“So you are avoiding me then,” said Breck.
Cordelia’s breathing quickened as Breck moved closer.
“Not talking to me either?” he asked.
“It’s not you, it’s me,” said Cordelia, staring into the water.
“What are you doing?” asked Breck.
“Don’t look at me, go away,” said Cordelia.
“You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. I can’t help but look at you.”
In the twilight, Breck pulled off his shirt, kicked off his boots and unfastened his belt. His trousers fell to the ground and he slipped into the water beside Cordelia.
“It’s not safe for you to be with me,” said Cordelia.
“Then why is it I’ve never felt safer than when I’m with you?” said Breck.
Breck reached out a hand and pulled Cordelia towards him.
“Your hair’s beautiful,” he said.
Cordelia managed a half smile.
“Remember our vows?” asked Breck. “I meant every word. I promised to love you until the end of our days and let nothing come between us, and you promised the same, until the stars fade and the tides stop turning.” Breck looked up at the sky. “They’re still shining,” he said, “and if I’m not mistaken the tide is definitely turning.”
The Atlantic seeped through every crevice into the rock pool, while waves leaped excitedly over the top of the rocks. Cordelia couldn’t tell what was pounding faster, the waves or her heart. Without a second thought, she held Breck’s face in her hands, pressed her lips against his and pulled him beneath the waves. Electricity flowed through Breck’s veins, illuminating the blackened sea like a neon tide. Beneath the starlit sky, the water dazzled and the only creature to witness this wonder was Arna.
The young lovers eventually returned to the surface, Cordelia’s arms wrapped firmly around Breck’s neck.
“Do you ever think of the future?” asked Cordelia.
“Sometimes,” said Breck, still gasping for air.
“I have a dream,” said Cordelia, “that someday you and I will be together.”
“We are together, aren’t we?”
“I dream that we swim for hours beneath the surface.”
“Now that really is just a dream,” said Breck.
“What if it’s not?” asked Cordelia. “What if it could really happen?”
“You’ve seen how long I can hold my breath for,” chuckled Breck.
The young lovers hauled themselves out of the water, Breck picked up his clothes and they hurried across the rocks in the moonlight. Cordelia slowed her pace as they reached the track.
“What’s wrong?” asked Breck.
Cordelia took a deep breath. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
Just then a gannet flew down and perched on the stone wall. Cordelia knew it was Arna. She tried to speak but the words wouldn’t come out. Her eyes flitted between Arna and Breck.
“It’s just a bird,” said Breck.
Cordelia smiled but the panic was evident in her eyes.
“Cordelia, what is it?” asked Breck, taking her hand in his.
“I wondered if you’d watch me, in the diving competition.”
“Is that all?” said Breck, smiling. “I thought you were going to tell me something terrible. Sure I’ll be there. What about Flynn, shall I ask him too?”
“Do you think he’ll come?” asked Cordelia, still distracted by Arna.
“He misses you,” said Breck.
“Of course, it would mean the world for him to be there too. Look at you, you’re shivering,” said Cordelia. “You’d best be getting home.”
“Will I see you tomorrow?” asked Breck.
“Perhaps,” smiled Cordelia and she watched Breck walk away wearing nothing but his underwear.
As soon as Breck was out of sight, Arna morphed into Siren form.
“You seem on edge,” said Arna.
“It’s hardly surprising, is it?” said Cordelia, annoyed.
“You can’t pretend forever,” said Arna. “Sooner or later the truth will come out and who will be there for you when it does?”
“The truth will come out when I’m ready,” said Cordelia and she marched across the cliff top.
Arna took flight and landed ahead of Cordelia. “You’re a funny thing, aren’t you?”
Cordelia stopped in her tracks.
“You can swim, you can fly, yet here you are choosing to walk.”
“I like walking.”
“It doesn’t look like it.”
“I don’t like the company,” said Cordelia.
“That’s a little hurtful, Cordelia. You need me more than you realise.”
“I’m not like you,” snapped Cordelia. “I can choose who I want to be and I will never be a Siren!”
“You already are,” said Arna. “The sooner you realise it, the easier things will become.”
“Easier? How could things possibly get easier?”
“Because you’ll no longer have to hide who you really are,” said Arna.
“Nobody likes Sirens. They hate them!”
“Then isn’t it time perceptions changed?” said Arna. “We aren’t all bad.”
Cordelia studied Arna for a few moments, she seemed sincere, a little sad even, but then she remembered.
“You’re the reason my mother’s dead!” Cordelia cried.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry she’s dead. I’m sorry it was my fault. I’m sorry it’s me standing here instead of your mother. Believe me I have paid the price, living year after year in solitude on that sea stack, hiding in the church with not a soul to talk to, praying over and over that someone would answer my prayers.”
“You want me to feel sorry for you? I pity you.”
“I don’t want your sympathy,” said Arna.
“Then what do you want?”
“I want to help you.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“Please. Let me. You at least owe me that.”
“I don’t owe you anything,” said Cordelia and she marched through the darkness back to the lighthouse, leaving Arna alone on the cliff top.
TWENTY-ONE
Diving Championships
The day of the diving championships had finally arrived. It was barely day break when the diving site began to fill with spectators; the entire school was there, including the families of those entering the competition. From the cliff top, Cordelia noticed a slim, flame haired woman meander through the crowd followed closely by eleven flame haired children.
Lana stood on tiptoes, making herself even taller and waved frantically as she called out to her mother. “Mother! Over here!”
“There’s Ma and Pa!” said Nerissa excitedly, pulling Masika by the arm.
Cordelia took a deep breath and smiled as she watched the other competitors greet their parents with affectionate hugs and embraces. Rafe was standing with his parents. His father was
