Page 83 of Dawn of Hope
“I haven’t eaten since breakfast,” I say sheepishly.
“There should be plenty,” he says, opening the last of the containers. “Do you know what any of it is?”
“No, you’re going to have to tell me. Unless you think it’s best I don’t know, otherwise I won’t eat it.”
He throws his head back and laughs. “No, not this time. Maybe next time you can be a little more adventurous. But if you don’t like something, it’s okay, that’s why I brought extra.”
He hands me a wooden plate with utensils, and pulls out serving spoons, then points out what is inside each of the containers.
“Over here we have some simple fish steaks. Those are what’s called shrimp. These here will take some work to get the meat out. I can showyou.” He points to a bunch of long, hard looking things. “This is lobster tail. These are oysters, and then we have some pasta and bread, just in case you don’t like any of the fish.”
My eyes drag over the food. It is so different from anything I had ever eaten before, and I want to try it all. Dane spoons some of each item on my plate, and I eat. Flavor explodes over my tongue as I try every new dish. Dane shows me how to crack the crab legs and pull the tender meat from them, and how to pluck the meat from the oysters.
A moan escapes me as I try an oyster, the cheese and butter melting on my tongue. I slap my hand over my mouth and giggle uncontrollably as Dane smirks from behind his bite.
“Sorry,” I say. “It’s just all so good.”
“I’m glad you like it. You didn’t even question it, you just trusted me. I think that’s a win for me.”
I nudge his shoulder playfully with mine. “Okay fine, you’re right, that was a win for you.”
“Good, because we’re not done.”
I eye him warily. “What do you mean?”
He stands and reaches down for my hand, pulling me up with him. “Come with me.” He laces his fingers through mine and leads me toward the edge of the water.
“Dane, no, please.” I pull back against his hand.
“Don’t worry, we aren’t going in the water. But we’re going to be close to it.” He faces me and continues to walk backward toward the surf. “Will you trust me again tonight? I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”
My heart pounds harder in my chest the closer we get to the water. It isn’t the water itself that scares me, it is the fear of losing control. I can’t swim, and submerging myself in the ocean is vastly different from sitting in a bath back in the castle, which I’d done countless times.
If something goes wrong, if a current sucks me under, I won’t be able to get myself out.
Dane stops next to me, facing out toward the cove. He points out into the bay. “See that set of rocks right there? We’re going to go stand out there. We won’t be in the water, but we are going to get wet. I don’t want to push you, but know I’ll keep you safe. If we’re going to do it, we have to hurry.”
“Why do we have to hurry?”
He smirks. “That’s part of the surprise.Andthe trust.”
I take a deep, settling breath. I’ve come this far. I’ve done so many things and had so many experiences that months ago I never would have expected I’d do. I trust in the magic and have hope for change. I can do this. It isn’t like he is asking me to jump in without knowing how to swim.
“Alright. Let’s go,” I say firmly, clenching his hand a little harder in mine.
We cross the beach and step out onto the strip of rocks that forms the edge of the cove. Dane walks backwards, holding my hands for balance as I watch my feet to anticipate any slip or stumble. The darkness surrounds us as we slowly creep along, the light from the moon our only guide as I carefully place my feet on the rough surface of the rocks.
“This should be far enough. Any second now.”
We wait in silence for a few moments, but nothing happens. The quiet sounds of the soft waves in the cove and the crisp smell of the salt of the water overwhelm my senses, especially in the darkness.
“Dane, what are we waiting for?”
“Shh. Just one more second.”
Barely a second later, my eye catches on the sea beyond the cove. Waves are rolling toward us, but they aren’t like the gentle waves near the shore. The waves are glowing. As they roll toward us, bright blue light glows from within and rolls in the sea right into the cove.
“That is amaz—” I call out, but am cut off by an enormous wave slamming into the rocks. I shriek, digging my fingers into Dane’s shoulders, clutching onto him for security. He wraps his arms around mywaist and pulls me in closer as the water comes crashing down around us and soaking me completely.