CHAPTER TWENTY
The next morning Grandma was dragging a bucket and a barrel out of the house and down to the beach as we approached the dock. Her hair was tied back in her usual braid, but instead of wearing some of her nice clothing she was wearing a pair of dirty jeans and an ancient looking purple and green plaid shirt. I groaned, realizing it was Sunday, which meant Grandma would make me take sea-witch lessons all day.
“Too bad we had to leave the other island,” Caesar said, leaning close to my ear so I could hear him over the boat motor. His breath brushed across my skin, making me shiver. After a few hours of cuddling and dancing near the fire last night, stealing all the kisses I could, Amynta had finally dragged me off to bed. I'd only gotten about four hours of sleep. I felt dead tired after barely sleeping for two nights in a row. Amynta had to bribe me out of my sleeping bag by offering me hot chocolate and S’mores for breakfast. She’d packed the tent when I had my mouth full of marshmallowy goodness.
The shapeshifters had swum back to the island, leaving us land walkers to transport their stuff home. It was early in the day yet, and most of them were planning to spend the afternoon swimming. Markus pulled the boat up to the dock. Juan jumped out to secure the ship. I waited until it was tied up before I let Caesar help me over the side and onto solid ground. He leaned over stealing a quick kiss. I flushed and pulled away, looking at Grandma. Of all the boys I'd ever kissed, none of them had been in front of my parents.
Thankfully, she said nothing.
Caesar nudged me. “What? No more kissing?”
“My grandma,” I whispered hoarsely. “I don't need to give her anymore reasons to make me stay home and study.”
Caesar narrowed one of his grey eyes, watching as Grandma rolled the barrel closer to the water. “Why are you so afraid of her?”
“Why aren't you afraid of her?”
“Because I can see right through her stormy exterior.” With a devious smile, Caesar leaned in and stole a kiss, pulling away quickly—as quick as I had last time—and turned to talk to my grandma.
“Can I borrow your boat and your granddaughter this afternoon, Shannon?” Caesar asked politely as Markus and Amynta began unloading the camping gear. “I promise to bring them both back in one piece. And if we find any pearls, I promise the biggest one will be yours.”
I rolled my eyes at Caesar's charming effort.
“As long as you boys come back in one piece as well, you can borrow the boat. My granddaughter, however, I have other plans for. Nessa and I have some work to do around here this afternoon and we won't need the boat. Just make sure you're back by dark.”
I gave Caesar an I-told-you-so look.
“You know, Shannon, you have a really great sea-witch for a daughter. I was really hoping—Juan and Markus were hoping as well—that she could come along with us on a dive this afternoon. She could see what being a pirate's all about.”
Grandma shook her head, her face as smooth as marble, betraying no sense of emotion. “Unfortunately, Nessa's too far behind in her training to spend the afternoon gallivanting with you—no matter what...feelings you have for each other.”
I had to steal myself from crumbling to the sand.
Caesar seemed to be knocked speechless, too.
“You can see each other tonight if you want, after Nessa’s finished her work.”
Caesar turned back to me, tilting his head sympathetically. “I guess I’m not as smooth as I thought. We could have a movie night later though. I’ll even make the popcorn.”
“I guess that will have to do. For now, you go be a pirate, and I’ll be a sea-witch. But I get to pick the movie we watch.”
“Wait a minute, I thought–”
“Nope. Not when I have to spend the afternoon studying.”
“I suppose I could let it slide this time.” Caesar gave me a slow, tentative kiss. We broke apart just in time for me to see Shia climbing out of the water with one of the first-year mermen—Nor—I realized.
“Are you taking the boat? Going out deep?” Shia asked Markus enthusiastically. He nodded and before I knew it she was on the boat.
Don't worry about it, Nessa; he likes you, not her, I reminded myself. I clenched my teeth together as I ran inside, imprinting the memory of Caesar's kiss in my head in order to drown out any other emotion. By the time I started a load of laundry and put my other belongings away, the pirates were gone and Grandma was impatiently waiting for me outside.
“What torture do you have in store for me today?” I asked, following her down to the water.
She walked right up to where the water met the sandy shore and knelt down. “Fill this entire barrel with seawater.”
I grumbled but did as she asked anyway. Grandma disappeared into the house just like Caesar had disappeared—with Shia. I wasn’t jealous of her—not exactly—I was just envious that she had the freedom to hang out with Caesar whenever she wanted. School would probably be a lot more fun if I was just a boarding student.
“Good, I see you’ve managed to move water without much effort today.” Grandma peaked into the barrel as she reappeared.
“What's this for anyway?”
“We need to make potions for the merfolk, so they can continue walking on two-legs and attend class.”
What? I had to spend my entire afternoon making potions for Shia just so she could spend more of her time hanging out with my boyfriend. Why did everything in life seem so backward at the moment? “You know, I don't feel well. I took a hit on the head last night and–”
“No.”
