She gazes off into the distance, her mind in another world. “I wish I could have revealed the truth to them. They’re missing out on so much. You should’ve seen this other shoal I went to. They had a boat that transported the merfolk to and from the land five times a day! All I could think of was how fascinated you would be if you knew how many merfolk were living like humans.”
I sit up, the thrill of discovery reigniting my enthusiasm. “Really? That’s incredible, Coral! Do you think I could ever meet any of them?”
“I don’t see why not. They interact with humans all the time.”
“But they don’t reveal their true nature. Would they trust me if they knew I knew their secret?”
“I’d tell them, Liam. I’d tell them how good you are.” She snuggles up next to me again, and I lower us back down to the bed.
I’m not sure they’d take her word for it, but maybe I could find a way to convince them I mean no harm. My brain starts firing at the thought of studying them. Coral rubs a hand over her bandage for a moment, and suddenly a thought pops up and demands my attention.
“Coral, what do merfolk do for medical care? Do they have doctors?”
She shakes her head, frowning. “My shoal doesn’t. We just make do with what we have. I’m not sure about the shoals that interact with humans. Maybe they go to human doctors.”
“I doubt it. It’s too risky. While your blood could pass for human under casual inspection, I’m sure an x-ray or scan of any kind would show some abnormalities. Maybe I could help them in exchange for the chance to study them!”
My body crackles with electricity, every synapse flickering to life. The enthusiasm I once had for marine biology, dulled since the loss of Coral, explodes inside me again. This is what I’ve always wanted! “Do you think they would consider it?”
Coral smiles at me, her face beaming with pride. “If you could take care of them like you took care of me, I’m sure they would, Liam.”
“I could get a doctorate in veterinary medicine and open a practice that caters just to merfolk!” My mind takes off in a thousand directions, imagining what it would be like. Coral chuckles and pats my chest like she can feel the excitement vibrating off of me.
I let my brain fantasize for a while, and the next time I look over at her, she’s asleep. I take advantage of the opportunity to stare at her, admiring her beauty, her goodness, how amazing she is. She’s a priceless jewel, more valuable than all the gold hidden in the ocean. I can’t believe we found her.
Chapter 14
Coral
I stare out at the deceptively placid water as the guys ready the boat to return to the harbor. Just like the sea, my calm exterior belies the tumult inside.
“I want to go back to the island.” My words make everyone stop what they’re doing and stare at me.
Gio winces. “Coral, Liam and Bella have school, and Avery has work. We need to get home.”
“Just for one more night before we go back. Please?” I glance from one guy to the next, pleading with my eyes. I don’t ask for much, I try not too be any more of a hassle than I already am, but I need this, and I want it bad enough to beg.
We’ve collected all the treasure we could find from the shipwreck, so there’s nothing else for the guys to do but head home, back to their disparate lives. As much as I want them to do what makes them happy, my fins shrivel at the thought of being separated from any of them again. I need one more night together. Maybe rekindling the magic we had on the island will remind them how good it is when we’re all together.
Gio stops cleaning the dive gear and tilts his head at me. “Why do you want to go back there, Princess? There’s nothing there.”
“Because I miss it.”
Liam looks up from the pile of gold he’s stacking. “Miss what? It was a struggle to find food, water, shelter. What could you possibly miss about that place?”
“I miss all of us being together. I miss sitting around the campfire, telling stories while we cook our fish. I miss sleeping together on the life raft. When we get back home, everyone will want to go their separate ways again. This is our last night to be together.”
The memories must get to them, too, because they all get quiet for a long moment, and I can see scenes from our time on the island flashing through their minds.
Gio looks around at them. “Whaddaya say, guys? Does anybody mind?”
“I’d like to see the island,” Bella interjects, and we all whip our heads towards her like we’ve forgotten she was on board. Having her there will change the dynamic, but I still want to go.
“Okay, let’s do it,” Gio says when everyone nods in agreement.
The rest of us finish putting away the scuba gear and the treasure while Gio navigates the boat towards the island. When we get close enough to see the shore, memories of this view rush back at me in waves — images of standing on James’ dingy while he took Gio and me to his boat, coming back to the island after taking Gio to the hospital and the thrill of seeing the others waiting for us on the shore. And, although it’s dry and sunny now, I even get flashes of that stormy night I pulled the guys from their sinking boat and dragged them to shore. There are so many scary memories, but so many good ones, too.
Gio anchors the ship a little ways away from the shore and drops the dingy. One by one, we climb down the ladder and into the tiny boat. At my insistence, we haven’t brought anything with us. I want it to be exactly like it was when we were here before.
Gio runs the dingy up to the shore, and everyone climbs out. I stand with one foot balanced on the edge of the boat and the other on the bench, preparing to jump so I don’t have to get my feet wet. I didn’t wear shoes because I wanted everything to be just like it was before. Avery sees what I’m doing and grabs me, scooping me up into his arms and carrying me to the dry land. I put my head on his shoulder for a moment, enjoying the closeness.
