Page 4 of Tides of Time

Her smile was sad. “You already have. Time and time again. You saved me, and in doing so, I found you. I just,” she sighed, her shoulders sagging in defeat. “The pod grows large. Some days, wouldn’t it be nice to slip away?”

He frowned and watched as the joyous light in her eyes seemed to fade even darker than when she returned from the hunt.

A sudden, forceful shift in pressure sent a wave of water crashing over him, causing him to instinctively look up. The surface of the water stretched endlessly into the horizon, sparkling and shimmering under the sunlight.

“Fucking hell,” Orion snarled as he stared at the small form in the water above them.

Bubbles obscured the overall form, but Orion knew a child when he saw one. He watched as hair swirled the water, tangling in fingers that flailed to propel the young body to the surface no matter how hard the young girl fought.

Seconds ticked by and his skin began to itch with the need to do something. He couldn’t touch the small human fighting for their life, his gift was more a curse and would send the child to death instantly.

Ariana’s tail flicked past his face - a dark rush of green in the empty vast blue around them.

She pushed up, propelling herself as quickly as she could, leaving him below to watch.

He knew his wife. She would save that young girl even if it exposed her.

And then the pod will destroy her.

Without a thought, Orion pulled at the small shell around his wrist, jerking it free rather than just lifting it to his lips. It was impossible to feel temperature underwater with the ocean all around him, but he knew the shell would be warm, heated from its place against his skin. Orion’s lips wrapped around it as he pushed as much breath as he could into the small charm.

No sound blasted through the water, but the small shell they all received connected them back to Galene.

Orion held no clue how the original siren transported herself to and from drownings in action, but she always did.

This time was no exception.

Galene's pale blonde hair cascaded in soft waves behind her. Her piercing sea green eyes bore into his soul with an intensity that spoke of knowing and understanding beyond words. Every movement seemed to have purpose and grace, as if she were both a dancer and a queen.

“The child!” Orion watched as Ariana reached the young child so far above their place near the bottom of the ocean.

Galene's gaze rose to the surface, as if the concept of urgency held no meaning for her. Her expression remained serene and unaffected, a stark contrast to the chaos and frenzy around her. The waves crashed against the shore behind her, but her attention was fixed on something beyond, something powerful and ethereal. She seemed to be in another world entirely, one where time moved slower and urgency was inconsequential.

“That young girl is not for our kind. Her soul does not speak out and there are none who know her to bargain.” She’d returned her gaze back to him as she spoke. Pain shone in her eyes, but her decision would be final.

No one understood why Galene made the choices she made, but Orion couldn’t keep his gaze on the scene above. Not when Ariana’s scream pierced through the depths. The sound of her sorrow tugged at his heart in ways that made him wish he could save her from what hurt her.

He couldn’t.

Death could hurt them all, and they just needed to accept that. Every being thrown over would not live to take a breath under the waves.

TWO

White hot painsliced through Ariana. The same pain she’d felt as she’d gasped for her last breath of air before Galene shook her world to its core. Every molecule in her body heated to a boil as she clutched the small girl in her arms.

She cradled the lost one like she did so many of the young in their pod. Only this girl would never smile up at her and reach her arms around her neck. This girl was not saved by the curse.

Tears blurred her vision - the strangest thing she’d known as a mermaid was that she could generate them - and it was only as she released the young girl, trying to return her body to those who may have lost her if there were any - that she saw Galene’s distinct blonde hair below her.

“You were here?” Ariana hissed, the snarled question no doubt reaching the other woman in the depths below, even though only her husband looked up.

As Ariana swam through the dark water, her body burned with physical and emotional pain. But as she pushed herself to swim faster, a new sensation took over - one of fierce anger. It engulfed her like an icy shield, shielding her from the potential consequences of her next actions.

“Galene!” Ariana screamed the name, daring the other woman to show a sign of recognition. “Look at me!” Ariana nearly choked on the water, something that only occurred during intense emotions that drew the water into the lungs.

Galene spun and even the deep sorrow darkening her pale green eyes was not enough to calm Ariana’s path.

“You were here, she could have been saved.” Ariana’s tail swished rapidly in the water, churning it underneath her. Preparing her. “I’m going back and you’ll fix what you were too late to handle.” She had to believe it was only that Galene was too late.

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