Sea of Memories

by Kelly Risser

  THIS book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  NO part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  Sea of Memories

  Copyright ©2015 Kelly Risser

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-1-63422-155-9

  Cover Design by: Marya Heiman

  Typography by: Courtney Nuckels

  Editing by: Cynthia Shepp

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  To John, thank you for being my happily-ever-after.

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  Struck in the Club

  What Will Be

  A Rock and a Hard Place

  Something Blue

  About the Author

  Acknowledgements

  We arrived on a stretch of deserted shoreline. Under the glow of starlight, it was easy to transform from our seal form to our human one. As Selkies, this ability allowed us to blend in. My seal skin became a suede anklet, and Kieran’s, my boyfriend, became a leather baseball cap. We guarded our skins closely and kept them with us at all times. Without them, we would lose our magic and the ability to transform. In essence, we’d become fully human. I was completely human once, or so I thought. It was highly overrated. Being a Selkie was much cooler.

  Normally, Kieran rolled his cap and stuck it in his back pocket. Tonight, he pulled it low, covering his eyes. I knew what I’d see if I looked into them, bloodshot whites with dark circles underneath. He was exhausted, and who could blame him? He swam from his family home near California to Scotland to get me, and then we swam together to Nova Scotia. Traveling the globe with no rest in between was too much for anyone, even a magical being. Knowing him, though, he would never admit how tired he was, so I didn’t ask.

  While changing forms, I envisioned myself in jeans, a T-shirt layered with a hoodie, and a jacket, adding warm socks, running shoes, and gloves. It was almost winter, and the air held the bite of pending snow. The ability to produce clothing with only my imagination was one of the coolest magical abilities I had. It was something that not all Selkies could do since it drained on one’s energy level and required more skill than most possessed. But we had been training the Selkies in our clan, helping them to refine their magic, and they were learning.

  Kieran had no problems visualizing clothes either. Right now, he was also wearing a hoodie and jeans, but no coat. His blood ran warmer than mine did. At any rate, we were lucky we had the ability to create clothes out of thin air. It meant we didn’t have to worry about being caught in embarrassing situations as naked humans. Not to mention, it was a fashionista’s dream. I was no fashionista, but I still had fun creating new outfits to wear.

  “Now what?” My voice wavered and gave away my churning emotions. Arriving here brought back memories of my mom. Although Nova Scotia was still thirty minutes from Peggy’s Cove where I had lived with my grandparents and where Mom had died, it was close enough to fill me with memories and sadness. I missed her so much.

  In Scotland, I was far enough away from the memories, immersed in the chaos of a war between the Selkies and the Blue Men of the Minch. I didn’t have time to sit around and think. Returning to Nova Scotia brought all those memories of Mom back, along with my grief. I choked back a sob.

  “Come here.” Kieran pulled me into his arms and held me tight. His warmth and scent embraced me. “It’s okay to miss her, Meara.”

  I leaned into him and let the tears fall. He made soothing noises and smoothed my hair. By the time I was done sniffling through the occasional hiccup, he conjured a box of tissues and handed it to me. Magic certainly came in handy.

  I cleaned myself up as best I could. My eyes would remain red and puffy for several hours. That always happened to me when I cried. As I shoved a handful of damp tissues into my pocket, I laughed. “I’m a mess. What will my grandparents think when they see me? They’ll assume I’ve been miserable living with my dad.”

  In actuality, although a war with another species was not what I imagined, living with my dad and meeting my aunts and uncles had been awesome. I felt like I had a real family now. It was no critique to Mom’s memory. She’d done the best she could raising me by herself in Wisconsin until she got sick and we moved to Peggy’s Cove. Sometimes, though, living with Mom had been lonely. When we had occasionally fought about school, boys, or curfew and hadn’t talked for days—that had been the worst. In Ronac, the name of my dad’s home, I still had my Uncle Paddy, Aunt Brigid, and all the other Selkies who weren’t family, but were close enough to it. I missed my great uncle, Angus, who died in the battle, and my aunt and close friend, Ula. She wasn’t dead, but she no longer lived with us. I was happy I could still see her, but it wasn’t the same.

  While I was lost in my thoughts, Kieran pulled me into his arms again. “You’re beautiful.”

  “With my puffy eyes and runny nose? I don’t believe it.” I made a face at him. “Besides, you’re my boyfriend. You have to say that.”

  “Well, you are, whether you believe it or not.” He stepped back but wrapped his arm around my shoulder, leading me away from the shore. “And we have time for you to collect yourself. We’re not going to your grandparents’ house tonight. We both need sleep.”

  I was curious why he led me to Halifax instead of Peggy’s Cove. I recognized the well-lit skyline when we neared the shore. Peggy’s Cove would’ve been dark at this hour, with the exception of the lighthouse. After all, it didn’t consist of much more than fishing boats and the sturdy, weatherworn homes the locals lived in.

  “Where are we staying?” I asked. “Did you get a hotel?” If he reserved a room, I hope he had cash. I sure didn’t.

  “You’ll see,” Kieran said mysteriously.

