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
