Shadow at the Water's edge.

Answers.

Alex stared at her for a moment. She bit her lip and looked nervous, but kept eye contact with him. Finally Alex said quietly.

"You're a mermaid...I remember now." She looked slightly surprised.

"You remember?" He nodded. "Everything?" He nodded again. She slid slightly lower in the seat and looked thoughtfully out the window. Alex let everything process for a moment, then he turned to face her.

"I don't understand, there's no such thing as mermaids." Vivian sighed and rubbed her forehead.

"You're right, mermaids don't exist." He raised his eyebrows.

"What? But...you had a tail...what are you?" She finally turned and met his gaze.

"How well do you know your mythology?" He shrugged.

"Fairly well."

"Okay, so you've heard of nymphs?" He nodded. "Okay, well if you remember in Greek mythology, Neptune had daughters that were called the Oceanids. They were basically sea nymphs." She paused and he took the opportunity to say.

"So you're a sea nymph?" She nodded. "Okay...what's the difference between a mermaid and a sea nymph?" She laughed slightly and shrugged.

"Nothing really, mermaid is the name sailors gave to us. That is our form when we are in salt water." Alex glanced at her legs.

"But you can change your tail into legs?" She shifted her long legs and gingerly touched the bandages covering her calves.

"Yes, we can change form at will. But if we are out of salt water and we switch to our tail, then we will dry out. And if we are in legged form while in water than we will drown."

"Sounds complicated." She shrugged.

"It's not really. Our tailed forms still look human, with the exception of the tail of course. But our true forms look less human."

Alex started the car again, and pulled back onto the road as they continued talking.

"So what does your true form look like?" She thought for a minute before answering.

"It depends on which species you are, but my true form has more intense versions of my eyes, green-blue skin, patches of scales, and fangs." Alex's eyebrows shot up.

"Fangs?" She nodded.

"We only use our true forms when we are required to use our power."

"Wait, you guys have powers too?"

"Yes, we can control water in many forms. And occasionally we are born with a certain power unique to us..." She trailed off, as if this was a hard subject for her to talk about. Alex didn't pry, instead asking.

"So what's with the singing?" She turned to look at him shocked.

"That's impossible...how can you remember the singing?" He shrugged, glancing over at her briefly.

"I don't know, I just do." She leaned back in her seat and frowned as she thought. Answering him distractedly.

"Well, we can use our song to control your mind."

"Like sirens?" She gasped and her nails dug into the seat as she curled up tightly against the seat. Alex quickly pulled onto the side of the road and turned to her. gently placing his hand on her arm.

"What is it? What's wrong?" She whimpered slightly and hid her face in her knees. Alex gently pulled her up and tilted her chin so that she had to look at him.

"Vivian, you can trust me." She stared at him for a moment, and finally said quietly.

"She is hunting me..." Alex frowned.

"The same person you were talking about in the nurse's office?" She nodded. "Who is she?" Vivian hesitated, and then said in a scared voice.

"Nerissa, oldest sister of the Umbra Grex. She is a Siren. And she wants to kill me."

Alex looked down at her bandaged legs.

"Did she do this to you?" Vivian nodded slowly, her hand just barely brushing over the bandages.

"Rope soaked in hemlock, it weakens us. She trapped my tail in a net, but I was able to escape by changing into legs and slipping free. I don't know how I got to shore..."

"How did you find me?" She shrugged.

"It was instinct. Just like when I saved you. I knew you were there, and you needed my help. I knew that you could protect me, so I found you."

Alex held her hand briefly, and locked eyes with her.

"I'll do everything I can to keep you safe. I promise." She glanced down at their linked hands, and they both became aware of the tingling heat sensation that radiated off their skin to skin contact.

"Is...does it feel like that because you're not human?" She shook her head.

"I...I've never felt this before." She lifted her free hand thoughtfully and then slowly lowered it onto his arm. The same sensation spread from her fingertips across his skin, causing a warm shiver to travel down his spine.

"Maybe we have a special bond, and that's why I was able to find you. My powers are...special. Maybe this is just something new." She removed her hand and he released her other one. Pulling once again onto the road.

They rode in silence for a few minutes. Then Alex shook his head and chuckled.

"I have no idea how I'm going to explain this to Nick." Vivian looked curious.

"Who's Nick?"

"My guardian. He's going to be suspicious of me bringing home a...a girl." Vivian smiled slightly as his flushed face and she shrugged.

"You can tell him what you told the nurse." Alex contemplated this for a moment, before saying,

"He's going to wonder why he's never heard of you before." Vivian sighed and rested her head back against the seat.

"I'm sure you'll think of something."

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Author's Note: Hey! Sorry it's kind of short, but I am a little out of it, and I decided I'd give you at least something to read, even if it is short :)

Please comment and vote! (I'm watching you) O.o