Read Online Tangled Tides (The Sea Monster Memoirs) by Karen Amanda Hooper - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Karen Amanda Hooper
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kept anything from me. I would come back in a few days and pretend nothing had changed. Uncle Lloyd would never have to know about this mermaid thing, and we could return to our normal routine.
"Thank you," I said. "This means a lot to me."
I remembered Treygan's threat to come get me if I took too long, and my pulse quickened. I didn't want him showing up and having to explain him to Uncle Lloyd. My hands shook as I hurriedly unwrapped the next present.
It was a pendant made from a grayish-colored stone. Veins of deep red snaked through its polished surface.
"Thank you, I love it," I said in a rush, despising Treygan for making me hurry through my birthday.
Uncle Lloyd laughed in his deep, full-bellied way. "You haven't seen the best part. Open it. It's a locket."
Inside the cracked stone I found a photo of my mother and father. They looked young and happy. I examined my father closely because he was sort of a stranger to me. "Oh," is all I managed to say.
"You don't like it?"
"I'd rather have a picture of you."
"Yara, they're your parents. They gave you life. Treasure their memory always."
I closed the locket, rubbing my thumb over the smooth surface. "What kind of rock is this?"
"It's an old sea stone. Protects those who keep it close to their heart."
I hated having to leave him. What if he got worse while I was gone? Or what if—I couldn't think about losing him. It would be a life without sunshine. I held the necklace out to him. "Will you help me put it on?"
Uncle Lloyd secured the clasp while I held my hair up. The stone hung low against my chest and felt cool on my skin. When I turned around to thank him I got a titanic head rush and swayed forward.
"Easy there." He held onto my shoulders. "You alright?"
I squeezed my eyes shut repeatedly, trying to blink the dizziness away. "Yeah, sorry—minor dizzy spell." Except it wasn't minor. Shades of blue and red flashed across my vision and my limbs felt like gummy worms. Treygan said we'd get sick if we were away from the water too long. If this is what he meant, and weed could cure it, bring on the smoke fest.
"Maybe you should sit down," Uncle Lloyd said.
"I'm fine. I just haven't eaten since—jeez, I didn't eat at all yesterday or today." How had I forgotten to eat? My stomach never growled once. No hunger pains or anything. If merfolk didn't eat, I'd be pissed off. I loved food and didn't want to give it up just because I had been turned part fish.
"Your blood sugar must be plummeting. How 'bout some cake?"
I forced a smile. "Birthday cake?"
"The best kind." He sliced two pieces and put them on plates.
"What? No birthday song?" I teased, still feeling lightheaded.
"You're the singer, not me. I didn't want to torture you on your special day." He was right. Singing was not one of his talents. Things like gardening, wood carving and repairing boats were what he did best.
I stuck my fork into my first bite of cake, hoping I'd be able to taste it. If I didn't get hungry anymore, had I also lost my sense of taste? Moist, dark chocolate cake with buttercream icing slid onto my tongue. Sugary decadence exploded in my mouth, more intense than ever.
"Mmmm," I moaned with pleasure. "This is the best thing I've ever tasted!" I definitely hadn't lost my sense of taste. If anything, it was amplified—or exceptionally great cake. I wasn't sure.
"Glad you like it. I ordered it from a mom-and-pop bakery in the Keys. Locals rave about how good their stuff is."
"They ain't lying. In-freakin-credible."
"Glad I listened to the recommendations." He smirked while I shoveled more chocolaty goodness into my mouth.
I couldn't believe how fast I finished. I fought the urge to lick my plate clean. "May I have another slice?"
He pushed the box across the table. "Help yourself. And relax, would ya? You look like you're about to rush out the door."
Guilt is a funny thing. Uneasiness coated my stomach, totally killing my appetite. The remaining cake read
Happy Birth
"Thank you," I said. "This means a lot to me."
I remembered Treygan's threat to come get me if I took too long, and my pulse quickened. I didn't want him showing up and having to explain him to Uncle Lloyd. My hands shook as I hurriedly unwrapped the next present.
It was a pendant made from a grayish-colored stone. Veins of deep red snaked through its polished surface.
"Thank you, I love it," I said in a rush, despising Treygan for making me hurry through my birthday.
Uncle Lloyd laughed in his deep, full-bellied way. "You haven't seen the best part. Open it. It's a locket."
Inside the cracked stone I found a photo of my mother and father. They looked young and happy. I examined my father closely because he was sort of a stranger to me. "Oh," is all I managed to say.
"You don't like it?"
"I'd rather have a picture of you."
"Yara, they're your parents. They gave you life. Treasure their memory always."
I closed the locket, rubbing my thumb over the smooth surface. "What kind of rock is this?"
"It's an old sea stone. Protects those who keep it close to their heart."
I hated having to leave him. What if he got worse while I was gone? Or what if—I couldn't think about losing him. It would be a life without sunshine. I held the necklace out to him. "Will you help me put it on?"
Uncle Lloyd secured the clasp while I held my hair up. The stone hung low against my chest and felt cool on my skin. When I turned around to thank him I got a titanic head rush and swayed forward.
"Easy there." He held onto my shoulders. "You alright?"
I squeezed my eyes shut repeatedly, trying to blink the dizziness away. "Yeah, sorry—minor dizzy spell." Except it wasn't minor. Shades of blue and red flashed across my vision and my limbs felt like gummy worms. Treygan said we'd get sick if we were away from the water too long. If this is what he meant, and weed could cure it, bring on the smoke fest.
"Maybe you should sit down," Uncle Lloyd said.
"I'm fine. I just haven't eaten since—jeez, I didn't eat at all yesterday or today." How had I forgotten to eat? My stomach never growled once. No hunger pains or anything. If merfolk didn't eat, I'd be pissed off. I loved food and didn't want to give it up just because I had been turned part fish.
"Your blood sugar must be plummeting. How 'bout some cake?"
I forced a smile. "Birthday cake?"
"The best kind." He sliced two pieces and put them on plates.
"What? No birthday song?" I teased, still feeling lightheaded.
"You're the singer, not me. I didn't want to torture you on your special day." He was right. Singing was not one of his talents. Things like gardening, wood carving and repairing boats were what he did best.
I stuck my fork into my first bite of cake, hoping I'd be able to taste it. If I didn't get hungry anymore, had I also lost my sense of taste? Moist, dark chocolate cake with buttercream icing slid onto my tongue. Sugary decadence exploded in my mouth, more intense than ever.
"Mmmm," I moaned with pleasure. "This is the best thing I've ever tasted!" I definitely hadn't lost my sense of taste. If anything, it was amplified—or exceptionally great cake. I wasn't sure.
"Glad you like it. I ordered it from a mom-and-pop bakery in the Keys. Locals rave about how good their stuff is."
"They ain't lying. In-freakin-credible."
"Glad I listened to the recommendations." He smirked while I shoveled more chocolaty goodness into my mouth.
I couldn't believe how fast I finished. I fought the urge to lick my plate clean. "May I have another slice?"
He pushed the box across the table. "Help yourself. And relax, would ya? You look like you're about to rush out the door."
Guilt is a funny thing. Uneasiness coated my stomach, totally killing my appetite. The remaining cake read
Happy Birth
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