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.159Please respect copyright.PENANApOYiUIVpKY
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.159Please respect copyright.PENANAi4V2x7zyHc
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.159Please respect copyright.PENANALh9KpTwCAZ
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.159Please respect copyright.PENANAhfwlErplFg
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."159Please respect copyright.PENANA3mWkTplabx
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"159Please respect copyright.PENANAifeXcrWFd4
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."159Please respect copyright.PENANAzZTetlBMMn
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."159Please respect copyright.PENANAkj7WBb0Cce
"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."159Please respect copyright.PENANAtrSg0hBMZw
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"159Please respect copyright.PENANAT8TkxEV62m
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.159Please respect copyright.PENANA0XU08ZxtkS
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."159Please respect copyright.PENANAOI5u4pyXXf
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.159Please respect copyright.PENANAQkm64ZZPEF
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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.159Please respect copyright.PENANAFj4wcTz7tb
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.159Please respect copyright.PENANAH7kJtSbEnb
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"159Please respect copyright.PENANA7hV7pdSmqK
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."159Please respect copyright.PENANAX6dyaWqiho
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."159Please respect copyright.PENANAHhGs6g0gGz
"Why not?"159Please respect copyright.PENANAFrYSResnCg
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."159Please respect copyright.PENANAB77mUeX8Mh
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."159Please respect copyright.PENANAryXWBqqAQQ
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"159Please respect copyright.PENANAvKUpUAr5qV
"Overthinking," Nick warned.159Please respect copyright.PENANA2ACskFIXBx
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."159Please respect copyright.PENANAstWeIgpQe0
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.159Please respect copyright.PENANABtgLJq12Td
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.159Please respect copyright.PENANAg8a3avN8Gp
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."159Please respect copyright.PENANAMnhqKkuGL9
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"159Please respect copyright.PENANAyIVB2Mxq91
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"159Please respect copyright.PENANA8K0NCUR2PH
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."159Please respect copyright.PENANATAChcEGee6
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"159Please respect copyright.PENANAa21atpHcVR
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."159Please respect copyright.PENANAE0Ay6SHC99
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.159Please respect copyright.PENANAj6j9tYoyLI
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"159Please respect copyright.PENANAqpcXehADHs
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."159Please respect copyright.PENANAGDwmMX3l61
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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.159Please respect copyright.PENANAkvWd842gPM
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.159Please respect copyright.PENANAPzQu8GbXxV
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"159Please respect copyright.PENANAdFlDKc1C1y
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."159Please respect copyright.PENANAI0FNoTbGfO
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"159Please respect copyright.PENANA16zshQBFWL
"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."159Please respect copyright.PENANAXN94uZcW0U
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?"159Please respect copyright.PENANA6oiuB6pFK3
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."159Please respect copyright.PENANA1tKTcIHb4e
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."159Please respect copyright.PENANAOv0EOS2Bqm
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"159Please respect copyright.PENANA4KjZpN8ggw
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."159Please respect copyright.PENANAEAvmz6szos
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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.159Please respect copyright.PENANAQvsApT3KFR
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.159Please respect copyright.PENANADA57mBsF4f
Her breath caught.159Please respect copyright.PENANASLAIsRgBLe
Holloway.159Please respect copyright.PENANAco0fGeTZtQ
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.159Please respect copyright.PENANAMCPk1m5ziA
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.159Please respect copyright.PENANAJqHGaFId8K
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.159Please respect copyright.PENANAcMNOolRM8A
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 159Please respect copyright.PENANAuLFaW4iuIV
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."159Please respect copyright.PENANAkyzAYEXYk4
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."159Please respect copyright.PENANAv1khSfJivM
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"159Please respect copyright.PENANAWoQ0NCHSTA
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."159Please respect copyright.PENANAsJTHACQCcA
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"159Please respect copyright.PENANAcrkNlKkeD8
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."159Please respect copyright.PENANAmRILmWj6j4
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"159Please respect copyright.PENANAOYcm4h5iUs
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."159Please respect copyright.PENANAJwZ9OU7zcH