“You know, there’s a poem dedicated to this place. It’s called Ode to Magical Wonder. Ode to magic, the wee ones went, ode to wonder, is what they meant…”
While Bobby continued his recitation of Ode to Magical Wonder, I drenched my hands in hand sanitizer. Airianna silently pleaded for the bottle, so I passed it to her under the table.
“Well, I see I haven’t missed much.” Troy took his seat next to me, looking sexy in a crisp white shirt and khakis. “Surprised you didn’t get trapped under the drawbridge.”
“It was close,” I muttered.
“May I take your order? Oh! Hiya, Troy! Haven’t seen you around here in a while. How have you been?”
Oh, I do NOT like this busty, blond waitress. Could she possibly bat her eyes any faster at my boyfriend?
“Sugar! Good to see you! I’ve been doing great. How about you? Any recent trips to Caloobla? That place can be wild.”
Sugar. What kind of a name was Sugar? And, um, being just a bit too friendly there, Troy.
She giggled, flipped her hair, and raised an eyebrow. “No, not since the last time you glided in.”
Troy gave a fake laugh and stole a glance at me. I continued reading my menu as though I didn’t notice her not-so-subtle flirting. Hopefully, he couldn’t see my knuckles turning white.
“Um, I think we should probably order,” said Airianna, sticking her menu between Troy and Sugar.
“Yeah, I’ll have the catfish,” said Troy, clearing his throat.
“You always loved catfish,” said Sugar. “I remember that time when you fed me—”
“Troy, I thought maybe you might want to try something other than fish. You looked so grumpy today with the same old food, I just thought, maybe…”
“Would it make you happy?” he asked.
“Very,” I smiled.
“But, fish is our diet, Troy,” whispered Sugar.
“Sugar, it’s okay. She knows.”
“You know? That is totally new news!” yelped Airianna, smirking.
Laughing, I said, “Clearly you already knew.”
“I figured it out a while back,” she said snootily. “I’m brighter than I look.”
“Sugar, this is my girlfriend, Marina Valentine.”
“Oh! Nice to meet you,” she said, reaching to shake my hand. “You’re a Normal.”
“She most certainly is. Can’t you smell her? Her stench is worse than a humpback fart.” Katrina and her new boy toy, Benji, had just walked in.
“Crap,” muttered Troy. “Marina, you’re with stupid.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“I was a dumb ass and told Benji where we would be tonight. She’s dating him, thinking it will get to me. And Benji thinks he’ll earn some higher place with King Zale if he dates her.”
“Forget them. We won’t let them ruin our meal, will we?” I asked.
“Certainly not! I intend to savor every delight our fine chef has in store to tickle our taste buds,” said Bobby, puffing out his slight chest.
Rolling her eyes, Airianna agreed. “Let’s order.”
“Marina, would you order for us?” Troy asked.
“Four Texas beef brisket sandwich meals with extra barbeque sauce on the side, Caesar salads, family size basket of home-style fries, and, for dessert, chocolate crème pie.”
Sugar diligently wrote everything down. “Are you all sure?”
“Yes,” said Troy.
“Affirmative. Always an adventure to try something new,” said Bobby.
“Absolutely,” said Airianna merrily.
“Just please make certain the fries are crisp. Not so crisp as would rival a lobster’s shell, but not as soft as a soft shell crab.” Bobby carried on for another five minutes about his ideal temperature for the barbeque sauce.
Throughout most of dinner, Troy, Airianna, and Bobby didn’t speak; their eyes seemed to glaze over from their very first bite of Normal food. Bobby even licked his plate.
“I take it y’all liked everything,” I said.
“Holy dolphin, Marina! Brisket is good!” said Airianna.
“You certainly know how to select dishes, Marina. I was so bold that I undid my collar and licked my plate! I have never done something so audacious in my entire life!”
I laughed. “I’m so glad you enjoyed everything, Bobby. And you, oh silent one? Did you like it?”
“No, I didn’t like it at all. I loved it. Every single bite.” Troy leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you, my little Rubylocks.”
