Heart of Shell (The Mercrutian Chronicles Book 1) (10 page)

Part of me was happy that Merrick hadn’t told them outright and had defended me when Murdock made fun, but another part of me was mortified that they knew. And, a little worried that Gina would find out, and make another move to try and slaughter me socially.

“
Oh.” I said growing quiet.

“
Well don’t hold out on us Anya!! What was it like? Tell us!” I didn’t think that Leah’s voice could rise to a higher pitch, but apparently it could.

“
Come on! Details!” Evie added, “did he French kiss you?”

“
No!” I said feeling embarrassed while I covered my face, but still had giggles rapidly pouring out of me.

“
Anya, please let us live through you!” Leah was so excited.

“
Well,” I began, peeking through my fingers. “It was sweet. It was... unexpected. We were just sort of chilling, and I was talking a mile a minute, which I think annoyed him a little. So he just leaned in and kissed me, three times.”

“
Were his lips soft or were they like jagged plastic?” Leah asked.

I laughed.
“
Plastic huh? No. They were soft.”

“
Oooooo” Evie said tossing herself back on my pillows. “Dreamy!”

Leah completed the same motion, and finally, I wedge myself between them so that all of us were staring at my ceiling.

“
Do you think I’ll ever get to kiss Kai? I’d French kiss him any day.” Evie asked.

“
Maybe...you never know,” I said. “Kissing complicates things though. Sometimes I wish Merrick hadn’t kissed me.”

“
Oh does it now?” Leah asked. “So he just did it huh? Was he suave, or powerful, or charming.”

“
He was probably charming.” Evie answered for me, “he usually is.”

“
He was... tender” I thought back to that moment.
Was there any particular way that he had acted? Not really.
“He smiled at me, he had already moved closer to me because we were talking and then he cupped my cheek with his hand and kissed me.”

“
What's so complicated about that?” Leah asked.

“
Everything.” I said not caring to elaborate.

“
Clearly, he likes you,” Evie added.

“
Yeah... maybe. You guys want to get some snacks?” I asked, hoping we could get away from the subject of boys.

“
I brought Earl Grey flavoured cupcakes with me, covered in butter cream frosting, courtesy of my, Ma.” Leah said grabbing the open page of the yearbook with Hurley on it and holding it close to her chest.

“
That sounds perfect!” I said and hopped up from the bed, my mouth could already taste the fluffiness in contrast with the sweet frosting and I could almost smell the rich Bergamot oil. Leah and Evie were still laying there staring at the ceiling.

“
Are you guys coming?” I asked wondering why they would dawdle.

Evie spoke, “Anya, if you go out with Merrick, will you put in a good word for us with his hot friends?” They both sat up and looked at me hopefully.

“
Of course I would.” I answered. “But, don't expect that to be happening anytime soon, cause I sure as heck don't think it will.”

Evie sighed and looked at Leah. “Well I guess that's better than nothing. Onto the cupcakes!”

The snowflakes outside were
large crystalline spheres floating down steadily. When the wind picked up they swirled in a little dance before meeting the ground and melting. When the weather cooled, there would be piles of snow on the ground. The week before, there had been mounds and mounds of it everywhere and then a wet snow-rain mix had moved in with mild weather and taken most of the white away, leaving things looking a little dreary.

Yet, my surroundings were warm and cheerful. Mrs. Keller had thoroughly decorated her home for the holidays and had lit some pine scented candles, which wafted in the air. Exams were thankfully over, and now it was time for relaxing. I had made all of my presents, and wrapped them, including the ones for the Prices. For all of my girlfriends, Mrs. Keller, Mrs. Price and my mother I had made shell jewellery sets. For the males, I had knitted scarves and mittens to keep them warm during the winter chill. Now I was preparing for a baking-fest, after which I could wrap the cookies I made and give those as gifts too.

“
So Anya, have your holidays been pleasant so far?” Mrs. Keller asked.

“Y
eah, they've been really great.” I said lining the cookie sheet with parchment so I could place an assortment of gingerbread shapes on them.

“
So how is that boyfriend of yours?” She asked with a twinkle in her eye. “Any less complicated?”

I chuckled. “Not really.”

“
You know, when I was your age, I was a lot more concerned with boys. It's refreshing to see a girl like you out and doing your own thing. I have a granddaughter who is a little older than you, but at your age. Boy! We couldn't keep track of them!”

“
I don't think I'll ever have that problem,” I said smiling.

“
Oh just you wait, Anya,” she began, “you're going to blossom into an even bigger beauty- before you know it, and the guys will be chasing you.”

