Tempting Tide

Chapter 1

"Hurry!!!!" the captain roared to his crew.

"Pull the nets back!! We have to return!!" the captain shouted as he struggled against the slippery net.

"Captain!! It seems the net is hooked on something," a member of the crew shouted amid the storm.

"Under no circumstances are you to dive into the water!!" the captain shouted, but his words were carried away by the wind and replaced with those of the rolling thunder.

The crew member dived beneath the angry waves. Below the rushing tides, it was calmer, completely serene contradicting the storm above. The man swam below the nets to see what prevented them from being pulled to the surface. To his surprise, there was nothing; the net was free to be pulled up to the surface, with no hindrance in sight.

The sea holds a number of wonders, some known and unknown. Stories of the beauty of the sea have been spread far and near, the colorful stories it tells, the anger it showcases when it disagrees with the sky, and the caresses it gives the land. In all its beauty, we seem to forget she hides secrets, secrets that should never be known. On that fateful day, the man discovered a secret the sea held, a beautifully freighting one.

First, it watches, it does nothing but watch from a distance. Then it sings, a song so beautiful it mesmerizes one into submission unbeknownst to them. The symphony flirts with your ears while you sink lower into euphoria. Their teeth graze your skin, seemingly like a lover's caress, putting one at ease. They feast on you at your most vulnerable.

Just like that, the sea's secret became a rumor, then a legend.

......

"Don't go close to the sea, love. Haven't I told you the stories?" my aunt asked me.

"Do you still believe in those?" I asked, laughing at her.

"They are just stories to scare little kids; there are no people in the sea with fishtails waiting to eat you. Plus, I'm not a kid anymore," I said walking closer to her, just to make her less upset with me.

"You are a grown adult, I understand, but when you get eaten by one of those men-fish, you can't say I did not warn you," my aunt grumbled as we continued our walk down the sandy path.

"Why would you believe in mermaids? They are just myths. Plus, no one has seen one in real life to think they are the cause of all those deaths. It could've just been sharks."

"They are not mermaids, those creatures are sirens. Their beauty can drive a human being to madness," my aunt said walking leisurely but further from the beach.

I tried laughing it off, but her seriousness was unnerving, like she has encountered one before.

Ever since the incident at Naka'r, my aunt never let me go anywhere near bodies of water. The fear may be reasonable to her but to me it was childish and fear mongering for kids. I believe a shark had attacked that fishing crew, I understand only 5% of the ocean has been discovered but to think people with 7-foot tails existed out there is a bit much. But the seriousness in my aunt's face was no joke either, she has witnessed many things in her life although this is one thing I will never be able to wrap around my mind.

We walked along the beach for a few more minutes talking about my long overdue vacation. My aunt insisted I go to the Kei Islands, the Islands were beautiful according to her but I would not know till I saw it for myself. She also had a friend staying by so it wouldn't hurt to visit for her, due to my aunties health not being so great the doctor does not recommend she moves around much.

"I will think about it"

"You should go, it is a very beautiful place" she said having a reminiscent like expression

We walked back home to squeeze in a little exercise—though not much.

......

Time passed, and soon it was time for my vacation. Being a CRNA is rewarding, but it wears on you. I needed to breathe before I lost my mind.

I booked a two-week stay at one of the top-rated villas—pet-friendly, which was a must. I don't go anywhere without my favorite little gremlin, my Bombay cat, Laurent. Shiny black coat, big green eyes—he's spoiled and he knows it.

The 20-hour flight from L.A. to Jakarta was brutal, but thankfully uneventful. Laurent was a total champ, lounging like royalty thanks to our first-class seats. The next leg—an 8-hour journey to the Kei Islands—had me questioning my life choices. Maybe next time I'll just do Milan and call it a day.

I arrived at the villa and crashed hard. Didn't explore, didn't unpack. Just sleep.

When I finally got up that evening, the place took my breath away. The master bedroom opened straight to the beach. Cream-colored walls, potted plants on the balcony, a king-sized bed in the center of all rooms. Mediterranean-style, which I'm a sucker for.

It was massive—three bedrooms total—but I wasn't staying alone luckily. My best friend's flight got delayed, so she'd arrive the next day. Meanwhile, Laurent was already winding between my legs, demanding food.

I hunted down the Royal Canin I'd ordered earlier. Thankfully, it had been delivered and stocked. He ate like a prince. I grabbed some ikan bakar—a grilled fish dish—for myself. Heavy for a late meal, but I was absolutely famished. Afterward, I washed our dishes to make things easier for the staff.

But with most of the day spent asleep, I couldn't go back to bed. The moon was full. The night was quiet.

I decided to take a walk.

The night felt alive somehow—too quiet, too perfect. I slipped into my short silk nightdress, lace tracing the deep V of my neckline, and threw on a matching robe, loose and flowing. Laurent was passed out on his cat bed, completely unbothered.

I stepped onto the private beach barefoot. The sand was cold, damp, soft beneath my feet. The moon hung full and heavy above the sea, casting silver light that shimmered over the waves like glass. The air smelled like salt and something else... sweet, almost floral.

Then I heard it.

A melody—soft and distant at first, like a lullaby whispered through the wind. My body relaxed without permission. My steps slowed. My breathing softened. I didn't know when I started moving toward the water, only that I had to. The song wrapped around my thoughts like silk, gentle but firm, tugging me forward.

I would've given anything to keep hearing it.

Then—pain. Sharp and searing.

I screamed as something bit into my left arm, yanking me out of the trance. I gasped in shock as blood trickled down my wrist.

Laurent.

He clung to me, hissing and soaked, claws digging into my arm. I stared at him, confused—how the hell had he gotten into the water?

Wait.

I was in the water.

The sea lapped at my chest. I'd been standing on the beach, hadn't I? My robe floated like seaweed around me. Fear stabbed through my chest.

"What... happened to me?"

I pulled Laurent to my chest and turned to swim, but something wrapped around my ankle—cold, slick, strong. I kicked and thrashed, panic choking my breath. Whatever it was slipped off, and I pushed myself toward shore with everything I had left.

I reached the sand, crawling like a wounded animal. U turned back to the sea and that's when I saw it.

A pair of Eyes. Watching.

One was pitch black, swallowing light. The other, a cloudy, milky white—lifeless, like it had seen too much. They didn't blink. Just stared from the waves.

A gasp tore from my throat.

Laurent clung to me, shaking. I scrambled up and bolted toward the villa, bare feet pounding the cold floor, heart racing like a drum in my chest.

Realization set in, if Laurent hadn't bitten me, I'd be gone.