Silver Tides (Silver Tides Series) (24 page)

“No, they don’t eat humans,” Mum agreed, “but they hate humans and wish them dead so they can take the land as well as the sea.”

It didn’t make sense that people who were sea-bound would want land-based cities. Yet the fervor in Mum’s eyes prevented me questioning her logic.

“So if they’re the vampires of the sea, does that make you the werewolf?” I scoffed, changing the subject.

“Watch your manners, miss.” She laughed, before looking into my eyes seriously. “Those monsters took down the
Titanic,
not to mention the countless innocents they drag out to sea, straight off the beach. Remember the young girl that washed up on Queenscliff beach last summer?”

“That was the merfolk?” I asked, surprised. The girl had been in the class below me. The school held a memorial day for her. I’d never spoken to her, but the knowledge that someone I had seen from time to time, had been killed by Daniel’s people made the distance between us grow.

Mum nodded somberly. “Think of Jaimie and how much she loves to swim at the beach; imagine that one of those cold-blooded sea snakes pulled her out to sea. Just so they can watch her drown.”

I shuddered at the thought. I began to wonder if Daniel had ever pulled anyone out to sea, or if it was just the others. He’d lived in Atlantis for two years, and I knew nothing of his time there, was he a monster like Cordulla? I chewed my lip, stressing about how little I actually knew about the boy I’d pledged my heart to.

“Daniel is not typical of their kind.” Mum tried to convince me; oblivious to the fact that I had met Cordulla and was already convinced of how dangerous merfolk could be. “His people would kill us all.”

“So what do I do now?” I asked exasperated. “I’m a human torn between three worlds.”

“Darling,” Mum sighed, “you are you. Don’t overthink the situation. When the time is right all will come together.”

“Hmfpt,” I scoffed. “That’s easy for you to say; you were born with perfect timing.”

“So were you.” She smiled. “You just haven’t discovered it yet.”

“So every year when we swim at seal rocks...” I asked, leaving the thought unfinished.

“An annual trip home to see your father and relatives.” She smiled. “They love you so much.”

“But they won’t come visit?” I asked skeptically
. “You’d think if they loved me so much they could at least show up at Christmas?”

“Initially everyone was concerned about leading merfolk to you, and then Leo was worried about keeping the selkies together. Your grandparents keep hoping that you will return home soon, so they don’t have to make the track onto land. They claim that they are too frail, but I know that they don’t visit as a silent protest against my marriage to Paul. They didn’t count on it taking you so long to become a shape shifter.”

I nodded, realizing again how much Mum had given up to ensure that I had a normal life. She had given me stability and a home, but I hadn’t given her the shape shifter daughter she’d expected. She could have been a queen; instead she was a job collector and mother. At least she had been reunited with her first love. She was looking at me expectantly, like the knowledge of my species would make me shape-shift immediately.

“What if I never change?” I asked, chewing my lip.

Mum laughed. “Let’s face one challenge at a time; help me pick up all the clothes you’ve spilled all over the floor and then we can start on dinner. After that you can go to bed and school, and when the time is right, we will all know what to do.”

I gave in, because there was nothing I could do to change anything. Even if I never changed, my family were selkies and Daniel’s people were monsters. I didn’t know how to make such an unlikely union work
.

princess

Friday afternoon there was a knock on the door. I opened the door to reveal a tall attractive young man. His skin was the color of cream, only more delicious, he had disheveled black hair, and his long eyelashes framed caramel brown eyes. He could have stepped off a fashion shoot—he was so devastatingly handsome. He was a selkie.

“Mya?” he asked, startled.

“That’s my name, not my pant size,” I replied, realizing how nerdy it sounded after it had left my lips. He gave me a lopsided grin, making me feel instantly at ease.

“I’m Charlie Lubeck,” he introduced, looking into my eyes, searching for recognition. He obviously knew me, but I had no idea who he was. His presence was comfortable and safe, like pulling on pajamas after being poured into a fancy dress and heels.

“Like one of the Lubecks from Queenscliff?” I asked, nonchalantly.

“Yeah,” he said, looking away, his cheeks burning red.  

“Come on in, I guess.” I opened the door, and he entered looking anxious and nostalgic in equal measure.

“You were like 12 the last time I saw you,” he said awkwardly. “I don’t think your house has changed at all.”

“I’m sure I have, though,” I teased, confused by his obvious discomfort in seeing me again. I racked my brain for any shred of memory containing Charlie, but he was as foreign as the memories of being a princess.

“Yeah you have,” he agreed earnestly, before looking away.

“So what brings you here after five years of absence?” I challenged playfully. I was surprised by how easy it was to talk to Charlie, like instantly discovering a long lost friend.

My question sent a new wave of crimson across Charlie’s cheeks. “I’m here to see your Mum?”

“You mean the queen?” I said, with mock correction. I felt like I had the upper hand with him, a feeling that I’d never experienced before. I decided not to abuse that power. I was glad that I didn’t remember being a princess, because I didn’t want to have power over people. I was happy to just be friends with everyone.

Mum entered the hall having heard my comment. “Stop tormenting him.” She smiled, amused.

“Your majesty.” Charlie bowed respectfully.

“Please,” Mum said, touching his shoulder lightly, “we’re on land. Let’s ignore formality. How can I help you?”

“You’ve been summoned to parley,” he said, glancing at me.

“At the Mud Islands?” Mum asked, sounding regal and composed in a way that I’d never experienced before.

“Yes, your majesty.” He nodded, without taking his eyes off the floor.

Mum lifted his face unabashed. “Look at me; the carpet hasn’t been vacuumed,” she joked. “Do you know what the parley concerns?”

