by K. K. Allen
“Look at you, forgiving me already.” Despite our playful conversation, a flashback of the last time we hung out plays in my mind and triggers an image of Iris, her hair burnt, scalp red and blistering. I frown at the unwelcome memory. “Hey, how’s Iris?”
His expression darkens, but he sighs. “She’s surprisingly good. Shaken up, but she’ll be okay. She’s happy that her hair is growing back fast.”
I hold back a smile, thankful that the magic Rose, Charlotte, and I evoked worked on her as intended. “I’m so glad she’s going to be okay. Things got pretty scary that night.”
Alec nods. “You’re telling me. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy she’s okay, but I guess I expected her to be worse with how everything played out. She seems to have turned a new leaf and everything.”
I tilt my head. “Why do you say that?”
“She just seems… happier lately. She even talks about you and how grateful she is to you for being there for her that night.”
The news is surprising, but it makes me happy, nonetheless.
Alec’s eyes catch on something at my waist level. I peer down to see the mermaid flyer in my hands. He takes it from me and scans it. At first, I panic, but then I remember that the flyer is meant for the public. The Valli sisters are entertainers. No one realizes they are actual mermaids too. I groan inwardly.
“This looks like fun.” His voice is filled with intrigue, as if the flyer solves a problem. “I’ve heard of this place. The Springs near Tampa. It’s a bit of a drive, but if we leave super early and come back late, we can do it.”
I laugh. “What are you talking about?”
His eyes light up. “Tomorrow. You said Trisha invited you, right? We hadn’t decided what we were doing, but now…” He waves the flyer. “Guess we figured it out.”
“You really want to go to Weeki Wachee?”
“Why not? There’s a ton to do there.”
There’s no way I’m disappointing Alec after he’s been so forgiving. Plus, the idea of hanging out with him again, away from Apollo Beach, sounds better than okay. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Where did you get this anyway?” He hands the flyer back to me.
I can tell him the truth. “I met these girls tonight. Rose knows their father.”
Alec inspects the flyer another second, and I’m worried he’s going to ask me something I’ll have to lie about. “You mean at that carnival meeting everyone’s walking out of?”
I snap my heard toward the tall walls around the theater to find the Invited exiting. “Um, yeah.” I guess that isn’t a lie. “We’re all volunteering at the carnival coming up. You should sign up too.”
Alec nods. “Okay, I will. My parents mentioned something about that.” His eyes flicker up above my head, and he lifts his chin. “Speak of the devil. There they are.”
I turn to see a smile plastered on Mr. and Mrs. Stone’s faces as they gaze up at us from below the stairs. “Hey, Alec. Ready for dinner?”
Mr. Stone regards me cautiously, and I try to give him a smile that tells him I won’t spill his secret—our secret.
“I better get going too,” I say with a forced smile. “I should find Rose. See you tomorrow?”
Alec nods. “Can’t wait, Summer Girl.”
“Why didn’t you two tell me that there are mermaids out there?” I ask Rose and Charlotte as soon as we’re safely back in the SUV.
“Of course there are mermaids,” Rose says, waving away my frustration, as if my concerns are devoid of reason.
Heat seeps into the walls of my chest. Does she think I should have known this bit of information? Is she forgetting how new I am to all of this?
Rose speaks much more calmly than I feel, but I choose to listen rather than argue. “Descendants of Triton have been long-standing friends of Solstices in Apollo Beach. We’ve worked together for centuries, helping each other protect water and land.”
“That’s great, Rose, but you could have warned me.” I shake my head. I’m going to try to explain, because I really want her to understand where I’m coming from. “It was hard enough to get used to this new life with my mom… gone.” I pause, but not long enough to let Rose interrupt me. “And I’m not just talking about life as an Enchanter, but life here, in Apollo Beach, with you and Charlotte.”
My words are harsh, but Rose has got to see what her secrets are doing to me.
Charlotte looks as if she’s evaluating everything I say with a measuring spoon.
