About the Author

Coming from a small town in Western Mass, KATLYN DUNCAN always had her head in the clouds. Working as a scientist for most of her adult life, she enjoyed breaking down the hows and whys of life.

As a full-time author and freelance writer, she’s published ten novels in five years. If she’s not writing, she’s obsessing over many (many) television series’.

She currently resides in Southern New England with her family. Check out more about her writing and current TV addiction in her newsletter, on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Readers love Katlyn Duncan

‘Perfect read … I couldn’t put it down’

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‘Gripping. Thrilling. On the edge of your seat exciting. I absolutely loved it’

‘This story kept me guessing’

‘Perfect for someone who wants a quick read that’s also gripping’

‘A thoroughly heart-warming and enjoyable read’

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‘A delightful read’

Also by Katlyn Duncan

The Life After Trilogy: Soul Taken

The Life After Trilogy: Soul Possessed

The Life After Trilogy: Soul Betrayed

This Summer

This Christmas

Darkest Dawn

As You Lay Sleeping

Six Little Secrets

The Sisters’ Secrets: Rose

The Sisters’ Secrets: Reen

The Sisters’ Secrets: Pearl
KATLYN DUNCAN

HQ

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2019

Copyright © Katlyn Duncan 2019

Katlyn Duncan asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

E-book Edition © April 2019 ISBN: 9780008314927

Version: 2019-03-26

Table of Contents

Cover

About the Author

Readers love Katlyn Duncan

Also by Katlyn Duncan

Title page

Copyright

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Extract

Dear Reader

Keep Reading …

About the Publisher

For those who have ever dreamed of something more.

Prologue

The lapping waves flowed over Pearlina as she peered into the distance. The sliver of land stretched across the horizon as she waited. It was all she did lately. The last three sky light rises of the Drywalking ceremony both tortured and exhilarated her. In her short life, she had only seen one ceremony so far. At that time, coming to the surface had been a scary moment, and she had clung to her mother’s tail. All she knew was the ceremony gave one of the female members of the troop the opportunity to walk on the dry land and live among the humans to complete the most important task.

The light from the sky glittered across the surface, resembling the bioluminescence of the scales cascading down her fin. Cool air clung to the droplets of water on her skin, forming tiny bumps across her flesh. It was an uncomfortable feeling she associated with the surface.

Movement from below her signaled her sister, Syrene.

Syrene’s hand touched Pearlina’s. Like most of her kind, Syrene preferred to stay under the water and hidden from the surface. The Drywalking ceremony was to test the boundaries of the females and show their commitment to the troop, in addition to getting the sacrifice needed for the bonding ceremony.

Retrieving a human from land was the primary purpose, and Pearlina wanted to see a human up close. The only way she could do that was to catch a glimpse as a member of the troop brought one back from land. Tales of living outside of the water fascinated her. Frequently, the older generations of her troop had scolded her for thinking of humans as equals. Stories of how humans had decimated their numbers years ago during hunting trips floated through her mind. The top half of her body looked like them, but she wasn’t to trust them. Humans were bloodthirsty creatures who would kill one of her troop on sight. At least that was what her mother told her.

The stories of their long-ago past were enough to keep her troop far from the surface and safe in their cove, deep under the water. Pearlina couldn’t resist the pull of the air, and the warmth of the sky light on her face. As far as she could remember, she had always wanted to know more about the forbidden place where humans ruled. She never dared to swim past the rock wall and go toward the land, but she imagined what it would be like to see one of them up close. Her Drywalking ceremony wouldn’t take place for a long time, but she wanted to prepare herself for it.

Syrene’s voice entered Pearlina’s mind. What are you doing up here?

It’s the third day. The chosen female from the troop had five sky light rises to complete the ceremony. Pearlina had visited the surface each day since the start.

How do you know Daryah will come back now?

I don’t.

This is foolish. Syrene’s tone was tired, almost as weary as the tone the others used each time Pearlina had a question about humans.

Syrene was the only one who knew the depth of Pearlina’s interest in the surface and humans. While her sister didn’t understand it, Pearlina didn’t fear any repercussions from talking about it to Syrene.

A splash sounded in the distance and Pearlina flipped her hand over, digging her fingers into her sister’s palm.

She’s coming.

Syrene pushed through the surface, only revealing her nose and the top of her head. How do you know?

A racing movement coursed through Pearlina’s body. She flicked her fin and started forward. I feel her.

Syrene held tight and trailed behind her. Pearlina wished she didn’t have to drag her sister along. This moment was what she’d been waiting for. If only Syrene was as interested in sharing the experience with the one she loved most. Curiosity was enough to propel Pearlina closer to the rock wall.

The vibrations of the water intensified as more of the troop arrived. They had sensed Daryah’s arrival. The vibrations were different for their kind. The troop could detect if humans traveled out as far as their cove, which made them easy to avoid since their floating crafts were much louder than most underwater creatures.

Pearlina forced herself to the front. She wanted to see the human before they performed the final part of the ceremony.

Her troop gathered behind the rock wall, but Pearlina couldn’t take her eyes off Daryah. Her head bobbed to the surface, and then under again as she dragged the human behind her.

Drywalker tails split in two to resemble legs and feet to blend in among the humans. Without a tail, the swim home was another challenge. At the end, when Daryah bonded with her betrothed, her tail would return.

Pearlina dipped under and thrust her hands out in front of her, feeling for the difference in vibration around the human. Daryah’s slow pace created a swirling sensation inside of her. As Daryah neared, a sinking sensation inside Pearlina cast darkness over her, dragging to the tip of her fin. Pearlina wasn’t the only one who experienced the wrongness spreading through the water.

Daryah stopped by the rock wall, grabbing on to the sharp surface. Her breathing was labored. As she pulled herself up, her hands were empty. No human floated in the water beside her. She had come back without one.

Pearlina pulled Syrene to her. Her fingers brushed over her sister’s neck, moving her dark hair from her shoulders. Why has she done this?

I don’t know.

Their mother and two others glided ahead of the troop, toward Daryah. Pearlina wanted to get closer, but she wasn’t going to get in the way of the ceremony. If Daryah didn’t bring back a human, it wasn’t her own life in danger.

Pearlina searched the water for Daryah’s betrothed. The bumps on her flesh squeezed tighter, and she dipped below to warm herself.

This will not end well for her. Mother’s voice appeared in her mind as her hands brushed against Pearlina.

She has two more days, Pearlina sent to Syrene. Why return now without a human? Her earlier curiosity about the human disappeared, overtaken by fear for Daryah’s betrothed. If she didn’t go back to complete the ceremony, then her time on land was over. Her betrothed’s life would end if Daryah couldn’t convince the older generation of her commitment to fulfill her duty.

