Page 26 of Kringle and the Kraken

I closed my eyes trying to summon strength. “My boarded-up front window tells a different story.” Last night, Kris had wanted to call the police, but since I already knew what had happened, I managed to convince him it was probably just a faulty seal or something since the building was old and had been empty for a while before I bought it. Kris didn’t seem to buy the shit I wasshoveling his way, but he let it go enough to call his brothers who had grabbed some sheets of plywood from the extra supplies out at the workshop and had come to help us temporarily secure the front of the shop.

“Mr. Shoal, I think it’s time for you to leave.” Delmar stood, attempting to make himself look imposing, which was ridiculous because despite his position, nothing about Delmar scared me.

“Fine, but if you aren’t going to help the people in this town, I will.”

Delmar said something else, but I couldn’t hear it over the blood rushing in my ears as my hearts pumped with rage, and I stormed from his office, nearly running over the water sprite who’d apparently been listening at the door.

He sprinted to keep up with me as I booked it down the hall.

“Mr. Shoal. Mr. Shoal! Wait!”

I stopped abruptly, and the shorter man almost ran right into me, panting from the exertion of trying to catch me.

“What?” My tone was sharper than I’d intended, and Lawrence took a half step back like I’d threatened him before he glanced around furtively, then he tugged my arm, pulling me into an empty conference room and shutting the door.

“I-I believe you.” Sweat beaded along his balding head, and I was hesitant to trust him. “We weren’t properly introduced earlier.” He wiped his hand on his pants, then held it out to me. “I’m Lawrence Tidewell, assistant mayor and town historian.”

“Levi Shoal.”

He nodded. “Yes, I know. I know almost everything there is to know about your family.”

“My family?”

“Yes, Mr. Shoal.” His eyes narrowed. “I think the real question is, how much do you know about your heritage?”

“I don’t understand the question.”

Instead of clarifying, he asked another question. “Is your grandfather well?”

“Yes. He’s fine. He and my grandmother live in a retirement community for active older sea monsters in Norway.”

Lawrence made a face like he already knew this information. “My grandfather knew your grandfather and great grandfather well. My grandfather was the town historian as was my father after him. Like the Shoals, my family’s legacy in Lifeboat goes back generations.”

“I don’t understand what that means to me. I grew up in Baleen.”

“Yes, but you are back now. My guess is you felt called to come here like this was the haven town where you needed to be.”

I felt my eyes narrow. “How did you know that?”

“The same way I know that the magic in Lifeboat hasn’t been the same since the day your grandfather left and shortly after when your great-grandfather passed away and the Delmar family took over.” When I didn’t say anything, Tidewell continued. “There were reasons your grandfather had to go. Baleen needed a leader, and he’d already fallen in love with your grandmother. Did you know she was originally from Baleen?”

“Yes. Her father was mayor of the town before he died.”

“Indeed. But Lochlan Shoal’s departure left a hole here, a hole the Delmar family stepped in to fill despite the fact that it was not their place to do so. From that day until this, the magic has not been the same, which is why I believe you. I believe sea wraiths can get past our borders. The magic in Lifeboat has been fading, and I think you are the only one who can save it.”

“Me?”

Tidewell’s face was solemn. “Yes, Levi, you. The magic is happy you’re here.”

“How does that translate to me saving the town?”

The water sprite shook his head. “I don’t know, but I think you need to keep doing what you are doing.”

“And that is?”

“Making friends in town. Spending time with the humans.” Tidewell swallowed hard, his throat clicking like it was too dry to speak. “There are lots of us in town who don’t agree with Delmar’s plan to drive the humans away. He wants us to fear them, but they are our neighbors and our friends, and while we have had to hide our true forms from them for a long, long time, there are many who don’t want to live like this.”

“And you want me to change that?”

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