03 The Fate Of The Muse - Marina's Tales Read online

  Muse. Music. Museum. The words kept running through my mind along with their greater meaning. My natural tendency to be aloof was enhanced– I was more unwilling to be around people than ever before, watching everyone around me anxiously for signs that I was somehow affecting their behavior. Evie always said that information leaves a film, and now I knew what she meant by it. Knowing about my abilities became like a veil that colored everything I saw; I could never look at anybody the same way again, and it felt like a curse to me.

  I thought about how Evie reveled in her power, actively seeking out worthy people to champion. She savored their success, and it satisfied her, for she had faith that it was the right thing to do. She was at peace with herself, and with the skills she wielded so deftly. Shamelessly using her formidable abilities to amass wealth, she’d married progressively richer men until she was insulated from the unpleasantness of the everyday world, and powerful enough to make dreams come true.

  I could never be like Evie– who could? I struggled with the reasons for my existence, looking for some kind of sign as to what my greater purpose could be. Why was I so different from all the others? None of the other muses had the ability to transform into a mermaid, or even understand their language. I could talk to them and sea creatures as well; it had to mean something. Sometimes the situation seemed comically surreal, and I had to laugh at myself, realizing that seventeen was a weird age for an existential crisis.

  Ethan’s constant presence was like a hand on my back, guiding me toward the routines of day to day life, and I’d be lost without him. He calmed me down, and kept me from my obsessive worrying. When we could be together every day and every night I knew that my life would start to make sense, and I’d eventually find all the answers I was looking for. Being around Ethan made everything seem so clear and simple that I knew we were meant to be together forever.

  He was impatient, ready to get on with our married life, but we quickly discovered that it would be impossible without the consent of my guardian, who for now was my Aunt Abby. Despite the fact that she’d surprised us all by suddenly eloping with Ethan’s dad, I knew she’d be shocked at our plans. Abby and Dutch had obvious reasons to rush into things, for there was a baby on the way. No one could see or know why I needed to marry Ethan so soon.

  Then there was my dad to consider. Abby would never give her permission without informing my father, and he’d be even more shocked than her about it. He’d say I was being impulsive, and that I was too young to know what I wanted. Dad hadn’t even met Ethan, and he would never understand what the big rush was. I wanted to move in with him– to find a place to rent and start college together, side by side, but Ethan was resistant, afraid to get off on the wrong foot with my father. After the way him and Evie clashed, I suppose I could understand his hesitance.

  So for now, we kept our plans to ourselves, and tried to be patient. We had finals week to get through, and college to think about in the fall. I’d signed up for just a few classes, uncertain as to what exactly I should study. Ethan would be attending on a full-ride scholarship, and he knew exactly what courses he needed and how long it would take to graduate. Ethan worked so hard for everything he got that I was embarrassed when my father called on his connections in order to get me enrolled after the deadline.

  I wouldn’t be eighteen until January, and once I was, no one had any say in our plans but us. Those eight months stretched out before us like an eternity.

  The next morning I woke at dawn, eager to get to Ethan. I wanted to tell him about the meeting with the council, and what we planned to say. I needed reassurance that everything was going to be okay. I dressed in a hurry and found Abby in the kitchen, reading the paper.

  “Good morning honey! How was the prom?”

  “It was alright,” I said, “How are you feeling this morning?”

  Abby smiled as she stroked her pregnant belly, “I’m good, just a little more tired than usual. I’m sorry I didn’t stay up to see you get in, Cruz told me that Evie came by to take you all out. That was sure nice of her.”

  “Yeah… nice,” I said. I hoped Ethan was over it by now.

  “Do you want to go with me to the farmer’s market?” she asked.

  I smiled, “I was just on my way there.”

  She got up to get ready, pressing her hand on the small of her back. I offered to drive, and when we got to the market we went our separate ways, agreeing to meet up later. I made a bee line for Ethan’s booth, disappointed to see his friend Long standing there with him.

  Long was the grandson of Lue Khang, Ethan’s employer and my confidant. A wise and kind man, Lue seemed to know all about the mermaid’s presence and my connection to them. His Hmong beliefs considered them to be part of the natural world– he thought I was good luck. His grandson didn’t see things that way at all. Long viewed me with suspicion and fear, believing that I was using supernatural powers to manipulate and control Ethan. Little did he know, somewhere deep down inside, I was afraid of the same thing.

  I slowed my pace and approached them cautiously. They were engrossed in an intense conversation and didn’t notice me until I came right up to them. When they looked up at me both of their faces were serious, clouded over and unhappy.

  “What happened?” I asked, looking back and forth between them, suddenly alarmed.

  “I gotta go,” said Long. He walked away, taking care to avoid me.

  “Come here,” Ethan said, walking to the back of his stand to meet me with open arms. He wrapped himself around me, clinging to me tightly. He seemed even more in need of a hug than I was.

  “Uhm, no pun intended, but why the long face?” I asked, pulling back to look up into his eyes.

  “We just got some really bad news. There’s a problem with Lue’s land,” he said unhappily, “Apparently the government’s seizing it and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

  “What?” I was confused, “I thought he owned it.”

