by Sue Perkins
FURY’S ISLAND
by
Sue Perkins
Copyright c 2018 Sue Perkins
All Rights Reserved
Editor: Belinda Mellor
Cover Art Copyright © 2018
Except for use in any review, no part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher, Caishel Books.com or the author Sue Perkins.
These books are works of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Publisher 2018
Caishel Books
www.caishelbooks.com
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Other Middle Grade Books by Sue Perkins
Dedication and Acknowledgment | Thanks to my editor Belinda for all her hard work and recommendations.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
If you enjoyed this book, you might also | enjoy these other books by Sue Perkins:
FURY’S GHOST | Chapter One
SPIRIT STEALER | 1 | GRAND OPENING
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Other Middle Grade Books by Sue Perkins
Fury
Fury’s Ghost
Fury’s Island
Dragon World Series
Dragon World Box Set
Dragon Flames
Dragon Clans
Dragon Ice
Adri’s Journey
Middle Grade Books
Spirit Stealer
Reva’s Quest
Ghost Bus
Lost on Disc – Microlands Series 1
Disc Chase – Microlands Series 2
Dedication and Acknowledgment
Thanks to my editor Belinda for all her hard work and recommendations.
Chapter One
“We’ve booked a cottage at the beach and we leave on 2nd January. You’ll love it, Fiora, lovely sandy beaches and swimming in the sea. We’ve rented a villa for six weeks and Dad is going to work from home via the internet. You can take the new wetsuit you got for Christmas and try it out. It will be wonderful.”
Fury would rather go on holiday with her friends, but their parents had other plans. Samantha’s family had gone north to Rotorua for Christmas, while Cora and her mother had headed for Dunedin. Fury had no choice but to go with her parents, and she wouldn’t even have her brother to hang out with. Jonah had been lucky to escape the dreaded ‘seaside holiday’ and had left in November for an intern job at a summer camp in America.
“I’m not a child. I’m too old to play on the beach and the sea is usually too cold to swim in. I’d rather stay home.”
“Stop arguing.”
Fury looked at her father in surprise. He usually hid in his study and didn’t get involved in Fury’s altercations with her mother.
“Go pack your bag like you were told.” Her father left the room and her mother stood with her head tilted to the left while she waited for Fury to either leave or argue again.
“Mum...”
“Do as your father said, Fiora.”
Fury stomped up the stairs, annoyed with her parents’ use of her real first name. It sounded so silly. Nobody called her Fiora, everyone called her Fury due to her red hair and the tantrums she’d had as a toddler. Her temper did not improve when she fell over the suitcase her mother had left inside her bedroom door.
“Stupid place to put it, right in the way I’d walk so I’d fall over it.” Rubbing her bruised shin she hopped to her wardrobe and flung the door open, then threw her clothes into the suitcase, followed by her underwear from the chest of drawers beside her bed.
After dinner, Fury returned to her room. Her mother followed her, tutted over the crumpled clothes in the suitcase and folded them properly.
“Have you put your art things into your portfolio bag? You know you like to paint scenes when you’re on a beach holiday.”
“Mum, I haven’t done landscapes or beach scenes like, in, forever. You know my main thing is cartoons.”
“Pack them anyway, Fiora. I expect you’ll find a scene you want to capture on canvas.”
Fury climbed off the bed and dragged her portfolio bag from the cupboard, checked to make sure she had everything, then put two or three small canvases in the pocket on the side of the bag.
“There, all done.”
Her mother smiled came across the room and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Lovely, dear. Now get some sleep, we’re leaving early in the morning.
Positive she would be awake all night, Fury got into her pyjamas and climbed into bed. Within minutes she had fallen asleep.
Chapter Two
Walking along the beach, Fury’s mood proved to be the opposite of calm. Her foot swung viciously at a pebble. She had nothing to do in this place. Fine if you were between two and twelve years old, but for a young lady approaching sixteen the activities were dead boring. The golden sand stretched for what seemed like miles ahead of her, and there weren’t many pebbles for her to kick. The sea had gone out, revealing flat stretches of sand. To get to the sea to swim would take about ten minutes of plodding through the puddles left by the outgoing tide.
“It’s so boring.” A kick at another pebble did not relieve her frustration.
“What’s boring?” a voice behind her asked and she spun round.
The most gorgeous boy she’d ever seen stood waiting for her answer. His dark brown hair hung over his ears and forehead, and brilliant blue eyes stared at her, making her feel uncomfortable. A faded yellow tee-shirt covered the top half of his board shorts and in his hands he carried a pair of sandals.
“You said it’s boring. What is?” he asked again.
“This place, the town, the beach, everything.” It occurred to Fury the young Adonis could live in this seaside town and she wished she could take the words back.
