SilverMoonLight (SilverMoonSaga Book 1) (24 page)

As
I approached the lake, it looked peaceful in the moonlight, shimmering in dark
blue tones. The color reminded me of Calum’s eyes when he was happy. It was
only after a while that I noticed how unnaturally still it was. There was no
birdsong, no rustle of leaves. The wind that had been roaring across the
landscape for the last few days had died away. It was as though time and space
had stood still. What had I been thinking, coming there? But it was too late to
turn back now. The ice cold of the night penetrated my body. At that moment,
the water began to froth. No, that wasn’t quite the right description, it
started to bubble and boil. It poured over the banks, submerging the grassy
shore. I knelt down behind a bush and prayed fervently that no one or nothing
would notice my presence. Then the fear came, and everything blurred before my
eyes. I felt as if I was in another world. I tried to concentrate on breathing
slowly, deeply, in and out. As I started to calm down, I dared to look over at
the lake. What I saw fascinated and horrified me at the same time.

The
water shot up to the heavens in immense fountains, tumbling down onto the
glittering surface of the lake. Watermen were darting around between the
fountains. They were moving so quickly that I had to concentrate in order to
count them. There were around thirty, of differing ages, and they swam at such
a pace I could only guess at their movements. They danced through the water in
ever-new formations, springing up meters in height and doing somersaults. When
they plunged back down into the water, it happened so softly that they hardly
made any waves. Some stood in the water, swimming backwards whilst bolt
upright, propelled purely by the movements of their legs. The strength and
grace they radiated was breathtaking.

I
recognized Calum at once. His body was slim and flawless, and for me his
movements were the most enchanting. The joy and passion in the way he moved
entranced me so much that I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him. His body
shimmered like silver in the moonlight, his eyes gleamed dark blue. It was a
beautiful sight, and the dance’s spell was irresistible. I was just
straightening up to be able to see more clearly when my gaze met his. He glared
at me. Shocked, I took a step backwards and hid behind the bush again. I held
my breath, hoping only he had seen me.

The
dance continued and became ever more rhapsodic, but I didn’t dare move a
muscle.

This
was exactly how my mother had described the dance of the shellycoats. In a
sense it was impossible to describe, but—

An
almost incomprehensible thought occurred to me.

I
tried to remember everything that Ethan and Dr. Erickson had told me about my
mother. Was it possible that my mother had seen the dance too? Was that why she
had never gone into the water for as long as I remembered?

I
gave a start, tearing myself from my thoughts. All at once, I was surrounded by
icy silence. I carefully peeped through the twigs of my hiding place.

The
lake was calm, as if what I had seen had never taken place. I jumped up and ran
towards the car, starting the engine and driving home as quickly as I could.

I
crept back quietly into my bedroom, my heart pounding. Only now did I notice
how cold I was. I undressed, slipped under the duvet and waited until I warmed
up.

It
was impossible to make sense of my thoughts, however much I tried. Tiredness
overcame me and I fell into a restless sleep filled with confused dreams.

I
woke up as I felt his arm slip beneath my body.

»That
was very, very reckless of you,« he whispered into my ear. He sounded as angry
as I had feared.

»I
couldn’t stand it, I had to see you. I miss you so much,« I replied timidly.

Then
I turned to him and pulled his head down towards me.

Our
lips met more passionately than usual, as if they knew it would be the last
time. His hands caressed me. It seemed as though he was touching me everywhere
at once. My skin was burning. I pushed myself against him, trying to get as
close as I could. Our hearts were beating to the same rhythm.

After
a while, he pulled away, gasping for breath. I looked at him helplessly.

»You
can’t go yet.«

He
shook his head. »Nothing and no one could take me away from here,« he whispered
tenderly, kissing my face. He sketched the contours of my cheeks with his
finger. I closed my eyes, hoping that the night would last forever. »If it was
possible for me to have a heart attack, I would have had one earlier when I saw
you by the lake,« he said after a while, kissing his lips along my neck and
back, giving me goose bumps.

I
closed my eyes again.

»Ethan
is sending me back.« I struggled to say the words. He pressed me closer to him.

»I
know. Dr. Erickson told me tonight. I was going to come anyway,« he added, his
voice raw.

»Is
there no way out of this?«

By
now we had discussed it so often it was almost a rhetorical question. I saw his
eyes pale with despair in the early morning light.

The
morning came without remorse. I wanted to hold him tight and cling to his
chest, but he gently pulled himself away and stood up.

»Let’s
be sensible. We can’t run away from our fate,« he said.

»Not
yet...stay a little longer, please.« I sat up on the edge of the bed. Was it so
easy for him?

»You
can’t stop the sun from coming up.« He stroked a strand of hair away from my
face.

»Not
the sun, perhaps, but maybe time.« I smiled at him.

»I
don’t know how to live without you.« The words tumbled from my lips in a
despairing whisper.

He
knelt in front of me and took my hands in his.

»Emma,
I love you. You’re my whole world. No matter what happens, I want you to know
that my heart will only ever beat for you.«

He
took my hand and laid it on his heart. Filled with despair, I tried to hold
back my tears.

»You’ll
carry on living, do you hear me? Promise me. You will get up every day and do
the things that are important to you. And I will always be thinking of you.«

I
nodded in resignation, unable to look at him. He lifted my chin and kissed me
gently on the lips one last time.

The
soft creak of the window told me that he was gone. An ice cold wind blew into
the room, but I didn’t move. Slowly, the tears tumbled down from my eyes.

A
short while later, Amelie rushed in.

»Brrr,
why is it so cold in here?«

She
quickly shut the window and sat down next to me on the bed.