I shook my head smiling. Mrs. Keller always had a way about her that was earnest and warm, but it was always enjoyable when her comedic side came out. She provided me with proverbs and verses on important things in life. I sensed one about to float to the surface.

“
One thing that you have to keep in mind though is this,” she paused for effect. “Do you want a man to stand in front of you, behind you, or beside you? If you can figure that out, it doesn't matter what else happens, because the right guy will find you. I found my Harold that way, or rather he stumbled across me.”

“
Well I’m kind of stuck with mine,” I said not realizing what I was saying.

“
Oh sweetheart, you’re never stuck with any man. Tell me, how does he make you feel? What does he do to treat you right?”

“
Well,” I began not knowing where to start. “He makes me laugh when we talk. He’s usually pretty playful, and mischievous.”

“
Oh well that can be attractive in a boyfriend, what else?”

“
He’s usually nice to me, though his teasing does get on my nerves. And he’s charming. We banter a lot, he flirts with me.”

“
Is he flirtatious with all the other girls?” Does he look at them the way that he looks at you?”

I realized for the first time, that I hadn’t given much thought to comparing the way Merrick was with me, as opposed to the way he was with Gina. What limited witnessing I had to their conversations, had mostly consisted of Gina speaking at Merrick. In fact, thinking about it, it irked me a little. How dare she talk to him like that! And treat him like a possession, when clearly he was more than just a pretty face. In fact a lot of the girls at school treated him that way. They ogled him whenever he walked down the hall and on more than one occasion when Gina wasn’t present, I had seen a few girls throw themselves at him. Yet, he never really rose to the bait.

Mrs. Keller interrupted my musing with her next string of questions. “Well what about the important things? Is he a good kisser?”

I fought back the urge to giggle when she nudged me with her elbow and nodded. “Umm yeah, he’s good at that, gentle.”

“
Ohhh gentle you say. Well that’s the sign of a gentleman. Only rogues throw you around like you’re some sort of rag doll.”

I definitely did not like the sounds of that. Thank goodness Merrick was never rough with me.

We set to work and baked two batches of gingerbread, one of sugar cookies, and three of almond cherry coconut chews. By the end of it, after we had placed the cookies out to cool over every available surface, we both swore we would never eat another cookie for weeks.

My fingers twirled through
my now controllable hair. It was still not the silky and shiny quality of a Mer, but the coarse frizz had been reduced thanks to Rayne's enchanted shampoo, which over the past two months had really worked magic.

Evelyn and Leah had invited me to the Winter Carnival. We had finished with our midterms and since the holidays were over, we were counting the weeks until spring. I could not wait until March break was on the horizon, I looked forward to another week of indulgent reading and relaxation; the Christmas season had ended far too quickly.

Valentine's Day would be in another week and a half. Then there would be the dreaded Valentine's Dance, combined with the winter formal we had missed in December. Leah and Evelyn were still trying to convince me to attend, though I doubted I would make an appearance.

We hadn't been at the carnival for long, just enough to scope out the ice rink and the few interesting things on the sidelines. There was a stand with Beaver Tails and one with coffee, tea, hot apple cider, and hot chocolate. The smells of cinnamon and cocoa in the air were intoxicating. Nearby, a manmade snow bank was the object of much sledding, and people everywhere were laughing and playing with the snow, making snow angels and building snow people.

I could see him on the ice. Merrick was dressed in a black pea coat with a long, grey, knitted scarf tossed around his neck. The mild winter chill did not seem bothersome to his face or ears, but they were both covered with layers of his thick dark hair. He didn’t have the same ruddy tone as some of the other boys. There were half a dozen other guys skating around him, some of them were even Mers and equally cute, but my eyes were directly drawn to him. He was so handsome and graceful as he skated. I couldn’t help but feel pride that he was my mate. We hadn't spoken in a while and with school being so busy. We had merely passed one another in the halls a few times and nodded.

Sitting with Evelyn and Leah, I didn’t want to watch him too closely. They had no idea he was my betrothed and it had to stay that way. It was funny to think that they talked about him and his friends as the dreamy boys who were way out of their league. I suppose I sometimes felt similarly, but knew different. The fact that they knew he had kissed me, had built our camaraderie, and it was nice that I could trust them not to spread the secret. It seemed that, so far, none of the other Mers had too, though Gina had not been any friendlier.

