Just Breathe (7 page)

Jack sighed. “I’m well aware of your brilliance, Vexx. Your plans…not so much.”

“You totally pulled a Vexx move with that ambulance stunt, Jack. I think she might be rubbing off on you,” Jet chimed in.

“The ambulance stunt worked, so that doesn’t count—” the conversation drowned into the background when another, sort of familiar voice interrupted Whetu’s thoughts.

It’s time.

An intricately detailed image lit up behind her closed lids.

What was this? A maze? She loved mazes.

The lines stretched for miles in every direction. They curved in on themselves, backtracked, wrapped thirty layers deep only to finish at dead ends. But these weren’t just flat lines. The maze was three-dimensional with countless levels, ramps, and staircases inside. A gigantic, yellow eye kept vigil above it like an angel watching over a city.

Oh, the spirals and vortices and blind alleys! Hundreds—no, thousands of them. Whetu’s mind raced to life like a computer powering up. She began cataloguing the various surface structures.

Who had given her this labyrinth, this precious gift, to play with? Only one person knew of her obsession with mazes.

Papa?

* * * *

Zoe took the pain from the raw, open wound in her heart and recycled it into fuel for her body and mind. She yanked the forty-foot long carbon fiber cantilever hard. The suction cups on the digital tag stuck snug as a bug to the whale’s back. “Got it.”

It was her eighth tag of the day. Not too shabby for one o’clock.

She turned to Elizabeth, who stood beside her with a clipboard. “Did you get the coordinates? Make sure you wrote it right. Last time, you rounded to the thousandths. I want every goddamn number on the GPS display. No short cuts.”

Elizabeth frowned beneath her hat and rechecked the GPS. She erased the entry and scribbled a new number.

Adriene leaned left from behind the wheel and removed her sunglasses. Her dark brown eyes narrowed on Zoe. “Can you come back here a minute, please?”

“I’m kinda busy, if you didn’t notice.” She gestured to the splashes, blows, and ripples roughing the great blue sea surrounding them. “There are, like, thirty whales out here.”

“Yep, there are. And you only have two tags left. It’s not exactly slim pickings. Give Dani and E a break.” Adriene patted the bench beside her.

“There’ll be plenty of other data to collect when the tags run out.” Zoe forced a smile. “No rest for the wicked.”

Adriene crooked her finger and beckoned. “Now, please.”

Zoe laid a hand on her hip, chewed the inside of her cheek to keep from screaming, and then climbed around back. “What are you, my mother?”

“No, but you’re starting to act a lot like her,
Candace
.”

Ouuuch.

Adriene stood. “We’ve been at it since 6:00 this morning. You got us up early yesterday, too, and kept us out late. If this is how things are gonna roll until we leave in November, I’ll request a transfer.” Adriene’s gaze softened, and she took Zoe’s hand. “I’m saying this as your friend. Slow down. Breathe. If you don’t, you’ll have a mutiny on your hands, Captain Morgan.”

If only it were that easy. The voices in the ocean hadn’t stopped chattering since she got here.
When will Lily arrive? Who will be the new Archelemental? When will you leave? Go away. You’re not wanted.

“We have whales to tag. And I want to document every last detail of the unusual behavior we’re seeing out here. Come on, Adriene, this is a research paper dying to be written,” she lied.

Adriene thrust her flat palm in front of Zoe’s face. “Hold up, sister. Let’s take a little trip in the time machine. Rewind to several days ago. You left for Sydney in a pretty good mood after having slept with Gavin. You were reunited with your father after three decades apart. Everything was hunky dory, no smears on the glass, plenty of gas in the tank.

“Fast forward to today, and suddenly you’re cracking the whip on poor Elizabeth over some stupid-ass numbers that don’t mean anything. There’s a disconnect here.

“I’m willing to bet this insane boost in work ethic is a response to something that happened in Sydney, which you still haven’t told me about. So, I’ll ask again. What the hell is going on with you and Gavin? Mike actually
called
me last night to ask the same question. Now, I don’t mind phone calls from Mike—I wish I’d get more because I really wanna jump his dreadlocked white-boy bones—but playing referee isn’t my preferred method of hooking up with your boyfriend’s best friend. So,
you’re
gonna tell me what’s going on, or I’ll go to Gavin and get the answers.” Adriene shifted weight to her good leg, settled her butt against the bumper, and wound mahogany-colored arms over her chest.