»Did
you see him?« she asked tentatively.

I
nodded.

»He
was here.«

»He
was here?« Her voice sounded unnaturally high as she processed the information.

She
put her arm around me and I buried my face in her shoulder.

When
I went down to breakfast, Bree looked just as concerned as she had every day
recently.

»Would
you like scrambled eggs?« she asked, stroking her hand over my hair.

»Yes
please,« I answered.

I
didn’t want to be angry with her; she had done everything in her power so that
I could stay. Without any appetite, I prodded my egg around the plate.
Breakfast passed without any drama at first. But Amelie had told Peter that
Ethan was planning to send me back, and he was giving his father angry stares.

Ethan
avoided his gaze, concentrating instead on trying to convince Hannah and Amber
to eat their toast.

All
of a sudden, Peter slammed his hand down on the table. We jumped in shock.

»Dad,
you can’t be serious. You can’t send Emma back to the States, we’re the only
family she has. I just can’t believe that you would leave her with complete
strangers.... Would you do that with one of us?«

I
held my breath. Peter had never spoken to Ethan in that tone. I waited for his
father to explode and shout at him. But he remained silent. Everyone looked at
him.

He
ran both hands over his tired face.

»I
know that it’s difficult for you to understand.«

He
fell silent again. I looked at him; it was obvious he was struggling.

»Emma,
Peter, Bree, we’re driving over to Dr. Erickson’s. I want you to understand the
reason for my decision. Amelie, you’ll stay here with Hannah and Amber.«

His
tone made it clear that he was not to be argued with, and even though Amelie
pulled a face, she didn’t protest.

Chapter Sixteen

»We
have to speak to Dr. Erickson. Is he here?« Ethan asked Sophie as she opened
the door to us. She nodded and let us into the house.

Dr.
Erickson was with Calum in the living room. Judging by their expressions, it
looked like they had just had a serious conversation, and I could imagine what
it was about. The same thing everything had been about recently. As we all
marched into the room, they both stood up in surprise. Dr. Erickson furrowed
his brow, but no one said anything. After a few moments of silence, Dr.
Erickson gestured for us to take a seat. Calum came over and pulled me with him
to the sofa. Peter sat with us. Then Sophie broke the tension by bringing in a
tray full of cups and cookies. Bree busied herself distributing the cups and
pouring the tea. Her agitation seemed to diminish, as though these familiar
tasks helped her to keep her composure.

Eventually,
Dr. Erickson spoke up.

»Ethan,
what are you all doing here? I assumed that our agreement was clear. Emma flies
back to the States and she and Calum never see each other again.«

I
stared at him angrily.

»I
know that’s what we discussed,« replied Ethan in a firm tone, »but I think my
family has a right to know the truth. You know what it was like back then; we
almost fell apart because of it. I don’t want to go through that again. I trust
Bree and Peter, and they’ll keep the secret to themselves.«

»Well,
it’s your decision.« Dr. Erickson gave him a penetrating stare. »The knowledge
requires a willingness to make sacrifices, I hope you realize  that.«

Ethan
nodded. Then Dr. Erickson began to tell the story. As he did, Bree and Peter’s
eyes widened more and more. It all sounded too fantastical. Much of what he
told us I already knew, but some of it was new to me.

»The
shellycoats live in clans. Each clan has a leader, and that leader can suggest
a successor. But it is ultimately the Council of Elders who decides who will be
King, and the chosen one can then keep his position up to a certain age. The
Council of Elders also watches over to make sure that rules are kept and, while
the shellycoats are still young, decides who will be wed to whom. That may seem
old-fashioned to us, because our culture has developed differently, but the
shellycoats established their rules centuries ago and have never changed them.
Each individual submits to the will of the collective, as that is the only way
to protect the survival of the clan. After birth, a boy stays with his mother
for six years, then is given to a guardian who brings him up and is responsible
for him. Girls stay with their mothers.«

He
fell silent.

I
remembered what had occurred to me last night at the lake. Unable to stop
myself, the words tumbled out: »Dr. Erickson, who was my father?«

He
looked at me in shock. Calum let me go. I looked at him, unable to decipher the
look in his eyes.

»Your
father...is a shellycoat, Emma,« said Dr. Erickson slowly. »He lived with us
back then, as Calum does now, and he fell in love with your mother. He never
told her his secret. She followed him one night and witnessed the dance of the
shellycoats. She was seen, and that was the end of their relationship. Your
father went back that very night. After that, I told her what he was. I
couldn’t bear her suffering anymore and thought it would help her. I had to
warn her to never go near the water again.«

»Who
is it?« asked Calum tonelessly. But, deep down he already knew.

Dr.
Erickson gave him a grave look. »I’m sorry, Calum. It’s Ares.«

With
a groan, Calum buried his face in his hands.

»What
does this mean?« I asked. »Aren’t I part of his clan, in that case?«

Calum
shook his head in despair.

»Emma,«
he said, »this makes it even more complicated.« He looked at me. »I suspected
it the whole time, from the way you swim, the color of your eyes. You always
reminded me of someone, but I couldn’t figure it out...it seemed so unlikely.
Maybe I didn’t want to acknowledge the truth.«

»Emma,
Ares is the King, and Calum’s foster father,« said Dr. Erickson, speaking up
again. »In his world, this connection almost means more than one with a
biological father. Because Ares is your blood relative, it’s impossible for the
two of you to stay together. Aside from that, halflings aren’t accepted. The
blood has to be pure. I know, it all seems very antiquated. But no shellycoat
can be allowed to find out about your existence, it’s just too dangerous. I
don’t know what would happen. Not even Ares knows you exist.«