Ambudhi, Daryah’s betrothed, appeared next to the rock wall. His eyes never left Daryah’s, yet hers were on the approaching three.

Daryah let out a keening sound and moved up the side of the rock wall.

Syrene squeezed Pearlina’s hand. Her sister’s wild thoughts raced through her, but she closed off her mind to dampen them. Whatever happened next, she couldn’t tear her attention away. All Daryah needed to do was go back to land and finish her duty. Instead, she froze on the rock wall as if time itself had stopped.

Pearlina knew what was coming, yet she didn’t predict the glint of the sky light against the curved dagger made from sea glass rising above her mother’s head. Ambudhi didn’t see the tool, but he knew what was coming. His eyes never left Daryah.

Sonata, the one in charge of the Drywalking ceremonies, spoke in a strange tongue, coaxing Daryah from the rocks.

Defeated, Daryah moved closer to the water. Her legs dipped below the surface as Sonata curled her fingers around the pearl necklace at Daryah’s throat. The pearls were integral to the ceremony, supplying the essence to give a Drywalker legs. Sonata lifted the necklace from Daryah’s neck, but she clung on to them, sputtering in that strange human tongue. The woven seaweed pulled and snapped. The pearls plunked into the water, forever lost at sea.

Then, she grabbed Daryah’s arms and pushed her under the water. Daryah thrashed, creating sea foam over the surface. Pearlina stared for what felt like years. When Daryah resurfaced, her gills sliced across her throat. She was no longer out of breath. She flicked her fin and reached for Ambudhi as Mother plunged the dagger into his chest. Two other males grabbed his arms and dove under the surface. Instead of a human, Ambudhi would serve as the sacrifice to their troop.

Daryah’s screams echoed in Pearlina’s mind. She clasped her hands over her ears, as did others. This instance would forever serve as a reminder that the humans were still their enemies. Even though a human hadn’t held the dagger that killed Ambudhi, humans themselves were to blame for his death.

The troop turned away from Daryah, diving under the surface to complete the ceremony.

Syrene left Pearlina’s side, following them. Pearlina remained, keeping her head above water. Those who didn’t complete the ceremony were no longer welcome. As Ambudhi would reunite with the watery depths, Daryah would perish in the water, but many years later. No one would mourn her.

Their eyes met. Daryah shook her head and screamed again.

Pearlina couldn’t take the sound anymore. She took one last look at the land in the distance and dove. She couldn’t wait for the day when she could avenge Ambudhi. She would fulfill her duty to the troop and allow them to continue for generations and rule the sea, unlike Daryah who would die alone and without ceremony.

Chapter 1

Even years later, Pearlina still experienced Daryah’s banishment during her sleep. The memories were more vivid as her own Drywalking ceremony had arrived. It was her turn, yet she wished it were any of the others. Her time had come. She was the eldest of the unbonded females and had no choice.

She woke before Syrene and swam out of their hidden cove, deep below the surface, where the humans rarely ventured. The periphery of the cove was home to plentiful sea life. A school of fish leisurely swam by. Not one part of her wanted to leave this place, but it was her duty. The survival of their kind depended on the strength of the females, and the ability to reproduce. On land, she’d prove her worth and dedication. When she returned, she’d bond to a male and never be faced with another human again.

The ceremony seemed simple enough, but the memories of Daryah clung to her mind like coral to the cove.

In the time since then, Pearlina only left her home for hunting journeys. For prolonged periods, she distanced herself from the land. The rest of the time she waded through life, wishing she could stay under the surface for good. It wasn’t the most ambitious of plans, but she didn’t want to be a burden, like Daryah. Pearlina would live a long life, serving their survival.

Above her, the sky light altered the hue of the water as it started to filter down to the depths of the cove. The ceremony neared.

The announcement of her betrothed worried her as much as going onto land. Who would she spend the rest of her life with? Those who were bonded in the troop never traveled without their partners. When one died, the other went shortly after. The only one Pearlina ever imagined by her side was Syrene. It was hard to believe any of the males could take her sister’s place. But as a member of the troop, she trusted the ceremonies in place.

Syrene’s signature vibration approached. Pearlina fisted her hands by her sides before flicking her fin in her sister’s direction. The last ceremony passed through Pearlina’s mind. The Drywalking ceremony had taken place in less than one cycle of the sky light. The female, Tamami, had brought a human corpse to the cove before any of the troop noticed her arrival. She’d bonded to her betrothed before the second day of her proposed ceremony. It was a feat to rival, but Pearlina didn’t have a competitive spirit.

Syrene’s hand touched Pearlina’s shoulder. Sister, are you ready?

Yes.

Syrene moved in front of Pearlina and took her hands. What is wrong? Today is a celebratory event.

For some. Pearlina removed her hands from Syrene’s and turned away, wanting her mind to be private for once.

With a flick of her fin, Syrene appeared in front of Pearlina again, but this time, Syrene kept her hands at her sides. Her eyes said enough.

There was nothing to say. Pearlina had no choice.

It had taken Daryah’s fateful Drywalking ceremony for Pearlina to finally understand why Syrene preferred the water to the air. Their cove was uncomplicated and straightforward – the way Pearlina now preferred.

The Drywalking ceremony was a disruption to her life, but a necessary movement forward for the future of their troop. There was no going back, and Pearlina would try to return to the water as soon as possible.

In the time before her ceremony, other betrothed females passed down information to help Pearlina to succeed on land. Strange words and customs rolled over in her mind. The most elusive information was how she would capture one of the humans for the sacrifice. All the tales from the females were different. Their choosing depended on how quickly they could gain a human’s trust.

Pearlina always thought humans were like any other food source she had hunted at sea. But the bonded had told her they were a different type of prey. They were cunning and selfish and would do anything to survive. Pearlina didn’t appreciate the challenge. Each Drywalker after Daryah had to prove themselves. Since then, all the females worked hard to show the troop that they were deserving of their roles as Daryah’s memory hovered over them. While Pearlina tried to prove herself in other ways, the Drywalking ceremony mattered most to them.

Vibrations from the members of the troop coursed through her body as she neared the location of the ceremony. It took place near a cliff face at their cove’s edge. It was where they brought the bodies of the humans for sacrifice – a place Pearlina tried to stay away from as much as possible. When she and Syrene were young, they had dared each other to swim as far down as possible. But they each only swam a few yards before gliding up to known territory. Souls of the humans haunted the depths, enough to keep the young ones away.

Pearlina feared her mission more than the souls. She scanned the troop for the unbonded males. One of them would be her other half for the rest of her long life. She couldn’t imagine who had been chosen for her.

