Page 3 of The Scent of Salt & Sand

“It’s not so bad here. We have light, and water, and—”

“Stop right there. You must be joking.” Arietta pointed to the sky. Mossy brown scales glinted on her arm, the same color as her eyes. “That is not the sun. And this is not the ocean.” She slapped the surface of the water. “I hope I’m chosen again. Better yet, I hope you’re chosen.” Arietta swam away, her deliberate kicks spraying water onto Melody.

Melody stood in the shadow of Arietta’s words.

She tried to find her smile, but her lips only twitched slightly. Arietta had lived centuries longer than Melody. She’d had free reign in the Mortal Realm along with others, including Melody’s mother. With the thought, Melody’s shoulders slumped, and her gaze fell to the water.

She stared at her reflection, calling upon memories of the woman she missed every day. They had the same snowy skin, deep green eyes, and bright copper hair. Often she was told that she looked like Melisma’s clone.

“You’re my mini me,” her mother used to say, and rest her forehead against Melody’s. She closed her eyes, inhaling the ghost of her mother’s scent, salt and sand. Her mother’s smell was vibrant and alive, not like the dull scents that blew through this section of Tartarus. It used to tickle her nose and bring goose bumps to her skin.

Melody opened her eyes. Wrinkles formed on the bridge of her thin nose as joy again rested within her.

“I just got the list of names from Rhapsody herself. You ready to tell the lucky girls?”

Allegra’s chipper words emanated from the alcove behind Melody, bouncing off of the cave walls, which made it almost impossible to have a private conversation anywhere. Like the others, Melody had learned to ignore the chatter. But Rhapsody was a name she couldn’t disregard.

Melody gathered her thick strawberry hair and peeked over her shoulder. Harmony’s gray eyes caught hers. She stifled a nervous cough.

Harmony released a tired sigh. “It’s already time to make the journey again?”

No. Noiselessly, Melody exited the pool and tiptoed onto shore.

“Can’t keep Siren Tours closed down for too long. It’s bad for business,” Allegra noted.

“You’re right,” Harmony said, refreshed. “Let me see the names.”

Melody hurried along the crescent-shaped shoreline until she was well out of the women’s path. She darted to a large boulder, and squatted down beside it. If they didn’t see her, maybe she’d be passed over.

“Melody?” The word was a whisper. “No, Allegra, not yet. Do you even think she’s ready?”

Melody wrapped her arms around her shins and squeezed tight. Her feet sank deeper into the sand, along with her hope of going another season without having to travel to the Mortal Realm.

“It really doesn’t matter what I think, or you for that matter. We all had to go above when we reached twenty-five.” Allegra released a sharp breath. “It’s her turn.”

Melody pinched her eyes shut.

“But she seems so young.” Harmony’s soft tone steadily echoed off the craggy walls.

“She’s naïve. All of our younger sisters are. They can’t remember a time before Tartarus. What we lost…” Allegra cleared her throat. “But you’ll be there to teach her what’s to be done.”

“Yeah.” Harmony paused. “Her mother and I were close. Let me tell her.”

Melody’s chest tightened as her heart beat ferociously. Why hadn’t she run, chosen a proper place to hide? But what did it matter? Their cove was so small. She wouldn’t have remained hidden for long.

Harmony’s shadow fell over her. “Melody?” Her fingertips rested on Melody’s quivering shoulder. “Mel?”

She shrugged. “You know I don’t like to be called Mel.”

Harmony squatted in front of her, displacing the sand, which buried Melody’s feet in its cool depths.

“It’s your time.”

Slowly, Melody opened her eyelids and met Harmony’s gaze. “Can’t it wait? You yourself said I’m too young.”

“I said you seem young. This place has that effect. Your experiences have been so limited. But it’s time to grow up.” Like always, Harmony’s smile was soft and warm. It was nearly impossible to be mad or afraid when she turned it on. Melody had decided long ago that that smile was the main reason her mother had chosen Harmony to look after her.

“But what if what happened to Mom happens to me?”