My strokes were becoming sluggish. How long had I been underwater? Blood pounded in my ears, and I knew I’d have to breathe soon. And then a brutal grip on my shoulder had me up out of the water and onto a shelf of land.
I dragged in harsh breaths as I huddled in front of webbed feet, with lacey fins that ran from the back of his knees to his calves.
Are you all right?
I choked and spat out some of the water I had swallowed in spite of my best efforts.
Are you all right? he demanded more insistently.
“Just give me a minute to catch my breath. I’ll be fine.” It took longer than a minute, but finally I felt more human. I laughed sourly at that thought, propped an elbow on my knee, and looked up. And up
He was about seven feet tall, with a serpentine tail that curled from his coccyx and
