it would meld together in new and powerful ways. Beka was hoping that if she combined some of the pieces she had brought up on her dives, they would tell her something together that she hadn’t been able to discern from the individual bits on their own.
She crumbled some grayish kelp, a sad cousin of its healthier vibrant green relatives, and added the briny remains of tiny krill. But as she reached for a faded off-orange branch of coral, Chewie suddenly sat up and looked at the door.
“You have company,” he said in a low rumble.
Oh, bother. Beka suppressed a groan. If Kesh had ignored her request for time by herself and shown up with another damned picnic, she was going to turn him into a toad, son of the King of the Selkies or no.
A brisk knock on the door was accompanied by a slightly more hesitant, “Beka?” But the voice belonged to Marcus, not Kesh.
Surprise made her drop the pestle with a clatter, and that was obviously too much for the elementals, all shy creatures to begin with. They each disappeared from sight with a slight popping noise and a buzzing sensation that made Beka’s ears ring. Chewie rolled his big brown eyes at Beka, although whether at their behavior or hers, she couldn’t tell.
“Beka? Are you home?” The knock on the door was repeated, a little louder this time.
She sighed, rubbing her palm through the line of salt nearest to her so that the power of the circle faded away with a slightly disappointed whoosh, like the curtain falling after a less-than-successful play.
“Coming,” she yelled, looking helplessly at the collected jumble of esoteric tools in front of her. It looked like exactly what it was: a witch’s ritual circle. How she would explain that, she had no idea. She’d just have to keep him outside.
She walked over to the door of the bus, Chewie padding along on his gigantic furry black paws behind her as if he were a shadow of impending doom. Her stomach knotted for a moment before she opened the door, but she couldn’t tell if it was due to nerves or anticipation. Or maybe just frustration; she’d almost been getting somewhere. Or nowhere at all.
“Hey,” Marcus said as she peered out at him. As usual, he looked tall and strong and calm, and made her heart beat ridiculously fast for a moment. “Are we interrupting anything?”
“We?” she said, and then smiled as she saw Tito standing next to him, the skinny boy practically lost next to the large ex-Marine. “Tito, dude! This is a surprise!” She put up her hand and he high-fived her with glee.
“Hi, Beka,” he said, his voice cracking on the last part of her name. “I hope it’s okay we came to your house.” He glanced around him at the outside of the bus. “Which is way cool, by the way. I can’t believe you actually live in a bus, man.”
“We were down on the beach below with Tito’s mom,” Marcus said in his much deeper tones. “And I was telling Tito about how we went out surfing the other day, and he told me he’d never been and really wanted to try it. So I thought maybe we could borrow a board, if that would be okay.”
Beka swallowed hard, fighting back a moment of jealousy. She knew that the boy’s mother was single, and she tried to tell herself that they were all just hanging out together for Tito’s sake. And that even if they weren’t, it was none of her business.
Then she met Marcus’s eyes and saw the sadness there, and realized with a shiver that he was afraid that if Tito didn’t get to try surfing soon, the boy might never be able to do it. Looking at Tito, she saw the same fear, bravely held beneath the surface, but there nonetheless.
“Of course you can borrow a board,” she said, suddenly not caring about her failed magical experiment. “I’ve got a smaller one that should be easier for you to start out on. I’m sure you’ll pick it up in no time.”
Tito’s face lit up as if he had swallowed the sun. “Cool! Marcus said he taught his brother when they were younger, so he can definitely teach me.”
Beka raised an eyebrow at Marcus. She’d gotten the impression he didn’t talk about his brother much. Tito must really be getting under his skin. “I’m sure Marcus will do a great job teaching you.” She grinned mischievously. “He’s very patient.”
The former Marine made a decidedly undignified face at her. “Ha,” he said. “Just because some people drive me crazy doesn’t mean that everyone does.” He held out a hand in invitation. “Why don’t you come with us? You can meet Tito’s mom, and give him pointers if I leave out anything important.” He almost looked like he wanted her to come, although she was pretty sure he was just being polite in front of the boy.
