Between the Land and the Sea - By Derrolyn Anderson Page 0,67

wet hair was tangled and messy, and I looked comical swimming in Ethan’s too big clothes. I came out to find him sitting on the couch. He looked up and tried to suppress a smile.

“I know,” I said, “I’m a mess.”

“Have a seat,” he gestured to the couch. I sat down, clenching my hands in my lap.

“I’m sorry,” I said, looking down.

He exhaled hard. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked with a twinge of annoyance in his voice.

“It’s a long story,” I said.

“I have time,” he said.

And so I started talking and it all spilled out. I told him how I saw Lorelei the day I first saw him, and felt her hand pull me up from underwater when I got hit by the sleeper wave. I told him about taking Cruz and Megan to see her and talking to her for the first time.

“They can talk?” he asked, shocked and curious.

“Yes, but I’m the only one who can... I’m the only one who understands her,” He looked surprised, raising his eyebrows at me.

I went on to explain, “Her voice– it sounds like bells to me. But Cruz and Megan can only hear water.”

“Marina, Cruz told me that she nearly killed you,” he said gravely, “I can’t believe she dragged you all that way... and without a wetsuit? Twice!” He looked angry again.

“It’s not like that! She didn’t know!” I felt strangely protective of her, as if she needed me to defend her, “She didn’t understand why I got so cold.”

“That explains why you had no water in your lungs,” he shook his head, “You must have been freezing to death!”

“Literally,” I said, meeting his eyes. I had to look away, remembering when he asked me about it before.

“Why weren’t you afraid to go back?” he asked quietly.

I told him that Lorelei didn’t know anything about people, and that she was the one who had saved me from Shayla’s panicked death grip. I explained how she had peeled Shayla off of me, and ended up saving both of us. I told him how I’d made plans to meet with her again on that day. I went on to try and describe her childlike nature; I wanted him to understand that she was joyful and naive, lighthearted and carefree. Whatever she was, I knew that she meant me no harm.

“She’s innocent... she just doesn’t understand humans,” I was struck with the realization that I was only half human, and shivered suddenly as a cold chill passed through me.

“Are you okay?” Ethan asked.

I nodded mutely, suddenly speechless.

“Was she the girl, the one who stopped the shark?”

“I think so... she was there that day we were surfing. She saw you teaching me. I tried to ask her about it but she was being... difficult.”

“What do you mean by difficult?” he asked with raised eyebrows.

I looked at him with pained eyes, “She kept trying to show me things that she’d collected...

things that were my–” my voice caught in my throat. I could see the hairless baby doll in my mind and I squeezed my eyes shut.

“She sent the dolphins that day,” he said flatly, the truth dawning on him.

“I guess... I didn’t have a chance to ask.”

“Is that the only reason you wanted me to teach you to surf?” he asked, sounding a little hurt.

I shook my head vehemently, meeting his eyes sincerely, “No! I really wanted to try, it looked like so much fun! And it was fun! Probably the most fun thing I’ve ever done,” I dropped my gaze, a little ashamed, “But it did occur to me that I could use the board to try and find out more...”

“What happened yesterday?” he asked firmly, “Why did she leave you there?” Something in his tone demanded the truth.

I heaved a shaky breath, “After she brought me out to the buoy another one showed up.” He looked shocked and listened intently as I described the other mermaid’s arrival and the horrible screeching fight that ensued. Their wild thrashing struggle was fresh in my mind as I tried to explain the frightening speed and power of the battling creatures. I told him how I had been left there alone, and how scary it was in the dark.

“I lost my surfboard...”

Ethan let out a long breath, shaking his head, “What I don’t– can’t– understand is why you would go off to meet her again after you nearly died because of her!” he said angrily.

I swallowed hard, my throat sore from the ordeal, “She told