Suppressed: A Little Mermaid Retelling Page 9

  “What? You don’t think I was able to really use telepathy, do you?”

  “I can see you’re skeptical,” he says drily.

  “Well, it’s…it’s ridiculous. Telepathy isn’t a real thing.”

  He raises one eyebrow. “Neither are witches.”

  My face drops, and I backpedal, “I didn’t say th-”

  “Stop,” he says, cutting me off. “It’s okay. I was only trying to prove a point. Before you met me, you thought witches were the stuff of fairy tales. I can sense emotions, which is, in a way, telepathic. How can you be so sure telepathy isn’t real?”

  “Well, even if it is real, I don’t have it. Don’t you think I’d know by now if I could do something like that?”

  One side of his mouth lifts into a grin. “Maybe you only have it with me.”

  “Wow. Conceited, much?”

  I don’t know why this conversation is upsetting me so much. He’s only joking but I can’t help but let it get to me. Maybe it’s because I’m tired. Maybe it’s because, despite what I say, I’ve always felt a little off. A little bit different from everyone else.

  “Hey,” he says softly, reaching over to take my hand. “You okay?”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  He takes the glass of water from my other hand and sets it down on the deck. Standing, he pulls me up from the chair, then sits in it and pulls me down onto his lap. I sit sideways, draping my legs over the arm of the chair and press my face into his neck. Bryce rubs comforting circles around my back with one hand while the other rests on my hip.

  “It’s okay, Kai,” he whispers. “Your reaction is totally understandable. Truthfully? I’m surprised you haven’t freaked out before now.”

  I huff out a breath. “I am not freaking out.”

  He laughs, causing my body to shake with the rumble of his chest. “Okay. What do you call it then?”

  I lift my head from his chest and stare into his eyes. “You were being conceited.”

  “Okay, I’ll give you that.” He pauses for a moment and stares at the water. After I lay my head back on his chest, he continues, “But what if I was right, Kai? What if, somehow, you and I have a…connection, of sorts? One that we don’t have with anyone else?”

  I don’t answer. I don’t think he was even really looking for an answer. I enjoy having his arms around me for a few more minutes before sitting up and climbing from his lap.

  “I should go. My mom will think I drowned or something.”

  He snorts. “Not likely.”

  I laugh. “Okay, maybe she won’t think I drowned but she may come looking for me if she realizes I’m still out here.”

  He stands up and grabs my hand, yanking me forward. His other hand grabs my wet hair and uses it to guide my mouth to his. I can taste the salt from the ocean on his lips, and it tastes like heaven. He must sense my satisfaction, because he groans and kisses me even harder.

  I reluctantly pull away from him. “I’m sorry. I really have to go.”

  He scrapes a palm down his face with a groan. “I know. I’ll see you tomorrow morning at our spot?”

  I smile and nod. “Yes, I’ll be there.”

  He steps forward and kisses me again, this time making it short and sweet. “Sleep tight.”

  I pick my way down the steps and start running as soon as my feet hit the sand. I scoop up the towel I dropped on my way out and head for the house. Once inside, I release a pent-up breath. All’s quiet. Mom must be in bed, and Ms. Coraline must still be out. She’d be breathing fire down my back if she was here.

  I climb into bed after my shower and think of my conversation with Bryce. What if he was right? What if we do have some kind of telepathic connection? Maybe I should test it out. I feel stupid but I’m going to drive myself crazy if I don’t try.

  The first thing that pops into my head is bananas, so, with a shrug, I concentrate. I focus on Bryce and think “bananas, bananas, bananas,” over and over again. At this point, I feel really ridiculous. And hungry. But I’m too tired to move, so I lay back and pull the covers up to my chin. My last thought before I drift to sleep is of Bryce swimming toward me in the moonlight.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Is that a banana?”

  I look at the fruit in my hand and nod. I grabbed it from the kitchen on my way out the door, wanting something quick and easy. Bryce’s interest in it makes me smile, thinking of my experiment last night.

  “Yeah,” I say, leaning back against a tree. “It’s what’s for breakfast.”

