by Fleur Smith
A life he had offered to return with little thought about what it might cost him.
When he returned below deck, he headed to the cabin. He locked the door behind him and slid his bag out from under his bed.
He reached for a knife and carefully sliced through the double layer of material he’d sewed into one section of the lining of the canvas bag. Hidden inside was Mariely’s seal skin. A thin opalescent cloak-like garment.
For a moment, he sat brushing his fingers over the surface and thinking about the life he’d wanted them to share. The life he had dreamed of for years, long before he’d said a word to Mariely, dissipated into scattered ash.
He rested the thin membrane between his thin pillow and firm mattress, ready to pass it to Mariely that night.
Once he had that ready to say his goodbyes, he headed to the smoking room to find some way to drown his sorrows.
Wilfred, one of the two men he’d spent the better part of the week drinking and gambling with despite his status as a ship steward, was there already. “Any luck with your missus?”
Paddy shook his head. “I don’t think we’re gonna make it.”
Wilfred slid a beer across to him. “That’s a crying shame. She’s a looker.”
Paddy nodded. “That she is. And she’s so much more than that.”
“She’s special?” Wilfred sat forward and Paddy grew uncomfortable under the stare. He hoped he hadn’t said too much during his drinking sessions earlier before roping Wilfred and David into helping with Mariely.
What had he been thinking trying such a stupid plan? That’s what he got for trying to come up with a plan while he was drinking.
“Of course she is,” he said, trying to keep the caution building within him out of his voice. “She’s incredibly special to me—she’s my wife.”
Wilfred gave a half-smile that set Paddy on edge despite the alcohol in his system. “Of course. Well, I need to get back to my post soon. I might see you tomorrow.”
WILFRED LEFT THE drunken Irishman behind to report his findings to his supervisor, John.
He moved through the ship, climbing to the saloon deck and heading to the designated cabin on the port side of the ship. Just beneath the handle on the door of cabin D54 was the familiar sign of a dove in flight. It was the symbol of his organisation, carved into the door just prior to the seaworthiness tests from Belfast. This particular cabin set-up—a temporary Rain headquarters—was on every transatlantic ship to ensure they could stop the passage of filthy freaks trying to flee from the motherland.
There were usually at least a few others on every voyage.
They didn’t expect the maiden voyage of the Titanic to be any different so he had been stationed on the ship, together with another operative posing as a passenger. As a crew member, Wilfred was able to navigate throughout the ship without drawing too much undue attention.
As they’d watched the embarkation at each stop, the two of them had compiled and compared a list of suspects. Wilfred had six on his that also matched his companion’s list and they each had another half dozen they suspected individually.
And now he’d confirmed one of them.
The young woman, Mary, up close, was some sort of creature. The little he’d gained during his conversations with Paddy was enlightening enough, but then seeing her up close . . .
“What did you learn?” John asked as he let him pass.
“She is definitely something. Black irises, far bigger than normal. She was walking around without a jacket despite the chill in the air. And her husband mentioned some odd things in passing.”
“Odd, how?” John glanced up from the notes he was taking. The Rain was nothing if not meticulous in recording the details of their hunts to help other operatives.
“He mentioned something about needing to free her so she could return to the ocean.”
“Ocean. Interesting. What are you thinking?”
“I’ve narrowed it down to a mermaid, kelpie, or selkie.”
“Longing for the sea would rule out kelpie really, wouldn’t it?”
“Potentially. Looking in her eyes, I am leaning toward selkie. There’s a definite seal-like quality there. That illusion of innocence in the wide black irises.”
John dropped his pen and levelled a stare at him. “You’re not getting soft on the creature, are you?”
Wilfred ignored the judgment in the other man’s gaze. “Of course not. I said illusion, didn’t I?”
“Good. Because the last thing we need with so many suspects on this voyage is any softening towards confirmed cases.”
“I know. From what I overheard, they’re planning to meet at eleven, so I think we need to move straight after. That way we can avoid the human getting caught in the middle.”
“You’re sure he’s human?” John asked, his attention returning to his paperwork.
“As sure as I can be. I think he’s been ensnared by her wiles.”
“If we can destroy the creature without hurting the human, then that is obviously our goal. However, it is important not to forget that primary objective and if he stands in the way, you are authorised to destroy him too.”
Wilfred nodded. “Understood. Did you have any luck?”
“I ruled one out and am still investigating another. I’ll be checking on him tonight.”
“The one you think is a vamp?”
“Yeah. Him. I still haven’t seen him out during the day, but admittedly I’ve been a little busy in here.”
“Hopefully you’ll get a good look tonight.”
“And a good beheading if things go well,” John said, dropping his pen to the paper as they shared a laugh. “If you’re going to be hunting tonight, you best retire for a few hours. We’ve got a big night ahead of us.” He turned back to the notes he was writing.
Wilfred nodded his agreement before sliding into the bed. His training had allowed him to meditate his way into a restful state whenever he had the opportunity. Time for sleep wasn’t always easy to find otherwise.
