Resurfaced: A Little Mermaid Retelling: (Suppressed Book 2) Read online

  Resurfaced

  Suppressed Book 2

  Wendi L. Wilson

  Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  Thank You!

  Other books by Wendi L. Wilson

  Acknowledgments

  Copyright ©2018 by Wendi L. Wilson

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, or distributed, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without express permission of the author, except by a reviewer who my quote brief passages for review purposes.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Cover Design by Molly Phipps

  www.wegotyoucoveredbookdesign.com

  Created with Vellum

  Dedication

  For all the fans of Kai and Bryce who sent me messages, telling me how much they loved Suppressed and needed this book. You were my driving force, my talisman, my inspiration. Thank you.

  Chapter One

  “Let me go!”

  The arms around my waist tighten, threatening to constrict my airflow. My legs fly into the air, my feet leaving the water as I’m jerked up and swung around in the opposite direction. Panic sears through my body, and I start to fight, twisting and turning in the tight embrace, digging my fingernails into the arms caging me in.

  “Kai, stop. Please.”

  That voice cuts through my panic like a bucket of ice water. My body goes limp as the fight drains out of me. Bryce.

  Kai.

  His voice flows through my mind like warm honey. In my panic, I’d forgotten about our newly formed power of telepathy. His grip on me loosens, and I turn in his arms, weaving my hands into the dark hair at the base of his skull. I burrow my face into his neck and wrap my legs around his waist to steady myself against the jostling as he carries me across the sand, away from the water.

  I don’t know what came over me. Ms. Coraline disappeared. I was ready to let Celine and Bran perform their spell, the one that would let me remain human while on land and be a mermaid when I venture into the sea. Most of my problems would be resolved within a few short minutes.

  Then he appeared. A loud shriek broke through the chanting of the witches and drew our attention to the sea, stopping the spell. A man, or something resembling one, rose from the waves to make demands of me. His king has my parents. He wants me in exchange for their lives.

  “Do it.”

  Bryce’s voice pulls me from the memory, and I look around as I release my legs and let them drift to the sand. Pushing a lock of red hair behind my ear, I realize we’re inside the circle his parents created for the spell. I glance up at the moon, which is huge and round and high in the sky. How long has it been since the merman appeared? I don’t know for sure, but it can’t have been more than a minute or two.

  “Bryce, what are you doing?” Celine’s voice cracks with nervous energy.

  “Cast the spell on us both,” he says, tightening his grip on my waist.

  “Bryce, get out of the circle. We don’t have time to argue about this,” Bran says, his voice harsh.

  “Dad,” Bryce says, looking at his parents, “please. Mom. I have to do this. She needs me.”

  “Bryce,” I start, but a hard glance from him silences my argument.

  “There’s no time. If we don’t do this right now, it’s over. We don’t have the luxury of waiting another month, and I’m not letting you turn into a mermaid permanently. I’m not letting you go to Delmare alone. I’m never going to let you go.”

  His words strike pain through my chest while simultaneously causing bees to flutter in my belly. He’s going to turn himself into a merman for me. Travel to the depths of the ocean and risk his life for me. I can’t let him. I love him too much.

  I love you, too. His voice is strong and sure as it echoes through my mind. The spell is happening. We’ll figure out the rest.

  I look toward his parents and see them, eyes closed and hands clasped together, chanting furiously, any argument tabled for lack of time. Bryce’s voice, soft at first then gaining in strength and volume, joins theirs. I can’t make out what they are saying over the roar of the ocean, but their words are making the hairs on my arms stand on end. I can feel the power flowing over my body. Bryce’s deep blue eyes burn into mine as his words burn into my soul.

  Pain shoots through my abdomen, much like when Ms. Coraline reversed the spell that made me human. I hear Bryce groan as I drop to the sand and curl into a fetal position. I can barely see him through the tears blurring my vision, but, somehow, he manages to stay on his feet. The pain eases into a dull ache and I pull myself into a sitting position.

  “Are you okay?” Bryce asks, dropping to his knees in front of me.

  “I think so.” Tension knots the muscles of my shoulders and I roll them to ease it. “Did it work?”

  “I don’t know,” he says, looking from me, to his parents, and back again. “I don’t feel any different. Do you?”

  I start to shake my head but stop myself. “Actually, yes. I don’t feel dehydrated any more. The thirst is gone.”

  Ever since Ms. Coraline cast the spell to reverse my humanity, I’ve had excruciating headaches, an unquenchable thirst and extremely dry skin, particularly on my legs. My body demanded to be submerged in the sea, and that was the only thing that made it better, except for the salty, red drink Celine made me earlier. It was a temporary fix. This feels… different.

  “Well, that’s a good thing.”