“Oh, please say you’ll come, Beka!” Tito said, practically jumping up and down with excitement. “It’ll be great! My mom even packed us a picnic to eat on the beach.”
Beka’s stomach did acrobatic flips at the thought. Or maybe it was the notion of spending the afternoon on the sand watching Marcus and Tito’s mother, who was undoubtedly lovely and unmagical and completely Human.
“Uh, no, that’s okay,” she said. “You guys go ahead. I don’t want to horn in on your day out.”
Her treacherous dragon-dog butted her in the back of the knees with his huge head, almost sending her flying down the step. Marcus reached out one large hand to steady her, laughter chasing away the shadows that had been lurking in his hazel eyes.
“It looks like Chewie thinks you should come with us,” he said, lips twitching. “And even I know better than to argue with Chewie.”
Tito’s face was a study in amazement as he looked at Beka’s companion. “What the heck kind of dog is that? He’s humongous!”
“He’s a Newfoundland,” Marcus said, at the same time Beka said, “That’s because he’s part dragon.” They all laughed.
“Can he come to the beach with us?” Tito asked, a little wistful. “My mom and me can’t have a dog in our apartment, but I really like them.”
Beka patted Chewie regretfully on the head. “Sorry, dude, but someone has to stay here and guard the bus from marauding pirates. Besides, he’s really too big to take out when there are innocent bystanders. Believe it or not, some people find him kind of intimidating.”
Chewie woofed in indignation, sounding like a train in a long, winding tunnel.
“Maybe next time,” Marcus said gravely to Chewie. “This time, we’ll just borrow Beka, if that’s all right with you?”
Chewie woofed again, and gave Beka another not-very-subtle shove. She glared at him, to no noticeable effect.
“I guess I’m going,” she said, trying to act as though that wasn’t exactly what she wanted. “Let me go grab that board for you.” She hadn’t been able to give Tito the treasure he wanted the day they’d been out on the boat, but at least she could give him this.
“Whoo hoo!” Tito shouted.
Marcus grinned at her. “Ooh-rah.”
Beka rolled her eyes. It was going to be a long day.
* * *
DOWN ON THE beach, Tito’s mother Candace was just as lovely as Beka had imagined, despite the dark circles under her brown eyes and the lines of strain that worry had etched around her generous mouth. But her enthusiasm when she greeted Beka seemed quite genuine, and her gratitude made her hard to dislike.
“It’s very kind of you to let Tito use your surfboard,” Candace said in a soft voice that was almost lost behind the raucous sounds of the beach at midday.
Beka was so used to the quieter morning setting, when the only people out and about were serious surfers, people walking their dogs, and a few folks practicing Tai Chi on the hard-packed sand, the noise and commotion of the afternoon crowd caught her by surprise. Children raced up and down the beach, shrieking and laughing, and groups of women clustered under umbrellas chatted as they compared recipes or talked about the latest books on their Kindles. Gulls swooped overhead, competing for the abundant treats left behind by careless snackers, almost louder than the gathered Hu
mans below. The smell of sunscreen overwhelmed the more delicate briny air of the sea. It was like being in a different universe.
Beka didn’t much like it. But she wasn’t here for herself, so it didn’t really matter.
She and Candace sat on a striped beach blanket, watching Marcus show Tito the basics of how to catch a wave and balance on a board. The guys were still practicing on the damp area toward the edge of the water; the ocean itself would wait until Tito had gotten the hang of things, and even then they would stay in the shallow bit for today. Tito looked to be having a grand time anyway.
“I suppose you think I’m crazy for letting a kid who is in the middle of chemotherapy try to learn how to surf,” Candace said. Her shoulders were hunched and she gazed anxiously at her son as he toppled over again, giggling madly.
Beka shook her head. “Are you kidding? Look how much fun he is having. I’d think you were crazy if you didn’t let him come down here today.” She took a deep breath, breathing in a moist and salty lungful. “Besides, I can’t think of anyplace more healing to be than here.”
