by Ruby Raine
The topic made him uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, William. I didn’t mean to pry. It’s just sometimes, it feels like you know everything about us. The good. The bad. The awkward. But I realized today that even though I consider you my best friend, there’s so many things I don’t know about you.”
William sighed. “That is more my doing than yours, Melinda. I do not often talk about my past. To do so makes it difficult for me to do my job. I have to keep a certain distance between myself and my charges, for lack of a better term. You’re much more to me than that, of course. But to share intimate details of my life makes things... difficult.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you all leave. And the cycle begins again. Birth. Life. Death...”
“Oh,” she swallowed the impact of his words.
“And to answer your question, Melinda. Yes. She was a human. And she died, much sooner than she should have. After that...”
“I understand, William. You don’t have to explain.”
He nodded.
Melinda took a cleansing breath. She did understand now. Better, at least. He had loved a human, she had died, he’d never put himself through that again. So no matter if he really did have feelings for her, or not, it didn’t matter. But she could try to keep it light around him. Try not to hurt his feelings. Or crush him, again.
“So. This young man of yours drives a motorcycle?”
“Oh. Um. Yes, he does.”
“Please tell me you’re wearing a helmet while he’s riding you around the Isle.”
“Oh. Yeah. Definitely. He’s a safe driver.” Wait a minute. Melinda cleared her throat. Was William really asking about helmets or... a sudden realization hit her. Hard. She and Riley were so wrapped up in the moment yesterday at the quarry that he hadn’t wrapped it up!
Oh my God. How much more stupid can I get? She’d have to have another awkward conversation, this time with Riley. Did they ever end?
And was William asking this because he smelled Riley on her? God, this was all just too much. This was ten times worse than her brother’s empathy picking up on her most personal emotions.
“Is everything okay?” William asked her. He hadn’t meant to upset her, only clear the air and move forward. He supposed he probably could have approached the conversation differently, and realized that perhaps he’d allowed himself a little bitterness toward the situation.
He’d given himself away earlier. He knew this. And realized that Melinda had seen it written all over him. There was no taking it back or hiding it. But his reaction to her was not one he had expected. It had shattered all his normal defenses. And right after he’d just sworn he’d never love another human again.
If he’d known she had met someone he would have prepared for it. But he hadn’t expected his reaction to be so unhinging. He didn’t wear his emotions, and this displeased him immensely. But if he hadn’t in that moment, he might not have controlled his actions.
And they were of the deadly kind. To end whatever excuse for a male had dropped her off and so obviously had his hands in places only meant for him. He’d smelled it all over her. This witch was going to be his undoing.
“Are you okay, William?” he heard Melinda’s small voice ask. He caught her gaze, a moist swirling of concern, shame, and regret. It took every ounce of strength to keep his hands from caressing her cheek and wiping away the tears forming in her eyes.
Instead, he nodded uneasily.
She bit her lip and tore her gaze away. William steeled himself, prepared for the heart flutter that had become his personal calling card, but instead her heart stuttered, skipping a few beats. In the manner it always did when she was disappointed and angry with herself. She felt responsible for this.
He needed to fix that. It was his problem, not hers.
“Melinda.” Her baby blues found his gaze, sinking into his emerald greens. “I think it would be best if we put these last few days behind us. Let us forget, and move on. It never happened.”
“Um. Yeah, okay.” She wasn’t sure it would be as easy as boom, forget. “I can do that, William,” she said anyway.
You’re totally lying by the way.
One thing I’m getting better and better at.
Yes, until your web of lies comes back to haunt you!
William inhaled and exhaled with determined strength. “Well then. Today is like any other day, which means we have a job to do.” His tone was normal, controlled.
How does he do that? It killed her, his ability to turn off his emotions. As controlled as she could try to be, she could never act like nothing had happened. She could pretend though, if that’s what he wanted. What he needed her to do. Pretending is just lying. Something you just told yourself you can do well.
“Any other day,” she agreed, putting on the most honest smile she could muster.
“You two find anything useful down here?” Mack’s voice rang out.
Melinda had almost forgotten where they were, or that Mack was there. She shook off her apprehensions and watched Mack work her way across the rocks to join them.
“Actually, sheriff,” said William, on task once again. “I have a theory.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“The first attack, at least that we are aware of, happened near the Jordan's home. Just a short while later they attacked here at this pier. It seems there is a pattern forming. I do believe they are following the coastline, heading north around the Isle.”
“Sounds solid to me. North, then,” Mack decided.
“Anything helpful from the fisherman?” Melinda asked.
“Helpful, no. Just had to talk him into believing it was a crazed, weird lookin' sea lion. He seemed to agree.” She shrugged, not really caring one way or the other.
Her phone buzzed again. “Hello.” She listened to the deputy on the other line. “Another sighting of the psycho lions, eh. Where this time?” As she spoke, she motioned for them to follow her. When they got to her car she hung up, lifting an eyebrow in William’s direction. “Looks like your theory was right. Just a few beaches away, headin’ north. A couple of 'em slithered onto the beach and frightened some youngins'.”
