Something nudged him. So he grumbled, waving his hand. There was an annoyed bark, his fingers pushing away a snout.

He won a minute of silence. And then the snout nudged back.

“Shamiraaaa…”

Another bark, this time louder.

Matthew was not awake yet, not mentally. Her eyes narrowed when he let out a grumpy sigh and hid his head below his pillow, his arm going limp over the edge of the bed.

The dog waited another minute. But her patience reached a limit, because a loud snore echoed.

Her paws moved.

“M-mph!”

Matthew blinked, staring at the ground. He slowly sat up, glaring back at Shamira, who had pushed him off his bed. A good thing it was near the floor.

“Whyyyy?”

The dog let out what could be seen as an exasperated sigh, air puffing out her nose. Hazel eyes stared groggily while Shamira nodded to the window.

It took a few minutes and a few yawns for him to understand, still a zombie. But he slowly awoke in the end, his eyes opening fully. It was the sunlight coming from the window what stirred him, brightening his messy room; a few hours past sunrise, the day having already begun.

He had overslept.

Matthew stood up from the floor onto his feet, careful of not tripping. He pushed the blankets that had fallen with him off, almost stumbling as he kicked them.

Shamira seemed happy, seeing him hurry to change into his daily clothes. He grabbed his phone once he put on his loose leather jacket.

Hazel eyes glared, noticing the hour: nine o’clock. He always tried to start his walk towards the southern beach at eight.

A frown grew on his face as he pushed the door of his bedroom open. Shamira padded close while he jogged downstairs.

He was hurrying. Not that he felt he was late. Not that he wanted to be early at the beach, not at all.

Matthew manoeuvred around his small kitchen, as always making a messy toast with only one hand, stuffing it onto his mouth and walking towards the main door. However, he halted for a moment to remember he had to grab his keys. Not because there were any thieves in the isolated neighbourhood, but because he could very well get stuck outside…

It happens.

He held the toast with his teeth, his only hand busy shoving the keys into his lock. A smile peeked behind the toast while he closed the door behind him, as soon as Shamira walked out.

Now outside, he took a few steps along the street, walking to the opposite direction of the docks; only to halt when a voice called behind him.

“Matthew.”

The brunet’s shoulders slumped slightly, recognizing Ethan’s voice. He turned, sighing. Indeed, he was there, two bags in his huge hands, Kalani on his shoulder, always there. The two were giving him an inquisitive look.

Ethan could only stand pokerfaced while Matthew tried to speak, with the toast still in his mouth.

“Whaft?”

The big man crossed his arms, even if the bags were heavy, full of groceries.

“Where are you going at these hours?”

Matthew took the toast out his mouth, looking away grumpily. Ethan sometimes loved to pay him visits. Today he was not in the mood for one, not even if he brought more substantial things than what he had in his fridge.

“I’m going for a walk, Ethan. You could have called or something.”

“Do I need to call my family to hang out?” Matthew smiled sarcastically, Ethan managing to scold even with a plain tone. “What does that beach have anyway? You could walk Shamira through the neighbourhood.”

Matthew waved a hand at him, dismissive.

“Nah… I need to tire her.” And himself; but that was not the point of his walk today. “I’ll call you later, I promise!”

Ethan showed some emotion, at last, seeing him bolt away, chewing the toast while he ran down the street.

“Matthew!”

Kalani chirped as one of his owners raised his hands in bafflement, even though he was very capable of lunging after the other to stop him…

Ethan only shook his head, sighing, muscly arms lowering; because Shamira and Matthew were already out of sight.

“What am I going to do with him?”

The stern man smiled faintly, holding both heavy bags in one hand to pet Kalani, brushing his feathers gently.

“Let’s just leave these things inside.” Ethan approached Matthew’s door, getting out his own keys, a copy he always had. “Maybe leave him some food done. God knows he does not eat enough, damn oblivious.”

The parrot ruffled itself in agreement while Ethan got into Matthew’s house.

To leave an hour after, food left in the fridge and on the counter.

He could not avoid worrying.

————–

 

Her tail swayed happily, her lips curled into a happy grin, her hands giving the last touch.

It is… Perfect.

Alon blinked in surprise when Iara swam down to him upside down, her arms outstretched.

“I finished it!”

The merman chuckled, letting down his own craft in order to brush hers with his hand.

“It’s pretty.”

She beamed, nodding. A small trinket, made of white coral, like a small necklace. Curved and pressured to take shape.

“Of course it is! I was working all night on it!”

Alon’s tail jolted slightly, his eyes giving her a disapproving look.

“You are telling me you skipped sleep again? No wonder I was hearing noises from your nest! You should not-“

“So what are you making?”

She was an expert of evasion, firing another question as she finally floated upright with a fast sway.

Alon sighed, looking down at his own trinket, not as well done like hers. He only had begun this morning. He had tried to use some shiny rocks and leafy ropes to make a small shawl. With… interesting results.

“Hmm, can’t seem to get it right. So I’m not done.”

She circled him, her eyes fixing on the knickknack, Alon blushing faintly as a thoughtful look crossed her face. He heaved when she asked, taken aback.

“It’s not your size, could not possibly tie around your shoulder or arm.” She grinned, eyebrow raised. “Is it for someone else?”

She could only cackle, for Alon began to stutter and blush madly, hiding the half made thing under a rock on his nest.

“N-no! I was just practising my crafts because you were too! I was going to leave it anywhere, I was not thinking of giving-!“

Alon seemed to shrink as she eyed him, eyebrows wiggling.

“You do like him! You made it thinking it could maybe hide more that empty jacket sleeve!”

Her amusement only increased when he swam slightly away, unable to hide his embarrassment anymore.

“N-no, it’s not for that! And I don’t!”

He still heard her swaying and chuckling, even after he hid behind rocks, his hands fumbling with his fins.

“Then you still dislike him?”

She rolled her eyes, already knowing the answer; which he reluctantly whispered, nervously.

“N-no!” He huffed and buried his face onto his lower fins. “Dammit, it’s neither!”

“Sure, Alon.” She crossed her arms, remembering. “Like if you were not listening in a trance when he began describing smoothies the other day.”

“I was curious! It sounds tastier than salmon or lobster! We can’t have many drinks here!”

Alon blinked, hearing her swim a little away, raising again her craft in her hold.

“Well, as you wish! I will give him this, the final proof that I’m real!” Her head leaned up, looking at the surface. Her sharp hearing caught something. “Speaking of…”

Alon peeked from behind the rocks, seeing her lean and swim fast, only halting to joke back to him.

“Looks like someone finally crawled off bed!”

She could now hear steps on the sand, faint. The sun had risen long ago.

Alon finally swam away from the rocks, watching while she kicked for the shore. He only shook his head with a sigh, following slowly.

Iara swam along the waves, her eyes narrowed with cheerfulness, seeing the familiar figure walking on the sand ahead. Never close to the water.

She would have it easy to hide, her figure blended with the currents and its colours easily; she would have if a smart dog did not accompany the human.

Matthew raised an eyebrow, slowing his pace when he heard Shamira bark. As always, a bark was a signal for him to pay attention. In the beach, it meant something was near.

The brunet smiled and turned around to face the waves, Shamira sitting on the sand, not wanting to continue ahead. For a mermaid swam calmly in the water, a long gray fin brushing the air.

A few minutes passed, her figure manoeuvring near the sand, surely searching for the best spot to breach. Eventually, her head came out of the water with a little gasp, her tail pushing her torso onto the shore.

As always, she was fast to greet him playfully.

“Matthew!”

Hazel eyes narrowed in amusement, her tail splashing around. Iara was always full of energy.

“Hello, Ia.” Matthew bit his lip, looking behind her, because something bigger moved in the water. “…Hi, Alon.”

Bubbles came out, the shadow going deeper, as always reluctant to come out into his sight. She rolled her eyes at the merman, who was more shy than usual.

Matthew suddenly gasped, looking down at his pocket with a thoughtful expression. Iara watched as he took out his phone, tapping on it.

