Chapter 12

Brizo's screech was sharp and thunderous as she thrashed like a shark in a blood frenzy. Edina circled the ship, ripping the throat from a pirate before shredding through his skin in search of his organs. I didn't want to feed, couldn't think of it, not with my girl and sister trapped aboard their vessel with the rest of the monstrous men.

As we broke the surface, an abnormal sound rumbled atop the sea and we were washed in blinding light. "What is that?" I called to my sisters, as our siren song proved ineffective. Edina, cocked her head as we waded, the men cheering and leering at us as if they'd just won some sort of game against our ocean goddesses.

Edina's eyes widened. "I've read of these… but I fear if my research is correct, that these are no ordinary pirates. These pirates… they are that of legend amongst both land and sea. Goddess help us."

Brizo smacked the top of the water in anger before pointing a claw at me. "This is all your fault. Our sister ensnared by these creatures while you laid the bait!"

"I'm sorry?—"

"I will fix this. I am always the one to fix my sisters' mistakes." Brizo jeered.

I swam closer, ignoring the hooting and hollering of the men. "What does that mean?"

But with only an answering glare that would freeze a charging barracuda, my fierce sister sank below the tide. Edina took my arm and pulled me under, safe from the gawking of the pirates. I spared a final glace at Cupida as she swayed in her trap, like an ordinary fish. My girl standing in front of her, fighting to protect my own kind. My heart swelled and splintered in pain. Brizo was right, I'd disappointed my sisters, and I'd failed my mate.

"Where are you going?" I asked as Edina dove deeper.

She twirled. "Research."

Of course. In a crisis, we all reverted to our most instinctual states of being. Brizo to her rage, Edina to her knowledge, and me… what did I offer? Swimming. Even a guppy could do that. With a discouraged sigh, I trailed beneath the ship, watching the neon lights change from green to pink, and praying to the goddesses that I wouldn't see a splash of bubbles at any moment—indicating my sister or my girl being tossed lifeless overboard. In my time of meeting my sailor mate, I'd lamented at how powerless she was. Yet now, I found myself to be the feeble one. My claws, fangs, and fins—even my song—were no match for pirates. What use was I? Just a fish following beneath a mighty whale and waiting.

For the first time in my life—I longed for legs. I would have traded my scales in a heartbeat if it meant saving her. And in that moment, when the water glowed purple from the pirate's magic ship—I realized I was deeply drowning in love.