“I just want transparency. You did a great job telling the entire community the story of the violence and destruction that occurred nineteen years ago—but you never told me that. Not even after what happened on Fourth of July. I don’t get it. Don’t you think it’s important that I’m aware of these things?”
Rose raises her eyebrows, challenged by my question. “If you didn’t notice, it was a long-winded speech, Katrina. I prefer to tell it as few times as possible, and it was important that the entire community heard what I had to say.”
“I get it. That isn’t what bothers me the most, though. It’s all the secrets, and then me finding out from Arabella that mermaids are real.” I let out a laugh, though I’m not amused at all. “Do you recognize how ridiculous it all sounds to someone who’s new to this life? I think you’re forgetting what it’s like.”
Rose stares at me in the rearview mirror for a long moment before she responds, but I can tell she’s processing every word I say.
“Okay,” she says. “You are right. So, I’ll tell you now. The Daughters of the Sea have always been close friends of our family. I grew up with their father, Isaac, here in Apollo Beach. He is their leader, and Arabella is their messenger. She’s the youngest daughter, but she’s also the one that he confides in. That is why you’ll find me speaking directly to Isaac or relaying messages to Arabella. We consult often while making important community decisions and solving problems that arise.”
As always, Rose has me hooked on her story.
“As Enchanters, we have ties to all earthly things. We seek out the protection of nature’s creatures on land, sea, and air. During the violence that occurred a decade ago, such awful things were happening in the bay.”
Rose shudders, and the sight reels me back. My grandmother rarely shows weakness of any kind, but she is obviously disturbed by the past since it threatens our future.
“Isaac commanded all sea descendants to migrate from Apollo Beach during the destruction. Not because they were swimming away from the threats, but because there was a bigger destruction occurring in Weeki Wachee. The Equinox invaded the community there, too. The Vallis sought out to salvage whatever they could and rebuild that community to what it is today. They’ve been there ever since, but we meet from time to time to unite powers—this is one of those times.”
Rose puts the car in park. I didn’t even realize we were home.
“Is that enough for now, Katrina? I will do my best to be honest with you, keeping in mind that you are new to all of this and my job is to protect you, not put a burden on you.”
I reach over her seat to squeeze her shoulder. The tensing of her muscles tells me that the hug is unexpected, but the release of her tension tells me that it is also welcome. I linger for just a moment before pulling away. “Thank you, Rose.”
A hint of a smile appears on her face, and for the first time since moving here, I feel like we might actually be getting somewhere.
My doorbell rings the next morning, and I race down the stairs at a speed that still surprises me. Alec’s smiling face is the first thing I see when I swing open the door.
“Hey, Summer Girl.”
One look at him makes my heart flutter. He’s already managed to score a tan, and the contrast of his bronzed skin with his light-blue tank top illuminates his heartbreakingly good looks. His hazel-green eyes appear more golden when backlit in the sunlight. And I didn’t notice yesterday, but his wavy hair is longer than it was at his beach party. Even his arms and neck seem to h
ave thickened with muscle, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s had some crazy growth spurt over the last week.
“Hey, yourself, Birthday Boy.”
He narrows his eyes, a playful smile tipping up the corners of his mouth. “I half expected you to suddenly be in bed sick. This is a pleasant surprise.”
I raise my brows. “You know, now that you mention it, I am starting to feel a little sick.”
Alec’s eyes grow wide for a second before he laughs. “No, you don’t. You are coming with us, even if I have to drag you to the Springs myself.” He picks me up by the waist and tosses me over his shoulder like I’m the lightest thing in the world. “Let’s go.”
I shriek with laughter as he carries me upside down the entire way to his lifted truck, not stopping until we’re at the passenger door. He sets me down and grins with a flirtatious glare. “I want to warn you—once you get in this truck, there’s no turning back. You’ll be my prisoner until I return you. Speak now, or forever hold your peace.”
