“Come back at visiting time,” said Nixie and her head disappeared through the door.
“Visiting time?” said Lana. “Nixie, open this door or I’ll fetch my father.”
Nixie’s shoulder’s sank and she exhaled before reluctantly opening the door. The three friends quietly walked into Cordelia’s chamber where she lay, sleeping peacefully.
“What’s wrong with her?” asked Nerissa.
“Fever,” said Nixie, discreetly tucking the dagger under the bedcovers.
Lana picked up the medicine bottle and read aloud, “Ointment for infected wounds. What aren’t you telling us?”
Nixie shrugged. Frustrated, Lana turned to Masika.
“It’s no good asking me,” said Masika. “I can’t read the minds of ghosts, or the sleeping unfortunately.”
Lana moved closer to Cordelia and reached out a hand.
“Let her sleep,” said Nerissa, placing a hand on Lana’s arm. “We’ll check on her later.”
“The diving contest is two weeks away,” said Lana. “She’ll never be ready at this rate.”
“You sound disappointed,” said Masika.
“I know how much it means to her,” said Lana.
“And we know how much it means to you,” said Masika. “Don’t let this put you off your own game.”
“You underestimate your friend,” said Nixie. “When Cordelia wakes, she’ll move mountains.”
Cordelia slept for three days. Her friends had come and gone and Nixie had made sure to keep Cordelia covered as much as possible for they were not ready to see the changes taking place. It was mid afternoon when Cordelia woke. Laying on her side, Cordelia brushed the palm of her hand across the cotton bed sheet. For a brief moment she felt relaxed, without a care in the world. The fever and pain had gone. With one side of her face pressed into her pillow, one eye stared at the door. Somehow it seemed clearer, even in the dim candle light. She studied her clothes hanging by the fire place; she could see every detail of the fabric as though she were looking through a microscope. Cordelia swung her legs round to sit up but something seemed to be weighing her down. She pushed herself up with her hand. That’s when she saw Nixie standing on the other side of the room.
“Don’t be alarmed,” said Nixie, the nerves evident in her voice. Nixie knew Cordelia couldn’t hurt her; she was already dead, but even ghosts aren’t immune to fear.
“Why should I be alarmed?” asked Cordelia.
Nixie stared at Cordelia’s feet. Cordelia leaned forward and glanced down. An overwhelming feeling of nausea washed over Cordelia. It came in waves from the pit of her stomach, working its way up to her throat.
“Get them off!” she cried, stamping her webbed feet on the ground.
“I can’t get them off,” said Nixie. “They’re part of you, they’re your feet.”
“They’re not my feet!” snapped Cordelia. She pulled frantically at the feathers on her legs, ripping them out one after the other.
“Stop it!” said Nixie. “You’re hurting yourself.”
Cordelia side-stepped to the mirror and stared at her reflection. Her eyes were lined with blue and black and slowly, a beautiful pair of white, black tipped wings unfolded behind her back. Cordelia’s high pitched scream shattered the mirror and she fell to her knees. Bowing her head, Cordelia made the sign of the cross and began to recite the Hail Mary.
“What are you doing?” asked Nixie.
“Fetch the dagger,” said Cordelia, “you have to end this.”
“What are you saying?”
“Kill me.”
“That’s a relief,” said Nixie.
Cordelia frowned. “What is?”
“You’re still you,” said Nixie. “I was so worried you’d be different.”
“Look at me!” said Cordelia. “How can you say I’m not different?”
“But it’s still you inside,” said Nixie.
“You don’t know that,” said Cordelia. “What if I’m like them?”
“If you were like them you wouldn’t be sitting here talking to me,” said Nixie. “You wouldn’t be asking me to kill you.”
Realising there was an element of truth to Nixie’s theory, Cordelia stopped praying.
“There has to be another way.” Cordelia fell silent, her body tense, her expression serious.
“Alright, now you’re worrying me,” said Nixie.