  Bryce licks his lips. “Can I have it?”

  I laugh. “How about if we share?” I peel one side.

  “Deal.”

  “Didn’t you eat breakfast?”

  “I had some cereal,” he says, licking his lips, “but I have been craving bananas since last night, and we don’t have any in the house.”

  My hands freeze, and my mouth falls open. “Last night?”

  Bryce snatches the banana from my hand and finishes peeling it. He breaks off half and hands the rest back to me. Taking a bite, he groans, letting his eyes fall shut.

  “Bryce,” I say, “focus. When did you start craving bananas?”

  “I dunno,” he says around another bite. “Maybe nine-thirty? I was watching TV, and the urge suddenly hit. I was so pissed when I searched the kitchen.”

  I hand him my half of the fruit when he finishes his and stares at mine with longing. He takes it with a nod and shoves it into his mouth.

  “Was there a commercial about bananas or something?” I ask.

  “No, I don’t think so. Why?”

  “Bryce,” I say, grabbing his hands, “I tried something last night.”

  “What?”

  “Well, you know how we were talking about projecting? Like, me, sending my emotions to you?”

  “Yeah.” His expression grows wary.

  “I was thinking about it and wondering if maybe we do have some kind of telepathic or psychic connection. I decided to think of something really hard and tried to project it to you.”

  His mouth falls open for a second. “Bananas?” he asks, his voice nearly a whisper.

  “Yeah,” I say, nodding. When he doesn’t respond, I ask, “Has anything like that ever happened to you, or anyone you know of?”

  “No,” he says. “Never. I could ask my parents but…”

  “But they can’t know about me,” I finish for him.

  We stand there silent, in our secret spot, holding hands for several moments. I stare at him but his eyes are vacant, his mind somewhere else trying to come up with a viable explanation for our apparent connection. Finally, I lose patience.

  “Well?”

  “I don’t know, Kai. This is all new to me, too.” He grabs my wrist and turns it so he can see my watch. “We should probably get to school.”

  I nod. “Okay. I’ll go first.”

  I turn to leave but he tugs on my wrist to pull me back. My momentum takes me right into his arms. He kisses me, a sweet, soft peck, then hugs me against him.

  “We’ll figure this out, Kai.”

  “Together,” I say, as I pull away and head back out toward the road.

  As I step out of the woods, a black sedan pulls up beside me and stops. The back window rolls down, and I see Ms. Coraline’s pinched face frowning at me. My insides explode into a writhing ball of panic. I send a silent prayer that Bryce stays put. If he shows himself, I’m dead.

  “What are you doing?” she asks, her horrid voice cracking.

  “Going to school,” I say, keeping my expression as even as I can. I can’t see her but I know my mother is in the driver’s seat.

  “Why were you in the woods?”

  “I, uh, ate a banana, and I went to throw the peel in the bushes.”

  “Really.” It wasn’t a question. The disbelief was written all over her face.

  “Yes,” I say simply, hoping to end this conversation and get her on her way as quickl
y as possible.

  “Well, let’s see it.”

  “See what?” I ask, confused.

  “Let’s see this supposed banana peel.” Her face transforms, the evil shining through her self-satisfied smile.

  Trying not to panic, I nod and turn towards the woods. If I head back to our spot to get the peel, the jig is up. It’s way too deep in the woods to make my story plausible. I take a few steps forward, then pause in shock. The banana peel is a few feet ahead, lying on a bush.

  “Thanks,” I whisper, knowing Bryce is there somewhere, even though I can’t see him.

  I grab the peel and school my features before turning back to the car. I hold it up and wave it around so Ms. Coraline can see it before dropping it back where I got it. She shoots me a frown before rolling up the window. The car lurches forward, and I watch as it disappears up the road, heading toward town.

  Once it’s gone, I turn back to the trees. “Bryce?”

  He materializes to my left, making me jump with a squeal. “Sorry,” he says, a bright smile on his face.

  I throw my arms around him. “Thank you so much! You saved me.”

  “Am I your hero now?” he asks, smirking.

