Chapter Two: The Harts

Theo moves through the woods on a trail she can't see, walking a lot faster than she can manage. If she thought stumbling around the house had been difficult, she has no words for how hard it is on this uneven ground covered in rocks, sticks, and roots hidden under wet leaves.

"When is the last time someone walked this trail," she mumbles to herself, stopping to rest against a tree. Sirens swim. They do not hike. "Must have been a long time for it to get like this..."

"Not long enough," Theo says, hearing her despite being nearly twenty feet ahead.

"Huh... Weird." Kara dismisses it and starts walking again before she can lag behind. He walks a little faster, in response, but Kara can see the house through the trees now. It's big, painted a soft yellow, and surrounded by fruit trees of all kinds and vehicles parked in every clear spot. The moment they break from the treeline, Donna, the short woman, walks over to meet them.

"You made it," she cheers. "You look beautiful, such a pretty girl."

"Thanks," Kara mumbles sheepishly, still feeling a bit awkward around her outfit. Perhaps the magic had the right idea stuffing her in these nicer clothes, because Donna is dressed well. "Not too much, then?"

"Not at all! It's perfect, actually, the lunch plans kind of fell apart, and well... Now, I hope you don't mind," Donna starts, sending Kara's heart rate into overdrive with just those five little words. Nothing good ever follows that. "I invited some of the community and it sort of turned into a bit of a cook-out, instead. We don't get newcomers out here, especially young ones, so everyone is excited."

"That's fine," she forces out, feeling a strange cold sensation on her palms. If she were human, she has no doubt her hands would be sweating from the sheer discomfort and nervousness. How many is 'some,' again, she wonders.

"Theo, can you go help your father," Donna asks, glancing over at her son with a warm smile.

"Yeah." Theo walks off around to the back of the house. Without him looming over her, Kara feels ten times better. Donna seems to take notice of this.

"I understand my boy might have said some things," she starts. Kara keeps herself from throwing up, barely.

"Clashing personalities, I don't hold it against him." Mostly. How such a rude, disrespectful man came from such a polite woman is bizarre.

"That's very kind of you, darlin', but I raised my boy better than t' go shoutin' at girls. I'm sorry-"

"You don't have to apologize," Kara says quickly. "We don't really do that. Where I'm from, I mean. It takes away the chance for the person to apologize themselves if everyone else already has."

Donna raises her eyebrows.

"Is that so? I like that, very respectful. Well, around these parts you're gonna hear a lot of it. We all want to make the best first impression, I think. Everyone is just so nervous and we tend to think of ourselves as responsible for each other's mistakes in these parts." Kara is oddly comforted by that knowledge. Sure they probably aren't half as nervous as she is, and for vastly different reasons, but it's one thing they can have in common, even being so different.

Donna smiles and takes her arm to start guiding her towards the porch. Inside, it sounds like several voices carrying throughout the house. Kara looks at the vehicles parked along the driveway once again, a dawning horror spreading through her.

"Exactly how many people did you say you invited," she asks with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Donna doesn't stop walking, chin up and smile wide.

"Well, Light Rock has one hundred and thirteen people living in it, and about forty of those people are fairly close by." Kara nods, waiting.

"So like, seven, eight?"

"Oh no, all forty of 'em," Donna corrects, completely serious.

Kara considers slipping free and making a run for it, but they're already at the door and Donna is ushering her inside. There's barely time for Kara to take a deep breath and prepare herself before it hits her.

Noise. So much noise. It's mostly adults, but a few kids run past Kara laughing and chasing each other. Donna guides her over to a small group where instantly all eyes turn on her. Two women and four men, all with greying hair and excited expressions on their faces.

"Oh my, look at you," the tallest woman coos. "You didn't say she was so pretty!"

"Oh, uh, thanks-"

"When did you move in?"

"Um-"

"How old are you?"

"Do you work nearby?"

"You have such pretty hair, and look at this figure! You should meet my son, he's around your age!"

"Do you have family?"

Kara backs away, heart racing. She had expected a few more people than just the three she had met, but this is just- this is unbearable. They circle her and ask more questions than she can even answer, each one louder than the last. A hand appears on her back and she finds she's trapped.

Coming here was a mistake.

"I just- well, no, but- I actually-"

"Alright, you stop it, all of you," Donna chastises, waving the group back a little and keeping a hand on Kara's back to steady her. "Don't go scarin' the little lady. One at a time."

"I'm sorry 'bout that, miss," a short man says, his big eyes full of so much emotion it almost makes her look away. It never fails to amaze just how open humans are. "My name is Robert, but everyone jus' calls me Robbie. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Um, Kara. It's nice to meet all of you," she says and internally thanks the ocean that her voice does not give out.

"So, you moved in recently, right?"

"Yes, that's right. Just yesterday, in fact." Okay, it's fine, just simple answers. If they ask anything difficult, she can probably wing it.

"You look so young to be buying a home," the oldest of them men says.

"Oh, I just look young, I'm actually twenty five." The old man smiles with a shake of his head.

"Already. I have forgotten how it felt to feel so grown up at such a small age." Kara is reminded, painfully, of wistful smiles and humming, of her mother brushing her hair back. She shakes it off.

"I'm surprised we didn't see you ride in. There's not much of a road leading up to that old house. Did you have to hike?" Yes, it might appear strange to them for someone to just appear in a house without even a vehicle. Kara can't drive, though, and has no use for a car.

"My mother dropped me off here, actually. She's the one who picked the house out for me," Kara explains. She has found that when lying, it's best to just tell the truth in fewer words.

"Oh... Will she be moving in with you," Donna asks. She sounds excited. "I could use more friends my age."

Kara's mother was far older than Donna ever will be, so that ship has sailed. As old as the lake in Raverden had been, at the very least. Sirens don't really age like humans do. Their lives are tied to their water sources, some can live for as long as they want, or until they suffer some injury.

"Ah, um, no actually. She... can't leave home for very long. It's just me living in the house." Well, living in the lake, really. The house is just a nice bonus.

"All by yourself? At your age," a man asks incredulously.

"I can protect myself."

"Well, do ya have a dog at least? A nice big dog, that's what ya need. One who will take care of ya." Donna gives the man a look and he backs off, hands raised in surrendor. "I'm jus' saying. You kids can't be too careful these days."

"Now come on now, Vince, everyone knows everyone 'round here and we don't got any criminals," a woman insists. The man crosses his arms and looks away.

"Still, if it were my daughter, I'd at least make sure she was safe."

"I doubt anyone is gonna trek through the woods to bother me," Kara tells them. "I appreciate how quiet it is out there, actually."

"We pride ourselves on keepin' things that way," Donna says, and Kara can hear that pride shining through in her voice. "This community has been here a long time and everyone really does know everyone."

"That's kind of nice. It was so different back home, people sort of just... Minded themselves." Sirens like Kara, the ones who live in fresh water, don't live with pods of other sirens. And even many sea-folk isolate from others.

"And where are you f-"

"You came! Awesome!" Ah, saved by the wonderful polite child. Kara hopes her relief isn't too visible on her face. Blake comes running over, darting around the group to grab her hand. "Want to go outside? There's food!"

Food? Kara can be persuaded.

"I don't know... Got anything sweet," she asks, letting him pull her away from the group and giving them a small polite nod. Thank the ocean for this child. No one can say no to such a happy request.

After Blake shows her around outside, he leads her to a patio under an awning where a man is standing over a grill. He's tall, like Theo, with brown hair and familiar brown eyes. Ah, so that's where they get it from.

"You must be... The dad," Kara asks, causing the man to turn around. She holds her hand out, intent to get at least one introduction right today. "Nice to meet you, I'm-"

"Ah, you're Miss Kara Bint," the man says, bypassing Kara's outstretched hand and pulling her into a hug. She stands there, taken back by the warm introduction. He sounds less southern than everyone else had. As he pulls back, she feels a pang of familiarity, even. "It's lovely to meet you, the names William. Between you and me, I think that old house has been empty long enough."

"Yeah? Everyone else seems to wish it had stayed that way," Kara mutters quietly, and judging by his expression, he hears. Remarkably good hearing for a human.

"Yes, well... That house has a lot of history," he admits. "Anyone tell you the story?"

"No. There's a story?" Blake nods seriously and his dad closes the lid of the grill.

"There is. Te-"

"Dad." Mr Hart and her both turn and look at the same time, finding Theo in the doorway with the same sour look on his face. Kara is beginning to think that's just his face, though. It's a shame he doesn't know how to smile.

"It is her house now, son, she has a right to know what went down in it," Mr Hart says gently.

"It's not her business." Theo goes back inside, slamming the door. Kara once again bristles at such a rude gesture, but William just turns back to the grill with a sad sigh.

"I know it means significantly less coming from me, but I'm sorry for the way he's been acting. He's sorry, too, and he will get around to telling you." Huh. The way he says it is less presumptuous and more... Kind. "Now I know it isn't my job to apologize for him, but I hope you'll humor me."

"I think I will," she tells him honestly with a smile. Blake, who has inched his way closer to the grill sneaks a look under the lid and catches William's attention.

"You aren't sneaky," the man says and Blake straightens up instantly. He folds his hands behind his back and smiles brightly, all teeth.

"I wasn't doing anything!"

"Have you helped set up the tables, yet?" Blake's smile deflates. "Go on, then. It'll help pass the time while these burgers cook."

"Fine..." Blake scurries off, leaving just the two of them. William points to a chair on he patio as he goes back to grilling.

"You look pretty tired. You can sit down for a bit, if you'd like," he offers. Kara finds this human to be just a little different than the rest and she sits down with a nod. At last it's quiet out here.

"So, about that story..."