Beyond the Sea (35 page)

Peter walked back into the house. He instantly heard Melia’s raised voice. Fearing the worst, he ran through the halls. He had never been on this side of the house. Heart racing, he followed Melia’s voice until he saw her in Edward’s office. She was yelling at a computer, and wasn’t speaking English.

“Sinau asuie til ego! Sinau fecit ego tror sinau opus ego. Se
 
tama oli e verun! Sinau non angen ego,” she said.

A voice came from the computer, and it dawned on Peter that Melia was talking to someone. Once she spoke, he recognized Nyneve’s voice.

“Ego ville fortalle ego lopulta. Ego meddual ego oli auxilli ego,” she said.

“Auxilli ego? Pa mittere ego vive e asui? Kun dichan Peter, Matrem?”

Peter jumped at the sound of his name. He desperately wanted to know what was being said. “Miten est eam formosus pro eum?” An angry tear rolled down Melia’s cheek. She wiped it away, noticing Peter. They locked eyes, and Melia wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him and feel his strong embrace. On the verge of screaming, Melia slammed the power button down on the computer, holding it until the screen went blank.

Peter apprehensively stepped forward. Melia buried her face in her hands, taking deep breaths. Peter gently rested his hand on her arm. His skin was warm. It sent tingles through Melia’s body, making her shiver. Her emotions suddenly switched, and she threw herself at Peter, tangling her arms around his body. And then her mouth found his in a fury of need. Peter held her tight and kissed her back. When they broke apart, both were breathless.

“What is going on?” he whispered.

Melia blinked back tears. “A deal was made.”

Peter raised an eyebrow. “You need to explain more, please.”

Melia nodded. She took Peter’s hand and led him into the living room. She sat on the couch, close to Peter and swallowed hard. “Before my father died, he made a deal with someone named Waisea. Do you remember how I told you my mom’s marriage was arranged to unite races in the ocean?”

“Yea, I remember.”

“Ok, good. Waisea isn’t a merrow; he’s an adaro. He was good friends with my father. They made a deal that Waisea’s oldest son would marry my father’s youngest daughter.” She shyly looked at Peter.

He cocked his head, taking it in. “You?”

“Yes.” As she spoke the word, a chill ran through her. The deal was real. Vaianu expected her to marry him.

“But it’s not going to happen, right?” Peter asked, panic blooming in his heart.

“Vaianu thinks it will.”

“Vaianu, he’s the ‘friend’ you saw yesterday,” Peter speculated. Melia nodded. “And today, I’m assuming.”

“Yes. He came to tell me he wants to follow through with the arrangement, though he wasn’t that clear.”

“Tell him no. You’re not gonna marry that guy.”

“I’m not. Peter, I don’t want to.” She sniffled and held back tears. “But that means I can’t go into the ocean again.”

Shock stabbed at Peter’s heart. “Why?”

“A deal’s a deal. There are spoken words, promises, and
arrangements
. They are taken seriously by ocean dwellers. If I go back, it will be expected.”

“What are you going to do?” Peter asked, unable to control the words as they spilled from his mouth. He held onto Melia as if his life depended on it.

“I don’t know.” She shook her head, eyes filling with tears. “Stay here. I don’t want to marry him. I don’t want to be forced to be with someone I don’t even like. And I don’t want to leave you.”

He kissed her forehead. “I don’t want you to either.”

“I wish I had known.”

“Would you have been able to change anything?”

“Maybe. Maybe I could have told Vaianu that I would rather die than marry him. Maybe I could have gone to Actassi and asked for protection. But then again, the arrangement had been made. He would have found some way to take me.”

“I won’t let anyone take you. They’ll have to go through me first.”

“I don’t want anyone to take me.”

Peter pulled her onto his lap and kissed her. “No one will. I won’t let them.”

Melia wiggled around until she was straddling him. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Losing you would hurt me more than anything,” he whispered.

Emotion swelled inside Melia. “They can’t be out of the water for long. On land, we’re pretty safe,” she assured him and pressed her lips to his. The world melted away. All Melia wanted was Peter. She felt safe with him. She felt needed, comforted, wanted, and loved. And no one was going to take that away from her.