  In our tired state, we walked in comfortable silence. Before long, the streets began to look familiar. We were near the college campus. Was he taking me to see Evan? No, Kieran would never plan to stay at my ex-boyfriend’s place. Not that Kieran had any reason to be jealous. I loved Evan like a sibling, and he felt the same about me.

  We arrived at a small, neat flat, and Kieran knocked on the door. When Evan answered with his girlfriend, Deanna, behind him, my jaw hit the floor. Kieran managed to be full of surprises.

  “Welcome,” Evan said and stepped back so we could enter. Kieran shook his hand—another surprise—and hugged Deanna. I slowly approached Evan, noting the changes in him. It had been a little over a month since I last saw him, but it felt like ages ago. He looked good, albeit different from the boy I fell in love with. In his efforts to save my home and the Selkies, he was caught in a magical battle. It drained him of his powers and left him with white hair and silver eyes. He dyed his hair a dark brown not unlike his former color, but his eyes remained silver. The effect was stunning. It gave him a slightly otherworldly look without making him appear too inhuman. At an
y rate, he was completely human now; all the Blue Men essence was gone.

  His eyes sparkled as he studied me. Meeting me halfway on the stairs, he pulled me into a bear hug. I squeezed him back. He would always be like a brother to me, and I missed him. When he stepped back, he lifted my chin. “You’ve been crying. Are you okay?”

  “Too many memories of Mom here.” I didn’t need to say more. Evan understood. He was with me through Mom’s battle with cancer and her eventual defeat. I stepped past him and hugged Deanna. “I like the blonde curls.”

  “Thanks.”

  Deanna was a Siren, and her normal coloring—skin, hair, and eyes—was celery green. To disguise herself for college, she ditched the pale green for peaches and cream skin, and changed her hair to blonde. Her eyes were the same light green, and they only made her more attractive.

  Evan closed the door behind us, shutting out the chilly night air. The apartment was warm, and several lit candles made it cozy. The room smelled both sweet and spicy. The furniture was sparse, but clean. It was obvious they had made it a home.

  “You’re probably ready to collapse from exhaustion.” Evan gave us a sympathetic look.

  “It was a long swim,” Kieran said from the couch. His eyes were half closed.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” Deanna offered. “Coke, beer, or iced tea?”

  “I’ll take a Coke,” I said.

  “Beer,” Kieran said. “Thanks.”

  I sat next to Kieran, and he put his arm around me. Evan sat on the other side of me and took a sip from his half-empty beer. “How are things in Ronac?”

  “Okay.” I shrugged. “Everyone still seems to be in a state of shock. Dad’s getting things back in order though.” I smirked. “Aunt Brigid has a boyfriend.”

  “Really?” Evan seemed amused.

  “Meara thinks so,” Kieran interjected, his eyes still partly closed. “We’ve yet to actually find proof.”

  “I saw her with someone!”

  “Wishful thinking,” Kieran said and clucked his tongue. “We’d all like to see frigid Brigid paired off.”

  “Kieran!” I slapped his arm but laughed. “If she ever heard you say that, you’d be dead.”

  He opened his eyes and grinned at me. “Which is exactly why I’m only saying it here, across the pond. I’m not dumb.”

  Deanna returned with our drinks and sat on the floor by Evan, leaning her head against his knee. They seemed happy together. We talked for a while and played a few rounds of cards. Before long, Kieran and I were yawning almost non-stop.

  “I’ll show you where you’re sleeping,” Deanna said. “You’ll be staying in my room tonight, so don’t mind the feminine décor. We don’t use it, but Evan’s parents seem happier knowing we have separate rooms.”

  I laughed at her honesty. All parents preferred to think of their kids as innocent. I know my dad did.

  The room was small with a double bed. Kieran immediately collapsed across the mattress, his feet hanging off the edge. Looking worried, Deanna frowned at him before turning to me. “The bathroom is across the hall. It’s the only one, so we’ll need to take turns.”

  “Thanks, Deanna. We really appreciate it.”

  “My pleasure.” She left, closing the door behind her.

  Calling on my magic, I visualized cotton shorts and a tank top, pulling back the blanket on my side of the bed. With a groan, Kieran stood, yanked down the blanket, made all but his boxer shorts disappear (which was an interesting act to witness), and crawled back in, staying on his half this time. When I lay down, he pulled me back against his warm chest and kissed my ear.

  “Finally alone,” he said. “And I can think of nothing but sleep.”

  “It’s okay,” I said. “I’m not offended. I need sleep, too.”

  His arm squeezed me tight before relaxing again. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  ****

  When I woke, Kieran was already out of bed. This didn’t surprise me. He was an early riser. I needed to use the bathroom, but the shower was running. Probably Kieran.

  Rather than return to bed, I headed to the kitchen where I found Deanna cooking and Evan instructing. Her face lit up when she saw me. “Good morning, Meara. Evan is teaching me how to make breakfast.” She pointed to the skillet in front of her, where several pancakes were cooking, their tops a beautiful, caramel brown. “In my home, meals were always prepared for us. This is fun!”