It was then that his eyes shifted slowly to mine, as though they could feel me watching, the teal of them seemed to brighten. I looked down, my heart suddenly hammering as though I’d been caught doing something bad. When I glanced up again his eyes were still on me, and for a moment I thought he was going to skate over until three or four girls, giggling on the ice cut him off and began talking to him. Gina was one of them and immediately her eyes cut to me, to where Merrick’s attention was diverted from her. She gave me a nasty look, one that could have struck a feeble child or small animal dead.

“
Gina’s such a beotch,” Evelyn said with a snarl, breaking my thoughts.

“
Yeah, just because we have no chance with the hotties, doesn’t mean we can’t look right Anya?” Leah added, elbowing me.

I had been doubly caught. Crapbag. I smiled at them weakly and then shrugged. I was tempted to look back at Merrick one more time, but stopped myself. That would be reckless and in an instant would have Gina skate her pretty butt over to me and initiate cat fight, part two. At least Merrick could never complain that I was possessive of him.

Instead, I focused on the ice, after lacing up my skates I realized that this would be a challenge. I was really rusty at skating. In fact, I had only skated once or twice before. At first I felt wobbly and uncontrolled on the ice. My greatest fear was wiping out in front of everyone in the middle of the rink.

I took a deep breath and focused, there was water beneath my feet, it was my home element, and it was calming. I knew that if I exercised control, I could channel my Mer senses to remain balanced. It worked and before long, I was enjoying my amateur skating abilities alongside Evelyn and Leah, who were just as cautious and following a similar pace. We smiled at one another while we skated, and I could tell they felt the same free feeling that I did.

It wasn’t until our third lap around the rink that I could feel eyes watching us. I glanced around quickly to see Murdock with Gina, not far from Merrick who was talking animatedly with some of the other male Mers. Gina had whispered something to Murdock, her eyes still locked on me and I fought every bone in my body not to stop right then and there and cower on the ice.
What were they planning this time?
Gina had mortified me enough the last time we had a run in that I knew better to avoid her.

Today, I wouldn't let them get the best of me. I tilted my chin higher and pushed my chest out continuing my skating. Evelyn and Leah, in front of me gestured towards the hot chocolate stand outside the rink and before I could protest were skating off in its direction. They had expected me to follow and turned around watching me continue to skate. They looked at me fearfully on the sidelines, perhaps they had noticed Gina’s death stare too. I skated past them as gracefully as I could, and then felt a whoosh of air as Murdock circled around me.

“
Little Anya,” he said in his dark voice, “you’re not much of a Mer.”

My eyes widened. For him to be so careless and flippant about calling me a Mer in public was odd. There was no one close enough to overhear, but Gina was not far away.

Had I been wrong with my senses? Did she already know about us? Had Merrick told her?

Suddenly, I wondered whether Merrick would have accepted her as a mate since they seemed so drawn to one another. My grandmother had found herself a human mate and sought out the match regardless of parental approval.
Maybe Merrick wasn't strong enough to do the same?

“
Well luckily for you, I’m not your mate.” I answered.

His look was disapproving, but I continued to skate until he stopped in front of me, forcing me to stop as well.

“
You know, he doesn’t want you, he wants her. Merrick only picked you to bide his time.”

A sharp pain tore through me. Merrick had been honest. He did tell me he had picked me because he wanted more time, had encouraged me to date others since we would spend our lives together and I had believed him, naively. Perhaps he had no intention of ever being with me. His actions had seemed different, but now watching him as he skated and looked at Gina I could tell there was emotion there. I didn't use my power over him, but I reached out to feel what he felt, and it was as I suspected. He cared for her, maybe it was more than he felt towards me.

“
Yeah I know,” I said to Murdock, my face hiding my emotions trembling beneath the surface. I willed them away. I didn’t want him to think he had even the slightest victory over me.
“
Want to move out of my way?” I asked my eyes darkening, “I’m thirsty.” He stared at me, scrutinizing to the point where it felt like we had been standing there for far too long.

“
See anything you like?” I asked, my voice more acrid than I had intended. He scowled and skated back to his group. Merrick who was at Gina’s side looked at me softly, but I didn’t let his handsome face weaken my anger.

I skated off to the hot cocoa stand looking for Evelyn and Leah. I had spotted them and was about to make my way over to their table when a hot sting seared my skin. I grabbed my side as pain rippled over it, trying not to buckle. Luckily, the people around me were preoccupied with their hot chocolate and conversing, they hadn’t noticed my pained expression. I shuffled around to the other side of the stand and unzipped my jacket to check my skin. Blue, purple, and red scales were dotting my sides, I had finally begun scaling, and of course, at the very worst time.

