“Yeah? I should probably take some time off soon, too.” Mr. Brantley cocked an eyebrow as the atmosphere returned to more of what it normally was between the two of them. “I need to catch up on that zombie show.” He pursed his lips. “What’s the name of it? Aww, hell, I don’t know. My wife’s really into it.”
“I… I’m not sure which one you’re talking about,” Rowan stuttered.
“Yeah, me neither. You have any TV shows you watch regularly?”
“Haven’t really watched much television lately.” He wracked his brain for all the shows his uncle talked about. “My Uncle watches one with some girl and her dragons. He loves to talk my ear off about how hot the Mother of Dragons is.” That show was the only thing Uncle Terrance ever talked about. He wasn’t even sure what the rest of the series was about.
“Oh! Okay, I’ve heard it’s really good, but I don’t get that channel.” His boss sighed. “Maybe someday. If you happen to catch any episodes with your Uncle, tell me how you like it.”
“Okay,” Rowan managed to squeeze out. Unsure how things managed to get this messed up. “Thank you, sir, for the time off.” Standing up, Rowan smiled, his anxiety dissipating only a fraction as he strayed to the doorway.
His boss uncrossed his arms and sat up straight, giving him a nod. “No problem. I still have some emails to answer. I’ll be out to help once I’m done.”
“See you in a bit, then.” He gave a small wave as he stood to leave.
“Mm Hmm,” Mr. Brantley mumbled as he went back to his computer.
Rowan took his time getting to the aquarium, taking slow steps and trying to get his mind into work mode instead of thinking about what waited for him at home, currently unsupervised. He hoped to hell she didn’t get her neighbor’s attention.
“Hey, Rowan. Over here!” Catalina called, beckoning him to the lip of the tank.
He plodded up next to her and looked down into the clear water to see Dillon assessing a green turtle.
“He washed up on shore over the weekend and hasn’t been acting right. Dr. Yarborough hasn’t been able to figure out what’s wrong. Until then, we’re going to be observing him in the tank,” Catalina explained, her long black hair pulled back into a braid today to keep the strands out of her face. She was of Asian descent, but Rowan was too polite to ask what nationality. He’d figured Vietnamese when he overheard her talking on her phone with her mom.
“How’s he been acting weird?”
Dillon piped up. “Lethargic, won’t eat, and he’s been swimming in circles.” The green turtle was about two feet long, but he still seemed to be a handful for Dillon.
“Poor little guy. Keep me posted on how he’s doing.” Rowan frowned. “I’m taking the rest of the week off, but text me and keep me updated on him.”
“Must be nice. First, you weren't anywhere to be found over the weekend, and now you are taking more time off. Everything okay?” Dillon nodded in thought as he ran a hand over the back of the green turtle's shell.
"Yeah, I have a lot going on right now. Sorry, I wasn't around to help. I'll make it up to you." Rowan leaned on the railing and hung his head.
"Hell, you've covered for me enough over the years, I should probably cut you some slack." Dillon waited for Rowan to look his way and offered him a smile.
The rest of the day consisted of more than his fair share of injured marine animals currently recuperating at the sanctuary. Rowan checked to make sure medication was administered, bandages redone, and food schedules were kept.
When his shift finally ended, he was beyond exhausted and ready to get home and check on Meriya. His job of taking care of marine animals gave Rowan a sense of accomplishment, but being on his feet all day long put an ache in his back and a cramp in one of his feet. He wiggled his toes and flexed his foot, trying to get it worked out.
He gave one last wave to Catalina and Dillon, clocked out, and then hobbled to his truck.
18
Meriya lifted a hand to shade her eyes. Not a cloud in the sky could be found as the sun shone down in a blinding brilliance. Lowering her arm, she could see her skin slowly turning pink, little dots of freckles popping up, but she couldn’t bear to be in her prison a moment longer.
