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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LJ4JTMae0
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcK1jyvyDrP
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjlySopKtt
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJatPGci5s7
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmkNrlUP8k
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisYV4s06ma
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYNlEK3nUO
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAK29AnE85
"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."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOHVKuYcGz
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DmuI1slNH
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHRXHfO0QR
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ018P9VdpQo
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhEzQAcDS7
⸻149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGPq31CQTd
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYjnAwTOjR
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzt1HXswex
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49erthvenT
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzT2Z86J2p
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1zEtKQURd
"Why not?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpHM1QtBoN
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL63EtS6ZrK
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF0c2N13Ug
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7zw8x4Q6C
"Overthinking," Nick warned.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHmxxRfjla
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAdCb3vmcA
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvu2zhiWJR
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpsUtB27XE
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOALDGCRoYw
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuzOZNzo58
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQNMjIHZBM
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlFGMM69XK
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioH9RmO4Ie
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGV0XgJfD7
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGs1xDOlT9
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXT2HJkrL5
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzccVxemLo
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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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6ZxzkevdB
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsI5tj1wp4
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTixSlEoYZ
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."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXuKjhRBia
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYASZeQmZIY
"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."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGybdRQgBi4
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?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ40aTKV2Vg
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRnJ5eWHG9
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RhqVhfUlD
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0HNnXN260
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawv045L2IX
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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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh21qgQ8B0
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJbcgQUI4v
Her breath caught.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoBDEdhYj8
Holloway.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8UOITzwXt
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.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVI2BFOZ8D
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoJI2jTWyj
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DhjxN9L7F
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ne2gFyzfG
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoAiXWU1CF
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6UsLISgIY
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6O8nFLPkw
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."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4fz2R4W7e
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BSRCHueqo
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcrB50A5P4
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2dyESZta1
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."149Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjEQYTWKIZ
