Fathom(44)
“Morgan, you have to control yourself.” Aletheia’s voice was stern. “If you’ve learned anything it’s that you have a…”
I cut her off, anger seething through me. I wasn’t an idiot. “A huge responsibility to everyone, not just myself anymore. I know! You guys remind me every day. I’m aware of the situation.”
I stood, the fire seeping from me, warming the air around me. The three of them stepped back, allowing me to pass.
Storming from the house, I sprinted to the beach and dove into the water, not bothering to phase. If anything, I was tired of being a mermaid. I swam to the middle of the lake to the jagged rocks that rose out of the water. Climbing onto the biggest one, I crossed my legs and sighed in defeat. All of this was too much for me to handle. I told Troen I couldn’t handle it – that I was too young. Why had he blessed me?
Closing my eyes, I tried to calm myself and let the sun bathe me in its warmth. The Canada geese called to each other a few hundred yards away. A hint of pine tree sap tickled my nose and I breathed in deep, opening my eyes. The warm breeze blew a cloud of dandelion seeds past me. I didn’t want to return to Vero Beach and I was finished with New York. I belonged here.
Morgan.
The voice was faint and before I began to royally freak out, it repeated.
Morgan.
It was different from the one I normally heard and that was slightly comforting.
Morgan.
Then I recognized it. It was Thayde’s voice. Excited, I scanned the horizon, but saw nothing.
“Thayde?” I whispered.
I need you.
Tears sprang to my eyes. “I need you, Thayde.” My heart felt like it was tearing in two. “Where are you?” There was no answer. I found myself straining to hear his voice again. “Thayde?” I asked the silence.
A fat seagull landed near my feet and began to peck at a dead fish between the rocks. Was this a sign? Was Thayde dying? I shuddered. The fact that the dreaded voice that haunted me had returned was troubling as well.
“Are you okay?”
I whipped around to see the young man from the restaurant that had been with Lars. He bobbed up and down on the waves in a blinding neon orange kayak.
“Yeah,” I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand. “I’m fine.”
He looked about the rocks. “Did you swim here?”
“Yeah.”
“Need a ride back?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Have you run into Lars yet?” He asked, pushing his dark blonde hair away from his glasses.
“What?”
“Lars. I think he was looking for you earlier. I haven’t seen him in a while. Did he find you?”
“Who are you?” I asked.
“My name’s Jacob Mac. I’m his friend.”
“How do you know him?”
“I went to school with him.”
“Are you one of us?” I asked, warily.
He looked around before answering. “You mean merman?”
I didn’t answer.
“Nope. But don’t worry, I’m sworn to secrecy.” He grinned and my mouth nearly dropped open. I didn’t know what to say. Humans were not allowed to know of our existence. Jacob watched my reaction and held up his hands.
“I promise, I’m trustworthy. I’m a pastor.”
“You look a little young to be a pastor.” I admitted.
“That’s nice of you to say.” He looked about. “Beautiful day.”
“Um, yeah, I guess.” The last thing I wanted to do was have small talk with a stranger. I wanted to connect with Thayde again.
“I need to contact Lars. Our friend has decided to return home. Lars is not going to be thrilled about it.”
He wasn’t going to leave. Uncrossing my legs, I climbed off my rock of solitude. “He’s at our place. I’ll take you there.”
“Much obliged,” Jacob said and helped me into his kayak. “Which way?” He asked after I’d settled in. I pointed to our private cove. “Nice place,” he said and began to paddle. “Does your family own it?”
“No, we’re just renting for a while.”
“We’re here on vacation. Lars and Raif decided it was time for a guys’ retreat. Lars is really into biking and rock climbing, hunting and fishing. So is Raif – they’re like a married couple. For some reason they tote me everywhere with them - must think I’m their child or something.”
I suppressed a laugh. He had a sense of humor which I sorely missed during this time in my life.
“Jacob’s a biblical name, isn’t it?” I asked.
“That it is.”
“Guess that’s fitting for a pastor.”