I could already see the changes in my body. My stomach was swelling with promise of a daughter to be born. I didn’t feel like I was made of glass anymore, and felt stronger than I ever had. I was going to have this baby, and with each passing day, my fears were slowly being washed away.
Nolan and I were going to live in Port Mer with my mother. I couldn’t wait to start a new life. Things were coming full circle, and I finally felt I was on the right path.
“At least you don’t have much to pack,” Nolan said with a smile as I made the bed in our borrowed bedroom here at the mansion.
“Oh, that isn’t it.” I pointed at the canvas bag sitting on the floor. Nolan looked at it and then at me.
“What else could you possibly have?” He asked leaning against the doorframe with crossed arms. “We haven’t been here for long, and I’m sure you didn’t take anything when you came here.”
“Beannca, Sophie and Hannah went shopping, remember. And they bought a few baby things for me. It’s over there.” I pulled out two larger canvas bags.
Nolan smiled and wrapped his arms around my waist. His body pressed into mine, only this time my baby bump came between us.
“Soon we won’t be able to even kiss. I’m going to be soooo big.” I held my hands in front of my stomach gauging how rounded I was going to be and inflated my cheeks.
Nolan laughed.
“Hey, it isn’t funny,” I play-punched him on the shoulder.
“No, it isn’t funny, it’s perfect.”
I smiled, and felt that it finally was. We were standing on the doorstep of perfect.
“And I’ve got good news for you.” Nolan walked over to the window and looked out towards University Hill. “See that building over there?” He asked and I came over.
“Yeah, what about it?”
Nolan looked down at me with a smile and then back at it. “I’m going to work for the magic implements department there.”
“But we were going to live in Port Mer with my mom until we found a nice house there overlooking the ocean with lots of flowers.” I had the whole thing planned in my head.
Nolan smiled and turned towards me. “They have an extension office in Port Mer, and are in need of a foreign implements specialist—that’s me,” he said proudly pointing to himself. “They don’t have many guardians come here, and said it would help in identifying some of the relics they already have.”
“I knew all those magic implements books you had your nose in would come in handy one day,” I said wrapping my arms around Nolan’s neck.
“You said they were stupid and a waste of time. The only implement that mattered at the time was a hoe or rake because the garden needed weeding or…”
A pang of homesickness washed over me.
“Mae,” Nolan said with concern. “Why are you crying?’
“I miss our little house.” Tears welled in my eyes.
Nolan hugged me. “Home is right here, with you. The structure doesn’t matter; it’s who you’re with that does.”
Nolan was right, this was our home now. And it was perfect.
“You’ll love it in Port Mer,” my mother said as we walked through the garden.
I acknowledged her with a nod. There were so many thoughts and questions running through my head since I came here, I didn’t know where to begin.
I invited her on a quiet walk so we could talk.
“That day, as a child leaving Atlantis,” I started. “I remember really only going through the portal and seeing you.”
We stopped and sat on a bench nestled between rose bushes.
“That was the worst day of my life, but I knew you’d be safe with the librarianship. They were the only ones who aided us.” She smiled sadly. “I tried several years to send you as many messages I could. Even though I knew the chances of reuniting were slim, I kept sending them in hopes one day you’d get them.”
“I got a lot of visions of you and me walking on the beach, and one I remember we found a calling shell.”
She reached for my hand. “You are a gifted sight siren Mae. That shell was just an ordinary shell on the beach until you touched it, and made it into a calling shell.”
I gazed at her and tried to comprehend what she was telling me. “I made it into a calling shell? How?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s your gift that I kept secret. I can’t make calling shells, and never could. But you have something in you that can change many things.”
I looked away as more questions flooded my thoughts. I felt overwhelmed by my entire past coming at me all at once. I wanted to know everything this very minute, but couldn’t get anything out of my sputtering words to try to form questions. My mother smiled and tucked my hair behind my ear. I closed my eyes as a distant memory flashed behind my closed lids. She used to do that when I was nervous and it would always send calming waves through me.
“Let’s go take a walk on the beach and I will tell you your story.”
With the waves gently coming in, my mother told me how she met my father when she was traveling as an aide for an overseer for negotiations during a tribal dispute. He was an aide for another overseer, and soon they found themselves traveling together.
