Heeding Kellen’s words, Derek swam straight for the Hellcat without bothering to slow down or assess the situation. His eyes darted from side to side, trying to see everything at once, but he seemed to be alone. The only evidence that remained of Merla’s earlier tirade was her red comb, lying forgotten in the sand. Derek swam over the ground, low enough to brush against the comb as he passed, but she didn’t swoop down on him, scratching and biting again. He dared to snag the comb in one hand, capturing it; again, nothing.
He was quite alone.
He slowed, wary, and let the comb fall back to the sea floor. No shrieking banshee came howling out from the cockpit; he turned, but she wasn’t swimming up behind him, either. She was no where to be seen. Derek dared to swim closer to the Hellcat’s w
