Page 75 of Rise of the Melody
“There’s your house!” Shani leaned over to pat my knee and pointed. In the dark, I made out the opening in the trees and the shape of my house hidden within. It looked so small from out here. I couldn’t help but smile, but then I remembered Aunt Lorna wasn’t in there, and my smile dropped. In a few moments we were around the bend and my house was out of sight.
Wee Skye was a tiny barrier island tucked away around the corner of Benn Shehan National Park, often covered in fog as it was when Teague geared down and slowed the boat. As we neared, the lights on the boat illuminated trespassing signs with pictures of birds that declared the area off limits due to bird habitats. Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons nested here. The closer we got, the more I could make out the rocky, high hills on the wild island and a small dock that jutted out.
“Time to get down,” Teague said. He and Chrys continued standing while the four of us girls lay flat. Teague was taking over the shift from Stevens, who would tattle immediately if he knew all of us “kids” were hanging out on Wee Skye. Apparently it wasn’t unheard of for Chrys to join Teague.
As we neared the dock, I was hit with a thrum of energy. With each few feet closer, the thrum felt like a pulse over my skin, alive and hot. Clare shivered and rubbed her hands down her arms, giving me a spooked look. I pulled out my phone, worried about being disconnected in case the kelpie was found, but I had one small bar of service. Hopefully that would be enough.
We heard Teague and Stevens volley words back and forth up on the dock, and then another engine start. After a few minutes, Chrys knocked on the side of the boat.
“All clear.” Teague and Chrys stood on the dock and helped the four of us out. The power was unreal, pushing against us like a force of air.
I walked beside Clare on the shifting dock, but all six of us stayed close.
“Have you ever been here?” I asked her.
“Not since I can remember. I think my mom brought me when I was a toddler.”
“All the festivals used to be here,” Teague said. “But since the disappearances they stopped that. Our generation has avoided Wee Skye.”
I noticed everyone in the boat dock had haunted expressions, not just Clare. The power felt strong enough to nauseate me. Teague caught my eye.
“It’s a lot at first, but your body gets used to it. If you can’t handle it, I’ll have Chrys take you back and he can come for me in the morning.”
“Sure, I’ve got nothing better to do,” Chrystamos teased.
“No.” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ll be okay.”
It felt darker on the island, like we were hidden in the fog. The boys both held huge flashlights, which they switched on. The lights shot ahead, making the fog appear even more eerie all around us, moving and shifting.
“I’ll show you where I hang out,” Teague said.
We followed, and I couldn’t imagine coming out here all by myself for a night shift.
“How did a kelpie get out if you guys are always guarding it?” I asked, stepping onto the strip of sand, heavy with broken shells.
Teague let out a dry laugh ahead of us. “To be honest, the portal was dormant for so long that we kind of got…you know. Too comfortable, I guess.” He sounded a little embarrassed.
Chrystamos turned his head over his shoulder and said, “They stopped watching it full time. But that has to stay hush-hush because the Synod would knock heads if they found out.”
“Nowwe watch it full time,” Teague said. “And probably will forever after this.”
“Does the Synod know about the kelpie?” I asked, rubbing my arms against a stinging feeling.
“No,” Teague said. “If they did, they would be here.” He stopped very suddenly and looked up. We all stopped and looked. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust. Clare gasped and grabbed my arm, seeing it a second before me.
There, in the air, hovering above the rocky shore twenty feet away, was a shimmering slice that shot straight upward. It seemed to shift in the breeze, just slightly, like a silk curtain pinioned on the top and bottom. The sight of it sent fear clawing through me. I wanted to run straight back to the boat, but Clare had a death grip on my arm.
“Bro,” Chrystamos whispered. “It never gets less creepy.”
“I know,” Teague said. “And the worst part is that it moves. Every time I come it’s in a different place. Sometimes out over the water a little. Sometimes all the way inside the cave.” He pointed over his shoulder, and I froze. The cave. My eyes darted around, and my whole body felt on edge. This was where it happened. I looked out at the darkened sea where the boat had been, and across to the cave. Stevens had probably been standing right where I was now. And just over there had been my aunt and Bryant…and past them, something or someone in that cave.
My eyes went back to the portal. On the other side of that thing was my parents…if they’d managed to survive in H’trae. A push and pull inside of me wanted more than anything to throw the portal wide open and shout for them. I could sing everyone asleep while I searched until I found my parents, Teague’s parents, Zar’s mom. Gaia, they wereright there!
“Are you okay?” Clare asked. “You’re shaking.”
Teague came over. “Letty?”
“Yeah,” I whispered, trying to pull myself together, but the emotions and sheer energy of the place had me wanting to scream or cry or…sing. I’d had the urge many times, but this was on another level. The portal put me on edge, giving off a sense of absolute danger.
