Mer Tales 01 - Everblue

thoughts. Luckily, the pills started to buffer my physical pain and my emotional ones as well.
    After about a half-hour Mom came into my room and ushered Georgia out. She continued to talk as they walked down the hall, adapting to a new audience. Exhausted, I pushed everything off the bed, closed my eyes, and drifted easily off to sleep.
    : : :
    When I opened my eyes again, the house was quiet. The red numbers on the clock flashed 12:03AM. I turned on the light and lay back, wide awake. A little index card that had been folded in half stood precariously on my nightstand. The words “Dinner is in the fridge. Love, Mom” were scrawled across the front. I warmed at her thoughtfulness, wondering if Dad or Gran had told her the truth yet. An opportunity to mention anything about the boat had eluded me since I’d slept most of the time when she was home. Once someone did, I knew she’d make me fend for my own food and ground me for life.
    Gingerly, I hobbled to the kitchen as my stomach growled. They’d had their regular pasta night and my mouth watered at the garlicky smell still lingering in the kitchen. I found the plate in the fridge and popped it into the microwave. Within seconds, the steaming hot goodness was ready for devouring.
    The pills were definitely working to my disadvantage as the creepy trees beyond the lit porch played tricks with my mind. My imagination flipped through a sundry of bad guys, like a vampire or a zombie, who could appear and scare the heck out of me.
    I tried to hurry and eat, when I heard a noise. At first it sounded like people talking but quickly escalated into an argument. I stood up and turned off the porch light to get a better look. Even under the full moon, I couldn’t see anyone.
    My adrenaline pulsed as my clammy hand fogged up the glass. Then a girl’s angry voice registered over the other male voices. Could no one hear this? Was this girl in danger on the beach?
    I opened the door and slipped outside to listen better.
    “ Get your hands off her!” Fin yelled. His voice temporarily stopped my heart.
    Without a thought, I limped down the path and headed towards the beach.
    “ Finley, it’s time to head back. You’re in enough trouble as it is,” a guy said, his voice slightly deeper and huskier.
    “ I don’t have to go anywhere with you. We chose to leave Natatoria of our own free will and I have that right,” Fin barked back.
    Natatoria?
    “ You’re still underage for a few more months,” another masculine voice said.
    “ Get your hands off of me,” Tatiana said plain as day. The smack following made the others laugh.
    I pushed through the pain to walk faster.
    “ I like a spunky girl,” the husky voice said. “Take her down.”
    “ No!” I yelled as soon as I approached the edge of the shoreline. But I wasn’t prepared for what I’d see.
    Several feet off shore, a group of shirtless men with hulking muscles waded waist deep in at least six-foot deep water. Colin, the car-thieving cousin held Tatchi, and another held Fin against their wills.
    “ Ashlyn, no!” Fin yelled and struggled to free himself from the gnarly bearded guy who had him restrained by his arms. Fin flailed and something like a large fish tail flipped out of the water.
    I gasped.
    “ Great. See what you’ve done? Brought the attention of your neighbor,” the husky voiced guy said, apparently the leader, wading empty handed off to the side. His jet black hair glistened in the moonlight as he turned toward me. He reminded me of a slimy snake. “Blanchard, take care of her.”
    I scrambled backwards and fell flat on my butt into a pile of melting snow. Pain flared up the side of my leg and I pressed my hand on my thigh, worried I tore out some stitches.
    Like an oversized seal, he came out of the water and dragged a giant fin where his legs should have been. Frozen in shock, I watched the fish-man raise the palm of his hand towards me. I pinched my eyes shut and flinched. Instead of some act of violence, a melodic sound flowed from his mouth, making my insides feel warm and tingly, taking away the alarm. I opened my eyes and stared back blankly as the weird language mesmerized me.
    Blanchard stopped after a minute and studied me. Still stunned, I didn’t move. Then he smiled and swiveled around on his belly, and plunged himself headfirst into the water.
    The guy with dark hair nodded appreciatively. “Okay, now that that’s handled, let’s go home,” he said. “Do not let