Bluedawn (A Watermagic Novel, #2) (9 page)

“Don’t give up,” I said to myself as I gasped
for air. I used all my muscle and mental strength to push forward.
I had no idea how far out this island of flowers and stones
was.

I was exhausted. My body felt so weak that I
had to stop to rest. To conserve energy I doggie paddled in place
for a while. As I analyzed the situation, I realized something
didn’t seem right.

The island couldn’t be this far out. With all
my team training, I was a very strong swimmer. I was fast and could
swim great lengths. I was one of the best swimmers in my
school.

It was unlikely that Wren, Lyra, or Gia could
make it even this far. There was no way they all could be better
swimmers than me. Possibly one of them could have greater endurance
in the water than I did, but the likelihood that all of them
possessed superior skills, seemed most unlikely.

Maybe they lied about the island. But why
would they do that? Then it occurred to me that I could have been
swimming in the wrong direction. The island could be northeast or
southeast. As far as I knew I had been swimming east. Possibly I
had missed it in the dark.

I looked around and everything was almost
completely black. Just tiny shimmers of light sparkled on the water
from the moon and stars. I realized that in my anguish over Dylan,
I had acted stupidly. What was I thinking? I was out in the middle
of the ocean and I was all alone.

Any moment, a shark could attack me. It could
just bite off my dangling legs and pull me under to my death. And
sharks weren’t the only terrors of the ocean: stingrays, octopi,
jelly fish, and numerous other horrors. I was crazy, absolutely
crazy to swim out this far. And for what? Over a boy who didn’t
even care about me.

I didn’t feel like I had the strength to swim
back to shore. My body ached all over. Even just doggie paddling
felt overwhelming. My teeth were chattering by now. I felt so cold.
If only I could sleep for just a little while. My eyelids dropped
and my head started to slip into the water.

I came up choking, spitting out salt water.
If I died, my parents would be devastated. I was their only child.
Mom tried to have other children, but she was never able to get
pregnant a second time. They would be crushed without me. Who would
take care of them in their old age?

I continued to paddle in place, if not for my
sake then for my parent’s sake. My mind raced with terrible
thoughts.

“Shut up,” I told myself. “I have to figure
this out.” I tried to still my mind.

But I couldn’t come up with a solution to my
predicament. I just didn’t have the strength to swim back and even
if I did, it was most likely that I had drifted off course. Nobody
swims in a straight line for miles and miles. Who knew what
direction it was to shore?

I had to keep moving further out and hope I
reached the island. It must be out here somewhere because Dylan was
adamant about not wanting me to land it—his and Gia’s precious
abode. He would not have protested so vehemently if it was not
real.

Maybe Wren or Lyra would call the coastguard
to come looking for me. I doubted if a search team would come at
night. It was nearly impossible to see anything. If I could just
keep afloat until morning, I might have a chance. But then I
thought of how Dylan said he didn’t like me. At that recollection,
the blood rushed out of my head and a part of me wanted to die
regardless of how it affected anybody.

It was irrational, I told myself. I had only
known him one night. Love takes years to develop. But that didn’t
ring true to me. I did love him in some inexplicable way. It was
like I knew Dylan deep within myself.

But those thoughts must have been just more
insanity on my part. I was as crazy as the young lovers in
Romeo
and Juliet
.

Only Dylan cared nothing for me. So why was I
destroying myself over him? I was though… and I just could not help
it.

Suddenly, I felt something brush past my
leg.

Oh, no! What was that?

I feared it was a shark. My heart pounded in
my chest. I didn’t know what to do. Was I going to be eaten
alive?

And then I felt it brush past me again. Fear
nearly consumed me.

I almost threw up in my mouth I was so
scared. A lump in my throat grew hard and tight. Something was
circling me. Should I swim away? Or would that cause the creature
to chase after me?

I held my legs perfectly still and hunched my
back over, sticking my face in the water. I opened my eyes, trying
to take a look around. Everything was black. I couldn’t see a
thing.

The creature bumped into me now harder. I was
sure it was a shark. It had to be. The sheer weight was so big. And
the skin felt smooth as it brushed past like it didn’t have
scales.