I pointed to my bandage in case my grandma had failed to notice it. “But–”
“Do you want to be allowed to see Caesar later?”
“Isn’t blackmail illegal?”
“Actually, Neptunian law doesn’t have such terms, and no human court would take you seriously. Now, if you wouldn't mind, go inside and get the dried water plantain and the water smartweed from the herb closet. The sooner we make the mermaid's wine, the sooner we can part from each others company.”
Finally some good news, I thought, marching into the house. If only we could part company permanently and I could have the house to myself with Caesar, life would be grand. I sighed and daydreamed my way through the pantry, imagining the day when being a sea-witch would be easy.
“Just a little lower,” I said to Caesar that evening. I was sitting on the ground in front of the television in Grandma's living room. My back was killing me from all the work I'd done. Caesar's hands slid down my back to the bottom of my ribcage.
“You should get sore more often.”
“Why? Do you like that I'm in pain?”
“No. I just enjoy touching you.”
I turned and looked at Caesar; he let his hands slide down my arms as I leaned in to kiss him. “I like it when you touch me,” I whispered, pulling out of the embrace.
Pushing myself up, I stretched out my sore muscles. Our empty popcorn bowl and water glasses lay abandoned on the blanket that was spread out in the center of the room. It was getting late; and so far Grandma had stayed out of my way, but I knew that wouldn't last much longer.
“I'm glad you like it,” Caesar said, turning at the sound of a door being shut loudly upstairs. She was coming.
“Do you want to go outside for a bit?” Caesar was still sitting on the floor, staring at me with his flecked-steel eyes.
“I'll go anywhere with you.”
I reached for his hand, tugging on it. “Stop. You don't need to be so...romantic.”
He stood up, enveloping me in his arms. I pressed my face into his shoulder, smelling his fresh forest smell. “All right, no more overtures. Let's just go outside and talk.”
“Not too much talking I hope.” A sudden wave of exhaustion hit me. I yawned.
“You aren't going to fall asleep on me, are you?”
“I'll try not to, but I can't promise anything. This weekend's been tiring—awesome—but tiring.”
Caesar took my h
and. “It’s been more exciting than either of us bargained for, that’s for sure. Did your Grandma say anything about the hunter?” Caesar led me out the doorway and into the wood-planked hallway. I slipped on my running shoes in the entrance and a minute later we were standing on the dock in front of my house.
“Only that they couldn’t find him. Apparently they found the hotel he’d been staying at, but he checked out on Friday night. Probably after the grocery store incident.”
“Well, that’s a good sign at least. If he knows we’re onto him, he won’t come back and risk being caught. I hear Neptunian prison isn’t a very cheerful place to be.” Caesar nuzzled his head into my shoulder.
“Neptunians have a prison?” The waves lapped hypnotically against the dock. Caesar wrapped his arms around me, turning me so my back was up against his stomach. We both gazed out at the horizon as the sun began to set.
“I’ve heard about it but I’ve never seen it, so I can’t swear it’s real. There are a lot of myth and legends in our culture. One day I’ll have to lend you my favourite book. Used to belong to my grandfather, it’s full of old pirate legends, great stuff really. Tales of all sorts of lost treasure just waiting to be found.”
“Oh, and just where is this treasure?”
“I’m not telling you.”
“Why not? I thought you liked me? Don’t you want to shower me with gold coins and jewels?” I batted my eyelashes jokingly.
Caesar spun me around. “Why my lady, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to seduce me into sharing my secrets.”
“Maybe. But what are you going to do about it?”
He hefted me over his shoulder, marching me to the end of the dock.
“Stop, stop, stop! I take it back. I won’t steal your treasure.” My head dangled inches from the water, which was at high tide. I tried to right myself but it was impossible with Caesar holding me only by my legs.
“Say you’re sorry. Say you’ll never try to abscond with my treasure ever again.”
I was laughing and screaming at the same time, still struggling to escape Caesar’s iron clad grip. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I will never try to abscond with your treasure, I promise.”
Caesar stepped back and flipped me back around. As I turned from upside down to right side up, I saw something in the water: a round shape, a slight disturbance. As soon as I saw it, it was gone, leaving me wondering if I'd seen it at all.
“Did you see that?” The sea was a bright glare of pink from the setting sun. I squinted, trying to find something—anything—in the water, but it was no use.
Caesar pulled me back into his arms. “See what?”
“I thought I saw something out in the water: a shape.”
He kissed my neck. “It was probably nothing, just a reflection of the light.”
I sighed, enjoying the feeling of Caesar’s lips. “It didn't look like a reflection.”
“Nessa, we're safe out here.” Caesar brushed a hand near the cut on my head. “Yesterday was an accident. And the hunter is gone, your grandma said so.”
I nodded but continued watching the water because, for some reason, I didn't believe him.