A chill runs down my spine as I swim, fighting the urge to turn back. The smell has intensified in the minutes it's taken me to swim from the house to a cluster of rocks near the outskirts of Aegrem. Even from a distance, the brown and black hair of the two mermen is visible. My heart runs to the back of my chest, curls up in a ball, and hides.

My face is emotionless as I swim closer, the light from the moon above the surface illuminating the small space. They aren't alone. Two mermaids lay beside them, the large wounds on their chests almost overshadowed by the terror and grief on their faces. The mermen have similar wounds, though their expressions are blank. Deadpan.

I keep their names and faces locked up in my heart, where not even Tiger Shark can get to. Every beat of my heart is a name, over and over as I make quick work of the bodies, struggling to keep a sob from escaping. Jay. David. Bella. Meri.

This is Tiger Shark's plan, I keep reminding myself, barely able to see through the haze of grief. He wants me to learn what would happen if I ever foolishly decide to disobey him. He won't stop until everyone I love dies. I stop, sink to the ground, and weep.

The ghosts return a heartbeat later, their touch electric. Every caress of my cheek feels like lightning through my veins. I can only imagine how loud and heartbreaking I must've sounded, but I don't care. The world spins so violently as I wake that I think I might faint.

I closed my eyes, breathing deeply. Jay didn't so much as stir as I opened my eyes, the world righting itself. The hopelessness and despair from the dream threatened to drag me into that pit of nothingness, but I shoved back against it with all I had. No matter how many bodies I buried, no matter how long it kept me away from my family, I would not break.

Meri and David were already up and dressed as I swam downstairs. The grief on David's face broke my heart, a lump appearing in my throat as I met his gaze. He looked like he hadn't slept in days.

Meri looked up at me, her eyes searching my face. Desperate for a shred of normalcy, I quickly began to sign, asking what her plans were for today.

She grinned, her eyes sparkling as she explained how she'd started teaching a sign language class, free of charge, for anyone to join. I hadn't seen her this animated in ages. My smile grew as she explained, her excitement radiating from her to me. After she finished, she looked up at me, a question in her eyes: Talk?

And just like that, the smile dropped from my face, like a piece of paper sliding off a table and onto the floor. Meri swam out in front of me, waiting until I had swum outside to shut the door behind me. What's up? Are you okay?

Her hands moved effortlessly through the water as she signed. It took all my energy not to collapse on the ground in tears. My own hands were trembling as I answered. He... he killed all of you. It's what he said he would do if I ever disobeyed him. As I finished forming the last letter, the image of Tiger Shark in his study came back to me.

Meri put her hand on my arm. What did you see?

I swallowed hard, realizing how crazy it was going to sound before I even started forming the words. Tiger Shark... he has magic. I don't know how, or why, but he does.

Her expression was shocked, to say the least. We need to find out more. Can you see if you can swipe some books from his manor during your next... She swallowed hard, clearly hating the word as much as I did. Visit?

I nodded. David was already gone, but Jay was downstairs and dressed. Just like with Meri, the words in his gaze were clear. Talk later?

A lump appeared in my throat as I nodded, then swam outside. The multiple emotions tangled in my heart, making it difficult to focus on one at a time. Anger for what Tiger Shark had done to Bella and David. Fear as I wondered what his next move would be. Grief when I thought about what they must be going through

The rest of the day passed in a blur. My head suddenly gave a throb of pain, so intense I had to bite my tongue to keep from crying out. A steady throbbing began as I swam home, making it difficult to concentrate. I collapsed into bed, running a shaking hand over my face. Jay slid in next to me, concern on his face. Wanna talk?

I nodded. My hands were moving before I had even formed the words in my head. Why now? What is his endgame? His vendetta is with me, not David and Bella.

His own hands were steady as he responded. I think he wants you to feel the same pain they are. I guess, in his own twisted way, the attack on Pelathas was accomplishing that. He knew how much you cared about them, and he wanted to exploit that connection. He kissed my head when he finished, squeezing my hand. Get some sleep. We'll figure it out tomorrow.

I considered his words, thinking about what we'd seen with Naia and Tiger Shark. After last night, I thought I'd be dreading sleep, but as I clung tightly to Jay, darkness swept me into its embrace before I so much as closed my eyes.

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