The Kotahi Bay Quartet

by J. C. Hart

  "I don't know, Jake. Why don't I wait here while you go and get your friends, and then when I see you on the beach, I'll come up."

  "No." He pulled her toward him and gave her a kiss. "I want to show off my girl."

  She laughed and rolled her eyes. "I can't. It was so hard coming to get you, I don't think I can go so far from the sea again."

  "Are you sure about that? You said that our magic mingled, maybe you've changed too. We won't know until we try it." There was a twinkle in his eyes that made her nervous.

  "I don't know." She chewed her lip.

  "Trust me?" He raised his brow, and smirked. She rolled her eyes again but gripped his hand and moved closer to the beach before pausing, her feet sinking into the sand.

  "Are you coming?" he asked.

  She could feel the sea dragging at her dress, like Tangaroa was trying to draw her back to the water. She couldn't find the words to describe to Jake how it felt to force herself away from the sea, how it had torn at her to go upstream, how it felt like tiny particles of her were being stripped off the further she moved away from her home. How she only really felt whole when she was immersed in the waves. And now he was asking her to go where there was no water.

  "I don't know if I can do this." She glanced back at the waves, had to struggle to keep her body together.

  "Trust me," he said more forcefully this time.

  She let out a deep breath and was just about to reply when he picked her up and carried her up the beach. "Put me down!" she screamed, thumping him on the chest.

  "No, you forced me down, and I'm going to force you up. We're a team, we help each other get through."

  "Jake, you don't know what it's like!" She shut her eyes, tried to draw the sea up to wash over them, but she hadn't recovered enough power yet. She could feel his strides taking them further away from the ocean and part of her ached for it, felt like she might evaporate at any moment.

  "Open your eyes," Jake said, his voice softer, kinder than before.

  "I don't want to."

  "Don't make me do it for you." A laugh rumbled in his chest and Moana relaxed a little, his mirth infecting her.

  She opened one eye and then the other, glanced down to see that Jake was standing on the verge where the land met the sand.

  "Oh my god." She pushed herself free from his arms and fell to the ground, her hands brushing through the grass, inhaling of the scent. "Oh my... It's freshly cut." Tears streamed down her face, the blades of grass catching each droplet. How many years had it been since a shed tear had fallen from her to the ground? How long since she'd smelled the simple pleasure of newly cut grass?

  Moana pushed herself up and looked around, noticing all the other things there were to see. Of course she was familiar with this view, saw it every time she looked at the land with longing, but it was so different to be among it. To be able to touch, to smell. She ran through the grass, her legs wobbled beneath her and she stumbled and tripped, gave herself grass burn, then laughed and laughed. She was drunk on life.

  Jake dropped to the ground beside her and propped himself up on his elbow, a stupid grin plastered to his face. "So, how does it feel?"

  "Amazing," she whispered. "I can't quite believe it." She flopped over like a starfish and gazed up at the vivid blue sky, wispy white clouds floating across it. And they were the only things floating. She wasn't bobbing with the waves, but anchored to the land.

  Jake gave her a minute, then kissed her on the cheek. "Sorry to ruin your fun, but we've got things to do."

  Moana wasn't sure she was ready. It was all too new to be thinking about moving. And yet, hadn't she forced Jake to accept his change, pushed him on and expected him to adapt? It was her home being destroyed, his now too, but hers for longer, and they had to find a way to stop that man.

  "Okay." She took a deep breath and got up, brushing the grass from her dress. It had been so very many years, but some habits are so deeply ingrained. "Where to?"

  "We'll go to the shop, see if Noah’s there."

  "Who is Noah?" Her stomach fluttered with nerves. She was going to meet people, living people who she wasn't intending to offer to the sea. It terrified the hell out of her.

  "He's like my brother in law, and he's one of the guardians of the Bay. You don't need to worry, he'll want to help, it's his job."

  "I just..." She couldn't find the words to express the emotions.

