ELEMENTS: Acquiesce Page 13

  “No chance of Max and Rafe running off with them this way, and at least we have the boat if we run into any trouble,” explained Nerissa.

  “Fair enough,” said Cordelia, climbing into the boat. “I see your leg’s healed Masika.”

  “It’s grand. Amatheia worked wonders on it.”

  Just then, Lana came sauntering down the path to the cove with her towel thrown over her shoulder.

  “It’s a good job this place is well hidden,” said Cordelia. “You’d give the men of the town heart failure walking around like that.”

  Lana smiled and climbed into the boat. Masika and Nerissa pushed the boat away from the shore with their oars and away they went. The weather was beautiful, the water calm and the sun gently warmed their shoulders as they rowed around the reef to the rock pools. Cordelia admired the bright pink sea thrift that adorned the cliff tops and inhaled the fresh sea air deep into her lungs.

  Eventually their little rowing boat reached the rock pools. They tied the rope around a rock and clambered the short distance to the third pool which was now closer to them than the first. Cordelia never usually swam in the third pool.

  “I like this pool,” said Lana, “it’s farthest away from prying eyes.”

  “What about fishermen?” asked Nerissa.

  “It’s the Sabbath day, they’ll all be at church.”

  “Are you ready?” asked Masika.

  “Ready,” replied Lana and Nerissa.

  The three girls entered the water while Cordelia remained on the rocks, squinting in the direction of the peat bog. There was no sign of Breck or his horse.

  “Cordelia, we want to show you something,” said Lana.

  Cordelia appeared not to hear her friend.

  “Cordelia,” called Lana.

  Cordelia turned back to her friends. “Sorry, I was miles away.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll protect you,” said Nerissa.

  Cordelia looked confused.

  “From the ravens,” added Nerissa, “that’s if they show their faces at all.”

  “Cordelia, please, this is important,” said Lana.

  “Okay, you have my undivided attention.”

  “We want you to see our tails,” said Nerissa.

  Cordelia’s eyes lit up. “Okay, are you sure?”

  “Of course,” said Lana, “we want you to know there’s nothing to be worried about.”

  The three mermaids dived beneath the surface. Bright colours burst through the water and there they were, three colourful fishtails.

  “How did you do it?” asked Cordelia excitedly, crouching down on the rocks by the water’s edge.

  “There’s no secret,” said Lana, “you just think about wanting your tail and there it is.”

  “So every time I think of my tail it will just appear?”

  “No, you have to want to make use of it,” explained Lana.

  “It’ll only work if you’re in the water,” said Nerissa.

  “Can I touch it?”

  “Sure,” said Lana.

  Cordelia reached her hand out and touched the shimmering emerald scales of Lana’s tail. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

  “I’m sure yours will be just as pretty,” called Masika.

  “Are you reading my thoughts?” asked Cordelia.

  Masika stopped dead in the water, “Would you believe me if I said no?”

  ‘Stop thinking,’ thought Cordelia, ‘stop thinking, Breck, stop it, Breck, stop, Breck, she’s going to hear me. She’ll find out about Breck, stop it, stop it. Stop thinking. Not thinking. She’s looking at me. Someone make it stop. Please make it stop.’

  Masika eyeballed Cordelia.

  “Please Masika, stop reading my thoughts.”

  “Only if you tell us who Breck is.”

  All three mermaids were now still as statues in the water, listening intently for a response.

  “He’s an old friend.”

  “Does he know about us?” asked Lana.

  Cordelia shook her head.

  “Does he know about you?”

  “No.” Tears filled Cordelia’s eyes.

  “She’s lying,” said Masika. “Please say it’s not true Cordelia.”

  “What?” asked Lana.

  “She loves him.”

  “Who?” asked Nerissa.

  “Breck!” said Lana and Masika in sync.

  “Did someone call my name?”

  Breck was walking across the rocks towards the third pool. From where he was, he could only see Cordelia.

  ‘Oh no,’ thought Cordelia, ‘not now.’

  “Get rid of him!” snapped Masika. “You can’t let him see us. Not like this.”