Before Sonata became one with the sea again, she’d passed her duties to her daughter. Zimra had completed the ceremony for several cycles. Her obligation to the troop revolved around the Drywalking ceremony, though she would never take part. She held the burden of the secrets of the seas, carving the runes into the chosen pearls to be a part of the ceremony.

For a long time, Pearlina hadn’t cared to know how it all worked, as long as it was over as soon as possible. She wasn’t looking forward to the long and tiresome swim to land, or to drowning a human, though she had imagined it more recently. She tried to think of the humans as large marine creatures. It was the only way for her to think about taking one of them under. Her skills at hunting weren’t all for naught.

Syrene glided next to Pearlina, but she kept her hands to herself. It was Pearlina who reached out. I’m scared.

Syrene squeezed back. I know. You will do well. You don’t need to be as quick as Tamami.

Pearlina wanted to hold on to Syrene and swim off, forever delaying her duty. She didn’t care about being the best. She hated the humans for creating the need for this tradition. If they weren’t so horrible, Daryah wouldn’t have had to die on her own. But rather than reaching for her sister, Pearlina’s hands floated by her sides.

Use it, Syrene said, stretching beyond their abilities, and speaking without touching. Only the strongest bonds allowed it. It also opened Pearlina’s mind to her sister, which Syrene tried never to do. Usually it was an unwelcome intrusion, but today, Pearlina didn’t mind. She’d take her sister’s advice and use their bond to communicate.

The rest of the troop had gathered. Their eyes were on Pearlina.

With her shoulders pushed back and Syrene’s words in her head, she flicked her tail and swam to Zimra.

Thick runes cut across her arms, shapes unreadable by anyone who didn’t understand the human language. Markings dotted Zimra’s face, and Pearlina barely recognized the female she had trained to hunt. As with others with her destiny, Zimra cut her light hair when her mother had died, and her duties were passed on. Runes marred the top of her head, reaching down her back, offering a full view of her transformation.

Zimra opened her arms wide, and Pearlina looked at her troop, several yards away. They were to witness the ceremony, but the intricate details of the transformation were an intimate affair. Zimra’s lips moved, curving around the strange and silent language. She held the corded necklace above Pearlina’s head before tying it around her neck. A pulse shifted within Pearlina’s chest as Zimra gripped her shoulders as tight as a shark’s jaws.

Pearlina’s mouth fell open, and a ripping sensation split her body. Her head fell back, and the surface called to her. The sharp pain moved to the lower half of her body. Darkness crept into the edges of her vision. Daryah’s screams from long ago echoed in her mind. Zimra’s grip loosened and Pearlina started to sink. She kicked out her tail – no – she no longer had one. The two legs under her were useless in moving her toward the surface. She tried to take hold of two limbs instead of one, but the legs didn’t give the same movement as her tail. She clawed against the water with her hands and tried to breathe. Instead, water flooded her mouth.

Pearlina pressed her lips together and touched her neck. The slits of her gills were no longer there. Instead, her fingers dragged against smooth skin.

Syrene appeared in front of her and nodded. I have you. Her voice was no longer as clear in Pearlina’s mind. It was as if water filled her mind as much as it had her mouth.

Another set of hands touched her. She turned to face Kaito, her betrothed. She hadn’t expected him. His dark eyes were always soft, and he was a keen hunter.

Once again, her surroundings blackened. She tried to push her thoughts to Syrene, but she couldn’t do much other than flail helplessly.

Holding her against them, Kaito and Syrene helped Pearlina to the surface. Her legs dragged under her, and she could barely hold on. They had strong grips as if they were both determined to keep her alive. None of the other females had mentioned the suffocating feeling of the inability to breathe. With all the advice they’d given, Pearlina wished she had known what to expect about the unpleasant experience of becoming human.

The moment her face touched reached the surface, she inhaled. Air filled her mouth and lungs as she drew in a breath. She choked and gagged on the water she’d swallowed, but she’d made it to the surface alive.

Syrene trailed her fingers along Pearlina’s face. Usually, only the betrothed pair raced to the surface together after the physical traditions of the ceremony were performed – this moment. The temporary farewell between betrothed was sacred.

Without any more words, Syrene disappeared under the surface. Pearlina stared at the water where her sister had gone.

Greetings, Kaito sent to her. His voice wasn’t as strong in her head either. Their communication wasn’t as crisp as it had been under water – just as it had been more difficult to understand Syrene. It was possible the human form couldn’t interpret their ways of speaking, or it was another aspect of the ceremony.

‘It’s you,’ she said. Her voice rang in her ears, and it sounded wrong and almost too loud. Pearlina tried to speak to him through their minds, but it was difficult.

He winced and brushed his fingers over her arm.

The sound of her clanking teeth filled her ears. Kaito’s arms wrapped around her. Warmth radiated from his skin and she sunk into his touch.

Among all the males, Kaito’s calm behavior most matched the racing energy within Pearlina. The choice was a good one. Pearlina wanted to return to a life with this male. She had noticed him in the past, but her preoccupation with the ceremony had prevented her from bothering to think about her own betrothal.

Another male might have tried to push Syrene away from helping Pearlina to the surface, but Kaito understood the bond between Pearlina and Syrene.

Yes, he was a favorable choice for her. Her arms wrapped around him, absorbing his warmth.

I was hoping for you, he sent. I believe in you. In us. Come back to me.

Pearlina arched her back and searched his eyes. She would come back to him. She had no intention of staying on land any longer than necessary.

‘I will,’ Pearlina said in a stronger voice.

Chapter 2

Kaito aided Pearlina to the rock wall. As the air bit at her skin, she hesitated about her journey toward land. The troop and Kaito relied on her to complete the ceremony. She wouldn’t fail. He squeezed her hand one more time before swimming away. From a distance, he turned and lifted his hand high above him before plunging under the surface.

The lapping of waves against the rock wall and the birds above her were the only sounds. For once in her life, she was truly alone.

Not for long.

As it was while hunting, she was most successful after creating a plan. The other females had shared their experiences, and all of them had one thing in common. She needed clothing to blend into the human surroundings. Rushing into the experience wouldn’t get her the result she needed. The first step was to appear as human as possible.

In the past, mistakes had happened for those who tried to complete the ceremony too quickly. Repercussions from the humans had threatened the troop. Human boats in search of the missing humans had traveled as far as their cove. The braver humans swam close to their home, forcing the troop to stay hidden until the threat retreated.

The sharp rocky surface cut at her hands. Her skin wasn’t as thick as it used to be. The temperature of the water bothered her more than before. The layer of thickness under her skin was gone, leaving a curve in her shape where her top half met her new legs. She climbed the rock wall and peered into the distance. The air was still cool, but she put it out of her mind. Her determination to return home to Kaito and Syrene overpowered her need to keep warm in this weak, human form.