“Shhhh!” said Cordelia and she closed her eyes, squeezing them tightly as though her life depended on it.
Slowly, her Siren features vanished and she looked human once more.
“How did you do that?” asked Nixie with excitement.
“It’s all in the mind,” said Cordelia. “I should have thought of it sooner.”
“Can you change back?” asked Nixie.
“I don’t want to change back,” said Cordelia. “Not now, not ever.”
“Do you still have your tail?” asked Nixie.
“We’ll soon find out,” said Cordelia, hurrying out of her chamber.
When the coast seemed clear, Cordelia stood on the edge of the black rock, took a deep breath and hurled herself into the water below. The cool, salt water washed over her like a security blanket, healing her wounds and soothing all her sorrows. Her tail was as magnificent as ever and she let the waves wash away her worries as she glided blissfully through the choppy water. Feeling more determined than ever to meet her father, Cordelia practised every dive over and over again until she could no longer muster the energy to climb back up the rocks, but she didn’t want to get out of the water. Cordelia stayed in the rock pool for hours; as long as she was a mermaid, she would never be a Siren.
When dusk fell, a silver glow appeared in the water.
“I’ve been worried about you,” said Nixie.
“I can’t leave,” said Cordelia.
“Of course you can,” said Nixie. “You’ll be as shriveled as a prune if you stay in here all night.”
“What if I don’t win?” asked Cordelia.
“Would it really matter?” asked Nixie. “You’ve had a lot to come to terms with in such a short time.”
“I need to see my father, I need to speak with him.”
“You don’t need to win a competition to do that,” said Nixie.
“I do,” said Cordelia. “Winning the competition means I can go to Meren without anyone really knowing why I’m there. Besides, I want to get there on my own merit.”
“I understand,” said Nixie. “Now show me those fingers. Cordelia glanced at her fingers and smiled, “I suppose I am turning into a prune.”
“You’re still the mermaid we all love,” said Nixie. “Don’t worry about anything else, you know how to control it.”
Cordelia desperately wanted to believe Nixie’s words but her expression said otherwise.
“Accept yourself as you are,” said Nixie. “Otherwise you’ll never be happy.”
“What if I can’t?”
“What if you can?” said Nixie. “With courage, anything is possible.”
Cordelia knew there was truth in what Nixie had said but before she had a chance to respond, Nixie had vanished. Cordelia turned to see Breck standing on the rocks behind her. The sight of him took her breath away and waves of anxiety washed over her.
‘What if he knows?’ she thought. ‘What if I turn in front of him?’
Cordelia took a few steps back, crouched down on the rock edge and slipped into the water. All Breck could see was Cordelia’s forehead and eyes peering over the ledge.
“So you are avoiding me then,” said Breck.
Cordelia’s breathing quickened as Breck moved closer.
“Not talking to me either?” he asked.
“It’s not you, it’s me,” said Cordelia, staring into the water.
“What are you doing?” asked Breck.
“Don’t look at me, go away,” said Cordelia.
“You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. I can’t help but look at you.”
In the twilight, Breck pulled off his shirt, kicked off his boots and unfastened his belt. His trousers fell to the ground and he slipped into the water beside Cordelia.
“It’s not safe for you to be with me,” said Cordelia.
“Then why is it I’ve never felt safer than when I’m with you?” said Breck.
Breck reached out a hand and pulled Cordelia towards him.
“Your hair’s beautiful,” he said.
Cordelia managed a half smile.
“Remember our vows?” asked Breck. “I meant every word. I promised to love you until the end of our days and let nothing come between us, and you promised the same, until the stars fade and the tides stop turning.” Breck looked up at the sky. “They’re still shining,” he said, “and if I’m not mistaken the tide is definitely turning.”