With a quick debate about how I want to play this, I bite down on my bottom lip and reach for the door handle behind me. After a quick tug, I step up into the passenger seat and pull the door shut.
He leans in through the open window so our faces are inches apart. “Looks like you’re mine now, Summer Girl.”
I smile and inch closer to him. “Prove it.”
With a flash of his golden-green eyes, he meets my challenging stare then brushes his lips with mine. “Oh, I plan to.”
He pulls away, leaving me disappointed as I suck in a deep breath so that I can get my head straight.
“Holy shit, that was hot.”
I swivel around to find Trisha, Ava, and Brett all grinning at me from the backseat. Well, Ava’s smile looks more like sneer. While I would have chosen to go without her today, I know she’s Alec’s friend, and I need to deal with it.
“Hey, Summer Girl,” Brett teases. “You ready to see some hot mermaids?”
“I didn’t realize mythological creatures were your style,” I tease back just as Alec is hopping into the driver’s seat.
“Are you kidding me? Hot girls who live in bikinis? What’s not to love?”
Ava rolls her eyes and jabs him in the ribs. “Oh my god. Shut up already. You’re fishing in the wrong pond.”
Despite Ava’s harsh demeanor we all burst into laughter, including Brett.
“That’s right, Brett,” Alec joins in. “But don’t worry. If the mermaids don’t work out, there are plenty of fish in the sea.”
“Okay, okay.” Brett waves everyone off with his hands.
Trisha wraps her arm over his shoulder and coos in his ear. “No matter what happens, just keep swimming, Brett.”
“Okay, I get it!” he shouts.
We all laugh, Alec catches my eye, and we smile. A mutual understanding floats between us now. In a strange way, it’s like we’re getting a new start. When I feel his fingers slip through mine, I’m confident he feels the same way.
We pass a sign that tells us we’re getting close to Weeki Wachee Springs. I take in the bright sun, yellowing trees, and flat landscape in front of us. Florida’s dry and colorless setting is a bit of a hidden beauty in my eyes. Despite its scorched trees and tortured earth, the golden rays, gentle breeze, and sparkling blue water make up the difference in spades.
Trisha is giggling at something Brett said, and I can’t help but see how adorable they would be together. They’re both bubbly, outgoing, and talkative, so there’s never a dull moment. At the same time, I wonder how Trisha will take to Solstice life. Hopefully, she’ll be more prepared than I was since her parents will be around to help her adjust. It’s a comfort to know that I’ll finally have a friend to confide in about life as an Enchanter.
Alec pulls to a stop at the end of a line of cars all waiting to enter the parking lot. Up ahead near the guard gate, a man in a security uniform shakes his head and waves the front car around toward the exit. Alec, Ava, Trisha, and Brett all groan loudly.
“Is he turning people away?”
“Yup.” Alec’s words come out with a hint of annoyance as he blows out a breath.
“We drove all this way!” Ava says. “Don’t tell me they’re going to turn us around.”
A different guard walks toward the front of the entrance. He’s holding a large A-frame sign that reads Park Closed in large letters. One by one, the cars in front of us turn from the entrance.
“Sorry, guys. I guess we should have left earlier.” Alec’s voice is filled with disappointment.
We follow the line of cars that are forced to turn around just as they reach the guards. The line is excruciatingly slow because everyone seems to be pleading to be let in.
“We’ll get in,” I say confidently. “Let me talk to him.”
The guard doesn’t even make eye contact as Alec rolls down his window. I’m sure he’s been through this routine plenty of times. “Park’s full, folks. Come back in a few hours, and you might have some luck.”
I lean over Alec and smile at the man who still doesn’t look back. “Sir?”
He finally focuses on me, his irritation apparent.
“Hi, sir. My friends work here. They’re expecting me.”
Not hiding his amusement, he tips his chin up at me. “Who are your friends?”
“The Valli sisters.”
The man focuses on me now, studying me a little too long before his face seems to register something. “Miss Summer.”
