Shore of Graves (Underwater Island Series Book 1)

by Miranda Hardy

  His mouth falls open.

  “Go. Now!” I point to his hut.

  Tao faces away from him, a smile forming on his lips. Apela stomps away like a young boy who had his dinner taken away. Keyon takes Tao inside. Tao insists on sitting in the chair, rather than lying back down on the bed. It gives me time to clean it and put fresh blankets down.

  “I’m going to catch some fish for us.” Keyon’s face appears more relaxed. It’s the first time I’ve seen a smile appear on his face, and his eyes brighten. “To celebrate your health.”

  Tao nods. Keyon hurries out of the hut before I can tell him where to find the fishing gear.

  “He’s happy now,” I say.

  “Thanks to you.” Tao stares at me. “My angel.”

  “Stop calling me that.” I hand him a hot cup of tea.

  He smells it. “What’s this?”

  “It’s tea. Don’t tell me they don’t have tea in Lanui, because that would be disastrous.”

  “You’re to be married soon?” Tao asks, changing the subject to a more uncomfortable topic. “Must be exciting and scary for you to have to move from your home.”

  “Your brother had a lot to say to you in such a short amount of time.” I sit next to him with my own tea. “But, I’m sure we’ll see each other in between your hunting trips. Keyon says you spend a lot of time away.”

  “Yes, hunting.” He sips his tea, peering at the sea through the window. It’s calm today.

  “You can’t go in the water yet.”

  He turns his attention to me. “Why?”

  “Your chest needs time to heal. You should stay clear of swimming for a couple more days to give your body the rest it needs. Your body fights the infection still, and going in and out of the water, with the changing temperatures, would impede it.”

  Tao beams, but that could be because he’s happy to be well now. “You’ve been trained well by your grandmother. I’m sure she’ll miss you greatly.”

  “As I’ll miss her. More than you know.” Sadness overcomes me as I ponder life without her in it. “Tell me about—”

  “Why did you ask me to cover up my necklace earlier?”

  “I, uh, it’s made from the ingredient we use to heal. We’re running low on it. I suppose I didn’t want others, especially my brother, to judge you further for wearing it as jewelry.”

  He places his necklace between his thumb and forefinger. “You use silver?”

  “With the herbs, yes.”

  He tucks the chain back into his shirt and places his cup of tea down on the table. “May we take a walk along the beach, at least? I need some air.”

  “Are you feeling up to it? No dizziness?” I ask.

  “I’m feeling much better now.” His eyes sparkle in the morning light peeking through the window.

  “I need to check in with Kahanu first, and then we can walk.” Setting my cup next to his on the table, I turn to leave.

  He reaches for me. He moves his fingers down my arm and grasps my hand. A shiver runs through me. “Alania.”

  He’s taller than most of the men in my village. It’s something I didn’t notice about Keyon. Keyon slouches most of the time. Tao’s posture’s different.

  His closeness builds heat within me. He pulls my hand to his lips and kisses the smooth surface. His lips linger for a few seconds too long. “Thank you for helping me and keeping Keyon calm while I was ill.”

  Words elude me, and my stomach flutters. It’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before. It’s worse than nervousness. It’s exciting and frightening all at once. Saying nothing, I rush out the door, wanting to hurry through my morning chores in order to be by Tao’s side again.

  Halfway to Kahanu’s hut, I glance back. He stares at me. My cheeks flush. Knowing my grandmother will notice right away, I rush past her door and fling myself against the back of her hut where no one sees me. Taking deep breaths and fanning my face, I calm my emotions.

  Murmurs of voices reach me from inside her hut. Haku’s booming voice bellows above some others. Inching closer, I near the window to hear them better.

  “The coffins arrive too often now, and it’s becoming more difficult to hide what we know about them and where they come from,” Haku says. “Even the younger children are starting to ask questions. We need to make the trade as soon as possible. What Alania did for the sick stranger will have unruly effects if they find a way to leave the island and tell their people.”