The first thing I notice is the gentle, rushing sound of the surf, the soothing rhythm that provided the background music to every memory. The sand is warm, dry, and rough on my softened feet, just like it was that first day. I cringe at the memory of how bad my feet hurt after hiking across the island, looking for humans, but then I remember Gio tying leaves around my feet as makeshift shoes.
“Let’s go see if our shelter is still standing.” Gio heads off towards the tree line. Avery sets me down, and we all follow Gio.
“Looks almost the same as the day we left it. How ‘bout that?” He shakes one of the thick, bamboo logs. Their bright green husks have turned a golden brown. Underneath, the life raft is still tethered in place, the bright yellow plastic grimy but still inflated, although it looks a little less full than before.
“Of course. We built it right. The roof is deteriorated, but hopefully we’ll be okay for one night.” Liam examines the palm leaves lashed across the logs.
“You guys built this? How long did it take you?” Bella stares at the impressive structure.
“They did it in less than a day. I think they were competing to prove who was the strongest.” I pat Jude and Gio on the arm, grinning as images of their glistening, flexing muscles flash across my vision. I almost groan when I remember washing down their sweaty bodies with cool water.
Avery’s eyes twinkle with the same memory. He picks up one of the bamboo containers we left behind and waves it. “We should go to the stream and get some water.”
We head off into the trees like we’ve done a hundred times, the path we wore still visible. We tromp through the foliage, pushing aside the greenery that has grown in our way. The day’s remaining sunlight filters through the canopy of fronds, shining sparkles of light on us, but the large, green leaves overhead keep us cool and protect us from the sun. As hard as this trek was the first time we made it, now it’s a pleasant jaunt.
“How much farther is it?” Bella whines, throwing her arms up to catch herself as she trips on a rock. I guess she’s not enjoying the nature walk as much as I am.
“Ooo
h, are you okay?” Gio rushes over to help her up.
Bella grits her teeth and grabs onto Gio’s arm, pulling herself off the ground. “Yeah, just twisted my ankle. I’ll be fine.”
“We’re almost there. Can you hear the water?” Gio cups his hand beside his ear and turns his head to listen to the soft tinkling and gurgling of running water. When we hear it, we all take off like we did the first time, everyone except for Bella. She gawks at us for a moment before hurrying to catch up with us, a new limp in her step.
Jude splashes into the water, flopping onto his back. I peel off my clothes and dash in after him, throwing myself on top of him right as his body is coming back up, eager to play.
“Omphh!” He grunts and wraps his arms around me. We roll back and forth in the water, laughing then kissing playfully.
Avery sits on a rock and dangles his feet in the water, watching us with a smile, his golden hair and skin shimmering in the light reflected off the water. He makes the scenery even more beautiful, but I wish he’d come join us. He seems content, though, so I don’t say anything.
Meanwhile, Liam squats down and dips the bamboo containers in the stream, filling them with cool, fresh water.
Gio pulls off his shirt, revealing the tattoos on his bronze skin and the three scars from his appendectomy. He wades in and dunks his head in the water then rubs his hands over his wet face and slicks back his hair. “Come on in, Bella. The water’s fine.”
She wrinkles her nose and slides her hands in the back pocket of her black jeans, her thin arms sticking out of her black tee shirt like wings. “I’m good.”
“You sure? You look kind of warm in that outfit.”
Bella winces but shakes her head. “I don’t want to get my clothes wet.”
Avery waves her over. “At least stick your feet in. It feels really good. The cold water will make your ankle feel better, too.”
Bella contemplates for a moment before joining him on the rock with a shy smile. Avery chats with her, bumping shoulders and asking her about school, her friends, and her foster family. Avery is just trying to be friendly, but Bella takes it differently, and soon she’s tossing her hair and pushing out her breasts. I frown at them, but they aren’t paying me any attention.
Gio notices, though, and climbs out of the water. “We should get back before it gets dark.”
Jude and I get out, and Jude wrings out his wet clothes while I slip my dry ones back on. Avery and Bella put their shoes back on, and we start heading back. We only go a short distance, though, before Gio notices the way Bella’s walking. He stops and frowns at her. “Is your ankle hurting?”
Bella shrugs. “Yeah, a little.”
Gio squats down in front of her and pats his shoulder. “Here, get on my back. I’ll carry you the rest of the way.”
Bella sneers at him. “What? No, I’m not a baby. You can’t carry me all the way back, I’m too heavy.”
Gio rolls his eyes then turns his head to look at her. “I carried Coral halfway across the island, and you’re smaller than her. I can handle it. Besides, I don’t want you to make it any worse by walking on it.”
“Fine.” Bella sighs but climbs on, wrapping her arms and legs around him.
I frown but then catch myself. I have no reason to be jealous of Bella. She’s not some other woman, she’s Gio’s sister. It’s good that he’s concerned about her, right? But a twinge of jealousy still pokes at me like the tiny twigs buried in the sand that irritate my feet.
Eventually, we get back to the shelter, our bellies full of fresh water but grumbling for food. I look at the leftover chunks of wood in the fire pit. “Do you think you can get a fire started while I catch us some fish?”
Jude slaps a hand on his chest with a dramatic gasp. “You doubt our mad survival skills?”