I couldn’t hold still any longer. Even if it
was suicide, I couldn’t just wait to be eaten. In tremendous panic,
I started swimming as fast as I could. I was splashing and kicking
like wild, using my full strength to move away.

Something grabbed onto me and pulled me
across the water in super speed. Was the shark dragging me with its
teeth? I didn’t feel pain. Maybe the shock was overriding any
physical tortures. I heard people don’t feel anything when they are
in shock. My mind was spinning.

Suddenly, the movement stopped. It felt like
arms were wrapped around me. Was I in the clutches of an
octopus?

“It’s okay, Hailey.” I heard those words. A
feminine voice.

When I turned, I looked at Wren and then
Lyra, and Gia in shock. They had saved me.

“Thank God we found you!” Wren held me in her
arms. Unless I imagined it, her eyes twinkled blue in the
moonlight. She smelled like flowers. How was that possible?

“We were terrified that you had drowned,”
Lyra said as she squeezed my water parched fingers.

It all didn’t make any sense. It seemed
ludicrous that I was saved from a near shark attack and drowning by
three beautiful supermodels.

As tired as I was, I managed to laugh
hoarsely. “How did you find me?” I choked the words out. My body
was shuddering as I panted heavily. At that moment, my senses were
in utter disarray.

“Calm down,” Gia said sharply. Her red hair
burned in my mind. I hated her for being so alluring and lovely. I
couldn’t blame Dylan for falling for her. Her tough demeanor
intrigued.

In the water, they all seemed so bewitching
with their confident, graceful movements. How the hell did they
swim so far out and still project such elegance?

“Be gentle with her,” Lyra whispered to
Wren.

Wren loosened her grip around my body and
took my hand. Her blond hair fanned out in the water like a sun
spray. “I’ll lead you to the island,” she whispered kindly to me.
Her essence seemed so compassionate and maternal. “You swam way
past it. It’s not that far from shore.”

I couldn’t believe what she just said. The
realization made me feel senseless, but I was ever grateful that
they had found me. The alternative was unthinkable.

With Lyra and Gia at our sides, Wren and I
swam hand in hand under water, coming up for occasional breaths of
air. Somehow in Wrens grasp, I felt rejuvenated. I had a newfound
energy. Maybe I was still experiencing the adrenaline from shock.
Or perhaps now that I wasn’t alone, my new optimism propelled me
onward. Whatever it was, I was just going with it.

After a short while, we swam around a rocky
shore to a gentle inlay that tapered off to sand. I was surprised
how well they were able to navigate themselves through the ocean. I
would have never found this island, but for them it seemed easy.
They appeared to know just where to go.

Though it was dark, it was so much easier to
see under the clear moonlight and stars than it had been with Dylan
in the woods. Maybe my eyes had adjusted after being out for so
long. Or maybe it was growing closer to morning.

Stepping onto the shore now, they led me past
a sandy beach, through rows of palm trees and ferns, and finally to
a breathtaking fields of flowers. My body was soaking wet, but I
didn’t care. I loved the idea of being surrounded in beauty.

Wren leaned over gracefully and picked some
tulips. “For you, my dear.” She handed the flowers to me.

Her language seemed old fashioned, but I
appreciated the kind gesture. She really was a thoughtful person.
From my experience, pretty girls were usually snobby and
self-centered like the cheerleaders at my high school. But not
Wren.

I gazed up at the white fluffy clouds that
had moved overhead illuminated by the full moon beneath. It gave a
spooky contrast to a shockingly beautiful setting. I was entirely
mesmerized. No wonder they loved this place.

A light mist waded over the flowerbeds.
Something about the island triggered a vague memory from the
Odyssey
. It hadn’t been so long since I read it, but as I
had explained to Dylan, I had rushed through the stories way too
quickly. If only I had paid closer attention.

I recalled young maidens that lived on
flowery islands with craggy rock lined shores, but I couldn’t
recollect the rest of their story. Who were these maidens? Somehow
that seemed relevant. Dylan would probably know.

“Come dear child to the cave.” Lyra’s soft
voice sounded like a lullaby as she took my hand.

The girls laughed at my surprised
reaction.