  “Yes, definitely” I say before the smile drops from my face. “We can’t use this spot anymore. It’s on her radar, and she’ll be looking to bust me doing something illicit here.”

  “Illicit? I’m down for doing something illicit.”

  “Be serious,” I laugh. “What are we going to do?”

  “Don’t worry,” he says. “We’ll find a new spot, and I can cast a spell to keep nosy old ladies far away from it.”

  “You can do that?”

  “Of course,” he says, turning me around and gently shoving me toward the road. “Now, get going or we’ll be late for school.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  I can’t believe she locked me in my room. I don’t even know how she did it. There’s no lock on my door but no matter how much I push and pull, it won’t budge. In frustration, I kick it hard.

  “Mom!”

  I rear back to kick it again but pause mid swing. I hear the patter of footsteps coming down the hall. I press my ear against the smooth wood and listen, holding my breath.

  “Kai?”

  “Mom, please open the door.”

  “I can’t Honey. I’m sorry.”

  “Mom! Don’t let her do this. It’s insane!”

  “Shh, Kailani. Please be quiet.”

  “I don’t care if she hears me,” I scream. “I. Want. Out.”

  “I’ll talk to her, Kai. Just please stop yelling.”

  “What do you mean, you’ll talk to her? This is crazy. I’m your daughter. Just let me out.”

  “I’ll be back.”

  “Mom!”

  She doesn’t respond, and I press my ear against the door again. I hear her footsteps fading away. I kick the door once more before stalking over to my bed and throwing myself down onto it. I stare at the ceiling, thinking.

  I have no idea why I’ve been imprisoned in what was once my haven. It’s Friday, and the last time I had a run-in with the old hag was Tuesday morning when she saw me coming out of the woods. I’ve done my best to avoid her all week with much success.

  Bryce found a new secret spot closer to school and showed it to me Tuesday afternoon. He assured me that it was spelled to ward off everyone except the two of us, making other people feel panicked and repelled if they get anywhere near it. We’ve been meeting there before and after school ever since, with none the wiser.

  I got ready for school this morning after my chores, just like every other day but when I went downstairs to leave, Ms. Coraline was waiting. Without any explanation, she grabbed my wrist and dragged me back upstairs. She shoved me into my room and slammed the door shut. That was the last contact I’ve had with anyone all day until the exchange with my mom a few minutes ago. I check my watch. Seven fifty-three. I’ve been locked in here for over twelve hours.

  My initial fear was that she somehow knew about me and Bryce but after thinking about it, I decided she would have said something if that were the case. The only viable explanation I can come up with is that she’s crazy. Clinically insane.

  What upsets me even more about this situation is that my mom is doing nothing about it. She’s so afraid of Ms. Coraline that she’s letting this happen. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive her for this betrayal. If…when I get out of here, I’m going to let her have it. After I eat. I’m starving.

  I sit up swiftly and stare at my door. I thought I heard…there it is again. A soft click is followed by a slight jiggle of the doorknob. I stay where I am, frozen, praying it’s not the old hag. After another click, the knob turns, and my door swings open. I tilt my head to the side and squint. No one is there. I start to stand but fall back onto my butt when the door gently closes on its own.

  Before I can panic, the air in front of the door shimmers. A solid form emerges, and I gulp back a scream as I realize it’s Bryce. I jump to my feet and rush across the room. He pulls me in for a hug and squeezes me, hard.

  “What? How?” I stutter when he releases me and takes a step back.

  He holds a finger to his lips and pulls me to the far side of the room, away from the door. “I cast an invisibility spell and snuck up here. Why weren’t you at school?”

  My face tightens with anger. “The old hag locked me in here this morning.”

  “What? Why?”

  I shrug. “I have no idea. She didn’t say anything. She just pulled me up here and locked me in. My mom came by earlier and told me, through the door, that she would talk to her. She’s my mother! She should let me out!”

  My voice grows louder and louder with each word. Bryce calms me, placing his hands on my shoulders while making shushing sounds. I nod, understanding. I have to keep it down or my mother or Ms. Coraline will hear and come investigate.

