As I descended further into the pit, a massive sea turtle came into view. Blue nylon cords twisted around his fins. He tugged at them as he tried to swim forward, but he was caught in a fisherman’s net.
“You poor baby,” I cooed at him.
A loop wrapped around his neck, the fibers digging into his green and beige flesh so tightly they threatened to cut off his circulation. The majestic creature fought hard against the constraints as I approached, his struggle making the tangles tighten.
“No, no,” I urged with a soft, soothing voice. “You don’t want to make it worse.”
I offered him a timid hand, hushing him as he thrashed some more. When he didn’t calm, I started to hum, hoping my song would lull him into a trance. Mother would say I was wasting my song. She forbade me from using it for any reason other than a human hunt. The magic in my music was far too precious a gift to use on a lowly reptile, she’d insisted over and over.
If she saw me now…
It didn’t matter. She wasn’t here, and her rules didn’t apply any longer. This animal needed my help, and I wouldn’t deny him. In direct defiance of her and everything her crown stood for, I stopped humming and started singing, loud and filled with pride.
Ocean’s child filled with fright.
Put your trust in me this time.
Rest your spirit, calm your soul.
Return the peace your fear has stolen.
The low musical notes escaping my throat coddled him. In response, his muscles relaxed after just a few moments. My lyrics penetrated his primitive terror, replacing it with a sense of otherworldly harmony.
Under the spell of such a tranquil state, the weight of his shell would’ve dragged him to the bottom of the crevice if the ropes slung about his body weren’t holding him in place. My shoulders sagged, and I shook my head at the pitiful creature.
“And they claim humans are harmless,” I mumbled, thinking about my sisters’ claims. Proof to the contrary was right in front of my face. They were dangerous to the sea and everything in it.
“Who in the ocean’s name says that?”
Startled, I flinched at the masculine voice behind me. Whipping around, I placed my body as a protective barrier between the compromised turtle and me. My eyes widened as I took in the man who’d managed to sneak up on me.
A handsome face wore a smug, condescending expression. I ran my eyes along his features. Hair resembling the color of red algae muted with blond undertones, strong, square shoulders, and a sculpted midsection. My stare froze just below his torso.
No tail swished behind him. Instead, two legs were planted firmly on the seafloor. My hand flew to cover the shriek that left my mouth. “You’re a human,” I marveled. “But how… Did you somehow escape the queen after she changed you?”
His face twisted as he flattened his palm against his bare chest, doubling over as if I had thrown a spear into his heart. “What did I do to deserve such an insult?”
I blinked at him, my gaze wandering down to the shark-skin pants he’d fashioned with expert care. He must’ve been down here a long time to master such a skill. A belt made from a thick, foreign material fastened around his waist, and a sheath hung from it, dangling over his hip.
“It’s all right. My aunt can help send you home. I’ll take you to her just as soon as I free my friend here.”
The man smirked at me, his juniper eyes bright with amusement. He ran a knuckle over the thin layer of red whiskers on his chin. How had he kept it so trimmed?
“You make friends with sea turtles often, do you?”
Heat clung to my cheeks at his mockery. Refusing to give him the pleasure of seeing it, I turned my back and began working the knots out of the net that still held the graceful giant. “I make it a point to take care of the sea’s creatures, if that’s what you mean. It’s my duty to do so.”
“He’s the one who got stuck. Why is it your responsibility to free him?”
“Because I’m capable.” I grunted as I fumbled with the stubborn twine.
“I see. You’re one of those save-the-ocean types.”
“Pardon me?”
“Let me guess. You probably swim around breaking open crab traps, too?”
“If I come across one, certainly.”
He snorted, then shook his head, as if I was the most ridiculous mermaid in the entire ocean. “I’m sure you have no qualms about eating them yourself.”
“The ocean gifts its belongings to its inhabitants.” My fingers curled around a piece of rope, and I squeezed out my frustration. “We require the flesh of other creatures to survive, yes, but it never goes to waste and it certainly isn’t without thanks. Humans take what is ours without permission and in quantities far beyond what they need to sustain themselves.”
“How do you know how much humans eat?”
“Look, I wouldn’t expect you to understand where I’m coming from,” I spoke through gritted teeth. “After all, you’re a—”
“Lennox.”
“A Lennox,” I repeated, avoiding looking at him even as he moved closer. “I’ve never heard of a Lennox before.”
A breath hitched in his throat. He held back a laugh and explained, “Lennox is my name.”
“Oh.” I cleared the humiliation out of my chest, hoping my face wasn’t as red as it was hot. “Good to meet you, Lennox. If you’ll be patient and allow me to finish my duty, I’ll have you home before long.”
“You’d send me away already? But I’ve only just arrived.”
“I’m sure you’ll feel much more comfortable with your own people.”
From the corner of my eye, the shadow of his shoulders shrugged. “The only thing I miss is the colder waters. It’s much too warm in this part of the ocean for my liking. Why don’t you use your knife? You’ll make quicker work of freeing him.”
“I don’t have a knife or I’d have used it by now,” I snapped. Something about this human grated on my nerves. Just as he was convinced he knew about me straight away, I could tell his type, too. Evasive and antagonistic.
From his sheath, he revealed a glistening, golden blade. Ornate gems decorated its handle, the jewels sparkling even in the darkness around us.
I held out an expectant hand and said, “That’s quite a fancy knife. You must’ve come across a pirate ship in your travels.”
“It was a gift, actually.”
“Ah… From a mermaid? The one who lured you to the depths, no doubt.”
“From my king. A reward for my heroism.”
“I didn’t realize your people still had kings, at least on the lands around here. The States gave up the monarchy ages ago, I was told.”
“You shouldn’t believe everything you’re told.” He winked and dangled the dagger in front of me, snatching it back when I went to reach for it.