  His eyes drift to a spot over my left shoulder and I turn to see what he’s staring at. His parents are walking away, heading toward the staircase that leads to the house. I hope they are not angry with me. Bryce turning into a part-time merman was not part of the deal.

  “They aren’t mad. They’re just worried.” I lower my eyebrows as he gets to his feet and lifts his palms toward me. “Sorry. You were projecting. I can’t help it.”

  “Well,” I say, letting him pull me up, “we’re going to have to figure this out. As cool as telepathy is, I don’t think I want you hearing every thought in my head.”

  One side of his mouth lifts into a smirk. “What do you have to hide?” he asks, waggling his eyebrows.

  Wouldn’t you like to know? I attempt to project the thought to him. I’m pretty sure my scrunched face looks ridiculous.

  “Oh, yes,” he says out loud. “Yes, I would.”

  I start to laugh but sober quickly. I shouldn’t be having fun. I should be working on a plan to save my parents. My body suddenly feels twice its weight as physical and mental exhaustion take over.

  “Come on,” Bryce says, taking my hand. “Let’s go to bed. We can test out the spell tomorrow.”

  “But what if it didn�
��t work?”

  He looks up at the moon making its descent over the water. “If it didn’t work, it’s too late, anyway. We need sleep. In the morning, we’ll jump in and see what happens. Okay?”

  “Okay.” I let him lead me up the stairs to the back deck of his house before speaking again. “Bryce?”

  He stops walking and turns to face me. “Yeah?”

  Thank you. I send the thought to him with all the emotion I can muster as tears sting my eyes.

  You’re welcome, he sends back. I’ll do anything for you. Whatever it takes. Always.

  Chapter Two

  My eyes flutter open and blink a few times as they try to adjust to the bright light. A warm pressure on my arm draws my attention, and I look down. Bryce’s hand is wrapped around it, holding me even in sleep. A smile tugs my lips upward before dropping as memories from last night rush in.

  I sit up, a gasp ripping its way out from my chest. I grab the clock from the nightstand and hold it up. It’s nearly eleven. I only have thirteen hours to figure out a way to save my parents, Bryce, and myself. The merman is coming for me at midnight… to take me to my death.

  “Kai?”

  Bryce sits up, rubbing his eyes, before taking the clock from me. He leans over me to put it back on the nightstand, nuzzling his face into my neck before pulling back. I try to smile but fail. He inhales deeply and lets it out on a sigh.

  “Sorry,” he says. “I know you’re under a lot of pressure and the last thing you need is me-”

  “No,” I cut in, grabbing his hand and clutching it to my chest. “You are exactly what I need. I’m just anxious to get started. Bryce, we need a plan.”

  “I know. My parents are working on something… what?” he interrupts himself when my eyes go wide.

  “Your parents,” I stammer, releasing his hand and scooting back. “They’re here. In the house.”

  “Yeah,” he says, drawing the end out like a question.

  “I slept in your bed, with them here. Oh, God.” I bury my face in my hands. “I wonder what they think of me.”

  “Kailani,” Bryce says, pulling my hands away, “they love you. Almost as much as I do.”

  “That’s really nice of you to say,” I respond, not letting myself fall for his charm, “but they probably think that I… we… well, you know!”

  “No, they don’t.”

  “How do you know?” My voice rises to a pitch that hurts even my ears.

  “Because I already talked to them about this.”

  “What?” The word comes out harsher than I intended.

  Bryce closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Kai. When I told my parents that you were staying here, they asked me where you were sleeping, and I told them the truth. They trust me, Kai, and believed me when I told them that this,” he waves his hand over the bed, “is completely innocent and only for your peace of mind and protection.”

  I want to argue that no parent trusts their teenage kid that much, but there’s no point. What’s done is done. They knew I was sleeping in Bryce’s bed before they met me and have only treated me with kindness and warmth. I just need to shake it off and move on.

  I get up without another word and head to the bathroom. I take a deep breath and release it as I dab paste on my toothbrush. I believe Bryce when he says they trust him. I am just having a hard time pushing aside my embarrassment, and that’s not his fault.

  I’m sorry. I’m not mad at you, I project to him through the bathroom door. The thought of Celine and Bran assuming I’m doing more than sleeping in your bed freaks me out.

  I know. I’m sorry you’re embarrassed, Kai, but really, there’s nothing to stress over.

  His voice echoes through my mind, and I can’t help but smile around my toothbrush. This is so cool.

  Yeah. It is.

  When I finish up and open the door, I expect to see him waiting on the other side. Instead I see my best friend Ana sitting on his bed. I shoot her a bright smile before glancing around the room. There’s no sign of Bryce.

  “He went downstairs to help his parents make breakfast,” she says, standing and taking a tentative step toward me. “Is… everything…”

  “I’m good,” I say, rushing forward and wrapping my arms around her. “I have so much to tell you.”

