Fear the Drowning Deep(32)

“Fynn, what is it?” When I’d waited long enough for an answer, I laid a hand on his shoulder. “Do you need to lie down?”

His cobalt eyes met mine. “I’m fine, thanks.”

I slid my hand over his back in soothing circles. “No you’re not. What’s the matter?”

“The painting startled me.”

There had been a slight hesitation before he spoke, and I wondered if he was being entirely truthful. My hand stilled on his back. “If you’re lying to me, Fynn, I swear I’ll find out some—”

“I’m sorry.” He leaned forward, so close we could have attempted another kiss. “I confess, it more than startled me. I wasn’t expecting to see anything so …” He stared at the creature. “Foul.”

I reached for his hand. Again, I considered telling him what I’d glimpsed out the kitchen window. But it was late and dark, and the misty figure wasn’t the first such thing I’d imagined in the waves. It could easily have been sea spray, blown into a strange shape by the wind, and made into a man by my nervous mind.

The other possibility was too much to contemplate at this hour.

“Where did your mother see that creature?” Fynn turned the canvas to face the wall with unnecessary force.

“She didn’t. She paints a lot of unusual things from her dreams. See?” I pointed to one of her mermaids, then to the inky-black water horse swimming beneath a boat, and yawned widely. “If you’re sure you’re all right, I think I’ll be off to bed.”

“Good night, Bridey. Sleep well.” Fynn brushed his thumb over the top of my hand. My skin was still tingling as I fell asleep.


Something crushed my lower leg, jarring me awake. I groaned as Liss climbed over me. Rubbing my leg, I listened for Grayse’s rhythmic breathing. By some miracle, she slumbered on.

I silently cursed Liss as I squinted into the dark. There was no starlight to help me make sense of why she was heading for the door at such a late hour. She always took care not to wake me when she got up to use the outhouse. Was she sick?

“Liss,” I whispered. “Wait for me.”

I slid out of the warm blankets, the fog of sleep releasing its hold. It seemed I’d closed my eyes only moments before to revisit my near-kiss with Fynn.

The bedroom door creaked open.

“Liss, wait!” There was no time to find my slippers. I crossed the cold floor in pursuit of my sister.

Liss waited for me in the hallway. Even in the shadows, her frown was visible.

“What on earth are you doing?”

“Going to have a look outside. I heard shouting.” Liss shivered and rubbed her arms, though the air in the house was mild. “If you want to come, be quiet. There’s no sense waking Grayse.”

As we neared the front of the house, the voices grew louder. Fynn stood in the doorway.

Over his shoulder, out in the night, a procession formed. Paraffin lanterns—twenty or thirty in all—bobbed like a parade of fireflies. But the sounds accompanying the light show would have better suited for a funeral.

“Alis!” a man shouted over a woman’s wailing. “Alistrina!”

A wave of dread coursed through me.

“Who’s Alis again?” Fynn turned, not bothering to close the door. He seemed to have been aware of our presence despite our silence. “That name sounds familiar.”

I shook my head and pressed my lips together, but Liss answered, “Catreena’s little sister. What’s happening?”

“She’s gone missing.” The faint glow of the search party’s lanterns painted Fynn in grim light. “They’re heading toward the cliffs.” He stepped aside to allow us a better view, and sure enough, the lights were drifting downhill.

Whatever was plaguing our town couldn’t be preying on yet another girl. Especially not one as small as Alis. She’d invited Grayse to play dolls just the other day, looking so bright and full of life as she demolished an entire bonnag at the market.

Pushing past Liss and Fynn, I rummaged for a cloak to cover my nightgown. I couldn’t help Alis if she had gone over the cliffs, but I could find Cat and hold her hand through the terrible ordeal.

“I’m coming with you.” Fynn handed me Mam’s cloak, evidently realizing what I was about to do.

“Me, too,” Liss said firmly.

“None of you,” Mam commanded from the hallway, “are going anywhere.” She shut the door firmly, then put her hands on her hips. Her eyes were owlishly wide, and she surveyed the three of us with a look that could have cut through steel.

I didn’t dare move when her temper was so near to boiling over.

“It has clearly escaped your notice, so I’ll inform you for your own good. It’s dangerous out there. Girls, back to bed. Your da will join the search. Fynn, you’re a grown man, so whether or not you go is your choice. But if you decide to risk your neck after I’ve just finished healing you, I’ll reopen every one of your wounds myself.”

We stared, openmouthed, at Mam.

“Now!” Her eyes flashed a warning.

Liss and I darted to our room and crawled back beneath the covers.

Though I was certain I wouldn’t be able to close my eyes for a moment, I lapsed into a restless sleep sometime before dawn.