Ripples (DROPLETS Trilogy Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

I wanted the blade as far away from me as possible.
         “Here,” Kryssa said, coming out of the closet with a pair of jeans, shirt, and jacket. I would need it to blend in once I reached the shore, the black soldier’s garb from the Hyvar mission wouldn’t work for where I was headed. “These will help you keep your cover,” she half-smiled.  I grabbed the clothes from her hands and placed them tight within the pack.
         Aren’t you taking your dagger?” she asked. I looked down at the shiny blade on the bed and shook my head. “Take it,” she chided and handed it to me. When I declined to take it, she slipped it into the pack on my stomach along with my clothes, “Just in case,” she said and I reached out to hug her tightly.
         “Thanks, for everything,” I said and she nodded solemnly.
         “Goodbye,” she said trying to sound slightly cheerful. “I’ll miss you.”
         “Me too,” I replied and turned to leave, but stopped when I thought of something. “Can you do one thing for me?”
         “What?” She asked, confused.
         “Give Elik a chance. He adores you.” I smiled and she stared at me with a gapping mouth. How had she never noticed? “Bye,” I rapped the doorframe with my knuckles and headed out of the room before I could lose grip on my emotions again.
         The walk to the caves was much quicker than I had anticipated and I wondered if it was because I didn’t want to leave. Yet, a part of me did. I was reminded of when I had fled Coveside and how it had felt as though I was leaving my whole world behind. I would never be that girl who was on the boat humming in the evening ocean air. I would never know what it was like to live simply again, to not want anything more than living out my life in Coveside. I’d tasted something greater, and having it stripped away had left its mark.
         The cool damp air of the cave filled my nostrils and I stripped out of my dark clothing. I stuffed them into the bag and waited for the seal to press out the excess air until the pack was flat against my skin. The rough strap fit snuggly around my stomach and I waded into the water, letting its embrace swarm around my legs. 
         The water reached my ribs and I paused, there was no turning back now. With a deep breath, I dove into the cool depths. My fins sprouted in a shower of lavender, and with a giant kick I took off in the direction of my old home.
     

3. Home
    My arrival was timed perfectly. It was late, but not so late that my family would be asleep. I tried to figure out what I would say, or how I could explain my absence. Nothing clear entered my mind. All I could do was fight back the tears that had been streaming from my eyes since I’d left Lathmor. Their formations had joined in perfect acceptance with the salty waters all around me, disappearing like the world I had left behind.
         I tossed the questions aside and continued to walk down the beach. The last hour had proved difficult. I’d had to dodge boats coming into the harbor, returning from a long day of work. My fins, which shimmered more than I realized, forced me to the bottom where I’d tried to stay hidden while also getting as close as possible to the shore. I couldn’t help wishing that I was eighteen and had the ability to be submerged and keep my legs intact. It would have made the whole process much easier. At least the sun wasn’t shinning or my fins would’ve been much harder to hide. There was a close call with one fisherman, but I think I was able to disappear fast enough that he couldn’t explain what he saw.
         I was able to transform without difficulty and now clad in the clothes Kryssa had given me, I made my way up the beach. The lights from the Main Street of Coveside shined up ahead. My bare feet pressed into the sand, never sticking, but conspicuous in their paleness. It was late February and not wearing shoes in Maine was unheard of. I