Evergreen (Mer Tales, Book 2) (18 page)

:::

ASH

Thursday afternoon April 21
^st

After dropping off the keys to Mom, I took a shortcut through Mrs. Culpeper’s flowerbed, careful not to crush the pansies. Bruiser, her cockapoo, had to be around somewhere. Without sweet Mrs. Culpeper, he transformed into a white-hot ball of canine terror. But I wasn’t taking any chances walking by Fin’s house. After what happened on the beach with Colin, I’d walk the entire lake if I had to. Distance was my plan and so far it had worked.

“Ashlyn.”

I spun around, clutching my swim bag, ready to bolt.
Why hadn’t I packed the knife?
Colin’s knowing grin bowled me over; a big yellowish highlighted his jaw.

I held up my fingers in the sign of the cross as if he were a demon. “Stay back, Colin. I’ll scream if you come any closer.”

“No. Please.” He held up his hands. “Hear me out.”

“Leave me the hell alone!” I stepped backward, but I couldn’t gain any traction without crushing the flowers.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to hurt you, but I had to know—I didn’t believe my dad.” He lowered down to one knee and bowed his head. “Princess.”

Princess? He attacks me yesterday, then calls me princess today? What a wacko.
I continued to slide on the slippery rocks edging the flowers, trying to add distance between us, shocked at his display.

He looked up, wide-eyed. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I only wanted to inspect your marking.”

“Inspect my marking? Is that what you call it?” I cackled nervously at his strange use of words, unsure if “inspect my marking” was code for some pre-mating ritual. I didn’t want to know. Escaping was my goal.

“It’s an honor to be in your presence.” He bowed his head to the ground.

I pinched my lips together, embarrassed and speechless by his display. “What are you doing?”

Finally after several long seconds he stood. “I’m bowing to you, of course. It’ll all make sense when we go home.”

Home? As in Natatoria? A Natatorian princess?

I chuckled nervously. “Colin, I’m not a princess.”

“Oh, but you are. The mark proves it, and now it makes sense why my song didn’t work on you. You’re of royal blood.”

I repressed a snicker.
It’s because I’m promised, sweetheart, and far from royalty. Just ask my mother.
“That mark is called a birthmark and it doesn’t mean a thing.”

“It means everything and you, my dear beauty, have no clue who you really are.”

“Uh, yes I do. I’m Ashlyn Lanski, born and raised in Lake Tahoe, California, captain of the swim team, and I’m really looking forward to leaving for Florida Atlantic University not only to get away from my parents, but also from the likes of you. So, no royal bloodline here.”

Colin’s face blanched. “You’re going to Florida? When?”

I cringed.
Nice job, Ash.
“Uhhh… no time soon. I’ve still got high school to finish.” I took another step backward.

“Well, you can’t leave.”

I shot a sarcastic smile. “I can, and I will. I decree it, or however royalty make proclamations.”

Colin’s features hardened. “Princess, you need to return home. Everyone thinks you’ve died.” His gaze drifted off somewhere dreamy. “I’ll finally make my dad proud. I’ll be a hero. This’ll be the most memorable promising of all time.”

“What?”

“Oh, nothing. It’ll all make sense when I take you home.”

Suddenly everything clicked. They thought I was the lost princess, Galadriel, and Colin expected my hand as a reward for my rescue. How’d they come to the conclusion I was royalty?

“There’s been a mistake. I’m not who you think I am, honest. I—I was born hum—here. My mother gave birth to me in this house.” I pointed to Gran’s place. “There are pictures of my birth, of my childhood, of my entire life. This is my home. Right here. In Tahoe.”

Colin pinched his fingers on the bridge of his nose. “How is that possible? Pictures? You remember your childhood?”

“Of course I do. All of it.”

“Hmmm… Someone went to great lengths to persuade you and your family. That has to be the only explanation.”

He stepped closer to me and my legs wouldn’t move.

I gulped. “I have no clue what you’re talking about. And I’m late. I need to go.”

“You need to come with me.” He took ahold of my wrist.

“I won’t. No!” I screamed and punched my fist into his rock hard chest.