Pearlina started over the top of the wall, the rocks continuing to dig into her skin. Red liquid seeped from her hands.

There was no use delaying her fate. So, she took one last glance over her shoulder and dove.

Swimming without her fin proved much more difficult than she’d ever thought, but it wasn’t impossible. She pressed her legs together and tried to move them as one. Her arms helped as she cupped her hands and used them in tandem with her new legs. She surfaced more times than she had in her life, drawing in gulps of air.

Each moment she stopped, the icy water continued to press against her body. When she swam, it didn’t bother her – though the land seemed as if it were moving further away. Kaito’s face in her mind stirred something inside of her to keep her going. She found it strange that her connection to the ocean wasn’t as strong as it had been before. Did humans feel the same way when they ventured into the water? It was almost uncomfortable and mixed with a sense of fear. In that way, her kind was superior to them. At least she had that advantage.

Closer to land, she saw the boats bobbing with the movement of the water. They were attached to wooden structures reaching up from the sea. She recalled the human word. Dock. She slowed her movements and kept most of her body under water. The boats were everywhere. They gave her the cover she needed to get to land.

No humans were nearby, but Pearlina scanned the area. This was their home, and she had to stay aware of her new surroundings. She swam to the closest dock, allowing it to conceal her. Her teeth clanked together as the structure blocked the sky light from warming her body. She tried to stop, but they moved on their own. The first part of her plan was to retrieve clothing for her new body. Then, the hunt for a human would begin.

The other females told Pearlina that clothing was inside the shelters of humans. Clothing would help her body adjust to the new temperature as soon as possible. Then, interact with a human. Get it to trust her. Lure it to the water. The sex of the human didn’t matter. All they needed was the sacrifice. A few hinted that the males were easier to bait.

Pearlina had no preference. She wanted to take the first one she found. Then the ceremony would be over. Returning home was the only thing on her mind so that she could prove herself to the troop. She thought of Syrene, wishing she still shared a connection with her sister. The human form muddled their communication. And anyway, it would never reach across the distance, even if she and Syrene were both in their natural forms.

Booming sounds crashed over her. She ducked under the water, expecting a human to appear and notice the naked figure in the water. Going back toward the rock wall wasn’t a choice. Her chest burned. She surfaced for air, careful to draw in a slow and quiet breath. No human grabbed her or revealed her location. When she realized she wasn’t in immediate danger, she waited. Pearlina could no longer feel her fingers or new toes. She needed to get out of the water, but with humans nearby and no clothing in sight, she wasn’t sure what to do.

Excited human voices pierced the air above her. It was only a matter of time before they spotted her. From her hiding spot, she peered at the nearest boat. Strange symbols etched the side. They looked like the markings on Zimra’s body.

Three humans appeared. A female and two males. They raced around the boat searching for something. One of them held a recognizable clear bottle with liquid inside.

When Pearlina was young, she scoured the cove for human items. At least she did until Daryah. Since then, she had wanted no connection with the humans. But at that moment, Pearlina moved toward the boat with rapt interest.

A high-pitched sound erupted from the female, and she flashed her teeth at one of the males. The other seemed unfazed and disinterested. Pearlina understood the feeling.

The female and one of the males, both strikingly dissimilar in looks, broke from the group and stood at Pearlina’s side of the boat. The female’s hair was pale, while the male’s was darker than the depths of the ocean. Pearlina held her place under the dock and watched them.

‘Where is my wallet?’ the second male asked, out of sight. ‘I swear it was here.’

‘Why do you need it anyway?’ the female asked. ‘Ben has money.’

‘Because, Carolina, I’m not going to rely on my brother,’ he answered.

‘Why not?’ the dark-haired male said. ‘You always do.’

‘Oh, burn!’ the female, Carolina, shrieked.

‘Found it,’ the other male said.

‘Why is it so warm today?’ Carolina asked. ‘It’s supposed to be fall.’

‘You complain about the weather no matter what time of year it is,’ the dark-haired male said before disappearing.

Carolina removed a layer from her body, revealing another set of coverings underneath.

Pearlina studied the human. To blend in, she needed the same. Her hands fisted at her sides as if she already held the clothing. Where else would she find coverings near the water? She wanted to walk on land in clothing so she wouldn’t get caught. If she could reach up to the boat and grab the covering from Carolina, she would be off to a good start. But that plan involved coming out from under the dock. If they noticed her, she’d have no way to explain herself. She wondered how the other Drywalkers retrieved clothing so quickly. Had she chosen the wrong part of the land to start her ceremony? Even if Pearlina came out from her hiding spot, she wasn’t tall enough to reach up to take it.

The opportunity slipped through her fingers as the female lifted it from the side, cradling it over her arm.

An object zipped by her face, landing in the water beside her.

Pearlina kicked away from it, creating a splash loud enough for the humans to hear. She ducked under the dock in time before the three humans glanced over the side of the craft. Her heart hammered in her chest, enough that she thought it would burst from under her skin. The world shifted on its axis. For the first time in her life, she was out of control.

‘Sorry about that,’ a female voice said. It wasn’t Carolina.

‘Mrs. Jones,’ one of the males said.

‘Hi, there!’ she chirped. ‘Harry, Ben, does your father know you’re on his boat?’

‘No, ma’am.’

‘I’m looking for my wallet,’ the hidden male said.

‘You’d better keep hold of that.’ Mrs. Jones let out a laugh that pierced Pearlina’s chest, pleasantly. It sounded like the song of the sky fliers. Birds. ‘Well, I’ll leave you all to it. I was going for a stroll when I accidentally kicked a rock.’

‘It’s a good thing you didn’t hit the side,’ the hidden male muttered.

‘It’s a good thing,’ Mrs. Jones repeated. ‘I might have had to explain to your father who I saw before damaging his boat.’

A long silence stretched on before several sets of the booming sounds thundered over Pearl’s head. Now she understood that the noise was humans walking above her.

The hidden male appeared. He shared the same pale hair as Carolina.

Syrene would never believe Pearlina encountered four humans within minutes of being near land. Yet, none of them were drowning in the water beside her.

Pearlina let out a breath. It was hard enough to breathe above water. She didn’t need her body to stop working before she completed her mission.

Slower movement shuffled above her, then stopped. A human groaned, and then Pearlina came face to face with a female one. The human’s upside-down lips curved. Her skin was dark, like Kaito’s, but not taut like his. Deep wrinkles creased the corners of her eyes and mouth.