  Jake gripped her hand and squeezed. "It's okay."

  Chapter Thirteen

  Nobody was at the shop, and they weren't at the house either. Jake headed around the back to Melody's caravan and banged on the wall. The door flew open and his sister jumped onto Jake, almost knocking him over in the process.

  "Wow, did you miss me or something?" he said, prying her off.

  "Where the hell have you been?" Melody punched him in the arm, then hugged him again. She looked tired but wired.

  "Out?" He frowned at her, she could be weird, but this was intense even for her. "It hasn't been that long."

  "It's been four days. Four. Days. You know shit is getting real around here, I was worried sick." Melody glared at him, then her eyes slid sideways, like she was finally realizing they weren't alone. "Who's this?" She raised an eyebrow and Jake could almost see the 'so you think you're good enough for my brother, I'll crush you if you hurt him' speech poised on Melody's lips.

  Jake reached for Moana's hand and drew her to his side. "This is Moana, my girlfriend, and totally not the reason why you haven't seen me, or why I got into it with Noah the other day."

  Melody scraped her tongue over her teeth, but she didn't bite. "We've been trying to call you. Shit's gotten really out of control, Jake. Constance isn't well. At all."

  Jake swayed, then balanced himself against the caravan. "What do you mean? I thought we had longer, we should have had longer."

  "We don't know what happened, but she's not even gone yet and the barrier is failing. It's only a matter of time before we're completely exposed and then-" Melody pressed her lips together.

  "It's okay. You can talk in front of her, she's a godchild. Like you. Melody, daughter of Tāwhirimātea, meet Moana, daughter of Tangaroa."

  "Holy shit." Melody's eyes went wide, and Jake chuckled. At least that had shut her up for a moment.

  "Look, we came for help. I know Sam will have told you I thought someone was poisoning the ocean by dumping petrol down a river, and I found it. I know where he is."

  "Are you sure it's Tū?" Melody asked.

  "It doesn't matter whether it's Tū or not. They’re poisoning the sea, killing the creatures there, doing harm to me, to my father. They must be stopped." There was a force behind her words that made Jake stand up a bit straighter. A reminder that he was in the right here, regardless of the perpetrator. They had to fix this or everyone in the Bay would suffer.

  Melody was silent as she stared into Moana's eyes, then she broke the gaze and looked at Jake. "I'll get my jacket then. We can call Noah from the car." She ducked inside, then threw the keys at Jake as she re-emerged. "You can drive."

  "Where are we going?"

  "He's with Constance. Sam's there too, and Angela, not sure who else, but probably a small army hoping to make a miracle happen." Melody slipped into the back, which meant Moana could ride up front.

  "Cars have gotten a lot nicer since I was last in one," she said quietly, glancing back to make sure Melody wasn't listening. "What else has changed?"

  "So much. You have no idea!" And neither did he, not really. The whole world was a vastly different place than it had been when she’d gone into the sea. "There'll be so many new things to experience, once we've dealt with this guy."

  "And lots of time to explore it all in, as long as I can go home between adventures. I still need the sea, I can hear it."

  "Miss it already?"

  She nodded, her gaze moving out the window toward to ocean, even though you couldn't see it from here. Jake swallowed hard, the first sliver of anxiety creep
ing up on him since emerging from the ocean. He'd been remade, but he still had no idea what that meant, or what he might become. Would he one day have to live under the waves full time? Or would they be able to find some compromise?

  "Oh no, nonononono." Melody's voice was a whisper in the back seat at the same time as a gust of wind hit the car, rocking it slightly.

  Jake's stomach clenched. "She's gone, isn't she?"

  He was answered by muffled sobs. It was a minute before she spoke again. "Just drop me off. You go and do what you need to do."

  Not only was the Bay now unprotected, but Jake and Moana were on their own.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Moana hadn't been further than ten metres from the ocean in all the time since her true father had come to claim her. She could feel it out there but it was too far for her liking and she'd been gone too long. Her skin was dry, and she couldn't seem to drink enough water to keep hydrated. She let out a strangled laugh.

