Kira's Secret (9 page)

Chapter Sixteen—
Flight

Kira did not look back, not for a long time. She swam fast, with a clear head and focus. She remembered her first dream of swimming underwater, escaping the giant dog and predatory fish. This time she kept a different image in mind, that of the medusa in pursuit. Only this version was not a beautiful woman with snaky hair, but a scaly head with a pointed, greenish snout and sharp, metallic teeth. Meanwhile, her eyes scanned the seabed for landmarks she'd noted on their way to the island. She dare not get lost.

When she finally did turn her head, there was no one, nothing behind her. Though fatigued, she did not slow her pace. The finfolk could still be tracking her, expecting her to tire, prepared to pounce if they caught up. She filled her mind with all the information she could remember about them and other hazards in the sea.

The stories about finfolk included the island of slaves, shrouded in fog. They lured and captured humans to work for them on Hildaland. Cody had looked up the word when Kira wondered if it had been named for someone called Hilda. It meant hidden land, he said. Or perhaps it came from the ancient word
hilder
, the place on the horizon where sky and sea meet. No one knew for certain, at least not among the human historians of mythology.

The island was indeed hidden, and small wonder no one had ever discovered it. Perhaps it had magical qualities as Borin had suggested. If her parents really were on Hildaland, Kira still wanted to find them. For now she needed to get home, and get help.

At this very moment Kira was completely drained. She would have to rest before she could make it all the way home. After looking around to make sure there was nothing dangerous nearby, Kira drifted to a stop. Resting on the sandy bottom, she decided that taking a nap was out of the question. This time she had to make the call.

“EEE-U-EEE-U-EEE!” she whistled. Kira swam to a nearby clump of tall seaweed and tried to hide herself in the middle. She wished merrows had the camouflage ability of the octopus that, like a chameleon, could change skin colours to match its background. Kira pulled a few strands of sea grass over her head, and peered out, wondering if her disguise would fool any finfolk or large shark that happened by. If the dolphins did not hear her call, she was literally sunk. She waited, her eyelids drooping, struggling to remain awake and as still as possible. She was not aware when sleep claimed her.

“There she is,” one whispered.

“Do we wake her now?” said the other.

“Yes, but how? Should we surprise her, or do it nicely?”

“I like surprises.”

“Me, too. But maybe not this time. Merrows don't always like our tricks, and this one is special,” Cass said, hovering over the sleeping mermaid. “Kira, wake up, Kira.”

Kira snapped her eyes open and tensed her body, ready to launch. But Cass's beak grinned at her, inches from her face, and she relaxed. “Oh, thank you for coming! I was afraid you'd be too far to hear.” She stretched herself and rose from her sea floor bed.

“We were too far to pick up your call,” he said.

“But we have a relay system,” the other dolphin explained. “Each pod has its own distress call, so we know how to find other pods to pass messages on.”

“Kira, this is Merv. This is his pod's sector. My dad and some others should be here soon.”

“Thank you, Merv. Did I fall asleep?”

“I suppose,” he said. “At first I thought you were dead, but then I saw your fluttering tail. Dead giveaway!”

The two dolphins wiggled with laughter. Kira shivered, but had to smile at them. She realized how vulnerable she must have been while she was asleep.

Kira heard the clicks before she saw Steen and three other dolphins swim into view. They were feeling their way through the water with their sonar to locate her and Cass. She was especially delighted to see Steen again.

“Greetings, young Kira,” he said in his deep voice. “How can we help you?”

Kira explained that she needed to get home as soon as she could, and she wasn't certain she could find her way. In fact, she was lost. Plus, she wished to avoid Merhaven.

Steen was quiet for a moment as he pondered her request. “It is a long swim from here. I think you are tired, are you not?”

Kira felt her throat tighten, and tears starting to form. She was glad no one would notice if she was crying underwater, but she only nodded her head in reply.

“We can swim must faster and longer than you. Lace your fingers together over my dorsal fin and hang on. When you wish, you can swim on your own. But we will all take turns carrying you, so no need to worry about tiring us.”

“Oh, thank you, so much,” Kira said in a small, wavering voice.

The next few hours flew by, with the older dolphins switching routinely. Cass swam with the group, enjoying the adventure and listening to Kira describe her stay at Merhaven and her encounter with the finfolklings.

