It was always dark.

The light moved again, her fins swaying behind her like a cape, always keeping her warm in the cold depths. Her hands brushed yet another rock, her white glow looming over it.

A tired sigh escaped her as she let go, not seeing any edible clam or small fish hiding. And so she raised her head, deciding to just do what she always did. Even if she did not like it since it attracted danger. Her antenna moved over her eyes, flowing softly, its glow intensifying, hoping to lure fish, anything to eat.

She swam slowly there, advancing through the darkness… unaware that she indeed caught the sight of something; someone, to be precise, who had been looking for her.

Diya jolted slightly, her long tail dashing down as she glared around her. Her fins tensed while she moved her light. She did so slowly. For she could have sworn she felt the unmistakable current of something moving fast… too fast.

She still hoped it had been a fish. She reluctantly moved her light once more, leaning it against the thick darkness. Her eyes narrowed… and she saw a shadow dash.

The shark laughed loudly, slamming himself against her unsuspecting figure. Diya let out a yelp as she collided against a rock, shoved strongly. Red eyes watched with amusement while she stood upright with a wipe of fins, bolting away soon after.

He floated there for a second, showing his fangs in a confident grin. Not chasing. Not yet. He began counting instead.

“One…”

Her figure swam fast, her eyes not looking back while she fled into the dark.

“Two.”

He finally leaned, his fins shivering, his sharp eyes narrowing. Diya heard him growl.

“Three!”

He was faster. This time nothing hindered his hunt. She was easily reached, his figure twisting side to side around her, his spiked fins moving sideways, cutting the currents more than she could with her long ones. A laugh escaped him, loudly, seeing her gasp when he finally grabbed her with a fast dash downwards. He leapt down onto her and pinned her. However, he did not bite.

Diya growled, thrashing wildly in his strong hold, her eyes wide, staring at his sharp eyes and fangs. Her hands were unable to make his unlatch from her neck and lower fins. He was keeping her in a deadlock. She could only glare back nervously while he mocked her.

“Seems I got lucky this time.” He let out a faked disappointed sigh, leaning his head at her. “Or you ran out of it, child.”

His laugh echoed loud, not fading in the slightest, not even if she hit him with her hands, her tail thrashing.

“Let me go!”

He shook his head, shrugging.

“Don’t think so, urchin.” Diya flinched; his fangs were moving too close while he spoke. “I have two ideas of what to do with you. And letting you swim away, like nothing, is not one of them…”

Diya scowled, feeling his hand tighten around her neck as he threatened.

“I’m still disappointed that you, such a weak thing, managed to avoid me so easily. You should have not escaped, even if I was not in my best shape. I would love to rip these silly fins to pieces.”

She shuddered and closed her eyes, her tail still moving wildly. And so, she only fell backwards when he let go suddenly.

“Ah!”

Diya huffed, seeing stars for a moment when she hit a rock with the back of her head. As soon as she regained her vision and her lure flickered again to light the dark, his red eyes were looking down at her intently.

He rolled his eyes, seeing her fins puff out. It was like if she was thinking of fleeing again, or even considering swatting at him.

Such foolishness…

She was surprised when the shark leaned slightly away, his piercing stare growing serious.

“I do believe we both wish for something.” He raised a hand, waving it as if to make his point stronger. “I need… someone to speak for me. And you want to keep living!”

He looked up and chuckled, waving his lower fins in a playful sway as his whisper tangled with vile.

“Do you see where I’m going?”

Diya frowned, her small fangs biting down on her lip in thought, not liking where this was going, at all. But it was obvious she had to listen. Or else.

The shark felt entertained when she raised her gaze to his, questioning with frustration.

“S-speak?”

He smiled again, faked care in his words.

“Yes. You see, I may… have been a little rough with someone. And said someone would not be happy to see me again, much less listen to what I need to say. I really, really need them to hear something. I need to enlighten them with knowledge.” His eyes fixed on hers, sharpening. “I can’t whisper to them. But you could do that for me. Just some words, which they may consider if you speak them sincerely.”

Diya swayed a little away, seeing him laugh and at the same time growl with a grin and glare. He dared her.

“Or you could try to run again.”

He could only feel glee, because she fumbled with her hands and upper fins, her eyes looking down for a moment, feeling torn, suspecting, and weary. But she crumbled under the pressure, her eyes rising with wonder.

“What words… And for who?”

He bowed slightly, moving down his arm, inviting into the dark with a sly smile.

“Let me lead you.”

There was much to be done.

————-

 

He sat there, calmly, his hazel eyes trailing the waves… He saw a black fin in the distance, but not a gray one.

Matthew worried more, because Alon took his time before he neared the beach. And once he did, he did slowly, seemingly reluctant. When he surfaced, his eyes were narrowed, unable to meet his eyes. His gaze seemed to be full of worry and sorrow. And worst of all, his greeting lacked the calm cheerfulness he knew.

“Hello, Matthew…”

Matthew leaned his head, hearing Shamira whine, her eyes looking all around, ears lowering slowly. He glanced around as well, hoping to see the familiar figure that always made the waters glint. She was not around, however. Alon trembled when the unavoidable words finally were spoken.

“Where’s Iara?”

The merman forced himself to answer and raise his gaze to his eyes. Which of course, were full of doubt and dread. It did not help any that he was honest.

“I don’t know.”

Iara had not been around for a full day. He could not find her around their nests, nor near the beach. Simply put, she did not seem to be near the cay. She was not hiding between rocks and reefs.

She is gone.

He knew she was upset. He knew it. And because of it, he felt a twinge of pain in his heart when Matthew’s hand curled on the sand, his eyes fixed on it as he let out a faint whisper.

“She left already?”

Matthew blinked when he heard Alon let out a nervous breath, leaning closer, his voice anxious.

“S-she did not!” Matthew leaned his head, confused, not understanding. Alon could only brush the back of his neck, worried himself. “She would not leave without saying goodbye! The season is not even over yet! We are staying for a while longer; we don’t have to go yet. I don’t know where she is… B-but she can’t just have gone into the ocean already! She…”

Alon’s eyes suddenly darkened, more worry sinking into his heart. Because she could be plotting something. She could be trying to find a way in which to control her glow, achieve a spell; all by herself.

Matthew relaxed slightly when Alon sighed and raised a hand, trying to explain.

“I- I don’t know what she is doing.” Silver eyes met hazel ones, full of care and kindness. There was a small smile on his face while he assured, even if nervous. “But she will come back. I will look for her! You know how she is! Maybe she just… saw a stingray and could not resist chasing it. I will find her. Just wait, alright?”

Matthew just sat there, watching Alon glance back and forth between him and the sea, trying to assure him, and himself.

“I’ll be back!” He looked away, voice growing quiet. “With her, I promise.”

The human could only stare as the merman sunk, slowly leaving into the waves.

Matthew felt again a noose in his throat, his hand falling onto Shamira’s fur without even realizing it. He did not want to see them go. And this looked too much like it. So he stood up in the end, knowing the sun was setting.

He would come back to the beach every day; because he trusted them.