  Jake’s hands gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white. He gave her a sideways glance, raising an eyebrow in question.

  "I'm homesick. Nothing is quite right out here." She slumped further into the seat.

  "We could go back to the sea if you want..."

  She could read him so easily now that they were connected by the waves. He didn't even need to look at her for her to know the subtext, to feel the way his body vibrated with the need to complete this task.

  "No, I want this. I need this. I can't take any more. I can't let anything else be harmed by this man."

  Jake was silent until he pulled the car over and switched off the engine. He turned to face her, reaching out to grasp her fingers in his. His touch was soft, but his voice firm. "How do we end this?"

  She inhaled, exhaled, unsure how he would take what she had to say. "It ends in his death. It's the only way. Jake, he has to be made to pay for his crimes." She clamped her jaw shut, feeling the goddess aspect of her pulling, ready to lay down ultimatums and set her feelings for this man aside if need be.

  "And that requires death? Blood?" Emotions flickered over his face, but then his features hardened as he came to terms with that.

  "Blood is something I can use." Please don't ask me how many times I've used it, please please please. Please don't make me say what a monster I am.

  He squeezed her hand and smiled. "Okay. I mean, if there was another way then we'd do that right?"

  "If there was any other way, Jake. Life is important, but the sea is life. My life. His sacrifice won't heal all the damage, but with your help we can start the process."

  He nodded, though she wasn't sure whether it was for her benefit or his. "Come on, let's go." He released her hand, then leaned over and kissed her, that simple gesture assuring her that they were okay. No ultimatum needed. She could have cried with relief.

  Jake led the way to the river and then upstream. He'd considered driving straight in, barreling up to the house and having it out with the guy, but the memory of their last encounter left him cold. He gripped the handle of the bat he’d brought for protection harder, against the shudder that threatened to wrack his body.

  "Are you okay?" Moana asked.

  Jake shook his head, not wanting to talk about it.

  "I saw what happened here last time, I can feel how tense you are." She grabbed his hand, pulling him to a stop. "You don't have to put up a front with me. He almost killed you." Moana reached up, her hand grazing his cheek, a sad smile playing on her lips.

  He sighed. "What are we even doing here Moana? I couldn't take this guy alone. You're weakened because you're not in your element. Come to think of it we have no idea if he's even still here. He could have packed his shit up and bailed after what he did to me."

  "He probably thought you died. Imagine his surprise when he sees you are not." Moana's grin stretched into a smirk and he could see the darker aspect of the sea in the gleam of her eyes. "It'll be like he's seen a ghost. We can use this against him. Besides, you're not alone this time. I'm with you, and together we can do this. Trust me?"

  Her eyes glinted with zest, and he couldn't help himself, he kissed her, hard, his hands tangling in her hair, drawing her closer, their breath mingling. He could feel the hum of magic across her skin where they pressed together. Kissing had never felt this good before.

  "You saved my life," he said as they drew apart. "So yeah, I trust you."

  "Let's go get him." Moana grabbed his hand. He led the way while she followed, their fingers intertwined.

  It wasn't long until he spotted the white walls of the house through a gap in the branches. He motioned for Moana to stop and then moved ahead, trying to spot any sign of life. The truck was gone, so it was safe for now.

  Moana moved up behind him, placing her hand on his waist. The feel of it reassuring. "What now?"

  "We could wait for him to come back, or we could check for signs that he's still around."

  Moana glanced at the house, then her gaze moved to the shed where Jake knew the petrol was, even now he could hear the hum of the machinery.

  "We need to know," she said. "House or shed?"

  "Shed," he replied with no hesitation. She didn't need to be near that, and if anything was still left the least he could do was make sure nothing more seeped into the river.

  "Be quick, and I'll meet you back here as soon as I've checked the house." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and then she was gone from his side.

