Dark Tides

Chapter Thirteen

Sleepy and full, Hadley found herself dozing as those gathered around the table engaged in various conversations. For as long as Hadley could remember it had been just her and her dad. She'd always wondered what it would be like to have a big family – brothers, sisters, a mother, and for a moment she knew how it felt.
She liked it.
    "Hey there, sleepy head," Lincoln said, nudging her lightly on the shoulder.
    "Hmm? Sorry," Hadley murmured as she blinked awake, feeling slightly embarrassed for nodding off. "It just hit me all of a sudden. I can barely keep my eyes open. Must be the omelet."
    "It's late," Claudia offered with an understanding smile. She rose and began stacking empty plates. "You've been through a lot, so it's no surprise. I think it's time we all went to bed. We can take care of this mess in the morning." Hadley nodded, feeling the weight of the day dragging down on her. "I have something I'd like to talk to Lincoln about in private. Destan, could you show Hadley to her room?"
    "My room?" Hadley asked, glancing from Claudia to Destan.
    "Yes, dear," Claudia replied with a smile. "You've always had and always will have a place with us. Destan, will you join me and Lincoln when you're done? I know it's late but I'd really like a quick recounting of what happened tonight." Destan nodded and rose from the table.
    "Of course, Claudia. Come on," he said and held out his hand to Hadley. "I'll explain on the way."
    Hadley looked down at his outstretched hand. She couldn't help feeling conflicted. She wanted to take it, every fiber of her being compelled her to take it, but she couldn't remember why. It was the same odd mixture of emotions that rolled through her whenever she got close to Destan. Her heart, it seemed, was stronger than the magic they wove and remembered far more than her mind had been capable of doing. Hadley just hoped her brain caught up soon, she wanted so desperately to remember something that could help her sort out all these miscellaneous.
    "Okay," she said at last, taking hold of his hand. It was warm, comforting and she enjoyed the way he seemed to habitually lace his fingers through hers. He guided her towards the door and back out into the hallway.
    "How are you doing?" he asked once they were alone.
    Hadley wasn't sure what he meant. Her puzzled expression must've been obvious because he clarified a moment later. "With everything," he said. "I can only imagine how you're feeling right now."
    "Oh, uh, okay I guess?" Hadley offered with a shrug of her shoulders. He probably wasn't as far off as he thought. Hadley was exhausted and everything else just sort of faded into the background "I'm still trying to sort it all out. It's really hard... I have so many questions. There is one that's really been bugging me a while now..."
    Destan smiled. "What's that?"
    Hadley hesitated. "Aren't... don't... I'm not exactly sure how to ask."
    He laughed, appearing to find her reluctance amusing. "Just spit it out."
    Hadley took a deep breath. "Aren't mermaids supposed to have tails?" She blurted at last, feeling rather embarrassed. The source of this feeling likely stemmed from the fact that was secretly excited about the prospect of a tail. It was strange, certainly, but there was an odd sort of appeal. Aside from the fact that it was every little girl's dream at some point or another to be a mermaid or a princess, she'd always yearned for a certain sort of freedom. Hadley had spent hours watching the fish swimming about in the tanks at the aquarium and wondered what it would be like to slip and slide through the water as though she were flying. Had it been some lingering yearning from a forgotten life? Instincts perhaps? It was impossible to tell.
    Destan grinned and Hadley found herself relaxing. It was all too easy when he had that light in his eyes. "Of course," he replied with a chuckle. "I was actually wondering when you'd ask. The answer is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no. We only have our tails under certain conditions, call it a survival tactic."
    "Conditions?" Hadley questioned, not quite certain what he meant.
    "I'll explain it all in the morning," he said, pausing in front of a closed door. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking a little uncertain. Destan always appeared so confident that it seemed very out of place. "Well, this is where I leave you."
    Leave her? Hadley felt an odd sense of trepidation. A part of her was worried, oddly enough, that she'd wake up and be back in her bed complete with her waffle-making-father busying himself in the kitchen.
"Are you going to sleep too?" Hadley asked, wanting to keep him there a bit longer but not sure how. It seemed Destan shook his head.
    "I've got discuss a few things with Lincoln and Claudia first," he reminded her.
"Oh, right," she replied. Destsan reached past her and twisted the ornate knob on the door before pushing it open. "You'll find everything you need inside." She nodded, easing the door open a little further. A lamp on the wall cast a warm glow across the spacious room.
    "Goodnight," he said. Hadley could tell by the way his voice trailed off that he wanted to say more. What was stopping him? Hadley found she didn't have the courage to ask.
     "Night," Hadley replied, offering as much of a smile as she could manage. Hadley turned towards the room only to pause and look back when she heard Destan call her name.
    "Yeah?" she asked, glancing towards him, feeling her heart skip a beat.
    "Lincoln's room is the second door on the left... just a little further up the hall," he said. "If you need anything that is."
    "Right," Hadley replied, feeling just a bit disappointed. Hadley knew she should feel relieved to know that her father was so close, but she could only think about what had been left unsaid. Ever since she'd learned of their forgotten connection she wondered just how deeply it had gone. The emotions were tumultuous, triggered by the strangest of things. Hadley could only imagine how Destan must've been feeling. He'd waited so long for her to wake up and when she finally had – she hadn't remembered him.
With a heavy sigh, Hadley stepped into the room. It was amazing how complicated life could get in just a few hours. Shutting the door behind her, Hadley slumped against it, and took a deep breath. All she needed was to get a little sleep and everything would be clearer in the morning.
With this in mind, Hadley pushed away from the door and glanced around. The size of the room was modest considering the grandeur of the house. Looking around, she wasn't all that surprised by the décor – not if it was reminiscent of her tastes. The soft blue of the walls and white furniture reminded her of her bedroom back home. A four poster canopy bed, with deep blue velvet drapes, took up one wall, and struck Hadley as odd. It wasn't something she would have picked out for herself. Then again, she wasn't entirely herself anymore now was she? There were parts of her, she had yet to rediscover, perhaps a part that favored fancy things like canopy beds and silk sheets.
    Stripping out of her clothing, and into some pajamas she found in the top drawer of a large dresser, Hadley pulled back the heavy comforter and slid beneath it. She had to give her old self credit, this was one hell of a bed. Her body sank down into the feather down mattress and she let out a contented sigh. It was just how she would imagine sleeping on a cloud to be. Though she barely had time to savor it; the moment her head hit the pillow, Hadley was asleep.

