Page 112 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage

Niall grunted in surprise as the dagger sank into his right shoulder. His hand dropped from Briony’s neck, and he fell to his knees.

Briony staggered backward, her feet just barely getting out of the way as Niall landed on the floor.

“Don’t move!” Santiago shouted at Niall as he raised the knife again, this time red with blood.

Niall hissed but said nothing. As crimson liquid dripped onto the back of his neck, Briony saw the resolve fade from his face. He knew it was over. And, as more tears fell from Niall’s eyes, Briony couldn’t help but regret what she’d done.

Santiago appeared at Briony’s side, one hand rubbing her shoulder while the other kept the dagger aimed at Niall. “Are you all right?”

Briony nodded, but she couldn’t quench the rivulets running down her cheeks. She leaned against Santiago’s chest as he embraced her, eager to put all this behind them. Except—

“Mr. McLaren!” Briony pulled away from Santiago and raced to the fisherman’s side.

She rolled him over onto his back, trying not to think the worst when she saw his eyes closed. She grabbed his wrist, but there was no pulse.

“Mr. McLaren… Mr. McLaren! Please…” She pressed her ear against his chest, but again, there was nothing. She opened his mouth and breathed into it as she’d heard Dr. Sherwin say to do for drowning victims.One, two, three breaths.

She leaned away, waiting for something to happen, for him to suddenly breathe…

But there was nothing. Vincent McLaren, the mad fisherman, the great storyteller, the keeper of Everton’s secrets, was gone.

Another friend gone forever.

After a few minutes of weeping, Briony returned to Santiago’s side, her bloodshot eyes glaring down at Niall, the man who’d stolen her friends. Briony sensed the sky above her, waiting to do her bidding. She knew she could bring down the lightning and end him at a moment’s notice.

But as she stared at Niall’s bent form, her anger subsided.This is a broken man, and while he certainly deserves death, I don’ think I can bring myself to give it to him.

Instead, she turned to Santiago and said, “Take him to see the water.”

Niall’s face tipped up, his mouth hanging open in astonishment.

Santiago looked at Briony as if she’d lost her mind, but she squeezed his hand and said, “Please.”

Santiago still seemed unsure, but he gave her a small smile and nodded.

Santiago helped Niall to his feet, dagger still poised to strike. The three of them made their way to the cliff’s edge and looked out at the blue waves. They watched the sun continue its ascent into the sky, taking in its majestic beauty. And down below, two ships rose and fell with the crashing waves.

“Can you hear the sea, Briony? Can you hear it calling to you?” Niall asked.

Briony sniffled. “Aye, Niall. I can hear it.”

Niall’s voice cracked as he said, “Well, I can’. Na anymore. It does na recognize me.” Then he looked away from the water and let out a loud sob.

Santiago lowered the knife, his expression full of confusion. Briony imagined that it must have looked quite strange indeed.

Even if Santiago knew the context, ’twould still be difficult to understand and believe our story. ’Tis the story o’ a man who once belonged to the sea and the story o’ a selkie who once thought she was only human.

“Thank you fer this, Briony,” Niall said. He suddenly stumbled a bit, and Santiago grabbed his arm to steady him. “And I do believe I’ve chosen what to take.”

Then, before Briony or Santiago could register the meaning of Niall’s words, Niall made his move.

All the breath that Briony had just gotten into her lungs instantly left her. She tried to speak, but nothing came out. She tried to move, but she found herself paralyzed in shock. All she could do was watch.

Watch as Niall threw Santiago and himself over the side of the cliff.

To Love a Monster

As the splash echoed in her ears, Briony’s limbs regained their mobility, and she lurched forward to the edge of the cliff. Santiago and Niall were nowhere to be seen, and fading ripples were the only proof they’d even hit the water. The fall could have easily knocked one or both of them unconscious, and the sharp rocks around the cliff could have done a lot worse.