  He watched for a moment as she moved towards the house, her body seemed to waver as though she became more insubstantial the further she got from him, but he had to trust she'd come back if it got too dangerous. She was so brave, so fierce. Not the kind of girl he normally fell for, but he couldn't imagine being with anyone else now that he'd found her.

  He made it to the shed in under a minute, and then he was inside. There was no sign of the man there, though the petrol was still churning in the pump, the motor humming, pushing it down through the pipe that fed into the river. He moved to the switch and pulled the plug, watching as the engine stuttered and died.

  It was eerily quiet without the sound, but it didn't seem like enough. It was simple to plug the thing back in; he needed to make sure it never started again.

  Jake looked around, found a greasy toolbox in the corner and flopped it open. A screwdriver was a good place to start. He poked and prodded at the machine, pulling bits out and hoping it made a difference. He went back to the toolbox, his eyes falling on a box of matches. He grinned, then frowned. He couldn't just explode the place because it might warn the guy off, and they still had to get to the bottom of this.

  Fuck.

  Then he heard the rattle of a truck along the gravel track. His heart froze but he rushed to the window, ducking low so he could peer over the sill.

  Fuck fuck fuck. It was him. And he was heading for the house.

  Moana.

  It took all his willpower to wait until the man had stepped into the house before charging up the small slope after him. He gripped the bat, ready for it this time.

  When he pushed open the door it was like time had frozen. The man stood transfixed, his gaze locked on Moana. Her shape wavered like she might be a mirage, and a glow emanated from within, like phosphorescent coral shining inside her.

  Jake hefted his bat, swinging hard. The movement must have caught the man’s attention though because he turned, and the blow went wide. The weight of his swing pulled him forward and Jake stumbled before catching himself on the bench.

  "You. You should be dead." The man's voice was quiet, his words hollow, eyes wide. He spun on his heel, grabbing Moana, then pulled a knife holding it close to her neck. "Don't fucking move. I don't know what the hell you want, but you can't have it. I'll kill you twice if I have to. But I’ll kill her first." His hand shook, and Jake could see the fear in his eyes.

  Jake looked at Moana. She was impassive, letting everything wash over her. He knew that she wasn’t really in danger, but that didn’
t stop him from wanting to protect her. “Let her go. Now.”

  “Drop your bat and we’ll talk.”

  "Enough," Moana said. Her eyes had gone black as the depths of the ocean, her goddess form more vivid than he'd ever seen it and the temperature plummeted, the chill of the Arctic sea permeating the room.

  "Moana..." Jake said. He stepped forward but she shook her head.

  "No Jake, I have to do this. It has to be done.” She dissolved into a rush of water and then she was out the door, carrying the man with her, down the slope, and into the river beyond.

  Jake ran after them, stopping at the edge of the river and watching as the flood of water moved away.

  "Moana!"

  Come home, to the sea.

  It wasn't Moana talking to him, which meant it was Tangaroa.

  "Show me how. I don't know!" Jake threw his hands in the air, but that wasn't going to do him any good. When there was no response he knew he had to make the first move. He stepped off the edge, plummeting into the deepest part of the river and let the sea take him.

  Chapter Fifteen

  She could feel it, the moment his body merged with the water, and then he was right there, racing towards the ocean. Pure joy flooded her body, because this was so much better with someone beside her. She could feel pieces of her humanity returning, which made what they were about to do gnaw at her. Would it strip Jake's beautiful humanity to be part of her world? Would he ever look at her the same after? She couldn't think about that now because the sea needed her and what she could do.

  They held the man between them. A bubble of air encased his head so he wouldn't die before his time, but the rest of his body had been battered by the rocks along the river. The tang of his blood was making her attention waver and she pushed harder, not wanting to waste any.

  They burst into the sea and she pushed down, down, down, beneath the waves to the place where her dead rested. Jake hadn't seen it before but she couldn't worry about that now, they had bigger things to attend to.