  “You can’t fall for him,” said Lana, “it will never work.”

  “Take him away from the rocks so we can leave,” said Nerissa. “Tell him you can’t see him anymore.”

  “Tell him you were joking about being a mermaid,” said Lana. “It’ll be okay, it’s not like he’s seen your tail or anything.”

  Cordelia took a deep breath.

  “It’s too late,” said Masika, “he’s already seen her powers.”

  Cordelia bit her lip and folded her arms. The warm air cooled and the wind blew stronger.

  “What did you do that for?!” shouted Lana. “Are you stupid?!”

  “We thought we could trust you,” said Nerissa.

  “Maybe Morwen was right about you,” said Masika.

  “I’m sorry,” said Cordelia as a tear rolled down her cheek.

  “It’s no use crying. You broke the rules,” said Lana.

  “They’re your rules, not mine!” shouted Cordelia and she marched across the rocks towards Breck.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Breck.

  “We have to go,” sobbed Cordelia, wiping her face on her sleeve.

  Lana, Nerissa and Masika peered over the edge of the pool and watched Cordelia and Breck walk towards the peat bog.

  “What’s she thinking?” asked Lana.

  “I don’t know, but this isn’t going to be easy. She loves him,” said Masika.

  “Do you think we were too hard on her?” asked Nerissa.

  Lana and Masika glared at Nerissa.

  “Okay, I was just trying to be the voice of reason. Maybe it’s not all bad, maybe we can fix this.”

  “And how do you propose we do that?” asked Lana.

  “Maybe Marilla could make him forget?”

  Masika shook her head.

  “What else did you hear?” asked Lana.

  “Marilla’s powers won’t work on Breck,” said Masika.

  “Why not?” asked Nerissa.

  “He’s an energy carrier,” revealed Masika. “An untrained one.”

  “Then she’s in danger,” said Nerissa. “We can’t leave her.”

  The three mermaids dried themselves and hurried across the rocks.

  After following Cordelia across the rocks, Breck grabbed her by the arm and turned her towards him. “Cordelia, what’s happened?”

  Sobbing, Cordelia said, “I can’t see you anymore?”

  “Why not?” asked Breck, who was feeling just as hurt as Cordelia.

  Cordelia glanced over Breck’s shoulder where she could see her friends marching frantically towards her. Breck turned around.

  “Who are they?”

  “My friends,” said Cordelia, softly. “At least they were.”

  “Have you been arguing?”

  Cordelia nodded woefully.

  “About me?”

  “They said I can’t see you anymore.”

  “What’s it to do with them?” asked Breck, angered. “Are they like you?”

  Cordelia nodded. As Breck reached out his hand to wipe the tears from Cordelia’s face, an aquamarine tear rolled down her cheek and landed in Breck’s palm.

  “Step back from her!” commanded Masika.

  “What’s this? Safety in numbers?” asked Breck.

  “Think of it as an intervention,
” said Lana.

  “An intervention? What’s it to do with you?”

  “It has everything to do with us,” said Masika, “which is why this little romance needs to end. Right now.”

  “No chance,” said Breck, “you’re just jealous.”

  “Jealous?” snapped Masika.

  “This has nothing to do with jealousy,” said Lana.

  “Then what is it?” asked Breck.

  “Breck,” said Lana, “we don’t mean you any harm but whatever this is between the two of you must end. No good can come of a relationship between a mermaid and someone like you.”

  “Someone like me?”

  “Yes, and I trust that you’ll keep our differences quiet as we will yours.”

  “Differences? What d’you know about me?”

  “He doesn’t know what he is,” said Masika.

  “Is that so?” asked Lana.

  “Well aren’t you going to tell him?” asked Nerissa.

  Masika shot daggers at her sister.

  “You’re an energy carrier,” said Lana. “You’re from two different worlds, it won’t work.”

  “Do I get any say in this?” snapped Cordelia. “Or will you be making all future decisions for me?”

  “It’s not me,” began Lana.