The Atlantic seeped through every crevice into the rock pool, while waves leaped excitedly over the top of the rocks. Cordelia couldn’t tell what was pounding faster, the waves or her heart. Without a second thought, she held Breck’s face in her hands, pressed her lips against his and pulled him beneath the waves. Electricity flowed through Breck’s veins, illuminating the blackened sea like a neon tide. Beneath the starlit sky, the water dazzled and the only creature to witness this wonder was Arna.
The young lovers eventually returned to the surface, Cordelia’s arms wrapped firmly around Breck’s neck.
“Do you ever think of the future?” asked Cordelia.
“Sometimes,” said Breck, still gasping for air.
“I have a dream,” said Cordelia, “that someday you and I will be together.”
“We are together, aren’t we?”
“I dream that we swim for hours beneath the surface.”
“Now that really is just a dream,” said Breck.
“What if it’s not?” asked Cordelia. “What if it could really happen?”
“You’ve seen how long I can hold my breath for,” chuckled Breck.
The young lovers hauled themselves out of the water, Breck picked up his clothes and they hurried across the rocks in the moonlight. Cordelia slowed her pace as they reached the track.
“What’s wrong?” asked Breck.
Cordelia took a deep breath. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
Just then a gannet flew down and perched on the stone wall. Cordelia knew it was Arna. She tried to speak but the words wouldn’t come out. Her eyes flitted between Arna and Breck.
“It’s just a bird,” said Breck.
Cordelia smiled but the panic was evident in her eyes.
“Cordelia, what is it?” asked Breck, taking her hand in his.
“I wondered if you’d watch me, in the diving competition.”
“Is that all?” said Breck, smiling. “I thought you were going to tell me something terrible. Sure I’ll be there. What about Flynn, shall I ask him too?”
“Do you think he’ll come?” asked Cordelia, still distracted by Arna.
“He misses you,” said Breck.
“Of course, it would mean the world for him to be there too. Look at you, you’re shivering,” said Cordelia. “You’d best be getting home.”
“Will I see you tomorrow?” asked Breck.
“Perhaps,” smiled Cordelia and she watched Breck walk away wearing nothing but his underwear.
As soon as Breck was out of sight, Arna morphed into Siren form.
“You seem on edge,” said Arna.
“It’s hardly surprising, is it?” said Cordelia, annoyed.
“You can’t pretend forever,” said Arna. “Sooner or later the truth will come out and who will be there for you when it does?”
“The truth will come out when I’m ready,” said Cordelia and she marched across the cliff top.
Arna took flight and landed ahead of Cordelia. “You’re a funny thing, aren’t you?”
Cordelia stopped in her tracks.
“You can swim, you can fly, yet here you are choosing to walk.”
“I like walking.”
“It doesn’t look like it.”
“I don’t like the company,” said Cordelia.
“That’s a little hurtful, Cordelia. You need me more than you realise.”
“I’m not like you,” snapped Cordelia. “I can choose who I want to be and I will never be a Siren!”
“You already are,” said Arna. “The sooner you realise it, the easier things will become.”
“Easier? How could things possibly get easier?”
“Because you’ll no longer have to hide who you really are,” said Arna.
“Nobody likes Sirens. They hate them!”
“Then isn’t it time perceptions changed?” said Arna. “We aren’t all bad.”
Cordelia studied Arna for a few moments, she seemed sincere, a little sad even, but then she remembered.
“You’re the reason my mother’s dead!” Cordelia cried.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry she’s dead. I’m sorry it was my fault. I’m sorry it’s me standing here instead of your mother. Believe me I have paid the price, living year after year in solitude on that sea stack, hiding in the church with not a soul to talk to, praying over and over that someone would answer my prayers.”
“You want me to feel sorry for you? I pity you.”
“I don’t want your sympathy,” said Arna.
“Then what do you want?”
“I want to help you.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“Please. Let me. You at least owe me that.”
“I don’t owe you anything,” said Cordelia and she marched through the darkness back to the lighthouse, leaving Arna alone on the cliff top.