Edging under a copse of palm trees near the black metal barrier, she tried her best to stay in the shade, but as the sun moved across the sky, she soon lost the reprieve. Her hands reached through the bars, outstretched toward the sandy beach mere yards away. She couldn’t stand this captivity any longer.
How did humans live in such a place? Stoic, cramped buildings. Hard metal fences. No wonder they were so violent. They were angry because of their habitat. If they lived in the ocean where they could swim through the cool waters and avoid the harsh rays of the sun, she bet they’d be gentler to one another.
The scales still weren’t growing back on her tail, giving her cause for concern. A mermaid’s body always healed quickly, ensuring their survival. Being injured for too long left them open to attack from larger prey. Most of the animals in the ocean left them alone, but if they appeared weak, then they would take advantage of an easy meal.
Something within them fueled their healing, protected them from predators, and helped them to manipulate the water. Her lack of magic kept her from shielding herself during the volcano’s eruption. What if that was also the reason she wasn’t healing fast enough?
Meriya turned back toward the pool, sighing when she realized she should get back in it to avoid a sunburn. She pivoted away from the fence, undulating her body across the ground, and then slipped back into the cool water. Her body needed the moisture the pool provided, or rather what the ocean provided, but the pool would have to do for now despite being a poor substitute.
She ran a hand over her scales, drifting lazily to the bottom to rest. She took a closer inspection of the area where the scales had fallen off. In place of the missing scales, light peach-colored skin peeked through.
How odd.
Whenever she’d lost a scale in the past, the skin underneath had always been the same color as her scales, a shiny vibrant purple. Dread settled into the pit of her stomach, making her nauseous.
Not wanting to get sick in this confined water, she raced to the surface and threw herself over the edge. She sucked in large gulping breaths, trying her best to calm her nerves and her stomach.
A noise beyond the gate caught her attention before fading into the distance, the sound similar to the box of metal with wheels Rowan used. The sound abruptly stopped and Meriya strained to hear more.
When no other noises carried through the wind, she tilted backward into the water, staring up at the sky as she floated. Seagulls cried overhead as they circled the beach looking for food. Other birds flitted and chirped among the palm trees nearby. She didn’t know what they were, but their yellow bellies and high-pitched chirps brought a smile to her face.
Footsteps clomped around the side of the house making her smile falter. She scrambled upright, ducked down, but snuck to the edge of the pool.
Large booted feet were heading her way and they weren’t attached to Rowan. From the blurry image she remembered from yesterday, it looked like Rowan’s friend, the one he’d been arguing with. He’d stormed off angry, so why was he here when Rowan was gone?
“Hey there, sexy. Are you the girl that’s been staying at Rowan’s house?” She blanched as he loomed near the edge of the pool, blocking out the sun.
Meriya flattened her tail and fins against the side of the pool and looked up at the tall figure, wishing she had some way to protect herself.
“Not going to talk?” He crouched down and gave her a blinding, white smile. “Name’s Nick.” He thrust his hand out in front of him.
She hesitated only a moment before she lifted her hand from the concrete and shook his hand, still uncertain what to say.
“And you are…?” He waved his hand at her, prompting her to answer.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she replied meekly, �
��My name is Meriya.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he purred, followed by a wink.
An uneasy feeling replaced the dread she’d felt earlier. Nick reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t place it right then, not with her nerves on edge.
When she said no more, he asked, “Mind if I take a dip with you? I brought my trunks.”
“I… I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” She’d found her voice, but the words didn’t come out as sternly as she intended, but she was serious all the same. If he got in the water with her, he’d discover what she was. She couldn’t allow that to happen. Where was Rowan? She wasn’t sure how long he needed to be at his job, but an intervention would be wonderful right now.
“There’s no need to be shy. I brought some beer, too.” He rose back up to his full height and stalked off to the house.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then let it out slowly. She’d need a calm, level head to handle Nick.
He was back in no time, holding a bottle out to her. “Want a drink?” He’d discarded his shoes, and, as promised, he’d brought his swimming trunks, which he now wore.
