Blood. Bodies. The scent was so potent as I swam, I had to turn my head, grateful I hadn't yet eaten. No matter how many times I'd done this, it still felt... wrong. I tried not to look too long at the features of one of the bodies. That was when I'd start thinking about how, just mere months ago, I'd been staring at a similar scenario. There was only one difference: it didn't faze me as much now.

I'd been at Tiger Shark's home for six days now, the first of many in our biweekly arrangement. Rosewood Manor. The name clanged in my head, sending chills down my spine.

The sun had just risen over the water as I half-carried, half-dragged the body through the water and over to an unmarked grave. One of many dotting the seafloor around his manor. My hands were steady as I eased the body into the grave, making sure the merman's eyes were closed. I said a silent prayer for his soul, that he would find peace wherever he was now. I wiped a hand across my brow, surprised to find my hand slick with sweat.

I'd only been doing this for about an hour, yet my arms were already trembling. I repeated the process until countless unmarked graves dotted the seafloor. My breathing was heavy as I swam back inside Rosewood, grimacing at the dirt covering my torso and chest.

Servants barely paid me any heed as I swam through the spacious entrance hall. To my left, I knew, was a staircase that led to the first set of bedrooms and servants' quarters. Directly across from it, another staircase that led to the second set of bedrooms, library, and sitting room. My rooms were down the first hallway, first door on the right. They were definitely modest furnishings, but I had my own bathing room, sitting room, and balcony.

Tiger Shark, thankfully, wasn't awake yet, so I had just enough time to rush to my room and change before lunch. My outfit was simple: a three-quarter length shirt and long, flowy black skirt.

My hands shook as I swam to the kitchen, my stomach already growling. I had missed breakfast, but hoped they were still serving lunch. Luckily, one of the cooks—her name was Eliza—grinned as she saw me swim into the kitchen, holding up a finger as she disappeared into the pantry. My mind wandered as I waited, to a subject I often found myself thinking about: my family. Were they safe?

Eliza reappeared a moment later with a various assortment of fruit. I tried not to appear too eager as I quietly thanked her, then swam back to my room. As I did, however, I noticed the door to the study was open. A small voice in the back of my head told me to leave it alone, but curiosity won out.

I set the tray of fruit on the ground beside the door, quietly swimming inside and down the small flight of stairs. A flash of black hair caught my eye, making my heart leap into my throat. Sure enough, Tiger Shark was floating a few feet away from me, in what appeared to be some sort of cellar. Books were laid out in front of him, and he glanced at them every so often before looking back up. My eyes widened so much I feared they would pop out of my head.

As if he had merely willed it so, one of the books lifted off the table and zoomed over to one of the shelves, gently placing itself in its place. He braced his hands on the table, wiping sweat from his forehead. I quickly swam out of the cellar, trying to keep a calm expression on my face. My mind, however, was running in a panicked frenzy as I sped to my room.

It wasn't until I had shut the door behind me that I let out the breath I didn't realize I had been holding. I mindlessly picked at the food, struggling to understand what I'd seen. Then, as if it had just appeared in front of me, a memory surfaced in my head.

It was a few months ago. I had gone looking for Mom and had brought along a gold locket of hers. I'd clutched it in my hands, and as I'd done so, a vision had surfaced in my head. Tiger Shark and Mom had been talking, and Mom said she was keeping something from me and my sisters until we were old enough. Some... gift that Tiger Shark possessed.

I struggled to make sense of the revelation as I undressed for bed. Tears welled in my eyes, quickly spilling down my cheeks. More than anything, I wished Jay were here. I'd give anything to see him. The exhaustion of the day quickly caught up with me, dragging me into a deep, dreamless sleep.

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