Zoe looked away and blew out a heavy breath. “
So
don’t want to go there with you, Adriene.”

“Tough shit.”

Zoe bit her lip. “Fine. Gavin and I are having…trust issues.”

“Uh-huh. And what does that mean? You’re not speaking? Do you realize the band is falling apart because of him? Mike says he rarely shows up to practice, their record company has set a deadline that they can’t possibly make if things continue this way, and Gavin has—I quote—‘turned into a right bastard to be around.’” She touched a finger to her cheek and tapped it twice. “Wow, doesn’t that sound familiar?”

Vibrations rose through the hull beneath Zoe’s feet and up her legs, in sync with a sudden rash of loud moans, squeaks, and chirps. She leaned over the Zodiac’s neoprene bumper. A pair of flukes floated straight up. Pectoral flippers pointed out to the sides in the water column. “Guys, we’ve got a couple of singers. Hand me the hydrophone. We’re gonna record this.”

Another humpback voice…

“Make that three.”

Everyone froze as the whales sang. More humpbacks joined in, and the volume increased, shaking the entire boat. It almost hurt Zoe’s ears. The ocean calmed to glassy stillness as huge, upside-down, hanging black forms blotted the underside of the seascape for hundreds of meters.

Like a mute robot, Adriene handed over the microphone attached to a receiver. Zoe quickly unwound the cord and dropped the hydrophone into the water. She switched on the recorder. With so many voices, it was hard to decipher what the song was about. They were definitely singing the same thing, but sheer numbers muddied the meaning.

Frustrated, Zoe closed her eyes and tried to focus on one whale. Nope. Couldn’t concentrate. She stripped down to the bathing suit she always wore under her CRN tee and shorts and kicked her clothes aside.

Adriene whirled on her. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m going in.”

“Uh…why?”

“I need to hear them up close. The hydrophone is picking up too much ocean noise.”

“Zoe, you’re
not
jumping into the water with thirty-odd whales going all ‘Stepford Wives’ and singing show tunes. Have you lost your fuckin’ mind?”

“Yep. I absolutely have.” She tossed her glasses onto the seat and dove into the blue, leaving Adriene’s “God damn it” trailing in her wake.

The song was even louder under the water. She probably ought to get some ear protection if this diving-in-to-speak-with-whales thing became a habit.

She swam to the nearest humpback, took a deep breath, and plunged fifty feet to meet her eye.
Girls aren’t supposed to sing. At least that’s what they say.

The humpback opened her mouth and flashed a black baleen smile.
They say a lot of things that aren’t true. But you know better, don’t you?

Zoe nodded.
Are you a Wæter Elemental?
She didn’t look like one, but Zoe didn’t want to offend her if she was.

No.
The whale turned left and pointed with her flipper.
But he is.

Thanks.
Zoe rubbed the humpback’s side and swam to the surface for another breath.

Note to self: bring scuba gear tomorrow, too.

“Zoe, if the Fisheries guys see you, we could lose our research permit,” Adriene shouted.

“Then be sure to let me know if you spot them coming this way.” She went down again and headed to the Elemental. A blue human form zipped by. Must’ve been one of the Wæters taunting her earlier.

The whale Elemental’s eye followed her.
You’re Zoe.

I am. What’s going on here? I’ve seen whale raves, but never anything like this.

The Tongans are coming.

Oh, shit. Gavin had said the Tongans were a trio of Wæter Elementals you never wanted to meet, let alone cross.

What? I thought they were in Sydney. What business do they have in Hervey Bay?

Same business as everyone else. To voice their
opinions
about who should be the next Archelemental. Rumor has it, they support Lily. Their impending arrival’s got some of the human Elementals a bit…cranky.
His gaze wandered to another blue human who slid with ease through the currents. She paused long enough to catch Zoe’s eye, frowned, and moved along.

Jesus. If she’d known translating for Lily would attract such notorious attendees as the Tongans, Zoe would have gotten back on her anxiety meds a week ago.

Any idea how I might get in touch with Lana? I’m supposed to arrange a meeting between her and Lily.

Human Elementals don’t interest me. I don’t speak your language. Talk with the leader of the Sentinels.

Exactly whom she’d hoped to avoid.

