Laughter echoed. A dog napped calmly on the shore while three figures floated calmly in the water. They drifted along the waves, silver, azure and hazel eyes staring up at the blue sky, a beautiful day, the sun looming above them.

Iara could only grin, her figure the fastest, circling the other two. Alon was calmly resting on his back, his tail brushing the surface, in and out in slow motions. While Matthew just floated, the two merfolk swimming around him. Their eyes always watched carefully, their moves making a slow current that always kept him between them, never letting him drift away. For he still had problems swimming well, he only knew how to keep himself from sinking.

But it did not matter. Not when they were always there. They had always been ready to hold him each time he sunk or moved.

Matthew could not avoid closing his eyes, a warm smile on his face. He could be trembling. He could be sinking; his tension, fear and dread could render him unable to keep himself afloat, make him freeze to drown. His feet could not reach the bottom.

But he would not drown. He was in the water, away from the shore, with them.

He raised an eyebrow, snorting as he felt her tail nudge his side again. If the mermaid was something, it was playful. She had been nudging Alon a few minutes ago instead, daring him to chase her around; which he did not do, as much as he would like to. He stayed by his side, not wanting to leave him alone.

Matthew leaned his head a little, giving her a look, her eyes barely surfacing, looking at him like a cat.

“Ia, no. I’m not moving.”

Her mouth opened, bubbles coming out. Matthew was able to discern a word out of that erratic echo.

“Lazy.”

Alon stopped lying back when Matthew floated upright. His hazel eyes narrowed with a smile, his tone sarcastic.

“I just can’t move as fast as you. What do you want me to do, awkwardly fidget forward while you keep on making those crazy jumps?” He rolled his eyes, laughing. “I’m happy as it is. I can be around while you swim.”

She pouted, looking subtly at the far distance of endless blue. A thoughtful look crossed her face for a moment. Matthew did not see her glance at silver eyes, because he stared down at the water cynically. He spoke without looking at them, losing himself in his thoughts.

“I can’t go as far as you into the sea, I’m not like you. But still… I’m thankful. You have made me go into the water, you have helped more than any therapy has. And dammit, as it is, even if it’s still not perfect, I can be here. I can at least be close to you guys! I mean, there’s no way I can go as fast-“ He halted, feeling something dash right below him. His eyes widened when that something moved upwards. “Ah!”

Iara laughed, seeing Matthew panic slightly as Alon surfaced from below him. Like she had predicted, Matthew grabbed onto Alon’s back fin and shoulder to not fall backwards and sink with the sudden motion. The merman easily caught his weight on his back.

Matthew stared wide-eyed as Alon looked over his shoulder at him, leaning slightly, so he would float at his side. He would have let go, blushing madly, if not for the fact that Alon’s tail was already moving behind them to make them advance. Still, he tried to question, baffled.

“Wha-?“

He couldn’t finish; he fell silent when Alon whispered surely, telling him it was fine with just one glance.

“Hold on, alright?”

Alon looked forward again, smiling; because Matthew only nodded and secured his hold over his fin and shoulders. It made it easier to drag him along as he moved.

Matthew looked back nervously, and Alon did not miss how he tensed while he swam ahead, getting further and further away from the beach. Iara was following close behind them, with the same sly look, even if slightly more playful.

They were taking him deeper… but Matthew did not question them, trusting.

The human would have feared, if not for the fact that the other two knew what they were doing. They knew today was the perfect day to roam far from the coast. The waters were almost crystal clear, the sun heated the waters, the waves barely rose, and the sea resembled a calm lake. Not a single cloud loomed. All was calm.

Matthew could only sway while Alon led. Not too fast, not too slow. His legs moved slightly as well, careful of not hitting his tail, drifting with a speed he would have if he could swim on his own with two arms.

He looked back slightly, seeing her gray fin sink behind them. But he focused more on the fact that Shamira now looked like an ant on the shore, far.

They really were going deep into the sea. It made him slightly nervous. Yet he did not speak against it. Not when every single thing they had done had helped him.

He could only look down, feeling something brush his feet. He did not flinch or cower, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter as Iara swam below him and Alon. She looked up at them while she advanced facing the surface, parallel to them, her arms behind her head like if she was not even trying.

Alon snorted and commented, Matthew agreeing with an amused shake of head.

“Showoff…”

She stuck her tongue out at them, moving fast ahead.

Alon did not say anything else, feeling happy to finally reach where Iara and him nested.

Matthew blinked, honestly impressed to see a vast formation of coral and rocks come to view below. The waters were still clear, allowing him to see all the colours. Small fish moved between vibrant seaweed, small reflections of multiple hues touched the white sand; none of the rocks around were sharp, almost seeming soft to the touch.

He could see everything, and he was still breathing air. There was not a second in which he sunk while his eyes gazed upon all the beautiful things laying deep. They had been out of reach, unknown before, shadowed by a storm. He could feel the waves without suffocating under them, not alone, carried.

Alon did worry when he felt Matthew tremble. He looked over his shoulder, concerned this was too daring for him. He felt his heart skip a beat at first, seeing tears.

But the merman could only lean his head in wonder; because indeed, Matthew was crying, but at the same time smiling. His hold was tight, his eyes fixed on the depths.

Iara knew better, able to hear him whisper while she swam cheerfully below the two.

“Thank you.”

Alon smiled as well, his tail never moving too fast, calmly. It never made a move that could make Matthew let go, drop or panic.

They just swam calmly on the surface, both merfolk showing him that the storm was only a nightmare, never to be real again. Their world could be beautiful under the sun and moon. Not everything was dark and cold.

Not everything… They were not deadly. They were not ominous… unlike the one watching in the shadows.

Red eyes narrowed in the distance, his figure carefully hiding between reefs, always circling the three, never seen. His thoughts were full of hate, full of contained anger. But now… wonder too. Because he was seeing the same human, the very same one he had tried to drag down into a watery grave long ago.

It was… interesting. He was not surprised that those two fools neared a human so blindly.

What made him shiver with bloodlust was the fact that he could see the care, the trust between them. It was clear they wanted the human near. He was something dear to them, which would hurt if he were to disappear.

He could hurt them. Hurt them so much, just by ending what he could not that night. They could suffer grief and horror, witness death.

But…

The shark moved away, containing his hunger, as much as the thought of blood made him shiver. He still remembered the human’s blood and fear.

It was not to be, not yet. He had to wait. Patience was required. He had to find the best course of action, listen and watch. Bring a greater end for them all.

There was no hurry. He would have blood in one way or another. The human was just another possibility, another pawn.

He just had to think and wait.