“No cheating, Jude. You have to make it yourself.” I point at him and wink then head off towards the shoreline.
Bella follows me. “Hey Coral, can I watch you change? I haven’t really seen it yet.”
“Sure, Bella.” On a whim, I slip my arm through hers like I used to do with Meribel. I’m too young to be a mother to her, but maybe we can be friends.
Bella wades in to her ankles while I lie down in the shallow water at the very edge of the shoreline. In moments, my scales pop out, folding over my legs like a protective armor. Their iridescence makes them harder to see in the rippling water, so Bella squats down next to me to get a better look. Her fingers trail lightly up and down, exploring the texture. I flap my fin a bit so she can see the translucent webbing.
“Wow, so gorgeous. No wonder you have four boyfriends.” There’s a hint of jealousy in her voice.
I reach out and touch her face. She shares Gio’s features but somehow makes them look feminine and beautiful. “With those looks, I’m sure there are plenty of guys interested in you, too, Bella.”
She shrugs but dips her head to hide a grin, thinking about how friendly Avery was being. I frown. Maybe I should tell her I can read her thoughts. She changes the subject before I make up my mind, though.
“What’s it like being a mermaid? Do you just swim all day?”
“I guess so. We catch food, take care of our merlings, build our dwellings.”
“No school, no jobs? Sounds nice.”
I laugh. “Maybe, but we don’t have all the same opportunities that humans have.” At least, the merfolk in my shoal don’t. Guilt crashes over me like a rogue wave. Despite my efforts, they’re still living under the curse.
“I wish I could see what your world is like.” Bella pictures a scene from the mermaid cartoon I watched when I first got to land. It’s not too dissimilar.
“Maybe you will someday.” If merfolk can spend their days on land, interacting with humans, why couldn’t a human visit a shoal someday, if the merfolk trusted them? My mind drifts off in fantasy as I think about the possibilities.
“Well, I better go catch some fish. I’m sure the guys are starving.”
Bella glances back at the beach where the four of them are huddled around the fire pit, making a pathetic attempt to start the fire. They barely look like they’re trying. “I don’t think they’re gonna get that fire started anytime soon.”
“I have a feeling Liam will pull out a lighter as soon as I’m under the water.” I wink, and Bella grins, but I push myself out farther until I’m deep enough that I can flip over and start swimming.
I’m out of practice, tired from a long day, and my sore wrist throbs and aches with every stroke, slowing me down and making it hard to snag the fish before they swim away. I’m out there for what seems like hours, but I only manage to catch a few fish, not nearly enough to feed them all. I’m in too much pain to try anymore, though, so eventually I give up and head back to the beach.
The guys are sitting around the blazing fire, talking and laughing. Avery runs up to me when he sees me drag myself out of the water. He pulls off his shirt and starts to dry my tail for me.
“Thank you, Avery.” I smile softly at him.
He smiles back, his bright teeth shining against his golden skin. “Thanks for catching dinner for us.”
My smile turns down. “I couldn’t catch many fish. My arm was hurting too much.”
Avery puckers his brow and lifts my hand, looking at my bandage. The tape covering it is still in place, keeping it dry, but dots of blood have soaked through the gauze from underneath. “It’s probably too soon for you to be using it that much. Come on, maybe we should have Liam look at it.”
He stands up and holds out a hand, helping me to my feet. I grab the mostly empty bag I was using to catch fish and follow him over to the circle.
“Did it take you very long to start the fire?” The memory of how hard they had to work the first time they tried building one and how excited they were once they did it puts a smile on my face.
The guys stop talking and look at me with guilty expressions.
“So we might have taken the easy way out and used a lighter. Bu
t only because we’re all wiped out and starving.” Jude rubs his hand through his messy curls and looks up at me with a comically pathetic expression.
I can’t help shaking my head and grinning at him. I plop down next to him, putting my head on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Jude. I was too tired to catch much dinner.”
Everyone groans at that except for Avery. “Hey, she’s injured. She probably shouldn’t have been using her arm that much, anyway. Look, it’s bleeding.”
When he holds up my arm, Liam gets up and comes over to examine it. “I want to take this bandage off and check your wounds. Let’s go back to the ship so I can clean it and re-bandage it. We’ll grab some food while we’re there.”
I sigh and pout a little. All I want to do is rest, but I know he’s right. I toss the bag of fish towards Jude and stand up. “Okay. You guys can cook up the few fish I caught to hold you over.”
Liam and I take the dinghy back to the boat, climb aboard, and head for the cabin he set up as a medical station. I’m grateful we have it, and thankful no one had any severe injuries while we were on the island the first time. Memories of Gio’s appendicitis and the well-timed arrival of our rescuers run through my mind. Even though James and his crew turned out to be big trouble, I’ll always be grateful to them for helping Gio. If it wasn’t for them, I might have lost him. I shudder at the thought of how different things would’ve turned out for us if that had happened.
I wince as Liam peels off the sticky tape, taking what feels like half my skin with it. Underneath, my wounds are red and angry-looking. He shakes his head, frowning, as he turns my hand back and forth, examining each puncture.
“I’d feel much better if you were taking some antibiotics.”
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