Free Derrolyn Anderson - [Marinas Tales #1] - Between The Land And The Sea by Derrolyn Anderson Page B

he said with a wink.
    His ancient eyes sparkled impishly, and a surge of excitement passed through me. I don’t know how I knew– but I just did. Grinning triumphantly, I turned and ran back home as fast as my stiff legs could manage.
    When I burst into Abby’s little house panting and sporting a maniacal smile, Cruz and Megan started to look more than a little bit nervous.
    “Come on!” I barked at them, “Now! She’s down at the ship.” I hustled them out the door and hurried along the path, racing down to the pier with Cruz and Megan trailing behind me.
    When I got to the ship I found a couple sitting on the bench, holding hands and kissing. I stood there waiting for Megan and Cruz to catch up, blocking the lovebird’s view. They looked annoyed at my intrusion and reluctantly got up to go, still clinging to one another.
    “It’s the love boat,” Megan said when she caught up, and Cruz started laughing. They seemed to think this whole thing was a big joke.
    “Come here,” I hissed, waving them over to the chain link fence. I scanned the deck, making sure there was no one else around. Once I was certain the coast was clear, I looked down to see a team of sea lions looking back up at us.

    “Sister , come out ,” I cried, not knowing what else to call her. A few moments passed and I could hear Cruz and Megan muttering to each other with strange worried looks on their faces.
    Suddenly she popped up out of the water in all her full glory.
    “Don’t go!” I called out to her, seeing her alarm when she spotted my company. “ Please ...” she ducked back into the water and just when I thought she was gone for good she appeared right on the other side of the fence. It was the closest that I had been to her since she pulled me out of the water.
    She looked shyly at Megan and Cruz, who stood in shock, white knuckles gripping the fence. Then she turned toward me and smiled.
    “What’s your name?” I asked her, and then added, “ I’m Marina. ”
    “ Marina, ” she repeated in her singsong voice, “ I am Lorelei .”
    “Why did you...what...” I stammered. I didn’t know what to ask first.
    “ Is that your mate? ” she asked, looking toward Cruz. His eyeballs were popping out of his head.
    I chuckled, “No, he’s my cousin.”
    “ Cousin, ” she said, looking confused, “ Who is the one with the beautiful hair? ” she asked, smiling at Megan. I looked over to see Megan’s freaked out face. Lorelei turned towards me suddenly, eyes excited.
    “ I have something, ” she sang in her ringing voice. She flashed another brilliant smile and dove back into the churning sea, giving my skeptical friends another excellent view of her tail.
    They looked at me incredulously, vaguely horrified. With a splash she reappeared, only this time she had my binoculars around her slender neck and my bag slung over her shoulder.
    “ I have your... things, ” she said, wide eyed.
    “Could I have my bag back?” I gestured, thinking about my keys. She reached up, and with one graceful motion flung the bag up and over the chain link fence. I bent to pick it up. “You can keep the binoculars,” I added, watching as she looked down and touched them.
    “ Binoculars, ” she repeated, and smiled radiantly.
    At that moment, children’s voices sounded behind us and we turned to see a young mother with two little girls approaching the fence. With one graceful flip of her tail, Lorelei the mermaid disappeared into the waves. The kids ran up to cling to the chain link, squealing with delight as they spotted the basking sea lions. The tired mother parked herself on the bench and settled down with a sigh, obviously planning to stay awhile.
    “Come on, let’s go,” I shepherded Cruz and Megan away from the fence, savoring my moment of sweet vindication.
    “Holy Crap,” said Megan numbly as we made our way down the pier.
    “That was intense,” added Cruz, eyes wide with shock.
    I knew how they felt. It was a strange