They piled into the sheriff’s car, this time, William rode along with them, an inquisitive look on his face. He slid into the backseat next to Melinda. And although they’d cleared the air, the tension still sliced thick between them.
“What are you thinking?” asked Melinda, hoping his thoughts were on the bloodsuckers.
He glanced her direction, a wave of emotion in his eyes. It disappeared just as quickly. “Nothing of consequence.”
Nope. Not the bloodsuckers. She wasn’t sure the air between them could ever be cleared at this point. Had she ruined their friendship, forever? God! Why does life have to be so hard all the time? She feared their relationship would never be the same. It reopened the pit in her stomach, something dark and heavy settling inside.
She might be a good liar, but she was a terrible actor. Pretending this thing between her and William didn’t exist would not be easy.
No, she admitted. I’m not a good liar. I’m just good at avoiding things. Steering away from situations I don’t want to deal with. And every time I do that, I end up lying so I don’t hurt someone. And they get hurt anyway.
The same thing will happen to Riley, the voices in her head warned.
Melinda let out a long sigh, closing her eyes.
Then I’ll be honest with him. Tonight. I’ll tell him everything.
I will, she argued with the voice that scoffed at her insistence. I will...
Screams echoed in her ears.
Her eyes opened to see they’d arrived at the beach and a chaotic scene ensued. A group of youngsters raced away from the beach.
“They're everywhere,” a boy shouted.
“Looks like we’ve got more than a couple on the beach,” Melinda spoke despondently.
William nodded, opened the door and got out, allowing Melinda to slide out aft
er him.
“You kids all run along home now,” Mack ordered, getting out of the car. She started hanging police tape across the entrance of the beach, but knew full well it would not keep out local reporters, who were sure to catch wind of the story.
“I'll stand guard,” she told Melinda and William. “Holler if ya need me, otherwise I'll just let ya do your thing.”
“I'll put up a barrier as well,” Melinda told Mack. “Should keep people from seeing what's going on.”
Mack nodded and tugged at her gun belt, making sure everything on her person was secure.
Melinda and William ducked under the tape and headed toward the beach, the ground underneath their feet turning into sand the closer they got.
Melinda stopped in her tracks when she saw the beach. “Oh, William! Wow!”
“I'm not sure wow quite does it justice.”
“I really didn't expect so many.”
“To be honest, nor did I.”
“Do you think this is all of them?”
A sound come out of him that indicated, no.
Hundreds of bulging charcoal colored bloodsuckers lined the part-sand, part-rock beach, with more slithering out of the water every minute. They did resemble sea lions, except that sea lions were cute, and smart. At least the ones on the Isle. These things were thick, slick, and had just one thing on their mind: blood.
“We really need Michael and Charlie.” Doubt spread, Melinda skeptical of her abilities.
“We can handle this,” insisted William, noting her tone.
Melinda heard the tiniest hint of hesitation and raised her eyelids as if to say she did not believe him. They were going to need something to kill these creatures all at once, and they were going to need it fast.
CHARLIE HOWARD HAD his back up against the cave wall, unsure how he would escape the three merladies advancing toward him. The one he saved from the tangled mess of fishing nets was in the middle. Her face savage looking. Her eyes feral, her mouth poised, as if ready to bite him.
“I should have been more careful. Should have trusted my instincts.” Charlie was dumbfounded he’d let himself get tricked. They had seemed so innocent and helpless. And naked, and hot... yeah, it was the naked hotness. He hadn’t been thinking with his brain. He guessed the ring didn’t stop that from happening.
For some reason, the only solution that came to mind was to be honest with them.
“Look, I'm not taking this ring off, and you cannot take it off my finger, so this is going to go nowhere.”
The two merladies on the sides seemed to believe him and slowed their pace. They did not act as though they wanted to hurt him. One looked on the verge of tears.
“We must,” she whimpered, her words aimed at Charlie.
“Yes, must get ring,” the one on the opposite side spoke, her voice wavering.
“Oh stop fucking whining you two,” hissed the one in the middle. “If you won't finish this, I will!” She lunged for Charlie's hand, threatening to use her teeth to bite the ring off his finger. He pulled his hand back and grabbed her by the throat.
“I don't want to hurt you!” he spoke angrily. “But I will if you force me to. You cannot take this ring off my finger!”
The merlady flailed, her eyes wild, her hands grasping for the ring just out of reach. Behind them, in the pool, something splashed, and a head popped out of the water.
Charlie dropped the attacking merlady, shock spreading across his face.
“Emily? What the hell?” Am I dreaming? Did I let them mesmerize me again? He wasn’t sure he was living in reality at the moment, or not.
“You’re not crazy, Charlie. It's really me.” Emily splashed her flippers, thrusting herself upward to get out of the water, sitting on the drying ledge.
“But you’re a...” he coughed and lowered his gaze. Emily’s plastered wet hair was not hiding anything above the waist, and she seemed not to care, or notice.
His eyes focused on her flippers. Seriously? Flippers. What the hell is going on?
Emily spoke to the two frightened looking merladies. “You cannot do this,” she told them. “It's not right, and I can hear your thoughts. You don't want to hurt Charlie, do you?”
“No. But we must,” one spoke.
“If we do not...”
