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“The human is clever—more so than expected.”
I rested my empty shells on the tray held by the server who waited at my side. She bowed and swam away. My appetite had increased of late, and I looked forward to our meal’s next course.
Lorcan slurped at a shell while digesting what I’d told him about my most recent encounter with the human.
“You are certain she knows more about the missing L’even pearls?” he said.
“Yes.”
“Perhaps she’s only had access to the two pieces—the diadem and the wrist cuff. There are many more, and they have disappeared over the span of decades, your majesty.”
I frowned, acknowledging the truth in Lorcan’s words.
“Either way, I must find out.”
If it was possible that this human had access to more pieces from our collection, my kingdom of Perlnauts would be saved.
***
I NEEDED TO COMMUNICATE with the human. It was the only way. But it wasn’t something I would be able to do on land. Perlnauts’ voices did not project above water. The waves of our spoken sound were different, as if they’d never belonged here on Earth.
But we were able to communicate through speech under the sea. Father once told me that this had something to do with the properties of water and how they accommodated the voices of our kind.
The human had lured me to her. To communicate, I would need to bring her to me.
I ventured out to the edge of the lake, this time not drawn by the power of the L’even pearls, but by the human herself.
Her feet swayed through the water, while the rest of her appeared to be sitting on land.
I gazed up at her from several paces below. Was she enjoying herself just sitting there? Had she grown curious now that she had seen me?
She was not unattractive, though my focus had not been on her. I frowned at the human. If I wanted her cooperation, it wouldn’t hurt to be better acquainted. As much as I despised her kind, especially now that I knew they had treasures that were rightfully mine, I thought it prudent to at least appear friendly.
I kicked my tail fins lightly, and spun a little to the right. It was now or never. I steeled myself, hoping to present a gentle approach. She hadn’t seemed frightened of me on land, only surprised and furious. But that was her territory, not mine.
I shook my head to clear the memory of how she’d stood on her legs, as if challenging me.
My forehead and eyes breached the water. A slight breeze floated across my skin and hair. Its touch was harsh compared to the soft fluidity of the water.
The human’s eyes were closed, and her head was tilted to the side. I would have thought she’d fallen asleep had she not been propped on her elbows.
I rose higher, until the water was slightly below my shoulders. I waited, wading in place as I considered how to draw her attention in a way that wouldn’t be overly startling or threatening.
The human sighed.
I raised my hand and pushed the water in her direction. A gentle wave splashed across her knees.
She opened her eyes. Her lips parted, then emitted a sound of surprise.
I fought back a tremor along my spine. I could dip back into the water and swim away in a matter of seconds, if necessary. I feared scaring her away. She had information I needed to find more of the L’even pearls. I didn’t know how to reach her if she stood and ran.
“Please stay,” I whispered. “I won’t hurt you.”
She blinked. “Did you just try to say something?”
I nodded.
“I saw your mouth move, but I couldn’t hear you.”
I pointed to my lips, and then down to the lake bed.
The human’s eyes lit with understanding, but then she grimaced. “You want me to go into the water?”
Not quite what I was trying to say, but that would help. I bobbed my head up and down while waving my hand toward me. When she didn’t move, I leisurely glided backward, farther away from the lake’s edge.
“No, wait! I need to talk to you.”
I smiled. I had much to discuss with her, as well. I pointed to the water a second time.
The human crossed her arms, her eyes trained on my diadem.
“I’m not going in there without knowing where you’re taking me,” she said. “You stole my necklace. How do I know you won’t hurt me—that I won’t drown?”
She had a point. The lake was my territory, and humans couldn’t breathe underwater. She had me on that one. I certainly didn’t trust her. How could I possibly expect her to trust me? I did, after all, plan to take back every L’even pearl piece on land that had belonged to my kingdom.
I squeezed my forehead with my hands, giving myself a moment to think. My fingers made contact with cool metal. I cringed at the idea that formed in my mind. Reluctantly, I slipped the diadem from my head.
I held out my hands, offering the piece to her.
“Seriously?” Her green-gold eyes widened. “You’re giving it back?”
I hesitated. And then smiled as a better solution presented itself to me. Instead of nodding or giving the diadem to her, I tossed it behind my shoulder and let it sink.