“Um, no. I don’t drink beer.” She didn’t even know what beer was, but she was pretty sure if Nick offered it to her she didn’t want to drink it. The smell of it was horrid.
“You’re not one of those hoity-toity bitches, are you? Loosen up. Live a little. One drink isn’t going to kill you.” He waved his hands back and forth, eyes rolling back in his head.
“But it might kill you,” she mumbled under her breath.
“What’s that, love?” His gravelly voice grated on her nerves. How was Rowan friends with this egotistical blowhole?
Cayson! That’s who he reminded her of, making her stomach drop.
“Oh, nothing, just talking to myself.” She tugged herself down the side of the pool, putting distance between her and the enemy.
Nick brought the mouth of the bottle to his lips, tipped it back, and downed half its contents. That same rancid smell drifted over again from the open bottle he’d sat down after she’d refused it. Her nose wrinkled up.
Maybe she needed to change tactics. “Rowan won’t be home for a while. Maybe you should come back later.” She realized her mistake too late as Nick’s eyes gleamed.
“If Rowan won’t be home for a while, we can have a little fun of our own. He and I are best friends.” He took another pull from his beer. “We share a lot of things, sometimes girls.” He polished off the rest of the drink and tossed the bottle into the bushes. The bottle clinked as it hit the ground, her eyes tracking the movement. This was the type of human she had always been warned about, not caring where their trash was thrown, which meant she didn’t see the threat beside her.
Nick jumped feet first into the pool, grabbing the lip of the pool to keep his head above water as he glided in feet first. “You and I are going to have a lot of fun.”
Gasping, Meriya backed away, scrambling to keep ahold of the edge of the pool. He raked his gaze down her body, his brows arching in surprise when he found her topless as her hair shifted out of the way. He growled, continuing his perusal of her assets before catching sight of her lower half.
“What the—”
Nick didn’t get a chance to finish the rest of his sentence as Meriya lunged forward and grabbed a fistful of hair in each hand, shoving his head beneath the water. Once he was below the surface, she wrapped her arms around him and used her tail to pin his body to the bottom, ensnaring his arms and legs.
His screams were useless, only causing him to waste precious air in his lungs. Since she was a creature of the sea and much stronger, his struggles were in vain. Looks could be deceiving and in this case, Nick underestimated her.
She continued to pin him down, holding him there until the last bubble escaped his mouth and his eyes went vacant. Unlike the time she injured Rowan, she felt no remorse for her decision to end this human’s life. He would have told others about her and then she’d never make it back to the ocean.
19
Rowan threw his truck into park after easing it into the garage, shutting off the engine. He was looking forward to enjoying some time off. He planned on cooking some dinner, redress Meriya’s wounds, and maybe get her to try one of the cupcakes he picked up on the way home.
She probably didn’t have anything sweet in the ocean to eat. He stared at the clear package of cupcakes in the store, imagining the look of surprise on her face after she tasted one for the very first time. Her facial expression would be priceless. Clicking the garage door button, it closed while he headed inside. He set the cupcakes on the counter and strode out to the pool, excited to see Meriya after a long day.
The look on Meriya’s face was the complete opposite from the one he’d envisioned moments before in his head. Her eyes met his and a look of horror stared back at him. Did he scare her that much? He knew they’d had their differences, but he’d never hurt her.
A whole new horror floated face down on the surface of his pool. His thoughts revolved around nothing but Meriya while he pulled through the gate and he hadn’t noticed Nick’s car. Where did Nick park his car if he didn’t notice it when he pulled in?
“NO!” Rowan leaped into the pool beside Nick, clothes and all, dragging him over to the edge and struggling to get his bulk out of the water.
“I’m so sorry, Rowan,” Meriya mumbled over and over from the other side of the pool, her hands wringing in front of her. “He… he found me, and I didn’t know what to do. I panicked!” Her voice rose in pitch until her last words ended on a screech.
“It’s okay,” Rowan lied. “Help me get him out of the pool.” He struggled against the weight of Nick’s body.
