The Onyx Talisman

by Unknown

“Well…,” she said with a sigh, a glint of worry reflected in her eyes, “you just don’t know them.”

  The childhood flashback of her dad’s angry face shimmered across my vision. I gulped down my hesitation. She needed me to be strong for her when she finally told them.

  With a deep breath and as much compassion as I could muster, I looked her in the eye. “How could they not be proud of you? Sure, they’ll have to find someone to take your place in the office, but that’s nothing. And you can’t pass up a scholarship—”

  “It’s not that. It’s other things.”

  My stomach clenched. Now seemed like an opportune time to finally discuss what I saw so many years ago. Her dad had a serious problem. In fact, keeping the family secret to herself wasn’t healthy, constantly living vicariously through my warped interpretations of other teens.

  I’d just about broached the subject when Tatchi suddenly gasped.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked and glanced over to where she looked, afraid her father might be storming down the beach towards us. Instead, a red Jeep rolled over the ridge and down the rocky path that separated our neighborhoods.

  She tsked. “What does he want?”

  My mouth parched as I caught a glimpse of Tatchi’s twin brother through his windshield. He wore his usual black baseball hat, and looked nothing short of adorable.

  “He’s coming here?” My voice cracked.

  “Apparently.” She pressed her brows together and looked toward her house. “Let me find out what he wants.”

  Fin parked and got out before she could intercept him.

  “Hey, Ash,” he called out with a wave.

  My stomach flipped into a knot as I smiled and waved back.

  They argued for a minute, but I didn’t catch what about. I stood, trying not to gawk, as I shamelessly adored his broad shoulders and beautiful blonde hair. Under the bill would be his piercing blue eyes fringed with paintbrush lashes—the ones that always melted my knees.

  My crush started years ago, right after we’d met when we were ten—right on this beach. With a deep breath, I tried to relax and not dream of a relationship that probably wouldn’t be. As far as I knew, he didn’t think much of me beyond meaningless flirting.

  Tatchi threw her hands in the air and stormed back in my direction.

  “Drama on the home front. I have to go,” she mumbled as she snagged her blanket off the sand. “Sorry.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  Fin watched us, which made me even more nervous.

  “Yeah, it should be fine. I’ll try to call later.” She smiled and gave me a hug. But more of a “I’m leaving for a trip and saying goodbye” tighter kind of hug. I grimaced, unsure what to say.

  She left with a sigh and headed toward their house, brushing past Fin without even a look. Once she was out of view, Fin turned and instead of going back to his Jeep, he walked towards me. My pulse quickened.

  2

  FIN

  Ashlyn stood awkwardly as I approached. Her curvy hips and wavy red hair took my breath away. For a moment, I caught her scent and hummed—honeysuckle with just a hint of chlorine from her morning swim. Briefly, I imagined us playing in the water. She’d give me a run for my money in a race.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  Her green eyes darted away. “Not much.”

  “Sorry I interrupted—” I pointed towards the imprint of my sister’s towel in the sand.

  “Oh,” she said with a gulp and a smile. “It’s okay.”

  She pressed her lips together and suddenly all I wanted to do was kiss her right then and there. I took a deep breath and glanced at my feet.

  “Is school going good?” I asked, kicking a rock.

  “Yeah.” She shrugged and then shot me that look—one with a hint of yearning behind it. I couldn’t help myself. I stepped forward and cupped her cheek. Her skin was soft as a rose petal, but within her startled eyes I caught my reflection—my very selfish expression.

  Her whole life flashed before me. This kiss I desired to give her would change everything—her dreams, her life with her family, her future. Innocent and trusting, she closed her eyes and tilted her chin upward in anticipation anyway. My soul protested, but I did the only thing I could—the responsible thing.

  “You’ve got something on your cheek,” I said, wiping my thumb over her skin.

  She opened her eyes and pulled away, her cheeks reddening. “I do?”