He woke again just as John was getting ready for his hunt through the common areas for second class.
The two ran through a pre-hunt checklist to ensure they each had the relevant tools and then the hunt was on.
Chapter Seven
TREMORS SHOOK MARIELY’S body.
After Paddy had agreed to free her, it had taken a moment for that information to sink in.
Once it had, it ripped through her in an unexpected way.
It took her even longer to comprehend the reason the notion of freedom settled in such an uncomfortable way.
Trying to understand the reason for her discomfort, and fully appreciate the implications of being released from her servitude, she turned to lean against the barrier. She stared into the darkness and dreamed of being back in the water. It was only after freedom became an apparent reality that she understood there was part of her that didn’t want it.
Behind her, the chatter of voices and the lights of the ship called to her human side.
For too long, she stood being torn in two.
“Mary, uh, Mariely.” Paddy’s voice was near silent behind her.
She spun around, surprised by him for the second time. She realised how empty the deck had become. The chill in the air and the late hour had driven everyone else inside hours earlier.
Her stomach hurt at the expression printed on his face. His hazel eyes were downturned and his lips were set into a pout. The strands of his red hair showed clear signs of distress, possibly from an evening of abuse at Paddy’s hands.
In his hands was an object that she hadn’t seen in years. Her heart stuttered as she recognised the part of herself that had been missing for so long.
The instant her focus was drawn to her seal skin, everything else blurred away. She stepped forward and closed the distance between them, lifting her hand as she walked. In the moonlight, the surface shimmered lightly.
With shaking fingers, she brushed her hands over the warm sur
face. A familiar warmth filled her as she drew on the magic within the skin. The brief touch filled the empty voids within her, calling her back to the sea louder than ever.
She grabbed the skin and went to wrap it around herself. She didn’t even think about her surroundings or how many people might have been around her—she was possessed with need to return to her other form.
Paddy touched his hand to her shoulder, bringing her attention back to the world around her. The ship, the ocean, the other passengers, all snapped into focus for her and she took a step backward as she drew in a deep breath.
“I promised ya I’d give it back, but I won’t let ya lose yerself and make a mistake.”
She shook herself out of the initial desire to rush into the change. Hugging the skin to her chest, she said, “Thank you.”
“Will ya consider staying until we arrive in New York? If ya do, I’ll help ya slip away quietly.”
“That’s days away.”
He stepped forward and cupped her cheeks. “We’re a long way from anywhere now. Ya’ll be unprotected and vulnerable. And I’ll have no way of knowing ya got home safe.”
“How’s that going to be different to me leaving in New York?”
Paddy frowned and rested his forehead against hers. “I’ll get to spend a couple more days with ya.”
Despite the desire to leave what she’d lived with for so long, she was suddenly reluctant to go. “Maybe. Or maybe I could leave in a few hours?” She pressed her lips against his.
As he accepted her kiss, and returned it full of desire, she recognised that part of her at least would miss this. That same part of her needed more information about what Paddy had said earlier. “Did you really come back year after year?” she asked when they broke apart.
“For nine years.” Paddy stared at her in a way that took her breath away.
She recalled the thoughts she’d had as they embarked on the Titanic.
He loved her.
He loved her and maybe she didn’t hate him as much as she’d thought.
Or at least, maybe she was seeing him in a new light after his revelations.
“What changed? Why did you . . .?” She trailed off.
“I told ya, love, there are dangerous men in this world and I brought two of them to you and your sisters. It was my fault.”
“It was—” Mariely was interrupted by a voice shouting her name.
“Mariely!” Maggie called out her name again. None of her boys were with her, but Mariely didn’t get a chance to ask where they were. “You’re in danger.”
Mariely turned to look in Maggie’s direction, but didn’t get a chance before she was slammed back against the railing by Paddy as he jumped in front of her.
“What are ya talking about?” he demanded.
Maggie’s face was white as a ghost and her breath came in a series of fast pants.
Mariely put her hand on Paddy’s shoulder. Despite his protests, she stepped around to talk to Maggie. “What is it?”
“I-I don’t know. I just saw a danger lurking in the darkness. Something is coming for you.”
“What do you mean you saw?” Paddy asked again. His voice was dark, demanding.
“Sometimes . . . well, sometimes I have these visions. I never—”
Maggie cut off. At first, the sudden stop confused Mariely. But then she saw the figure of a man stepping out of the darkness behind Maggie. He had an object in his hand that he pressed against the back of Maggie’s head.
“I came here to destroy one creature,” he said. “Imagine my delight that I’ve discovered two.”
“What?” Mariely asked as she recognised him as one of the men who had been with Paddy earlier.
“Two filthy scum trying to destroy the new world. We won’t let you, you know.”
Mariely’s mind spun. Did Paddy know this man was coming? Was that why he’d demanded they meet there? The biggest question of all—what did the man mean by “destroy?”
