Chapter 1: The Meeting

Noah

All my senses came crashing into me at once. I had to remind myself to breathe. I opened my eyes and looked around. There were small shampoo bottles in the corner to my left. As I looked up, cold water greeted me. The sudden sensation was a shock that made me shiver. I held myself and felt scales under my fingertips. I looked down at my hands and saw webbed fingers. I closed my eyes. 

Breathe Noah. Breathe. I shifted, so I need to think. Where was I? I forced my eyes open and felt the cold, slick tiles underneath my feet. Feet? I sighed in relief. I haven’t shifted all the way, so I was still mostly human. It was clear now that I was in the shower. How long have I been here? What was I doing before this? I pushed those questions away and tried to ground myself before I shift entirely. I kept my eyes open and breathed slow and deep. “You’re not in danger. You’re safe.” I reminded myself out loud so I know this was real. Time seemed to be standing still. As soon as my brain registered that I was not in danger I stepped out of the shower.

What I saw when I stepped from the shower made my stomach drop. I wasn’t at home. Now my memory came back to me rapidly. I was working before my brain decided to check out. The small, dimly lit locker room at the local pool where I taught school children to swim was quiet and empty. I was alone. Grabbing my towel from the shower door, I wrapped it around myself tightly. I wandered over to the opening that led out from the shower stalls to investigate. When I saw that the room was vacant, I allowed myself to relax. I strolled over to the row of five sinks and mirrors that sat right outside the shower room doorway and touched the cold brim of the sink, then forced myself to absorb the sensation. I reminded myself, “This is real. I am real.”

I glanced up into the mirror to gray-tinted blue eyes surrounded by a sea of black. At this point, I had no one to blame but myself. It had been more than a month since I shifted into my siren form, so it was going to take longer than usual to look human again. I placed my webbed hand on my face and traced the slowly fading navy blue lines on my cheeks, my chin, and under my eyes. I pushed my wet pale purple, almost white wavy hair out the way to get a better look at my face. I often worried if my natural hair color stood out too much against my dark skin complexion, but everyone around town assumed I had a great hairstylist. 

The lines on my face are mostly faded, so I decided to move to where I probably left my clothes. I quietly pushed open the door that separated the shower and washrooms from where the lockers are. The maroon-colored lockers lined in front of me reminded me too much of high school and all the memories that remind me that I was not human enough. Eager to get home, I rushed over to a row of lockers located against the wall. The lockers were opened and cleaned out, marking the end of summer swimming lessons right before the new school year starts next week.

I approached my locker located at the end of the row. Dialing the combination with ease, I swung it open. The first thing I did was grab my phone to look at the time. 7:22 pm. Later than I thought. If I didn't get home, my family would launch a search party. I quickly threw on my white long-sleeve shirt and layer it with a black t-shirt with a shark movie poster design. I wiggled into my cuffed denim jeans and slipped on my white lace-less shoes. It probably wouldn’t hurt to call someone and tell them I’m safe. I scrolled down and saw a notification: (3) missed calls from Maya. “Leave it to my cousin to always be worried about me,” I whispered as I dialed the number. She picked up almost instantly.

“Noah!” She squealed.

“I can explain,” I said while pulling the phone away from my ear slightly. Maya was speaking loudly over muffled music in the background.

“You promised that you would come out to the boardwalk with me and coven tonight.”

“Yeah, I know I’m just running a little late.” I said. Maya must have moved away from the crowd because she was speaking in her average tone.

“Is everything okay?”

The tone of her voice almost made me tear up. “I’ll explain when I get there, okay?”

“Okay, Noah. I’ll meet you at dad’s diner, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

After the call ended, I squeezed my eyes shut to keep the tears at bay. I couldn’t remember the last time I slept for an entire night. Sleeping was a luxury I had taken for granted. When I do sleep, the dreams come. The nightmares. Waking up screaming isn’t ideal but it was my current reality. Breathe Noah. 

As I stuffed the rest of my belongings into my gym bag, I heard three soft taps on the locker room door. Was I not alone? My pulse spiked as I tried to remember if someone should be at the pool this late. My mind came up blank as the doorknob turned slowly. My flight or fight senses activated. Before I had time to react, I saw what was on the other side of the threshold; a man. I calmed myself as I looked the odd stranger up and down. Long black hair fell past his broad shoulders, dark-brown eyes, slightly tanned skin, and expensive brand-name street style clothing. His eyeliner was applied in a way that disguised his monolid. Must be an Underwood, one of the wealthiest families in this small town, but not one I have seen before.

He slowly reached into his dark-red windbreaker jacket pocket and pulled out a smartphone, the newest model. An Underwood, no doubt. The stranger was concentrating on his smartphone screen as he typed something. When he finished his task, he handed the device to me. I took the smartphone slowly, afraid that I would have to pay if I damaged it. There was  text on the bright screen.

Is it true that you have your scuba certification?

“Um. Yes?” I answered back slowly. I stared at him for long seconds, but the man was not making eye contact. He only stared at the phone. As interesting as this stranger looked, I had to meet Maya at the diner, so I spoke again. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on here, but I have somewhere to be.”

 The man stayed silent, but now he was looking at me directly. His face looked conflicted, and his eyes seemed nervous. I opened my mouth to speak again but he reached up and grabbed his phone from my hands. His hands were surprisingly soft despite the hard angles of his face. The strange Underwood started typing at rapid speed on the device and then showed me the screen.

Do you have free time to help me with something?

Help an Underwood? This situation wasn’t making any sense. First, why was this strange Underwood talking to me? Second, why had I never seen him before? The Underwood’s were known for being flashy and overachieving. Harmonia Cove’s small-town celebrities, in a way.  At least that was the case until the death of the youngest Underwood last year that sent them all into mourning. Lastly, why does he care if I can scuba dive? I wanted answers to those questions, but I didn’t have the mindset to deal with this conversation at this moment.

“I’m sorry, but whatever’s happening right now will have to continue at another time,” I said, losing my patience. I didn’t give the man time to answer or react. I collected my things, walked around him and out the exit.

Rain

Okay. That did not work. That was okay, I guess. It wasn’t the first time someone had lost their patience with me. I should be used to it by now. Should I walk after him? No. Following someone was creepy no matter what I intended. It was not easy getting information about this guy, Noah. Everything on his social media was a persona. Almost like he was pretending to be someone else. Or hiding who he was. I finally managed to get information about this part-time job of his. Of course, someone who has a scuba certification would teach swimming. Why didn’t I think of that sooner? More importantly, why would I think this would work? Walking up to a random stranger and asking if he could scuba dive with me was a dumb idea.

I admitted defeat and decided to walk back out to the parking lot where my driver was waiting. Stretching out in the backseat, I tried to think of what I should do next. My thoughts were interrupted when I saw a flash of light coming from the front seat. My driver was trying to get my attention. When I looked up, I saw him staring at me with a worried expression. I knew he wanted to ask me what was wrong, but he knew I would not speak to him. 

“Raindriel, sir. Am I still taking you to meet with Robyn at the boardwalk?” Asked the driver.

I forgot all about meeting Robyn, my older brother, at the annual boardwalk end of summer party. I only recently returned home, so spending time with family was a new experience again. I'll try and have some fun, I guess. I needed to prove that I was doing better now. Nodding in response to his question, we pulled out of the parking lot. The worst part about that whole meeting was that I never told Noah my name. Why would I think this would work?