“The breaking of the treaty and its ramifications,” he replied vaguely.

“So, the death penalty?” she asked, giving him a look that communicated that he could speak freely in front of me.

He nodded and gulped, fighting the urge to look at the carpet again.

“Paul is away till late,” Mum said vaguely. “With everything that’s going on I don’t want to leave Mya alone.”

“Muuuuuuum,” I complained, but stopped the minute she fixed me with a regal glare.

“Sorry, your majesty.” I curtsied with flare.

Mum looked ready to burst out laughing but maintained her poise.

Charlie stepped forward, announcing, “That’s why the king sent me; I’m to give you the message and to stay with Mya ... er, the princess, till you return.”

Mum nodded, a knowing smile playing across her lips. “Thank you; I’ll go.”

Mum retreated into her room and left a few minutes later. I wanted to fight with her and demand to attend too, but Charlie’s presence meant I had to behave like a princess and not a teenage banshee.

Charlie and I stood in the hallway between the front entrance and kitchen, a blanket of awkwardness hovering over us. The house was inordinately quiet with my parents gone, and it made me feel more keenly how little I knew about everything. I wanted to go to parley but I knew that no one would appreciate my presence, least of all after a guard had been sent to keep me safe.

I wondered if I could act like a princess and order Charlie to take me to parley, but his posture was regal and goofy like Prince Harry. He had to be more than just a guard. I wished someone would give me a princess’ handbook, so I’d know what to do.

Charlie interrupted the silence. “So I should cook you dinner or something.” He turned toward the kitchen, as though occupying his hands would make looking after me easier.

“Mum already made dinner,” I replied, standing immobile in the hall. I tugged at a loose thread on my sleeve. All I could think of was Mum facing Cordulla, and being hurt and Daniel getting caught up in the middle. I felt powerless to protect them, and that wore on me.

Charlie smiled, his face like a pin-up boy. “I forgot how hands-on she was.”

His smile was reassuring. Charlie felt like a safe person to ask questions of and be honest with. I smiled in response. "I’m sorry I don't remember you ever being here," I admitted.

"You were young; it was a weird time—that's why I remember it," Charlie replied, barely making eye contact with me. A strange look passed over his face.

“Must have been bad for you to act so weird,” I stated, comfortable enough to tell him the truth. His eyes caught mine, searching to see if I remembered. I met his gaze unperturbed, and when he saw that he was a virtual stranger, he visibly relaxed.

"You don't usually curtsy to your Mum do you?" he observed, his tone jovial.

"You noticed." I laughed. "All this stuff is pretty new. Mum just told me two days ago."

"So, the rumors are true, you did develop some kind of amnesia? And you finally turned two days ago?" Charlie looked into my eyes with excitement. "I'm so relieved; that'll put an end to all the paternity rumors."

He clamped his mouth shut, realizing he had said too much. After nearly 18 years without changing, it made sense that some selkies would question whether Paul was my biological father. I felt betrayed that the people claiming to be loyal to my family would think such disloyal things about us. Mum’s philosophy was to think the best of others, and it made me mad to think that anyone would speak ill of her, especially as she was their queen.

"I'm sorry," Charlie said gently. "Living on seal rock makes everyone a little crazy. Closed quarters and all that...”

A surge of anger filled me to protect Mum’s honor, but he didn’t say it was his opinion. He was the only link between me and my parents and the boy I loved. So I stowed my anger and asked, "Tell me about parley."

I knew Charlie would tell me whatever I needed to know, there was a familiarity between us that I couldn’t shake.

"The merfolk are demanding the death penalty for three kids they claim are spies." Charlie exhaled heavily, frustration pinned to his words. "The king is hoping to propose a trade; one of their kind broke treaty and came on shore. We're hoping they'll see reason and release the prisoners."

"How old are the spies?" I asked, surprised at the other side of the story.

"Twelve and thirteen," Charlie replied, disgusted. "Just stupid kids being immature and now they might die for it." The way that he spoke convinced me further that he was someone important, involved; he wasn’t an impartial observer of selkie culture. Charlie really cared about the selkies.

"The merfolk queen broke treaty too." I sighed, unwilling to let children die for a prank.

"How do you know?" Charlie asked, searching my eyes.

"I met her." I sighed, looking at my hands, afraid to see the disappointment in Charlie’s eyes that I’d been liaising with the enemy.

"And she didn't kill you?" he asked in disbelief.

"She didn't know who I was, otherwise I imagine she would have," I replied, happy to have someone to talk to about the weirdness of my recent experiences.

"Hopefully when the queen delivers that news it'll get the kids back," Charlie said hopefully.

"Except she doesn't know," I admitted, blushing with embarrassment. I had told Mum that Daniel was going to parley, but I had left out creepy Cordulla and the spies information.

"You didn't tell her!" Charlie said getting mad. Despite the firm set of his shoulders and the regal tone in his voice, he was goofy. Even his anger seemed amusing.

I stifled a giggle and reminded sarcastically. "I've been a selkie for less then forty-eight hours."

"Whose side are you on anyway?" he accused. That ceased the amusing element of the conversation. It was a fair comment, but I didn’t want to wear it.

"Watch it," I threatened. "I'm your future queen." I strongly doubted that I would ever be the merfolk or selkie queen, but I wanted to one up him. It was like sibling-rivalry gone awry. I had a vague sensation that I had spent a lot of time one-upping Charlie.

Charlie paled significantly. "Sorry again."

"Do you have a vehicle?” I demanded, using the advantage to form a plan.

"Yes," he answered dubiously.

"Then we're going to parley," I told him
.