If Pearlina ever came across a large predator, her reflexes always followed through for her. With one flick of her fin, she’d out-swim it in seconds. The same instinct came to her, but she still tried to keep afloat. Instead of withdrawing from the human, she shoved water away from her and kicked her useless legs.

‘It’s a good thing they didn’t see you,’ Mrs. Jones said. ‘Especially in your condition.’ She eyed Pearlina up and down.

Pearlina sunk below the surface but kept her head visible. Still, she couldn’t believe the water, which had given her comfort earlier, now only made a pit widen in her stomach.

‘You kids and your skinny-dipping,’ she said with a huff. ‘Though I’m not sure why you’re by the docks. I don’t want to pretend I know why you all do the things you do.’

Pearlina had no idea what to say, but she knew what she needed.

‘I need clothing,’ she said. The human way of speaking still foreign to her but the words came to her as if they were always there, waiting for her to release them from her mouth.

‘You came here without clothes?’ Mrs. Jones asked.

Pearlina nodded.

The human made a sound that reminded Pearlina of a dolphin’s click.

‘Can you help me?’ If the human came close enough to the water, she could take her. But she was already exhausted and would never make it back to the cove today. This human didn’t feel right. She had kind eyes, like Daryah’s. She hated thinking of the banished one, but there was no helping it.

‘I can,’ Mrs. Jones said, pointing toward land. ‘I have a place over here. You follow me, and I’ll get you a coat. Then we can talk about how you ended up here.’

As much as Pearlina didn’t trust humans, she had no choice. She swam as silently as possible, keeping Mrs. Jones above her.

‘You wait here now,’ Mrs. Jones said, peering over the side of the dock once they reached the land. ‘I’ll be back in a jiffy.’

Pearlina grabbed a rock that led up to the land and stayed put. A cool breeze clung to her, and she dipped under the water again. She turned toward the cove in the far distance, and closed her eyes, hoping to go back soon. Once she was out of the water, she wouldn’t return without completing her duty to the troop.

Chapter 3

Mrs. Jones returned to the docks with a covering, like the outer layer Carolina wore. This one had fur around the edge. It wasn’t damp or matted but moved as the woman walked. Pearlina had never seen anything like it before.

The newness of the clothing interested her, but an opportunity neared, and she couldn’t ignore it. With one sharp movement, Pearlina could smash the human’s head against the rocks. If she grabbed Mrs. Jones and swam under, maybe she’d be home quicker than she thought. Though diving into the water with the human in tow would take forever. And she didn’t have the strength after her swim to shore. As much as she disliked the humans, she had to carry out her plan the first time without fail.

Mrs. Jones tossed the covering onto the rocks and stepped back from the water’s edge. It was as if Pearlina had spoken her plan aloud. This human had shown her kindness. Pearlina admitted to herself she was curious about land. There was no harm in learning about humans for one day. Pearlina lifted herself from the water, and Mrs. Jones turned away.

Were these humans that modest? She slipped the covering over her shoulders. It was long enough to cover her down to the knobby bones halfway down her new legs. Knees, she recalled from her conversation with the other females.

‘You decent?’ Mrs. Jones said.

Pearlina shivered. ‘Y-yes.’ She tucked the sides of the covering over her bare chest. She climbed onto solid land, pressing her feet against the rocky surface. She wobbled, but Mrs. Jones grabbed her arms.

Those kind eyes lifted to Pearlina’s once more. ‘You’re going to get hypothermia. Come inside.’

It took a few steps to get her footing before Pearlina walked closely behind Mrs. Jones.

The creaking of the docks and the gentle lapping of the water against the boats became distant sounds as they walked further from the sea.

Similar-looking structures rose from the land. Houses. The dwellings where humans lived. Mrs. Jones led Pearlina to a door. She took out a tinkling set of keys and fished through them for the correct one. When Pearlina was young, she had found some at the bottom of her cove. She had kept the shiny metal for a time, even though she had no clue about their use. After Daryah’s betrayal, she’d rid her home of all human trinkets. She had dropped them over the ceremonial cliff into the depths of the ocean, forcing them to disappear with the humans the Drywalkers captured.

Unfamiliar terms bubbled through her mind. Windows. Doors. Rooms. Walls. They were the basics of human homes.

The woman pushed inside. The sound of the door brought Pearlina to the present. She entered behind the human.

When the door closed, darkness blanketed the room. Pearlina jumped back, pressing herself against the wall.

As quickly as the door closed, light filled the space. Pearlina searched for the source since the sky light had disappeared when they entered the structure. A smaller sky light appeared to be attached to the wall. Pearl stared at it.

Mrs. Jones let out an amused sound, and Pearlina glanced at her.

‘If you’re intending to go blind, keep staring at that.’ Then, she muttered something under her breath before walking away.

Pearlina quickly kept up, momentarily disoriented by the intrusion in her eyes. It took a few seconds for the dark spots in her vision to disappear. She climbed upward, following Mrs. Jones.

Through an open door at the top, sky light filtered into the bright space. There were items of furniture Pearlina recognized and others she didn’t. The arrangement gave her some idea of their use, more than she had when she found these pieces floating around various locations in the ocean. She wondered how they had come to be in Mrs. Jones’s home, but she had a bigger problem to figure out.

‘What size are you?’ Mrs. Jones asked.

Pearlina blinked.

‘Your clothing size.’

Pearlina nodded her head, not wanting to alert the woman to the fact that she had no clue what she was talking about.

‘Wait here,’ Mrs. Jones said.

Dividers separated the space. Passages led to smaller areas, each decorated differently. Mrs. Jones’s home reminded her of underwater caves and caverns she’d explored on her own before Syrene was born.

Mrs. Jones returned and handed over a stack of clothing. ‘My daughter is around your size. Here’s a pair of shoes too. I hope they fit. At least they will get you to your destination.’

‘Daughter?’ If there were another human around, Pearlina wouldn’t need to travel too far from the water to find her victim.

‘Monique. She’s living in the southern part of the state. I’m sure she won’t mind you borrowing them.’

‘Thank you,’ Pearlina said, and opened the layer that was covering her body. It was much warmer inside, and she no longer needed it.

‘The bathroom is over there.’ Mrs. Jones pointed to the smallest space with a white chair inside.

Pearlina walked into what Mrs. Jones called a bathroom. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted another female. She jumped back, banging against the door, and it closed behind her. She reached for the handle and tugged at the same time as the human. But as she struggled she noticed her hands were the only ones on the knob. Her body stiffened. The female turned to face her as realization dawned. Pearlina lifted her hands, and her reflection did the same. The female was her.

