Morana's POV
The sailor dumped a bucket of garbage straight into the ocean.
I watched from the ship's railing as fish oil, rotten vegetables, and human waste spread across the water's surface like a disease. Below, I could feel the ocean crying out in pain—or maybe that was just my imagination.
"You alright, miss?"
I turned to find David, the friendly merchant, watching me with concern. "You look upset."
"I just..." I gestured at the spreading filth. "Don't you care what that does to the water? To the creatures living in it?"
David shrugged. "It's just the ocean. It's big enough to handle a little trash."
Just the ocean. Like it wasn't a living, breathing world. Like millions of beings didn't call it home.
I bit back the angry words trying to escape my throat. Marina Crest wouldn't get emotional about garbage in the water. She was a scientist. Detached. Professional.
"You're right," I forced myself to say. "Of course."
But watching the pollution spread made me want to dive in and try to clean it myself. Made me want to scream at these humans who treated my home like their personal garbage pit.
"Hey, don't look so sad." David smiled. "Come have breakfast. Cookie made his famous fish stew. Well, famous for being terrible, but it's hot at least."
I followed him below deck, still trying not to think about the waste floating above my people's heads.
The mess hall was crowded with sailors eating and talking. The moment I entered, several conversations stopped. Eyes turned to me.
"That's the marine biologist," someone whispered. "The one who boarded at dawn."
"Weird time to board a ship," another muttered. "And did you see how she walks? Like she's never used legs before."
My heart hammered. I forced a smile and moved to an empty corner, hoping to be forgotten.
David brought me a bowl of stew. It smelled wrong—like the ocean but also like fire and spices. I took a tiny sip and nearly choked. It was so hot. Merfolk never cooked their food. Never needed to.
"Not good?" David asked.
"It's... different. I'm not very hungry."
"You haven't eaten since you boarded. That's six hours." He pushed the bowl closer. "Come on. You'll need your strength when we reach Stormhaven. That city isn't kind to outsiders."
I forced myself to take another sip. Then another. Slowly, my tongue adjusted to the heat and the strange flavors. It wasn't terrible. Just foreign.
Like everything else in this world.
"So what's a marine biologist doing in Stormhaven anyway?" a gruff voice asked.
I looked up to find Captain Barlow standing over me, arms crossed. His eyes were sharp and suspicious.
"I'm studying naval navigation techniques," I recited my cover story. "How ships move through different waters, how captains predict currents and—"
"That's not marine biology. That's navigation." Barlow's expression didn't change. "You got your story mixed up, girl."
Ice flooded my veins. Stupid. So stupid. I'd confused my cover.
"I mean—I study how ocean life affects navigation. Fish migration patterns, how marine creatures impact ship routes—" I was babbling, making it worse.
Barlow stared at me for a long, terrible moment.
Then he laughed. "Relax, miss. I'm just messing with you. Marcus paid me good money to get you to Stormhaven safe. I don't care what your real business is, long as you don't bring trouble to my ship."
Relief made me dizzy. "Thank you, Captain."
"But word of advice?" He leaned closer. "Stormhaven folks are a lot less trusting than me. Get your story straight before we dock, or you'll end up in chains. That city doesn't like secrets."
He walked away, leaving me shaking.
"Don't mind him," David said quietly. "Barlow's bark is worse than his bite. But he's right about Stormhaven. It's dangerous there, especially for..." He trailed off, looking uncomfortable.
"Especially for what?"
"Outsiders. People who don't belong." David lowered his voice. "They've got these detection spells at the city gates. Magic sensors that can supposedly tell if someone's lying about who they are. If someone's... not human."
My blood turned to ice. "Detection spells?"
"Yeah. Looking for mer-spies, mostly. Ever since the war started heating up, they're paranoid about merfolk infiltrating the city." He laughed nervously. "Crazy, right? Like a mermaid could actually pass for human."
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Detection spells. Magic sensors.
How was I supposed to get past those?
"You okay?" David asked. "You look pale."
"I'm fine. Just seasick." I stood on shaky legs. "I need some air."
I stumbled back up to the deck and gripped the railing, trying not to panic.
Detection spells. The mission was over before it started. There was no way I could—
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
An old sailor stood beside me, looking out at the endless water. His face was weathered, kind. "The ocean, I mean. I've been sailing forty years and it never stops amazing me."
I was so surprised by the gentle words that I forgot to be scared. "You love the sea?"
"More than anything. She's temperamental, dangerous, unpredictable. But also generous and beautiful and alive." He smiled. "My daughter used to say the ocean had a soul. That if you listened close enough, you could hear it singing."
"Your daughter sounds wise."
"She was. She died ten years ago. Drowned in a storm." His eyes grew distant. "Some folks blamed the merfolk—said they caused the storm on purpose. But I never believed that. The ocean takes who it takes. Mer or human, we're all just visitors in her domain."