“What are ya doing, Wilfred?” Paddy asked. “Didn’t ya say ya were meant to be at yer post tonight? Why don’t ya put the gun down and go do yer job.”
“My job. That’s exactly what I’m doing. Now, you, my dear,” he whispered in Maggie’s ear, “why don’t you tell me about these fancy visions of yours?”
Maggie whimpered as the barrel of the gun pressed against her head.
Mariely was frozen in place as she watched the scene in front of her. She didn’t know where to look or what to do to save her new friend.
“Maybe we should take this inside,” Paddy said, glancing around them all. The deck was empty except for them, so his request wasn’t based on a desire for privacy. Was he trying to get them into a private cabin so that he could force her to stay despite his promises to let her go?
Mariely’s head still span as she tried to figure out what was happening and why one of the ship’s steward was attacking them.
Wilfred glanced up at Paddy. “You have one chance to leave, Paddy. Get out of here and leave these monsters to me.”
“My wife isn’t a monster.”
“She’s a selkie, isn’t she?”
As the question left his lips, Mariely became more convinced than ever that Paddy had betrayed her—that the return of her seal skin had been nothing more than a ruse to get her to isolate herself.
She moved to put distance between herself and Paddy. She’d only taken a step when the trilling of a bell filled the air for a few seconds—three rings in total. Wilfred swore under his breath.
For a moment, he seemed torn, but after a second he scowled, dropped his gun back to his side, and then ran away.
“We need to leave before he comes back,” Paddy said, offering his hand to her.
Mariely backed away from him, sliding along the railing to escape him.
“Ya aren’t scared of me, are ya?” He placed his hand on the railing near her arm and she leapt away from him.
Clutching her skin to her chest, she rushed toward Maggie. She didn’t make it all the way before a metallic rent filled the air and the ship shuddered beneath their feet. Mariely lost her footing and tumbled in front of Maggie.
“What was that?” Mariely asked as she found her way back onto her feet.
When she turned back to see whether Paddy was coming to stop her escape, she found him instead leaning over the right side of the ship. He glanced back up as she watched him, and then moved toward her.
With a small squeal, she turned away. “We need to go,” she said to Maggie.
The two women linked hands and ran for the stairs to go back below deck. After the interaction with the two men, Mariely was concerned with getting Maggie back to her boys to ensure they were safe. Then they all needed to find a way to get off the boat.
She didn’t even care if Maggie knew her secret now.
Chapter Eight
WHEN HE HEARD the warning bell, Wilfred rushed away from the two monsters on the Poop Deck. Although he wanted to finish what he’d started, he couldn’t risk being seen killing any passengers if any crew came to the deck to investigate the warning.
Once that was done, he would be able to find them. They wouldn’t be able to hide. He knew which cabins they were staying in after all, and it wasn’t like they could disappear into the night.
A scraping sound filled the air shortly after the bells, and that confirmed he’d made the right decision in leaving the two others behind.
He had his instructions though, and he needed to follow them to the letter. In any emergency he was to protect the information above all else. Step one was to return to the cabin, prepare for a bailout, and secure any research and documentation. Only after that was done could he return to his other tasks.
Because it was so late at night, the halls were largely empty so he was able to rush through the ship without anyone impeding him. As he moved through the second class area, a few doors opened and people asked what was happening and why the engines had stopped.
“We’re still
investigating,” he said over and over on his way to the second class cabin where the Rain information was stored. Although he was certain it was nothing serious—the ship was designed to remain afloat even with a breached hull after all—he didn’t want to risk any of the notes getting lost or misplaced. He gathered up the paperwork and notes that he and John had made during the journey from Southampton. Once he’d secured the pages in a waterproof skin, he hid it at the bottom of his travel bag.
While Wilfred was moving around the room organising the essentials, John shoved open the door and charged inside.
“The front of the ship is taking a lot of water,” John said. “Have you secured the research?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. I want to be prepared to abandon ship if necessary.”
“Do you really think that will be necessary?”
“I don’t think even an unsinkable ship can withstand the influx of water that is currently pouring into the hull. Did you finish your task?”
Wilfred frowned. “Unfortunately, I was interrupted by the warning.”
“Why didn’t you finish her off before you returned?”
“I-I heard the bell and wanted to check what it was.”
The older man tutted. “This is what I get for accepting a rookie for a partner.”
Wilfred stood gaping at him. “I was just following—”
“I don’t want to hear it,” John said as he packed his most important belongings into a rubber-lined rucksack. “You should have neutralised the situation prior to returning.”
As soon as he said the words, he grabbed the canvas bag that contained the two-man inflatable boat the Rain had packed into the room. “Go finish the job before they start loading up the lift boats.”
Feeling the sting of the reprimand, Wilfred nodded.
“Meet me at the launch point in thirty minutes,” John said as Wilfred opened the door.
When he closed the door behind him, he tried to figure out where the selkie might have gone. There was no way she would have hung around on the deck to wait for him to return.