  I stepped back and grimaced at myself. I was being one of those guys, the jerk who led girls on and toyed with their emotions.

  “I’m going to go,” she said, rubbing her hand where I’d touched, and faked a smile. “See ya later.”

  She quickly stumbled up the path towards her Grandmother’s house before I could comment, but I heard what she said under her breath. “I’m so stupid.”

  I sulked back to the Jeep and slammed the door, hating myself for being such an ass. The only reason I’d come in the first place was to tell Tatch about the meeting we had to attend, not get distracted by Ashlyn’s captivating beauty. And I’d made a complete mess of things.

  I spun out of the spot, and drove the small distance back to our house.

  When I went inside, I spotted Mom in the kitchen, eyes wild with frustration, her waterproof bag and random stuff spread out over the countertop.

  “Where have you been?” she barked, hands on her hips.

  “Sorry.” I lowered my head.

  Mom’s right eye twitched, as if she couldn’t decide whether to yell at me or just move on with things. I noticed she had changed into her most ornate, beaded bikini top and skirt—obviously for the meeting.

  I casually took a seat on the bar stool.

  “We’ve still got time.” I gestured toward the bay windows. The sun still peaked above the horizon.

  “Close enough. Your father has already left to meet with everyone. I guess you look okay. Just put on whatever you’re going to wear to the hatch.” She grabbed Great-Grandmother Sadie’s sacred shell-encrusted bikini top. “Tatiana!”

  Tatch came around the corner, taking a second to sneer at me. “What?”

  “I want you to wear this.”

  Tatch cringed. “What’s wrong with this bikini top?”

  “It’s a special meeting. I want you to look your best.”

  “But that’s for like… a promising or something.” Her face wrinkled up in horror.

  Could this be a trick and not a standard meeting? Promisings in our world were the equivalent of weddings but prearranged between parents. Our parents, who fell in love before getting promised, didn’t think the arranged unions were fair. They said, when the time came, we could make up our own minds. At least that’s what I thought they’d said.

  Tatiana blanched. “Oh, dear Poseidon. Please don’t tell me you have arranged someone for me to—? Is it Azor?”

  Mom chuckled. “Of course not. It’s just an important meeting and I want us to look our best. Please, for me?”

  Tatch groaned and grabbed the overly ornate thing from Mom’s clutches and marched toward the bathroom, mumbling threats. I let go of the breath I didn’t realize I’d held and darted into my room as well. Off came the jeans in a rumpled heap along with my shirt. I put on my tear-away board shorts and my waterproof sling pack over my shoulder—anything to stay on Mom’s good side.

  We reconvened in the living room at the same time and gave each other a fast once-over.

  “Happy?” Tatch twirled in a circle, but I avoided looking at her chest.

  “Beautiful.” Mom’s shoulders relaxed until she looked down at the lower half of her body. Tatch still wore her skinny jeans. “Are you planning to wear those?”

  “No.” Tatch rolled her eyes. “Sea serpents! Of course I’m going to change.”

  She stormed off and Mom resumed pulling cans of food from the pantry. Why would we need food when we were coming right back? Would we be staying the night?

  “What’s the meeting ab
out, Mom?” Tatiana asked, walking back wearing her swim skirt.

  Mom kept a straight face as she took dry goods out of the cupboards: flour, sugar, coffee, noodles, and beans. “We’ll find out in a few minutes, but just in case, why don’t you pack a few of your things.”

  “Are you serious?” Tatiana gasped. “Can I at least make a phone call before we go?”

  Mom turned and tilted her head. “Who do you want to call?”

  Tatch’s eyes made their way to the linoleum. “Ash.”

  A jolt hit my stomach at the mention of her name.

  Mom used her low lecture voice. “I’m not sure how long we’ll be gone. What will you tell her this time? There’s a family emergency? We’ve had a death?” She shook her head and tsked. Close human friendships were discouraged due to the risk of exposure and Tatch hid how much time they’d spent together, as well as her secret plans for college. “We have to leave in five minutes.”