“You’re not going to allow me to free him?” I protested.
“It’s dangerous to just swim around, defenseless and without a weapon. And using your song, no less.”
I glared at him and warned, “Do not be deceived, Lennox. The queen ruled these waters for centuries with nothing more than a magical trident in her hand. The true dangers here can’t be touched by a dagger.”
“Protected by sorcery, are you? Well then, cast a spell to free him.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest, watching me with a patronizing grin.
My jaw dropped. His nonchalant response to my threat struck my pride with a devastating blow. For my entire life, the mermaids of the ocean had quaked at my approach. Now, out of nowhere, this human spoke to me as if I were nothing more than a barnacle—unthreatening and insignificant.
“Who do you think you’re speaking to?” I demanded, pointing at the empty spot on the top of my head that usually held my tiara. It was only when he lifted a brow with a smirk that I remembered Fawna had taken it from me.
He coughed into his fist, shaking his head. “Right, then. Those bubbles you’re pointing at are lovely and all. Your gills produced some fine art. But I had better get going.” Lennox reached across me, swiping the rope with his sharp blade until the turtle tumbled free.
“Wait,” I insisted with a gasp. Leaning in, I got a closer look at his neck. “Where are your gills?”
“What? Oh, they’re there. Just a little smaller than most. Look closer.”
My fingers traced the side of his neck. To my surprise, he stilled at my touch instead of pulling away. “There’s nothing there.”
His pulse surged under my fingertips as he leaned in, just a breath away from my face. “That’s because I’m not a human, mermaid.”
I yanked my hand back, as if his skin burned my fingers. He made no move toward me when I backed away from him, holding my hand against my chest like it was injured. It had touched some unknown creature. Now that I studied him, I could see the subtle differences.
There was an understated point to the tips of his ears, and his lips were faintly blue. Missing either feature could be forgiven, considering the darkness of the water around us. Even the keen sight of a mermaid wasn’t limitless. His hair should’ve tipped me off from the start, though.
Human hair tended to have natural tones, such as blond, brown, or black. Something earthy and of the land. I once met a man with red hair, much like Lennox’s, but still very different. This… thing in front of me, his hair was bright. Flaming almost, as though it was made to stand out in the ocean’s blue.
When a tiny trickle of sunlight fought its way down to us, acting as an enlightening streak of clarity, his skin shimmered. His body glowed white when the ray hit him, a fluorescent light radiating from his veins, illuminating the entire area around us. He inched closer, and I noticed a distinct warmth emanating from his being.
He missed the cold, I remembered. Somehow, his body heated itself from the inside, keeping him warm enough to withstand the cold from his natural climate. In these tropical waters, his internal thermostat must’ve been borderline unbearable.
“What are you?” I asked with a shaking voice.
“Never seen a Finfolk, huh? I’m not surprised. Most of the more sheltered clans have never even heard of us. Especially this far south.”
I rolled my fin, closing the gap between us. This stranger was exotic and unknown. As much as I hated to admit it, I was fascinated with him. “Where is your home?”
“Far, far north. My kingdom is called Finfolkaheem, just off the Orkney Islands. Rich with wealth and splendor. Truly an underwater paradise.”
“You have no gills,” I pointed out again. “How could you live under the sea without a means to breathe?”
“I swim to the surface and take a gulp when I need air. My chest can house a day’s worth, two if I really stretch it.”
“That’s so dangerous. A human could spot you.”
“Happens all the time.” He sputtered, his lips twisting. “I don’t have a tail, remember? As far as they’re concerned, I’m just another human taking a swim.”
Recalling his earlier deceit, I pointed an accusing finger at him. “You let me think you were a human.”
“I never admitted to it. That was your assumption.”
“But you could’ve corrected it!”
“And miss seeing this face? That would take all the fun out of it.”
“Good Poseidon, you are infuriating,” I grumbled, turning back to the turtle in search of a distraction. Noticing the animal was gone, a flood of relief swelled my chest. Reluctance held my tongue for a moment before I finally said, “Thank you for freeing him.”
He waved me off. “It’s fine. Just keep it between us, would you? I wouldn’t want word to get out that I helped some turtle. I’m known as a warrior, not an activist.”
“Who would I tell? No one around here even knows you exist.”
“Sure they do. Those who matter, anyway.”
“I’m not sure I know who you mean.”
“The royals, of course. Mermaids who hold important titles are aware of who I am. But then, the likes of you wouldn’t know any of them intimately.”
I bit my bottom lip, suppressing a smile. Without my crown, this imbecile had no idea who he was insulting. He would soon find out. “The likes of me…” I echoed. “Of course.”
“No offense meant.”
“None taken. Tell me, Lennox. What are you doing so far south?”
He squared his shoulders and lifted his arrogant chin. “I’ve been called to council. By Queen Myrtle herself, in fact. Along with the former queen’s descendants, though why they have not been suffocated for crimes against the ocean is anyone’s guess.”
“You would punish the princesses for their mother’s wrongdoings?” My posture matched his in challenge.
“Undoubtedly. They should’ve done away with the entire bloodline, if you ask me.”
“I’m not sure anyone did ask you.”
“Come on now.” He patted my shoulder, pursing his lips as I dodged his touch. “I understand you lived under that dreadful Calypso’s reign and still hold a lingering loyalty to them. You can’t help it. It’s admirable, even. But the only way to move forward is to swim ahead, not tread in place. The best thing for your kingdom would be a fresh start, wouldn’t you agree?”
It took all my strength, but I managed to keep my composure and maintain a stone face. He’d played his game earlier; now it was my turn. “You may be on to something. If you’re looking for Atargatis, I’m headed that way. Care to join me?”