“Stop fighting me.”

If he successfully dragged me to Fin’s house, they could convert me and easily take me to Natatoria. Fin wouldn’t know where to find me. I’d be gone without a trace.

A barking white ball circled our feet. I braced for Bruiser to attack, but Colin yelped and released his grip on me. I didn’t wait; I swiveled, kneed him in the groin, and ran. Colin went down and I didn’t look back.

:::

I paced my room and occasionally glanced out the window. I’d barricade my door before I’d let Colin inside to get me. Would he persuade my family and haul me out of the house over his shoulder like a fireman? If only he were a vampire, then I could uninvite him from my house.

Where was Fin? The Heltons’ trip took six days. So if Fin left on Tuesday, that would put him here on Sunday. Could I survive three more days? Why’d he leave without his cell phone anyway?

But a princess? Me? I had to laugh again. What a mix-up. Did Colin and Alaster think the Heltons rescued runaway mers? That they’d exiled the lost princess in Tahoe?

After watching for thirty uneventful minutes, I parked my butt in my desk chair and refocused myself. I still had work to do for operation Fish and C.H.I.P.’s. As I printed two letters—one from the Maine DMV requesting Jack Helton pay his fines, and another with info to pick up his impounded RV with a Maine address—I researched fish repellents. DEET seemed to deter fish, according to the more successful anglers that left comments on various fishing forums.

I rummaged through the hall medicine cabinet and found the mosquito repellent. I’d take a bath in the stuff if it worked. I returned to my room and sprayed a thick layer over my body.

Nervous, I glanced at Fin’s house again and noted no one was headed over to take me against my will. Today a letter with a court appearance dated for next week in Maine should have arrived. I’d also left a message, stating I, Mrs. Barbie Watkins, was from the insurance company and needed a return call. I didn’t have the courage to call today, not after Colin attempted to kidnap me again. I pushed my fingers into my temples and kneaded. Insanity, complete insanity.

“It reeks in here.” Lucy pushed open my door with a smug smile.

At least it works on Lucy.
I folded up the letters so she wouldn’t see what I was doing.

She fidgeted by the door. “Guess who called today.”

“Justin Bieber?”

She guffawed. “Nope. Fin.”

My face blanched as I dropped the letters on my desk. “He called? What did he say?”

“You lied to Mom and Dad. Why?” A sly grin crept on her face.

Ultimate blackmail. She knew something—if Fin was okay or not—and was turning her info into a weapon. I rushed her and pinned her against the door.

“Tell me what he said.” I pressed my forearm against her throat.

A tear crept down her cheek as she coughed. “Ash, you’re hurting me.”

I swallowed my anger, and stepped backward. I’d never been physical with my sister before. “I—I’m sorry.” I looked down, embarrassed. “I’m worried and it’s complicated with Mom. Please. What did he say?”

She brushed off the tear and glared. “I’m not telling you anything.”

“You don’t understand. Mom and Dad are being manipulated by Colin—”

“I understand completely. You want to be with Fin, but Mom doesn’t like him. Are you running away?”

I pinched my lips together. “No. But when he gets here, it’ll all make sense.”

“Well—he’s not coming, so there,” she said, and walked out of the room.

I stood stunned for a moment. Was she telling the truth? My legs wobbled as I braced for the worst. How could Lucy be so cruel? And now she was going to tell Mom I’d threatened her and my life would be taken away—forever.

I fell to the floor in a sniveling heap. If Fin wasn’t on his way, where was he? My life as I knew it was ruined if he wasn’t. Forget Mom’s wrath. Colin had already threatened to turn me in as his prized princess, and with his mer mojo nothing would stop him.

My life was no longer my own and like Tatchi, I had no way to escape.

:::

FIN

Thursday afternoon, April 21
^st

I walked up to the terminal inside the airport. Galadriel oohed and aahed beside me with her pink suitcase rolling behind her. I eyed the different airline stations and decided to pick U.S. Airways.

“I need two one-way tickets to South Lake Tahoe, please.”

The lady, dressed in a blue suit, clicked at the computer embedded into the counter. “For when?”