  “We don’t want to make any hasty decisions. Our guests from Launi are coming today,” Kahanu says. “We need to show a united front.”

  Hasty decisions? What is she talking about?

  “As soon as our feast concludes tomorrow night, she is to wed and be taken to Launi,” Haku says. “In return, we’ll have what we need to ward off any more danger that washes up on our shore.”

  I gasp and regret the instant the noise leaves my mouth. I cower closer to the edge of the hut.

  “The water people are dying because they have nothing to offer us,” Kahanu says. “Is that the right thing to do?”

  “We’ve survived by trading our healing capabilities. It’s the only thing that has kept us alive. The water people need to die. They are different from us,” Mika, Inoa’s grandfather says. “Your granddaughter has threatened our position.”

  “Alania saving one of them will not bring an entire colony upon us,” Kahuna retorts. “And you decided to trade her off for what? Silver?”

  “No? What would you do to save your people from dying off?” Mika argues. “What if the sickness spreads to us and we have nothing to fight it?”

  Haku interjects, “It is not only Alania who did wrong. Clearly, we were also mistaken by taking the twins for mere neighboring hunters.”

  “This conversation is a waste. The girl needs to be wed and traded as soon as possible,” Miko huffs.

  “I don’t want to hear any more. We’ve discussed this enough.” Kahanu sighs. “Leave now, before Alania comes.”

  The sound of the door shutting causes me to jump. Any moment the broth I ate this morning will pour itself all over the ground. My mind reels with the conversation I just heard. Kahanu agreed to trade me for silver. How could she? After I catch my breath, I enter her hut.

  “There you are, child. I was wondering when you’d come to check on me.” Kahanu smiles. “What’s wrong? Why are you so flushed?”

  I press my hands against my cheeks and feel the heat I was trying to hide. Seeing her piteous expression makes me think she’d be a great storyteller like Haku.

  “I hope you’re not coming down with what your patient had.” She feels my head.

  I shake her hand away. “I’m not. I—ran here is all. I saw Mika and Haku leaving. Why were they here?”

  “Headaches. Too much wine last night, I suppose. With our stock diminishing, I bet they are happy Lanui is coming soon. The wine they make brings happiness to many here, but too much happiness is never a good thing,” she lies. “How is the patient?”

  Disappointment edges its way inside me. “He’s better. He’s lost the fever and was able to feed himself today.”

  She pats me on the back. “See, you’re going to make Lanui a great healer. Your future husband will be proud.” Her eyes look sadder than they ever have.

  “I won’t be able to help you today. I only came for more tea.” I open the cabinet and grab a new bag.

  “Is your patient well enough to walk here?” she asks.

  “He’s asking for a walk to get some air, so I’ll go with him to be sure he’s healthy enough.” I don’t face her and hurry to the door. “I’ll see you later.” Not giving her enough time to respond, I run away from her place and toward mine as quickly as possible.

  Inoa waves to me from her porch, with Apela next to her. Children run along the beach, chasing each other. Their feet splash in the water, and their cries of playfulness are lost on the crashing waves. My emotions blanket me with confusion. Although mother has been dead for over two ye
ars now, I miss her more than ever. I could use her today. She’d listen to me, and I could tell her anything. All of a sudden, I have no one to confide in or ask the thousands of questions I have. Betrayal pumps through my veins. My head feels like it may explode. I don’t know what to think or believe, or take to be real from everything I had ever known.

  “What’s wrong?” Tao asks from the porch. His eyes blaze with concern.

  “I...it’s nothing.” My eyes water. “You’re okay to walk?” I say taking the attention off me.

  “I’m fine.” He smiles.

  “I can use the walk, too.” I place the bag of tea inside and walk with Tao to the beach. The sound of the ocean soothes my nerves. I study Tao with renewed interest.

  He takes my hand and loops it around his arm. To anyone watching, it’ll look like I’m helping him. To us, it’s a moment of closeness. And, it feels right. My limbs feel like a fire burns through them.

  “Do you like to swim?” he asks.