“Yes, thank you for destroying tradition and forcing you and your American ideals upon our kind,” said Katrina, standing behind me. “Maybe we should have a parade to celebrate!”
Troy instinctively stood to block me; Airianna and, surprisingly, Bobby joined him.
“If you weren’t so rigid, you might actually like some of my American ideals.”
“Typical American, self-indulgent, selfish…”
Standing to face her, I said, “Insult me all you want, Katrina, but don’t you dare insult my country.”
“Hello, Tin Man, have you been standing out in the rain so long that it’s not only rusted your hair, but your brain cells, too? We got stuck with you because your own country didn’t want you in any of its ordinary cities. You’re in our town by default.”
“Yeah, and it’s still on human land. I’m not a lawyer, but I’m pretty sure this town belongs to Texas…to America. And in case you missed that day in history because you were busy getting your lip waxed, America was founded by—you guessed it—Normals.”
“I smite thee, Marina Valentine,” she said, digging her blood-red nails into Airianna and Troy, moving them aside.
“Who are you? Van Helsing?” I quipped.
“Take it back, Katrina! NOW!” Troy shouted, moving her back with ease.
“Oh, boo-fricking-hoo. What’s done is done,” she said, waving her hand. “I just figured I should salvage something worthwhile, since this ass-numbingly dull verbal spat has wasted valuable me time. So, let’s see how little miss mouth does against an element of mine.”
“Don’t do this, Katrina, please,” Airianna pleaded.
“Nonsense. I mean, how’s it fair that some pale, florescent-headed, ex-reader gets to wear the ocean dress without being tested first? Are the fashion Gods sniffing dye? What do you think, Marina? Ready for the challenge?”
“Just tell me when and where.”
“Oh, you won’t know when…or where. It’ll just show up, like a big, painful zit,” she said, twirling her hair.
“Wow, coward much? So scared of a human that you’re resorting to blind attack, huh? And here I thought humans were the lesser species in your eyes. Apparently not.” I whispered the last two words in her face.
To this, the red in her hair sprang to life; eyes like the devil’s serpent appeared in every bloody strand. Knocking back chairs, Airianna, Troy, and Bobby took defensive stances. Forming a circle, they laced their fingers together. Within their hands, bright aqua globes grew larger and larger; the spheres started emitting small orange lightning bolts, which caused Katrina to step back.
“Let’s not get hasty, kiddies,” she said, holding her hands up.
“Back off and we’ll stop the orbs,” Troy warned.
“Suck all the fun out of this, why don’t you! Fine, fine, you killjoy.” Her hair fell flat at once. “For the record, I have no concerns whatsoever about a filthy American Normal. There is nothing about you I fear. Maybe if you were from another country…”
“When faced with a threat, humans stand together, irrespective of nationality. It’s called heart, and Normals have it in abundance,” I growled.
“You know, that’s actually really cute…almost makes me feel something.” Katrina tilted her head at the ceiling for a moment. “Wait. It passed. Phew, that was close. Now, little flame head, your heart ain’t a dragon—it won’t win your battles. You need something else, something grittier.”
“Well, we do tend to
add a little something extra…”
“Really? What might that be?”
“A smile…”
“A smile?”
“A smile,” I repeated, slowly, “and a boot in the ass.” Troy, Airianna, Bobby, and Sugar, who had been hiding in the shadows, burst out laughing. As for Katrina, well, let’s just say I scored again. “We always deliver our ass-whoopin’ with manners.”
“Then this smite-show should be of the front row, orchestra pit, feel the spit fly caliber, know what I’m sayin’?” Katrina grabbed Benji, who looked completely lost. “Come on, Benji-bear. You’ve got a long night ahead of you, starting with my toes.”
“May I recommend mouthwash…like of the bleach variety?” I shouted as they left. “Please tell me you never started with her toes.”
“I drew the line at toe sucking,” said Troy, putting his arm around me.
When I looked up at him, I expected to see pride in how I held my own against the wicked witch of the sea, but what I saw instead made my head dizzy. He looked at me like he didn’t know how much longer I would be breathing.
