Page 356 of Kingdoms of Night

The hairs so the back of my neck were still on end even though I was back on the mainland. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched, followed, or both.

What if Elian was watching me through the eyes of the crow that watched and cawed at me from the rafters of my tavern?

I’d swam to Calbrock Bay early that morning, before the fishermen even set out in their row boats. It was important that no one had questions about the bar maid rising from the sea out of nowhere with colorful scales all over her naked flesh.

The storm had washed away days ago, and nothing was left but sunshine and beauty in all of Calbrock Bay.

Some of the townsfolk left the safety of their homes and walked the beach and boardwalk, smiling, and enjoying the peaceful weather.

It was nice to see the sun again. I’d grown to love it. But, it wasn’t enough to chase out the darkness that now stalked the village below.

If the townsfolk only knew that evil was in their village, they might never leave their homes again.

Now, I was prepared to meet that evil, and attempt to make a deal.

I quickened my pace and started down one of the steep hills Calbrock Bay was known for. Everything was built up what felt like a mountain that led into lush jungles. The closest village was miles away.

Frowning, I stumbled upon a scene that I didn’t like.

There were several villagers crowded around something, and my instincts told me that all was not well.

Something was horribly wrong.

The chatter of the people surrounding me faded as I focused on tuning my senses. My gift of sound searched the crowd for clues as to what they were talking about.

It was all too confusing.

Too many people were talking at once.

“Miss,” I called to a woman standing on the outskirts talking to an elderly man. “What’s happening?”

“Oh, its horrible,” she said, shaking her head. She pulled her tattered shawl closer and leaned in. She smelled of coal and ale. “There’s a young woman found dead in the alley.”

My body turned cold as I processed what she’d just told me.

My hands grew sweaty and I slid them across my pants and kept moving closer.

My mind whirled.

No. Not again.

I cut through the crowd, no longer caring about being discreet. I was desperate to get a look and find out if the dead girl was a siren. I was saddened that any girl had died, but if it was a sea-folk, there would be even more dire consequences.

If the people of Calbrock Bay saw her scales. It would all be over. Our secret would be out.

Calm down, Siddhe. It might not be a sea-maiden at all.

My fears were realized as I pushed through a crowd of curious onlookers and stood before the body in question.

I could have burst into tears, yet my blood boiled with rage.

It was another one of my people, a dead mermaid.

I glanced down at her naked feet and how the webbing was still noticeable.

Then, something caught my attention and I covered my mouth in shock. Not because of the body, but because there was a haze of magic shrouded over the entire scene, like an invisible umbrella that only those with magic would notice.

Each time a gentle breeze swept through, sweet with the scent of the sea, and warm with the rays of the sun, the magic barrier would ripple.

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