  “I suppose it’s the rules. Let me ask you something, did any of your parents marry for love or was it all convenience and social status?”

  “Shhhhh!” said Masika.

  “Don’t tell me to shush!” said Cordelia.

  “No, really, I can hear someone else.”

  The group stopped arguing and listened.

  “I don’t hear anyone,” said Nerissa.

  “A girl, I can hear her thoughts. She knows you Breck. She’s here, she can see us.”

  “Where?” asked Lana, panicked.

  The group scanned the area, there was nobody in sight.

  “She’s behind the wall,” said Masika, “she’s heard everything we’ve said.”

  Breck turned towards the peat bog. “Keeva? Are you there?”

  Slowly, Keeva stood up behind the stone wall.

  “I didn’t know she was there, I swear.”

  “He’s telling the truth,” said Masika.

  “Will you get out of our heads,” said Cordelia.

  “Keeva, come here,” called Breck.

  Keeva shook her head as she walked towards the hut where Misty and Breck had spent the night.

  “Leave Misty,” called Breck. He waited for a moment, hoping Keeva would stop but she didn’t. “Keeva!” he called as he hurried across the track to stop her.

  Keeva emerged from the hut with Misty. “Stay back!” she shouted. “Keep those monsters away from me!”

  “Wait,” pleaded Breck as Keeva led Misty out of the bog, “you don’t understand.”

  “I understand plenty,” hissed Keeva.

  “We’ll sit down and talk.”

  “Not with them.”

  “They mean no harm.”

  “Are you mad?! They’re mermaids, aren’t they?”

  “Please Keeva, don’t do anything rash.”

  “You’ve been out all night,” said Keeva. “I was worried about you. Why don’t you come home with me?”

  “I can’t.”

  “Come home or I’ll tell father everything.”

  “D’you see what you’ve done, Cordelia?” asked Masika.

  Breck chewed the inside of his cheek. “I’m sorry Cordelia, I have to go.”

  “Wait,” pleaded Cordelia.

  “I’m sorry, I’ll see you later,” said Breck and he left on his horse with Keeva.

  “Where are we going?” asked Keeva. “This isn’t the way home.”

  “Somewhere we can talk.”

  “About the mermaids? One word from me and they’ll be locked up.”

  Breck pulled the horse to a stop and jumped down.

  “Why are you so bitter?” he asked.

  “Father wants to send me to the workhouse in Kilrush. You don’t want that, do you?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Then come home with me. Persuade father not to send me away.”

  “I don’t think I could persuade him to do anything.”

  “Then work the land. Earn enough money to make us rich.”

  “I’ve never known a man to grow rich from digging a peat bog.”

  “He might if he didn’t waste his time fooling around with a sea monster.”

  “She’s not a monster.”

  “Tell that to the authorities. That’s who you’ll be explaining yourself to if you don’t help me.”

  Keeva noticed the aquamarine stone in Breck’s hand. “Where did you find that?”

  Unsure of how to explain it, Breck didn’t say anything.

  “Did you find it in the bog? Father’s gonna send Connal and William to help you dig tomorrow, he thinks it’s filled with precious stones. This could be the end of all our problems.”

  “I don’t know about that, I’ve never found any before.”

  “Father found some just like these in the fire. Reckons they were in the turf you brought home.”

  Breck got back on the horse and they galloped back to the tavern.

  The tavern was the busiest it had been in recent months and the punters were high as kites. Breck almost stumbled over a man lying on the floor.

  “Jerry,” he said, bending down to help.

  “Ah, leave him be,” said Mr Kelly. “He’s at peace with the floor.”

  Mr Kelly beckoned Breck closer. “Have you seen any of these before?” He opened his hand to reveal the gemstones.

  “No Sir,” said Breck.

  “Seems we might be sitting on a treasure chest with that peat bog of yours. I’m sending Connal and William to help dig tomorrow. See what treasures they can dig up.”

  While Mr Kelly served a punter, Breck slipped out the back door.

  “You’d better not be disappearing to see that sea monster,” hissed Keeva.