Maybe Jack could help her find Lana.

Thank you.
Out of breath, she kicked her way to the surface and gulped in the oxygen.

“Zoe Morgan, get your ass back in this boat right now.” Adriene leaned against the bumper, her plastic and plaster-covered broken leg stretched out to the side. Lips set in a hard line, she jabbed a pointed finger at the cell phone in her hand. “I’m calling Randy if you don’t get your shit together.”

Zoe huffed. Fine.

Heads down, Dani and Elizabeth busied themselves in the front of the Zodiac.

Maybe Adriene was right. She’d embarrassed herself enough for one day. Had really gone off the deep end.

“Sorry, ladies,” she said when she reached the boat. Dani offered a hand up, and she took it. Elizabeth held out a dry towel.

Adriene scowled at her from the wheel. “Please tell me you at least learned something earth-shattering from that little stunt.”

Understatement of the year. The freaking Tongans were coming. To Hervey Bay. “Yeah, I think you could safely say so.”

Now all she had to do was find Lana and hope she’d be open to a debate in literally hostile waters.

Chapter Eight

Relief washed over Zoe when she opened the door later that night.

Jack stood in the darkness, hands in the pockets of his hoodie, eyes bright. “How goes it, Beauregard?”

“Hey. Good. Why don’t you come in?” Smiling at her father’s pet name for her when she was a baby, Zoe stepped out of the doorway and ushered him inside.

Adriene peered around the corner from her bedroom, and Zoe waved her over.

“I guess it’s about time you two met.”

Holding out his right hand, Jack met crutch-less, hopping Adriene halfway and grinned. “Let me guess. Adriene Bright. Glad to finally meet you. I’m Jack Weaver, Zoe’s father.”

Adriene tilted her head and slowly accepted his hand, grabbing the couch with the other for balance. “You know me?”

“He’s a stalker.” Zoe elbowed him in the ribs. “Been following me for years but just now got the guts to step into the light and say hi. No surprise he remembers you from his…observations. Right, Jack?” She popped a brow.

Jack grinned. “Yep. What Zoe said. Thanks for looking after her. She can be a handful.”

“Oh, I doubt you know the half of it. Did she tell you what happened—”

Zoe corralled Adriene out of the living room. “Okay, that’s enough for now. You guys can talk later. Time for bed, Adriene. You have to be up early. Night-night!” Zoe shooed her away.

Adriene bounced on her good leg back to her room. “Nice meeting you,” she shouted over Zoe’s arm blocking her way.

Zoe shut the door in her face and turned to Jack.

“Did something happen on the boat today?” He settled onto the couch and pulled a green sphere from his pocket. An apple.

Waving off his question, she glanced to the closed bedroom door where Dani and Elizabeth slept. “I need to get in contact with Lana, the human Wæter Archelemental candidate. Gavin mentioned you set up a meeting with her before. Is there a number where I can reach her?” Jeez, did Elementals even
use
phones?

He nodded and took out his cell. “Sure.” He pulled up a number and handed the device to her.

She carefully transferred the numbers into her phone and checked them twice. Dyslexia often got the better of her in stressful situations. She passed his cell back and sat next to him. “Thanks.”

“Have you dealt with Elementals much before?” The
snick
of a bite and the fresh scent of apple caressed the air.

“I’ve had a few run-ins.” Gulp. Scarlet reared her ugly head for the thousandth time today. Zoe mentally smacked her down. God, if only it were that easy in real life.

“If you want my advice, go into the meeting like you own the place. Don’t take any shit off them. Most Elementals think of Wyldlings as a source of food and nothing more. But you deserve their respect. As a translator, you’re doing them a favor. Let them know it.”

“I will. But I’m not really worried about how to handle the meeting. I’m more concerned about what Lily’s going to say.” Zoe stood up and paced before him. “She doesn’t
want
to be Archelemental. But I honestly believe she’s the one who should be in charge. So what do I do? I can’t lie to the human Elementals. Can’t force any hands.”

“You’re right. You can’t. So just do your job. Leave the emotion out of it, and see to it that both sides’ voices are heard.” Jack stood up and headed for the kitchen. “You got any beer in the fridge?”

“Sure. Sorry. Help yourself.” Beer and apples? God, she definitely didn’t get her taste in food from her dad. Disgusting.