Page 56 of Storm and Sea

“Oh well, Spirits forbid you be uncomfortable.”

“I’m asking you as your father, Nephi.”

Blood surged like molten fire through his veins, flooding the hidden vessels beneath his skin. In an instant, Nephi’s fins flared wide, tripling in size—the legacy of his RaMaa mother written in every vein of crimson. The membrane along his back and tail expanded like the crest of a sailfish. Their surface glowed with the heat of his blood, pulsing in time with his rage-fueled heart.

The sandwinder yelped in alarm and scurried away.

Nephi rounded on his father like the Kraken disturbed from sleep.

“You have no right to call yourself a father,” he spat so close he blew water into Donato’s face.

Donato retreated, his scales cast in red as the sun passed through Nephi’s flared fins. Nephi relished the fear in the old sireno’s eyes. It was delicious and so deserved.

That’s right. Cower from the monster you created.

“If not for me, then for your brother. He’s done nothing to hurt you,” his father said, even as he shrank away.

Nephi wrinkled his nose in disgust. “You’re pathetic. Fine, I’ll get him, but don’t forget,” he hissed, flaring the spine on his tail, making himself twice—no, three times—larger than his sire. “You owe me, and one day, I’ll make damn sure to collect.”

He held so much power over this pathetic excuse for a Mer. Nephi was a force of nature— an imposing display of brute strength. His frame was wide, every muscle honed and taut. He was built to overpower, to crush, to dominate.

At any second, he could end this man. And he wanted Donato to know it. Needed him to feel it—to understand, deep in his bones, just how powerful Nephi had become. What an incredible monster he was.

With a final glare, he swam away, leaving his father frozen in dread at the thought of what this monster might one day demand of him. Of course, Nephi had no intention of cashing in on this favor. But knowing the idea would ferment in his father’s head and keep him up at night was reward enough.

Nyel was done pissing around in human territory. Time to come home. But as Nephi stalked his oblivious brother, there wasn’t a single opportunity to grab him. Nyel stuck to that Mer’s side like glue. And in turn, the other Mer kept an annoyingly close eye on Nyel. Even when the Mer’s back was turned, Nyel was too surrounded by humans for Nephi to make a move.

Days passed, along with any shred of patience Nephi had left. The moment Nyel was alone on the beach, he pounced.

“Finally, you little shit.”

He expected some resistance from his brother but not outright refusal. It didn’t matter; once Nyel realized the kind of company he was keeping, he’d turn tail and run. They all did once they knew the truth.

The second Nyel figures out who he’s been wasting his time on, he’ll go running home, and I can finally get the hell out of here.

It was time to confront the other imposter among these humans.

Nephi yanked an oversized coat from a clothing line. What better way to blend in with the locals than to wear their clothes? Normally, he wouldn’t have bothered and remained in his shirt and pants, but the scars on his body posed a problem. He was too noticeable now. Conspicuous. He couldn’t allow anyone to make a note of his presence.

In and out, just like always.

But it had been a while since Nephi infiltrated human territory, and he found himself ducking behind walls as a group of fishermen passed in the early morning light.

Make this quick, damn it. Then you can get back to the Pod.

If he died among his brothers and sisters, fighting for his home, for his people - at least, then it would mean something.

Not if.

When.

When he died.

Nephi understood that there would be no return trip. And he itched to fight until his final breath. He’d die on the front lines.

Like my Ludo did.

But he sure as hell wouldn’t let a human get the better of him in this grimy fishing village. That wasn’t his fate.