Meeda needed to surface.She had no idea where she was.She surfaced and quickly saw the second island of Wonder.She was nearly home.
Akervel was long gone, and she focused on healing the bite as she swam at a more leisurely pace for the big island.She approached the shore and looked for the marks for Mia’s house.When she got close, she saw Akervel in his merman shape, grinning.She was crying hot tears of pain, and he looked at her, her hands still pressing the wound that was leaking blood.His outrage was extreme, and the water around them roiled.He slipped an arm around her, protecting her bad side and supporting her as he swam them to her house.
He shifted his grip on her when they reached the shallows, and he carried her out of the water when he shifted.His gills purged, and he said, “When did that happen?”
“Just as I was about to grab your tail.Second Wonder Island.”She fought the whimpers that tried to come out.
He walked her up to the deck, and a smiling Mia came out, turning to a Mia who cursed and ran inside.
Akervel said, “Where did she go?”
“Water from the sacred pool.”Mia came back.“Meeda, I need to cut your suit off.”
Akervel hooked his fingers in her suit, and his claws peeled it open.He set her on a lounge and removed all the fabric.
She was breathing in short gasps, and Mia held the bottle over her.“Ready?”
Meeda nodded and held her breath.The dribble hit the bites, and Meeda wanted to scream, but what would the neighbours think?She let the tears course down her cheeks and sobbed silently.
Mia’s voice was thick when she said, “I have to do the back.”
Meeda nodded, turned, and clutched at the lounge underneath her while the burn through the myriad wounds paralyzed her senses into white-hot agony.
Mia whispered, “They are closing.”
Meeda nodded as hands picked her up and cradled her carefully.Akervel whispered, “I am sorry that I didn’t see it happen.”
She croaked, “There’s a camera on the front of my suit.The Darings probably have the whole thing.”
Mia sighed and brought out some fabric.“For when you want to get dressed.I am going to get you some juice, Meeda.Akervel, can I get you anything?”
“Water or anything would be fine.”
She was still shuddering from the pain of the healing.She sighed.“Sorry.I guess we aren’t to be.I am not doing that again.”
He kissed her forehead.“You don’t have to.You wanted me enough to come after me, and that is enough for him.He needed to be sure you wanted him.”
She said, “Can you get me the com unit?”
He didn’t move, but she was handed the small unit.She put her earpiece in.“Hey, Skaay?”
“Meeda!You made it.Holy hell.I saw parts of the attack.Are you okay?”
“Mia doused me with Dorian’s water.Oh, that sounds bad.”
“That was a huge fucking shark.What is your guess?”
“Based on me being hauled around and the bite marks, I would say sixteen feet.”
Her chair was suddenly very tense.
She said, “Can you send me the footage of the moments before the attack?”
“Why?”
“I nearly caught a sea monster.I want to prove it.”Her voice was a croak.
“You will have it in five minutes.”