  “That’s great,” I said. The food smelled delicious. “Can I help?”

  “No, you’re a guest. Help yourself to coffee.” She pointed to the coffee pot, frowned, and glanced first at Evan and then back at me. “Oh! But you don’t like coffee.”

  “Evan’s been telling you my secrets,” I teased. Behind her, Evan winked at me. “I’m fine with water or juice.”

  “No Diet Coke?” he asked in surprise.

  I made a face. “No thanks. I’ve cut way back. Selkie life has mostly broken my bad habits.”

  “Not all of them,” Kieran said, entering the kitchen. His light blond hair was damp. He wore a fitted, green T-shirt and dark denim. At least he only went shirtless around me. I didn’t need to catch Deanna ogling his muscles. It was obvious she appreciated his clothed form.

  When he didn’t expand on his comment, I asked, “Care to give an example?”

  “Uh… we don’t need one,” Evan said.

  At the same time, Kieran said, “Chocolate.”

  An awkward second passed before Deanna said, “Ooo… chocolate. Good one.”

  “I know, right?” I smiled at her before giving Kieran a superior look. “And you’re wrong. Chocolate is not a bad habit. It’s a necessity.”

  Both guys snorted, but Deanna said, “I agree with Meara, which reminds me. We have hot chocolate. Would you like some?”

  “Sounds great.” I loved hot chocolate.

  She opened the cabinet and took out four mugs. “I’ll have one, too. Coffee, boys?”

  While the men got their caffeine fix, and Deanna boiled the water for our drinks, I stepped out of the room to freshen up. I showered and dressed quickly. This time, I visualized a light blue sweater and dark jeans. When I returned to the kitchen, everyone was seated and filling their plates. I sat next to Kieran, taking a tentative sip from the Star Wars mug in front of me. Mmm… rich and chocolatey.

  “Your mug?” I asked Evan, holding it up.

  “How’d you guess?” he asked with a lopsided grin. He could be such a geek.

  We ate all the food Deanna prepared. It had been months since I ate bacon. I managed to stop at four pieces, but it required serious willpower. The pancakes were slightly chewy, but with butter and syrup, they tasted fine. Of course, I told Deanna everything was delicious and thanked her for making it.

  “I know you’re leaving today,” Evan said. “What are your plans?”

  “We’ll rent a car,” Kieran said. “Drive to Peggy’s Cove and spend a few days with Meara’s grandparents.”

  “Have you met them yet?” Evan asked.

  “No,” Kieran said. Evan made a concerned face, twisting his lips comically, and Kieran glanced between us. “Should I be worried?”

  I narrowed my eyes at Evan, wishing we could still communicate telepathically, so I could tell him to knock it off. I knew what he was thinking. My grandfather, Jamie, came across as intimidating when people first met him. “No,” I said and squeezed Kieran’s hand. “It’ll be fine. After that, we’re going to California where Kieran’s family lives.”

  “Do you have money to travel?” Evan asked. “I can loan you some.”

  “Thank you, but that’s not necessary,” Kieran said. “I have access to funds.”

  Huh. That was news to me. We hadn’t discussed how we would pay for anything. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it.

  “We have one more stop before we leave for Peggy’s Cove,” Kieran said and paused to look at me. I couldn’t read the expression in his dark eyes, but
he took my hand in his and held it before asking Evan, “Do you know of a jeweler? I must buy Meara a ring.”

  My jaw dropped, and Evan spluttered his coffee. Deanna and Kieran looked between us in confusion. Finally, Kieran asked, “Is it not customary to buy your betrothed a ring?”

  Evan stared at me. “You’re engaged?”

  I didn’t know how to respond. Before we left Ronac, Kieran shared his intentions of making me his mate, which was the Selkie equivalent of a spouse. I hadn’t realized how serious he was or how quickly he planned to do it.

  “Not yet.” Kieran’s voice was calm, but he sounded hurt, like he was upset I didn’t immediately answer Evan. His eyes filled with intent, and he added, “But soon.”

  The tension was rolling off Kieran in waves, and Evan must’ve felt it. He sat back and gave me a questioning look. I smiled to show how happy I was with the news. After the initial shock wore off, I was thrilled. I loved Kieran and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.

  Once again, Deanna broke the tension. With a glare at Evan, she turned and smiled at us. “This is great news. Congratulations!”

  Coming around the table, she hugged me first, and then Kieran. By that time, Evan broke out of his funk and grinned, offering Kieran his hand. “Congratulations. I wish you the best.”

  “Thanks, man,” Kieran said. He relaxed, and the tension in the room dropped considerably.

  Deanna and I washed the dishes while Kieran and Evan went to search online for jewelers. A million butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I tried to concentrate on Deanna telling me about the classes she registered for, but all I could think was Kieran’s going to ask me to marry him. My grandparents would freak out and assume the worst. I was too young, so I must be pregnant. I could see the inquisition now and my response, “We’re in love, and no, I’m not pregnant.”

  “Meara?”

  “What?” I blushed, realizing I hadn’t heard a word Deanna said.