“Today.”

“Today?” Her eyes grew big. “Hmmm… well, we don’t fly directly to South Lake Tahoe, but I can get you as close as Reno, Nevada. It’s about an hour and a half drive, once you get there.”

I’d be with Ash in no time—today in fact. I smiled. “Sounds good.”

“I have two available seats on a flight leaving at 4:35 PM arriving in Reno at 8:20 PM. Would that do?”

I grimaced.
Not unless you want fish on the flight
. “Anything sooner?”

“No. Not for today I’m afraid. Tomorrow there’s a flight at 8:45 AM arriving at 12:35 PM, but that would be for standby.”

“What’s standby?”

“If someone cancels you’ll take their place, so it’s not a guaranteed flight.”

I groaned. Such a gamble. We’d lose the few hours left of today’s sunlight on a hope we’d get a flight tomorrow. “How long is the drive from here to Tahoe?”

“Oh honey, from Amarillo to California is over a thousand miles. A few days, for sure, unless you drove straight through.”

I looked at Galadriel. “Should we do it?”

“Fly? Heck yeah.” Her eyes twinkled.

Galadriel didn’t care. She only wanted to see what flying was like. But the idea of being that high off the ground in someone else’s hands unnerved me. Not only were there cameras watching everyone, planes crashed all the time. People died.

“I’m going to think about it,” I said to the lady.

“Don’t take too long.” She signaled the next person in line.

“What?” Galadriel pushed me aside and slammed her hands down on the counter. “No. We want to book the flight!”

I grabbed Galadriel’s shoulder and forced her to step aside so the lady could help the next person who stood impatiently behind us.

“Stop.” She yanked against my grip. “How else are we going to get to Tahoe?”

“Rent a car.”

“What? She said days, remember? Let’s take the flight. You’ll see Ash tomorrow, don’t you understand?”

“Only if someone cancels.”

Galadriel rolled her eyes. “Have you forgotten your most powerful ally?” She perched up her right eyebrow. “Persuasion, lovey. Sing.”

I laughed. “I can’t sing us a seat if there isn’t one available.”

Galadriel twirled her hair. “Then, we can be someone else.”

I watched the people rushing by, all with important destinations to go. I knew coming here, I’d need to use my song, but to this extent? Without a further thought, I returned to the line.

“Make up your mind, sweetie?” The lady greeted me with a smile when it was our turn.

I closed my eyelids before I sang away my soul. “We need a flight today to Reno, and it needs to arrive before 6:00 PM.”

Her eyes floated off on a breeze. “Hmmm… There’s a flight leaving in twenty minutes with United. We’ll put you in first class. Your names?”

“Um… Jack and Magdalene Helton.” I placed Dad’s credit card on the counter.

“Good.” She typed some more, then printed out boarding passes. “You’ll need to hurry or you’ll miss it. Your bags?”

Galadriel heaved her pink behemoth onto the scale.

“It’s over the weight but I’ll let it slide.” The woman winked. “And your bag, Mr. Helton?”

I slung the sopping duffle onto the scale. She frowned.

“I had an accident.” I smirked.

She shrugged and dropped it onto the conveyor belt behind her. I watched them disappear through a hole in the wall. Were we doing the right thing?

“You two better hurry.” She pointed to security.

I frowned at the long line. “Is there another way to our gate?”

“Hmmm...” She signaled to a guy sitting behind the desk. They spoke for a minute.

He called for an escort on his handheld walky-talky. A golf cart arrived and took us to a private security entrance, where I sang to the security guard that they didn’t need to see our identification.

We arrived at the gate just as the agent called for first class. A ruckus between two passengers and the ticket agent at the counter drew my attention.

“What do you mean I’m not on this flight? I have boarding passes!” the older man yelled.

Galadriel tugged my hand as the agent scanned our passes. Before we knew it, we were sitting in first class, enjoying drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

“See? That didn’t hurt a bit.” Galadriel dabbed her lip with her cloth napkin.

I looked out the window as the plane taxied down the runway, a little amazed we didn’t have more trouble. For once everything panned out. Within a few hours, I’d be in Lake Tahoe and Ash would be in my arms where she belonged.