Meriya was beside him in a heartbeat, pushing Nick out of the pool with ease. His body made a wet, smacking sound as he rolled onto his back and she cringed at the sight of Rowan’s friend.
Nick’s blue lips were a contrast to the pale white of his skin. He was always known for his tan, but not at the moment. Rowan immediately started CPR. If Nick lived, he’d never hear the end of it. He’d make jokes about how Rowan pressed his lips to Nick’s, but he’d take the jokes if it meant he didn’t have to explain to the cops why he had a dead body in his backyard.
He couldn’t give up on saving him. He started back with the mouth to mouth, trying to breathe life into his best friend, followed by a round of chest compressions. In his frustration, he dropped his fist onto his chest, angry at the world.
He didn’t ask to find Meriya.
He didn’t ask for his best friend to die.
This was not the path his life was supposed to take.
Dropping his chin to his chest, he let the sobs wrack his body, but then the most amazing sound filled the air.
Nick started coughing up salt water, liquid gurgling out of his mouth, and Rowan quickly rolled him to his side, away from the pool where Meriya still bobbed in the water. She was waiting see Nick’s fate.
The gears in his head started turning. Nick couldn’t see Meriya from his current position and Rowan wasn’t entirely sure what had happened, but maybe he could explain it away.
Rowan spotted the bottle near the bushes and the open container near the pool still full. He knew two beers wouldn’t equate to a drunk Nick, but this was info he could use.
Meriya was heavy but lifting Nick’s dead weight from the ground nearly killed Rowan’s back.
“Stay with me, buddy. I’ve got you.” After carrying him to the house, Rowan laid him down on the sofa. He groaned in response, head lulling to the side.
“Wha’ happened?” He slurred, sounding like his usual drunk self.
“Dude, it looks like you got drunk, fell into my pool, and hit your head. I came home and found you face down in my pool. What were you thinking?” Rowan admonished.
Nick reached up and raked a hand down his face, then proceeded to lean over and puke all over the tiled floor. Thank goodness Rowan didn’t have carpet.
<
br /> Nick’s stomach contents were a near miss with Rowan kneeling next to him, but he managed to jump to his feet. “Oh my god, man, why’d you have to puke on my floor? You already tried to drown yourself in my pool.”
The glare Rowan received could have burned a hole through his head. “I didn’t try to drown myself.” He faltered, running a hand through his wet hair. “There was a girl, no. It wasn’t a girl, it was a mermaid!”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Rowan rolled his eyes for effect, but inside, his heart raced.
“No! Christ!” Nick pushed himself up to a sitting position, grabbing the arm as a wave of dizziness passed over him. The cushions soaked up most of the water dripping off him and Rowan hoped his couch wasn’t ruined. “I saw her! She… she… had scales, and a tail, and… and…” His hands flew through the air in violent gestures, his eyes bugging out of his head.
“Don’t you think I would have told you if I had a mermaid in my pool? C’mon, I’ve been telling people for years mermaids exist.” Rowan stepped to the hall closet and pulled out a towel, tossing it on the mess Nick left on the floor. “Everyone would have heard about it if I had one. You must have hit your head pretty hard when you fell in.”
Rowan let out a strangled laugh he hoped conveyed the absurdity, but he really laughed at the irony of the situation.
Nick smoothed his palm over his head feeling for injury. “I don’t think I hit my head. I know what I saw!”
“Nick, drop it.” Rowan was fed up with his attitude now. Drowning and near death should change a man.
“No, I’m not going to just drop it.” He shot up from the couch and raced toward the back door, his legs a little wobbly, but still strong enough to get him to where he wanted to go.
“Nick, wait!” Rowan hightailed it after him. If Nick saw Meriya again, he wasn’t going to have to worry about making his death look like an accident, Meriya would handle the problem. Plus, if Meriya let him live after seeing her again, Rowan knew Nick would never be able to keep his mouth shut.
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