Blood in the water

CHAPTER 2 - MEDALION

Dagon waved his hand in front of Alina's face, finally earning her attention. He then raised an eyebrow, as if asking why had she been so abstracted the past few days, but she just shrugged. Throwing his head back in discontempt, the man pulled her by the hand. She would always do this, and hell, he would know. Alina wouldn't talk to him in their language when something was bothering her, which would force him to bring her upshore so that she would speak out.

— Okay, what is it? — his deep voice came as soon as they surfaced. The moon had just started to rise above them, darkening the sea while glistening it with its shine.

— Nothing, stop being so dramatic.

— Nothing? So you just deceived me into bringing you here?

— Okay, first of all, I don't need anyone to bring me here — Alina pointed her index finger up to make the point. — Second, I did not deceive you. I'm simply not in the mood for talking.

Dagon frowned at his sister. "Not in the mood for talking" was quite the rare occasion for her. Glancing a bit further down, however, he found the possible reason why. The silver pendant hung around her neck by a thin chain shone against the moonlight, and he swallowed the air before bringing it up.

— You're wearing the locket again.

— Yes.

— Does it have anything to do with you spending even longer than usual up here this week?

— I just missed him— it. I missed the locket. You know I like to sport my jewels — Alina waved her hand to show the thin silver rings around her fingers. Dagon smiled in response and drew closer, hugging her from the side.

— You know you can tell me anything, right?

— I know — Alina lowered her head to rest on his shoulder.

— So, you're not mad at me, then?

— Why would I be mad at you?

— I don't know, you always find a reason.

— Right — she chuckled.

— Alright, I'm turning in. — Dagon kissed Alina's forehead and gently let go of her. — You coming?

— In a minute — she winked at her brother.

It had been a week since she'd seen the mysterious man by the shore for the first time — and four days since the second and much briefer one. He had run around the wall, but just as he got close enough for her to see, something made him go back. So every chance she could, she would go back there in hopes to see him again.

Alina had for long had a fascination for different creatures, and humans were no exception. She adored how they could be so similar to her and so different at the same time, so of course it was always exciting to meet someone new. And so, instead of coming back home, she just waited there. Waited and waited, leaned against the rock, taking short swims around the land, not entirely sure what she was waiting for. But then came the footsteps — and she went her usual place to hide. Alina looked closely and there he was, again collapsing against the wall, probably after a tiring day, and falling asleep. And once more, she couldn't look away. She just stared at the still body as his forehead gradually unwrinkled and his limbs relaxed all the way through. And then came the thought in her head, as if it was the little devil that sat on her shoulder.

Go see him up close.

God, no, what are you going on about, Alina?, she thought to herself. You've seen him, your curiosity has been satiated.

But that was impossible, wasn't it?

The woman closed her eyes and purposely knocked her head against the rock. What am I doing? went through her mind, as if some higher force acted upon her at that moment. She concentrated on her tail long enough, and then came the circles: it was like a string of blue light surrounded the lower half of her body in a spiral, twirling and shining and even stirring up the water around her a bit. Once it dissipated, she open her eyes to see she'd been successful: a pair of legs was now there. Before she could regret the idea, Alina walked the remaining distance out onto the sand.