Page 42 of Rise of the Melody
“Did you ride your bike here?” he asked.
“No, Ron brought me.”
Clare piped in. “Ooh, are he and your aunt…you know?”
“I mean, they used to be,” I said. “And I think he’s still into her. My aunt has some issues she needs to deal with, but I would love for them to get back together.”
Clare and Teague both said, “Aww!” at the same time, making me laugh.
“What’s the ‘awing’ about?” asked Mairi, sneaking up behind Teague with a hand around his waist. I watched Teague stiffen, and his eyes shifted, but he didn’t push her away.
Chrystamos put his elbows lightly on Clare’s shoulders and rested his chin on her head. Her whole face and body lit up at his touch.
“We’re just talking about my aunt and Sheriff Sterling.”
“Ah,” Mairi said. “The fume.” I stared at her, wondering if her snooty tone was in my imagination, but she didn’t look at me.
“He’s cool,” Chrystamos said. “Remember that time he caught us high on the docks and drove us home instead of taking us to the station?”
Teague laughed. “My uncle would have killed me, bro. Sheriff Sterling for the W.” He said it like ‘dub-yuh.’
Mairi looked at me now. “Do you ever try to sing? Without that thing on?” She glanced at the cuff. Awkward silence descended on our group as everyone froze. A parasite of emotions ate away all of my good feelings as everyone stared between us.
I had to choose my words with care. “I have, actually.” It was a flat out lie and felt bitter on my tongue.
“You should do it now,” she said sweetly. “I’ll take it off for you. I’dloveto hear.”
Her eyes held a mean challenge and everything in me wanted to force her to back off.
“Mai, are you for real?” Teague asked, pulling away from her touch. “She’s not a siren.”
My abdomen tightened. It’s sweet that he was sticking up for me…but he was wrong.
“How do we know for sure?” she asked.
“My uncle says she’s not, so let it go. He’d never put us in danger like that.”
I blinked away the burn in the backs of my eyes and willed myself to calm down. I felt attacked, even though I was the one lying and keeping a secret—a secret that was clawing inside of me that very moment. The desire to sing her right into the sea was a nasty thing to feel.
Mairi was not letting it go. “There are witnesses who say her mom sang the night of the disappearances. So, excuse me if I don’t trust her.”
“Oneso-called witness,” Teague said. “And not a reliable one.”
Indignation burned through me.
“My mom wouldn’t hurt anyone,” I said, feeling heated and trying hard not to explode. “She was peaceful and gentle.”
“Of course, you’re going to say that.” She looked straight at me, shaking her head. “What are you even doing back here now after all this time? It’s weird.”
A crowd was forming around our group. CooShee sat back watching the scene unfold with sharp eyes. Mairi was right. It was weird, and that made me even madder. I hated not being able to tell my truth. I hated that they had the wrong idea about my mother and my kind. And I hated that there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.
“Mairi, stop.” Clare said, moving close to me. “You’re being mean.”
“I’m sure it’s easy for you to stick up for her.” She got into Clare’s face. “Youdidn’t lose anyone that night.”
“Hey!” I stepped forward and pushed Mairi away from Clare. “Don’t talk to her like that!” The minute I put my hands on her I felt a zing of power fill the space between us.
Mairi whispered something and threw out her hand. A rush of sudden wind knocked me backward onto my butt. Thank Gaia for the sand because I hit hard. I rushed to my feet and dove for her.