“
Dammit,” I muttered under my breath. I shuffled back to the ice skating over to the stands where I kept my shoes. My movements were hurried, frantic, as the pain came in stronger waves. My scales were spreading and I needed to submerge myself in water, the sooner, the better.

I tore off my skates as fast as they would allow and pulled on my boots. Another patch of scales spread and I hissed lowly. Returning the skates quickly to the rental stand, I walked towards the entrance of the park. Even if I called my parents they wouldn’t answer. They were in the lab and they usually turned off their cell phones when there. I called my parents anyway and left a voicemail. If I was lucky, they might check and pick me up along the way home. I wanted to call a cab, but I didn’t have enough money. I couldn’t really tell Evelyn or Leah what was going on, and they planned to stay until the ice carving and light show that night. My only option was to walk, and even though it would take hours I would need to do it as best I could. I just prayed the scaling didn’t reach my face or hands before that time.

“
Anya,” A voice behind me spoke.

I turned to see Merrick. His eyes scanned me quickly and then fixated on my arm wrapped around my side.

“
You’re scaling?” He half-asked, half-stated with concern lined on his face.

“
Apparently I’m becoming an actual Mermaid,” I said. “Bad news for you I guess.”

“
You need to get home.” He said.

“
You think genius?” I asked with furrowed brows.

“
You’re being sarcastic with me?” He looked wounded and then reached for my shoulder. “Let me take you home.”

I pulled away from him.

“
Ummm, I think thy Royal Highness, Gina, might object, Prince Merrick.”

He laughed, a completely warm and wave crashing laugh that fluttered all over me and made me blush when his eyes locked on mine with affection.

“
What does that make you?” He asked pulling off his gloves and shoving them into his pocket, then picking up a handful of snow, and glancing around us. He lifted my jacket and placed a warm, wet hand over my scales. Immediately it soothed the burning sensation. I looked up at him, feeling dazed. I couldn’t believe that I had let him lift my jacket. I couldn't believe I had let him touch me. He was very close, so close that if he bent slightly, his lips would brush my forehead. He was touching me. His warm hand pressed firmly on my stomach.

“
The court jester,” I replied regaining my wit.

He shook his head and his hand left my skin and bent to pick up more snow.

“
For that, I’m going to have to start calling you Princess,” he said, his tone slightly authoritative.

He moved to return to me but a shrill call stopped him.

“Merrick! There you are!”

Gina ran up to his side and wrapped herself around his arm, pulling him over to her.

“I was looking for you.” She said with a sexy high gloss pout, even bundled up in winter clothes she still managed to look great wearing a short woollen jacket and tights with a mini-skirt. She was always wearing mini-skirts.

Didn’t she own a pair of pants?

“
What are you doing all the way over here anyway, you’re missing everything
important
.”  Her eyes were like daggers when she glanced at me.

“
I’m going to take Anya home, she’s not feeling well.”

“
She looks fine to me.” She said, her stare still cold. I was about to open my mouth to confirm that I was fine, but the scales spread again, and my breath hitched, making me tense.  She noticed the change in my appearance.

“You’re not going to puke are you?” She asked with plenty of disgust at the notion. “Fine, take her home I guess, but give me a goodbye kiss.” She said hanging off the lapels of his coat.

My stomach actually started to churn at that thought, and Merrick looked at me uncomfortable before he bent and brushed his lips to hers, his neck tense. Rather than a sweet kiss, Gina turned it into something monstrous with her tongue wrestling in Merrick’s mouth. Disgusted, I turned away unable to look at him, at them.

“
Bye, Anna!” She called out to me, and I flailed an arm out in a wave goodbye glancing back at her. She loved to call me anything, but my actual name. I wanted to give Merrick a death stare, but I couldn’t even bring myself to look at him.

“I’m going home.” I said beginning to leave. He grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back to him, into him. So I shut my eyes, looking down. The truth was, I should be furious with him, for flirting with me when he wanted her, for kissing her in front of me when I was betrothed to him, but instead my body wanted to lean against him and be comforted.

“
Anya, I’m sorry about that,” he said, the words tender.

“
Just take me home.” I said pinching my eyes tighter.

“
Will you open your eyes?” He asked.

I shook my head no. “I can’t look at you right now.” If I did, I was afraid tears would be streaming down my face. I turned away from him, opening my eyes and walking briskly towards the parking lot. He let out a deep sigh and walked behind me. With every third or fourth step my breath caught as a tremor caused my scales to spread.