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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAlbZrk1axka
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.160Please respect copyright.PENANAeiiG1mQXcS
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAyxZI4gbBgY
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.160Please respect copyright.PENANAg7tvccVKc8
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."160Please respect copyright.PENANAdKs9cG9DpS
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"160Please respect copyright.PENANAIubnewJbMw
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."160Please respect copyright.PENANAwAyqC1QHTW
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."160Please respect copyright.PENANAs36MYXvGwx
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANA1G005zxCzA
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"160Please respect copyright.PENANAg4eVqIzsWW
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAnSaxMZWSeB
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."160Please respect copyright.PENANASXB4OYQQem
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAdyJZ0Z7pxT
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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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAqX6GCClSHg
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.160Please respect copyright.PENANAjDzFEhBjA0
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"160Please respect copyright.PENANAtTE2AfFXXv
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."160Please respect copyright.PENANAQh8tAh8clF
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."160Please respect copyright.PENANA7J3CEYwvJT
"Why not?"160Please respect copyright.PENANAbumsWSM3sj
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."160Please respect copyright.PENANAMlTwt0LRC6
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."160Please respect copyright.PENANAvP3u6pBMpi
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"160Please respect copyright.PENANAWc5YlH0Tqq
"Overthinking," Nick warned.160Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7QoglghyK
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."160Please respect copyright.PENANAZNhFNJxAwT
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAyugXmPFCZA
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.160Please respect copyright.PENANAy9YU7b3VG0
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."160Please respect copyright.PENANATWyVu6JCsp
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"160Please respect copyright.PENANAEtuWuGo75D
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"160Please respect copyright.PENANAGXqRxNbONg
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."160Please respect copyright.PENANAziL6NGFkUH
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"160Please respect copyright.PENANA7lUGLQgotB
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."160Please respect copyright.PENANAHOSUXz6PrS
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.160Please respect copyright.PENANAD9pklTod7K
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"160Please respect copyright.PENANAp4Ccsch5Pk
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."160Please respect copyright.PENANASBociyIfGz
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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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAgACHVFFqvP
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.160Please respect copyright.PENANANSRBFMERGf
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"160Please respect copyright.PENANATjyojhifhh
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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAXYNi9VREbF
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"160Please respect copyright.PENANA0UjRSf64v5
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAsIfzXHLxj0
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?"160Please respect copyright.PENANAEwGDIK1pvb
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."160Please respect copyright.PENANAF4eKLqDCD8
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."160Please respect copyright.PENANAgK8bAzB9Vy
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"160Please respect copyright.PENANARFLgdy8YYn
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."160Please respect copyright.PENANAjnsLQ0Z4V3
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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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAgeM0itPfNN
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAqG1QBkNaVz
Her breath caught.160Please respect copyright.PENANAUt8nryYrzR
Holloway.160Please respect copyright.PENANAOVFICegfDG
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAXuhOxhr6WQ
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.160Please respect copyright.PENANAvyORa46mFC
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.160Please respect copyright.PENANAr0sX9ah7aK
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 160Please respect copyright.PENANAVfNQrwsqWA
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."160Please respect copyright.PENANAnbEItjvzSh
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."160Please respect copyright.PENANASTRwiMXdu2
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"160Please respect copyright.PENANAkLOZBN4pnZ
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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAux0Zu3mhA2
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"160Please respect copyright.PENANAp51PNJi9Hu
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."160Please respect copyright.PENANAwEE8GdcCTA
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"160Please respect copyright.PENANAZlP2nyDhcf
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."160Please respect copyright.PENANAT5gfPaVSoV