Candace gave her a grateful smile, relaxing a little. “It sure beats hospitals,” she said, gazing at Tito sadly. “Do you have any kids, Beka?”
“No,” Beka said, watching the children racing around on the beach. As always, the sight made her heart clench at the thought of never having one of her own.
“Ah,” Candace said. “I hadn’t planned to have any, myself. Tito was a ‘whoops.’ His father never even bothered to meet him. And sometimes it has been tough, doing things on my own. But I wouldn’t trade him for anything.” Tears shimmered in her eyes, refusing to fall. “Marcus has been just great, ever since he met Tito and me in the waiting room at the chemo center. He’s a real sweetheart. You’re lucky to have him.”
Beka watched Marcus help Tito find the right stance on the board, one large hand on the boy’s narrow shoulder, the other pointing out to sea. She tried not to stare at his wide shoulders and tight butt, thankful for the dark glasses that hid her gaze. Marcus might be cranky and rigid with her, but he was patience personified when it came to Tito.
“Uh, I don’t. Have him, I mean.” Beka could feel herself flush and hoped the other woman would blame it on the heat of the sun. “That is, we’re not a couple. I’m just paying him and his father for the use of their boat, that’s all.”
Candace arched one dark brow. “Really? I thought I picked up on a vibe.”
Beka played with the sand next to their blanket, building a tiny castle complete with an impenetrable moat. Some things were only possible in fairy tales. And not the kind of fairy tales that Baba Yagas featured in; those tended not to have happy endings.
“Nope. No vibe,” she said lightly. “If you’re interested, go for it.”
Candace gave her a wide-eyed look. “Me? God, no! I mean, he’s a great guy and all, but not my type. A little too much of a good thing, if you know what I mean. I prefer my guys on the skinny, geeky side, to be honest.” She laughed. “Tito looks just like his father, minus about a foot in height and a pocket protector.”
Beka tried to convince herself she wasn’t relieved. After all, it wasn’t as though it made any difference. Hell, there was a whole beach full of women who probably all liked the tall, rugged, impossibly manly type. It wasn’t his fault he was by far the sexiest guy on the beach.
“No vibe, huh,” Candace muttered with a snort. “Better tell your hormones that, girl, ’cause from where I’m sitting, there’s vibe all over the place.”
“Mom! Hey, Mom!” Tito had progressed as far as the shoreline and waved at his mother madly. “Come see what I can do!”
Candace gave Beka a wry smile, but there was a bounce to her walk as she went down to join Tito and Marcus. It was clear that she needed this day out as much as her son did.
Beka couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have a child who was sick and not be able to do anything about it. Motherhood was a tough job. Of course, Candace struck her as a pretty tough woman, but still. Beka wasn’t sure how she’d handle things, under the same circumstances.
She watched the three of them playing amid the waves. Marcus, Tito, and Candace looked like a not-so-unusual California family, the dark-skinned boy and his mother romping alongside the tanned sailor. Beka wondered what it felt like to be a family; that wasn’t something she had ever experienced. Obviously, no family was perfect; Tito only had a mom, albeit one who clearly adored him, and Marcus and his father barely spoke most days. Still, Marcus had come back to take care of the older man when he was needed, because that was what family did.
Beka couldn’t imagine having someone who would do that for her. Her own family was long gone. Brenna had followed a silent call of magic one day twenty-five years before and found Beka at the other end, crying piteously next to her dead mother’s stiffening body in the back corner of a dank, abandoned building full of empty-eyed druggies. No one had known who Beka’s father was or cared that Brenna was taking her away. Even her original name was lost in misty memories of hunger, loneliness, and vague fears that probably meant something to her four-year-old self.
Brenna had renamed her Beka and raised her in the hut-turned-painted bus as they traveled around the country. The old Baba Yaga had trained Beka to be her successor, and taught her everything she’d deemed important for a Baba to know—but she hadn’t taught her anything about what it meant to be a part of a Human family. Sometimes, Beka thought it was probably far too late for her to figure it out on her own.