  “He does,” he said grimly. “But we just found out that they can still take it from him. They just have to say it’s for the public good. If they prove it’ll be put to a better use they can force him to sell it to someone else.”

  “But that’s crazy!” I exclaimed, “What better use?”

  He looked angry, “There’s a developer that has plans for a seaside resort and golf course.” He snorted bitterly, “They call it ‘eminent domain’. Our congressman wants the tax dollars it’ll bring in.”

  “Your land too?” I asked, horrified. It was everything he’d been working so hard for. It was his future– our future. I had seen his house…

  “Everything,” he said with a sorrowful shake of his head, “Including the fields on either side of Lue’s.”

  I stood rooted to the spot, stunned, as he turned to help a customer. Ethan’s land meant everything to him– it was his stake in the ground, something permanent in a world where the rug could be pulled out from under you at any minute. I thought about the injustice of it and started to feel a familiar flicker of anger welling up inside of me. I began pacing back and forth. When Ethan returned I looked at him with blazing eyes.

  “They can’t do this!” I seethed, “We have to fight them!”

  Ethan looked dejected, shaking his head mournfully, “Lue already talked to a lawyer. We can’t afford to fight the government and the developer… They got a lot of power, and even more money.”

  “Evie has lots of lawyers– she can help us!” I suddenly had a newfound appreciation of Evie’s deep pockets, and the way her money could be used for a good cause.

  Ethan looked at me reproachfully, “Even Evie can’t fix everything. This is the government we’re talking about,” he said glumly, setting his jaw stubbornly, “Besides, I don’t want to owe her anything. I won’t start out that way.”

  “But–”

  He came closer and inspected my face, “What did she have to say last night?”

  I had forgotten about my problems for a minute, and I looked down.
I didn’t want to burden him with any more troubles.

  “Tell me,” he demanded, his voice tense.

  “I have to meet with them in two weeks,” I said quietly.

  “Where?” he asked. He knew exactly what I was talking about.

  “Paris,” I looked up to meet his worried eyes, “We’re going to say Evie’s taking me for the fashion shows.”

  He exhaled loudly, taking me in his arms again, “How long will you be gone?”

  “A few days… She said a week at the most.”

  “What’s gonna happen?” he asked, pressing his forehead to mine.

  “Aunt Evie says they’ll only ask me some questions... We worked out what to say– It’ll be okay.”

  When another customer arrived we broke apart reluctantly. I watched as Ethan patiently listened and gave a man advice about how to prune fruit trees. Both of our worlds had just been turned upside down, and yet, he was as constant and steady as ever. The unfairness of the situation was staggering, and I had the strangest sensation that it was somehow my fault.

  I took a seat in the back of the booth and quietly observed Ethan as he worked, my heart swelling with love. I could see his gentleness and grace, his persistence, and the protective way he kept looking back to check on me.

  “What?” he asked, when he glanced over to meet my gaze.

  “Nevermind,” I said, getting up to give him a quick peck on the lips, “I’m going to go check on Lue.”

  I walked around the back of the farm stands until I came across Lue Khang, sitting alone, staring pensively into his teacup.

  “Hey Lue,” I said softly, announcing my presence.

  He smiled weakly, “Hello water girl.”

  “I can’t believe it,” I said sympathetically, biting my lip.

  There was pain in his eyes when they met mine, “How can this happen?” he shook his head sadly, “This is America… People are free in America…”

  I slipped into a seat next to him, “Exactly what did they tell you?”

  “Congressman Hill won’t meet me, and a lawyer says there’s nothing to do.”

  “We have to fight them,” I said defiantly.

  He looked defeated, his hooded eyes clouded with sorrow, “My fighting days are over.”

  “It’s not right,” I said indignantly, feeling my anger strengthen, rising up like the tide. “There has to be a way to stop them.”

  “It is my fate,” he shrugged with resignation, suddenly looking as old and tired as a worn out shoe.

  Now I was seething. Lue had given up everything for this country, fighting in the hills of Laos for American interests in a secret war that ended decades ago. He’d suffered unimaginable hardships to emigrate here, and to reunite his family. Despite everything he’d endured, I’d never seen Lue without a twinkle in his eye.

  “It’s not possible– It can’t be,” I said vehemently, my voice harsh. I’d seen the future, and Ethan’s house standing on that piece of land. It was Ethan’s land. It was his destiny.

  I jumped to my feet, lips tight, fists clenched.

  “Marina,” Lue’s sad eyes looked up at me with a warning, “Don’t give in to anger. Anger is poisonous.”

  “Not when the cause is just,” I spat out bitterly, thinking about how anger gave me the strength to overcome Peter, “Sometimes it gives us the will to change things.”

  “Ah,” he said, “But it is a fire that can consume even the vessel that holds it.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” I said, patting him on his hand, “I can handle it.”

  I went back to Ethan’s stand to find Abby engrossed in conversation with Ethan, her hands on her hips. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who was angry.

  I kissed Ethan goodbye and drove Abby home. She was fuming, seeing the government’s plans to seize Lue Khang’s land as a personal assault on all that she held dear. The farmer’s market was Abby’s favorite place, and she loved visiting all the local organic farmers, many of whom were her friends. She wasn’t about to take the news lying down. By the time we got home there were big plans in the works. We were going to stage a protest.

  “What if we made it a fund-raiser?” I asked, “For Lue Khang’s legal defense?”

  Abby smiled brightly and I could see the wheels turning, “Yes! We can have entertainment… and speakers, and food.”

  “Megan could sing!” I added.

  “We could get the local news to send a reporter… When people find out what’s going on they’ll be shocked! Maybe Congressman Hill will pull his support if the public turns against him.”

  Abby and I spent the rest of the afternoon coming up with names of community leaders we’d want to speak at our rally. By the time Ethan and Dutch showed up for dinner, the date was set and some phone calls had already been made. We’d have the event a week after school got out, the day before I had to leave for Paris, which would give us two weeks to get the word out and organize.

  Dutch and Ethan took over the kitchen duties while Abby and I made to-do lists. She was on fire, full of creative energy and enthusiasm. By the time we sat down to eat she had turned her attention to where we should hold the event.

  “What about the park?” asked Cruz, “You could fit a lot of people out there.”

  Abby looked thoughtful, “We might not be able to get a permit for that.”

  “What about Lue’s farm?” I asked, “There’s plenty of parking, and people could see what they’ve come to help defend.”

  Abby smiled broadly, and it was a plan.

  Ethan was touched that we were all getting involved, and his outlook grew a little less gloomy, “I’ll check with Lue tomorrow,” he said with a grateful smile. We finished dinner, with everyone excitedly brainstorming different ways to get publicity for the event.

  Finals week was going to keep us on our toes, and I could see that Ethan was tired, worn out from a long day at work. He also needed to study, so I took him firmly by the hand and led him out the door. He wanted to stay, but I insisted.

  “I’m fine,” I said, “You get some rest.” He’d been working after school every day lately, and I was worried about him. All he’d been doing was working and watching over me, and as I slowly came out of my funk I realized just how hard he was driving himself. He hardly ever went surfing anymore, and I knew it was all my fault.

  Before he got in the truck he embraced me, “Did it occur to you that you were, uhm… inspiring Abby?” he asked.

  It had, but it was starting to bother me less and less. She wanted our plan to succeed as much as I did, and I didn’t care if I had an unfair advantage. I’d do whatever it took to protect Ethan; I loved him more than anything else in the world. The situation with the land had exposed my mercenary streak, and I began to understand the way Evie operated a little better.

  “If I’m encouraging her, good,” I said defiantly, “That land is rightfully Lue’s, and after you pay it off, you’re going to build a beautiful house and an amazing nursery on it.”

  He chuckled, “I’ll make sure it’s a big house.”

  “We don’t need a big house,” I said.

  “Tell that to our six kids,” he grinned at me, “And besides… I’ll have to build a giant closet for all your shoes.”

  I stretched up to kiss the smile off his face, “Good luck with your finals,” I murmured in his ear.

  “I’m already the luckiest guy in the world.”

  I kissed him again, hoping he was right.

  CHAPTER THREE

  ANGER

  “It’s a bitchin’ gallery, and Susan’s a really cool lady. She’s totally into your paintings,” said Bill as he handed me the business card. I’d stopped by his coffee shop after school to replace a few paintings that had sold, sitting down for an espresso after refilling his wall with my colorful wave paintings.

  “Thanks,” I said, slipping it into my purse, “I’ll be sure to give her a call.”

  “She wanted to know if you made any bigger ones. She says she
has clients looking for super big art,” he gestured with his arms wide.

  “I used work on a larger scale,” I said, thinking about how cramped I was in my tiny bedroom, “But I need to find some studio space first.”

  “Really?” He looked surprised, “There’s a loft right above us I’ve been trying to rent… wanna see it?”

  “Sure,” I shrugged, following his faded jean jacket and bouncing gray ponytail out the door and down a narrow alley to the back of the old brick building. A wrought iron fire escape stretched up to the second floor where a small “for rent” sign hung in the window. He wasn’t asking much, and I expected even less. The stairs rattled in protest as we climbed them to a small door that turned out to be unlocked.

  “Those dang kids!” Bill complained as he entered. “They skipped out on the last month’s rent and left me with a mess to boot!”

  I looked around at the huge space in awe. It didn’t look this big from the street. There were blackout drapes on large multi-paned windows that faced west, and when Bill pulled them aside I could see that some of the glass sections were broken out and taped over with cardboard. I looked down to the street below and saw the top of the Range Rover, and the surf shop beyond it. I didn’t even know this place was here.

  “What do you think?” he asked hopefully.

  There were yellowed newpapers scattered around, interspersed with some ratty looking cushions on the floor. Bags of fast food wrappers and cigarette butts were scattered everywhere, and a chair with broken legs tilted in a corner. I looked up at the towering walls. There were scraps of carpet tacked onto nearly every vertical surface, topped with cardboard egg cartons that created a strange patchwork of texture on the wall.

  “What’s all this stuff?” I asked.