“This feels right,” he said. “Like… we’re supposed to be out here, and not at myparty.”
“You and your superstitions,” Moona said, but she let Adrian be consumed by his fantasies. It was too much work arguingwithhim.
For a little bit, Adrian had been nothing but worried after they’d left the palace. He worried about how his father would react, how his guests would take it, and mostly, what his motherwouldsay.
But his worries got farther and farther away the closer he got to the shoreline. It was like, for him, approaching land was the only way to calm his franticheart.
There was a storm whipping up. It was a nasty one. There was thunder and lightning in the sky, and the waves were so strong they tossed Adrian and Moona back and forthbetweenthem.
Adrian knew the storm was caused by his father. Poseidon had finally noticed his absence. Adrian could hear what his father would say once he returned.Irresponsible! We’ve been planning this party for years, and you run off in the most disrespectful way possible! How can I possibly believe you will ever be ready tobeking?
The shouts in his ears dulled as he got closer and closer to the beach.Just a little farther,Adrian toldhimself.
“I don’t like this, Adrian,” Moona called over the storm’s rampage. “It’s getting hard for me to keep upwithyou!”
“Just float for a bit, Moona,” Adrian told her. “I’ll be okay onmyown.”
He left Moona behind as he continued on his quest. The water grew shallower, shallower than he was used to. Adrian paused for a moment to survey his surroundings. If he had to go back so soon, he was at least going to enjoy the few precious secondshehad...
Someone was on the water. Adrian was familiar with surfing, but he’d never tried it himself, and especially never in a storm. The human who was surfing now was either crazy, or they had adeathwish.
Adrian spotted a mass of blonde hair, and his curiosity peaked. He swam closer, against the roar of the waves. He thought he was seeing things for a moment, but on closer inspection, he found that his eyes hadn’tdeceivedhim.
It was the girl! The same one whom he’d spotted on the boat earlier. Adrian couldn’t believe his luck. What was she doing out here, tempting the favor of the gods? Poseidon had claimed many souls who’d dared to question him on the water, and he wouldn’t mind claimingonemore.
Adrian decided he couldn’t let that happen. He’d protect her from his father’s wrath. Adrian swam after the girl, keeping himself submerged underwater so she wouldn’t see. He wasn’t sure what he was doing, but he figured at least his presence would be enough to ensure her safety during his father’stantrum.
Adrian became enchanted by the sight of the girl’s lips, her soft eyelids, and her excited expression as she soared over him like an angel. They moved as one, him beneath the waves and her above them, and for a moment, Adrian felt a strong connection pass between them that went deeper than anything he’d everexperienced.
Then Adrian made a major mistake. He got too close, and his tail poked out of the water. He turned over, and his face caught the girl’s again. She looked down, and her expression widened in shock. With that vital moment, she tumbled intothesea.
Adrian panicked. He watched as the girl was tossed around underwater like a doll, helpless against the sea’s power. He knew he had a decisiontomake.
If he saved her, the secret of the mermaids would bediscovered.
And if he didn’t… she’d surelydrown.
Adrian wasn’t going to let that happen, not for any secret. So he dove in after the girl even as Moona was screaming at him to becareful.
He had trouble maneuvering around the waves— his father must be enraged. But he was the son of Poseidon, and he had some power, too. Adrian commanded the waves to calm around him, his magic fighting his father’s. The seas obeyed him, quieting so there was a soft patch of calm amongst the ragingocean.
The girl’s body stopped spinning in the water, but she’d gone limp. She hadpassedout.
He had to get her onto land and get some air into her lungs, fast. It was her only chance. Adrian wrapped his arms around the girl. He was surprised at how light and perfect she felt against his chest, two lost pieces fitting together. It was like her body was made for Adrian… or maybe, Adrianforher.
It was easy for him to carry her through the water… the easiest thing he ever did. His magic ensured the water stayed calm around him as he lifted the girl high so that her head was bobbing out of the water. He headed to a secret place…hiscove.
There was a small beach tucked away from the others near a cove that had long been forgotten. Adrian had claimed it long ago, and used it whenever he got the chance to comeonland.
Adrian always got excited when he went on shore, but his excitement was currently quashed by worry. He placed the girl on the beach and scooted onto thebeach.
“Come on, girl,” Adrian muttered when her chest didn’t move. He began pumping her heart, doing thirty reps before breathing deeply into her mouth, filling her lungs withneededair.
She didn’t move. Adrian continued, begginghernow.
“Please, please wake up,” Adrian pleaded, like his own life depended on it. “Don’t leavemenow.”
He wasn’t so sure why he’d grown so attached to this person he didn’t even know. All he was sure of was, if he lost her now, he was pretty sure he’d losehimself,too.
