Silver Tides (Silver Tides Series) (34 page)

selection

“Arthur is no doubt waiting for us,” Dr. Conneely agreed, heavily.

An ominous vibe filled our group. I felt like my head was under the guillotine, waiting for the blade to drop. Kerensa’s husband had deliberately taken the Heart of the Sea, and someone cunning enough to hide a pelt in a grave would hold nothing back after losing his wife. I chewed my lip, wondering how we could convince him to give us the artifact.

“So the good doctor, Charlie and I should go pay him a visit,” Daniel said resolutely, his tone conveying that they would force the Heart of the Sea from Arthur’s grasp.

“We can be the muscle to Dr. Conneely’s hustle,” Charlie joked, sounding like a total nerd.

“You spent a lot of time in your locker in high school, didn’t you?” Daniel teased.

Charlie laughed, a goofy smile on his face. The guys were happy to take on the job, but I was unconvinced that force would work with a man like Arthur.

“I think I should go,” I interjected. The dynamic in the group became somber.

Mum shook her head, while Sophia looked at her feet, unwilling to get involved in the battle.

“No,” Daniel said resolutely, “you’re not going.”

“Come on man,” Charlie persuaded, always on my side. “We’ll all be there with her to keep her safe. This is her mission after all.”

I shot Charlie a grateful smile.

Daniel was unmoved. “You’re not going, it’s not safe, that guy kept Kerensa a prisoner for decades, there is no way that you’re going anywhere near him.”

His tone made me feel like a petulant child, it was annoying.

“Dr. Conneely threatened him to return Kerensa’s pelt and had no luck; what makes you think that you’ll be able to sway him?” I asked, a hard edge to my voice.

“There’ll be three of us,” Daniel replied, as though the numbers would automatically lead to victory.

“He’s old, and he’s got nothing to lose,” I replied, with attitude. “His wife just left him, he’s no doubt going to die soon and you think that roughing him up is going to make him give you the Heart of the Sea? I don’t think so.”

“Don’t make this a bleeding heart mission,” Daniel said, exasperated. “He doesn’t need a counseling session, he needs to learn some respect.”

“And that’s achieved by force?” I challenged. There had been multiple times in our relationship that Daniel and I had disagreed about how to handle Miranda or whether violence was the best revenge. Until that point our disagreements had been hypothetical and less public. With five lives on the line, it was a battle of life and death.

“I’m going to die if we don’t get the Heart of the Sea,” Daniel said passionately. “Mother will die. The selkie pups will die. You can’t reason with this guy, just let us get it.”

I shook my head, the air charged with emotion. Sophia had silent tears running down her cheeks, and Mum was death glaring at Daniel. Charlie had moved incrementally toward me, his proximity a sign of support. Doctor Conneely looked between us torn.

My heart was pounding so loud; it drained out the howling wind heralding the imminent storm. Tourists sidestepped us, raising their eyebrows in our direction, but not getting too close.

“I understand how important a positive outcome to this mission is,” I stated levelly, fighting the adrenaline coursing through my body, that just made me want to run and hide. “But you won’t be able to get the Heart of the Sea. I need to go.”

Daniel stared at me, his eyes willing me to recant. I set my chin regally, unflinching under Daniel’s gaze.

“Fine,” he agreed. “We’ll all go together.”

A little grin played across my lips at the victory, but I knew the fight wasn’t over. “I’m going alone.”

“No,” Daniel stated, resolute. “Absolutely not.”

“It’s the only way,” I reasoned. “He’s more likely to listen to me than anyone else.”

“She’s right.” Dr. Conneely weighed in. “Mya has to be the one to talk to him.”

“Why is that?” Daniel asked, unconvinced.

“She’s the one that was foretold by the mermaid oracles of old,” Dr. Conneely stated.

Daniel ran his fingers through his hair frustrated. “Seriously? The mermaids are superstitious and paranoid; you can’t believe a thing they say. Their tails make them fish brained, you can’t trust them. Not to mention, it’s only been a hundred and fifty years, how much prophecy can you spin in such a short time?”

“They foretold that an alien would return light to Atlantis,” Dr. Conneely quoted, “it has to be Mya. Think of all she’s done…”

“No it doesn’t,” Daniel spat through gritted teeth, “that is a vague insipid prophecy that no rational person would believe.”

