25. Chapter 25

Chapter twenty-five

Blue

S noozing while curled up in a corner of my pool is as far away from the pain as I am able to get. The water is soothing. The fish keep coming to check on me. They really are far too domesticated. The only reason I wouldn't have eaten them in the ocean is because they are small. Too small to be worth the hassle.

I am a cruel and vicious predator. As Sammy is discovering. I only know how to hurt and destroy.

The sound of his sobs are haunting me. I made him cry. How many times is that now? It's at least two. Two times too many.

I sigh as the water around me turns pink with the light of the rising sun. That's another night with no sleep. I look up at the refracted patterns on the surface. They don't seem to shine so much when Sammy is not by my side.

Suddenly, I'm aware of a presence waiting quietly by the pool. It's Gray. My stomach twists uneasily. Things have been awkward between us since our fight and all this stuff with Sammy hasn't helped.

I float up to the surface to see what the demon wants. His dark eyes regard me calmly. The scent of several men wafts on the breeze and burns my nose. He has been to the sex club again. I wrinkle my nose to try to dislodge the smell. I don't like it, but I can feel the tremendous power rolling off Gray. I can see why he does it.

If I was a sex demon, I would have withered and died by now. He is much braver than me.

"I have something for you," he says quietly.

I pull myself out of the water and stand beside him. He holds out his hand. In it I see my favorite pebble and the sight of it is like a sucker punch. Of course Gray is returning my mating offering. Sammy and I are no longer mates.

"I've been working on it for a while. It was going to be a mating gift, but I think you should still have it."

I blink. The pebble has been polished, and a small hole drilled into it. A silver chain loops through it. Gray has turned it into a necklace.

"Thank you," I manage to breathe out.

It's a lovely gift, it really is. And I adore everything it signifies. It's an olive branch. It's forgiveness. It's an offer of friendship that I probably don't deserve.

Back in the harem, I rarely tried to help him. He was locked in a room. Chained to a bed. His mind broken and thoughts scattered. He had been imprisoned and used by humans for a hundred years. I was in the harem for a mere five. Yet, I cowered and thought of no one else.

My shaking hand takes the necklace and I slip it over my head. As it settles against my chest, a tidal wave of immense power washes over me. I stare wide eyed at Gray. This necklace is enchanted.

"It's a powerful shield," he says.

I stare at him blankly.

"Sirens won't be able to sense you," he says.

There is not a single thought left in my head. All I can do is stand here and stare at Gray.

"You can return to the ocean," he says slowly and carefully.

Explaining it to me as if I'm witless. Which I probably am right now. I'm like a discarded shell. I look like a creature, but there is nothing inside.

Gray speaks again. "They will still be able to physically see you, of course. But you can sense them and stay away." He shrugs. "The ocean is a big place. "

"It…it really is," I stammer as my ability to speak comes flooding back.

A whole barrage of emotions overwhelms me now that my mind has caught up. Elation. Joy. Excitement. Gratitude. A thousand others that I cannot name.

"I should have made it for you sooner," Gray says as his cheeks tinge with color. "But I was too caught up in my own shit."

Amphitrite, do I know all about that. Gray has nothing, absolutely nothing, to feel ashamed about. He has given me the most wondrous gift in all the world. I don't care if it is a little late.

I move awkwardly towards him. If anything deserves a hug, this does. But he skitters back from me and I freeze. We stare at each other. He chuckles and then I do too.

I hate that touch is difficult for him, I really do. But also a selfish part of me is so very glad I'm not the only one.

"Thank you," I say again.

He nods. I can see in his eyes that he is aware of how very much this means to me. He gives me a shy smile and then drifts away. Across the grass, back to the house and his mate.

If only I had a mate to show my wonderful gift to.

T his has to have been the worst idea of my life. Shopping malls are awful. Noisy, busy, brightly lit. I cannot fathom why humans like them.

As for being inspired by Gray's immense gift, and thinking to win Sammy over with an offering, a shopping mall was a dreadful choice for my hunt. What the hell was I thinking? I should just admit defeat and go home. But returning empty-handed seems all kinds of wrong.

I sigh heavily and peer at the mall map to see if I've missed any sections. Clothes are no good because I've completely lost track of what humans think is fashionable. Fancy chocolates seem frivolous. I didn't like any of the jewelry, but maybe I should take another look. Or maybe a new phone? Sammy's has a crack on it, but it appears to still work fine.

Why is this so hard? In the ocean, I'd simply set out to catch the biggest fish my hunting skills are capable of. But somehow, I don't think Sammy would be impressed if I presented him with a raw tuna.

