Page 175 of Storm and Sea

“The mayor wants a meeting. They’re waiting for you right now.”

The crowd shifted at this. A tangible zing of energy. A primal reaction to the news that another being awaited them. Prey responding to the presence of a predator.

“It’s perfectly safe!” Nyel hurried, sensing them drawing away. “They want to meet us. I’ve been living there for weeks.”

“We can tell,” Wyll commented, eyeing his clothes.

The noise of the crowd grew, pushing Nyel back.

They won’t come. I promised I could do it and they won’t come. I’ve failed…

“I’ll meet them.”

Everyone stilled as his aunt swam up beside him.

“If Nyel says it’s safe, if he says this is our chance to save our crop and stay in the bay, I trust him. Me and Sabella will go.”

Sonia’s declaration had an instant effect on the crowd. Mer children were rare and precious. If she was willing to bring a babe to this meeting, her trust in him wase unconditional. Nyel was suddenly very aware of the weight of that trust.

“I’ll go.”

Chel rose from the crowd, much to the shock of her parents.

“Oh, um, yeah, me too,” Wyll added, joining her. Nyel didn’t miss the way Chel beamed at Wyll and intertwined their hands together. Murmurs rose.

“The crop is dying.”

“If there is a chance to be rid of the boats, what’s the harm in trying?”

“I can herd fish.”

Voices of affirmation joined the throng.

“My son is the smartest sireno in the seven seas; if he says this will save our fields, then that is that,” Bianca said, joining her son.

Nyel was warmed, if not a little embarrassed. His father, Donato, joined with his wife. Pretty soon, Nyel had a team of two dozen Sireni ready to surface alongside him. Finally, Mr. Ernesti relented.

“It’s this, or risk the dangers of colder waters. I’ll go.”

The party agreed that Mr. Ernesti would speak for the group when they surfaced. Nyel led them away from the village, away from the safety of the bay, and towards the beach—towards Baia Vita.

The sun was low over the water, but nobody was going home for the night. In fact, Sheriff Fanti and her two deputies were having a hell of a time keeping everyone off the beach. Since word of the Uomo del Mare spread within the hour, everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of myth come to life. Spectators leaned eagerly over the railings, squabbling for the best view of the beach.

Leo had no interest in being jostled around and looking over heads just for a glimpse. Instead, he found himself isolated atop the large stones at the base of the cliff. Was it smart to climb the sea-slick rock at high tide? Probably not, but now he had an unobtrusive view of the beach where the mayor now paced trenches into the sand.

Only the mayor, Sheriff Fanti, and her deputies, Signore Marcello and Atreus, were allowed on the beach. Ready to receive their oceanic visitors. Leo couldn’t decide if he was excited or scared of what might poke its head from the water.

It was only after Dr. Romano reassured him no fewer than ten times that Edgar was in no immediate danger that Leo finally tore himself away from his brother’s hospital bed. Edgar had a number of bumps and bruises, the worst of the injuries being a sprained wrist. Nothing fatal. Nothing life-altering.

Not like the life-altering news that Mer existed. And not in the sea, but among them.

Bile rose to his mouth at the vision swimming behind his eyes. He could see Atreus from his perch. Standing beside Giovanni, a black shark tooth necklace gleaming on his chest. He appeared perfectly normal. Belonging in a way that Leo never did. The necklace was proof of that. Atreus had earned his place, and he wasn’t even human.

His best friend wasn’t human. All those times Atreus made excuses not to swim, even earning himself the nickname Gatto - meaning cat for his distaste for the water. Leo laughed humorlessly to himself. He’d been so stupid. But how was he supposed to guess that his best friend was a sea creature? That his best friend wasn’t like the rest of them.

And yet, there he stands with a necklace around his neck. While I’m sitting here, hiding on a rock.

And Nyel—Leo didn’t know what to think. Every time he thought about him, that strange buzzing sensation would start at the base of his spine and float all the way to his head. Even knowing that Nyel wasn’t human couldn’t chase those errant feelings away.