“The Heart of the Sea has been missing for one hundred and fifty years,” Charlie interjected, “and this is the first time that anyone has come this far to retrieve it. Mya found Kerensa’s pelt on a feeling… a hunch… I say we trust her.”

“He could grab her and kill her or worse keep her,” Daniel articulated, seriously. “He knows the terrain, we don’t stand a chance.”

“He’s not going to hurt me,” I assured Daniel, realizing that I hadn’t thought through everything that could go wrong. Daniel was right; Arthur had the home field advantage. Maybe I was being foolhardy thinking I could convince him to return the Heart of the Sea, but it felt right that I should go.

“You don’t know that,” Daniel said pained. He stepped forward, placing his hand on my cheek. “I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.”

The look in his eyes made my heart summersault in my chest, the cool of his hand on my cheek was enough to fill me with shivers of desire. We were standing in an ancient theatre, surrounded by nature’s song, on a romantic stage. It was the perfect place for a tender kiss or a wedding… I stilled the errant thought, because we were not on a romantic getaway, we were trying to save five lives.

Daniel’s words made me uncertain, maybe he was right. Arthur had kept Kerensa captive for decades; there was nothing to stop him from doing the same to me.

“You won’t let anything happen to me,” I told him, placing my hand on his. “If I’m not back in 20 minutes, you kick the door in and get me. Just let me try.”

The battle waged in Daniel’s eyes, to let me go or force me to do things his way.

“We can wait just around the corner of the house,” Charlie offered quietly. “We have that locator from Alamer. The one we had to wear as a security measure till they verified our story. I’m pretty sure that I can run it through my iPhone, we’ll know where Mya is the whole time.”

“They made you wear locators?” I asked shocked; that was part of the story Daniel had left out.

“Yeah,” Daniel said, embarrassed. “Four naked strangers claiming to be royalty was unusual, so they made us wear locators until they were certain of who we were. They were just bracelets.”

Charlie held up his wrist, displaying a leather band with a shell that was just a little too perfect to be natural. “I asked if I could keep mine for our dog, they showed me how it would work with a phone. It’s impressive.”

“OK,” Daniel agreed reluctantly, “but Charlie and I will be around the corner.”

I hugged him before planting a firm kiss on his lips, despite our mothers being present. We were on the stage in the Minack Theatre; we needed one moment of teenage abandon.

“I’ll get it,” I assured him, my arms still wrapped around his waist, he pulled me close.

Daniel nodded, unconvinced. “I hope you get the Heart of the Sea and that lunatic doesn’t get you.”

“With us as her security,” Charlie assured, comically. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

There wasn’t a single person in our group who was unworried.

the fisherman

In less than an hour we were trudging across the green blanket of grass being blown by high-speed winds and haunted by pregnant rain clouds. The storm was gathering its fury and I didn’t know if the bad weather was a warning or a way to garner sympathy from Arthur.

Daniel held my hand with vice-clamp-grip, while Charlie walked beside us looking full of optimism. His energy was buoying me across the green grass. I focused on succeeding.

I’d convinced Mum and Sophia to stay at the apartment and pack up, so that when we returned with the Heart of the Sea, we could leave immediately. Dr. Conneely volunteered to stay in the car, in case we needed to leave quickly. I appreciated that we didn’t have him hobbling beside us incase of an emergency exit.

I felt like I’d eaten moths for lunch, my stomach was in such a flutter. While on the outside I was exuding calm confidence, internally I was a wreck. What was I thinking volunteering to speak to the old kook? Daniel was right; he could keep me or cook me.

The fact that he could do the same to Daniel or Charlie, kept me walking toward the cottage. I'd fought to be the one to talk to Arthur, not only because I hoped he'd listen to me, but it was also to protect Daniel and Charlie from roughing up an old man. That was something I wouldn't want on my conscience. I wanted to protect them, not only from being potentially physically harmed, but also to save their consciences.

The wind was tearing at my hair and clothes, demanding that I turn back. It just made me more determined. I had no choice. I had to retrieve the Heart of the Sea, there was too much at stake.

The cottage blended into the field under the gray light. The dirty clouds felt low enough to reach up and touch them, hanging over us like gray dusty fairy floss.

I shivered, the only two windows were beside the door, the guys couldn’t see me if anything went wrong. We stopped just short of the cottage, huddling together to be heard over the squealing wind.