“We had plans of marriage, after we had you. There were so many things going on with our jobs that we knew wouldn’t work with having a family. We had bought a house in Port Mer, and your father put in his resignation, but at the last minute he was sent to the Alfheim-Mer conference when everything fell apart for sirens. Sirens are supposed to be neutral and just keep the minds of the opposing parties open to each other. We were to be the solution to end all wars, but instead, we sold out to the highest bidder. That day we lost our status and respect of the Alliance. Even though the thought of misuse of our abilities would never cross most sirens’ minds, it only took one to crush us all. Although your father wasn’t part of the conspiracy, he paid the price. Fen, your father, was a good man, and he loved you very much.”
We stood gazing out at the ocean. I was looking at it but yet I wasn’t. I tried hard to summon any memory of him, but couldn’t.
“I wish I could remember what he looked like, what his voice sounded like, or really anything about him. Until now I didn’t even know his name—Fen.” I repeated his name just so I could say it out loud.
“You have his hair color and chin,” my mother said as if she had decided that a long time ago. “You are your father’s daughter.”
I smiled.
“He’s buried in Port Mer. I had his body secretly brought here as most were burned. When we get there, I’ll take you to his grave if you want to.”
I nodded my head as I looked down at my bare feet slowly sinking in the sand that washed over them. “I’d like that.”
I learned a lot from my mother, and I was glad she was so eager to have me in her life again. It was as if she had prepared for this day and knew it would come. I, on the other hand, felt overwhelmed. I had to take things slow, but steady.
It was late in the evening and neither Nolan or I could sleep. I had said my goodbyes to Hannah, Beannca and Sophie at dinner. We have traveled a long way together, and they would forever be woven as a part of my life.
“What are you doing out here?” Nolan asked as I looked up at the dark sky dotted with stars.
“Thinking,” I replied holding the shell I had picked up on the beach earlier when I went on my walk with my mother. It was my memento.
Suddenly a knock came to the door. Nolan went to answer it.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but they said you were leaving in the morning and I just wanted to wish you and Mae the best of luck.”
“Maggie?” I questioned her unmistakable voice as I went into the bedroom.
I greeted her with a hug.
“When did you get here?”
“Earlier this afternoon—portal officers are the worst to get by. I stated I was on official guardian business,
but I really came to see how you guys were doing and…try to get back the calling shell. You know, for my collection.” She whispered. The calling shell was promised to her for her collection of magical implements. I had forgotten about that.
“I’m sorry, they took that somewhere. I wish I could tell you…” I looked down at the shell in my hand and smiled. “Wait, here it is.”
I ran my hand over it and immediately it turned clear as glass. I held it in front of Maggie.
“You’re a sight siren,” she said taking the shell and cradling it in her palm. “This—this is amazing.” Maggie’s eyes widened.
“It’s a gift from Nolan and me. If it wasn’t for you, none of us would have made it here.”
She smiled and gently put the shell inside her pouch. “Going to have to hide that really good to get it home. This will be one of my most prized items in my collection and a rare one at that. You’d better keep your ability secret or you’ll have the Alliance watching your every move.” I replied with a nod of my head.
“And I hear and see you’re expecting. That’s wonderful, and I know you have an excellent midwife. Karinna is one of the best.”
I glanced up at Nolan. “Actually, we would like you to be there at the birth. That is, if you want to.”
“I’d be honored. Besides, you couldn’t keep me away if you tried.”
A knock came to the door and Nolan opened it.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Rae said standing like a ghost in the darkened hallway.
“Oh, my ride must be here and I can’t miss my portal.” Maggie gave me one of her squeeze-until-you-can’t-breathe hugs that always made me feel like she was my true friend.
“You can contact me anytime just like in Deadwood. Remember, I’m only a portal distance away.” She gave Nolan the same hug.
Maggie left, and I probably wouldn’t see her until I was a mother. I ran my hand over my stomach. Nolan stood in front of me and kissed my forehead. I could hear the soothing sound of the waves brushing the sandy shore outside. I still found it hard to grasp the idea that I was really here with Nolan, and we were going to get to be parents.
“Wrap your arms around me,” I said taking Nolan’s arms and placing them around my waist.
“You’re not—”
“Shhh…just hold me, Nolan.”
I closed my eyes and just listened to the sound of Nolan’s heart, the waves, and the ticking of the clock on the mantle above the fireplace. I couldn’t have been in a better place as I was right now.
Sophie
“It was amazing,” Hannah’s eyes sparkled back at me. “I mean look, the scales are still on my arms, and…” she looked down at them like a newly engaged girl would stare at her diamond ring. “I’ve never felt so right about something.”
“You hardly know who these sirens are, and you went into the ocean with them?” I paced back and forth. “What if something terrible would have happened?” Did she even think about how I’d feel if something did happen to her?
