Chapter 48 The Predator
1105words
"Yes," Kayn nodded. "To all the above. But in our case, it's a little more complicated."
"Like what?"
"Nevermind," he shook his head. "The fact is, we have a serious problem at hand now."
"Yeah?"
"Our kind—there's a law forbidding us to reveal ourselves to humans."
"Okay?"
"You saw me, Carly. You know about us." The expression on his face made me nervous.
"Yes, but I won't tell anyone if that's what you worried about."
"You better not make me regret saving you." He sighed, shifting behind the large rock. "My only worry right now is that someone else might have seen us. Or see us on our way back. Usually, the other ones don't travel this far, but Rake's people have been stirring some crap for some time now, and the merfolk is on high alert."
"Wow, do you know how insane that sounded?" I swallowed. "Wait, Rake is a merman too? You said there were other ones? Is he a part of them? Like a trivial clan, or something like that?"
"Rake is a fairy," he responded.
"Holy. Mother. Of. Shit."
"Yeah, tricky little bastard if you ask me," he continued. "You need to be careful around his kind. They may seem charming and trustworthy, but Carly, they are as promising and cuddle worthy as a poisonous snake."
"Mermaids," I breathed. "Fairies...the Kraken. I…Wow."
"Yep."
"What else is real?"
"As far as I know, all your standard cryptids and magical creatures. They're good and smart at hiding."
I blinked. "This is insane."
"You've mentioned that."
"You're not helping."
"I'm not sure what else I could do to help since I've put myself and my family—and your parents in danger, by saving you."
I stared at him. "How are they in danger?"
"Anyone who gets too close to us could get exposed to our big secret. The fact that you know now is a major risk. If the council finds out about this, we're all screwed. Whether we tell them or not, they don't care. They assume the worst and rid of us immediately."
My breath hitched. "As in killing us?"
"I believe that was what I said."
"You do realize anything you've been saying doesn't make much sense," I said. "Why did you risk it then? You clearly don't like me."
"I can't even with you." He rubbed a hand over his face, exasperated. "Did you hear the part where I admitted that we've been trying to get you all to leave to protect you? Do you understand that only knowing what we are has put you in immediate danger?"
I remained still, allowing him to resume his rant.
"You do know that you didn't magically heal all by yourself?" Kayn continued. "That was one hell of a risk I took, but if I didn't, you'd have died. Two strikes on me, by the way. That night Graves attacked you?"
When the only response he got from me was a frown, he explained. "Graves, aka tentacles in Bowmore? Anyway, you'd be in a coma if I didn't heal you then. The drug in your system? It was a sedative merfolk use to tranquilize a threat. That alone could have killed you. Healing a human in our law is the equivalent of murdering another person in human law. It's punishable by death. Revealing my true form, same thing. I've broken nearly a dozen laws to save you."
"I knew you lied about tentacle man." I straightened. "The nurse said it was a standard— "
"Drug, yeah," Kayn spoke. "I had to tamper with the tests. By that time, there was nothing left in your blood. If I didn't do that, you'd have been in a padded cell by now. If anything, you should thank me."
"That Graves guy, what is he?"
"A merman."
I took a moment to rummage through my jumbled thoughts for the logical ones.
"But...why?" I blinked. "If it's such a serious risk, why save me?"
He stared at me for a long moment. "You do not want to know."
"Try me."
He released a bitter laugh. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, considering the circumstances," I said. "Now tell me."
The corners of his lips tilted up into a mischievous smile.
"I don't like it when you look at me like that," I stepped back. When he remained quiet for too long to my liking, I added, "You're making me uncomfortable."
He pinched his upper arm.
I cried out in pain, my palm flying up to the same spot on my arm where he had pinched himself. "This isn't funny!" I snapped. "This part of the magic package, torturing people?"
"No," he snorted. "This is part of the we-are-bound package."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Haven't you been feeling odd stuff the past few days?" he prodded. "Things you can't explain?"
I thought for a moment.
"I knew you felt it the other day in the cafeteria," he grinned. "I got annoyed, so you became annoyed. I felt that. It's pretty trippy."
My eyes widened. "That was what it was?"
"Clearly."
"The cheese sandwiches—earlier, juts before you..." my voice trailed. No, I wouldn't go there. "Uh, never mind. Forget it."
"Huh?"
"Nothing," I shook my head. "So this bound thing."
"We're bound. As in, we can feel each other. If one of us gets sick, we both feel sick. If one gets lucky, the other—"
I waved him off. "Yeah, yeah, okay, got it. How long before it wears off?"
"Uh…"
"Kayn?"
"It's sort of permanent," he pulled a face.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"I wish I was," he said. "But I'm dead serious. It started the night Graves came for you. The first time I healed you."
"I see." I had so many rushed thoughts jumping out at me that I didn't realize I'd been staring at the floor.
Kayn cleared his throat, peering toward the barrier.
I turned and pulled back immediately. The shark was right in front of the opening, staring in at us.
"It can't get in here, can it?"
"No, it can't," he answered. "It can't see us. It probably smells you, though. But the moment it realizes I'm in here, it will flee for its life. You know, me being the bigger predator over here and all that."
"Predator?" I snorted. "Okay."
"Yes. Predator."