“Wait beside the house,” I told them, my voice surprisingly calm and determined. “Let’s set our watches so that we are all on the same time. If I’m not back in twenty minutes, casually wander over to check on me.”

Daniel’s face was grim, while Charlie had become cheerfully resolute.

“You’ll be back before then,” Charlie assured. He was confident in my ability to complete the mission. I wanted to hug him, but I hugged Daniel instead, wanting to avoid any jealousy.

“I’ll be back shortly,” I breathed into his ear.

Daniel nodded, unable to find a voice over his concern for my safety.

Turning to the cottage door without the guys made me feel exposed. I forced one foot in front of the other, pushing the fear from my mind. Meeting Arthur was scary, but not as frightening as having to live without Daniel. Sometimes life offered two bad choices, but at least the choice was mine, for that I was grateful. Steadying my breathing, I rounded the cottage and walked past the small window.

My eyes caught the form of a bear sized man sitting at the small wooden table that we’d pretended to drink stale tea at days ago. A shudder made its way up my back, causing a dull pain in the back of my neck. It took all my will power to continue to the door and knock.

The wind was so loud I couldn’t hear if his footsteps were confident or if he shuffled. I regretted not asking Dr. Conneely more questions about what to expect from Arthur, maybe it was for the best.

Waiting at the door seemed to take eons. I raised my fist again, knocking hard twice. On the third knock the door swung open and my hand connected with air, unbalancing me so that I had to step forward.

I found myself inches from the barrel shaped chest of a man two heads taller than me. His long black hair was turning gray before my eyes. His face was weathered by the outdoors and time, despite that he had chiseled features. He had a Gregory Peck air about him, except for his menacing eyes. Arthur’s eyes made me shudder and step back.

“What de ye want?” he spat, angrily.

“I need your help,” I asked pathetically. I’d always thought that people were good, that even the hardest person only needed to be called to goodness. I hoped that laying out my case would move Arthur to help me.

“If yer lost it’s your own fault,” he replied, looking at me with disgust. “Ye should not be traipsing around thoughtlessly.”

Arthur grabbed the door to slam it in my face; instinctively I stuck my foot in the door to keep it open.

“I’m not lost,” I replied meeting his eyes that were so dark they looked black. “You have something that belongs to me.”

His eyes searched my face, seeking a point of recognition, but none came. “I don’t know ye, and I’ve got nothing for ye.”

“The Heart of the Sea was left for me,” I said, my voice strong and firm. “I want it back.”

He stared at me incredulous. “You’re one of them.” He motioned to the sea. "Why would I help ye?"

"Because you can save three children's lives," I argued passionately. He opened the door, allowing me to step back.

"What do I care of your kind!" Arthur spat bitterly. "The only Selkie I cared about is gone. Run off with a sea dog."

It was the only chance that I was going to get; I had to take it.

With my heart in my eyes, I begged, "Please, you've lost the woman you love. It hurts. If you don't give me the Heart of the Sea, I'll lose the man I love. He'll be executed, along with three children. Please help me. Please."

"Why would I help ye?" he yelled angrily, stepping toward me menacingly. "Ye took her away from me. I know who ye are, ye’re one of the Emmets who helped her dig up me mothers grave. Ye gave her back her pelt! I should kill you!"

His hand shot out, grabbing me by the throat, a crazed look in his eyes. My hands shot up grabbing his muscular forearms, my throat burning as he tried to crush my windpipe. When my clawing fingers wouldn't budge his hands, I punched him in the throat with my knuckle. I’d hoped that the punch would remove his hands, but his hands held firm, only loosening his grip slightly. I grabbed his wrists, like Dad had taught me and twisted them out, bending his arms at breaking angle. I hadn’t planned for the meeting to degenerate into a fight, but I was trapped. I held his arms in a painful position, inches from breaking point, threatening.

"Where is it?" I screeched, my throat throbbing.

An evil smile spread across his lips. "I'll never give it to ye. My gift to ye, is the same ye gave me. Ye'll lose him the way I lost me Kerensa."

The grim determination in his eyes chilled me to the core. I couldn't understand such indifference.

"Why would you do this?" I asked disgusted, still holding him in the arm lock.

"Overnight me hair has grayed, me body’s aged, me hands have lost their strength," he replied, "all because some Emmets come into town looking for the Heart of the Sea. Yer interfering is killing me and now I’m going to let it kill the ones ye love."