“I’ve got to admit an empty beach is boring. Have you been paddle boarding yet?”
Fury had seen people on paddle boards going out toward the small island a little way offshore, but although she thought it looked interesting she knew it would be no fun on her own.
The boy waited for an answer and Fury blushed.
“No, I’ve been wanting to but haven’t got round to it yet.”
“You should, it’s a wonderful experience. Would you like to come with me tomorrow morning?”
“Sounds lovely. Thank you.”
“Great I’ll see you at the ramp near the board hire place. By the way my name is Eion.”
“I’m Fiora, but no one calls me by my given name, I’m known as Fury.” She could have kicked herself. Why had she told him her real name?
“Fury as in you have a temper?” Eion grinned at her discomfort.
“I used to have a temper, years ago. The name stuck and I don’t like my real name. Only my mother calls me Fiora, or my dad when he’s mad at me.”
“I like it, but I’ll keep to Fury. See yo
u tomorrow, about ten o’clock?”
Fury nodded and Eion turned and walked down the beach then cut over the dunes to the car park.
Her family had taken a villa near the beach so she didn’t have far to go home. When Fury came in, her mother stood at the kitchen work surface preparing a salad to go with the evening meal.
“Good, you remembered what time to come home,” she said with a smile.
Fury immediately felt guilty. She hadn’t paid any attention to her mother’s demands to be home by a certain time. In fact she didn’t even know the time at this moment. After a furtive glance at the clock she saw it to be six o’clock.
“Wash your hands and let your dad know dinner’s ready.” Her mother opened the oven and took out a steaming-hot lasagne.
After visiting the bathroom, Fury collected her father and the three of them sat down to a meal.
“So how did your day go?” Her mother wanted to know.
“Fine. I visited the shops opposite the beach, then walked along the sand,. Sat a while watching the paddle boarders. Mum can I go paddle boarding tomorrow?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Fiora. It can be dangerous, you know?”
“Let her go,” her father said unexpectedly. “She keeps telling us she’s not a baby and we should let her do her own thing, so now’s the chance. They make the inexperienced boarders keep near the shore, so Fury will be fine.”
Her mother huffed, but Fury knew it had as much to do with her father’s use of her nickname as it had to do with paddle boarding. Years before, her parents had many arguments about her refusal to answer to Fiora and her mother insisted her father call her by her given name. He gave up and reverted to Fury when his daughter had her fourth birthday. Fury had a habit of ignoring anyone who called her Fiora, so rather than be ignored, he called her by her nickname. Her mother continued to call her Fiora and eventually Fury gave in and responded to the name, but only when her mother used it.
In bed that night Fury realised she hadn’t told her parents she’d arranged to go boarding with the boy she’d met. Her father’s words came to mind. Would Eion refuse to take her out when he found her to be a beginner and had to keep near the shore? At least she’d be the only one to get embarrassed if he walked away.
At ten o’clock the following morning, Fury walked toward the paddle board station. She saw Eion before he saw her as he stood talking to the guy who rented the boards out. As soon as he caught sight of her his lips curved up in a smile and he walked toward her.
“Hi, you made it then.” Fury nodded and he led her over to the boards. “Have you done this before?”
No good lying, he’d soon realise her beginner status if she said otherwise. Fury shook her head.
“Fine, we’ll go easy today and wait until you’re used to paddle boarding before we go out to the island.”
In the beginning he had her sit on the board in the shallow water until she got used to sitting, lying down and standing up. At first her movements were awkward but Eion was very patient with her. He showed her exactly what to do and at one stage he even held her by the waist when she was moving from lying to standing position. A tingle shot through her at his touch, but she willed the feeling to go away, refusing to look embarrassed by this. The lesson took most of the day until Fury had to go home for dinner.
“Same time tomorrow?” Eion queried, and Fury nodded then hurried off up the beach.
Chapter Three
Fury could barely contain her excitement the following morning. Today she would paddle board around the island with Eion. She had really enjoyed her lesson the previous day and hoped actually going out into deep water would be even more exciting.
“Morning.” Eion strolled up behind her. “All ready to go?”
“Yes, I’m ready. Let’s get the boards.”
Eion led the way toward the paddle board hire hut and within minutes they were out on the water. He went over the procedures he’d taught Fury the day before and she listened impatiently.
Oh please get on with it. I want to go out to the island.
Lecture over, they headed out into the deep water. Fury’s elation knew no bounds. She felt free as a bird when the light breeze fluffed her hair and the water changed from turquoise to deep blue as they went further from the shore.
Her arms were aching by the time they reached the island and Eion suggested they sit on the boards and rest. They stopped at the far side of the island and Fury pushed her damp hair from her eyes and looked with interest at the huge pointed rock thrusting up from the ocean.