“Sophie, you don’t understand what I felt…the connection to the ocean. I was underwater for at least two hours without coming up for air. And besides, I can take care of myself. I have all my life.” She crossed her arms and cocked her head to the side. “But, I know you care about me, and I about you, and I’d never do anything stupid that would make you worry.”
Her neon eyes softened as she ran her fingers over my forearm. I took in a deep breath. Hannah had already explained to me that a mer siren is half siren and half mer and can swim in the ocean like a fish. “So, are you seeing them again?”
“Yes, and I’d like for you to meet them.”
“I can’t swim,” I said. “So what fun will I be?”
Hannah stood in front of me and tilted my chin upward so I’d meet her ocean-colored eyes. “Stop acting like a brat. Just because I’ve met other sirens doesn’t mean I don’t like you.” She read right through me—I let out another sigh.
“It’s just…I mean look at me. I’ve been nothing but a nanny my whole life, always followed the rules and was so prim and proper…uhg! It makes me sick!”
“Then don’t be prim and proper.” Hannah wrapped her arms around my waist. “Come with me and meet them. They will like you.”
We stood there for a moment swaying back and forth. “So,” I said thinking more about mer sirens. “If you have scales, have this connection to the ocean, and can go without air for extended periods of time, isn’t that like mermaids?”
I turned around and faced Hannah. She tapped her finger to her chin. “I didn’t think to ask that, but mermaids, at least human depictions, have tails.”
“When I go to see them, I’ll ask them that,” I said with a smile.
“Ask who what?” Sean asked coming into the kitchen.
My mind went blank for an excuse.
“I’ve met some mer sirens, and look.” Hannah held up her arms as the delicate scales sparkled in the light. “I’m one of them.”
Nothing like being blunt.
“Mer siren?” Sean questioned with disbelief.
“It was amazing…the ocean and everything about it was just –amazing.” Hannah looked like she could explode.
Sean grabbed Hannah’s arms and examined them.
“I think I have a plan B to your prism.” Sean’s face paled. Does Hanna’s bluntness know no bounds? “We have the ability of persuasion, but the Alliance sees it as a bad thing, but what if we show them that it can be used for good.”
“They will never consider it.” Sean started to put away the few groceries he had.
“Yeah, but we could at least present it to them. Sirens have so much to offer, and it was just one bad apple in the basket that ruined it for everyone.”
“Hannah, you don’t understand the Alliance.” His words were stern.
“I experienced something…”
“You’ve experienced nothing that would matter to the Alliance.” Sean slammed the pantry door shut. “I have business to take care of in University Hill, excuse me.” Sean left as Hannah sat on the bar stool like a scolded dog.
I leaned on the counter across from her. “I like your viewpoint.” I tried to encourage her.
“I like it as well, and Sean can be stubborn at times. Sometimes I’m not sure whose worse, the Alliance or him.” Rae had suddenly said behind me.
Startled, I turned around.
“I didn’t even hear you come in,” I said as Rae smirked at me.
“A little trick I learned from an entity,” she replied. “I think Hannah has enough power in her to persuade the Alliance to at least consider the use of sirens in their negotiations.” Her grey eyes glinted at Hannah.
“You think so?” Hannah asked. She was being drawn in, and I had to put the brakes on before it went too far.
“How do you know this?” I asked breaking Rae’s trance on Hannah.
Her eyes slid over to me. “She is a strong grand siren, and if we approach the Alliance in a respectful, helpful and professional way, we may have a chance. It won’t be easy and it will take a lot of meetings, but persistence will pay off.”
Hannah glanced at me and reached for my hand. “Don’t look so worried.”
“I’m just concerned, and we’ve only gotten here. I don’t want them to think we are trying to overtake their world, or intruding on the laws.”
“Actually,” Rae leaned closer to us. “You being sirens from earth are different from sirens here. You were raised by the librarianship, and taught different things. This is something that will stand out with the Alliance.”
I looked back at Hannah with uncertainty. She squeezed my hand as Rae placed her hand on top of ours.
“I can arrange a meeting with the Phoenix clan of the Alliance. There was a member I was close to, but unfortunately she passed away. I still have influence with them though as someone they trust in. I tried to get Sean to listen to me, bu
t he didn’t want to take my approach saying it would never work.” I felt Rae’s hand warm mine. “Trust is something that should never be broken, and our ability is something that carries great responsibility.”
“We have a duty to uphold,” I said feeling a sense of new responsibility. “We should approach the Alliance.”
Rae smiled. “We will have to go to them, I will arrange for travel as soon as I can.”
