Of the Sea

Chapter Nine

Donovan Delaney had been on Celine West's mind ever since she left his daughter standing in the driveway. The two of them had spoken on occasion, but other than that, they were practically strangers. But for some reason that she could not explain, she couldn't help but fear for Astrid. Celine had tried to think of relatives or friends Donovan might have had that she could contact in regards to his daughter, but she could think of none that lived in the area.

Rafford had watched his wife pace and flip through old high school annuals, desperate to find someone who knew the family. "Why are you so worried about that girl, anyway?" He nonchalantly asked one morning as he flipped through the newspaper. "Children stay at home alone all the time, nowadays."

"It's not that she's alone, it's that she alone at that house." Celine stressed for the hundredth time.

"What makes you think she's alone?" Rafford asked as he sipped his coffee. Celine put down the annual and looked at her husband, who raised his eyes back. "She tried to tell me both her parents were at work, but..." Celine didn't think she should continue for fear of what her husband might assume.

"But." He urged.

"Her mom drowned." Celine said quickly, as if it were nothing for someone to drown. Rafford knew better.

"Oh my God, please tell me you're not doing this again." Rafford exclaimed.

Celine cut her eyes up at him. "You can't drown in two feet of water without someone noticing, Raff. I was standing right beside him when it happened. It wasn't a shark either, just like it wasn't a sea lion that ripped Debra Limpkey off her yacht."

Rafford folded his newspaper up and laid it down on the table. "Celine, why is this bothering you so much? Pardon me for sounding insincere, but that girl and her family is none of your concern."

Celine shook her head. "She is though. I need to know where her dad is and tell them."

"They're going to think you're crazy, Celine, just let it go."

Celine shook her head again, getting up from the table and grabbing her purse. "I have to let her know. I have to tell her."

Rafford rolled his eyes. "What exactly are you going to tell her?"

"That something is in that water."

Astrid thought she might faint.

"Come on, you can't swim knee deep!" Morgan called to her from the water.

"I know that!" Astrid yelled back to him. "It's just cold!"

Morgan rolled his eyes and dipped below the water, blowing bubbles in frustration which caused Astrid to laugh. She took another step into the murky water, giggling at Morgan as he splashed impatiently.

"It's only going to get colder if you don't hurry it along!"

Shivering, Astrid waded until she was waist deep, and then stopped. Something slid across her calf and then wrapped around her waist, causing her to shriek as Morgan broke the surface.

"Don't do that!" Astrid slapped the water. Morgan coiled his arms around her, and with a thrust of his powerful tail they were a few yards further from the shore, and Astrid was well out of her comfort zone. "Morgan..." She searched for the bottom with her feet, but her legs just swept through open water. "I change my mind-"

"Too late." Morgan swam out further, his arms wound tightly around Astrid, though her grip on him was much more firm. He reached a point where he was just treading water, and the two of them bobbed on the surface like corks. "Well...?" Astrid didn't say anything. She stared into the water like it was going to swallow her down. She was, though, in the clutches of a morven, and she wasn't sure if that should secure her or scare her.