He spoke faintly… but he was still talking to her.

“Umm, remember how you asked what monsters were and that you wondered about horror movies?”

She nodded eagerly, still wondering, the subject had been dropped for food.

“Yes! I know that you guys have strange magic to show images! We haven’t achieved that yet!”

Matthew snorted; he was amused by her idea that science was magic. He had already tried to explain it, only for her to praise human warlocks.

“so, I downloaded a few clips from some films.” She leaned closer as he crouched, arm outstretched with the phone facing her. “I’m sure you will fire fewer questions if you downright see them.”

Matthew still was far from the water, and the screen was not very big. But her eyes were sharp, able to see clearly the creepy scenes. Which Matthew did not watch; he downloaded more or less blindly because of his own fears, all shown on the phone.

Her eyes were glinting with every creature, each inventive and new to her. It was not scaring her in the slightest, even if there was a voracious acid-spitting alien. Her mouth hanged, her tail splashing water quickly.

“True magic~!” She leaned her head, frowning in wonder. “Where do you humans manage to find such creatures? Where do werewolves live?! And vampires?!”

Matthew shook his head, retrieving his phone.

“Iara, they’re not real. It’s costumes and CGI.”

“CGI?”

“Computer effects, all fake. Tricks created by us; with something that is like my phone, but bigger and with many buttons. We have never really seen these things.”

Matthew frowned this time, seeing Iara’s eyes show disappointment. Her voice grew quiet.

“Not real…” She looked down, hand curling in the moist sand. “There was a mermaid in one scene.”

Matthew looked down as well, doubting. There was one indeed, from a horror movie. One that he did not watch fully. It was not pleasant to think of.

Iara was surprised when Matthew shrugged sadly, whispering.

“I guess… you do exist.” Her eyes opened fully again, giving him a puzzled look. “As strange as it is.”

Matthew did not look while her frown slowly turned into a bright smile. Hearing him admit she was as real was a pleasant surprise.

Silver eyes surfaced with a curious look, having heard Matthew. The merman fidgeted while Iara reached for something tangling on her fin, which she had carried with her. Her azure eyes narrowed happily over the small trinket she made, her heart beating.

Hazel eyes blinked, finally looking up. His thoughts were pushed away for a moment when she called, excitedly.

“I made something for you! As thanks for explaining stuff!”

Matthew stared, her hands raised, something laying in them.

He could only glance with slight amazement. It was a shiny white thing, its shape almost resembling a heart, its surface bright and slick, surely made of coral she found in the deep waters.

Alon’s torso had finally come out while Iara offered her craft, curiously watching the human’s reaction.

A reaction that was… strange to say the least: a small smile crossed his face at first. But his eyes seemed to glance at the sand and waves next, lingering there with doubt, smile gone.

He only stared. So Iara’s smile faded slightly, her voice always energetic.

“Matthew, won’t you take it? Do I have to crawl over the sand to give it to you? I mean, you have legs, I don’t, so-“

“Shamira…!” She blinked, watching baffled as Matthew snarled silently, calling for the dog’s help. “G-go t-take it for me, please.”

The dog eagerly padded towards the water. Alon frowned as he noticed a faint shuddering on Matthew’s shoulders.

Iara stared as well, eyes narrowing, ignoring Shamira for a moment. Hazel eyes filled with sorrow when she finally voiced something that was bothering her, ever since she saw him.

“You never near the water.”

She slowly tied her gift around Shamira’s collar, without looking at the dog, who sat calmly. Her azure eyes were fixed on Matthew; worry sunk into her mind when he averted his gaze, fear seeming to grip him.

“It’s just that-“

She could not hold back her wonder anymore. The fact she buried finally slipped out her soft lips.

“You fear it.” The next words hurt and stabbed right where his weakness hid. “Is it the reason you miss an arm…?”

What he hated the most was that frightening night, and all it brought. What he lost was gone because of something that truly existed.

Her words seemed to echo without answer, both merfolk worrying as Matthew gave them a look they had only seen when they first met; one of horror, of fear. He was looking at them, yet at the same time, he seemed to see another thing, a horrible sight.

He stared at them while they looked into his preoccupied eyes. His eyes fixed on their long tails, so perfectly able to swim fast, to dash, to conceal their colour in the wild waters to hide, until they wanted to be seen… too late for any prey to flee. Their bright eyes, so beautiful, and yet prepared to pierce the dark like it was daylight. A natural gift, preying gazes; they could be so sharp. Sharp as the teeth they had, able to tear anything they wished to rip. Able to grasp any possible victim and shred it to pieces; drag it, break it…

Much like he was.

He was staring at the same creatures, just as able to sink him away and drown him. They could, so easily. Just one step near the waves needed. Their hands were able to hold tightly while their tails pushed down… with him, deep.

They were just like the thing he saw.

He had always pushed away any thoughts that made him sick; he had pushed it all away. But it always came back full force, no matter how he tried.

Iara raised a hand in worry, for Matthew stumbled to his feet, his voice shaky.

“I- I have to go.”

A haunted expression was on his face, the only emotion in it: doubt.

“Matthew-?”

He walked away, his breathing fastening; he tried to keep it down, his heart beating fast. Torn, mind screaming, twisted.

He did not look back as Iara crawled more out of the water, calling in worry. She was unable to follow him, only able to lay there while Alon’ eyes narrowed, the merman now worried for two.

Matthew closed his eyes when he finally was out of sight, remembering the pain too well; he was unable to not see danger.

Even if there was none… he still feared.

————

 

The hours dragged along, painfully slow.

His eyes stared unfocused at the ceiling, seeing a million things. Which were not there.

No, not in his room. The door was locked; the shutters were down, the lights off, Shamira was at his side, nudging him as always. He was breathing.

Not calmly. But he was breathing, air, what he needed. There was no water; there was nothing to pull him down. He was safe.

He closed his eyes with a grimace. Yet he still could see it. It never went away once it settled in his thoughts.

There was black wild water, small reflections of lightning from the storm. Everything was cold, except the blood flowing out of him; which made sharp irises narrow, eye him like an insignificant morsel. A confident smile in the dark, while he could only tremble, unable to flee, wounded. Sharp red eyes, fins and teeth lurking closer. Horrible malice in those rubies, a million words said without a single sound, all telling him how he was to die. The disappointment and mockery in them were clear when he was caught by the ones that heard his scream above. The creature hid in the darkness as everything faded to black. There were pure hate, arrogance and lack of mercy; it was frantic for the sight of fear and blood.

That was what he saw. What he couldn’t forget.

However, he couldn’t forget those silver and azure eyes either. They were as well sharp, defined; as entrancing. Not with deadliness though.

Matthew opened his eyes slightly, a slight sob escaping him. The memory of red eyes faded slightly, the ones of kind and caring glances pushing it away, slowly.

There was no hate. Their bright eyes only showed empathy. No hunger.

Curious gazes, worried looks. Their voices were not feral, but placid, echoing with laughter and a calm firmness.

A storm dragged him down once, and piercing fangs and forceful hands got a hold of him. Not long ago, the moon made the water rise when he broke down, and he could have sunk with it all again. But gentle hands held him, carried him carefully.

If they wanted him to drown, they had a chance. But they only helped him, as he did once.

They did not come back at first. Not until he screamed, not until he called, questioned why they were not there.

I could be dead already.

Matthew sat up. Shamira whined as he cried silently, moving on the bed, reaching for the window. Barely any light brushed his eyes when he lifted the shutters, the night already settled. He spent hours hiding in his room.

Matthew exhaled a shaky breath, feeling a noose in his throat, a sting in his heart, and a slight headache in his head. He slowly looked sideways, Shamira there, looking up at him. Her ears were lowered in worry, her eyes never leaving him. The white pendant still hanged from her collar. There, in sight.

His hand slowly rose to it, brushing shakily, feeling its soft touch.

He stared at it for a while, silent tears falling.

All was silent for a while… until blankets were thrown off the bed angrily, a door slamming open next.

