Hi:

Warning, this is a jump around chapter. It's to start tying loose ends together.

Forgive me, I know some of you do not enjoy that.


Chapter 60

The Strangers

Three young men and a slender petite woman leave the black vehicle upon their arrival at Bellingham. The young woman removes the UBER sign from the dashboard.

It had been a long an exhausting ride from Seattle.

The supposed strangers sat in silence during the journey, their minds on something of great importance.

Considering the three men arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on the same plane, one might think at least a friendly conversation would be initiated to pass the time on their trip North.

The flight from the Philippines had been long enough to recognize a fellow passenger or two. Especially after an attractive young woman with fiery red hair had pulled into different pick up points at the arriving terminal to collect each of them.

But these men were not strangers. The time in silence waiting for their first rest stop had been spent reviewing and analyzing possible hazards of the mission assigned. Any difficulty, no matter how remote needed to be run over and over again in their minds.

It would be a long drive to Bristol Cove. And there is much for all four of them to think about.

The blond well-built man spoke first.

"Do you have points to intercept the targets?"

The hint of a Russian accent fills the black Elantra.

The petite redhead flashed a smile and then nodded.

"You are in a hurry to get started?" Her speech carried the inflection of a natural born citizen.

"We have a job to do." He answers. Sitting in the front passenger seat, he turns to look out the window.

"Why don't you take a page out of that guy in the back." She motioned toward the backseat.

"You mean Anton? Anton, did you hear that?"
The darker of the three remained silent with a smirk on his face.

"He will enjoy the U.S." She remarks. "Since, I picked him up all he's been doing is trying to figure out what I look like without my clothes on."

That earned a surprised look from the youngest of the trio, sitting beside Anton.

"Did you hear that?" Gregor sticks his head over the console. "What do you have to say to that?"

Anton sits back.

"Gregor, the young lady is very observant."


Also, heading toward the same destination drove a bewildered resident of Bristol Cove. Her family home lies a hundred or so yards from the sign off to the side of the two lane paved road.

"Welcome to Bristol Cove." She smirks with the words. "The mermaid capital of the world."

She grits her teeth. After a sigh, she continues.

"If they only knew."
Maddie shakes her head. Biting a lower lip does not answer the questions zooming through her head.

"Am I pregnant? Is it Joe's?"

Her soft almost almond colored skin color darkened from the whirlpool of thought upsetting her appearance. As blood rushes through her body from fear, facial muscles tighten.

"Was that really Tia? Warning me?"

Her front windshield would not reply. The anxious figure behind the wheel did not care.

"Could it be that Joe is trying to warn me through that maniac?" Maddie takes a moment to inhale.

"I do think she loved him. Just being a nut job made it hard for her to put into words."

The statement brought a slowly rising grin, softening her features.

"But, maybe it's Ben's?" At first a sigh of relief, but soon a thought surfaces.

It's power forces the young woman to speak.

"Do I really want a baby…like that?" Her anxious expression returns. "A pregnancy orchestrated by Ryn?"

Still unable to spend enough time properly caring for her long dark curls, a cluster of thinly woven braids still hang from her head. A bump in the road causes them to act as if a whip flailing her face.

"My goodness, I look like a crazy woman."

The statement brings back a smile.

"That's it. I'm crazy. Yes, I'm crazy."

As her entry to town deepens, she see Ryn and Ben's home.

The little humorous declaration of her mental health proves to be just that. A simple joke.

She is not crazy, this is real.

Driving pass the communal home she has often used, Maddie has no intention of seeing her two lovers.


The small fishing village on the western coast of the United States has become very popular today. Along with the soon to arrive foreign visitors driving North from Bellingham, a figure leaves the water to stroll on a deserted strip of sand. He had heard of an area a denizen of the deep can obtain clothing to walk freely in the human world.

As the tall dark skinned figure looks for the strip of rocks making a boundary from the end of the tree line to the edge of the water, his glistening ebony skin sparkles from the streaking droplets racing down his muscular torso.

He stops to cast his vision downward. The damp sand oozing between his toes is a sight to behold. Moments before, his caudal fin had dissolved. Inhaling, he looks to the sky. Pear white teeth are exposed by a wide grin. They catch the early afternoon sun as it peaks over the tall eastern tree line reflecting the rays streaking over the treetops.

After finding a pair of blue jeans and white t-shirt, the man begins his walk toward town. Senses become alive as his movement draws him toward Bristol Cove. Walking on the small two lane road leading to town, he sees a car in the distance. Again relying on stories told by those that have visited this world of the human, he continues to stroll along the side of the road.

As the vehicle draws near, he quickens his stride.

Looking straight ahead, the visitor from the sea does not notice the two occupants of the patrol car watching him.

His breathing becomes deeper as he hears the vehicle turning.

His eyes widen as fingers spread. The sound of an engine drawing closer causes his chest to expand.

"Brother, what's with the bare feet?" Xander asks through a lowered window.

"Brah the." The stranger tries to form the word.

"Oh no, not another one." He opens his door.

"O…nah…nah nuther one." The stranger tries again to form a sentence.

As Xander's partner exits it the patrol car, she stands near the hood.

"Ryn, wan Ryn."

Xander takes a deep breath after realizing his worst fear.

Looking at Officer Brennan, he speaks.

"Well," Xander puts his hand to the left side of his chest.

The stranger nods. He recognizes the familiar greeting.

"Annie, meet another one of them." Xander's expression is not a happy one.


Note to the reader:

Welcome to my new German reader. When you finally get to this chapter (should you still retain interest) I hope you'll send me a review with your fav character.