Steen shook his head and gave Kira a mournful look. “You young ones do like to tease the sharks, as we dolphins say.”

Kira looked at Cass who was wiggling with laughter. He said, “Yeah, and we like to push icebergs, too!”

All the adult dolphins shook their heads at the spirited young Cass, but they were also smiling.

When they finally slowed and Kira could hear the surf crashing, she knew they were approaching her village harbour. She also knew it was late evening since the dolphins had to come up to the surface for air from time to time.

“Once again we leave you, young Kira. I sense we will be seeing you again. You have a strong spirit and a good heart. Stay well and safe.” With those words the dolphins turned and swam off, but not before Cass gave her a wink and an extra happy wiggle of his tail.

Kira stared at the spot where her dolphin friends had just been, afraid she would burst into tears. She was not feeling very strong in spirit just then. Instead of giving in to her sadness, she used that energy to drive herself toward the shore and the crashing waves. She heaved herself up and onto the rocks, and looked around at the familiar beach. The skies were heavy and grey, the sea was wild, and a cold rain pelted her skin.

The biting wind chilled Kira in her human form. She jumped up and ran along the beach toward her home. Kira paused outside the door. She was hungry and cold, and wanted to be inside in the warmth, but was suddenly terrified to face her parents. Through the small window in the door, she could see them just sitting down to a hot supper of homemade clam chowder and fresh bread. Then, as if he sensed her presence, her father turned his head toward the door.

She had never seen him move so quickly. The door burst open and her father had his arms wrapped around her and her mother sobbed as they pulled her inside. She was home.

Chapter Seventeen—
Secret Merrows

Kira's parents did not ask her where she had
been right away. She could tell by their questioning eyes and concerned expressions that they wanted to know. It was Monday night and she had been gone three days, although her parents only knew she was missing since late Sunday. They had spoken to Cody and his parents, and had spread the word through the village that she was missing. They had been frantic with worry, of course.

Kira assured her parents she was all right and would explain everything, soon. She still wasn't sure what to tell them—make up a lie, or tell the unbelievable truth and possibly be sent away as a nut case. She could barely eat that night, feeling her parents' eyes boring through her, wondering if she'd be able to sleep. Immediately after supper she fell into a deep, sound, exhausted sleep.

Kira stayed home from school the next day. Theirs was a small village, and everyone at school would know that she'd been missing for at least a full day and night. Everyone would want to know what had happened to her. No kids her age were ever gone that long without some sort of scandal—runaways, kidnapping, or drugs were usually involved.

That afternoon she was still trying to concoct a plausible story when there was a knock at the door. Kira glanced out the window. It was Cody. She'd been wondering when he might show up. On seeing him now, she was overwhelmed with how she'd missed having someone to talk to. Kira rushed to the door and threw it open.

Cody stood with his hand poised to knock again, a look of surprise on his face.

“Kira!” he said, as if not expecting her to be there.

“Cody, come in,” she said formally.

They settled in the small sitting room opposite each other, both smiling nervously. Kira finally said, “I hear you got into trouble with your parents for losing me. Sorry about that.”

“Naw, it's okay. That was the plan, remember? I was to wait 24 hours and it was pretty close.”

“Did my parents give you a hard time?” she asked.

“Not really. Actually, they hardly said anything. They just looked, well, sad. And scared. Your mom was really upset, and she cried.” Cody fidgeted in his chair and started drumming lightly on his knees.

“Okay,” he finally said. “So, what happened down there? Come on, spill.”

That was all the invitation Kira needed to tell her story, every detail she could recall.

By the end Cody appeared to be sweating, as if he'd gone on the adventure himself. His eyes were wide, his mouth gaping. He kept murmuring, “It's true, it's all true, I knew it.”

“But what do I tell my parents, Cody? They'll think I'm crazy. They might send me to a psychiatrist or something, or lock me up in an insane asylum.”

“Then they'd have to lock both of us up, because I know what I saw. Anyway, you can show them. You can go into the sea and show them. If they're afraid they can hold your hands while you're showing off your tail and fins.”

“I suppose,” Kira said, not convinced.