  I pull Bryce to my bed and sit, pulling him down next to me. After we’re settled I realize what I have done. The bees start buzzing in my belly again. I have Bryce, the boy I like, who likes me, on my bed. The thought is as terrifying as it is appealing.

  “Relax,” Bryce says, a wide grin on his face, “even if I wanted to take advantage of our current location, and make no mistake, I do, now is not the time. We have to figure out how to get you out of here.”

  “Wait, how did you know where I was?”

  “When you didn’t show up at our spot, I got worried. Then you weren’t at school so I decided to make sure you were okay. I came through the trees between our houses and stayed just out of sight. I could feel you from there. You were angry, confused and…” he pauses to think for a moment, “hungry? Anyway, I made myself invisible and snuck in when your mom opened the door to sweep the dust out. I just followed the stream of your emotions and here I am.”

  “Huh.” That’s all I can come up with to say.

  Bryce smiles and says, “Impressive?”

  I smile back. “Very.”

  His smile drops. “Listen, my parents are out of town on business for the next two weeks. I-”

  “And they left you home alone?” I interrupt.

  “Yeah. They trust me and know I can take care of myself. If we can sneak you out of the house, you can come stay with me for a while until we figure this out.”

  “Stay with you?” I gulp. The thought of being alone with him in his house makes me nervous. “What about my mom? She’ll never let me do that.”

  “Well, you can’t stay here. That old lady is crazy. We’ll just have to convince your mom that my house is safer for you. She could stay there too, if she wants.”

  My lips curve upward. “You’d do that?”

  He nods. “Of course. I really care about you, Kai.” His voice lowers with that last bit.

  “You do?”

  He doesn’t answer. He just stares at me, his deep blue eyes shining with emotion. As I stare back, my eyes sting. I realize that I care deeply for him too
. I don’t know if I’d call it love but whatever it is, it’s strong. Really strong.

  The emotion must be rolling off of me in waves, because Bryce closes his eyes with a shiver. They pop back open with what sounds almost like a growl. He reaches over and wraps his large hand behind my neck, pulling me forward. Our lips barely touch before we jerk apart at the sound of the door crashing open and slamming against the wall.

  Fear envelopes me at the sight of Ms. Coraline standing in the doorway, heaving. Her face is twisted into a murderous sneer as she takes a couple of steps forward. Movement behind her catches my eye briefly. My mother is hovering out in the hallway.

  “I knew it,” she spits out. “I knew you were sneaking around behind my back, seeing that…that boy! You little slut…”

  “Ma’am, please,” my mother interjects as she slides into the room around Ms. Coraline. My upper lip curls. I can’t believe she’s calling the old hag ‘ma’am’ while she flings insults at me.

  “Stay out of this, Merryn. I warned you. I warned you both.”

  I stand up, wanting to be on equal footing when she dishes out whatever punishment she’s cooked up in her evil little mind. Bryce stands too, and pulls me behind him. Ms. Coraline laughs cruelly.

  “Oh, what’s this? Does the little witch think he can protect his inamorata from me?”

  Three gasps echo each other at her words. Bryce backs up a step with a hand to his chest. I look from him to my mom, to see terror etched on her face. I’m sure my expression matches hers. Ms. Coraline just called Bryce a witch. She knows.

  “Surprised, witch? Think the old hag didn’t know about you, eh?”

  I gasp again. How does she know what I call her behind her back? How does she know Bryce is a witch? What the hell is going on here? Bryce is still standing in front of me, and I hear him mumble something.

  “Tsk. Tsk. None of that, now. Aborisci, Bryce Howell. Vehere domi. Imperio obsequendum.”

  Electricity races along my skin as I listen to her strange words. I hear Bryce’s sharp intake of breath and reach out to touch his arm. I jump back with a yelp when my fingers brush empty air. He’s gone.

  “As for you,” she says, taking a few steps forward. Her voice crackles with anger and something else. Power. I can feel it in my very bones, the power she’s emanating. “You were told, nay, ordered to stay away from that boy! You dare defy me? Now, you must suffer the consequences.”