“What about Sean?” Hannah asked. “Should we tell him?” She questioned.
Rae drew in a deep breath. “After we get back if all goes well.”
Beannca
I had dropped off my application at the Siren’s Dell yesterday, and today I received a message they wanted me for an interview—this afternoon. The owner had made an unexpected visit, and was here for only a short time. Sean said the wheels of the Alliance move slowly at times, and for four non-threatening sirens, we were on the bottom of their list for finding a permanent place here in Atlantis. The mansion we were staying in belonged to Sean as a hospitality house for important guests or elite Alliance members on vacation. It was a beautiful place to live and started to feel like home to me.
The blue sky was dolloped with puffy clouds as if they had been strategically placed by an artist. The breeze was cool, but a little too strong, and was beginning to mess up my hair.
The path that led to the Siren’s Dell was empty as I walked along enjoying the view and trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. I stood on top of the hill overlooking it, and drew in a deep breath. I wanted this job, and the way of applying was like no other. There were no references, no past history work experience, and no other questions, except I had to state why I wanted to work here. I had filled the front and back side of the paper. I hope I didn’t go overboard.
“He’s waiting for you by the stream.” Myra greeted me with a smile.
“I hope I did alright on my application,” I said as she patted me on the shoulder.
“You’ll do fine. He’s really not all business, and easy to talk to.” She motioned for me to join him as she turned and left with a whispered good luck.
He had his back to me, and was dressed in a long, silky, black jacket and large brimmed hat made of the same material. His hand reached for the drink in front of him and he took a sip. I stood and watched, unsure of myself.
“Beannca White, aren’t you going to join me, or do I have to invite you over?” asked a very familiar voice.
Cautiously, I stepped forward. “Jack?” I said in a low voice as he turned around and smiled.
“Yes dear, it’s me, and I haven’t got all day.”
“Jack!” I ran over to him and gave him a big hug.
“It’s good to see you too,” he replied.
“You’re the owner of the Siren’s Dell?” I asked in disbelief.
“Does that surprise you?” He motioned for me to sit down across from him. “I built this restaurant from the ground up. It has been successful for many years, and I plan on it being successful for many more, that is, I have to have the right employees working here to keep it that way.” He opened up a notebook from his satchel that hung on the back of the chair. “Now, shall we begin?”
“But don’t you want to know what has happened to us since we got here? And I would like to know how things are going with you.” I gazed into his ancient, but still childish eyes.
“You are a sincere girl, aren’t you?” He asked with a smile. “Not that I don’t want to visit—I have other engagements that require my attention. And if you want to have a job here, then let’s get started.”
Jack pretty much knew about my employment, but wanted to know more about my responsibilities at the Glass Guardian. I told him I did some of the ordering, searched for different suppliers if needed, and did a little of the record keeping. Even though it was Jack, I tried to stay just to my work experience even though inside I wanted to know what was happening on earth, and especially in Chicago.
“I didn’t have a doubt in my mind that you wouldn’t be perfect for the job, but I just wanted to know how much you did at the Glass Guardian.”
Feeling our interview had come to an end, I was going to ask Jack what or if anything was happening in Chicago when he took my word covered application, and tore it in half.
I let out a gasp. “What are you doing?” He then took the paper and with a flick of his fingers, it went up in a puff of flames and smoke. “If you didn’t want me to work here all you had to do was say, and not be so dramatic about it.”
“Beannca, no one can know you work here. Things aren’t good with the guardianship in Chicago. Aaron is searching for you as we speak. I came here secretly, and therefore, can’t stay too long. You have employment here as long as you like, but I’d keep my profile low until I can come up with a solution to end all of this stupid questioning and investigating by the guardianship.” Jack stood up and straightened his jacket.
“Does Aaron have any idea that I’m here?”
“No, and I intend to keep it that way,” he said pulling out what looked like a cell phone. “The reception is amazing here since I installed that crystal keeper—and they said it wouldn’t work,” he smirked with a chuckle. “Well, with a little wizardry work and tada…you have the best reception in Atlantis.” He flipped his phone shut.
I nervously rolled my hands together as I looked around at Siren’s Dell. I should be happy, but with Jack’s grim warning, I felt a dark cloud hovered over me.
“My dear,” he took my hands with a smile. “You have nothing to worry about. If I can make good communicator reception in this back-forty-area of Atlantis, I can deter an arrogant guardian.”
There was always something about Jack that seemed so true and sincere in his words. I felt it run through me. He would do all he could, and I trusted him as I looked around at Siren’s Dell. I couldn’t wait to not only start here, but my new life.