“But, I've got a feeling they won't be surprised. I think they already know. It was just the way they looked, as if they expected this would happen.”

“Really?”

“I'd just go up to them and tell them the truth. Mom, Dad, I'm a mermaid.”

They both broke into laughter, imagining the faces her parents might make.

Just then the door opened and Kira's father walked in. “Hello, Kira? We have company?”

“Yes, Dad. We're in here.”

Her father walked into the sitting room and nodded at Cody. “Hello, young fella. Having a visit, are we?” His smile was weak and he looked exhausted.

“Uh, yes, Sir. Actually, I should get going. Lots of homework to do and stuff,” he said, rising from his chair.

“Wait, Cody,” Kira said, also standing up, feeling bolder with her friend in the room. “Dad, I need to tell you something. Maybe you should sit down first.”

Her father looked at both of them, nodded his head, and sat down. His expression reminded Kira of Brian's pet Labrador, eyes hopeful, but fearing disappointment.

Kira took a deep breath. “Dad, did you know that I'm a mermaid?”

Her father stared at her and nodded again. “Yes, Kira, I did.”

Kira looked at Cody who gave her a small, satisfied smile. They both sat down again.

“I'm sorry, Kira, that we never told you before. Your mother hoped you would never find out, that eventually you wouldn't be able to, well, change back into a mermaid.”

Kira gasped. “So she knows about mermaids, and merrows, and how all that works?”

“Well,” he said looking at Cody, “I should let your mother explain. I'd better not say anything else.”

Cody jumped up. “I really ought to go. Is that okay, Kira?”

“Sure, thanks for coming over.”

Her father walked Cody to the door, and then he went to the kitchen and started preparing supper. Kira sat in the chair, still stunned. She'd suspected her parents knew. After all, they fished her out of a net and they would have known she wasn't a normal human. In the sea she would have had a tail; they would have known what she was the first time they saw her.

There were no more serious discussions until after her mother had returned from work, and they'd finished their meal. Then her father suggested they all go to the sitting room with their tea for a family meeting.

Her mother had been unusually quiet, and Kira assumed that her father had already told her about Cody's visit and their conversation. Once they were all sitting, Kira announced that she was ready to tell them where she'd been the last three days.

“But first,” she said, “I want to apologize for leaving the way I did, and being away so long. It was supposed to be a short trip. I was supposed to be back before you got home. I'm so sorry,” she whispered. “I'm sorry I lied to you.” Several tears ran down Kira's cheeks.

“It's okay, Kira,” her father said softly. “Go ahead.”

Kira blew her nose, then, for the second time that day, she told her story.

When she described her vision of Hildaland and her narrow escape from the finfolk, her mother began to cry. Kira paused, but her mother dried her tears and said, “Go on. Don't mind me.”

By the time she finished, her mother was crying again. She rose and went to Kira, put her arms around her daughter and whispered, “My poor, brave little merrowling princess,” and broke into renewed sobbing.

Kira noticed her father was also wiping his eyes. When her mother stopped crying, she knelt before Kira, lowered her head and said, “Your Highness, I'm so pleased you've come back to us.”

Kira sat in stunned silence for a second time that day. Was her mother mocking her? What did she mean? But when her mother raised her face again, her cheeks were streaked with fresh tears. She squeezed Kira's hands, then rose and stood behind her husband's chair, putting her hand on his shoulder.

“Your father and I met at the beach one sunny summer day. I had been watching him fish all that spring. He was usually out in a dory by himself, so I had a good close look at him. Out there in the open water, just him and his little boat. And I fell head over fins in love.”

Kira's eyes grew wider. Her mother, out at sea, watching her father fishing? What fins? Her mother never went out on the water.

“When we decided to get married, I made a promise never to go back into the sea. And I haven't.”

Kira's mouth dropped open. Her mother, her adoptive mother, was a mermaid.

Kira's parents then confessed that they had made up the story about her mother's origins. Her merrow name was Bessabel, but because it was unusual they decided to change it to Bess. They said many fisherfolk knew that merrows existed, but not all. Kira's parents apologized to Kira for deceiving her, but they had believed it would be the wisest thing to do. And perhaps they had been too hard on her by keeping her busy with so many chores. They simply wanted to keep her away from the sea, from learning her true nature. They wished to protect her from coming to harm if she began to explore the undersea as a child.