“I know,” Emily interrupted. “That's why I’m here. I freed your sister. You don't have to do this. Just listen.” The mermaids went quiet.
The nasty one, crawled away from the rest, not yet ready to give up, but determining her next move.
Nothing was making any sense to Charlie, but he needed to be able to look around properly. “Um, Emily. Could you possibly...” he waved his hands in the air, hoping not to have to say it out loud. He did not relish his brother finding out he’d seen his girlfriend’s boobs.
She pursed her lips, not understanding. Air hit her breasts. She sucked in, her hands flying up to cover herself. “Oops.” She shook out her blue strands and got herself covered.
Charlie wanted to ask Emily what was happening, but once covered, she focused on the mermaids. Her facial features changed, as if having a conversation, though he did not hear her speak a word.
The two frightened mermaids, however, seemed to understand her perfectly. They went silent as well, listening to something Charlie could not hear. Then suddenly, bright smiles spread across their faces.
“Free,” one spoke.
“Not taken.”
“Don't need to hurt.” They sounded relieved.
“We help other sisters now.”
“Yes. We help fight monsters.”
The other looked at Charlie. “Monsters bad. Killing sisters.” They did not explain further but simply darted past the vicious merlady and dove into the pool, swimming away.
Emily perched her body onto the ledge at the side of the pool, where mermaids dried themselves.
“Stupid girl,” the angry mermaid shouted at Emily. “Ruin everything!” She stood in between Charlie and the pool to her freedom, torn as to keep up the fight or flee, before it was too late.
Her eyes shouted disappointment at not winning her prize, and a deep rumble rose in her throat seeping out through her teeth in thick streams of resentment. She stepped closer to the pool, her eyes drifting between Charlie and Emily. She hissed at Emily, ready to attack.
Charlie willed the wolf to surface, allowing its strength to envelop him. The ring knew just the right amount to let free. He bent his knees and lurched forward, his body easily passing right by the merlady and landing at the side of the pool, guarding Emily.
Admittance of her defeat came quickly, and freedom won out. The merlady jumped into the pool feet first and disappeared out of sight.
Part of Emily wanted to dive in after her. She felt the ocean’s call tugging at her like the unavoidable ebb and flow of the tide. There was also something off about that mermaid and she desired to follow it and discover why.
“Emily,” called out Charlie. The ring had already reclaimed the wolf as he knelt to her side.
“Oh, hi,” she muttered. “Can't go back into the water. Told Michael I would return to him.” Her eyes glazed over as if her mind was somewhere else.
Charlie took a confused breath.
Emily's eyes lost their gloss and she saw Charlie more clearly.
“Are you okay?” she asked him, suddenly her usual self.
“You're asking me if I'm okay?” His gaze screamed 'I'm not the one that's been turned into a mermaid'. “What the heck is going on?”
Emily's reply quickly became nonsensical, confusing Charlie even more.
“Lots, I'm afraid. Obviously, I'm a mermaid now. Everyone was worried. You were not answering your phone. Then I heard the sisters talking about you. I had to come right away once I learned what was going on.”
“What is going on?”
But Emily suddenly seemed sidetracked. She took hold of his hand, rubbing the ring on his finger. “So smooth. So shiny.”
“Um, okay
, Emily. Why don't we get you dried off,” Charlie suggested.
This shook her out of her momentary lapse. “Yes. I need to dry off. I have to call Michael. He's probably near death, freaking out right now.”
“I can only imagine,” mumbled Charlie. “How is it, that everything can just go so crazy, so fast?” he asked no one in particular.
He grabbed his tank top from the cave floor and helped dry her legs. She laughed and giggled, saying it tickled, using her mermaid voice again. Charlie cringed. I think I will never tell Michael about this.
But the more he kept her talking, and the drier her skin became, the more sense she started to make. Emily explained the bloodsucker's attack at Anthony Jordan's, and how she was turned into a mermaid. She explained that Melinda and William were helping Mack attempt to control the bloodsucker problem.
“Mr. Jordan seems like a real nice man,” Emily told him. “He's helping Michael research some way to change me back before sunset.” She looked longingly into the pool of water as she spoke again.
When her legs finally dried and her flippers disappeared, her human legs returned, Emily, the real Emily, reappeared. She turned bright red and wrapped Charlie’s wet tank around herself. She peered down and gasped, horrified. White, wet tank.
“Um,” stuttered Charlie. His eyes scoured the cave, stopping at the side of the pool.
One of the mermaid’s dresses was at the side of the pool. Torn a bit, but wearable. And not wet with saltwater. “Thank. Fucking. God.” He reached down and scooped it up. “Sorry, it’s torn a bit, but definitely better than the alternative.”
She took them gratefully.
He turned while she pulled one over her head.
It took longer than he thought it should, and he called out her name to see if she was done. When she didn’t respond he turned around cautiously. Emily was dressed but peering into the pool longingly.
“Yeah, why don't we get out of this cave, make a few calls and keep you away from the water?” Charlie grabbed hold of her arm before she jumped back in.
“Sorry. I can't help it, Charlie. The water calls to me. My sisters call to me, except...” she got an odd expression on her face.
“Except?”