* * *
MARCUS LEFT TITO and his mother giggling as they took turns being knocked off the surfboard into the low breakers near the shore. He’d turned around to wave at Beka, and there was something so sad about the way she was sitting all by herself on the blanket watching them romp, he’d moved without thinking about it, drawn to her like a magnet to a lodestone.
Her eyes were hidden behind the dark lenses of her sunglasses, and her thoughts were hidden behind her usual cheerful expression, but something about the way she sat, still and silent, made him certain that her thoughts were less than pleasant. He didn’t know why, but he didn’t question it either.
“Heya,” he said, plopping down next to her on the wide woven cloth, its bright black and yellow stripes making it look like she was riding a giant bumblebee. Considering the bizarre effect she seemed to have on him, maybe it would be more appropriate to envision her riding a broom. God knows, she had cast some kind of spell on him; he hadn’t stopped thinking about her since the day they’d pulled her up in the net, like a Mermaid captured from the arms of the sea.
“Heya,” she said back, stretching her long legs out in front of her and distracting him even further with the sight of all that tanned, sleek flesh.
“Penny for your thoughts,” he said, reaching into the cooler for a bottle of iced tea. The elusive scent of strawberries briefly triumphed over the suntan lotion emanating from the baking bodies next to them, then disappeared like a mirage. He peered deeper into the cooler. No strawberries.
“I’m not sure they’re worth that much,” Beka said, flashing him a pale imitation of her typical grin.
“Really, what were you thinking?”
She tilted her head down the beach at Tito and his mom. “Just that they’re good people.”
“They are,” Marcus agreed. He’d been drawn to the boy since the day they met. The military shrink would probably say it had something to do with losing his brother at an age not much older than Tito was now, and maybe that was part of it. But he respected the way the kid was handling a tough situation; he didn’t wallow in self-pity, tried to keep a positive attitude, and worried more about his mother than he did himself. Not bad for someone who hadn’t even hit puberty yet.
Beka stole Marcus’s iced tea and held the cold bottle against her neck, letting droplets of condensation trickle down into her cleavage. He shifted slightly, his denim cutoffs suddenly tighter. Luckily, Beka was still gazing out at the water and didn’t s
eem to notice the effect she was having on him. Of course, she never did. Clearly, the intense physical attraction was all on his side. Just as well, really, under the circumstances, although it was hard not to feel a twinge of disappointed male ego.
He grabbed another iced tea for himself and they sat there for a moment in companionable silence.
“You’re good people too,” Beka said after a minute. “I think what you’re doing for them is really terrific. I know you’ve already got your hands full dealing with your dad’s illness and the boat and everything. It’s nice of you to take the time to treat them to a day at the beach. Poor Candace looks like she hasn’t done anything fun in ages, and Tito is having a blast.”
“Good people, huh?” Marcus felt the edge of his mouth curving up in a smile and forced it back, giving Beka an exaggerated scowl instead as she turned to look at him. “I thought you considered me to be cranky and unpleasant. I believe the term ‘stick-up-the-butt’ might have been used.”
She snorted. “You’ve got to admit, we got off to a rocky start. But you’re kind of growing on me.”
The smile slid out despite his best intentions. “Yeah, you’re kind of growing on me too.”
Marcus could see that Tito and Candace were getting ready to head back to the blanket, and he had a sudden urge to make this rare moment of détente last a little longer.
“Are you planning to come out and dive tomorrow?” he asked. “We’re pulling out of dock at dawn. My da has a feeling that the fish will be running near the spot you usually go in, so it’s no trouble if you want to tag along.”
She shrugged one tanned shoulder. “I’m not finding what I’m looking for at the depth I’ve been diving. I’m going to have to go quite a bit deeper the next time, and that means a longer dive, since I’ll have to come back up slowly to compensate. Is that going to be a problem?”
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