Between the Land and the Sea - By Derrolyn Anderson Page 0,94
was almost iridescent.
There was something wild and powerful about her, like the ocean she came from. Ethan gripped my hand harder and pulled me closer to him.
“Marina! Come into the water, ” she beckoned me to her, “We want you with us.”
“I can’t... ” I looked over my shoulder to see if anyone was coming, “Come closer, I want to talk. ” She flipped into the air and dove gracefully into the water. For a moment I thought she was gone, but she suddenly reappeared within inches of my face, just on the other side of the chain link.
“Lorelei, who was that other sister and why did you fight? ” She looked over at Ethan and smiled, beautiful and feral, free of any guile.
“It’s the wave rider, he’s a nice one, ” she said.
“Lorelei! I need to know what happened that day at the buoy.” She nodded, facing me, “She did not know you were a sister. She wants you to come with us too. We have something for you. ”
“What? ” I asked.
“It was your mother’s. It is your birthright. ” She held her webbed hand flat against the fence. I impulsively put my free hand up to hers. Ethan’s grip on me tightened.
“What is it? ”
“The powers of the moon and the tide, and all of your sisters, ” she said in her singsong voice, “You won’t be too cold anymore! ”
“What powers? ”
“Come with me, ” she motioned for me to join her again, tilting her neck enticingly.
“But why? ” I asked.
“Marina, ” she nodded her beautiful head, her eyes sparkling, “Just come with me and you will know. ” She lunged off the fence in one fluid motion and dove backwards into the water like an acrobat. The sea lions all started barking.
When it became clear she was gone I stepped back and looked up at Ethan. He was staring at me in awe. “My God Marina,” he said slowly, “You were out in the middle of the ocean with two of them?”
I pulled my hand back from him and rubbed it, trying to restore the circulation. “You didn’t believe me,” I said with a frown, feeling hurt.
“No… I did. It’s just that hearing about it and seeing it are two different things.”
“Ethan,” I asked, “What did she sound like to you?”
He looked freaked out. “Let’s get out of here,” he said, taking back my hand and pulling me away from the boat. He hurried me off the pier and over to the stairs, keeping my hand in an iron grip. When we got halfway up the stairs we stopped on the landing overlooking the beach. Ethan sat on the bench, pulling me down to join him.
“I owe you an apology,” he said, looking at me with wide eyes in the darkening gloom. “I had no idea what you were up against. She looked so... strong... and so much like you. It’s obvious you’re related. What did she say?”
I frowned, “You didn’t tell me what she sounded like to you.”
“I don’t know,” he said, “It sounded like waterfalls, or water running over rocks.”
“And me?” I asked.
He looked me in the eyes as if he were seeing her again, “The same.”
“It’s official,” I dropped my head to my hands, “I’m a freak of nature.”
“Stop that,” he said, rubbing my back, “Tell me what you said to each other.” I stood up and leaned on the rail, looking down at the beach.
“I asked her what they were fighting about that day. She said that the other one didn’t know about my mother. I guess they’re not supposed to be with people,” my voice trailed off.
“What else?” he prodded.
“She said they had something for me... she was talking about the moon and the tide. I don’t know– it was confusing. She said it was my birthright and I wouldn’t be cold anymore…” I paused for a moment, thinking I sure wouldn’t feel cold if I was dead.
Ethan stood and came up close behind me, his hands on the rail, arms on either side of me,
“What else?” he asked quietly in my ear.
“She said I needed to go with her to find out.”
“Marina...” his voice was husky. I turned to look up at him and he took my face between his hands. “Tell them no,” he said, “Tell them they can’t have you... I need you.” He bent down and kissed me softly on the lips. My knees wobbled and he reached around to pull me to face him. I