“We want to show you our little hang out.”
Gia put her hand on her hip as she jutted it out to the side. I
didn’t know if there was actually something sinister about her or
if it was just my jealousy against her that rubbed me the wrong
way.

“Trust me,” Wren whispered. “You’ll love it.”
Her manner was reassuring.

Lyra’s eyes sparkled in the moonlight. “It’s
a cool place to relax.”

“Come on,” they all sang at once as they
pulled me along. I admired the roses, daffodils, and daisies as we
ran though. The scents were heavenly.

We came to a mountainous region beside a
grove of sunflowers.

“Here’s the entrance.” Wren threw her wet
hair over her shoulder as she led me inside.

It was pitch black. My body shivered in the
darkness. One of the girls lit a lantern bringing a gentle glow to
the hideout.

I marveled at the waterfall rushing down into
a small waterbed at the back of the cave. It was a mysterious
place.

“We like to swim around in freshwater
sometimes,” Lyra said as she lied down on a blanket that was
surrounded by unlit candles. “It’s so relaxing and good for the
skin with all its rich minerals.”

Gia was leaning against the rock wall looking
bored.

“The mud baths are there.” Wren pointed to
the side of the waterbed. “They are a lot of fun too.”

“Especially during girl fights,” Gia retorted
with a chuckle.

“Anyway…” Wren rolled her eyes, “We just
wanted to show you and then get our instruments.

Lyra was already holding a harp, adjusting
its strings. The mythological carvings in its wood gave an ancient
quality to it.

Gia picked up a smaller instrument also with
strings.

“What’s that?” I asked Wren.

“Gia has a lyre.” She winked. “You don’t see
many these days.” Wren placed her hand on my back. “How would you
like to learn to play the flute?”

“I always wished I could play any instrument.
It’s gotta be the best feeling to express yourself musically. I
would die for that.”

The girls looked pleased with my
comments.

“Oh, it is the best feeling,”Lyra sang as she
set the harp beside her. “Come to the cliffs and we’ll play.”

CHAPTER NINE

The ideal has many names,
and beauty is but one of them.
–Ninon De
L’Enclos

Gia’s ocean blue eyes lit up. “Hell yeah.
You’ll love it at the cliffs.” Her low voice sounded almost
mocking, but I wasn’t sure. Sometimes I got the feeling she had a
hidden agenda whatever that could be. It was probably more that she
just didn’t like me.

“Okay,” I responded, shrugging my shoulders.
I liked spending time with Wren and Lyra. And I had to admit, Gia
fascinated me. Everything about the triplets seemed almost magical
and I wanted to escape into their world. Maybe then I could forget
about Dylan.

“Come dear child to the shore…” The girls
sang suddenly. “We’ll show you a rapturous time. Come dear child,
oh dear child of mine…”

I almost laughed at their strange song, but
then I felt a little dizzy and off balance. My throat started to
itch like I wanted to sing with them, but I restrained myself.

I found my legs almost involuntarily walking
with the three song birds out of the cave and across the meadows. I
had to jog a little to keep up with their long legged strides. Once
past the flowerbeds, we crossed a stretch of sand and foliage. The
land surface hardened and gave way to more and more rocks, stones,
and black obsidian boulders.

“This way, Hailey,” Wren sang in a sweet
lyrical voice as she squeezed my hand.

We stepped onto the black rocky crags. I
almost lost my step, but to my surprise, Gia steadied me and helped
me up to the cliff’s edge. I could hear the waves crashing against
the walls below.

In the darkness, I felt slightly groggy as I
looked down from the steep cliff that dropped to the ocean. A
strong sea breeze blew across my damp bathing suit causing goose
bumps to rise on my arms.

Wren, Lyra, and Gia were standing beside me
now.

“See those lights in the distance?” Wren
asked in a gentle voice.

“Yes,” I managed to respond. This was the
first time I had spoken since we left the cave. I think I must have
been tired from the strenuous swim.

“That’s a ship,” Gia said excitedly. Her red
hair was nearly dry by now and blowing like fire in the wind.

Another streak of hatred rushed through me
when I thought of her with Dylan. Even in my exhaustion, I still
couldn’t get him out of my mind.