In her life, she’d only seen a smaller version of this reflective glass. The one she remembered had intricately designed metal coiled around it. She had used it to reflect the sky light into Syrene’s eyes. Her sister’s reaction had amused Pearlina, and they played with the human item for some time before Syrene grew bored since Pearlina never allowed her a turn.

Pearlina recalled what she had looked like on the reflective surface. Mirror. Now, her dark hair was much longer than it had been, and her face had lost its roundness. It could have been from the loss of thickness under her skin, but the strangest part was not seeing the slits across her neck. For some reason, she couldn’t stop smoothing her hands along the flawless surface.

‘Everything all right in there?’ Mrs. Jones asked.

Pearlina started and quickly said, ‘Yes.’

‘Would you like something to eat? I made muffins this morning. I can warm you one.’

Pearlina moved her hands to the bubbling feeling in her stomach. Even though she’d eaten her fill of fish before the ceremony, she wasn’t sure when or how she’d get her next meal.

‘Yes.’ Pearlina pressed her ear against the door, listening for the sounds of Mrs. Jones retreating. Then, she got to work. She lifted each piece of fabric and tried to remember where Mrs. Jones wore them on her body. She understood the mechanics of the top cover, but the lower took her a few minutes to figure out. At first, when she slipped it on, the button in the back was impossible to clasp and was extremely uncomfortable. It wasn’t until she turned it around that she got somewhere.

Then, she had to deal with the fabric shaped like a foot. She pulled them over her toes, after several failed attempts. Then, the shoes. Those were easier. They were a little bigger than her feet, giving her room to move her toes. She’d found enough of them floating in the water throughout her years to understand they were protection for feet against the harsh terrain. There was so much these humans had to do to survive, she wondered how they would fare in the ocean. They probably wouldn’t last long.

A satisfied smile crossed her reflected face. The clothes made her look and feel more like a human. The fabric was soft against her body, but not as comfortable as the movement of the water across her skin. It would do for now, and she was no longer shivering. After she claimed her sacrifice, she’d never have to wear clothing again. The pearl necklace glittered against the light, and she quickly tucked it under the shirt. It was her only possession, and she had no idea what would happen to her legs if she took it off. Images of Daryah’s legs turning back into a tail filled her mind. Then came the screaming.

Pearlina shoved the door open and tumbled out of the bathroom, willing the screams to stop. The room was empty. Mrs. Jones moved around the other room, preparing the food. Pearlina glanced around the area for insight into the human mind. There were images on a wooden shelf above a brick part of the wall with an opening. A sharp scent filled her nose as she neared it. Fireplace. It wasn’t pleasant or unpleasant, but somewhere in between.

The still depictions of life beckoned to her. Photographs. Humans were able to capture the essence of their physical form in that way. The older generation warned the younger ones about avoiding the possibility of humans stealing their spirit. If captured in the pictures, they would no longer be safe. The humans couldn’t know of their existence in their true form, or else it would prove a threat to the troop.

‘Food’s up,’ Mrs. Jones said from the other room.

The older female sat on a chair at the table, her eyes sparkling and hopeful.

A sweet scent made Pearlina’s mouth water. She couldn’t take her eyes off the source, resting on a plate. She grabbed a part of the food and took a tentative bite. Flavors exploded in her mouth, and she nearly choked as she breathed them in. A sweetness coursed over her tongue while a familiar saltiness swept through on top of it.

‘Hold on there,’ Mrs. Jones said. ‘Have a seat. Stay a while.’

Pearl licked her lips, savoring the food. She studied Mrs. Jones and situated her legs into a seated position.

‘What’s your name?’ Mrs. Jones asked. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t ask earlier. I wanted you to get inside first.’

‘P-Pearl—’ Her tongue stuck on the last part.

‘I haven’t seen you around these parts before, Pearl,’ Mrs. Jones said, cutting her off.

The shortened version of her name sounded both pleasant and strange. Pearl. Pearl lifted the muffin from the plate, not meeting the human’s eyes. Mrs. Jones had cut it in half, and there was a yellow sheen to the cut side.

Her new name gave her a temporary life on land.

‘I’m visiting,’ Pearl said before stuffing her mouth with the muffin.

‘With who?’ Mrs. Jones asked.

Pearl’s eyes flashed.

‘Reason I ask is that The Burrow is a small town. Most of us know each other. Visitors don’t come into town much during the off-season without us noticing.’

Pearl didn’t like the way Mrs. Jones’s gaze raked over her face as if memorizing each detail. She looked down at the hard, circular dish in front of her and took another bite of the muffin. It soured against her tongue.

Chapter 4

Mrs. Jones stared at Pearl as if she were waiting for more of an explanation. It was hard enough for Pearl to communicate with her mouth instead of her mind. This human had given her food and clothing. She owed her something in trade. Answers, false truths, would be enough.

‘I’m traveling alone,’ Pearl said.

‘How did you end up naked in the water?’ Mrs. Jones asked.

Pearl remembered the boats and the sunken ones throughout her travels under water.

‘My boat broke.’

‘Your boat sunk?’

Pearl nodded. ‘I don’t have anything left.’

Mrs. Jones leaned forward, touching Pearl’s arm. The older female’s eyes swam with liquid. ‘Honey, that’s terrible.’

‘I’m a good swimmer,’ Pearl said.

‘It’s great to have a positive outlook in the wake of such a tragedy.’

Pearl wasn’t sure where the change of attitude from the human came from, but a swell of lightness moved through her. Mrs. Jones seemed satisfied with Pearl’s story. Pearl pinched a crumb from the plate and popped it in her mouth. Usually, she ate many fish at a time during her meals, sometimes close to a dozen. Eventually, she would need more food but didn’t want to stay too long with Mrs. Jones. Pearl had no desire to take this human after she’d offered such kindness. There were plenty of humans in town. She’d choose one of them.

‘Did you graduate school? You look to be around my daughter’s age.’

Pearl nodded, having no idea why Mrs. Jones knew anything about schools of fish. Maybe it was her proximity to the ocean.

‘What are your plans for the future?’ Mrs. Jones asked.

Drown a human. Return home. She couldn’t say those things. Instead, Pearl shrugged.

‘Are you working?’

Pearl shook her head. ‘Those from my home value family above everything else.’

‘You’re close with your family?’

‘My sister,’ Pearl said.

‘I think you all are too young to decide big life choices at this age. There’s an entire world of possibilities out there, and this time is perfect for exploring and finding yourself. School wasn’t a possibility for me, but I did find this place and am happy to call it home. I met the love of my life here. God rest his soul. I’ve never looked back. Family is important, but sometimes you need to find it for yourself.’

Pearl sensed Mrs. Jones would continue to ask questions she had no clue how to answer. A crawling sensation, like coral brushing against her, snaked down her arms. ‘I should go.’