  “I haven’t in a long time now.” I breathe in the salty air, thinking about the wide ocean. “I like to walk along the shore and let my feet sink into the sand. There are scary creatures in the water. The jellyfish, the rock-looking fish, and the slithering water snakes. One time, Apela was fishing with his friends and saw a huge-toothed creature lurking near them. It ate their catch as they reeled it in.”

  “A shark?” he asks.

  “Is that what they’re called?”

  “The ocean is also a very beautiful place.” Tao pats my hand with his other. “There are coral reefs that are homes to some of the most colorful fish you’ve ever seen, and the large sea turtles are gentle and graceful in the water. There are also the very intelligent and playful dolphins. I think they are smarter than us sometimes.” He laughs.

  “I never thought about it like that.” The vision of the water snakes slinking up from the cracks in the ocean floor haunts me. We continue to walk past the village, down the south side of the island. Sand stretches out before us with the howling wind as our only companion. We stroll in silence for several minutes.

  “Alania, I need to tell you something.”

  My body stiffens.

  “We aren’t from Lanui.” He weaves his fingers through mine. “I want to tell you the truth. I need to be honest with you where Keyon wasn’t.”

  “I think I always knew that.” The stomach flutters return, and I think about the water people I heard being discussed in Hakanu’s hut. “You two are different. I’ve always been told Lanui’s village is identical to Molu.”

  He leads me to where the sand meets the wheat grass, and he sits, pulling me down in front of him. “And you still helped me, knowing Keyon was lying to you?”

  “You needed help, and Keyon was so distraught.” I face him, and his blue eyes sparkle. “Are you from the place where the coffins come? Keyon pushed one of the coffins back into the sea.”

  He nods. “Yes.”

  “You speak our language but use words I’ve never heard.”

  “You use words I’ve never heard, too, but it’s easy to understand the meanings.” He moves a wavy strand of my hair from my face. “Like tea or healer. These are things I’ve never heard.”

  “We could learn from each other, but I think our elders are wary of you.”

  He leans close to me and breathes in the scent of my hair. “We didn’t know you existed. We were searching for something that brought us here. We had given up and were about to return home when I got sick. The storm came, and by a miracle alone, Keyon saw your island. That’s when you, my angel, saved me.”

  My mouth tingles as he touches my lips with the tips of his fingers. For the first time in my life, I feel the need to be kissed. A loud scream interrupts us. I move away from him and stand. The boisterous sound continues. It’s not screaming but yelling.

  “We need to get back,” I say. “Something’s happening in the village.”

  Tao wipes the sand off his shorts, and we run back the way we came.

  Inoa waves up the shore, beckoning us to come. Once we reach her, a giant smile plays on her face.

  “What is it?” I ask out of breath.

  “They’re here. Lanui has arrived. Your fiancé is here.” She grabs my hand and leads me up the bank.

  I glance over my shoulder to see Tao frowning. He picks up his pace and heads straight for my hut. The contents of my stomach threaten to resurface the closer we get to the newcomers. Trying to look behind me, I lose sight of Tao and wonder if he found Keyon. They will need to tell the village the truth now. Lanui will out them without hesitation, which will validate the elder’s suspicions. My heartbeat quickens when we near the visitors.

  “And this is Alania.” Apela points to me. Three strange men stand in the semicircle studying me. “Alania, this is Makoa.”

  Makoa, my fiancé, matches me in height. He grins, revealing a cracked front tooth. I cringe. His black hair recedes his hairline, and hangs to his shoulder. Although, he’s supposed to be my age, he looks years older. He takes my hand and raises it to his dry lips. His long fingernails scrape against my smooth skin.

  “She’s been caring for your sick people. The twins who were out hunting,” Apela says.

  A tall, lanky, dark-haired man frowns. “Twins? Our village has no twins.”

  6

  Ignoring the men, I race home faster than I ever imagined I could. Gusting winds slap the door to my hut causing it to open and shut. Darkness spills out from the open doorway. With quiet movements, I walk up the ramp. Shivers scamper up and down my arms. I take a deep breath and look inside. It’s empty. The twins are gone.