But maybe he would? My hand clutches the pebble around my neck. It's around an hour's drive to the nearest shore. I could go hunting, and then squish my catch into the trunk of the car and get it to Sammy before it smelled too bad.

Perhaps a shark would be more pleasing? Humans sometimes stuff shark heads and put them on their walls. I've seen it. But sharks don't taste very nice. I think Sammy might prefer something to eat.

As I turn and start heading towards the parking lot, a man smiles and winks at me.

Cold unease twists my guts. I saw him earlier. Is he following me? I ignore him and keep walking. I'm probably panicking over nothing. Humans like the way I look. They are drawn to my physical appearance. Amongst my own kind, I'm scrawny with a face that is too round and soft. Here, I fit the beauty standards. Ritchie claimed the other boys and I were the most beautiful in the world.

This man is likely just hoping to try his luck. He'll accost me with nothing more than a cheesy pick up line and try to give me his number. It's fine.

I scan the reflections in the shop windows until I find one that shows a clear view of behind me. He is trailing after me. Hands in his pockets. And another large man is walking by his side.

My lungs are tightening. My muscles are trembling. Amphitrite, I'm such a baby .

Another man in a dark suit walks out of a shop in front of me. He only looks at me briefly, but something about his eyes makes me shudder.

Now another man walks out of a shop on my right. He doesn't look at me at all, but he does look at the dark suit man. I'm cornered. Two men in front of me, two behind.

I'm being paranoid. Ritchie is dead. I'm free. No one is going to imprison and enslave me ever again.

I drag a hand across my sweaty brow. Ritchie had very powerful friends. Very rich ones. He brought them to the penthouse and made his harem entertain them. What if they liked it? Liked it enough to want to start their own harem? What if one of the many people who used my body liked it so much that they want a repeat? They might want to keep me and use me over and over again.

My hand trembles as I reach for my phone. Somehow, I manage to send a garbled, incoherent text to the group chat, even though I feel like I'm going to pass out.

I can't use my voice here. There are hundreds of humans. Each with a camera on their phone. Nevermind the security cameras. I can't reveal the paranormal world. Whatever the price. Humans would hunt us all down, and I'm not so selfish as that.

At the porno shoot, everyone was within range to be affected by my power. And I was behind the cameras. And who would believe a handful of pornographers?

This is a very, very different situation.

My phone vibrates in my hand, and I nearly jump out of my skin. I glance down at it. Red is telling me to get to the nearest shadow.

My head spins. Gray is coming to get me. It's going to be okay.

I look around frantically. There! By the entrance to the toilets. The adjoining shop juts out and is creating a deep shadow on a patch of empty wall. I hurry over to it.

The man behind me picks up speed and the two in front suddenly turn towards the toilets. It's strangely satisfying. It feels good to know I'm not causing drama over nothing .

I get to the shadow and turn around as if I'm simply resting by leaning against the wall. The men following me are suddenly very interested in the window display of the shop next to me. I've lost sight of the other two.

An arm emerges from the wall behind me and yanks me backwards. I yelp, and then I'm standing in the dining room at home. With Gray, Pink, Jade, Ned and Sammy's worried eyes on me.

Sammy. Sammy is here. This is wonderful. It truly is. I already feel better, but my mind is still full of panic.

"Are you okay, Blue?" he asks. He looks so worried.

I can't breathe, let alone talk. My thoughts are spinning and whirling and I can't grab a single one. I need my pool. I need to be in water where it is safe. Where I can breathe.

I stride towards the pool. Sammy is walking beside me. I can hear his voice, but I can't understand his words.

The water glistens in the late afternoon sun. I dive in with all my clothes on and sink to the bottom. The relief is almost instant.

I look up at the surface. Why isn't Sammy joining me? He seemed concerned. I want him by my side. Maybe even to hold me. Where is he?

Then it hits me like a tsunami. Sammy is no longer my mate. He can't breathe underwater. My gift has been revoked. Oh hells.

I look up at the sparkling surface. He is still up there. I could go to him. Except I can't. Fear has paralyzed me. Now I'm in the water, I don't think I can leave.

Quite possibly ever again.

Tears fall. I can't stop them. I don't even want to. All my emotions are too big to contain.

After a couple of hours, Sammy leaves. It was so good of him to wait for so long. I'm devastated that I couldn't find the courage to go to him. And now he is gone. The opportunity is lost forever.

His absence burns.

My tears turn to sobs and I cry all alone in the bottom of my pool.