Sea Dweller (Birthstone Series) Read Free Page A

my
answer. I held out the stone and placed it on the white sand. “It sticks out,
doesn’t it?” I said. Sai’s eyes remained trained on the horizon. “It’s pretty,
in its own way. But look at what it’s surrounded with:  an endless stretch of a
brilliant, perfect beach. It just can’t compare.” I sighed and returned the
rock to my bag.
    “It stood out to me,” Sai
muttered, glancing down the beach. “Faema lacks character.”
    I laughed. “Oh, Faema has
plenty of character. It’s just not the type of character I want to be around.”
    “Well, I don’t think you’ll
have a choice before long.”
    My eyes darted to Sai before
following his gaze. Sure enough a tall, self-assured girl with waist long blond
hair strode in our direction. I couldn’t help scowling. “She must be coming to
claim you. She wouldn’t honor me with a visit, unless it was for humiliation
purposes.”
    Sai shook his head. “I’m only
her escort because I have to be.”
    “Oh, for crying out loud,
admit it,” I whispered, “part of you is happy about it.”
    Once again, Sai didn’t
answer.
    We remained quiet, awaiting
Faema’s arrival like two gulls bracing for a hurricane. When she drew closer, I
observed the serene smile plastered to her lips. “The eye of the storm,” I
murmured. Sai nodded.
    “Hello,” Faema said as she
reached the two of us. Plopping herself on the sand beside Sai, she grabbed his
arm and looped hers through. “I hate to pull you away from your friend ,
but your mother sent me to fetch you.”
    “I already finished my chores
for the day.” Sai tried to pull his arm away but Faema held on.
    “Well, you know how it is
around festival time. There’s so much to do.” In a quiet voice to Sai, she
whispered, “If certain non-natives would help out, things would go a little
faster.”
    I bristled but before I could
say anything, Faema continued.
     “It’s probably better. I
don’t know that we could use you, Aylen. I have yet to see you exhibit any
worthy skill to the island.”
    I opened my mouth in defense
but Sai spoke first. “Faema, go home. You weren’t invited.”
    “Maybe not to your little
party on the beach, but I was asked to have you as my escort for the festival.
That entitles me to some of your time.”
    Turning to meet my pained
expression, Sai said, “I should get going. I’m sure my mother thinks I cut out
too early today.”
    I nodded, standing. “See you
tomorrow morning?”
    He rose to his feet, brushing
Faema’s hands from his arm. “No. I’ll be preparing for my performance. I’m
acting in one of the festival plays.”
    I tried to smile but I knew my
eyes scrunched up too much to appear sincere. “Oh, I’d forgotten that. Then
I’ll just see you after the festival.”
    “Right.” Sai opened his mouth
as if to say something more, but Faema pulled on his arm. I watched him turn to
go and tried to swallow the fears rising inside of me. With narrowed eyes,
Faema spun around to look at me one last time before continuing on.
    I stood alone, breathless, as
though a gust of wind had ripped through my center. “A hurricane,” I whispered
to the breeze, watching my only friend walk further away
    It was typical of Faema to
try and divert Sai, but that evening it injured me more than usual. Lately, Sai
had seemed to be separating himself from me and I wasn’t sure how to make him
stop. How was it possible to compete with an island, a society, an entire
lifestyle? Deep down, I knew I fell short.
    I stood at the water’s edge
where it foamed around my feet. Only Sai’s footprints, alongside Faema’s,
proved his presence and the incoming tide was slowly wiping them clean. 
    I turned my attention to the
rush of water coming toward me, reaching my legs, and swirling around my
calves. A shiver of doubt ran through my body. So much of the future, my world,
was uncertain.
    Stepping forward to meet a
new swell, I raised my arms, braced myself, and dove into the water. It