TWENTY-ONE
Diving Championships
The day of the diving championships had finally arrived. It was barely day break when the diving site began to fill with spectators; the entire school was there, including the families of those entering the competition. From the cliff top, Cordelia noticed a slim, flame haired woman meander through the crowd followed closely by eleven flame haired children.
Lana stood on tiptoes, making herself even taller and waved frantically as she called out to her mother. “Mother! Over here!”
“There’s Ma and Pa!” said Nerissa excitedly, pulling Masika by the arm.
Cordelia took a deep breath and smiled as she watched the other competitors greet their parents with affectionate hugs and embraces. Rafe was standing with his parents. His father was wearing the captain’s armband that he’d kept from his time as a student at the school and although Cordelia couldn’t make out his words, it was clear that he was instructing Rafe on how to perform his dives. Max on the other hand did not appear to be greeted by anyone. He sat on the spongy cliff top waiting for the contest to start. It was the first time that Cordelia could see past his tough exterior. The rude, overly confident, bolshy boy she had come to know seemed lonelier now than ever. He lowered his head and pulled blades of grass out of the ground. Cordelia sensed that she had found his Achilles heel. Perhaps they had more in common than Max would care to admit.
The morning sun drenched the sleepy town in soft, golden light. It was the time of day when most of Kilfearagh was still sleeping. It was the time when wild creatures woke from their slumber and creatures of the night returned to their dens. It was the hour the annual dive competition took place every summer. The chatter and excitement began to fade and standing in a rowing boat at the bottom of the cliff was Triton.
“Good morning,” he said, through a handheld megaphone. “We couldn’t have hoped for better conditions, could we? Don’t worry, I won’t keep you. I’d just like to thank you all for being here at this early hour, especially those of you who’ve travelled from afar. I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing all of our contenders the best of luck.”
A roar of cheering and applause erpupted from the crowd.
Cordelia spotted Flynn and Breck walking towards her and she breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought yo
u weren’t coming,” she said, hugging Breck.
Then she turned to Flynn. “Thank you.”
“How could I stay angry with you?” said Flynn. “I should have been honest about Breck from the start. You weren’t to know you had a brother. Now that everything’s out in the open, we can move on, as a family.”
Cordelia took a step back. “He’s not my brother, we don’t share the same blood.”
“Not this nonsense again,” said Flynn, rolling his eyes. “I thought you were over this. You’ve not seen the lad for weeks.”
“Where do you think he disappears to every morning and evening? Or are you too drunk to notice?”
Breck’s eyes darted about, wary of who might be listening. “Can we talk about this later?”
“There’s nothing else to say,” said Cordelia and she pushed her way through the crowd to the diving ledge.
“There you are,” said Mazu, putting an arm around Cordelia. “We thought we’d lost you.”
Cordelia smiled but was not in the mood to speak. Thankfully her wounds had healed since she’d stopped carving her feathers out and so far, news of her wings had been kept a closely guarded secret.
“You can do this,” said Nerissa, standing beside Cordelia.
Cordelia hugged her friend, “Good luck,” she whispered.
A flurry of nervous anticipation filled the air. It was every parent’s dream for their child to place in the competition. Attending the ball put them in good stead to work directly for the King when they finished their training. Guarding Meren was considered to be a highly respected job amongst the Merfolk community and guaranteed a comfortable lifestyle for the entire family. The crowd waited on tenterhooks for Wade Bo to announce the first competitor.
“Rafe Hurley,” said Wade through the megaphone.
Rafe took his position on the diving ledge.
“Go on son! You can do it!” shouted his father from the crowd.
If ever there was an over zealous parent in the crowd, he was it. Of course, Rafe performed a perfect back dive and the crowd erupted into applause. Triton, Mazu, Morwen, Marilla and Irvin formed a judging panel on the rocks below. They raised their score boards in the air, each displaying a respectable nine.
ELEMENTS: Acquiesce Page 28