—————-

 

They swam near their nests. Alon soon curled himself on his, pulling at the vegetation for it to lay slightly over him, his tail leaning.

He should sleep, but he could not avoid glancing over his shoulder. Iara was there, still not lowering herself to her bed of coral, her eyes never leaving the coast ahead.

She kept swimming in sad circles.

“Iara.”

She halted slowly. Alon felt her sorrow when she met his eyes, not needing words.

But he knew nothing could be done. They could not chase or go to land.

“Sleep, please; tomorrow we…” He looked down for a second, only to look back up with a reassuring smile. “I’m sure tomorrow he will be back, as always.”

Neither was one hundred per cent sure of it.

“Whatever happened to him must have been horrible.”

Alon frowned, understanding that she would not stop thinking. She never did.

“Losing a limb is always-“

“No, Alon, not only that.” She glanced back at the shore, eyes narrowing. “There’s fear, more than there should be. He can’t even near the water. I don’t know what happened, but it left him like this.”

The look he gave them would forever be engraved in their minds.

“Maybe he almost drowned.”

Alon had said it with concern. But he did not see what she could.

It was raw fear. What haunted him had to be dangerous, something that could still be there, waiting in the waters. It had to be something shocking, capable of making him deny so fervently.

Iara looked at her hands, feeling impotence.

She let out a long sigh, bubbles escaping her. Alon smiled sadly as she whispered, not making eye contact.

“I’ll take a little bit of fresh air, and go to sleep.”

Thinking too much would not help anyone.

Silver eyes closed when she kicked, pushing herself off the bottom towards the surface. Her figure dashed up, her frame breaking the surface fast, allowing her to make a jump. Her dolphin tail leaned in the air gracefully.

She surfaced a second time, her head whipping back as she took a deep breath, pushing the water off her grayish hair. Her hands laid over it, fingers brushing calmly to help her relax. There was a lot in her mind.

She floated there under the moon, not looking at the beach, letting herself rest there.

Soon, she would have gone back into the depths, call it a day, hoping things were better in the morning… Wish she would not see the same fear.

But she heard something instead.

Iara sunk slightly, wary. She heard fast steps in the far distance, coming from the road leading to the beach.

She hid slightly, for Matthew never walked in the night. He always returned to the human town at sunset. So she could only be suspicious of another human.

Those were her thoughts until she heard nervous barks as well. And so her torso surfaced again, her head leaning to a side.

She did not even blink when a merman broke the surface at her side, having heard the bark as well; his face showed the same surprise.

Both merfolk floated there, as a familiar figure finally came to view.

Matthew panted, jumping down the stairs, uncaring that sand got into his boots with the motion. He continued to ignore Shamira’s whines and barks, needing to get there.

The brunet wheezed for air, having rushed all the way in an impulse, much like the one he had when it rained.

However, this time, his urgency had another meaning.

His head whipped to glance at the water, his shoulders hunching once he finally halted; still, at a distance. The run had made his vision foggy, yet he still tried to look at the waves as he called loudly, voice raspy.

“G-guys?!”

Shamira padded to his side, growling in disapproval while he held his hand onto his chest, trying to regain his breath, closing his eyes for a moment.

He tried to call again after a minute, taking another step towards the water, opening his eyes.

“Iara, Al-?!”

The name ended short in his mouth. His hand lowered slowly. Because he saw her drift onto the sand calmly, laying her tail sideways. She was giving him a calm look, which was anything but calm in reality. She was the one to not dare say a word this time, having triggered his fear before.

Still, she had answered his call.

Matthew snarled, looking down, the water near. Alon emerged close by. And so, he huffed to force himself to move, trembling slightly. Even like that, he managed another step closer, which seemed to make him pale slightly.

But there he was, looking down at her eyes, the waves almost touching his feet. Not yet, but almost.

Matthew grimaced, finally trying to explain himself.

“S-sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you by running away so suddenly! I just couldn’t-! The question hurt, and I was not thinking clearly! I have a lot in my mind right now, but I should know you-!“

“Breathe.”