“What’s the story behind this rock? It looks as if it’s been carved specifically to this shape.” She turned to Eion hoping he’d be able to satisfy her curiosity.
“The locals call it Skull Island. If you look up you can see two holes which look like eyes. I don’t think they’re caves, just places where the rock has fallen inward, but it makes the island look like a skull from a distance.”
Fury shielded her eyes from the sun and followed his pointing finger. High above her, two dark patches indicated the area Eion had mentioned.
“Does anyone ever climb up to have a look?”
“The council don’t like anyone to land on it,” Eion replied. “It’s crumbling more with each year. They tried putting a fence around the bottom to stop anyone landing there, but the next high tide washed it away. Now they have warning signs but not many people want to land anyway.”
“That’s a shame. I thought it might have some legend attached to it.”
She looked up at the rocky island again, but he only interesting things were the dark holes on the upper region. The islands’ only usefulness was a point to aim for when paddle boarding or canoeing.
Eion suggested they return to the beach and go for a coffee. Fury agreed but after they returned their paddle boards nerves fluttered in her stomach as they headed for the coffee shop.
What will we talk about? He must have tons of girls after him. He can’t be interested in me, he’s only being kind teaching me to paddle board.
“What do you want to drink? Latté, a cappuccino. What do you like?”
“Cappuccino please, with chocolate not cinnamon.”
They sat at a table outside the beachside cafe, drinking their coffees and soaking up the sunshine.
“Thank you for helping me paddle board.” The silence made Fury nervous. “I don’t think I would have dared on my own.”
“I’m sure you would have tried it sometime while you were here.” Eion smiled and Fury’s heart leapt in her chest. “It’s easy to pick up, isn’t it?”
“Yes, easier than I thought.”
This conversation is so banal. Say something interesting, you idiot.
Despite the internal reprimand, Fury still couldn’t find a new topic.
“Would you like to board again tomorrow?” Eion looked at her and for a moment she thought she saw hope in his eyes.
“I’d love to,” she replied. “I’m not sure if I can afford it though.”
Idiot, why did you say ‘love to’. Better to say it would be nice.
“Don’t worry about that. I have two paddle boards at home, I’m usually too lazy to bring them down here. You can borrow one any time you want.” He smiled at her. “I’m guessing you’re on holiday. Where are you staying?”
“Yes, we’re on holiday. We moved to Cave from the city last year. It’s about five hours drive from here.” Fury told herself to stop babbling and drink her coffee but her tongue wouldn’t stop moving. “Do you live here?”
“For now, yes. I’m going to Canterbury University after the holidays so I’ll be moving nearer to where you live.”
He’s moving closer to Cave. Her heart fluttered with excitement but she beat down the tremors and tried to sound normal when she spoke again.
“What courses will you be taking?”
“Music, art and business studies.”
“Sounds like a funny mixture.”
“It is. I love music and art, bu
t my father insists I take something practical so I’ll be able to find a job if the creative stuff doesn’t work out.” Eion looked slightly embarrassed by his confession and Fury couldn’t blame him.
“I do art. Cartoon style mainly, but I’ve always got a drawing pad and charcoal pen to hand.” She looked down at her wetsuit and laughed. “Well most of the time.”
Eion grinned in response to her laughter. “I tend to take photos then paint landscapes from them.” He looked at his waterproof watch. “Sorry, I have to go, my mother wants to take me on a shopping trip. She says it’s to get clothes for me to take to uni, but really she wants to shop for clothes herself and needs me to carry the bags.”
They were both laughing when they arranged to meet the same time the next day and waved as they went their separate ways.
*****
“Did you have a good swim?” Fury’s mother asked, when she entered the house through the kitchen door.
“I’ve been paddle boarding, Mum. I told you before I left.”
“So you did. How are you getting on with it? Any falls?” Her mother looked keenly at her and Fury knew if she admitted to any falls a ban on paddle boarding would follow.
“It’s very similar to skateboarding, at least the balancing part is, so no – I haven’t fallen off. I’m going for a shower.”
Lunch followed the shower then Fury didn’t know what to do with herself. She sat outside on the swing seat on the porch and daydreamed about Eion until her mother appeared.
“Want to come shopping? I have to get a few things for dinner, but we can have a look around the mall and get a snack.”
“Sounds good.”
Fury stood and followed her mother to the car and they started off for the town of nearby Richmond.
After parking in the mall car park, Mrs Laing headed for the supermarket but arranged to meet Fury later at the food hall. Fury wandered around, looking at shoes, clothes and make up, but everything looked too expensive for her meagre allowance.
Look at the time. Must be time to meet mum now, I’d better head for the food hall.
