Page 2 of The Scent of Salt & Sand

As the two officers climbed out of the car, a young man stepped out of line and locked eyes with Dean. Anxiety pinched his features—a look Dean knew all too well after years of patrolling the streets of San Francisco. “Lesnek,” he called to his partner. “We might have a problem over here.”

The glaring guy fidgeted with his jacket, the white fabric switching to red then blue in the lights.

“Don’t do it,” Dean muttered, pushing the car door closed.

The man bolted, throwing a small baggie into the steady flow of traffic.

“Lesnek!” Dean shouted. “He threw something into the street!”

“Got it! I’ll follow you in the car!”

Blood pulsed behind his ears, interrupted only by Kait, calling in the pursuit to dispatch.

Dean launched himself down the street after the man in the white jacket. “Stop! SFPD!” he shouted as White Jacket turned a blind corner. Dean followed, weapon drawn. “Stop!” He repeated the order as the man disappeared over a rusted metal fence.

Following the perpetrator’s lead, Dean climbed onto a dumpster and thrust himself over the chain link. Dean landed on the pavement and forced his legs to resume running, ignoring the pain barking in his ankles. White Jacket had a bigger lead now, and he took advantage of it, darting into another alleyway. Dean pumped his arms faster, willing his legs to join the quickened pace. He turned the corner. Nothing. “Shit!” he spat, peering down the narrow corridors on his right and left. “I lost him,” he exhaled into the radio. “Behind the abandoned Walgreens warehouse.”

He cursed again, kicking an empty can with the toe of his boot.

“Help me.” A weak groan twisted in the air around Dean.

He raised his weapon, letting it lead him down one of the narrow walkways White Jacket had used to escape.

“Quiet! Be still!” Sharp hisses emanated from a dark corner of the alley.

Dean clicked his flashlight on.

Air fled his lungs as he stared, unblinking, at the creature looming on all fours over a trembling victim. “Step back!” He tried to shout, but wasn’t sure if the words even left his lips.

The creature’s violet scales lifted like the scruff of a dog as it screeched, and drove its long teeth into the thin flesh of the man’s neck. Blood sprayed through air, splattering against the concrete.

Dean fired once, twice. The boom of the gun pierced his ears and rattled his bones.

The fanged monster shrieked and hurled itself at him, knocking him on his back before scurrying up the nearest building like a spider. Dean rolled to his stomach, searching the black pavement for his gun. Sirens wailed in the distance as he found the cool metal. He lifted the pistol, but it was too late. The creature was gone, leaving Dean in a pool of thick blood.

Chapter Two

Melody took a deep breath and dove into the cobalt waters. The velvety liquid swallowed her, and she remained still, sinking, until the jutting peaks of the shoreline were a wavering mirage on the surface. Gentle vibrations hummed along her skin as its True Form took hold, sending waves of relaxation coursing through her limbs. She curled into a ball, somersaulting weightlessly. Through the light-streaked water, deep emerald scales seemed to twist and dance on her legs. She wiggled her toes, which had sprouted an almost translucent webbing since submersion.

A body dropped into the water. Waves pushed against Melody, forcing her farther from shore. She kicked to combat the pulse of the water and steer herself away from her sisters, who bobbed around her like ducks.

She forced a puff of air out of her nose. Bubbles fled to the surface, tickling her forehead along the way. With most everyone back from the Mortal Realm, the pool felt small. It was better when a dozen of them were gone. Then she could snake through the saltwater without worrying about collisions. But the pool would be crowded for one more day, until another group was selected to make the hellacious journey above. Fear flapped within her chest. She was now old enough to be chosen.

Her legs collided with something hard.

Melody! Water muted the word, but annoyance stayed hooked to it.

She popped her head out of the water.

“Gah, Melody, watch where you’re going. You almost kicked me in the face.”

Melody waded to shallower water and pressed her feet into the sandy waterbed. “Sorry, Arietta. I didn’t see you.” She smiled.

“Ugh.” Arietta’s cheeks were pink with youth, but her dark eyes were dulled from decades of struggle. “You always have that stupid grin on your face.”

Staring at her elders made Melody’s stomach sink with foreboding. She averted her gaze. “I’m just happy to be at home.”

Arietta scoffed. “Home? You’re too young to remember the meaning of the word.”