  Once I start speaking, I don’t stop, and Ana doesn’t interrupt me. I can tell she wants to several times, but she holds her tongue until I get everything out. I fall silent, staring at my hands clasped in front of me, and wait for her to say something. I don’t have to wait long.

  “That’s… unbelievable.” She pauses for a moment and I look at her face. I can see the indecision as she tries to decide what to ask first. “So, Ms. Coraline just disappeared?”

  “Yeah. I mean, I guess. I kind of blacked out, and Bryce told me that’s what happened.”

  “But, where did she go?”

  “I have no idea. I actually haven’t really thought about it. With everything else that happened…”

  My words trail off as the series of events I just described to her play through my head again. It’s up to me to save my parents in a world I have no knowledge of, from people who consider me an abomination they need to eliminate. It’s all more than a little overwhelming.

  “So, when are you going to try out your new tail?”

  I can’t suppress the grin that tugs at my lips. Ana really knows how to break the tension and lift my spirits. I’m so lucky to have her in my life.

  “As soon as possible!”

  I rush to Bryce’s dresser and snatch open the drawer he designated for my stuff, pulling out my one-piece swimsuit. I feel the weight of what lies ahead lift slightly as the prospect of swimming as a mermaid fills me with excitement. I can streak through the water with legs, so I wonder how fast I’ll be able to go with a tail. The possibilities are limitless.

  “Uh, Kai? That’s probably not going to work.”

  “What?” I ask, turning to her with my swimsuit clutched against my chest. “What won’t work?”

  “That,” she says, pointing to the material clutched in my fist. “It goes between your legs… legs you won’t have once you change.”

  “You’re right,” I say, my eyes losing focus as I imagine the suit ripping at the crotch when my tail forms. “This won’t work. But what am I going to wear? I can’t very well head down to the beach buck naked.”

  Ana’s husky laughter fills the room. I give her an admonishing look while attempting, and failing, to keep the smile from my face.

  “This isn’t funny, Ana. Help me.”

  “Okay. Okay. Let me think.” Her eyes widen. “Do you have a skirt?”

  “I’m not sure,” I mutter, digging through the drawer.

  I didn’t exactly pay attention to what I was packing when Bryce and I snuck into Ms. Coraline’s house to get my stuff. I shoved whatever I laid my hands on into my bag, only taking the time to make sure I got underwear and socks. There’s no skirt in the drawer, so I head over to the closet where Bryce said he hung a few of my things.

  “Nope,” I say after shifting through the clothes. “I only own one skirt, and it’s not here. I have the dress I wore last night, but I don’t want to ruin it. It’s my mother’s.”

  “All right,” Ana says, heading for the door. “I’ll run down and ask Celine if she has anything you can borrow.”

  “Ana,” I say, stopping her as she walks out into the hallway. She peeks her head back in and looks at me. “Thanks.”

  “Of course,” she says, giving me a slight nod. “What kind of bestie would I be if I wasn’t here to find a proper outfit for you?”

  She winks and pulls back into the hall. As her footsteps fade away, I can’t help but wonder how I got to be so lucky. Who needs dozens of friends? With Ana and Bryce by my side, I have everything I need.

  Chapter Three

  My stomach is so tied in knots I can barely eat. The atmosphere at the table feels thick, my
tension heightening with each silence-filled second that passes. I stare at the slice of bacon in my hand, its normally heavenly scent making me feel nauseous.

  Why isn’t anyone speaking? I sneak a glance at Celine before quickly dropping my gaze back to my plate. She’s angry with me. I know it. Because of me, her son is most likely a part-time fish. My involvement with him has upturned their lives, destroyed their life-long bid for privacy, and put him in indisputable danger.

  Sudden pressure on my knee rips me from my dark thoughts. I look over to see Bryce giving me an encouraging smile. He shakes his head slightly. She’s not mad, just worried about us. Both of us.

  The words float through my brain like a soft caress. I smile and nod even though I know he’s just trying to make me feel better. There’s no way Celine and Bran don’t blame me for all of this. Hell, I don’t disagree with them. It is all my fault.

  “It’s not your fault,” Bryce says aloud.

  Three sets of eyes flick toward us at his words. Ana nods in agreement, but Celine and Bran just stare, a series of conflicting emotions flashing across each of their faces. It’s got to be weird, knowing that their son is having silent, telepathic conversations with me. A girl they barely know. A girl who blew into their lives like a hurricane and wreaked as much damage. My eyes start to burn as I try to hold back yet another torrent of tears.

  “Kai.”

  Celine’s soft voice resonates inside of me, shaking loose a few fat tears. I tense even further, bracing myself for impact. When I’m as ready as I can be, I meet her eyes. She reaches over and with a whisper-light touch, brushes a tear from my cheek with her thumb.