  Frustrated, I slam the door to my hut, sit on the porch, and watch the churning waves. There’s a storm coming. The brothers will need shelter if they’re still here on our island. Maybe there is a chance I will see Tao again. My chest tightens with the dread of knowing they fled instead of facing the village with the truth. Worse, my own brother had been right about them, and I saw his gloating with the Lanui men. He had felt something was off with them since the moment he saw them.

  They had to be out there somewhere, right? Not for the first time, I wonder where they could have gone. I tried to imagine where they came from...what their village was like, but all I know is Molu.

  Something hollow thwacks the rocks jutting up near the shore. I peer into the darkness and see the familiar wooden box. Another coffin. All at once, like the waves slamming onto the shore, my emotions begin to explode and tears fall.

  “Alania! Alania!”

  I bolt up to see my brother racing toward me. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Go home.” I was mad at him for reveling in the moment. I bet he came to rub it in my face.

  “No! I’m staying here. Those two freaks may come back.”

  Offended by his name-calling, I say, “They weren’t freaks. So they lied about where they’re from. Maybe they didn’t realize we would still help them—I would have still helped them if I knew...” My voice trails off, carried away, lost on the wind.

  “Call them whatever you want. I’m still staying here.”

  “Fine!”

  Apela steers toward the coffin.

  “Leave it alone!” Tears sting my eyes. “Please, leave it alone,” I say in a pleading tone.

  He looks away from the shore and nods in my direction.

  Without any words, he climbs the steps and goes into the hut. I follow. With one last hope of seeing Tao, I glance over my shoulder. There’s only darkness and the sea. I shut the door. My breathing slows, and my pounding heart eases. I close my eyes, letting the exhaustion take over.

  The morning sun was up long before I pull myself out of bed. Apela is gone. Grateful for small favors, I’m glad I don’t have to force conversation with him. I boil some water and make tea. I thought nightmares would have filled my head during sleep, but there was nothing, not even the hint of a dream.

  I glance at the dress hanging near the window. Inoa had made it for me fo
r tonight’s special occasion. Tonight would be the first meal I share with my fiancé. I should be looking forward to the dinner in honor of our guests and me, but my thoughts drift to Tao. His smile warmed me and his words were kind. I miss him more than I should. More than I would admit to anyone. In only a few days, how could my feelings have grown this much? I shake off the pain of feeling used. He left.

  The villagers stare and whisper as I pass. A few shout out concerns. Others duck their heads to avoid meeting my stare. When I arrive at Grandmother’s, she’s busy taking care of an older man who is having pain in his arm.

  “Ah, dear. How are you?”

  “I’ve been better.”

  “There’s been lots of talk in the village. Most I think you’d be wise to ignore.” She wraps the man’s arm in a cloth and ties it so it hangs from around his neck to provide a sling. “Although the main conversation going around isn’t about you. It’s knowing there is another society living near us we never knew about.”

  “Didn’t anybody ever wonder where the death boxes came from?” My cheeks heat with anger, knowing she knew more than she admits.

  “They did. But the strangers gave them more of a reason to wonder.”

  I agree with her, but the core of what’s being planned for me and why, I’m not sure I care as much as I once had. Betrayal fills the void of not knowing, and the fear I have for my future outweighs the mysteries.

  “It stings! It stings!” Leslu bursts through the door, hopping on one foot.

  “What happened?” I ask.

  “I stepped on a bubble on the beach.”

  “A bubble?”

  “It popped, and my foot started to sting.”

  I picked him up and set him on one of the beds. “I think that bubble you stepped on is called a jellyfish.” I turn over his foot. The sting is already red and puffy.

  “Owww! Make it stop! Make it stop!”

  “Hang on. Let me get a few things so we can get you back to your friends.”

  I mix together crushed garlic, lavender, and aloe. I welcome the familiar feeling of taking care of others. It’s only been a day since Tao and Keyon have been gone, but I still feel pride and joy knowing I saved a man from dying.