I leaned back as the plane jettisoned into the air, tickling my stomach.

I love you, Ash. I’ll be there soon.

:::

I opened my eyes as the plane touched down. Were we here already? Flying proved to be a breeze.

“Guess what, sleepy head,” Galadriel said with a soft smile as she tussled my hair. “We’re here.”

Everyone unlatched their seatbelts and stood in the isles, anxious to leave. I was with them, my pulse pounding. Within two short hours I’d be with Ash once again.

The door to the aircraft opened and people began to file out, until the line slowed and stopped. The attendant motioned to me.

“They want to speak with you.”

She pointed toward two men on the gangplank just outside the doors.
Uh oh.
From their stiff stances and starchy attire, they weren’t ticket agents. Cops more likely.

Galadriel took my hand. “Just sing,” she whispered in my ear as they escorted us into the terminal. I squeezed her hand in return.

“What seems to be the trouble?” I asked once we were separated from the rest of the passengers.

The taller guy spoke first. “Yes, Mr. Helton, we need to check your IDs again, please?”

“What for?”

“You weren’t supposed to be on that flight.” He held out his hand, palm up.

Galadriel inclined her head against my shoulder, as if to signal I should sing.

With a coy smile, I turned to the agent closest to me. “We aren’t the criminals you’re looking for. You don’t need to check our IDs,” I sang.

The guy’s eyes glazed over. “Sorry to bother you, Mr. Helton. Enjoy your stay.” He turned to his co-worker. “They aren’t the ones we’re looking for.”

I grabbed Galadriel’s hand and walked past the cops into the crowded hall.

“They’re the ones on the cameras,” a woman barked behind us. “Don’t let them get away!”

Galadriel took one look at me and we ran through the terminal to the baggage claim. We rolled in hysterics as we rounded the corner and plowed into another set of cops talking on walkie-talkies.

“They went that way,” I sang, pointing behind us.

They bounced into one another, then ran in the opposite direction.

We scurried into the baggage area and spotted our bags. I lugged Galadriel’s two-ton pink suitcase off the conveyor belt, and she took my soggy duffle bag. Together, we headed for the taxi zone.

We jumped into the backseat of the closest taxi, still laughing.

“Did you see his face once we got away?” Galadriel said with a snort.

“Where to?” the driver asked.

“South Lake Tahoe, and step on it,” I said as Galadriel buried her head into my shoulder.

“That’ll be $99 for the trip,” he said.

“Sure.” I handed him my credit card.

I slid my arms around Galadriel’s shoulders and she looked up at me with her big blue eyes. “That was the most fun I’ve had in—forever.” Her sweet breath hit me as she moved her lips closer to mine. She looked so beautiful, so enticing. I took one hand and brushed her soft cheek.

“I don’t accept Visa, sir,” the driver said, snapping me to reality.

“What?” I pushed Galadriel off of me.

She looked at me, stunned, then folded her arms over her chest.

“Cash only, sir.”

Galadriel frowned and snapped on her seatbelt. “Just sing.”

“No.” I glared at her and leaned forward toward the driver. “Can I pay once we get there?”

I was sure Ash had money, or someone in the family could lend me ninety-nine bucks at least.

“No, sir,” the driver said, his voice impatient. “And if you don’t have the money, then get out.”

“Sing,” Galadriel said, more forceful this time. “It’s almost sunset and we either need to leave, or find water.”

“I—” My conscience burned. We’d already ruined someone else’s day and kicked them off the flight, and now we’d rip off this guy, too. But the only thing I could think of was Ash.

He sighed and restarted the meter. “Please get out so I can take a paying customer or I’ll signal the police.”

“You’re such a coward,” Galadriel said under her breath.

“Am not.”

“Well, I’m not waiting. If you don’t sing, I will.” Memories of her horrible mermaid screech replayed in my mind. “Or maybe kiss him.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.” She pressed me with an evil smile.

“Fine,” I sang in defeat. “Please drive us to South Lake Tahoe.”

Galadriel snuggled into her seat, pleased. “And step on it.”