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.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSavnDhePA3
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEC7S6hOTdH
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.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wJgUr8Mhb
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf28hrvu0Rl
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZDsGhCU5T
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9scNOXKmbT
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwAUzkwvP1
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITmVpXkjYZ
"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."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgGCI5YuYv
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1wAelQs66
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.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC8Avr8SVc
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLu3udaQNH
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.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnBy0med2F
⸻166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCD7KYjN3m0
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.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW4BMHovJl
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrGlBROLvG
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0ejtwB8VB
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITn3Hza4Ft
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQr814ROjVv
"Why not?"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5QLpPRqQr
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7wXhjFoHS
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaBxJDwYK1
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcFFaMy8JL
"Overthinking," Nick warned.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNW77T7QBu
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHAYWYqg7W
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.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcStt44KkYv
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgvWQ8Llmj
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3kuB3M2Uh
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZpuX2TATD
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o8Nmgp4HJ
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhDADRsyPc
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9YqOtrzDD
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrk8smUo6e
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTtefsj8Ss
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTANLcyBj1B
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDI8WyOf6T
⸻166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXu9DiR85H
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.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5aHwQeyMh
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyawAXyo49
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ54XXPNPy
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."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCftxvNsYS
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkFK9UZAL5
"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."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuXrzXdsGu
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?"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWpcvlskcy
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2L5wYXejC
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6zVH9SVFY
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowSMt0aBGm
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN52W7vHJJ
⸻166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg7dzn7VR6
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.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lj9x5hz9z
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.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQB9Jet7Ug
Her breath caught.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOwSOBQ7ff
Holloway.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUNZnflSxR
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.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMWiauYpfR
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzNVoenUyA
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFjwdWVT3J
⸻166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMFF3QifQC
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jNyND7yhD
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItwFzLP0k9
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiTXhdxmIK
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkKkf4ZXqj
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."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xI938jLuY
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1Ae04m1fI
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTQq6hXw8N
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVBEpHUeIQ
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcaEcyctal
