It was freezing tonight, the blustery cold New Jersey air stung my face as I stepped out to make my way home. I had gotten off work an hour early thanks to Barney, my boss, who took pity on me having to walk home and said leave while the store was quiet. I had worked at the book store owned by him aptly named Novel Idea for the last five years; first as a lowly “gopher” assistant to Barney’s nerdy nephew Kyle who left to finish his college degree in something nerdy to now the assistant manager position he vacated. Barnabus Dewey aka Barney is a widower who lives above the bookstore he opened 40 years ago with his wife Clara whom he met by chance when she punched him in the face mistaking him for a thief. He is a man of few words mostly answering in a series of grunts that I now refer to as “Barneyisms” such as “Gerr” is yes, “Unnnn” is no, and “Hmmmpfh” is I am not pleased but not mad enough to care but the story of how he met Clara is one he never grows tired of telling. Barney in many ways saved my life, he found me begging for change outside a restaurant one cold dark winter night and asked if I need a place to stay; thinking he was some creeper I pepper sprayed his face as well as a bit of my own and ran only to be found by him the next day, assuming he was going to the cops I begged him to let me make it right that I would pay for any damage I caused but he hushed me and said he wanted to offer me a job. In shock, I inquired an explanation and he replied “Oh, I don’t know just a feeling I have, the last girl who assumed I had bad intentions punched me in the face and giving her a second chance was one of the best decisions I ever made.” Not to ramble on but here I am, a former small time con-artist/street rat turned responsible adult; people can change I guess.   

The wind is harsh tonight slapping my face and pushing my hair all different directions and it quickly causes me to snap out of my own little world; I realize at least I have one more block until I’m home and then it’s leftover Chinese and sappy romantic movies for the night with Midas, my cat. A loud honk of a car passing by jolts me as it goes whizzing past disappearing in the sea of vehicles and glaring city lights; the city is normally louder sounding like a mixture of a parade and a racetrack but the cold is uninviting and has kept people inside. Just as my mind begins to ponder the city noise I arrive at my apartment, a vintage brick building that was once a home for foster girls then a department store before Mr. Clern, my landlord, bought it and turned it into an apartment building. I never see Mr. Clern much, he owns a car wash in New York and spends the majority of his time there; his sister Barbara is the building’s manager and while I’ve lived here over two years she still calls me Amanda even though my name is Grace.

After checking the mail, trudging up three flights of stairs, and fighting two stubborn locks I have arrived to my little humble abode, paradise DE casa, or whatever you want to call it. I’m greeted by a fat golden furry monster meowing like crazy in the middle of purrs and claws nipping at my jeans. “Midas is hungry!” I say laughing as I drop a few of his kitty treats in the floor; his bowl is half eaten but he’s on a diet so he gets portioned food now per the vet but I still sneak him his treats. “How was your day, King Midas?” I ask as he devours his treats I am answered by a short meow then he focuses his attention back on his food. “Conversations with my cat are better than none.” I say to him while pulling out leftovers from the fridge and popping it in the microwave. I head towards my bedroom to change into my favorite comfy pajamas when there is a knock at the door. Midas and I both stare at each other almost as if both of us ask “I didn’t know you were expecting company?” Before I can get to the door the mystery person knocks again this time louder and shorter which makes my heart beat a little faster. “I’m coming!” I shout back. I look through my peep-hole then stop and look again to make sure but no one is there. “Maybe they had the wrong apartment?” I say to Midas who has come to the door staring at it curiously, he meows and heads back towards the kitchen and I to the bedroom still convincing myself whoever it was realized they had the wrong apartment.

While the apartment building itself was sizable, Mr. Clern was very peculiar to who he rented apartments to; the fourth floor above me was empty, five people lived on the 2nd floor yet I didn’t know any of them personally I might add, Barbara Clern lived on the first floor by herself, and Trent and I lived on the third floor. I rarely see Trent as he works nights in a warehouse on the other side of town and when he’s not at work he’s almost always practicing with his band- The Stone Crabs, strange name I know, on the empty fourth floor. I’ve seen them play a couple of times at a bar just a few blocks from here but lately they’ve been laying tracks in the bass guitar player’s cousin’s basement studio trying to piece together a demo. The microwave pings letting me know my food is done as I nearly trip over Midas trying to reach it who slaps at my foot letting me know his displeasure with the ordeal. Settling in my old green recliner I found at a thrift store when I first moved in I spent the rest of the night watching movies until I notice the time is around eleven and Midas and I retire to the bedroom.

I am awakened by a loud knocking at my door, thinking it was a dream I begin to doze off and I hear it again louder and harder causing Midas to jump off the bed and dart into the kitchen. Growing up in the foster system you learn early on to be tough especially when you spend two years in a group home with four older boys, grabbing the baseball bat that stays between my bed and nightstand I creep towards the living room. The closer I get to the living room door the louder and faster the knocks become, Midas meows nervously while pacing back and forth from my bedroom to the kitchen. “It’s okay, I’ll take care of it.” I whisper trying to sound as soothing as I possibly can. “BANG BANG BANG” my door shrieks almost as if it’s saying “For crying out loud woman just open the damn door can’t you see they are about to rip me off my hinges?!?” I try looking out the peep-hole in my door and notice a dark hooded figure standing there but I can’t make out much else, I suppose there’s no use in asking who it is especially if they’re an ax wielding maniac then I doubt they’re in the mood to answer my questions. This is it I am about to get robbed, I think although there is nothing of value in this entire apartment I’m not sure what they would even want, I have thrift store furniture, buy knock off brand foods and laundry detergent and barely make above minimum wage. The knocks continue to get more aggressive and I notice I have two options at this point either A. kill the curiosity and open the door letting the stranger possibly kill me right along with it or B. creep back to my bedroom grab my cell and call the police and pray whoever is out there doesn’t get in here. Having watched a number of horror movies I go with the latter option but first sneak over to chain the door while cursing myself for not doing it earlier, I scoop up Midas and get back to my room the knocks start again.

“911, what is your emergency?” the operator’s voice blares shrilly into my phone startling me while Midas wiggles free and jumps down but stands in the door way not daring to go further. “I-I think there is someone trying to break into my apartment.” I stammer. “Name, address and do you have any weapons in the apartment ma’am?” asks the operator unfazed at my voice or answer. “Grace Stanton, 72nd Brower Street Apartment 3A, and just a baseball bat.” I reply quickly. “Okay we have an officer in route, please lock yourself in a bedroom, bathroom, or closet and do not go to the door until you hear one of our officers identify themselves; can I help you with anything else tonight?” says the operator in one short run on sentence. “Aren’t you going to ask me to wait for the survey after the call so I can tell you how well your service was?” I ask sarcastically. “Ma’am I have other calls waiting is there anything else I can help you with?” the operator asks in a monotone voice. “I guess not, other than I hope they hurry.” I say “This is New Jersey ma’am we are going to get there as fast as we possibly can if there is nothing else I can help you with please be safe and have a goodnight.” The phone clicks and goes dead and once again I can hear the knocks getting louder; I thought they were supposed to stay on the line with you? She acted like this was Brooklyn instead of Oceanside, NJ are things really that hectic? I scoop Midas back up who protests with short meows and tries to wiggle his way out of my arms while I pack us in my small closet; once inside Midas frees himself and runs to the door and begins smacking it with his paw. “Really, a minute ago you were scared out of your kitty mind but now you wanna play hero?” I ask and I am answered by a short meow, I swear that cat understands English.

I hear a loud bang and what sounds like someone kicking the door then shouting but I can’t make out the words, few more minutes drag by painfully slow and I am finally able to make out the words Oceanside Police. I slowly open the closet door while Midas tries to wiggle his way out between my leg and the door nearly getting stuck in the process. “Serious diet for you starts Monday!” I say as he shuffles off to the living room meowing the whole way. “OCEANSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ANYONE HOME?” I hear a man shout. “YES, ONE SECOND!” I shout back and hurriedly run to the door nearly ripping it off as I forgot I chained it, quickly closing it back unhooking the chain and reopen to find a tall dark-haired man in a police uniform, he is very handsome and very young perhaps a rookie. “Hello ma’am I’m Officer Temple with the Oceanside Police Department” he said that already I think, “We got a call someone was trying to break in your apartment?” he asks. “Yes, there was a hooded figure out here banging loudly on my door, I got scared and called 911.” I say in a matter of fact tone. The Officer shifts his weight from one foot to the other keeping his hands on his belt, he looks down and picks up a red book off the floor and reaches it out to me. “I may have scared the perp off there was no one out here; I checked the hall and your neighbors do not appear to be home, however this was sitting in front of your door when I arrived.” He says. “That isn’t mine.” I say shaking my head while staring at the mysterious red book. “Grace Stanon, that is your name right?” asks Officer Temple “There’s a note tapped to the front says give it to you.” I take the book slowly from him almost acting as if he’s handing me a snake, mentally I scold myself for acting so childish. “Oh, that’s odd but thank you I’m sorry I wasted your time.” I say sheepishly. “Not a waste at all ma’am, if the perp comes back or if you think of anything that could help us in catching him please do not hesitate to contact us, is there anything else I can do for you.” he smiles and reaches out his hand I shake it and assure him I’ll be fine and close the door feeling like a complete idiot.

“Maybe I did dream the whole thing but how did this book appear here or was it the same person earlier who knocked on my door?” I say to myself out loud, Midas eating at his food bowl, looks up and meows then goes back to eating. I am curious about this book but I can barely keep my eyes open and I have to open in the morning at 8 so until then the book will have to wait. The rest of the night was restless I kept waking up thinking I was hearing loud banging again at my door, finally after the fourth time of jumping up from the bed I gave up and tried lying on the couch. Midas couldn’t sleep either as he kept stomping all over my feet and legs, once morning finally arrived we both were in the kitchen drowsy and irritated. I rushed to get ready hoping the work day ahead would keep me busy and not allow time for my crazy imagination to kick in. As I started to head out the door I hear a loud thud from the kitchen, I turn around to see where it came from while Midas comes rushing over to me meowing like crazy professing his innocence in whatever the noise was. A small red book is lying on the floor somehow knocked off from the counter, I nearly forgot the whole reason for this fiasco last night or early this morning rather had to do with the book Officer Temple found outside my door. I grab it, shout goodbyes to Midas, and rush out the door.

“I need you to restock the bookshelves upstairs.” Says Barney never looking up from his work as I walk in, “We had a huge rush in the children’s section for the new Noodles the Curious Cat book and that also meant sales for the parents.” He acts as if I wasn’t here yesterday when all this occurred I think to myself, I was nearly trampled by a dozen four-year old tiny humans hyped up on candy trying to get the Noodles book complete with a stuffed Noodles cat toy. “I’ll get right on it.” I say putting my jacket and lunch in the back but I take the book out with me. “Good good and once you’re done there I need the children’s play area cleaned up and the bathrooms please.” Barney says still focused on the book he was refurbishing pausing only to push his silver framed glasses back up his nose. In addition to selling books we also refurbished them but that was Barney’s specialty not so much me even though he’s offered to teach me I prefer to let the book master do his work and keep out of his way. Barney’s favorite thing was to put old books back together or give the stories new life is what he liked to say and no one does it better than him, he gets clients from all over the world asking for his expertise.

Every morning when I walk in Barney is always behind his desk working away on a book telling me what needs to be done first and he and I both know I already know that but I don’t question it and he doesn’t bother me while I work, that was our system and so far it worked out great for us. It’s quieter with Kyle gone, he liked to think of himself as a drill sergeant and loved the idea of having someone to boss around taking full advantage of it. As I’m heading upstairs towards the children’s section it dawns on me I still haven’t looked at the book or my “gift”, I wait until I get upstairs and hide in the play area behind a huge stuffed lion, we typically do not have a rush until midday and even then most days a rush is considered as maybe four or five of our usual customers coming in to read or browse on their laptops. I keep telling Barney we need to put a cafe in and his reply is always the same; he’ll consider it. Lionel Von Ruffles, the lion, is one of our store’s most popular residents; over the years he’s been tugged on, threw up on, loved on, and slept on yet he still looks pretty good for his age. Barney says he got him about twenty years ago as a gift from Clara and one of the local’s daughter’s named him after her teddy bear. Lionel almost looks as if he’s excited for some company as I approach him, “Mind if I join you?” I ask and sit down behind him leaning against his back. His matted mane feels soft against my head and I see why the children love him so much, Lionel feels like every comforting thing you’ve ever known; a blanket, your mother’s hugs, a hot bath, or something like that. “Let’s see what we have here Mr. Von Ruffles.” I say sitting the book on my lap studying it, the book appears to be antique with its fading color and scratches across the hardback. There are no words written anywhere on the book; I focus my attention to the envelope taped to the front with “Grace Stanton” written on it. I start to feel chills as I trace my fingers across my name and begin to shake I look around nervously getting the feeling someone is watching me although I know that no one is up here but me. For good measure, I lean all the way over looking out on both sides of Lionel to find I am indeed alone; the bookstore seems eerily quiet today I think hearing only a distant hum of pages as Barney works on one of his customers books below. I bring my attention back to the envelope, with trembling hands I cautiously open it half expecting a monster to jump out; to my relief I find only a letter. The handwriting looks old as does the yellowing paper it’s written on, I flip open the paper and to find a small note in neat cursive handwriting.

“My dear Grace, you do not know me and for that I must apologize but if you’re reading this letter then it means your help was needed and it’s something that unfortunately cannot be avoided; please keep your mind open for the things I am about to tell you are not going to make much sense at first but understand everything I did was for your own protection and I had hoped this letter would never find you. First off, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Andrea Worther and I am your maternal grandmother; your mother, Anna, passed away when you were a baby and you were left in the care of the state until you reached the age of adulthood. I, sorrowfully, did not come for you as I thought I would be protecting you seeing as I had failed at protecting your mother whose death was caused by a burden placed upon her by me and I knew I could not risk putting the same fate upon you. Please know I have kept a close eye on you all these years and when the time comes those who are closest to me will make themselves known to you but first you must believe and learn from your guide before you can go any further.

The book in your hands has been passed down from many generations of our family and has been protected by us for reasons that are going to be beyond your wildest dreams and comprehension right now, have patience for what is about to happen cannot be prevented by anyone else but you. In our family we are known as protectors and for centuries we have been protecting this book from an ancient evil that wishes to not only destroy our world that we live in but the world we originated from and all life as we know it. We are from a land known as Tarnole, our kind lived peacefully until we were forced to leave and come here for protection. In Tarnole, we are considered royalty- the elitist in the front of keeping out dangers from any dark source including our worst enemy an evil serpent King known as Dramon. What you will come to learn is there are other worlds, creatures, and magic that does exist not just in myths and fairy tales for we are known as myths here; Oceanus Sirenus they call us but you probably know them as mermaids and you, Grace, are the last of your kind now.

I know this is not making any sense to you as I chose to keep you out of this life but the minute you opened and read this letter; a young man by the name of Aiden will find you, be nice to him as his family has helped keep ours safe for thousands of years and he has been taught to only help you as your guide. I wish I could be there in person to explain all of this to you but if you’re reading this it regrettably means I am not and I have left this world. I am sorry I could never make myself known to you but I hope once Aiden explains everything to you then you will understand at least enough to forgive me. I have always loved you and watched over you but for your safety I promised I would never interfere in your life unless it was absolutely necessary, please do not be afraid-you are much braver than you realize but time is running out and you have much to learn being that you were not raised with our customs. Aiden and his friends will guide you every step of the way in learning the truth about our kind and our history; they will bring forth the special gift you possess; it is my hope once you have been told everything you not only accept your fate but you will stand and protect our world and end this war for good. I hate we never got to officially meet in person but I am proud of the beautiful woman you have become, you were never alone and will always have family although it may have not been what you wanted and it’s not fair to place this with you but you are going to find strength you never knew you had. Please be careful and be willing to open your heart which you’ve kept guarded all these years with good reason. All my love, Andrea.”

I feel numb after reading the letter, this had to be some type of joke? Wars with serpent kings, other worlds, magic, and oh yeah mermaids; this sounds like a rejected fantasy novel. “Grace!” my thoughts are interrupted by Barney shouting from downstairs which is odd I don’t think I’ve ever heard him raise his voice. I shove the letter in my pocket and scramble downstairs to find my boss gathering up his things behind the counter. “I have to go out for a few days.” he says putting on his old tan jacket, his collar from his shirt gets tangled in the collar of his jacket it’s strange to see him act so rushed. “Why?” I ask, “Is everything okay?” “Yes yes, just important family business to attend to in Albany. I’ll be back before you know it.” I never knew Barney had any other family members in the area since Kyle left for the west coast. “Do me a favor and keep the shop closed while I’m gone.” he says hastily, “I’ll still pay you and you come to work everyday and keep this place up but under no circumstances do you open these doors after I leave, promise me!” the tone in Barney’s voice scares me a little it sounds urgent and what is this family business he has to attend to? “Barney I-” I stammer, “No time! No time!” he says quickly waving his hand in the air to hush me, his curly gray hair bobbing by the wind his hand motions make. “Promise me you’ll come here take care of the shop and do not open the door!” this time it sounds more like a demand than a favor. “I, I promise but I wish you would tell me what’s going on!” I say anxiously. “Don’t worry about that my girl, it’s none of your concern!” he says sharply, “Money is in the safe, you know the combination; I’ll be back as soon as I can if it takes longer I’ll call you.” He walks around the counter and places both hands on my shoulders it’s then I realize how fragile he looks, no taller than me at my 5 foot 5 inch frame, he looks weak and somber. “I’ll be back soon I promise.” he replies while giving my shoulders a tight but brief squeeze. He starts to rush out of the store while I’m still standing in front of the counter in a daze almost when Barney stops looks back at me pushes his glasses back up his nose he gives a slight smile and shuts the door behind him. I am still stunned by what just happened yet somehow I manage to walk over to change the store sign from open to closed; I see a note taped to the door, Barney must have put up before he left. “Closed for inventory. Be open soon. Thank you for your business-sorry we missed you.” Barney never was much on words but seeing his handwriting makes me smile. The loud clanging of the old grandfather clock upstairs makes me jump; the empty bookstore looks old and haunted in such a way that I’ve never noticed before. “Well, it’s just you and me Lionel.” I say calling up to the old lion who looks unfazed by the news, in all the excitement in the store I realize I still have this nonsense letter; pulling it out of my pocket I walk over to the trash can behind the counter and crumble up the letter tossing it in the trash.

Seriously? Mermaids??

End of Part One for All Things Below. Photo made with Vanillapen.