I tilt my head, unsure of how he knows me. “That’s me. Do we know each other?”
He grins. “Let’s just say we run in the same circles.” He winks at me then stands. “Go ahead through and park in the security lot. I’ll have a permit placed on your truck” He waves.
“That was strange,” I say, but no one in the car hears me. They are too busy hooting and hollering with joy as Alec drives off.
“Who are the Valli sisters?” Brett asks.
I turn around and raise my brows. “The mermaids.”
“You know the mer…”
I tune Brett out when Alec reaches over and squeezes my knee. “I guess it pays to know people.”
We park in a stall marked for security, and just as the guard promised, a staff member comes by to place a permit on the dashboard. We scramble out of the truck happy to stand, and the guys grab the cooler while us girls grab the towels and bags of food.
We shuffle down the sidewalk then head toward the water park area. There’s a tiki bar roped off on the right. Beyond that is a large water slide that empties into the spring.
We find a spot in the sand, lay out our towels and the rest of our belongings, and strip down to our bathing suits.
“Oh, that’s cute, Kat.” Trisha is plucking at my seafoam-green bikini and checking out all the angles.
It is cute, with the gold geometric shapes all over it and the high-waisted bottoms. I don’t miss the way Alec is checking me out over her shoulder either.
A sour Ava is already walking toward the water, and Trisha’s eyes follow with a frown. “She’ll warm up to you.”
I laugh and shake my head. “It’s okay if she doesn’t. I don’t think she can help it.”
Trisha smirks and starts to back away toward the water. “You jumping in now?”
I’m about to tell her yes when I see Arabella walking in my direction from the other side of the hill. “I’ll join you in a bit. I just need to talk to someone.”
Trisha and Brett take off after Ava while Alec steps closer to me. “You’re not coming in?”
The way he’s staring back at me like he desperately wants me to follow him into the water makes my heart beat fast. “My friend is heading over.” I nod in Arabella’s direction, but when Alec squints to make out what I’m pointing at, he can’t see her. “I promise I’ll be right behind you.”
He pouts, his dimple pops, and he slips his hand into mine. “You’re already making me share you.”
I laugh. “Hardly.”
He tugs me closer and wraps a strong arm around my bare waist before brushing his lips against my ear. “Hurry. I might get jealous.”
I give him a playful push. “I’ll be five minutes, I promise.”
He backs up, pointing an accusing finger at me. “Okay. If I don’t see you in five minutes, I’m coming after you.” That’s the end of his threat before he runs toward the water and plunges into the spring.
Arabella approaches with a grin. “Hey, Kat.”
“Hey, Arabella. Why do I feel like you knew I was here?”
There’s a twinkle in her eyes. “Rose called, of course. Then security might have announced over the PA system that you name-dropped us.”
I’m mortified. “They weren’t going to let us in, and we drove all this way.”
Arabella is laughing. “We don’t mind at all.”
“Ugh. Did Rose ask you to keep an eye on me too?”
She laughs. “Maybe, but don’t worry. I won’t tell her that your boyfriend undressed you with his eyes the moment you took your swim dress off.”
My mouth drops open in shock. “Arabella!” I laugh.
“What? Nothing wrong with that. He’s hot.” Her amusement is written all over her face. “Sorry, but I’m glad she called. My father is dying to meet you.”
“He is?”
Her eyelids grow wider. “Oh yes. He’s tied up right now, but I’ll find you a bit later and take you to him.” She barely stops for a breath before she’s looking over at my friends, who are all treading water. “Are any of your friends like us?”
Like us. What an interesting way to categorize who we are. I shake my head. “No, but Trisha—the blonde—will be. Her birthday is at the end of the month.”
Arabella and I sit on my towel while looking out at the water. She glances at my arm with a disapproving glare. “You should wear sunscreen. But not this crap.” She takes the only tube of sunscreen lying on Ava’s towel and tosses it in a trashcan a few yards away. “Here.” She shoves a green tube toward me, and I scoff at the brand label.