Hi:

This chapter is dedicated to Guest M. And M's great insight.


Chapter 56

Things are happening

Inside the senior Pownall home two women, connected by the bonds of the sea give each other pensive looks.

"My dear, I know you wish to see Ted. You two have a connection." Elaine reaches across the kitchen table to place her hand on Hope's.

"Grandpa is so wonderful and understanding. I just needed to talk to him." The young teenager's head drifts downward. A pair of tightly woven blond braids swing with the movement.

"Remember, if he's grandpa," the older woman smiles. "I am granny." A boisterous laugh fills the kitchen. Its strength appears to ease the young girl's anxiety.

"It's about something that happen…about a week ago." Hope inhales. Her tongue slides across full moist lips.

"Mama and Daddy had a fight. Mama was very angry." She stops. The child in her needs to find the strength to continue.

"Grandmother," a tear begins to form on a lower lid. "I think, mama hurt daddy."

Elaine's casual posture disappears as her spine stiffens. Blue eyes sparkle as if a clear crystal exposed to the light of a raging fire.

"They haven't talked in a week." Picking her head up, several drops plunge in a wave of sorrow down to the table's surface.

"My dear," Elaine also needs to measure her words. The woman's expression does not match the fuming emotions brewing inside. A relaxed, sympathetic look arises about her.

"When you say, hurt?" She stands and walks to the side of the sobbing girl. "My sweet child. What do you mean?"
She holds one of the braids, stroking blond hair as she continues.

"You can tell grandma anything. That's what grandparents are for." After placing a kiss on her cheek, Elaine whispers.

"I will just listen. I won't tell anyone. Not even grandpa. Ok?"

Standing straight behind Hope, strong hands start a slow massage of the teenager's shoulders.

"This will be our little secret. No one will know."
As Hope brings to light the unusual behavior of the past week, Elaine's expression is no longer one of sympathy. Taut facial muscles coincide with flared nostrils. The expression, still hidden from Hope allows the girl to continue, unknowing the cauldron of thought bubbling in her confidant's mind.

Hurt my son! No matter how I treat this bitch, she'll never change.

Upper teeth bite into a lower lip. The woman takes a breath for fear of drawing blood.

If Maddie is somehow involved? That's all I need to bring this little sea monster to her knees.

To her knees!

"Grandmother are you alright. Am I upsetting you?"

Elaine's staccato breaths are thought of as pain from Hope's tearful words. Hope has no idea of the anger engulfing the woman's body.

"Oh no, my sweetheart. No, I'm just so worried about you. A young girl should not have to experience such a thing."

Elaine's fingers stroke Hope's chin She places a tissue in the teen's trembling hand.

"Precious, does Little Ted know?" She squats down next to the young woman.

"No, I'm pretty sure. No. Daddy brings him every day to the tutor at the Navy facility. Daddy works with the people there about marine biology stuff." Hope takes a breath. "Mama goes sometime. I don't know why."
"Good, make sure your brother is spared this."

Elaine places another kiss on Hope's cheek.

"Does Maddie know of this?" She asks.

There is a slight hesitation. Then an answer.

"I think she is the cause."
A sly smile spreads over Elaine's face.

"Grandmother, from what I heard, she will have daddy's baby soon."

For the first time since being informed of the situation, a relieved expression arises on the grinning face in the kitchen


Twenty miles West of a deserted beach on the outskirts of Bristol Cove…and closing fast

A streaking figure slices through the ocean's surface. Forsaking the stealth of the deep, Cami intends to arrive at her destination with no delay. The weaker resistance felt while skimming through the surface will suit her purpose.

They blame Ryn our Queen.

Slowing down to place a palm on the gash to her side, Cami fights the urge to relive the last meeting of her tribe.

She fails.

Ga'anda! Ga'anda!

The monsters name echoes through her thoughts.

She takes her palm from the wound inflicted by the whipping tail of the monster. Blood still trickles from the open laceration.

The mermaid's speed increases.

Ryn has left us. She has deserted our realm for the land and its people.

She sees large webbed hands move in all directions telling of the discontent.

Cami cannot halt the vision flooding her mind.

We stopped the monster from attacking the surface humans on their boats.

The young mermaid's eyes close as the figure of the most angered dissenter dominates her vision.

We will not fight Ga'anda again. Not unless our Queen leads with human weapons.

The large male's gills and muscles pulsate. The remaining survivors of the beast's attack remain silent.

The male's gestures tell of the devastation inflicted on the already small tribe.

In this matriarchal society, all males are submissive to females.

The genders live separate, only drawn together by a need for mating or war. Males are in charge of teaching young ones to hunt and fight.

They accept this lower status as long as the strong Alpha Female keeps order and the status quo.

An absent leader will cause discord above or below the surface.

In one final burst Cami catapults onto the sand.

Though it is noontime, Xander's official and personal patrol schedule of this conduit for mermaid to human free of curious eyes.

Struggling to rise, she limps to the small underground shelter where she might obtain clothing.

The exhaustion of the sprinted journey and a loss of blood starts to travel up her body. As dark eyes flutter, she stumbles to the tree line.

In an instant, the young woman collapses.


Note to reader:

I don't have enough drama crisscrossing this tale. Offer suggestions.

PS:

Thanks to M, my two friends in the US, Switzerland and Romania for their support.

Also, B, happyandcontent45, lexfortney.

Thanks again

GJ