Page 57 of Storm and Sea

Dodging groups of fishermen, Nephi made his way to the docks. A steady stream of men starting their boats filled the air with tolling bells, clanking metal, and groaning engines. He took a deep breath through his nose, filtering out the smell of oil and fish. He found the foreign scent soon enough.

Nyel’s Mer companion, Atreus, was already working alongside the humans. The other men had taken off their shirts and tucked them into their pants, but Atreus remained the only one still wearing his.

Like that’s gonna keep the water off you. One slip-up is all it’d take for them to gouge your eyes out.

But he supposed this was the razor’s edge a halfling was forced to walk. All because of what he was. Nephi could scent Nyel further up the hill, likely doing his ‘job.’

A lamb playing at being the lion.

Nephi waited for Atreus to separate from the other men before he moved. Keeping his hood up and face low, he stalked forward. His steps were sure, and within seconds, he was on the Mer. He bumped his shoulder into Atreus hard, knocking him off balance.

“Oh, sorry—” Atreus started, but his voice cut off when Nephi’s bruising grip tightened on his upper arm.

Bending to his ear, Nephi whispered, “I know what you are— sea monster. If you don’t want to go for a swim in front of all these humans, you’ll meet me by the rocks in three minutes.”

With a final brutal squeeze, he shoved Atreus aside and disappeared into the narrow lane, shadowed by the swaying clotheslines.

Now, Nephi leaned comfortably against the black stone, relishing the scent still lingering in his nostrils. It was fear. When Atreus heard his threat, the stench of it rolled off him in waves. Nephi savored the smell. It came off everyone he ever encountered. He was used to it—expected it even. It made him feel powerful.

He was a halfling mutt. Deranged, angry, and dangerous. Cursed with Skraith inside him, if such a thing existed to begin with. Maybe that was the source of his rage? In the end, it didn’t matter; Nephi knew who he was, Skraith or not.

If they only see a monster, then I’ll be the worst monster that ever breathed.

The sound of shifting sand alerted him to Atreus’s presence. He breathed in deeply, the scent of fear strong in the air.

That’s right. You should be scared.

“Who are you?”

Nephi stepped lazily from the stone, lowering his hood and sizing up this Mer. He looked strong. They’d be evenly matched if it ever came down to a fight. But that was in a fair fight. And who said Nephi ever fought fair?

“Someone that knows all about you, Atreus.”

He basked in the way the other male stiffened at the sound of his name.

“How did you⁠—”

“Nyel told me. He’s awfully fond of you. Seems to think very highly of you.”

“You know him?”

“We are,” he paused, “distant relatives.”

“What do you want with him? With me?”

“It’s time for him to stop playing house with predators and come home.”

“He won’t go. I’ve tried.”

“He will. Once he learns the truth.” Nephi let that ominous phrase hang in the air for a moment, extracting every last bit of tension. He watched as it settled over his opponent like a chain. “Why haven’t you shown Nyel your Mer form?”

“W-what?”

“Is it because you know he’ll run away? Just like everyone else in your life?”Atreus’s jaw clenched so tight Nephi could practically hear his teeth grinding. A thrill shot up his spine.

Maybe I’ll get some action after all.

His body itched for a fight. For claws and teeth.