Chapter 29
I anxiously observe Wake and Marina’s first meeting with bated breath along with the rest of the observation crew.
The initial tension in the room is thick as we wait to see how the siren’s react to one another. Even with the worry, it’s impossible to deny that we’re witnessing something remarkable.
The water in the tank is so clear that it seems like they’re floating in air. At first, it looks to be going well; the two sirens circle each other cautiously.
Their scales shimmer under the artificial lights, creating a mesmerizing display of colors. The way they move can only be described as dancing; they almost seem to breathe in sync as they swim, their bodies flowing with a preternaturally ethereal grace.
In the Marble, Marina looks completely different than she had in the underground lab. Her sleek form is smaller, more delicate compared to Wake’s powerful build. The teal scales of her tail are dusted with a bioluminescent shimmer that glows softly, underneath the sun’s natural waves.
Wake, on the other hand, radiates raw strength. His muscles ripple under his scales, and his eyes, though dark and predatory, hold a hint of curiosity as he studies Marina.
I don’t dare blink while Wake and Marina circle one another. I can barely breathe.
They make one slow revolution as they observe one another, and then, almost as if on cue, they take off in a synchronized swim. They spiral upward, their movements perfectly matched. The sight is so breathtaking that tears well up in my eyes. Even Director St. Cloud, usually so composed, looks enraptured by the pairing.
“Extraordinary,” the Director whispers, eyes locked on the pair.
Despite the beauty of the moment, a gnawing jealousy begins to eat at me, making me feel sick. You’re being ridiculous, I tell myself, but it doesn’t do much to ease the ache in the pit of my stomach.
Wake and I were never an item; logically, I know this. What had taken place between us had been purely biological, his pheromones reacting to mine. Foolishness had let us take things too far, and now it’s up to me to set Wake back onto nature’s proper course.
Wake had been searching for a mate for years, and Marina had been in limbo, waiting for another of her kind to be found. It was a miracle that brought them together here, and I should feel honored to have been a part of it. I am honored.
I might not agree with Enigma’s future plans for the two sirens, but that’s a battle to fight another day. What’s important is that Wake is content and taken
care of.
A high–pitched squeal comes from the tank, and suddenly, the atmosphere shifts ominously.
“What was that?” the Director demands.
As we watch, their fluid movements become erratic, and I can see the subtle shift in their body language. It happens in an instant: Wake’s muscles coil like a spring, and Marina’s bioluminescent tendrils flare bright in alarm.
Without warning, Wake lunges at Marina, his powerful tail propelling him forward with astonishing speed. Marina reacts instinctively, twisting her body to evade him, but he’s too fast.
His claws rake across her side, leaving a trail of dark blood that dissipates into the water. Marina lets out a high–pitched squeal, the sound grating on my nerves and echoing through the observation deck.
“Get me visuals on the sirens now!” Director St. Cloud’s voice cuts through the growing panic in the room.
The screens flicker and shift until they lock onto the chaotic scene unfolding in the tank. Marina tries to put distance between herself and Wake, darting through the water with agility, but Wake is relentless. He slashes through the water like a predator on the hunt, his eyes dark and predatory.
“Well, this is unexpected,” the Director whispers, her eyes locked on the pair.
I feel a sickening churn in my stomach. How can she stand there taking notes? This isn’t a spectacle; it’s a battle for survival – one that we caused.
Marina turns to face Wake, baring her teeth and flaring her bioluminescent tendrils in a display of defiance. She darts in, aiming a bite at his exposed neck, but Wake twists at the last moment, catching her by the arm and throwing her against the glass wall of the tank. The impact sends a shudder through the entire structure, and Marina slumps, stunned.
Marina is fierce but not nearly as strong as Wake. He’s going to kill her.
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Chapter 29
“Do something!” I yell into the void.
Wake’s tail thrashes violently, creating powerful currents that churn the water into a frothy whirlpool. He lunges again, but Marina recovers quickly, flipping her body and impacting him square in the chest with her tail. The force sends Wake tumbling backward, but he quickly regains his balance, his rage evident in the way he charges again.
Bodies start moving, but not quickly enough. Marina’s team isn’t familiar enough with the Marble observation deck, and the only researcher who was, is laid up in the infirmary. Peter…that’s it!
I remember the switch Peter had gone for the last time Wake got unruly and lunge for it. When I flip it, a high–pitched whine starts blaring from unseen speakers. The sound goes beyond piercing – it’s mind numbing. I wince, covering my ears, but the discomfort I feel is nothing compared to the effect it has on the sirens.
The entire Marble is vibrating, from the water to the very glass holding it all together. Inside, both merfolk have stopped fighting, immobilized, shocked in place by the intensity of the alarm’s frequency.
Wake roars in pain, the force of his anger overriding the paralysis. He bursts into motion, darting toward the tank wall like a torpedo. When he hits the class, the resounding strike sends a shiver of anxious anticipation throughout the observation deck.
Again, and again, he slams into the tank, each impact sends shockwaves through the water, the glass creaking ominously under the strain.
“Damn it, someone secure the female!” Director St. Cloud yells, then turns to me. “And turn that damn thing off before he damages my multimillion–dollar tank.”
Researchers rush to net Marina, who is still paralyzed by the alarm. They maneuver a large net into the water, scooping her up carefully but quickly. Marina thrashes weakly, her bioluminescent tendrils dimming with distress as she’s lifted from the tank.
When the coast is clear, I flip the switch again, and the alarm goes quiet. Even after it stops, Wake continues to attack the walls of the tank. Ignoring the other researchers‘ protests, I approach the water’s edge.
“Wake,” I call. Kneeling, I dip my hand into the water. “It’s okay. I’m here.”
Wake’s fists pause mid–strike. He turns to me, his dark eyes locking onto mine. Slowly, he swims over, brushing his hand against mine, then nuzzling his face against my palm. His breathing is ragged, his chest heaving with exertion. Tension drains from him, as he begins his haunting mating call.
Director St. Cloud watches on with a dark curiosity. “How do you do that?”
I don’t know how to answer her question. The connection between Wake and me is something I can’t fully explain, but it’s real, it’s powerful, and apparently it’s something that can’t simply be replicated.
“I don’t know,” I admit, finding it difficult to speak. “But I plan to find out.”
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when he hits the glass*
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