  “You’re being ridiculous.”

  “See her again and I’ll tell father all your secrets.”

  TEN

  NIXIE’S WARNING

  Needing time by herself, Cordelia decided to walk back to the lighthouse alone. She watched as her friends left in the rowing boat. The air was so tense she could have cut it with a knife. Cordelia wasn’t sure if her friendship with the mermaids would ever recover. She feared she may be banished the very next day, the same day Triton and Mazu were due to return. Feeling insecure, Cordelia walked back down onto the rocks. She didn’t want to return to the lighthouse, not yet. Right now, the reef was the only place she felt safe. She stepped down onto a ledge at the second pool and nestled into the rocks which sheltered her from the wind. She felt comforted, despite the bleak appearance of her surroundings. Cordelia watched the ripples race across the water, all the while wondering how it was that life can change so dramatically in the blink of an eye. It wasn’t fair.

  Cordelia sat by the pool until dusk when the tide turned. Water cascaded over the rocks into the pool but as she stood up to leave, the running water froze in time and the ripples became smooth as glass. Cordelia saw the reflection of a large sea bird in the water. She looked up but it was gone. Cordelia scanned the sky, confused by how quickly it had disappeared. She looked back at the pool and the bird’s reflection was still there staring back at her. Cordelia leaned forward to get a closer look but the bird spread its wings and flew away. Cordelia looked all around her but there were no birds in the sky, not as far as the eye could see. The deathly still waters sent shivers surging through Cordelia’s strong frame. White sea mist crept over the rocks, caressing every crevice as it had done before. Mist turned to fog and it rose up high around her until all she could see was the pool in front of her. The water looked grey at first, then silver. She wasn’t scared, she knew what was coming. Cordelia stood fearlessly at the edge of the pool with baited breath, her sapphire eyes vibrant against the eerie g
rey backdrop. She willed the image of Flynn to appear. Within seconds a vision of Flynn appeared on the water’s surface. He looked pained, much thinner than before. Cordelia wasn’t worried about that. All that mattered was that he was alive, and now she believed he was. All she had to do was find him.

  “Flynn, where are you?” she asked softly.

  The silence was deafening.

  “Flynn!” she shouted.

  There was no response. Not wanting to waste a moment longer, Cordelia turned to go in search of the man who’d raised her but the thick fog lingered. She looked back at the water, the vision was gone. The sea began pouring uncontrollably into the pool but the fog remained. From the corner of her eye, Cordelia noticed a black figure dart by. She turned quickly and saw a raven fly past, then another and another. Keeping calm, Cordelia closed her eyes and dispersed the fog with one fell swoop of her hand. The ravens kept coming and the daylight was fading fast.

  “What do you want?!” she cried.

  Cordelia had to think fast. She flung herself into the waves but the ravens plunged in after her, one by one like bullets searing through the water. Cordelia remained focused on getting away. Never once looking back, she swam straight out to sea with no idea what may be on the horizon.

  A strange tingling sensation stole through her veins and Cordelia began to swim like a fish, swimming faster than ever before. In the evening twilight, Cordelia had transformed into a fully fledged mermaid, a remarkable moment that none of her friends were privileged to witness. She’d left the ravens far behind and now the newborn mermaid was alone in the sea, with only a few curious fish and the elements for company. Below the water’s surface, Cordelia looked down at her fishtail in awe. She wiggled her tail back and forth and splashed as hard as she could. Cordelia swam for hours in the endless ocean, chasing the moonlight, beneath which her tail glistened silver against an ink filled sea. As she swam, she could feel her senses growing stronger, she could see the seabed clearly and she could hear the crabs scuttling along the bottom. Everything about her was stronger. Cordelia swam to a rocky outcrop where she perched on a ledge and bathed her tail in the moonlit sea. She began to sing a lullaby that Flynn used to sing to her when she was young. She had the voice of an angel. A pod of dolphins swam towards her, jumping elegantly out of the water as they travelled. They beckoned her to join them and she playfully swam with the dolphins through the night until sunrise when she returned to the lighthouse.