‘Not yet,’ Mrs. Jones said, standing. ‘Let me give you a few things. It’s the least I can do for allowing an old woman to take up your time.’

Pearl followed the human into a different room, farthest from the entrance. A bright color, unlike anything she’d ever seen, covered the walls. Mrs. Jones moved around, digging her hands into compartments, pulling out more items of clothing. ‘This should last you a few days.’ She hid them inside a bag and handed it over to Pearl. The two straps looked complicated, so she held one of them and allowed the bag to bump against her leg.

‘Let me get you some food and water. You probably need some money too.’

‘Money,’ Pearl said, sounding out the word. It was what humans used to trade for things. She’d heard about it from the females in previous ceremonies, who said it would get Pearl whatever she wanted but that it was hard to come by. How fortunate for her that this human wanted to help.

‘I can give you a little to get you by until you contact your family. I’m afraid I don’t have much to spare. I’m trying to help Monique with her bills when I can.’

Pearl followed the human back into the room where she’d eaten. Mrs. Jones pressed the crinkly green items against Pearl’s hand. She stuffed the money into the bag.

‘Don’t worry about the clothes,’ Mrs. Jones said. ‘Bring them by when you get situated.’

Her suspicions of humans seemed unreasonable in the presence of Mrs. Jones. The human wanted to help her succeed, at least while she thought Pearl was the same species. ‘I appreciate this.’

‘It’s the neighborly thing to do,’ Mrs. Jones said, handing her the same outer layer as when she came out of the water. ‘You can take the coat too. Do you need a ride somewhere? I don’t drive, but I can call someone.’

As much as Pearl wanted to meet a possible victim, she had to be discreet. Mrs. Jones would know it was Pearl if her friend disappeared soon after. ‘I can walk.’

‘Enjoy your time here,’ Mrs. Jones said.

Pearl left the room, tracing her steps out of the house. She burst through the door, grateful for the fresh ocean air filling her. A biting chill made Pearl wrap her arms over her chest. She needed to find shelter before the sky light dipped over the horizon. The darkness brought cooler air, and she already had more than enough experience with it.

Distancing herself from the water added weight to her feet. The pull toward her home was much stronger than she realized, but she grabbed whatever strength she had to push through. There were too many humans near the docks, so there wasn’t a way to avoid detection if she took someone under. Then, a plan started to form in her mind. She’d acclimate herself with the town and then tomorrow she’d hunt.

A part of her, from long ago, appreciated this plan. She was never going to be on land ever again. The ceremony could take place in five cycles of the sky light, so there was no reason to rush. Mrs. Jones had given her clothes, sustenance, and money to trade. Pearl could wait one more day.

As she walked inland, the space between buildings lessened. She tried to keep to the streets closer to the water but soon became confused about her location. It seemed as the day went on, more humans populated the roads, wandering in and out of the buildings. In her hopes of avoiding them, she ended up on a road where the ocean seemed a distant memory.

Pearl kept her head down, her hair shielding her face. She had to get back—

‘Are you lost?’ someone asked.

Pearl whipped to the side, and the ground fell out from under her.

The female who’d spoken reached for her hands and Pearl recoiled.

A blaring sound ripped through her ears, and she closed her eyes, a flickering light flashed before her.

Strong hands pulled her upward. A craft rolling down the street came to a halt.

The male in the car screamed words but Pearl had no idea of their meaning.

‘Keep going,’ the female said to the male, steadying Pearl against the building. To Pearl she said, ‘A local would never drive that fast through these streets. What’s this place coming to?’

Pearl pressed a trembling hand against her head.

‘You have to be careful, sweetheart,’ the female said, brushing her hand against Pearl’s shoulder. ‘I’m sorry I startled you.’

The female had light, springy hair, poofing around her face. Pearl had never seen hair quite like that before. A color as blue as the sky smeared across the lids of the female’s wide eyes.

‘You walked by my store three times,’ she said. ‘You interested in something?’

Pearl glanced over the woman’s shoulder, her breathing still amplified by her near miss with that vehicle. ‘No.’

‘Are you sure? Now, I know my items aren’t for everyone, but most can find something to their liking.’

‘No,’ Pearl said and moved away from the female, tearing toward the scent of the ocean.

*

For the rest of the day, Pearl walked, acclimating herself to the edges of the coastal town. She kept to hidden places, between buildings. On land, everything seemed so close together. Under the water, Pearl could swim for extended periods without seeing any of her troop. The humans tended to travel in groups, which made it more difficult for her to walk around the town unnoticed.

When the sky light started its descent, Pearl searched for shelter. Even though she wasn’t tired, her legs ached. She’d become good at walking yet wasn’t sure if it was her or the runes on the pearls helping her blend in with the humans. The obvious choice for shelter was a building or dwelling, but she wanted a safe place for rest. No human would follow her underwater. In her new human form, she’d never survive the darkness or the inability to breathe in the only place she’d called home. But the closer, the better.

When the sky light finally disappeared over the horizon, Pearl made her way back to the docks. It was much harder to see, but she stopped many times to check her surroundings. There were more than enough boats to borrow for the night. After trying to access several of the covered shelters on the boats, she discovered most were locked. When she came across the one she’d been near when Mrs. Jones found her, the door to the cabin opened without a struggle. It was one of the largest by far, even though it wasn’t much warmer than outside. At least the breeze rippling from the water wouldn’t bother her.

Pearl closed the door, peering through the round window onto the docks. No humans had spotted her, but she couldn’t be too careful. The space was enough for her to spend the night. She sat on the cushioned bench, and the release of pressure on her legs elicited a wave of pleasure through her body. It took a few tries, but she was able to roll her ankles as she leaned against the back of the seat. Her gaze swooped around the space, studying her surroundings. There appeared to be storage of some sort, like the boxes attached to the walls in Mrs. Jones’s kitchen. Bubbles popped in her stomach, and Pearl rubbed her hand over it.

She reached inside her bag for the food from Mrs. Jones. Before lifting any of the sustenance, she stopped. She had no idea how long she’d be on land and wanted to preserve what she had. There had to be food inside of the vessel, or at least something to get her through the night.

A heaviness weighed within her. She could have picked a human, drowned it, and swam home by now. The bonding with Kaito would have already taken place, and she’d never have to see a human again. The difficulty of the situation loomed over her. It wasn’t as easy as the other females made it appear.

Tomorrow, she’d hunt. Right now, she needed nourishment.

Standing proved difficult as her legs protested after sitting for an extended length of time in their non-motile position. In all her life, she’d never experienced stillness in the way her new body demanded. The movement of water had always kept her in motion.

