World of Aluvia 2 Read Online Free PDF Page A

another glance. Mina said, “This would be wise. Don’t you think, brother?”
    Tristan looked conflicted, but he finally shrugged. “Well, the sunken ship is too exposed, but I suppose we could take her to our secret place. It would definitely be safe there. Whatever attacked Phoebe could still be around here, but it would never find us in our hidden spot.”
    Phoebe shivered, tightening her grip on Tristan’s arms. He whispered in Phoebe’s ear, so softly that Mina could not hear, “No matter what attacked you, no matter what danger comes, know that I’ll keep you safe, always.”
    His smile gleamed, charming despite the intensity of his black eyes. He tipped his head sideways, a habit of his from childhood. How many times had she seen that smile, that head tilt? She had missed it so much. Missed him.
    Then his words sunk in.
    “Wait a minute,” she blurted. “You rescued me. Didn’t you see what had me?”
    He shook his head, face heavy with concern. “No, you were sinking, alone, when I arrived. I made it just in time. What had you captive?”
    Phoebe’s mind hurt. Where had the blue light come from, then? She’d assumed it was some sort of mer-magic she hadn’t known about. And had she really seen a shadow moving in the darkness? No, that had to have been her mind playing tricks on her. Lack of air could do that.
    “I was grabbed by some horrible creature I’d never seen before, with red eyes and too many teeth!”
    “Hmm. There are many predators in the sea. There are creatures in the depths so strange and cruel-looking that they would shock land walkers, but such deep dwellers rarely come to shallow waters during the day. We’ll need to talk more of this,” he murmured.
    Phoebe took a deep breath, always amazed by the miracle of breathing underwater. Her spinning mind slowed. Her friends’ concern was a bandage, wrapping up a bleeding wound. “But won’t this get you in trouble? You’re not supposed to take me beyond the shoreline, you said. Your own people forbid it.”
    “Well, as you say, what they don’t know won’t hurt them!” Mina chirped.
    Tristan scowled at Mina, but then relented with an exasperated smile. “We’re not really breaking any laws, Phoebe. You’re here already, almost terribly harmed by a creature of the sea. We wouldn’t be doing our duty to our people if we didn’t learn all we could about it and keep you in a safe, hidden spot until we can deliver you safely to shore.”
    “Exactly!” Mina said.
    “No one could argue with these facts,” Tristan added, almost as if convincing himself.
    Phoebe didn’t need much convincing. She would love to stay with them, to be honest. A chance like this was something she might never have again, not if the relations between merfolk and humans continued to worsen.
    “Well, if you think it won’t cause you any trouble…”
    Tristan reassured her. “It’ll be fine. You can tell us about the creature that attacked, and we can share our news of the skeleton. It is good news, of a sort, as much as anything of that kind could be. But trust me when I say you are safe with us. We’ll tell you more, but first, let us go farther from the shore.”
    Mina squealed and clapped her hands. “Oh, please say yes, Phoebe!”
    Phoebe nodded. She couldn’t face the shore. Not now, even knowing that horrendous creature was still sharing the ocean with them. But Tristan’s touch radiated warmth that thawed the terrified frozen place inside her.
    “Come,” he said softly.
    He held one of her hands; Mina held the other. And they pulled her deeper into the sea, where she’d always longed to go, no matter how many told her she couldn’t.



hey swam in silence, Phoebe surrounded by her two best friends. She wished they could always be like this. She scanned everything, locking away memories deep into her heart for the day when she was back in an empty house, making yet another boring pot of beans. Unlike life at home, there was nothing