Chapter Fourteen
A Fair to Remember
In the wake of Katrina’s threat to smite me, Troy remained highly guarded, jumping at every little noise. Strangely, I was not at all frightened by Katrina’s threats, though I’m not sure why. I’m certain any other non-mergirlfriend would be terrified if some lunatic merbitch declared revenge at all costs. Me, not so much. I find myself much more concerned with eternal serendipity.
The whole concept of the sea binding two merps together for life was truly beautiful. Imagine, knowing the identity of your one true love and never having to question his love for you. I’m afraid such peace of mind will never be mine. From what Troy has told me, the sea only binds merps together, not Normals, and certainly not a Normal with a merperson. This cruel realization has created a big knot of doubt in my tummy. How can Troy and I ever truly be together if no future exists for us?
Maybe that’s why I can’t bring myself to say those three little words to him. Yet, despite being doused in doubt, I continue basking in his love for me. I can’t help but think that I’m greedy for doing so, especially knowing it can never really last. So, is all of this even real? Or am I literally living in a fantasy world, stupidly holding tight to a soon-to-vanish fairy tale? In some small sense, perhaps Katrina was right. Maybe I am selfish. Hmm. Just noticed the word “fish” is in the word “selfish.” Very bad sign.
“Knock, knock.” Mom looked so pretty in her aqua evening dress. “Troy’s here, sweetheart. I’ve made some peanut butter cookies for you both.”
“Thanks, Mom. Hot date?”
Her cheeks turned a hundred shades of pink. “Mr. Gibbs is picking me up any minute. He really is a kind man, Marina. I hope you like him.”
“Definitely lots of like. He’s the good kind.”
“He is, isn’t he? I think your Troy may be of the same mold.”
“Yeah, I kinda like him.”
“Who would have thought? Here we are, mother and daughter, dating at the same time. Does it bother you at all, Marina?” she asked, sitting on my bed. “I was so young when I married your father. I hardly remember how to date. In a way, I’m glad to be going through this with you. But if you have any reservations, please tell me. You are the most important person in my life, never doubt that.”
“Never even a drop of doubt. I want you to be happy. If Mr. Gibbs makes you smile, he stays on the island. Besides, how bad at dating can you be when you know how to wear a dress like that?”
“My old ego needs that,” she said, giving me a mama hug. “Let’s not keep them waiting any longer,” she said, grabbing my hand.
“Them? When did Mr. Gibbs get here?”
“Pretty sure I heard the doorbell a couple minutes ago. Poor Troy, I’ll bet he didn’t know what to do!”
“You’re a stinker, Mom, you know that?”
“Who do you think you get it from? Eh, keeping him waiting a tad isn’t a bad thing, remember that.”
Watching the twinkle in Mr. Gibbs’s eyes when my mom swept into the room made me wish for some of her elegance…until I saw the very same twinkle in Troy’s eyes when he saw me.
“Well, you kids have fun,” I said, winking.
“Have fun you two, and don’t forget the cookies. Love you,” said Mom, strutting out the front door.
“Your mom has to be the coolest parental I’ve ever met,” said Troy, grabbing a cookie.
“She is. Thank God she’s back.”
“She was missing?”
“Sort of. Remember that night in the cave…when I told you to keep the necklace…the night I fought off the Muggers?”
I could see him clenching his jaw; he hated talking about that night. “Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to initiate my selective memory function where that night’s concerned.”
“Well, my mom and I had a fight. That’s what prompted me to go to our cave. Anyway, I found out later that it wasn’t my mom I had been fighting with. It’s like something had taken over her mind.”
Troy studied my expression very closely before dropping his gaze to the kitchen counter. “I want to take you somewhere tonight. I wasn’t going to try it, but I think it’s important now.”
“Take me where?”
“To the annual Fair Weather Fair on the beach of Hambury House. It’s only for Merpeople. Normals aren’t invited. But, I think it’s time we make a statement.”
“What might that be?” I asked.
