Chapter 13: Secrets Beneath the Surface
Lacy ran her fingers along the worn book spines, inhaling the scent of aged paper as she wandered the quiet aisles of the Book Nook. The bell above the door chimed, signaling a new arrival. Lacy barely glanced up, too absorbed in her search for something—anything—that might help them understand the strange things happening in Calypso Bay.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ylVdhKD9I
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHnO6O4lJt
Lacy turned, startled by the presence of a woman she hadn't noticed before. She had long, dark waves of hair with hints of blue when the light caught it just right, and her sea-green eyes seemed to hold an entire ocean's worth of secrets. The woman's presence was oddly calming, yet something about her felt ancient, as if she had existed long before Calypso Bay itself.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEKE00k9fJ
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SsCSBLi1U
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8SiWpwdbh
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bLYvOG8xP
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBahoOCvxp
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvHb0GiCXf
"Be careful who you trust, Lacy," Thalassa said, her voice lowering. "Maddie Holloway isn't who she pretends to be. If you want to protect Chrissy, stay away from her."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJGzL6FAXc
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsZv83HqLm
Thalassa didn't answer. Instead, she took Lacy's wrist, gently fastening a bracelet around it. The centerpiece was an aquamarine gemstone, encased by iridescent cowrie shells that shimmered in the dim light. The moment it touched Lacy's skin, a strange warmth spread up her arm.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0habDCtqU6
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01euf6TmjL
Before Lacy could ask another question, Thalassa gave her one last look and slipped out the door, disappearing as if she had never been there at all.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVbDfvq1sZ
⸻34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GdJ9LL67a
Kyle sat cross-legged on the beach, frowning at the assortment of waterproof bags spread out in front of him. Nick stood nearby, arms crossed.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATdhsWqe8W
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlpkidAsy4
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpvTkCWoK4
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoz2b6Oed6
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbE7K5Z1Pds
"Why not?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgi1nIxJ7gI
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUyoELpi0T
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpuQLkWmfN
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gruKRy2Lu
"Overthinking," Nick warned.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5kPiL8MTY
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5gX8kpRLG
As they debated the best way to waterproof Chrissy's food, a shadow fell over them. They looked up to see a woman standing at the edge of the beach, watching them with amusement.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpvaaQ0vdS
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKKwgfB8YH
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3yGLpWEE7
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy3OJPxsLc
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1R8CkJMni
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVyYS9LS43
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWh3H6bFJK
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pKiCPkRRl
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYTnzJrZsp
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAawE95iXO
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mMu0p27Ip
⸻34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jycijoLTv
Nick entered the Book Nook, brushing sand off his hands. He barely had time to register the quiet atmosphere before Lacy grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the back of the store.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZcTSw97wR
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAo1tHMQvX
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3beUVOFmk4
Lacy glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "A woman—Thalassa—came in earlier. She knew about Chrissy, Nick. And she warned me about Maddie."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvIZyIPd7t
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgABEoTW4A
"She told me Maddie isn't who she pretends to be," Lacy said. "And then she gave me this." She lifted her wrist, revealing the bracelet with the aquamarine gemstone. "She said Chrissy needs it."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6I7ZgBDtd
Nick stared at it, his mind racing. It looked eerily similar to the compass-like artifact Chrissy had found. "You're sure she just gave it to you?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiA8Jmhu8y
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsX9txpqCKP
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJD1izEs4t
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYhPUyu4lq
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVEjnUlL6C
⸻34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NyX7BBHoT
Later that evening, Lacy found herself in the upstairs section of the Book Nook, running her fingers along the spines of old books. Something caught her eye—a thick, leather-bound volume titled The Genealogical Trees of the Founding Families of Calypso Bay.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VZpuR9bXE
Curious, she pulled it from the shelf and flipped through its pages. The names were neatly arranged in alphabetical order. She skimmed through them until she reached the "H" section.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvGvoMFeVX
Her breath caught.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3qu7NpdaF
Holloway.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hFlPWpZBk
Her stomach twisted. Maddie had sworn her family was new to town. But if her last name was in this book, that meant her family had been part of Calypso Bay for generations.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeHPSW06Fv
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxZtQ0auwB
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvqMzj09wU
⸻34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKkJJsl81Z
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSoBQaAdEu
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABmqlrzYYA
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtL9Grw6g8
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VRG0TfQ0l
Nick's mind clicked into place, the realization hitting him like a wave. "It's her. Thalassa. The same woman who warned Lacy about Maddie."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpvTupg9qs
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvAZSgUcn7
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7b9Tk9BhlX
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmJj8e45KX
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmTJJflBd2
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