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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjXpDbWcRr
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKw4bxj7aL
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuPjrYq7WF
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDJXBMmyoq
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkLiypcfJH
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0cN3ObzK1
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OWTuWtzCj
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdmzmNMclE
"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."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡze4FFizzvw
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWgt1F7KF1
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpsl8txgSR
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJUqbnSRPH
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrE5lVnTLtl
⸻27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoo0zuf4at
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVrvVB3VfP
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf6PROpk76
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueKwCON7LA
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrHlWIY3Nu
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XNGq5D7eb
"Why not?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQohL5LXVeT
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw1Pt1TVhi
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhEbcQaAom
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41Qex7H1rO
"Overthinking," Nick warned.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWQY0uP7hV
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcqHmegPbM
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvu23UsxvGq
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DOqSzwjc8
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jaJz4tiBx
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40XFVgqg1j
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRb511RuGX
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpUCTvmfWb
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnyLuU4TF1
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8kkcmkUEm
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ97kNGF85
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNb7zgvuVi8
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW4XMYlLPB
⸻27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73uKCLmezJ
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPlPJ0Efbr
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hSGwIWMLL
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp5mFob8Ag
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."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLQraxt38E
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnWBw23Zn4
"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."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4Nog8b1Py
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?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs7Yjub1Ln
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScOXU6sMhk
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DFUsltgbe
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6u7gjpOLb
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ezt7dEEOr
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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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBkp1iSA8C
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSJG2oZwfE
Her breath caught.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94zoWZ9tPm
Holloway.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8FwaOMCLc
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuf7h8Y1la
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOXLV4AzIz
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKtoKc3AZx
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFg77zjolM
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrwqNyJtwV
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiADKQGDPdr
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rVb6LsaY7
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."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nAdDOtG80
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkR3QPByJan
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLWdbxMU0c
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59b2RLjd9S
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZB8NQoRUV