Ever.

-Chapter 14-

“Where’s Melia?” Amanda asked Peter several hours later.

“She’ll be here later,” Peter responded, draining his second beer. “She had something to do.”

“Oh. You look sad and lonely without her,” Amanda teased, expecting Peter to protest and laugh. He shrugged, as if admitting it to be true. “Where is she?”

“At her friend’s house,” Peter replied shortly, expecting Amanda to know he meant Jamie’s house. He half smiled and wandered away to find Connor. Even though he knew Melia would be joining him within an hour, he couldn’t help but miss her. Knowing about the arranged marriage didn’t sit well in his stomach. The thought of not being with her made Peter sick on its own; the thought of not being with her because she was forced to be with someone else was worse.

Peter never thought about marriage. It was too far in the future. But he had thought about the next year—his first at Berkeley—and imagined Melia with him. Though she didn’t have plans for college, which made sense now that he knew who she really was, he assumed they would see each other frequently. He pictured her staying in his dorm room, kissing her goodbye before he left for class.

He shook his head. It was too soon to be thinking like that. Yes, he intended on having a long term relationship with Melia that he couldn’t fathom an ending to. Now just wasn’t the time to be nostalgic. How could he help get Melia out of the deal? The realization that there was nothing he could do was crushing. He was defenseless against anything in the ocean.

“Pete!” Connor shouted. Peter jerked out of his dark reverie.

“Yea?”

“You alright? I’ve said your name like five times.”

He shook his head. “Uh, yea, I’m fine.”

“If you say so.” Connor handed him a Jack and Coke. “Shit,” he swore, looking behind Peter. “I’ll make them leave, if you want. I swear I didn’t invite them.”

Peter turned to see Janet and Brandon bickering as they walked up the driveway. Brandon tried to put his arm around Janet and she shoved him away, saying something Peter couldn’t hear.

“It’s ok,” Peter assured Connor. “I’ll be fine.” He gulped down his drink.

“Just let me know,” Connor said, not sounding convinced. Peter set down his empty cup. “You sure you’re alright there, buddy?” Connor pressed.

“Fine,” Peter said too quickly. He walked away to the kitchen to refill his drink. Connor followed.

“Did you get into a fight with Melia?” he inquired.

Peter shook his head and took a shot before pouring the Jack into his cup.

“Then why are you trying to get drunk so fast?”

“I’m not. Peter sighed. “My parents,” he only half lied. “They hate Melia for some reason.”

“Have they seen her?” Connor joked. “Seriously, though. Why?”

“Because she’s my girlfriend. Anything associated with me is bad, remember? I came home late Thursday and my mom freaked out about me having sex with Melia.”

“Deny it. If they haven’t caught you, then you can’t be guilty.”

“I don’t even care anymore.” He took another drink. “This year’s almost over. Then I’m out of there for good.”

Connor looked at Peter empathetically. He was about to say something when Nate called him out of the room. For the next hour, Peter wandered around trying to avoid Janet. As he stumbled his way to the kitchen to get yet another refill on his drink, he paused by the sliding glass doors that led to the back deck. Was that just a shadow? He could have sworn he saw a dark pair of eyes gleaming in the porch light.

Peter set his empty cup down, the music and laughter fading as his curiosity increased. He slid the heavy door open and stepped onto the dewy wood. A gust of wind caused the neighbor’s chime to clang about loudly. Peter squinted as if that would improve his sight. The dirt around the deck had been disturbed and drips of water trailed away.

Or towards. Peter couldn’t make up his mind. Unsteadily, he climbed over the railing to further investigate. Strange footprints stamped the surrounding earth. Peter crouched down and put his hand over it. Who—or what—ever left these prints was small, like a child. But the feet were wide and didn’t look human-made.

A twig snapped. Peter sprang up, hitting his head on the deck. He staggered back, not noticing the round figure lumbering forward.

“Pete!” Connor yelled, leaning out the doorway. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I…I thought I saw something,” Peter mumbled, rubbing his head. He sighed and slowly made his way back inside.