Looking into his eyes I saw a shriveled old man who only cared for himself. I shook my head revolted. “You never loved Kerensa. Now, I understand why she never loved you. You’re a monster. You’re about to meet your God, and instead of doing the right thing, you’re going to continue being selfish. Well you’ve gotten your reward for your actions, enjoy dying alone.”

I pushed him away from him, and backed away, unwilling to turn my back on him. In his weakening state, he understood that I could defend myself. My face burned with shame at having said something so heartless. He was an old man, and my words would no doubt be the last ones he would hear. My words had hit into a place that hurt him deeply. He looked at me, a forsaken look in his eyes, as though he were seeing himself for the first time. A mixture of emotions played across his face.

“Stop. Wait,” he called. “Yer right. I’ll give it to ye.”

“Why?” I asked suspiciously, unwilling to trust his sudden change of heart.

“I’m gonna die,” he exhaled, as age spots began to appear on his face. “My last act aught not be letting children die.”

“What do you want in return?” I hedged, trying to find his angle. His sudden change didn’t feel right.

“Ye need to get the star yerself.” He sighed, his shoulders drooping. “I hid it in the caves under our cottage, and I’m too old to get it meself.”

Alarms rang in my mind, but the desperation to save Daniel was greater than my self-preservation.

I nodded. Arthur opened the cottage door, for me to enter.

“Leave it open,” I ordered, trying to maintain some kind of control. Accommodatingly Arthur kicked a wedge under the door, to keep it ajar.

He walked across the wooden slats, and pushed the table and chairs against the slate wall. The fire danced in agitation as the wind tried to blow it out through the open door. The curtain swayed revealing a made bed, as though Arthur was trying to keep everything just the way that Kerensa had left it, holding onto the last shreds of her presence in his life. My heart went out to him, in his own twisted way he did love her. It was wrong destructive love, that could never keep anyone satisfied, but it was all he knew. I wondered what his family had been like for his view of love to be so twisted. I felt sorry for him.

Arthur knelt on the floor, running his hands along a wooden slat. He jiggled it with his thick sausage fingers. The dirt shifted, a plume of dust blew into the air, and Arthur pulled the short plank from the floor. He removed a second and a third, revealing a hole dug into the shallow dirt, which opened into a slate rock cave below. The hole was large enough for a bear sized man to climb in and out. There was no way I was going down there. I just had to stall till Daniel and Charlie arrived.

“Don’t look so worried, lass,” Arthur grumbled. “It’s a long tunnel, that leads to a cave, the Heart of the Sea is in a compartment down there.”

“I’m not going down there alone,” I told him frankly.

“I’ll lead the way,” he offered.

“If you can lead the way, then why do I have to go with you?” I reasoned, unwilling to enter into his subterfuge. “You can go get it for me, and I’ll wait here.”

He smirked at my distrust. “Ye come here alone, attack me, insult me, and then you’re too scared to trust me.”

“You tried to strangle me,” I pointed out deadpan, guilt swishing around my body at my deplorable behavior.

“You punched me in the throat,” he shot back, “seems to me, we’re even.”

We stood staring each other down, at an impasse.

“If ye don’t come now, then I’ll close up this hole and you can leave,” he challenged.

“You’re going to die soon,” I bluffed, confidently. “I can just wait for the big event and find it once you’re gone.”

“It seems to me that ye might be under a time constraint to be here alone,” he sneered. “It could take days or weeks for me to die. And with me dies the only person that knows the exact location of the Heart of the Sea. There are countless tunnels down there; ye could be searching for months, even years before you find it. This is a one time offer, lass, I’ll go first and you can follow me right now...”

He swung his legs heavily into the hole, lowering himself onto the stone bottom weakly. His head and shoulders were still visible momentarily before he ducked his head, and slowly shuffled out of sight.

I checked my watch. Daniel and Charlie were six minutes away. The door was ajar, and the hole in the floor was visible. My head told me to stay, it was too dangerous, and Arthur could do anything to me. But my heart told me to follow him; I could defend myself if I had to.

I took a deep breath, and crouched beside the hole before throwing my legs over the edge to follow. I effortlessly slid into the darkened cave. Apart from the torch Arthur was carrying the cave was black as tar. I cringed at being under ground. I hated enclosed areas. There was no other way but to trust Arthur and his menacing eyes.

Charlie and Daniel would be after us soon, what was the worst that could happen in six minutes?