  Tatch huffed and stamped her foot. But I already knew we were running out of time. Under my skin, scales began to form and ached for the refreshing cool water to relieve the growing itch.

  But if we weren’t returning for a while, then someone else would be assigned to guard the gate. Last time, the privilege became my Uncle Alaster’s and his son Colin while we were in Fiji on vacation. Colin, who was our age, broke the lock on my closet and used all of my stuff. I couldn’t let that happen again.

  I ran to my room and put my belongings into the new secret hiding spot under the wooden floorboards: my laptop, iPod, all my shoes, and keys to the Jeep. I pushed my bed over so a leg secured the loose board in place. The rest of my clothes and underwear, I packed in a duffle bag and slid it into the attic. I shivered at the thought of him wearing my boxers again.

  “Hey, Tatch. Will you lock this in your room?” I called across the hall, showing her my guitar.

  “Yeah, whatever.”

  She was scrambling around, hiding stuff too. Luckily, my cousin never touched her room, but we could never be too careful.

  “Fin,” Tatch whispered. “Sweet talk Mom for me, will ya? Get her to let me stay.”

  “We have to go. Azor said.”

  “What?!” Tatch stood, wide-eyed and frantic. “He’s going to be there, too? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  I shifted my weight from side to side, angry with myself for telling her accidentally. Azor, the King’s son, made no secret of his desires for Tatch, but she couldn’t stand him.

  She shoved me aside and clutched her pink sparkly bag under her arm as she headed down the hall, her top jangling with each step. I half listened as she complained to Mom, begging to use the phone again.

  I returned to my room, did one last sweep to make sure I’d hidden everything important, and grabbed a few extra board shorts for the road.

  “Let’s go, Fin!” Mom called from down the hall.

  “Okay.” I closed my door and paused, hoping this wasn’t the last time I’d cross the threshold.

  Mom saw me and sighed, frustrated with Tatchi’s reaction—no doubt. I picked up the bag at her feet with little effort and offered my arm as we walked down the steps. She squeezed my hand to console me, but I remained positive things would work the way I’d envisioned.

  Together, we walked across the bridge that stretched over the pool in our basement. On the other side was the metal hatch attached to the floor, leading out to the lake. Tatiana had already left, her pink bag resting on the cement ledge. With a shake of her head, Mom shoved it in with the rest of our things, sealed the bag, and dropped it down the hole. We watched it sink out of sight—the collection of our lives in one small bag.

  “Don’t be long,” Mom said, and slipped into the water.

  I frowned as I looked around at our huge recreational center, with the large TV suspended in the corner, swim-up bar with anything you wanted to drink hooked up to taps and swim mats to lounge on. Most likely, Colin and Uncle Alaster would soon be here, enjoying our stuff and having the time of their lives without having earned it. I wanted to punch something.

  With two claps the lights shut off, leaving me in complete darkness. I ripped off my board shorts and plunged my body into the icy water. With an ache the muscles in my legs fused together and scales burst across my skin from my toes up to my waist. A wicked, black fin spread out where my feet used to be. I was sleek, fast, and dangerous—like a shark ready to hunt. I shot down the passageway and came out into the lake on the other side.

  Riddled with guilt, I went back up to the lake’s surface a hundred feet off shore. I looked towards Ash’s house, already missing her. What was wrong with me? How could I let things go that far? I felt wretched for hurting her and vowed to never do it again. Feelings aside, I had to remind myself of the consequences and stay away from her. For her sake.

  In the window, a silhouette of someone appeared. Was it Ash? I wanted to apologize in person and confess the truth about who we really were. If only . . .

  “Sorry,” I said right before diving down into the frigid lake.

  I tucked my shorts in my sling pack and swam towards my family who waited a few feet underwater in the distance. When the sun returned, along with my legs, I’d need something to cover myself with so I wasn’t walking around in the nude.

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