    The sound of children laughing and screaming mingled with the distant echo of waves breaking against the shore, and the high pitched squawks of seagulls circling overhead. The sun hung high in the sky, signaling it was nearing noon while warming those brave enough to venture out onto the pier this time of year. A school field trip had drawn the rambunctious pre-teens and their frazzled teacher to the pier for lunch though many of the kids had fed their sandwiches and chips to the birds all too eager to accept the free meal.
    Leaning against a wooden railing, far from the noise of her classmates, stood a young girl. Unlike her peers, she seemed content to gaze down at the sea below and allow the wind to spin her dark hair in a tangle around her youthful face. If only it wasn't so far away, if only she could dip her fingers beneath the surface – just for a moment.
    "Hadley, don't stand on the railing," her teacher shouted before turning to stop two boys from climbing onto one of the benches and toppling it over. Hadley looked down to see her foot was resting against the bottom railing and her other foot was poised against the one above it. When had she done that? She was about to lower herself back down when she was bumped from behind. She felt her palms slip, tiny slivers of wood biting into her tender skin as she pitched forward. Someone tried to grab the back of her shirt, but whomever it was couldn't hold on.
    Hadley was falling, and while she should have been afraid she felt nothing but exhilaration as the ocean rushed up towards her. She hit the water and almost instantly that all too familiar tingle began to prickle across the surface of her skin. Hadley didn't need to see it to know that her skin was taking on a mottled green-gray hue and her hair a more translucent quality. Sinking fast, Hadley made no efforts to reach the surface. Instead, she allowed her downward momentum and gravity to drag her deeper. The tingling became a more intense burning sensation behind her ears and in her eyes. Within a matter of seconds her vision cleared, her pupils dilating to allow in the maximum amount of light while tiny slits formed behind her ears to allow her body to draw oxygen from the water.
    Stretching her arms in front of her, Hadley propelled herself forward, her legs fusing together, bones shifting and stretching uncomfortably for a moment before finally settling. Twisting around, she got her first good look at her tail. It was long, lean, and decorated in shimmering scales that ranged from the palest pinks to the deepest purples. Twisting again, she savored the way the water felt as it shifted and moved around her. She never felt this graceful on land, her feet were incapable of such quick, agile movements.
    Moving away from the pier and into deeper water, Hadley did her best to ignore the anxiousness creeping over her. She wasn't supposed to be in the ocean, she wasn't supposed to take these sorts of risks. If someone saw or someone even suspected, they were going to have to move again. Despite this, she didn't turn back. Hadley hadn't felt this free since she was a child. She wanted to swim as far and as fast as she could.
    Hadley.
    The voice, familiar and angry, echoed through her mind.
    Go away, Lincoln.
    You need to come back, right away. It's not safe for you to be in the water, never mind alone.
    His anger and concern pulsated through each word causing Hadley to scowl.
    No.
    With that petulant expression plastered across her face, Hadley kept swimming. It was silent for a while and Hadley couldn't help a growing sense of satisfaction. She had put her foot down, she had stuck up for what she wanted for once and Lincoln had--
    Hadley?
    Destan. Unlike Lincoln, Deston's voice swept over her like a refreshing breeze.
    Destan! Destan, please join me. It feels wonderful!
    I'm certain it does, and you know I'd love nothing more than to join you, but, Hadley... you need to come back. Your teacher, your friends, they're all very worried about you.
    Hadley pouted and tried to distract herself with a school of silvery fish as they darted past her. She hated when Lincoln used Destan to try and get his way.
    Come back, please, and I promise to figure out a way for us to swim together soon.
    Chewing lightly on her bottom lip, Hadley finally conceded. Fine, but Destan... tell Lincoln he's not allowed to yell at me. I didn't mean to fall in. Someone bumped me...
    Hadley heard his laugh as it echoed through her head. With one more fleeting glance behind her, she whipped her tail around and headed back towards the shore – ignorant of the dark shadow lurking just out of sight.