Matthew wheezed and tensed, but he relaxed after a second, seeing no ill intentions in those silver eyes. His voice had only been firm for his sake.

Alon’ frown relaxed slightly, because Matthew gulped and took a breath after trying to ramble so fast, his teeth clenching.

Iara curled her tail, standing a little taller on the sand as she supported herself with it. Much like if a human sat onto his feet and knees. She was able to look into hazel eyes more clearly, while he held himself, a sudden shyness gripping him.

But he still spoke, not knowing himself how.

“Listen…” He met their eyes, realizing how close they were, at the waves, which he stood upon. “I- I answered some of your questions… B-but I… I need some answers myself. I have needed them for a whole year. A-and as weird as it sounds, I think only you could give them.”

She pondered for a moment, doubtful, still seeing fear in his eyes. But there were no lies in his words. There was a painful expectation in him.

So she spoke, her tone reassuring.

“Ask.”

Matthew trembled again, having run all this way back, and still, he found the words hard to let out. He doubted himself.

Yet he could only try. Even the stern merman nodded to him, trying to convey it was alright. The question slipped out of him, almost without emotion.

“D-does- Does your kind… hunt humans?”

The question did make Iara and Alon blink, not expecting such words. But Matthew needed to know. He needed to be sure, understand. Make sure it was no dream. It could have been, while this was not. He hoped it was not.

Iara’s eyes were giving him an incredulous look, while Alon was downright disgusted, both finding the mere thought horrible. Both voiced it clearly.

“That’s… No, just no. Not even real killer whales would do that.”

“Our kinds would never near humans in the first place. Not even if we are dolphins! Our races are peaceful.”

Matthew slowly sat on his knees with a deep thoughtful frown, his voice growing quiet.

“You-” Kind? Races? “Are you saying there’s more of you? Other types?”

Alon and Iara were different, even if they both still resembled dolphins, mammals. Their tails showed it clearly.

Said two merfolk exchanged glances. Iara was the one to explain.

“We are quite a lot. There are others who resemble other sea creatures or even-“

She was surprised when Matthew leaned closer, hand slamming onto the sand, his voice dreadful.

“Are there any of you with dark and sharp fins?! Very sharp teeth and fins… A-and sharper eyes, and…”

He fell silent, not really remembering well those features. He only remembered clearly the voracious look in red eyes.

He did not like the look of familiarity dawning in azure and silver eyes. Alon dared to tackle the matter, for he had an idea of what could have happened to him, always honest.

“There are.” He questioned, feeling anger. “Were you attacked?”

Matthew’s eyes unfocused slightly, hand moving over his hidden stump. His voice came out in nervous stutters, trying to explain. Even if he did a lot of times already, it was never easy. Nor clear.

“I… think so. I thought so at first. I fell from a ship; there was a sudden rumble. I could see nothing; it was a hell of a storm. Before I could drown I-“ He wasn’t able to meet her worried eyes, nor his attentive ones. “I felt teeth. I saw my own blood. And between it all, I could make out the outlines of a sharp fish. But there were the outlines of a human’s figure too… bright eyes glinting.  J-just like you. But I was told it was shock; that rocks tore my arm off and I imagined it all. Even I convinced myself that it was a nightmare after some time; I considered that maybe it was a simple shark, as a last resort to bury the memory…”

His eyes narrowed, Alon and Iara shivered slightly under his haunted gaze and words.

“I had accepted those words. U-until I saw you.”

It all crumbled down onto him again when he met them.

Alon’ frame was shaking, and Matthew found himself cowering slightly, his silver eyes glaring with anger. But that rage was not directed at him, but to the depths.

He only relaxed when Alon growled.

“Damn sharks.”

Matthew flinched, feeling a sudden touch. He held his breath for a minute, until his brain realized he was not hurting. His gaze began to show recognition slowly. Iara had laid her hand over his. Her eyes were full of sorrow, contained fury.

“Matthew…” His head bowed, hearing the worry in her voice. The fear of him seeing them as monsters was clear in her tone. “We… would never hurt you, much less like that.”