*

Melia started her car, her hands still shaking. Recanting the information to Jamie upset her more than she expected. Yes, it was a bad situation to be in, but it could be worse. Or at least that’s what she tried to convince herself.

They had decided, after much debate, that Vaianu wouldn’t wait for Melia forever. Once he realized she was land-bound he would give up and move on, allowing Melia to safely visit the ocean she loved so much. He would find another merrow, come up with some mastermind plan that would never pan out and live as outcasts, taking their anger out on any humans that dare take on the ocean alone. Not even Vaianu would risk being discovered.

She had stayed at Jamie’s longer than she’d planned and now had to rush home to change and meet Peter at Connor’s party. Her heart swelled at the thought of him and she smiled to herself, suddenly anxious to see him again.

Not liking the empty house, Melia ran to her room. Wolfy followed close behind, keeping a watchful eye on his owner. Since it was so nice out today, Melia left the balcony doors open so Gwen could enjoy the warm breeze. She put her hand on the doorknob, ready to pull it closed when she saw her.

“Nerina,” she whispered. Wolfy pushed through the doors and wagged his tail, letting out a friendly bark. “Nerina!” she repeated, turning and sprinting through the house to the beach. The pale figure of a naked young woman struggled to her feet. Melia rushed to her side, putting an arm around her faltering friend, wanting to get her away from the water.

She helped her inside; Nerina collapsed instantly. Melia took a deep breath, pulling the shredded fibers of her composure together. Like other Oceanids, Nerina was beautiful. Her body, once supple like Melia’s, was thin. Her skin stretched over her bones, pale and thin. Her cheeks where hollow and devoid of color and a deep cut bled on her right bicep.

Melia dropped beside her, throwing her arms around her friend. “What happened?” she asked, speaking in English, forgetting Nerina didn’t speak anything but Mermish. Melia shook her head and repeated her question, speaking in the language that Nerina would understand.

“I’ve been swimming for so long,” Nerina spoke, her voice hoarse. “I’m so glad you’re ok, Melia. I was so worried.”

“Worried? About me? Why?”

Nerina looked at Melia incredulously. “He said he was coming for you.”

“Who?”

“Vaianu.”

“The arrangement,” Melia breathed. Nerina nodded.

“I wanted to warn you. He’s already caused so much trouble.”

“Trouble, what trouble?”

“You’ve been gone too long,” Nerina said with a smile. “The whole ocean is in turmoil.”

“What?!” Nerina nodded. Melia wanted to press her for details but her friend looked so weak. “When was the last time you ate?” she asked gently, feeling sickened by Nerina’s thin frame. “I can get you something.”

“I would like that,” Nerina told her. Melia stood and opened the refrigerator. Her cooking skills were very limited, but she was able to make a decent turkey sandwich. Nerina eyed the bread and poked at it.

“It’s dry,” she said, wrinkling her nose. Melia laughed, remembering her first experiences with human food. She quickly rummaged around and cut up some fruit. Nerina ate hastily. “I feel so much better.” She smiled at Melia. “Thank you.” Nerina looked around the large kitchen with fear in her eyes. “How can you stand it?” she asked and then looked embarrassed.

Melia shrugged. “I hated it at first. Then I got used to it. Now I like it.” She filled two glasses with apple juice and sat next to Nerina. Wolfy, who had been waiting patiently, shyly walked over and nudged Nerina. “That’s Wolfy,” Melia explained. “He’s a dog.”

“Melia, I know what a dog is,” Nerina said in a tone that reminded Melia too much of Lana. She pet him for a minute before getting up, enchanted by the lights and buttons on the microwave. She opened it, got startled by the light and moved on to the freezer. “It’s so cold!” she exclaimed, sticking her head inside.

Melia knew that Nerina had been inside a human’s house at least twice. Nerina loved seducing and luring good looking, young men to the water. Occasionally, she would accompany them back to their own bedrooms. Most of the time, however, her man of choice resided on a boat or a small house near the water, and she never stayed long enough to fully explore any human inventions.