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Maybe you could offer something that the Dark Water Tavern doesn t have. Like
karaoke?
Al laughed. Have you ever heard a bunch of shifters sing? It is too scary for
words.
Babe shrugged. It was just a thought. The point of karaoke is more to have fun
than to produce great music. Not that I have anything against great music.
Just then a soft guitar chord sounded over the crowd noise and everyone at the
tavern s tables grew silent. A spotlight lit the corner stage and there was a slender
blonde woman holding an acoustic guitar. From the mellow sound of the chord still
hanging in the air, a very good guitar.
Al smiled and leaned back. If you want great music, Babe, we ve come to the right
place. That s Sharon.
With a welcoming smile the singer introduced herself and began a folksong, an old
favorite of the crowd from the murmured approval and applause once she was done.
Her voice was mellow and rich and Barbara warmed immediately to the singer.
From there she moved into other songs, some Barbara recognized, others she didn t.
She writes her own music, Al told her when she asked about one song, where the
lyrics were about werewolves singing under a full moon.
Very talented.
Yeah. And a very nice lady too.
After much applause Sharon finally said into the microphone, I understand we
have some special guests tonight. I d like to dedicate this next song to them. She began
a low chord in a minor key in a slow rocking rhythm that reminded Barbara of the
ocean. She wasn t surprised to hear when Sharon began singing that the lyrics were
about the sea outside the window.
The water of the ocean
Is blue and green and cold
I live sometimes above it
I live sometime below
It s in my blood to love it
It s in my heart to care
My love she understands this
And my ocean love she shares
62
Bad Dog and the Babe
We spend our time together
In her world and in mine
But making love is sweeter
In water made of brine
Though I live my life on land
Though along the sand I roam
I can t forget the ocean
For the water is my home.
Her song ended and was greeted with great applause but in particular from a
corner of the room where Barbara saw a large group of people stand up to give the
singer their approval. Sharon smiled and nodded to them and Barbara understood that
was the group Sharon had been honoring with her song.
Do you know who they are? she asked Al.
For once he seemed uncomfortable but he answered her. They re selkies.
Selkies? I ve heard of them but I thought they were just legends.
No more legend than we are. Originally they came from the British isles. They are
parafolk, like us. People who live in the ocean. There they look like seals but can change
to human form when they want to.
So they re shapeshifters?
Kind of. But unlike us, when they change to human their skin slips off.
Their skin slips off? You mean like a fur coat?
Barbara froze in place but inside her mind thoughts whirled. She thought about
Kurt, her sister s boyfriend, the one with the strong interest in keeping the ocean clean.
She thought of the way her sister had developed a similar interest to the point of
learning how to dive. But there was only scuba gear for one, Tammy.
Apparently Kurt didn t need dive gear. But he did need the contents of the garment
bag the fur coat that smelled of the ocean.
She felt a flush come over her, but hot as her cheeks became a cold pit grew in her
stomach. She turned to Al. Kurt is a selkie, isn t he?
Al sat still but he only hesitated a moment in answering. I suspect so, he said
reluctantly.
Barbara couldn t believe her ears. You knew this? That she was dating a-a&
A selkie? I didn t know but I suspected once I saw that coat. Al gave her a
worried look. Does it bother you that much that he isn t a werewolf?
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Cricket Starr
Of course it bothers me! Barbara cried. From the sound of it they are actually
dating. Tammy shouldn t be doing that with someone outside her kind. Suppose she
falls in love with him? She couldn t marry him!
Al folded his arms and stared at her. Why not? If they love each other why
couldn t they get married?
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