Page 67 of Blood of the Sirens
“You’ve thought of something,” Javi pointed out.
I nodded before I put my hands out for his notebook. Hurriedly, I scribbled down the basic details.
Another mer captured by the sea witch. He helped me escape. He might help me.
I shoved it back at Javi who spun the notebook around to read. His brow furrowed. “Are you sure you trust this Caspian guy?”
Exasperated, I threw my hands in the air.
Javi sighed. “Yeah, I get it, girl. Not much choice.” He tapped the notebook with his index finger twice, deep in thought. “If you get in the water, do you think he’ll come?”
I pulled the notebook back and scrawled one sentence:
We have to try.
Javi blew out a puff of air and raked his hands through his hair. “Right. OK. Sounds like we have a hunting expedition to plan.”
I snagged his wrist with my hand, giving him a worried, anxious look.
Javi covered my hand with his free one. “It’s not a hunt. You know what I meant. Dario would think it’s all awesome and mystical and woo and shit. No one is going to tell the authorities or try to capture your friend for science.”
Logically, I trusted Javi, but hearing him say it aloud helped. I nodded.
“OK. I know you’re worried about your boy toy, but it’s too late to get the boat out now. Eat and get some rest. I’ll stop by first thing in the morning to get you and we’ll head out. Unless you don’t want to be alone tonight?”
It was sweet of him to offer, and though part of me was still afraid, I waved his offer away. I had to get back on this horse myself.
“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I threw myself off the stool and into Javi’s chest, wrapping him in a massive hug. His arms came around me, and it felt so good to have someone on my side that I fought back tears.
Javi gave me a final pat on the back. “I’ll help you, Jesse. I’ll always help you.”
I pulled away, sniffing, and waved as he left.
For a while, I stayed just like that, standing between the hallway and the kitchen like I was on the precipice of something life-changing. And maybe I was.
I marched directly out to the back porch and down to the water’s edge of the intercoastal waterway. I eyed my kayak and reluctantly got into it. I wasn’t afraid to swim in the open water anymore; it seemed laughable to be afraid of what floated near the surface when I knew what truly lurked down below.
I paddled hard down the waterway, past the spot I’d first met Merrick. Tears blurred my vision, but I kept going even as dusk settled around me like a coat. My arms burned with exertion, but it felt cathartic. I didn’t stop until the point of my kayak was at the mouth of where the waterway emptied into the open ocean. I pushed myself up onto the sandy shore and shoved the kayak up so it wouldn’t move.
Descending back into the water, I closed my eyes and tried to relax. My entire body submerged, and I desperately wished I could call out to Caspian.
Darkness filtered in from the sky, the last rays of the red sun clinging onto the horizon, but stubbornly I waited. I knew how good a mer’s sense of smell was from my brief time in my other form. If he was nearby, he’d scent me.
Shit, what if the other mers scented me too?
Well, I’d have to just deal with that if it happened.
When it happened.
If Caspian truly wanted to help, he’d come.
Hopefully.
Long, agonizing minutes went by, and my legs went numb from being in the cold water for so long. I should have put my wetsuit on before coming out here, but it didn’t feel right to wear anymore. Every rustle of the wind in between the long grasses caught my gaze as I scanned constantly for alligators. It would be harder and harder to spot them the darker it got.
Don’t be an idiot. No one is coming.