I felt tears prick my eyes. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you, child." He patted my hand. "I tell you this because I see you watching the water like you're homesick for it. Like it's calling you back. Don't be ashamed of that. The ocean gets in your blood. Once it does, you're never quite comfortable on land again."
He walked away, leaving me stunned.
Not all humans were evil. Some understood. Some cared.
It made everything more complicated.
That night, I lay in my hammock below deck, listening to the crew snore around me. I pulled out the communication potion Lyria had given me and placed a drop under my tongue.
Lyria? I thought. Can you hear me?
Her voice echoed in my mind immediately. Morana! Thank the gods. Are you safe?
For now. But there's a problem. I told her about the detection spells at Stormhaven's gates.
Silence. Then: That's bad. Really bad.
Can we do anything? Is there a spell to hide what I am?
Not that I know of. But maybe... maybe if you don't use any magic, if you keep it completely locked down, the sensors won't pick up anything.
My magic is already sealed by the curse.
Then maybe that's enough. Maybe the seal will hide you. She didn't sound convinced. Or maybe you should abort the mission. Come back. We'll find another way.
I thought about the drawings of dead children. About little Coral who'd brought me shells and was now gone forever.
No. I have to try.
Then be careful. So, so careful. Lyria's voice was tight with worry. And Morana? If Theron Ashcroft is even half as dangerous as they say, don't let your guard down. Not for a second.
I won't.
But even as I said it, I wondered if I was lying to both of us.
The next two days passed in a blur of avoiding questions, practicing my cover story, and trying not to let anyone see how terrified I was.
On the morning of the third day, David shook me awake. "We're here. Stormhaven Port. We dock in an hour."
I climbed to the deck and saw it—the human city rising from the coastline like a fortress. Stone buildings, tall walls, and hundreds of ships crowding the harbor.
Somewhere in that city was Theron Ashcroft.
The man I was supposed to deceive.
"First time in Stormhaven?" Captain Barlow appeared beside me. "Word of warning—keep your head down, follow the rules, and whatever you do, don't go near the naval headquarters after dark. That's where the Siren Slayer keeps his office, and trust me, you don't want to meet him."
"The Siren Slayer?"
"Captain Theron Ashcroft. Most dangerous mer-hunter alive." Barlow's expression was grave. "He can smell lies. They say he's got a sixth sense for spotting spies. He's caught and killed more merfolk than any other captain in history." He looked at me meaningfully. "So if you've got secrets, miss, keep them buried deep. Because if the Siren Slayer catches wind of you, you won't live to regret it."
The ship pulled into port. Sailors rushed to secure ropes and lower sails.
And standing on the dock, waiting, was a line of guards checking every passenger who disembarked.
The detection spells.
"All passengers off!" Barlow shouted. "Papers ready for inspection!"
David grabbed his bags and headed for the exit. Other passengers followed.
I stood frozen, watching the guards examine each person. Watching them touch a strange glowing stone to each passenger's forehead—the detection spell.
Two passengers ahead of me, a woman failed the test. The stone flashed red. Guards seized her, dragged her away screaming.
"She was human!" David gasped beside me. "Why did it—"
"She lied on her papers," a guard said coldly. "Said she was a merchant. She's actually a thief with warrants. The spell detects deception."
My heart stopped. Deception. My entire identity was a lie.
"Come on, Marina." David gestured for me to follow. "Let's get this over with."
I moved on numb legs toward the guards. Toward the detection spell. Toward certain discovery and death.
The guard looked bored. "Name?"
"Marina Crest."
"Purpose in Stormhaven?"
"Research. I'm a marine biologist."
He pressed the glowing stone to my forehead.
The world held its breath.
The stone turned—
Green.
"You're clear. Welcome to Stormhaven." He waved me through without interest.
I stumbled onto the dock, my legs barely holding me. It worked. The curse hiding my magic had somehow fooled the detection spell.
I was in. I'd made it.
Now I just had to find Theron Ashcroft and somehow steal from the most dangerous mer-hunter alive.
"Marina!" David called. "You coming? I know a good inn near the market district. Clean rooms, decent food—"
A commotion at the far end of the dock cut him off.
Sailors were rushing around, shouting orders. A massive warship was pulling into port—bigger than any other vessel in the harbor.
"That's Leviathan's Fury," someone whispered in awe. "The Siren Slayer's ship."
My breath caught.
And then I saw him.
Captain Theron Ashcroft strode down the gangplank, tall and commanding in his naval uniform. Even from a distance, I could see the cold determination in his face. The hardness of a man who'd built his reputation on hunting my people.
He scanned the crowd, and for one heart-stopping moment, his eyes passed over me.
Did he recognize me? Could he sense what I was?
But he kept moving, disappearing into the naval headquarters without a second glance.
I released the breath I'd been holding.
"Come on," David said, oblivious to my panic. "Let's get you settled before—"
"Captain Ashcroft!" A naval officer ran toward the headquarters. "Sir! We've received intelligence! There's a mer-spy in the city! She arrived on a merchant ship this morning!"
Everything stopped.
They knew.
Somehow, they knew.