The human trembled there while the mermaid leaned close, her tail curling at his feet. Her eyes were unable to make his rise, no matter how she tried, how much her voice tangled with sincerity.

She considered letting go, the thought that being so close could make things worse pounding. She was going to lean away. But as soon as she moved an inch, his fingers tightened around hers, weakly.

Iara blinked, halting, her tail twitching faintly. Matthew’s mouth opened slightly, but a troubled exhale was the only thing he managed to let out. In the end, he could only express himself with a shake of head, his hold on her hand not loosening.

The mermaid did not pull away, her figure sitting there at his side. She had her wonder answered, as much as it hurt both.

Matthew raised his gaze slightly, hearing sand being brushed. Surprise overtook tiredness slightly, seeing Alon crawl out of the water, his powerful tail easily helping him wiggle over the sand. His arms only had to move as support.

For some reason, he was not afraid while both merfolk sat at his sides, their eyes seeming to sharpen with anger; but not for him.

Alon was glaring back at the sea, his tail slamming silently from time to time onto the ground. Iara looked even more intimidating, even if she wore a smile and she was smaller. Both seemed to see something he could not. Little did they know the three were thinking of the same red eyes.

All his doubt faded when both Iara and Alon reassured.

“You don’t have to fear us, Matt. We would never drown you, and not because you helped us. You are with friends, ok?”

“It is disgusting. I won’t let any more shame fall onto our kind, not if I can do anything against it. We are not like that.”

Matthew steadied his breathing, brushing away his tears on his shoulder, his hand still trapped by Iara’s. He could only nod, feeling safe, a heavy weight seeming to go away.

He could only ponder; because he was attacked indeed, by merfolk. They did exist. There were some that could be deadly. But some humans could be like that too. Serials killers existed as well, much more prominent and known than what he encountered.

His hazel eyes glanced at them both, their eyes looking at him in worry, protective.

They did not owe him that. Not anymore. They could have left him alone long ago. They had neared him, while he tried to push them away. He had been pretty damn rude some days.

“Guys…?”

They raised their gaze at him, staying silent while he tried to breathe calmly. Their eyes told him they were listening. They always did.

So Matthew sighed, asking faintly.

“Will you be around tomorrow?”

She only laughed, softly.

“Of course.” He could not avoid smiling a little with amusement, shaking his head while she affirmed. “I still have questions you must answer! You humans are a true wonder!”

Alon smiled as well, his tail relaxing as the brunet mocked her back. His voice was steadying somewhat, even if still shaky.

“Oh no, t-this time I’m going to be the one asking. You have fired questions nonstop these days, while I’ve held back mine…”

“Not my problem that you claimed I was a product of your imagination! Deal with your denial!”

“I know you spy on humans! While none of us see you! I really know nothing, and I want to know! You literally are a mystery waiting to be solved!”

Alon raised an eyebrow, getting in between their arguing with a gentle whisper.

“What, you want to tell everyone about it once you figure things out?”

Even if Alon had been joking, his words made Matthew shy away.

“N-no, I only-“

He blinked, Iara not having second thoughts, laying her lower fins onto his mouth, shutting him up.

“We know, you won’t tell.” She rolled her eyes, letting Matthew breathe. Alon was relieved to see that he did not panic for her move, only blushed. “You could have done it long ago. Yet here we are.”

Matthew huffed in agreement, not needing to assure them twice.

Silence fell. Yet it was not a tense one. Neither merfolk objected while his eyes gave a closer look to their fins and tails. He was finally close enough and not scared out of his mind to do so. His head leaned in wonder while he stared at the perfect skin, how smoothly it faded into their human torsos, how slender their back fins were, perfectly articulated and able to break the currents.

No one believed it could be. Yet he was seeing it, clear as water.

His mind was not making this up. Not even if it was a strange yet amazing situation, really hard to believe.

Fuck… to hell trying to make them listen.

No words about merfolk would leave him. No more.

A dog watched in the distance, yawning, while the three figures rested on the sand.

Shamira slept for a while, calmly; not having to worry.