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.97Please respect copyright.PENANAyiaNSWRdlK
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.97Please respect copyright.PENANA4gHo8vVFhA
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.97Please respect copyright.PENANAvwNaALDLnY
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.97Please respect copyright.PENANAN2FOtyelSg
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."97Please respect copyright.PENANAwBempeuLrp
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"97Please respect copyright.PENANAtcBVkcCEAy
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."97Please respect copyright.PENANAk8r9nNtj2p
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."97Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1NjNJbCIg
"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."97Please respect copyright.PENANASboG1qdUlM
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"97Please respect copyright.PENANApK8y9Plt6C
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.97Please respect copyright.PENANAqlrMbcpJ6V
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."97Please respect copyright.PENANAWE5OWB55t6
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.97Please respect copyright.PENANAaeArjeqcnJ
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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.97Please respect copyright.PENANARSQt7KTwyJ
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.97Please respect copyright.PENANA03WKBdpjGu
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"97Please respect copyright.PENANAmumk75mDJS
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."97Please respect copyright.PENANAtYHXC1udw9
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."97Please respect copyright.PENANA8DZmkkLMk8
"Why not?"97Please respect copyright.PENANAug3s88ifHU
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."97Please respect copyright.PENANA0sy9scLHfs
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."97Please respect copyright.PENANAZAi1351zi4
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"97Please respect copyright.PENANAEXEO5UOqHm
"Overthinking," Nick warned.97Please respect copyright.PENANAaLT8McJxKe
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."97Please respect copyright.PENANAFQPp2hDH6X
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.97Please respect copyright.PENANAVD4SFpQuwU
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.97Please respect copyright.PENANAzkSqU4nwiT
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."97Please respect copyright.PENANAFB4rb3aDuK
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"97Please respect copyright.PENANA5I2k0TXDX8
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"97Please respect copyright.PENANAlFkKUSdbHp
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."97Please respect copyright.PENANAzkIWZC9San
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"97Please respect copyright.PENANA1LLVULZbmL
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."97Please respect copyright.PENANAQpM20mP1mJ
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.97Please respect copyright.PENANALx84DWEpUO
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"97Please respect copyright.PENANAP4CtVC7gnx
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."97Please respect copyright.PENANAMItBYXyjSH
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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.97Please respect copyright.PENANA91mTNiCuqj
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.97Please respect copyright.PENANA53dBAStPui
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"97Please respect copyright.PENANAL12e0IKPUI
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."97Please respect copyright.PENANApMmMo95SnA
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"97Please respect copyright.PENANAUVC82ccqWV
"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."97Please respect copyright.PENANANzZ8k7Iz1P
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?"97Please respect copyright.PENANA67sVtriHmb
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."97Please respect copyright.PENANAKMz0KvL4tr
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."97Please respect copyright.PENANAUdl3dZL8vW
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"97Please respect copyright.PENANAJVbyKSeRMr
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."97Please respect copyright.PENANAlbE0V7e70U
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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.97Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0zYLFJzWZ
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.97Please respect copyright.PENANAUAtrfqnBhf
Her breath caught.97Please respect copyright.PENANA4V8Szo59Ck
Holloway.97Please respect copyright.PENANAuiqKiotI6B
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.97Please respect copyright.PENANAzX6LDc5ImF
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.97Please respect copyright.PENANAPz9vnz3YKo
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.97Please respect copyright.PENANAhupHq5KwuU
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 97Please respect copyright.PENANAgXxh63cUTr
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."97Please respect copyright.PENANAw0IQtjwl6t
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."97Please respect copyright.PENANATM3Ty45iFx
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"97Please respect copyright.PENANAmVMr0fvNDo
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."97Please respect copyright.PENANAyvC7HWlKpS
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"97Please respect copyright.PENANAtRGMmbsUQR
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."97Please respect copyright.PENANA2cnzrJjALB
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"97Please respect copyright.PENANAjRBN7dfl4B
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."97Please respect copyright.PENANA6FAOg7QrHo