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.96Please respect copyright.PENANA1SzEyndDzv
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.96Please respect copyright.PENANAOncjIGhfls
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.96Please respect copyright.PENANAMFnORTO5zl
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.96Please respect copyright.PENANAb8wPrsLh1L
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."96Please respect copyright.PENANATtha6eHlYJ
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"96Please respect copyright.PENANAXr7bIePiYX
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."96Please respect copyright.PENANA1gKantErPV
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."96Please respect copyright.PENANARVt6fFrkpW
"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."96Please respect copyright.PENANADuZaaSx26R
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"96Please respect copyright.PENANAKPofdQYftd
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.96Please respect copyright.PENANAqs8xqfBgs4
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."96Please respect copyright.PENANA07XTEfg7t9
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.96Please respect copyright.PENANARruPKEjWw3
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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.96Please respect copyright.PENANAHPOXmRq2f0
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.96Please respect copyright.PENANARVke0I7XGh
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"96Please respect copyright.PENANAX0xBIaBMlu
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."96Please respect copyright.PENANASOzouWvT7w
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."96Please respect copyright.PENANAhnA4Vwby6c
"Why not?"96Please respect copyright.PENANA35ZqX9U9BQ
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."96Please respect copyright.PENANAutrob2uO4S
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."96Please respect copyright.PENANAXbhiGReYJ5
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"96Please respect copyright.PENANAlyFdQ85UUp
"Overthinking," Nick warned.96Please respect copyright.PENANABwEiAeIIgF
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."96Please respect copyright.PENANAsVZtz3hqEK
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.96Please respect copyright.PENANAZa8eiF3Buj
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.96Please respect copyright.PENANACBk6S4Lka7
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."96Please respect copyright.PENANAk5983d0i0v
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"96Please respect copyright.PENANAvG38HcI9cx
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"96Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZLJrqPyMP
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."96Please respect copyright.PENANA6Kb4sDj00h
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"96Please respect copyright.PENANAs3xzPeRmJ8
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."96Please respect copyright.PENANAzq3wTrmtbr
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.96Please respect copyright.PENANAvjg17FDtsY
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"96Please respect copyright.PENANAS1aJhImh6N
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."96Please respect copyright.PENANAM5x2XX7gGI
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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.96Please respect copyright.PENANAwNunvAffBz
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.96Please respect copyright.PENANAJeEuyVmVew
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"96Please respect copyright.PENANAyXebp89rNk
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."96Please respect copyright.PENANAkVUPKaImuF
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"96Please respect copyright.PENANAXDG4fTlH19
"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."96Please respect copyright.PENANA6uWWayxK3z
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?"96Please respect copyright.PENANAcgIq57dR4R
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."96Please respect copyright.PENANAy7Eq29r6yC
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."96Please respect copyright.PENANAGsbGR5GXVG
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"96Please respect copyright.PENANAMmwPW8ET4h
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."96Please respect copyright.PENANALV6E2BxuCp
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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.96Please respect copyright.PENANAQIsKy6XHwl
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.96Please respect copyright.PENANAHzPazFiMDN
Her breath caught.96Please respect copyright.PENANAzvMOjCWBz0
Holloway.96Please respect copyright.PENANA04ELglCHoL
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.96Please respect copyright.PENANA3k6bsyDU7W
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.96Please respect copyright.PENANA5tXUYVtXEY
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.96Please respect copyright.PENANAH3X0Hqoksa
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 96Please respect copyright.PENANAbwBI16kxWl
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."96Please respect copyright.PENANAnLAVkAW3GQ
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."96Please respect copyright.PENANAmSaXsLcwe9
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"96Please respect copyright.PENANARSNXmG7fi1
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."96Please respect copyright.PENANAE2sIJLYzFw
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"96Please respect copyright.PENANAzlfcWcLQju
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."96Please respect copyright.PENANAkN7BOzDYY0
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"96Please respect copyright.PENANAhuiR24nvz0
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."96Please respect copyright.PENANAZsnr8wxJdx