“That we’re for real. Bringing you to a merps-only event should do the trick,” he said.
“What about Katrina’s vow to smite me?” I asked in a mock-scary voice. “I thought you were scared to let me go anywhere near her and her faction.”
“First of all, I’m not scared, Marina. Very little frightens me. Second, I’ll be with you. And third, I’ll make sure we don’t take unnecessary risks.”
“What does that mean?” I said, eyeing him.
“It means we won’t ride any scary rides.”
“What?! No roller coasters or fun things that go way up in the air and twist and turn and make you wanna puke?”
“Not a one. We won’t be taking a ride on any roller coasters, and definitely no airborne rides. Far too many chances for Katrina to issue her smite.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” I griped. “We’ll be two dorks on the baby rides.”
“There aren’t any baby rides in our world. Just think of them as relaxing rides.”
“Old people rides, then.” I stuck my lips out as far as they would go.
“Look at you pout!” He placed his fingers under my chin, tilted my head up, and kissed me. “I’m not tempting fate.”
“Troy?”
“Hmm?”
“Not that I really care, but what is a smite?”
He swallowed hard before answering. “It means she vows to kill you using the most painful, gruesome means imaginable. I should have told you sooner. If I had, maybe you wouldn’t take Katrina so lightly.”
“I knew she hated me, and I knew she could hurt me, but I never thought she’d massacre me, Texas-chompin’-chainsaw style,” I said, clutching the counter. “Is that what triggered those orb-y things you, Airi, and Bobby created in your hands?”
He nodded. “The orbs are called storm swells. The greater the number of merps creating them, the larger they become. Storm swells encase an enemy, forcing them to fight against the worst storm imaginable. It’s unlike any storm humans have ever seen. Only two merps are known to have survived a storm swell—my father and Katrina’s father.”
“So, you can make the storm swells outside of the water?”
“You know how some of our abilities remain for a certain amount of time after our skin last touches the sea?”
“Like silver snow.”
“Exactly. Even though Bobby and Airi didn’t have remnants of the sea on their skin, I was able to stimulate their ability to crea
te the swells that night because I had just been in the water. I’m kinda strong.”
“So you’re a super strong sailor man, sans the squinty eye,” I teased.
“And I don’t even need to eats me slimy spinach, I’m Tombolo the mer-merman,” he sang with a squinty eye.
“Toot, toot. And you say I’m the one who doesn’t miss a beat?”
“What can I say? You keep me on my toes…and fin tip. There’s something else you should know, Marina. When a merperson vows to smite thee, it means he or she will not rest until they have succeeded. This is why I’ve been so careful with you since that night. Carelessness is not something either of us can afford. You look pale. Maybe we shouldn’t go tonight.”
“I’m always pale, practically translucent. Ghosts are my extended family. Besides, I want to go. I won’t let her win, Troy. I promise not to take her lightly, but I also won’t walk on sand dollars around her. The momentum must stay with us, like in football. The team that scores before halftime always has the momentum. Right now, we’re even.”
“I love it when you talk dirty,” he said, grinning mischievously.
“Then you should love when I say…I’m going to score first,” I said, slowly inching closer to his lips.
“You drive me crazy,” he breathed.
After a brief make-out session, we hopped in his truck and took off for the Fair Weather Fair at Hambury House. Night had fallen by the time we arrived. The sky behind the grand old manor glowed from the many rides and attractions.
“Marina!” squealed Airianna. She rushed over to me with Bobby close behind.
“Hi, sweetie!” I said, returning her hug. “Here with Bobby? Thought he drove you crazy?”
“Well, he’s nice and doesn’t treat me like I’m stupid,” she said, blushing. “Those traits can go a long way. Anyway, what are you doing here?”
“Oh, you know, crashing the Fish Fair.” Thank God Airianna and Troy understood my humor. Anyone else would have been totally insulted…er, like Bobby.
“I’ll have you know this ‘Fish Fair’ is a long standing tradition for our people. For generations, our forefathers delivered thy bounty to each—”
FINNED (The Merworld Water Wars) Page 15
