SEAMONSTER: An Aquarathi Novella (The Aquarathi) by Amalie Howard Read Free Book Online Page B

say—that in t he days I’ve gotten to know her, I’ve come to care about her? That her life matters? That I couldn’t turn away now even if I wanted to? That I want to help her?
    “I’m not most people,” I say, right as a loud thump on the glass tank makes Anya’s eyes pop. She leaps back, staring at the shark that has just bumped its nose into us in an odd aggressive motion.
    “The shark is going nuts,” she says. “It’s swum by about twenty times in a row. It must think you’re its dinner.”
    Or maybe it’s posturing because I’m the bigger predator around here. Turning away from Anya, I meet the shark’s eye for a second and let mine flare. The beast scurries in the opposite direction, swimming toward the other side of the tank. Our pheromones attract sharks, until they get close and realize what we are. It’s one of the reasons Nerissa and I only surf when there isn’t a full moon. We’re like shark magnets then—safe for us, but not so much for people.
    “Whoa, what’d you just do?” Anya whispers.
    “Stood up to him,” I say with an inner grin of satisfaction at the shark’s suddenly submissive behavior. “Come on, let’s get out of here. I know a place we can go.”
    Swiping a yellow floater keychain from the rack of keys, we slip out the backdoor, running toward the pier where a small boat is docked. “Get in,” I tell Anya.
    “Are you sure we can take this?”
    “I’ll return it later, once you’re safe,” I assure her. By the time Frank realizes we’re no longer at the center, we’ll be long gone. I navigate the small craft to my beach, and tie it to the waiting dock. “Come on.”
    “Wait,” she says. “Are we going to your house?”
    “Yes.”
    “What about your family?” she asks. “What are you going to tell them about me?”
    “Nothing. That you’re a friend visiting from out of town who needs a place to crash.” I almost snort—not that any of them will believe me. I don’t tend to have friends, especially of the human variety, and especially not girls. “It’ll be okay. Do you trust me?”
    She looks at me for a long moment, but nods. “ You know I do.”
    “Good.”
    We walk up the beach together and enter through the back door. I’ve already checked that Nerissa is not in the pool in full-out Aquarathi form, but they’re all waiting in the living room. My parents’ faces are expressionless, and the look on Nerissa’s is openly approving.
    “This is Anya. She’s new to town, and she needs a place to stay for a couple days. Can she stay here?”
    “Speio,” my father begins, his brows knitting together.
    My mother steps forward, cutting him off. “I’m Soren, Speio’s mother,” she says to Anya. “Welcome to our home. And you are welcome to stay as long as you like.” I shoot her a grateful look as my father stalks from the room. I know why he’s upset—Nerissa’s safety trumps everything else and I’ve just brought an outsider into our home without clearing it—and her—with him first. But I had nowhere else to go. Nowhere safe enough, anyway.
    “This is Nerissa,” I say, introducing Anya to her. I struggle to find a way to define our relationship and resort to the explanation Nerissa had used at the center. “My step-sister.”
    “Nice to meet you, Anya,” Nerissa says. “Call me Riss. Everyone does.”
    “Thanks, Riss,” Anya says with a shy smile.
    “ Speio, why don’t you get some fresh towels and put them in the guest room?” my mother says. “Are you hungry, Anya? We’ve already eaten, but I can fix you a plate.”
    “No thanks, Ms. Marin,” Anya says politely.
    “Okay, well, help yourself to anything in the kitchen if you want a snack.”
    “Thank you.”
    I show Anya to her room and hand over a clean towel as well as a pair of Nerissa’s pajamas. “She’s a little shorter than you, but these should fit. Are you okay?”
    “Your parents seem nice. Nerissa, too.”
    “Thanks.” I stop at the door. “Try