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“Don’t tell anyone, Sammie,” I said as I stripped down and chucked my pyjamas onto the nearest bench.
With an unneeded inhale, I leaped off the edge.
I closed my eyes and sank under the surface. Just a fleeting thought of transitioning had my body convulsing and my legs snapped together. My tail burst into existence and I beat it once, propelling myself through the water.
I floated and spread my arms out. My shoulder muscles unlocked and released the tension in my neck and jaw.
My gills fluttered at my neck, the bubbles tickling them on their way out.
With the initial shock worn off, I had to admit this mermaid thing was really freaking cool. Diving gear had always confined me in ways I couldn’t express, and now I knew why.
The desire to reveal my secret bubbled to the surface. I needed to tell Kira and Allison, at the very least, but what about Dad?
No, I couldn’t talk to him about this, not while tensions with the Everharts were so high, and especially not so soon after Ray’s death. It would break his heart to learn his late wife had kept such important secrets from him.
Mum. That was a subject I could broach with him. Maybe a chat about her could give me some answers.
It was his turn to man the office today, so I could corner him before I left to take dives.
Drowsiness enveloped me, and sleep pulled me deeper. No bed could have compared.
Pleasant thoughts bubbled to the surface of the quagmire of stress that had accumulated since returning home. Thoughts of William and the time we had spent together.
My mind ran away with ideas of seeing him outside of the agency—of having a coffee together, or dinner. Perhaps taking him off Dusk for the trip of a lifetime he so desperately wanted, so I wouldn’t have to introduce him to the feud and all the drama that came with it.
The world felt less invasive down here. Its cloying problems and disasters couldn’t reach me in the water. Could I even convince myself to surface?
A bark snapped me from my reverie and I beat my tail to rocket to the surface.
As the air hit my face, the pool room struck me as different. Golden light spilled in through the frosted windows.
I balked. Was it morning? Had I slept all night in the pool?
Sammie tilted his head and whined, padding his paws against the edge of the pool.
“Oh, buddy.” I swam over to the edge and ruffled his head. “Were you worried?”
Sammie whined again and licked my face.
“Well, I guess I’m going to have to make it up to you with breakfast,” I said.
His ears perked up.
I needed to get Flora’s breakfast ready before work, too.
After a few shakes, my tail transformed back into legs, and I swam to the edge the human way. It didn’t feel nearly as fun.
As I heaved myself out of the pool, I caught sight of my ‘good luck’ arm. The mark had completely disappeared, and with it probably all the luck William had bestowed me.
Damn. Whatever crossed my path from this point onward, I would have to face without any magical assistance.
I tottered back to my room wrapped in a towel, holding my pyjamas at arm’s length. As bright as it was outside, the grandfather clock read five thirty a.m. Gods, I had slept hours in the pool.
After yesterday’s drama, I hoped the family would sleep in so I could slip out for work without seeing anyone. The last thing I needed was a confrontation, and every single one of them would want to know why I hadn’t pressed charges.
Thank the gods that Keith and Wendy were still in jail for the morning. Maybe I would beg to stay with Kira or Allison that night just to get away.
I showered and dressed in a long-sleeved summer dress and leggings and headed downstairs.
