Fear the Drowning Deep(33)
CHAPTER TEN
The next morning, Grayse was the only person in the house who attacked her bread and jam with any enthusiasm. The rest of us sat around the table, drowsily picking at a stack of toast.
“When’s Da coming back?” Grayse pushed aside her empty plate and twisted the Bollan Cross around her neck, smearing it with blackberry goo from her sticky fingers. “He said he’d take me to the bakery today!”
Fynn, Liss, and I exchanged glances, waiting for Mam to break the silence.
Across the table, she rubbed her forehead and heaved a sigh. “I don’t think he’ll be able to take you anywhere today, little fish. I’m sorry.”
Grayse puffed out her lower lip, always a warning sign.
“Mally,” Mam said quickly. “Why don’t you and Grayse make shortbread? There’s a bag of caraway seeds in the top cupboard, behind last year’s preserves.”
Mally led a pouting Grayse over to the cupboards. Mam finished her tea and followed them.
“That’s her fourth cup.” Liss frowned. “Just watching her is giving me jitters.”
“It’s her fifth, actually,” I corrected, toying with my mug. I needed to occupy my restless hands. Thinking of chopping firewood, I slid out of my chair, but something warm grabbed my right hand and held tight. Fynn’s mouth curved in a faint smile.
The ache in my stomach was replaced by a hot, fluttering feeling. Still, I glanced at the door every few seconds. I imagined Da bursting in with news of Alis’s rescue—a story of how she’d only snuck out to look for shooting stars, or to build sand castles in the moonlight.
Perhaps, I thought as I watched Mam gulp more tea, I should encourage all the girls in town to wear Bollan Crosses like the one I’d given Grayse. I doubted Morag’s eerie fishbone charms could really prevent anyone from drowning, but at least then I’d be doing something, not just sitting here. Already Alis was likely out of the search party’s reach, lying among the coral where no one but crabs and fish would discover her. Like Eveleen and Nessa.
Mam returned to the table, another cup of tea in hand. She took her seat as the door banged open and Da trudged inside. Mam’s hand trembled, sloshing tea over the side of her mug. “Peddyr, is Alis—?”
“She’s gone. We found some small footprints near the cliffs, but that’s all. We searched everywhere.” Da grimaced. “Either the Little Fellas are angry, and they’ve put a curse on the town, or a madman is preying on our daughters.”
Stunned silence followed his words.
“In all my years, I’ve never …” Da bowed his head. “As I was leaving, her mam found her cardigan in their yard.”
Mam took Da’s arm. “Come now, you and the others did all you could …”
“Maybe we ought to leave out bigger cakes, so the Little Fellas won’t take our girls,” Da muttered darkly. “It might help to show Them more respect.”
I stared at my parents. Da—strong, practical, fair-minded Da—wanted to appease the fairies. Nothing was right anymore.
“Peddyr, that’s enough! I don’t want to hear any more talk of unnatural things.” Despite her words, Mam’s face was as pale as Da’s. “Let me fix you some strong tea.”
The moment Mam steered Da into the kitchen, I rushed to the door with Fynn close behind. Given how miserable I felt, Cat was surely feeling far worse. She’d stood up for me in the market, and now it was my turn to support her.
“Where are you going?” Liss called.
“Cat’s house,” I answered as Fynn pushed open the door.
A light rain began as we came within sight of the low sandstone building. The sensation of Fynn’s large hand joined with mine was quickly becoming familiar.
Even more familiar was the red-haired figure standing near Cat’s door. He tipped his head back and closed his eyes, seeming to welcome the cold drizzle rolling down his face.
“Morning, Lugh.” I tugged on Fynn’s hand to slow our approach. “Has there—has there been any more news about the search for Alis?” The words sounded hollow, but I’d suddenly been transported back to the night of our kiss. The obvious was all I could think to ask, especially with Fynn still holding tight to my hand.
“Oh!” Lugh shook the water from his shaggy hair and blinked. “Morning, Bry.” He smiled faintly, but it faded when he looked at my hand clasped with Fynn’s. His gaze shifted to the lad beside me, all traces of his smile vanishing. “You must be Bry’s new friend. The comeover all the lasses are sighing about.”
“I go by Fynn. I’m sure Bridey’s mentioned that.” He narrowed his eyes but extended his free hand to Lugh.
Lugh flexed his fingers at his sides, staring at Fynn’s hand until he lowered it. “Actually, Bridey hasn’t told me anything about you. You’re the reason I’ve barely seen her lately, I assume.” He moved closer, bringing his face inches from mine. “Tell me, have you forgotten everything that happened before he came around?”
I dropped Fynn’s hand like it might burn me.
“Of course not!” I stared at the curve of Lugh’s jaw, unable to raise my eyes higher. “Don’t be ridiculous.” I dropped my gaze to the mud.