They also hoped to keep her true origins a secret from everyone else lest she was bullied or mocked for being different. Kira understood this. She knew how cruel other children could
be, how they called anyone who was a little
different a freak. But then, she never did blend in completely.

“And when your father brought you home from that fishing trip, I took you right down to the sea and dipped you in to be certain,” her mother said. “Sure enough, you were a merrowling babe. I had expected that. What shocked me were the colours of your scales—gold and pink, the marks of merrow royalty. I knew some tragedy must have taken place near the fishing grounds, some harm done to the king or queen or both. You don't know how relieved I am to hear they may still be alive, even if they are prisoners.” Her mother put her hands over her heart and sighed deeply.

“Mom,” Kira said, “do you suppose they also have human prisoners on Hildaland? Like maybe Mrs. Doyle's husband and his crew? That's what it says in the books I've been reading.”

Her mother gave her a long, sad look. “That is also what we understand. But I have never known anyone who has been there and returned. No one has ever seen it. Except for you.”

Kira took in a deep breath. She was the only one. She shivered, recalling the image of the island and the thought of who might be living there. If they were still alive.

Kira arrived at school the next morning just as the bell rang. She hoped to avoid talking to the other students. Their eyes were constantly flitting to her and away. She was certain all the whispering was about her. Everyone in the village knew she'd gone missing. Where had she gone? Had she run away? She knew they wanted answers, and if there were no answers they'd make up their own. Well, let them, Kira thought, she didn't care.

At the first break she tried to squeeze out the door before the others rushed through, but she was too late. Three girls from the swim team managed to surround her as she reached the door. Two of them grabbed hold of each arm and the third girl, Maddie Swain, stood directly in front of her, walking backward as they steered her into an empty classroom and shut the door. Kidnapped in her own school.

“So, Kira, tell us what happened!” Maddie, a head taller than all of them, leaned down and stared into Kira's eyes. The girl's stance, hands on hips, dared Kira to lie. Kira was speechless, still shocked at how they had corralled her.

Maddie's eyes widened and she grinned. “Aw, Kira, was it Vic? He was gone the same time you went missing. The b-ball guys couldn't find him either. You little skank! Janet won't be pleased, you're in big trouble now.”

The other girls whooped and let her go, then the three left the room, laughing all the way down the hallway.

Kira stood in the same spot, stunned at what just happened. They called her a skank. They accused her of running off with Vic McCormick, the two-time flunkie, truant, and chain-smoker. And who was Janet? She must be his girlfriend, Kira thought. She hoped Janet wasn't one of those tough, jealous types.

Kira slipped out of the room and fell in with other students walking to classes or the break room. Her only thought was to leave immediately and head home, or, better yet, back to the beach. But if they noticed she was gone, Maddie and her thugs would think they had got to her and might even believe their accusation was true. They were probably spreading the rumour that very moment. Aargh, those witches!

Kira felt caught between the urge to scream and wanting to cry. She wished she could tell the truth, show those sluggish swimmers how it was really done. But that would be foolish. She'd be mocked, shunned, and worse. She needed to talk to Cody, but he was in class, on a different cycle than she was.

She got her chance at the end of the day. When Kira saw him waiting for her outside she was so relieved she almost teared up. “You won't believe what happened to me today!” she started, the air almost exploding out of her.

Cody shook his head, his face serious. “Yes, I would. I heard.”

“Heard what?”

“Just a stupid rumour.”

“Let me guess. I'm running around with Vic McCormick, the loser.”

Cody nodded. “I'm guessing that started with Maddie and her gang?”

“Yup. They dragged me into an empty room and told me what I had done. Do you think anyone actually believes it?”

“I doubt it, but some of the kids aren't too bright and will believe anything Maddie says. Most of them are afraid of her.”

“Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. It's so unfair. Most of the kids don't even know me. I'll never get a chance to get the story straight. I don't even know what I'd tell them, though it's none of their business.”

“That's right, it's not their business. They have no idea who you are. You are unique, you have amazing talents, and they don't need to know. Just like the superheroes who can't reveal their true identities. It can be tough.” Cody patted Kira on the back.