Inside one of the boxes, a bag with assorted colors across the crinkly surface beckoned her. It took her a few minutes to pry it open. She lifted one of the small, circular items and brought it to her nose. It didn’t smell like anything she recognized, but the rough surface seemed appealing enough. It almost reminded her of a shell. She hoped there would be a delicious surprise when she ate it. Tasting the crispy item, her mouth flooded with the familiar flavor. The salt wasn’t the same as where she’d lived her entire life, but she recognized the connection to home.

She sat again, propping her legs across the seat. The ache in her chest for her home widened as she scooped handfuls of the food into her mouth. Between the rocking motion of the boat and the salty taste on her tongue, her eyes became heavy.

In her natural form, sleep was a necessity. But only for short bursts of time. During those moments, she and Syrene locked arms with each other, anchoring themselves together for rest. Others in the troop created larger bundles. Her lack of connection to them kept her separate. She wondered if Kaito would replace Syrene or force her into the troop bundles.

Pearl thought of Kaito. He was one of the strongest swimmers in her generation, and his eyes were kind. She’d never thought of herself being bonded to anyone, not after Daryah. In the throes of the Drywalking ceremony, she still couldn’t picture it.

Syrene’s face filled Pearl’s mind as she settled into the softness of the bench. She held on to the empty bag as she drifted to sleep. Her sister’s face calmed her as she entered one place she could be alone.

As it did underwater, time passed without awareness.

A shuffling sound woke her from a deep sleep.

Her eyes sprung open, and a voice asked, ‘Who are you?’

Chapter 5

A human male stood before Pearl. Her legs jolted, and she tumbled off the bench to the floor. She blinked, trying to orient herself. Time had flown by as she rested, and the sky light shone through the few windows on the craft. Pearl flipped over and jumped up. The empty crinkly bag floated to the floor between them.

The male’s dark hair flopped over his forehead, shielding his eyes. Concern pulled at the corners of them, yet he didn’t move toward her. He stood a head taller, but size didn’t usually matter. In her current form, it might. They were close enough to the water. All she had to do was hold him under.

Her heartbeat throbbed in her ears. ‘Who are you?’

‘Considering this is my father’s boat, I’m pretty sure I have the upper hand with questions here.’ The corner of his mouth lifted, but he didn’t shift from his spot.

All words flew from Pearl’s mind. She glanced over her shoulder. In the brief time she’d inspected the boat, she’d seen only one entrance and exit. Behind him. Her gaze darted to the door, then back to the human.

He released a deep breath. ‘I’m Ben.’

The movement of his hand caught her off guard, and she fell backward. Her legs bent, and she launched toward her seat. Before she hit it, he reached out, grabbing on to her arms with both hands, keeping her hovering in place.

The touch of his hands sent buzzing vibrations through her legs as he helped her straighten.

‘I was trying to shake your hand,’ he said, letting go of her. ‘I’m sorry I startled you.’

‘Shake hands?’ Pearl asked, splaying hers out in front of her.

His eyebrows touched. ‘In greeting?’ Slowly, he held his hand out again. Using his other, he circled her wrist and pulled her closer.

Pearl stepped forward, enough that their toes bumped. He glanced at the floor and then his eyes met hers before he enveloped her hand with his. He moved them up and down. His hands were large and unmarked with scars. The males in the troop suffered deep scars across their bodies, but mostly their hands. Fights with sea creatures permanently marked them.

‘Do they not shake hands where you’re from?’ he asked with a smile.

Pearl shook her head.

‘Oh,’ he said. ‘Now I feel even more like an ass.’ He pulled his fingers through his hair. Clumps sprung back as he moved. They seemed so soft, and Pearl had the urge to touch them. ‘Last night, I realized I’d forgotten to lock the cabin door. I came back to check, and here we are.’

She stared at him.

‘What’s your name?’ he asked after a moment.

‘Pearl,’ she said.

He sat on the seat across from her, removing the threat from the doorway. She had the urge to run, but it was her duty to take a human under the sea. Her opportunity sat before her.

‘Pearl,’ he repeated, licking his lips.

Her gaze focused on the moisture clinging there.

Ben made an amused sound and pointed to the floor. ‘You’ll need to replenish those chips before my mom notices. It’s the only thing she cheats on.’

Pearl had no idea what he meant. His smile warmed her. He didn’t seem upset with her anymore, but she couldn’t trust a human. Even though the two she had met up close hadn’t tried to hurt her, she knew they were deceptive.

His eyes lifted to hers. They reminded her of home and the color of the water during the warmer months. ‘When I came in, you were sleeping. Do you not have a place to stay?’

Pearl blinked.

‘I don’t want to assume anything. I’ve never seen you before, so unless you’re pranking me …’

He left the conversation open. Once again, these humans seemed far too interested in getting to know more about her. They didn’t take to strangers well. Mrs. Jones’s warning floated in her mind.

‘I don’t have a place to stay. I’m visiting.’

‘Who are you visiting?’

‘This town,’ she said.

‘Really? I mean, if I went on vacation, I wouldn’t come to a place like this. Well, not like The Burrow is terrible, but I could think of a few places I’d rather go. I don’t mean to, um, I guess …’

Pearl smiled as the human failed at words. He scratched his head again and flashed his teeth at her. They were the whitest she’d ever seen on a human – not that she’d had much contact with them. A fleeting thought of dragging him under the water flitted through her mind. A force held her in place, stronger than any hunger for fish or the ocean.

‘Sorry. I’ll stop now. I, um, came here to lock up. My brother forgot.’ He held up a key. ‘I do have to get to work, though. Do you need a ride somewhere?’

‘I don’t know where to go.’ Pearl wanted to be in this male’s presence. Her hands trembled at her sides. How was she to get him off the boat and into the water? The other females had said males were easier, but Pearl had no desire to try. What was it about Ben and Mrs. Jones?

A voice in the back of her mind urged her to take Ben into the ocean. Then, she imagined his dark hair floating underwater, yet his eyes would never look at her the same way. She’d seen dead humans before, at each of the Drywalking ceremonies. The lifeless eyes always stared at her before the ritual sacrifice took place. Those blank stares haunted her more than she’d ever care to admit.

She blinked away the vision.

‘I have a friend, Carolina. She’s home and can hang out with you for a little while.’

Pearl stood straighter. The pale-haired female from the day before. Carolina was smaller than Ben, an easier target. ‘Is she near water?’ Pearl didn’t want to take Ben, but she could take a female. The female would be easy enough to grab if she were close enough.

‘She has a house close to water. Why?’

‘I’ll go there.’

Ben lifted her bag from the small table. He moved it up and down. ‘You didn’t travel with much, huh?’